What do you think?
Rate this book
Fearless #2
Autumn of Fear
In this "haunting and intense" psychological thriller, an ambitious college student's promising future is shattered when she becomes the victim of a violent assault, and despite her memory loss, must reconstruct the events leading up to the assault in order to take down the perpetrator.
Abbie Cooper is a care-free college student pursuing her dream of becoming a brilliant neurosurgeon one day. But her dream is shattered when she wakes up in the hospital after a violent assault and no memory of the attack. As she grapples with the horrific aftermath, Abbie is determined to uncover the truth about what happened that night.
Who is the mysterious “Humble Admirer” who sent her expensive gifts and exotic roses? Why was charming senior, Spencer Rossdale, suddenly interested in Abbie and her connection to the wealthy and powerful Wheeler family? The deeper Abbie digs, the more she unravels a stunning web of lies that stretch back decades. Revealing them will change everything but the truth is the least of Abbie’s problems. A vicious predator is watching her and he’s willing to kill to protect his secret.
Abbie Cooper is a care-free college student pursuing her dream of becoming a brilliant neurosurgeon one day. But her dream is shattered when she wakes up in the hospital after a violent assault and no memory of the attack. As she grapples with the horrific aftermath, Abbie is determined to uncover the truth about what happened that night.
Who is the mysterious “Humble Admirer” who sent her expensive gifts and exotic roses? Why was charming senior, Spencer Rossdale, suddenly interested in Abbie and her connection to the wealthy and powerful Wheeler family? The deeper Abbie digs, the more she unravels a stunning web of lies that stretch back decades. Revealing them will change everything but the truth is the least of Abbie’s problems. A vicious predator is watching her and he’s willing to kill to protect his secret.
346 pages, ebook
First published March 6, 2018
33 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Glede Browne Kabongo
15 books174 followersGledé Browne Kabongo is a multiple award-winning author of unputdownable psychological thrillers about resilient women who navigate dark secrets, deadly lies, and impossible choices.
Her novels, characterized by their strong emotional core, heart-pounding suspense, and jaw- dropping twists include: The Forbidden Heiress, A Game of Malice, Our Wicked Lies, Fool Me Twice, Conspiracy of Silence, and the Fearless series.
Readers have described Gledé’s work as "unbelievably addictive," "brilliant," "captivating," "unputdownable," "spellbinding," "deliciously duplicitous," and "haunting and complex."
Gledé has spoken at multiple industry events including the Boston Book Festival, Sisters in Crime (SinC) New England Crime Bake, Concord Festival of Authors, and the Women in Publishing Summit.
She lives outside Boston with her husband and children. You can reach her at glede@gledekabongo.com or her author website.
Her novels, characterized by their strong emotional core, heart-pounding suspense, and jaw- dropping twists include: The Forbidden Heiress, A Game of Malice, Our Wicked Lies, Fool Me Twice, Conspiracy of Silence, and the Fearless series.
Readers have described Gledé’s work as "unbelievably addictive," "brilliant," "captivating," "unputdownable," "spellbinding," "deliciously duplicitous," and "haunting and complex."
Gledé has spoken at multiple industry events including the Boston Book Festival, Sisters in Crime (SinC) New England Crime Bake, Concord Festival of Authors, and the Women in Publishing Summit.
She lives outside Boston with her husband and children. You can reach her at glede@gledekabongo.com or her author website.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 17, 2020
Autumn of Fear is the second book in the exciting Fearless series by Gledé Browne Kabongo.
In this installment, Abbie Cooper is attending Yale University on a full academic scholarship. The story began with Abbie waking up in the hospital. Based on information provided by the doctor, she was assaulted, but she has no memory of the assault. The last things she remembered was being at a party with her friends Zhara and Ty and being kissed by Spenser who had been showing an unusual interest in her. Determined to learn what happened that fateful night, she sets out with the help of her best friend to piece together the events leading up to the night of the attack. Will she be able to uncover the truth before her attack strikes again?
For the reader this was not a case of who was behind the attack, because it became obvious early into the story. They were many suspects, but identifying the villain proved easier than I thought. It was more a case of why and if anyone else was involved. Autumn of Fear had many twists and turns. I eagerly flipped through the pages as I had to know how it would all unfold. I like that the story was told from the POVs of Abbie and the villain. Although being in the mind of her villain had me on edge. There were a few twists I never saw coming, but their revelation and timing made sense. I enjoyed the pacing, which fit the story perfectly. Well done and engaging.
Now if you read my review of book one, you would be aware how much I admired Abbie for her strength and determination. She had been through a lot, but the manner in which she dealt with the aftereffects of her attack revealed her true strength. I lift my hat to her as I am not sure I would have been able to do what she did. My heart broke for her during the difficult moments, but thanks to her strong support system from both family and friends, she survived it all.
I loved how the story with justice being served and Abbie getting much needed closure and finding happiness. It proves that behind every cloud is a silver lining.
Conclusion/Recommendation
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Readers can read each book as a standalone, however, I recommend reading the series in order, which would make it easier to follow the lives of the main characters. If you love psychological thrillers, then you would want to read Autumn of Fear.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
In this installment, Abbie Cooper is attending Yale University on a full academic scholarship. The story began with Abbie waking up in the hospital. Based on information provided by the doctor, she was assaulted, but she has no memory of the assault. The last things she remembered was being at a party with her friends Zhara and Ty and being kissed by Spenser who had been showing an unusual interest in her. Determined to learn what happened that fateful night, she sets out with the help of her best friend to piece together the events leading up to the night of the attack. Will she be able to uncover the truth before her attack strikes again?
For the reader this was not a case of who was behind the attack, because it became obvious early into the story. They were many suspects, but identifying the villain proved easier than I thought. It was more a case of why and if anyone else was involved. Autumn of Fear had many twists and turns. I eagerly flipped through the pages as I had to know how it would all unfold. I like that the story was told from the POVs of Abbie and the villain. Although being in the mind of her villain had me on edge. There were a few twists I never saw coming, but their revelation and timing made sense. I enjoyed the pacing, which fit the story perfectly. Well done and engaging.
Now if you read my review of book one, you would be aware how much I admired Abbie for her strength and determination. She had been through a lot, but the manner in which she dealt with the aftereffects of her attack revealed her true strength. I lift my hat to her as I am not sure I would have been able to do what she did. My heart broke for her during the difficult moments, but thanks to her strong support system from both family and friends, she survived it all.
I loved how the story with justice being served and Abbie getting much needed closure and finding happiness. It proves that behind every cloud is a silver lining.
Conclusion/Recommendation
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Readers can read each book as a standalone, however, I recommend reading the series in order, which would make it easier to follow the lives of the main characters. If you love psychological thrillers, then you would want to read Autumn of Fear.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
December 27, 2018
Genre: mystery
A love a nice mystery book, good characters and lots of suspects. Abbie is attacked and she will try to find out who is responsible.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
A love a nice mystery book, good characters and lots of suspects. Abbie is attacked and she will try to find out who is responsible.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
May 27, 2018
This was a great book! It was full of mystery and suspense all the way to the end. There were quite a few twists and turns to keep me glued to my kindle. The first chapter starts off with a bang and keeps going strong to the last chapter.
Abbie wakes up in a hospital bed in pain and with no memory of how she got there. With friends by her side to help piece her memory back together, she goes on a long search to find out who was behind the assault and why did she get assaulted. There are quite a few suspects in the mix, but she has no idea who could be the one. She also has to endure a secret admirer that starts lavishing her with gifts. But as her memory slowly comes back, she still has no clues.
Very fast paced book and it was the best cloak and dagger thriller I have read in awhile! Four stars for this one.
Abbie wakes up in a hospital bed in pain and with no memory of how she got there. With friends by her side to help piece her memory back together, she goes on a long search to find out who was behind the assault and why did she get assaulted. There are quite a few suspects in the mix, but she has no idea who could be the one. She also has to endure a secret admirer that starts lavishing her with gifts. But as her memory slowly comes back, she still has no clues.
Very fast paced book and it was the best cloak and dagger thriller I have read in awhile! Four stars for this one.
November 14, 2018
This is my first read by this author and it sure will Not be my last! Fast-paced ,suspenseful with non-stop action as we follow a young lady and her eclectic friends in their college years. There is a horrible incident after which we go to what happened before intermingling with the after story. Well described characters feel like you know them well, as there are several choices to actually be the attacker.
The young lady, Abbie Cooper, has had a tough road , but wants nothing more than to find out the truth and does her part in searching extensively for any information she can latch on to. A great psychological romantic suspense story that kept me turning pages as quickly as I could!
An enjoyable read that kept me interested with new surprises at every turn. The suspense builds and several violent actions increase the fear for our heroine, as she and friends continue their search for the truth.
Thanks to Netgalley and author Glede Browne Kabongo for an ARC of this exciting adventure, and I put my thoughts in this review hoping others will take interest in this author's writing as I myself look for more!!
The young lady, Abbie Cooper, has had a tough road , but wants nothing more than to find out the truth and does her part in searching extensively for any information she can latch on to. A great psychological romantic suspense story that kept me turning pages as quickly as I could!
An enjoyable read that kept me interested with new surprises at every turn. The suspense builds and several violent actions increase the fear for our heroine, as she and friends continue their search for the truth.
Thanks to Netgalley and author Glede Browne Kabongo for an ARC of this exciting adventure, and I put my thoughts in this review hoping others will take interest in this author's writing as I myself look for more!!
June 8, 2018
After being violently attacked, Abbie Cooper is determined to find out the identity of her attacker. There are a lot of suspects and this leads to a very suspenseful read. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 14, 2018
THis is my first read by this author but it sure will Not be my last! Fast-paced, suspenseful with non-stop action as we follow a young lady and her eclectic group of friends in their college year. There is a horrible incident after which we go to what happened before, intermingled easily with the after. Well-described characters feel like you know them well, as there are several choices emerging to be the actual attacker.
The young lady, Abbie Cooper, has had a tough road, but wants nothing more than to find out the truth and does her part in searching extensively for any information she can latch on to. A great psychological romantic suspense story that kept me turning pages as quickly as I could!
An enjoyable read that kept me interested with new surprises at every turn. The suspense builds and several violent actions increase the fear for our heroine, as she and her friends continue the search for the truth.
I thank Netgalley and author Glede Browne Kabongo for an ARC of this exciting adventure, and I put my thoughts in this review hoping others will take interest in this author's writing as I myself look for more!!
The young lady, Abbie Cooper, has had a tough road, but wants nothing more than to find out the truth and does her part in searching extensively for any information she can latch on to. A great psychological romantic suspense story that kept me turning pages as quickly as I could!
An enjoyable read that kept me interested with new surprises at every turn. The suspense builds and several violent actions increase the fear for our heroine, as she and her friends continue the search for the truth.
I thank Netgalley and author Glede Browne Kabongo for an ARC of this exciting adventure, and I put my thoughts in this review hoping others will take interest in this author's writing as I myself look for more!!
November 11, 2018
This is a great read! Every person seems real, just like I am back in College! The way guys behave, the way they freak you out, you still want to be nice; even though something tells you, there is something scary about this one! The added pressure of getting good grades, not wanting to disappoint your parents; then Boom, your entire life is torn upside down! You cannot remember what happens; you cannot be a victim, you must fight back! A compelling story of being in the wrong place, at the wrong time!
I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley!
Carolintallahassee
I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley!
Carolintallahassee
January 18, 2019
Autumn of Fear is a story with a common premise. A college girl is attacked but has no memory of it, and she decides to fight back, along with her friends. It's too typical for my taste. I felt no connection to the characters or the story. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2018
very good book it had it wanting more the whole way threw 😃
February 11, 2019
Really good book
as u know the characters it's even better good ending too. I love ty he's such a good guy. Great book
as u know the characters it's even better good ending too. I love ty he's such a good guy. Great book
November 8, 2018
Autumn of fear by Gledo Kabongo.
This was a fantastic read. I loved the story and the characters. Abbie ty were my favourite characters. I wasn't sure about Spencer or justin. It was a twister I didn't expect that. 5*.
This was a fantastic read. I loved the story and the characters. Abbie ty were my favourite characters. I wasn't sure about Spencer or justin. It was a twister I didn't expect that. 5*.
April 1, 2018
Most loving parents want to see their children grow and enjoy the pleasures of life that they were never able to experience. While knowing that failure and consequences for their actions are always ever present, they still harbor their children and try to protect them from the painful and horrific parts of the world. What happens when your baby grows up and becomes a woman, then you are pushed to the sidelines and forced to believe everything that they say even though something doesn’t feel right? Kabongo has a very powerful YA suspense with the second installment in the Fearless series, Autumn of Fear. Readers will fall in love with Abbie Cooper…if they haven’t already in the first installment.
Abbie Cooper is just an average young woman with her whole life ahead of her. She has put the past behind her from all of the troubles of high school and is now attending a prestigious Ivy League college. Not only is she attending this college, but her best friend Ty is right there by her side. Best friends since early childhood, she couldn’t imagine life getting any better…except, then the notes and the gift packages start coming to her dorm anonymously. While everyone else thinks that Abbie has a humble admirer who is practically all romance and no danger, Abbie’s blood runs cold with every one. She senses the danger and her fear gets the best of her. After being invited to a party and showing up with a girlfriend, Abbie starts to let her guard down, but that is exactly what the secret admirer has been waiting for.
Abbie wakes up in the hospital and her memory is blacked out from being fed drugs. Her body is bruised, broken and her attacker raped her. Suddenly, that perfect world that she had always depicted for herself has taken a tragic and dangerous turn. But, Abbie Cooper is strong and brave. She knows that she can’t let him get away with this. She knows that he would haunt her for the rest of her life if she doesn’t do something about it so she is determined to recover her lost memories and help put her attacker behind bars…even if that person is becoming more violent as the days tick by. After realizing that she can’t let him win, she starts to take her life back, but then another bombshell drops in Abbie’s lap that will change her life forever.
Kabongo has a fantastic second installment chalked full of superb character development, creativity and heightening suspense. Kabongo discusses some very important topics in this installment, leaving readers with a better understanding of the choices that women have after a life crisis like rape or any other unbearable attack. Not only the choices, but the effects are powerful and are presented in a profound way within this fictional story. The flow and pace of this book are proportional and steady; however, there are some spelling and grammatical errors throughout the read. Since this is an advanced reader copy, these may have been cleaned up upon further proofreading, but if not, this should not hinder enjoyment of the novel at all. If you are a reader of YA suspense and crime, this may be perfect for you.
A copy of this book was provided to Turning Another Page by the author and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a five-star rating for Autumn of Fear by Glede Browne Kabongo.
Abbie Cooper is just an average young woman with her whole life ahead of her. She has put the past behind her from all of the troubles of high school and is now attending a prestigious Ivy League college. Not only is she attending this college, but her best friend Ty is right there by her side. Best friends since early childhood, she couldn’t imagine life getting any better…except, then the notes and the gift packages start coming to her dorm anonymously. While everyone else thinks that Abbie has a humble admirer who is practically all romance and no danger, Abbie’s blood runs cold with every one. She senses the danger and her fear gets the best of her. After being invited to a party and showing up with a girlfriend, Abbie starts to let her guard down, but that is exactly what the secret admirer has been waiting for.
Abbie wakes up in the hospital and her memory is blacked out from being fed drugs. Her body is bruised, broken and her attacker raped her. Suddenly, that perfect world that she had always depicted for herself has taken a tragic and dangerous turn. But, Abbie Cooper is strong and brave. She knows that she can’t let him get away with this. She knows that he would haunt her for the rest of her life if she doesn’t do something about it so she is determined to recover her lost memories and help put her attacker behind bars…even if that person is becoming more violent as the days tick by. After realizing that she can’t let him win, she starts to take her life back, but then another bombshell drops in Abbie’s lap that will change her life forever.
Kabongo has a fantastic second installment chalked full of superb character development, creativity and heightening suspense. Kabongo discusses some very important topics in this installment, leaving readers with a better understanding of the choices that women have after a life crisis like rape or any other unbearable attack. Not only the choices, but the effects are powerful and are presented in a profound way within this fictional story. The flow and pace of this book are proportional and steady; however, there are some spelling and grammatical errors throughout the read. Since this is an advanced reader copy, these may have been cleaned up upon further proofreading, but if not, this should not hinder enjoyment of the novel at all. If you are a reader of YA suspense and crime, this may be perfect for you.
A copy of this book was provided to Turning Another Page by the author and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a five-star rating for Autumn of Fear by Glede Browne Kabongo.
June 15, 2018
*Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
3 stars
When I read the description for this book I was really looking forward to getting into it because I love stories where everyone is a potential suspect, and it's left to you to pick up the little crumbs left by the author throughout the book to decipher who it actually is. In this case was expecting to have to decide between Spencer and Justin, who were mentioned in the blurb as having suddenly taken an interest in her just before the attack - but it doesn't stop there.
The author had to make it even more confusing by introducing FIVE different guys as Abbie's possible attacker. I'm sorry but this was just overkill, especially when four of them were 'romantic' interests. It was unnecessary and made me less invested in the story and in finding out who's motives were pure.
There was a lack of an emotional connection between me and the characters because they all felt like a replicate of each other. They were bland and nothing set them apart, they spoke in the same way with vocabulary I don't feel correlated with there ages. And everyone seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to Abbie's emotions.
Literally, every page involved a different character (all of them!) sussing Abbie out for hiding her thoughts/feelings - which ended up being the basis of the whole book. Any thought she had that was less than slightly positive set everyone off like dogs. Abbie will be feeling or thinking a certain way, and then along will come 4/5 of the romantically interested boys, her best friend, teacher, mum, dog, queen of Africa are all like Abbie I want to know why you are so sad and I'm not leaving until you tell me because I know something is wrong with you.
There you go, that's 90% of what goes on in this book.
It was annoying as heck - who is this girl meeting all these intuitive people??
I realize this has all been negative but putting it all aside, it is a decent book that I do think many people will enjoy reading!
3 stars
When I read the description for this book I was really looking forward to getting into it because I love stories where everyone is a potential suspect, and it's left to you to pick up the little crumbs left by the author throughout the book to decipher who it actually is. In this case was expecting to have to decide between Spencer and Justin, who were mentioned in the blurb as having suddenly taken an interest in her just before the attack - but it doesn't stop there.
The author had to make it even more confusing by introducing FIVE different guys as Abbie's possible attacker. I'm sorry but this was just overkill, especially when four of them were 'romantic' interests. It was unnecessary and made me less invested in the story and in finding out who's motives were pure.
There was a lack of an emotional connection between me and the characters because they all felt like a replicate of each other. They were bland and nothing set them apart, they spoke in the same way with vocabulary I don't feel correlated with there ages. And everyone seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to Abbie's emotions.
Literally, every page involved a different character (all of them!) sussing Abbie out for hiding her thoughts/feelings - which ended up being the basis of the whole book. Any thought she had that was less than slightly positive set everyone off like dogs. Abbie will be feeling or thinking a certain way, and then along will come 4/5 of the romantically interested boys, her best friend, teacher, mum, dog, queen of Africa are all like Abbie I want to know why you are so sad and I'm not leaving until you tell me because I know something is wrong with you.
There you go, that's 90% of what goes on in this book.
It was annoying as heck - who is this girl meeting all these intuitive people??
I realize this has all been negative but putting it all aside, it is a decent book that I do think many people will enjoy reading!
March 29, 2018
Wow! I have always loved this author's books, but I dare say Autumn of Fear is going to be my #1 Psychological Thriller for 2018.
If you are familiar with her previous books, poor Abbie just never seems to get a break, but her strength is amazing. If you haven't read them, this could be read as a standalone, but having some background on the characters enhances it a bit.
Abbie is off to college, at Yale, with Ty continuing to be the protective best friend. A dedicated student in her sophomore year, a friend of Ty's is dedicated to getting her to date him. She needs to loosen up and have a little fun, right? Her roommate thinks she's silly not to be flattered when she starts getting expensive gifts and poetic notes from a secret admirer. And there's the shy guy in her study group that is taking an interest in her as well. Maybe it is time to date a little, especially since Ty has a girlfriend. After all she has been through, she definitely deserves to have some fun. Is her reluctance just paranoia? Heartbreak that Ty doesn't return the feelings she hides for him?
Then the anonymous gifts get a bit too personal, Spencer seems touchy about odd things, and she just doesn't know what to think about Justin, the guy from her study group. He seems sincere enough, but there is definitely something he has against Spencer, while claiming not to know him.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention all of this comes as flashbacks as the book starts with Abbie in the hospital, with no memory of how she wound up there. The details that are known are horrifying. The unknowns are life changing and life threatening.
No one writes a thriller quite like Glede Browne Kabongo. Though in retrospect there may be some foreshadowing that is easily overlooked at the time, the twists and turns will keep you guessing from the edge of your seat. The emotions are all there. Abbie is such a likeable heroine, and even with all she goes through, it is impossible to see her as a victim - her strength just shines through in all areas. It's also impossible not to empathize with her. She's not afraid to reveal her heart, at least to the reader, and it just endears me to her even more - making the horrors she faces even more intense, as well as her well deserved joys. Pride in the way she handles decisions no one should have to face. She's just amazing (and I typically am not the biggest fan of teenage girls.)
It's so hard to review a thriller without spoilers. There are so many details and situations I would love to discuss, and like any great thriller there are lingering questions, but there is no way I want to ruin any of the surprises. Obviously I could gush on and on, but I will wind this up by saying Ms. Browne Kabongo has raised the bar with this one. Absolutely my highest recommendations.
If you are familiar with her previous books, poor Abbie just never seems to get a break, but her strength is amazing. If you haven't read them, this could be read as a standalone, but having some background on the characters enhances it a bit.
Abbie is off to college, at Yale, with Ty continuing to be the protective best friend. A dedicated student in her sophomore year, a friend of Ty's is dedicated to getting her to date him. She needs to loosen up and have a little fun, right? Her roommate thinks she's silly not to be flattered when she starts getting expensive gifts and poetic notes from a secret admirer. And there's the shy guy in her study group that is taking an interest in her as well. Maybe it is time to date a little, especially since Ty has a girlfriend. After all she has been through, she definitely deserves to have some fun. Is her reluctance just paranoia? Heartbreak that Ty doesn't return the feelings she hides for him?
Then the anonymous gifts get a bit too personal, Spencer seems touchy about odd things, and she just doesn't know what to think about Justin, the guy from her study group. He seems sincere enough, but there is definitely something he has against Spencer, while claiming not to know him.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention all of this comes as flashbacks as the book starts with Abbie in the hospital, with no memory of how she wound up there. The details that are known are horrifying. The unknowns are life changing and life threatening.
No one writes a thriller quite like Glede Browne Kabongo. Though in retrospect there may be some foreshadowing that is easily overlooked at the time, the twists and turns will keep you guessing from the edge of your seat. The emotions are all there. Abbie is such a likeable heroine, and even with all she goes through, it is impossible to see her as a victim - her strength just shines through in all areas. It's also impossible not to empathize with her. She's not afraid to reveal her heart, at least to the reader, and it just endears me to her even more - making the horrors she faces even more intense, as well as her well deserved joys. Pride in the way she handles decisions no one should have to face. She's just amazing (and I typically am not the biggest fan of teenage girls.)
It's so hard to review a thriller without spoilers. There are so many details and situations I would love to discuss, and like any great thriller there are lingering questions, but there is no way I want to ruin any of the surprises. Obviously I could gush on and on, but I will wind this up by saying Ms. Browne Kabongo has raised the bar with this one. Absolutely my highest recommendations.
June 29, 2018
It's possible that I like this book more than I think I do.
I say this because, overall, it's well-crafted. The plot moves along at a good pace. There are enough possible suspects (for the whodunnit component) that the reader is kept guessing, and many of the reveals are well handled. Objectively, this is a good, solid read. And yet, I didn't really enjoy it.
The area that I found to be weakest was the character development. These characters just didn't feel realistic to me at all. Most of the characters came off as being one-dimensional. I didn't find that even the central characters showed much development - they sort of are who they've always been in spite of what they faced (we don't see the transformation, if there was one). The dialogue really annoyed me - the characters sounded more like people in their forties than their late teens. Most of the characters just didn't have enough of a backstory revealed for me to relate to them (I realise this is intended to be the first in a series, so this may improve in future installments). Since I really like to care about characters (even if that manifests in dislike), this element really spoiled the book for me.
I also felt that the author did miss some opportunities to ramp up the tension, particularly as the whodunnit component is resolving. I felt a bit cheated - I like to feel that I missed some clues along the way, but in this case, this resolved much more like a procedural (where the emphasis is on how things are solved) but that's not how the rest of the book reads. That was a bit jarring.
In most areas, this is a well-crafted book. I just found that the deficiencies with the characters were not something I could overlook. I can't see myself wanting to read further in this series.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
I say this because, overall, it's well-crafted. The plot moves along at a good pace. There are enough possible suspects (for the whodunnit component) that the reader is kept guessing, and many of the reveals are well handled. Objectively, this is a good, solid read. And yet, I didn't really enjoy it.
The area that I found to be weakest was the character development. These characters just didn't feel realistic to me at all. Most of the characters came off as being one-dimensional. I didn't find that even the central characters showed much development - they sort of are who they've always been in spite of what they faced (we don't see the transformation, if there was one). The dialogue really annoyed me - the characters sounded more like people in their forties than their late teens. Most of the characters just didn't have enough of a backstory revealed for me to relate to them (I realise this is intended to be the first in a series, so this may improve in future installments). Since I really like to care about characters (even if that manifests in dislike), this element really spoiled the book for me.
I also felt that the author did miss some opportunities to ramp up the tension, particularly as the whodunnit component is resolving. I felt a bit cheated - I like to feel that I missed some clues along the way, but in this case, this resolved much more like a procedural (where the emphasis is on how things are solved) but that's not how the rest of the book reads. That was a bit jarring.
In most areas, this is a well-crafted book. I just found that the deficiencies with the characters were not something I could overlook. I can't see myself wanting to read further in this series.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
December 11, 2018
Autumn of Fear by Glede Browne Kabongo. BooksGoSocial, 2018.
Autumn of Fear is, as are others in Kabongo’s Fearless Series, billed as a psychological thriller with a twist. When goal-oriented college student Abbie Cooper regains consciousness after a violent assault, she has no idea what happened or who might hate her so. As the book unfolds, we learn that she has received a series of gifts, sent anonymously, with increasingly unsettling notes. Some chapter are narrated by the sender, a shadowy figure represented on the cover who might be any one of the young men seeking Abbie’s attention that we meet; we grasp at straws as we try to match their characteristics to those of the anonymous sender.
The book is a page turner, supported by writing that flows smoothly through seventy-one chapters, entitled generically to helpfully indicate whether action takes place before, after or at the time of the assault.
Main characters are well and realistically developed. Discordant notes for me were that, though mature, Abbie seems too young to already have had such a complex past and too young to make life-changing decisions; I also wondered why her parents were so absent. Reference to a bad decision she made in high school made me want to look for Game of Fear, Kabongo’s earlier book about Abbie.
I enjoyed reading Autumn of Fear and I recommend it.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of Autumn of Fear free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Autumn of Fear is, as are others in Kabongo’s Fearless Series, billed as a psychological thriller with a twist. When goal-oriented college student Abbie Cooper regains consciousness after a violent assault, she has no idea what happened or who might hate her so. As the book unfolds, we learn that she has received a series of gifts, sent anonymously, with increasingly unsettling notes. Some chapter are narrated by the sender, a shadowy figure represented on the cover who might be any one of the young men seeking Abbie’s attention that we meet; we grasp at straws as we try to match their characteristics to those of the anonymous sender.
The book is a page turner, supported by writing that flows smoothly through seventy-one chapters, entitled generically to helpfully indicate whether action takes place before, after or at the time of the assault.
Main characters are well and realistically developed. Discordant notes for me were that, though mature, Abbie seems too young to already have had such a complex past and too young to make life-changing decisions; I also wondered why her parents were so absent. Reference to a bad decision she made in high school made me want to look for Game of Fear, Kabongo’s earlier book about Abbie.
I enjoyed reading Autumn of Fear and I recommend it.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of Autumn of Fear free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2018
Autumn of Fear is a psychological suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The book begins with Abbie Cooper waking up in the hospital after being sexual assaulted and tossed from a car but not remembering any of it. Her faithful friend Ty takes on the role of caregiver. I found Ty's character almost too perfect and even though I really liked him I was suspicious of him the whole way. The story unfolds in before and after chapters moving quickly from the past to the future and back again. Before Abbie's assault, the reader finds out she was stalked and given creepy presents. The new people in her life broaden the suspect pool. Ty becomes a real hero in the story as he becomes Abby's rock. Abby deals with the trauma in unexpected ways that shock and awe even as PTSD seems to become a permanent part of her life. The ending delivers some quick twists although not totally unexpected while keeping the adrenaline flowing. The story ends on a high note with a sweet HEA that looks like everything is going to be okay for Abby. The book flows smoothly and the story delivers on the thriller genre for a satisfying read. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
June 9, 2018
Abbie Cooper wakes up in a hospital bed barely alive. She has been severely beaten and is trying to figure out who did it even though she can’t remember the event. She starts thinking back to the past couple months. Who could have done this? Is it the popular guy that suddenly takes an interest in her? What about the quiet guy in her study group? And who was her secret admirer? Is her best friend Ty involved?
This is a great story that is going to keep you turning pages until you find out who did it. It’s so easy to feel for Abbie, I mean the girl is raped and severely beaten and trying to figure out who did it. You follow along as she remembers the last couple months and tries to puzzle out her attacker. But then there is a twist that I didn’t expect and she has even more thrown on her.
Abbie goes through hell and more. There are things in this story that we really don’t think about when we read the stories of college girls being raped and beaten. It touches the heart and makes this book so much more than just a thriller. It’s a great story and I recommend checking it out. It is the first book that I have read from Kabongo but it won’t be the last one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
This is a great story that is going to keep you turning pages until you find out who did it. It’s so easy to feel for Abbie, I mean the girl is raped and severely beaten and trying to figure out who did it. You follow along as she remembers the last couple months and tries to puzzle out her attacker. But then there is a twist that I didn’t expect and she has even more thrown on her.
Abbie goes through hell and more. There are things in this story that we really don’t think about when we read the stories of college girls being raped and beaten. It touches the heart and makes this book so much more than just a thriller. It’s a great story and I recommend checking it out. It is the first book that I have read from Kabongo but it won’t be the last one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
June 7, 2018
Let me begin by saying that this is the first time I have read anything by this author, so you do not need to have read the first book in her Fearless series to enjoy this one. While there are references made to things that happened to Abbie prior, it doesn't take anything away from this story.
At first, I was a little leery of the set up of this story. There is a bit of back and forth between "before" the attack and "after", and it occasionally became confusing. However, once this story begins to get moving, it takes off - fast. There were so many occasions where I thought I knew who was behind the attack, or I had figured out some other part of the plot only to be (pleasantly) surprised when the author suddenly went in a different direction entirely.
If you enjoy well written and engaging psychological thrillers, then I am sure you will enjoy this story as well! I would read more from this author (and in fact have already added the first book to my to-be-read pile).
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
At first, I was a little leery of the set up of this story. There is a bit of back and forth between "before" the attack and "after", and it occasionally became confusing. However, once this story begins to get moving, it takes off - fast. There were so many occasions where I thought I knew who was behind the attack, or I had figured out some other part of the plot only to be (pleasantly) surprised when the author suddenly went in a different direction entirely.
If you enjoy well written and engaging psychological thrillers, then I am sure you will enjoy this story as well! I would read more from this author (and in fact have already added the first book to my to-be-read pile).
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
December 1, 2018
Autumn of Fear
Thanks for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.
This book could not be put down.....from the moment I picked it up until the last pages I was crazy trying to figure out what happened to Abbie. So many characters in the book with less than honorable intentions made it hard to discern who attacked and assaulted this young girl in her second year at Yale. Amazing job!
What did I like? World building was incredible. I was sucked into Abbie's world as she struggled to put her life and what happened to her together. Her friend Ty was an amazing rock for her to cling to in such a violent storm. Everything came together so nicely in the end.
Would I buy this book? Yes, I would. It's a thriller that has you guessing....my first read from this author and I think the author did a great job reeling me in.
Thoughts for the author? I would beta read again for this author. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and it turned out real good. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Five page turning stars!
Thanks for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.
This book could not be put down.....from the moment I picked it up until the last pages I was crazy trying to figure out what happened to Abbie. So many characters in the book with less than honorable intentions made it hard to discern who attacked and assaulted this young girl in her second year at Yale. Amazing job!
What did I like? World building was incredible. I was sucked into Abbie's world as she struggled to put her life and what happened to her together. Her friend Ty was an amazing rock for her to cling to in such a violent storm. Everything came together so nicely in the end.
Would I buy this book? Yes, I would. It's a thriller that has you guessing....my first read from this author and I think the author did a great job reeling me in.
Thoughts for the author? I would beta read again for this author. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and it turned out real good. Kept me guessing until almost the end. Five page turning stars!
August 14, 2018
This is one of those books that keeps you on your toes the entire way through. When I thought i had it figured out, the author took me in a different direction.
I couldn’t read this book fast enough. It was full of twists, and turns. Not only that, but I really felt for Abbie. She’s a college girl, who has gone through hell, and just wants the truth. Unfortunately, the deeper she digs the more dangerous things become.
This is my first novel by Gledé Browne Kabongo, and it definitely won’t be my last. Her ability to grip you, and bring you on a rollercoaster ride is amazing and I want to read more.
Autumn of Fear is a psychological thriller with a main character that you can really sympathize with and twists and turns that will keep you from doing anything else except finish this book. I highly recommend this one!
*I received this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
I couldn’t read this book fast enough. It was full of twists, and turns. Not only that, but I really felt for Abbie. She’s a college girl, who has gone through hell, and just wants the truth. Unfortunately, the deeper she digs the more dangerous things become.
This is my first novel by Gledé Browne Kabongo, and it definitely won’t be my last. Her ability to grip you, and bring you on a rollercoaster ride is amazing and I want to read more.
Autumn of Fear is a psychological thriller with a main character that you can really sympathize with and twists and turns that will keep you from doing anything else except finish this book. I highly recommend this one!
*I received this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
December 14, 2018
This wasn’t for me. I read in some review that it’s a YA novel and had I know I wouldn’t have requested it. Maybe it’s not, I don’t recall it being marketed as such. But it does read as though it’s marketed for a younger audience.
The writing was clunky, lots of internal dialogue. The word choices and phrases weren’t believable for that age group. The characters were also silly. Abbie, who doesn’t date, has multiple men throwing themselves at her feet.
There are many suspects (too many and ridiculous ones at that) and some red herrings. It wraps up in a happy place after a very over the top arrest.
This wasn’t the story for me but I did finish it so it wasn’t that bad. Please give it a try as it may be for you.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and BooksGoSocial for a copy in exchange for a review.
The writing was clunky, lots of internal dialogue. The word choices and phrases weren’t believable for that age group. The characters were also silly. Abbie, who doesn’t date, has multiple men throwing themselves at her feet.
There are many suspects (too many and ridiculous ones at that) and some red herrings. It wraps up in a happy place after a very over the top arrest.
This wasn’t the story for me but I did finish it so it wasn’t that bad. Please give it a try as it may be for you.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and BooksGoSocial for a copy in exchange for a review.
May 26, 2020
Many thanks to Voracious readers for the chance to read this book.
Abbie is attacked and awakens in the hospital remembering nothing. Her best friend Ty is there and ready to help her. Abbie wonders if it's the secret admirer whose been sending her expensive gifts or could it be Spencer, the guy who has been trying to date her. The truth will out but it's more complicated than anyone knew.
This was a really interesting read. It jumps from after the accident to before and back and forth for a while. It's a little confusing at times but you soon figure out the story. There are some interesting turns in this story. I had figured out much of the plot but there were still odd bits that caught me out. The story is quite slow despite the dramatic beginning but it's well written and the ending finishes the story well. It does deal with some tough issues but I think they're handled well.
Abbie is attacked and awakens in the hospital remembering nothing. Her best friend Ty is there and ready to help her. Abbie wonders if it's the secret admirer whose been sending her expensive gifts or could it be Spencer, the guy who has been trying to date her. The truth will out but it's more complicated than anyone knew.
This was a really interesting read. It jumps from after the accident to before and back and forth for a while. It's a little confusing at times but you soon figure out the story. There are some interesting turns in this story. I had figured out much of the plot but there were still odd bits that caught me out. The story is quite slow despite the dramatic beginning but it's well written and the ending finishes the story well. It does deal with some tough issues but I think they're handled well.
March 7, 2018
Glede Browne Kabongo knocked it OUT of the park with the follow up to Game of Fear. It's not very often I come back and say that a sequel was more gripping and powerful than a first in a series, but this was it. The story grips you from the first page and leaves you intrigued all the way until the very end. It was so good, I read the entire book in one morning, in one sitting. Abbie Cooper is still a captivating character. We see some old faces, as well as some new ones. Can you figure out who's behind the assault before it's revealed? Trust me when I say, you're going to want to know who did it from page one, and you won't be able to stop yourself from considering everyone a suspect. Must read!
May 6, 2018
An intense action thriller that keeps you guessing!
Autumn of Fear was an intriguing and well-written story. There were many twists and turns that formed a believable plot. There was a lot of action and suspense to keep my interest piqued. Autumn of Fear will keep you guessing until the very end. This author did a good job of building up the suspense and keeping your attention to the very end. The characters were well developed and engaging.
This is the one of several books that I have read by Glede Browne Kabongo and will certainly not be my last. I was not disappointed at all. I recommend Autumn of Fear to anyone that enjoys reading a suspense/thriller that will keep you entertained all the way to the end while keeping you sitting on the edge of your seat.
Autumn of Fear was an intriguing and well-written story. There were many twists and turns that formed a believable plot. There was a lot of action and suspense to keep my interest piqued. Autumn of Fear will keep you guessing until the very end. This author did a good job of building up the suspense and keeping your attention to the very end. The characters were well developed and engaging.
This is the one of several books that I have read by Glede Browne Kabongo and will certainly not be my last. I was not disappointed at all. I recommend Autumn of Fear to anyone that enjoys reading a suspense/thriller that will keep you entertained all the way to the end while keeping you sitting on the edge of your seat.
April 27, 2018
This book is very fast paced! It starts off with fireworks and keeps going! I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t wait to read the next chapter. The characters are relatable and real. It is truly a story of how intertwined our lives can be. How one moment of poor judgment can change the course of your future and your family’s. Make sure when you open this book you have time to continue reading until it is finished. Mrs. Browne Kabongo is a truly gifted writer. I recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense.
May 14, 2020
This book starts out with Abby in the hospital not knowing what happened to her. I found this book very interesting in how she handled her rape. She wasn’t the typical rape victim or show signs of it. Most don’t want anyone to touch them and they shy away from all men when they don’t know who their attacker was so I found that part unrealistic but I’m glad she went to counseling. Other than that I thought it was a really good book. I like the epilogue too because the next book doesn’t pick up exactly where this one ended.
April 20, 2018
This smart YA psychological thriller starts with a brutal crime that has life-changing results for the victim. Set in the rarefied world of an Ivy League campus where privilege offers no protection from evil intent. Two stories intertwine,; The main character's evolution through crisis and the resolution of the crime she is determined to solve. But the crime is only the beginning as the author explores the effect of intergenerational trauma on decisions and behavior.
November 21, 2018
The book revolves around Abbie and apparently so do all the men that fall at her feet. It became boring and repetitive after a while. I knew what was going to happen as soon as they added another character within the story line. I think maybe if I would have read the first book it wouldn't have been so YA but I don't know. Its well written just not my style. When I hear of a gripping psychological thriller I want way more.
Received this book as an ARC for my honest review.
Received this book as an ARC for my honest review.
May 16, 2020
The reasons explained for why Abbie Cooper was assulted didn't make much sense if the perpetrator's only goal was to get an invitation from her; eventually it was chalked up to them having a sick and twisted mindset. Everything just started to come out of left field toward the end of the book. It still wasn't very clear by the end who the secret admirer was, so you have to assume it was the rapist but that doesn't fit the narative. The book did have a great and shocking ending though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews