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Not Who She Was: A Psychological Thriller of Doubt and Deception
From the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize shortlisted author of Fixed Point comes the return of Rachel Quinn.
Rachel was supposed to be taking a break in Florida after the strange events of Fixed Point. But when her niece calls for help at a veterinary conference, Rachel is pulled into an investigation involving a series of deadly poisonings.
When a powerful hurricane strikes—leaving the attendees trapped inside—the investigation quickly escalates into cartel violence, corporate conspiracy, and something far more unsettling.
As the storm worsens, survival may depend on understanding a threat that defies the laws of the world she knows. And Rachel must navigate shifting truths where nothing—and no one—is quite what it seems.
Not Who She Was is a dark, psychological thriller with a speculative twist and high-concept elements for fans of Lauren Beukes and Blake Crouch. If you love thrillers that blend conspiracy, isolation, and unraveling realities, this one will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Rachel was supposed to be taking a break in Florida after the strange events of Fixed Point. But when her niece calls for help at a veterinary conference, Rachel is pulled into an investigation involving a series of deadly poisonings.
When a powerful hurricane strikes—leaving the attendees trapped inside—the investigation quickly escalates into cartel violence, corporate conspiracy, and something far more unsettling.
As the storm worsens, survival may depend on understanding a threat that defies the laws of the world she knows. And Rachel must navigate shifting truths where nothing—and no one—is quite what it seems.
Not Who She Was is a dark, psychological thriller with a speculative twist and high-concept elements for fans of Lauren Beukes and Blake Crouch. If you love thrillers that blend conspiracy, isolation, and unraveling realities, this one will keep you turning pages late into the night.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2026
About the author
Lynn M. Kristopher
3 books23 followersLynn M. Kristopher writes genre-bending psychological thrillers that explore obsession, identity, and the eerie space between what is and what might be. Her debut novel, Fixed Point, blends psychological suspense with speculative twists and was recognized in the 2026 Eric Hoffer Book Awards, earning the Grand Prize Short List, First Horizon Debut Author Award Finalist, and Honorable Mention in eBook Fiction.
In her Rachel Quinn Thrillers, Kristopher combines layered characters, mounting tension, and psychological suspense with speculative fiction to create stories that linger long after the final page. Her writing is shaped by the psychological depth of Thomas Harris, the eerie atmosphere of Shirley Jackson, the sharp existential humor of Kurt Vonnegut, and the dystopian insight of George Orwell.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually chasing strange questions or rewatching The X-Files in the shadowy corners of central Florida—far from the beachgoers and sunshine.
In her Rachel Quinn Thrillers, Kristopher combines layered characters, mounting tension, and psychological suspense with speculative fiction to create stories that linger long after the final page. Her writing is shaped by the psychological depth of Thomas Harris, the eerie atmosphere of Shirley Jackson, the sharp existential humor of Kurt Vonnegut, and the dystopian insight of George Orwell.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually chasing strange questions or rewatching The X-Files in the shadowy corners of central Florida—far from the beachgoers and sunshine.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 26, 2026
“Hurricane of twists”
Not Who She Was by Lynn M. Kristopher is half who-dunnit, half sci-fi, and half post-concussion fuzziness. (Yep…three halves. This book has a lot going on!) We catch up with FMC Rachel, from Fixed Point, in Miami, on psych/medical leave from the FBI, visiting retired partner Ted Mitchell. A desperate call from niece Nicki pulls Rachel to Orlando, minutes before a hurricane hits. Stuck in the Orlando Convention Center, Rachel & Mitchell end up in the middle of a multi-victim poisoning. And, then the fun really starts. Between a roomful of convention goers accusing each other, a police staff worn thin because of the hurricane, and Rachel questioning her sanity, the mystery of who poisoned the victims is just the beginning. With time twisting and possible doppelgängers, maybe Rachel’s sanity is questionable. And, Mitchell is keeping secrets, too. Forced to work trapped by the weather, the case becomes a pressure cooker just waiting to blow. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this story when I started it but Kristopher does a good job keeping you guessing, as you try to figure out who had a motive or in this case, who didn’t, and keeping you wondering if anything happening is even real. Definitely a mind twist! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Not Who She Was by Lynn M. Kristopher is half who-dunnit, half sci-fi, and half post-concussion fuzziness. (Yep…three halves. This book has a lot going on!) We catch up with FMC Rachel, from Fixed Point, in Miami, on psych/medical leave from the FBI, visiting retired partner Ted Mitchell. A desperate call from niece Nicki pulls Rachel to Orlando, minutes before a hurricane hits. Stuck in the Orlando Convention Center, Rachel & Mitchell end up in the middle of a multi-victim poisoning. And, then the fun really starts. Between a roomful of convention goers accusing each other, a police staff worn thin because of the hurricane, and Rachel questioning her sanity, the mystery of who poisoned the victims is just the beginning. With time twisting and possible doppelgängers, maybe Rachel’s sanity is questionable. And, Mitchell is keeping secrets, too. Forced to work trapped by the weather, the case becomes a pressure cooker just waiting to blow. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this story when I started it but Kristopher does a good job keeping you guessing, as you try to figure out who had a motive or in this case, who didn’t, and keeping you wondering if anything happening is even real. Definitely a mind twist! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 27, 2026
This was a really interesting read! A really well written story, that had my attention from the first page. I did find the main character as little agressive & headstrong, but this is what pushes her through this terrifying story. I really liked the style of writing & will for sure look for more by this writer.
June 29, 2026
Not Who She Was is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go. After the events of Fixed Point, Rachel’s much-needed break in Florida is swiftly derailed when her niece’s urgent call plunges her into the heart of a deadly investigation at a veterinary conference. The plot thickens as a violent hurricane traps everyone inside, and what begins as a mystery about poisonings spirals into a web of cartel intrigue, corporate secrets, and chilling phenomena that challenge the boundaries of reality itself.
The novel expertly weaves together relentless suspense, claustrophobic tension, and high-concept speculative elements. The storm outside mirrors the chaos within, forcing Rachel—and the reader—to question every motive and every truth. The writing is sharp, immersive, and atmospheric, with a pace that accelerates as the danger mounts.
Not Who She Was is both a pulse-pounding thriller and a thought-provoking exploration of identity and perception. Clear your schedule before you start: this book will keep you up late, desperate to see how Rachel will survive when nothing is as it seems.
Thank you, Lynn M. Kristopher, NetGalley, and Feline Orchid Publications for this ARC.
The novel expertly weaves together relentless suspense, claustrophobic tension, and high-concept speculative elements. The storm outside mirrors the chaos within, forcing Rachel—and the reader—to question every motive and every truth. The writing is sharp, immersive, and atmospheric, with a pace that accelerates as the danger mounts.
Not Who She Was is both a pulse-pounding thriller and a thought-provoking exploration of identity and perception. Clear your schedule before you start: this book will keep you up late, desperate to see how Rachel will survive when nothing is as it seems.
Thank you, Lynn M. Kristopher, NetGalley, and Feline Orchid Publications for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating 4.5
Lynn M. Kristopher delivers an absolute pressure-cooker of a novel with Not Who She Was. Billed as a psychological thriller, this book takes the traditional locked-room mystery setup, injects it with gritty cartel noir, and wraps the entire narrative in an incredibly unique, mind-bending reality-distortion element that keeps you questioning everything until the final page.
The story kicks off with a brilliant contrast of timelines. Chapter 1 introduces us to Special Agent Ted Mitchell twenty-five years ago in a humid, high-stakes undercover Miami drug bust that goes violently sideways. The emotional weight of Mitchell’s double life and the complex relationship with his target, Carlos, sets a phenomenal, grounded foundation for the book.
Cut to the present day, and the narrative shifts gears into a suffocating, atmospheric nightmare. We follow Nikki and a group of veterinary hospital staff trapped at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando as a Category 3 hurricane batters the building. The tension spikes immediately when, during a lavish lunch with the corporate representatives of the predatory Trappist Red Corporation, six high-level managers and executives suddenly drop dead from poisoning.
When retired Agent Mitchell and his brilliant, traumatized former partner Agent Rachel Quinn (who is currently on mandatory medical leave from the FBI) arrive to help solve the murders, the book evolves from a standard whodunit into an existential labyrinth.
What Wows
The Workplace Dynamics: Kristopher clearly knows the inner workings of a toxic veterinary hospital. The petty grievances, the affair rumors between Dr. Thatcher and Alyssa, the fierce resentment over cut hours, and the biting, unfiltered commentary from the disgruntled relief vet, Dr. Krystal Meade, are incredibly raw, accurate, and darkly comedic.
The Metaphysical Twist: The true genius of Not Who She Was is the shifting perspective of Nikki. Without giving away too much, the book masterfully weaves together a grounded reality of a woman having a breakdown with an invasive, terrifying corporate sci-fi element. The concept of "Trappist Red" transitioning from a mundane corporate buyer to a dystopian entity that actively glitters through the seams of Rachel and Nikki’s reality is genuinely chilling.
Pacing and Atmosphere: The storm outside perfectly mirrors the chaos inside. As the power fails and bodies pile up in the dark maintenance corridors, the setting transforms into a character of its own.
The Verdict
Not Who She Was is an incredibly ambitious thriller that beautifully marries classic law-enforcement procedural elements with mind-bending psychological horror. If you love stories about buried pasts, untrustworthy realities, and intense survival scenarios, Lynn M. Kristopher has written your next obsession.
Lynn M. Kristopher delivers an absolute pressure-cooker of a novel with Not Who She Was. Billed as a psychological thriller, this book takes the traditional locked-room mystery setup, injects it with gritty cartel noir, and wraps the entire narrative in an incredibly unique, mind-bending reality-distortion element that keeps you questioning everything until the final page.
The story kicks off with a brilliant contrast of timelines. Chapter 1 introduces us to Special Agent Ted Mitchell twenty-five years ago in a humid, high-stakes undercover Miami drug bust that goes violently sideways. The emotional weight of Mitchell’s double life and the complex relationship with his target, Carlos, sets a phenomenal, grounded foundation for the book.
Cut to the present day, and the narrative shifts gears into a suffocating, atmospheric nightmare. We follow Nikki and a group of veterinary hospital staff trapped at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando as a Category 3 hurricane batters the building. The tension spikes immediately when, during a lavish lunch with the corporate representatives of the predatory Trappist Red Corporation, six high-level managers and executives suddenly drop dead from poisoning.
When retired Agent Mitchell and his brilliant, traumatized former partner Agent Rachel Quinn (who is currently on mandatory medical leave from the FBI) arrive to help solve the murders, the book evolves from a standard whodunit into an existential labyrinth.
What Wows
The Workplace Dynamics: Kristopher clearly knows the inner workings of a toxic veterinary hospital. The petty grievances, the affair rumors between Dr. Thatcher and Alyssa, the fierce resentment over cut hours, and the biting, unfiltered commentary from the disgruntled relief vet, Dr. Krystal Meade, are incredibly raw, accurate, and darkly comedic.
The Metaphysical Twist: The true genius of Not Who She Was is the shifting perspective of Nikki. Without giving away too much, the book masterfully weaves together a grounded reality of a woman having a breakdown with an invasive, terrifying corporate sci-fi element. The concept of "Trappist Red" transitioning from a mundane corporate buyer to a dystopian entity that actively glitters through the seams of Rachel and Nikki’s reality is genuinely chilling.
Pacing and Atmosphere: The storm outside perfectly mirrors the chaos inside. As the power fails and bodies pile up in the dark maintenance corridors, the setting transforms into a character of its own.
The Verdict
Not Who She Was is an incredibly ambitious thriller that beautifully marries classic law-enforcement procedural elements with mind-bending psychological horror. If you love stories about buried pasts, untrustworthy realities, and intense survival scenarios, Lynn M. Kristopher has written your next obsession.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The story is incredibly well written and flows seamlessly from beginning to end. I enjoy Rachel immensely. She is smart, determined, strong, and a little bit impulsive. A perfect protagonist. To say the story is exciting, thrilling, and captivating is an understatement. You have an FBI agent on leave, a retired FBI agent, a hurricane, the staff from a dysfunctional veterinary clinic, a convicted killer who is now out of jail and looking for revenge, a niece who may not be a niece, six deaths in a room where the doors are locked, a creepy company trying to take over the veterinary clinic, and things that aren't what they seem. This makes for one great thriller that keeps you enthralled the entire book. I absolutely loved this book and is a perfect continuation of Fixed Point. I highly recommend this book and the series. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was given as a arc. It was easy to follow everyone in here seems to be someone else. Have to read the whole book to find out who done what and how are they connected. 3/5. This book has to deal with a big conference with a bunch of vets there all at a dinner and there is a hurricane outside. One of the vets has a aunt on a team that is needed to be called as there are people dying. The aunt comes off duty to come and help. People are still dying and they need to get to the bott9m of this. Butt one of the people helping had helped put the mob in jail years ago and think this might be that comming back to bite them in the butt. But it seems to be the people involved are not who they actually are pretending not even the niece.
June 10, 2026
I received this book as an ARC by the author and BookFunnel here is my voluntarily review.
3.5 ⭐️ This is book 📕 2 and I really enjoyed it is a psychological thriller filled with secrets, deception, and the unsettling feeling that no one is exactly who they appear to be. Just when I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, another layer was peeled back, forcing me to question everything I thought I knew. The twist and the tension was so good trust no one and nobody is who they say . Will read more from this Author for sure .
3.5 ⭐️ This is book 📕 2 and I really enjoyed it is a psychological thriller filled with secrets, deception, and the unsettling feeling that no one is exactly who they appear to be. Just when I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, another layer was peeled back, forcing me to question everything I thought I knew. The twist and the tension was so good trust no one and nobody is who they say . Will read more from this Author for sure .
July 7, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Not Who She Was is a solid slow burn psychological thriller with a lot of paranoia, deception, and that constant feeling that something is off. It leans more into psychological tension and mistrust than big shocking twists, which I actually liked because it kept the whole book feeling uneasy in a good way. If you like thrillers where you don’t fully trust anyone and the vibe is more dark and suspicious than action packed, this is definitely worth picking up.
Not Who She Was is a solid slow burn psychological thriller with a lot of paranoia, deception, and that constant feeling that something is off. It leans more into psychological tension and mistrust than big shocking twists, which I actually liked because it kept the whole book feeling uneasy in a good way. If you like thrillers where you don’t fully trust anyone and the vibe is more dark and suspicious than action packed, this is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC from the Author. I have to be honest I don’t like Sci Fi books and if I had known that this was one I wouldn’t have agreed to read it. With that being said. The book was pretty good. I had a hard time following the story line however I think it was me and not the book. My guess is that if you like Sci Fi you will really like this book. I still can’t figure out what was real and what wasn’t so my three star rating had more to do with me than the book
June 30, 2026
Rachel Quin is on medical leave from FBI. She is currently in Florida visiting her ex-partner Ted Mitchell, who is now retired. Rachel gets an alarming phone call from her niece Nikki who is currently in Orlando at a convention, which leads Rachel to jump in her car, with Mitchell, in a hurricane, to go to Nikki's rescue. What happens when they arrive is not at all what they expected to see. A great book with lots of twist and turns and people being what they don't seem.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is definitely the most exciting book I have read in a very long time. If you love phycological thrillers, you must read this one. I read it during a summer storm with tornado warnings going off every ten minutes. It’s truly a wild ride. YOU MUST GET IT NOW!
I received this book as an ARC and I’m leaving a voluntary review.
I received this book as an ARC and I’m leaving a voluntary review.
June 26, 2026
Another engaging read in the series. A cross between a police investigation and a paranormal experience. The characters are solid as is the plot, in the twists of investigation not all is as it seems. The setting enhances the tensions of all the participants. Well recommended.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews