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The Night Before
First dates can be murder.
Riveting and compulsive, national bestselling author Wendy Walker’s The Night Before “takes you to deep, dark places few thrillers dare to go” as two sisters uncover long-buried secrets when an internet date spirals out of control.
Laura Lochner has never been lucky in love. She falls too hard and too fast, always choosing the wrong men. Devastated by the end of her last relationship, she fled her Wall Street job and New York City apartment for her sister’s home in the Connecticut suburb where they both grew up. Though still haunted by the tragedy that’s defined her entire life, Laura is determined to take one more chance on love with a man she’s met on an Internet dating site.
Rosie Ferro has spent most of her life worrying about her troubled sister. Fearless but fragile, Laura has always walked an emotional tightrope, and Rosie has always been there to catch her. Laura’s return, under mysterious circumstances, has cast a shadow over Rosie’s peaceful life with her husband and young son – a shadow that grows darker as Laura leaves the house for her blind date.
When Laura does not return home the following morning, Rosie fears the worst. She’s not responding to calls or texts, and she’s left no information about the man she planned to meet. As Rosie begins a desperate search to find her sister, she is not just worried about what this man might have done to Laura. She’s worried about what Laura may have done to him…
Riveting and compulsive, national bestselling author Wendy Walker’s The Night Before “takes you to deep, dark places few thrillers dare to go” as two sisters uncover long-buried secrets when an internet date spirals out of control.
Laura Lochner has never been lucky in love. She falls too hard and too fast, always choosing the wrong men. Devastated by the end of her last relationship, she fled her Wall Street job and New York City apartment for her sister’s home in the Connecticut suburb where they both grew up. Though still haunted by the tragedy that’s defined her entire life, Laura is determined to take one more chance on love with a man she’s met on an Internet dating site.
Rosie Ferro has spent most of her life worrying about her troubled sister. Fearless but fragile, Laura has always walked an emotional tightrope, and Rosie has always been there to catch her. Laura’s return, under mysterious circumstances, has cast a shadow over Rosie’s peaceful life with her husband and young son – a shadow that grows darker as Laura leaves the house for her blind date.
When Laura does not return home the following morning, Rosie fears the worst. She’s not responding to calls or texts, and she’s left no information about the man she planned to meet. As Rosie begins a desperate search to find her sister, she is not just worried about what this man might have done to Laura. She’s worried about what Laura may have done to him…
310 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2019
1475 people are currently reading
43045 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Walker
14 books3,803 followersWendy Walker is the author of psychological suspense. Her novels have been translated into 23 foreign languages, have topped bestseller lists both nationally and abroad, and have been optioned for television and film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,814 reviews
June 11, 2019
I look at him, and neither of us speaks. I wonder which is real. Which is the truth. Is this a dream or a nightmare?
This was pretty entertaining. Going by my review, I certainly liked it a lot more than Walker's All Is Not Forgotten. I especially liked the ending, but of course I can't say why.
It's told from the perspective of two sisters - Laura and Rosie - who are living together after Laura had a bad break-up and fled her life in NYC to stay with Rosie. Laura's narrative takes us through the events of her date one Thursday night, with a man she met on an online dating site. Rosie reveals what happens the following day, when she awakes to discover Laura never came home.
Rosie doesn't know what to think. She tries to track down her sister and her mystery date any way she can. She fears Laura has been hurt, but another dark fear lurks in her mind. A fear going back many years into their pasts. She fears Laura herself could have done something bad.
Yeah, it's an exciting premise, and I loved the sense of wrongness about everything that the author seems to capture. A couple of things prevented me from loving this one, though.
1) I guessed almost everything that happened. I think the only thing that surprised me was . This might seem strange, but it actually wasn't that much of a problem. I obviously didn't know for sure that I had it right until the reveals happened, and I still enjoyed the twists and turns the narrative took me on to get there. I think the bigger issue was...
{I've kept this vague, but it might make it easier to guess!}
2) The glaringly obvious red herring the plot spends so long on. Mystery/thriller readers know that the most obvious answer is never the real one, so to spend so long going in a certain direction that clearly wasn't going to lead anywhere was tedious and frustrating.
Still, this will probably satisfy any beach thriller cravings people have.
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December 22, 2018
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
I really enjoyed this author's previous novels, “Emma in the Night” and “All is Not Forgotten”. Needless to say, I was looking forward to reading "The Night Before". Especially after reading the description.
Twelve hours earlier, she was...
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she's gone.
The book begins four months earlier. Laura Lochner is in session with her therapist. She’s talking about a night from many years ago. She wants to know why she has such bad luck with relationships. Why she’s “the girl no one can love”. Her therapist thinks she'll find the answers by going home.
The story jumps to the present. Twenty-eight year old, Laura has moved home and is living with her sister, husband, and nephew. She hasn’t told them exactly why she left New York, but they know that it involves a man. Laura left home after graduating from High School and she never looked back.
Laura now feels like she's ready to start dating again and joins a dating website. She meets a man on the website named Jonathan Fields. Her sister, Rosie is helping her get ready for her first date with Jonathan. Rosie is nervous about Laura dating. As Laura leaves, she tells her sister not to worry. She says she’s going to get it right this time.
When Rosie wakes up the next morning she feels like something is wrong. She tries to tell herself that everything is fine. She knows that Laura has good intentions. But Rosie’s memories of a night eleven years ago keep her on edge. She opens the door to the bedroom where Laura has been staying. It’s empty. The bed has not been slept in.
“Something is wrong”
Rosie’s husband tells her not to worry, that Laura is fine. But as the day goes on even he starts to get concerned. They start to investigate on their own. They don’t think that calling the police will help them find Laura, in fact, they worry that it might even make things worse.
Where is Laura?
Once I started this book, it was difficult to stop...very difficult. I thought this was a great read!!
The story is told from Laura and Rosie’s point of view, and takes place in the present but includes flashbacks from the past. Some of Laura’s therapy sessions are interspersed throughout the novel.
“The Night Before” is a smart and compulsively readable psychological suspense novel. With an original and engaging plot and a fascinating cast of characters, I was hooked from the start. I enjoyed the story and really liked how it all came together in the end.
I’m THRILLED to say that I’m now three for three with Wendy Walker, and as I’ve said before …
I CANNOT wait for more!!
I'd like to thank St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 4, 2022
I do believe I'll be keeping this one brief for now, as it's not released until mid 2019, but I wanted to get a few thoughts down first while it's still fresh in my mind. I believe keeping the synopsis brief in the description above is brilliant; I truly hope the publisher keeps it as vague as possible because it was so helpful going into this one knowing as little as possible.
I'll admit, I was getting a bit nervous around the halfway point because I had figured out all of the "reveals" up until that point, but I should have known that the obvious, cliche answers simply aren't Wendy Walker's style. I was genuinely shocked by two separate outcomes in the conclusion, which was such a relief and enjoyable predicament to find myself in!
The Night Before was a compulsive suspense novel that was easy to breeze through in a single sitting. I had all but given up on the almighty psychological thriller, but Ms. Walker has revived my love of all things devious and twisty in less than 300 pages. I have no way of knowing if the opportunity to read this one SO early (meaning the lack of hype to affect my expectations) made it a more desirable read than it could have otherwise, so I'll just have to wait until YOUR reviews come in to compare our thoughts! <3
*I received a bound, uncorrected manuscript via the publisher for review.
I'll admit, I was getting a bit nervous around the halfway point because I had figured out all of the "reveals" up until that point, but I should have known that the obvious, cliche answers simply aren't Wendy Walker's style. I was genuinely shocked by two separate outcomes in the conclusion, which was such a relief and enjoyable predicament to find myself in!
The Night Before was a compulsive suspense novel that was easy to breeze through in a single sitting. I had all but given up on the almighty psychological thriller, but Ms. Walker has revived my love of all things devious and twisty in less than 300 pages. I have no way of knowing if the opportunity to read this one SO early (meaning the lack of hype to affect my expectations) made it a more desirable read than it could have otherwise, so I'll just have to wait until YOUR reviews come in to compare our thoughts! <3
*I received a bound, uncorrected manuscript via the publisher for review.
April 27, 2020
Four so happy to find finally nail-biter, breathtaking, nightmare conjuring, anticipating book! We have a winner!
Laura moves back to her childhood town, stays with her sister’s family, heartbroken, dumped via text, trying to make changes in her life and goes on a date with a guy she found on a dating site. But after her date night, she doesn’t come back to home.
Interesting fact is : Her sister Rosie gets really scared. Not because of something bad happened to her sister but because of probability that something bad happened to her sister’s date.
Laura fights with the demons of her past and had a dysfunctional childhood with daddy and commitment issues. Any man approaches her is dead or disappears! So there must be something wrong with her or she might be trouble magnet who chooses the wrong candidates all the time.
This is my first tango with this writer. I heard lot about her previous book. But I think this one is real page turner, mind bender, thrilling, gripping one. You want to learn all the secrets the characters kept! Because starting with Laura , sister Rosie, her husband Joe, even their close friend Gabe, Laura’s last date are not telling the whole truth!
You keep turning the pages to know what’s gonna happen next! With the clever misdirection of writer you may reach the never see it coming conclusion. ( honestly I was expecting this one but still it was great twist)
So the character development, fast paced storytelling, never ending anticipation keep my attention awake and made me love this book so much! At least it took my one sleepless night!
Laura moves back to her childhood town, stays with her sister’s family, heartbroken, dumped via text, trying to make changes in her life and goes on a date with a guy she found on a dating site. But after her date night, she doesn’t come back to home.
Interesting fact is : Her sister Rosie gets really scared. Not because of something bad happened to her sister but because of probability that something bad happened to her sister’s date.
Laura fights with the demons of her past and had a dysfunctional childhood with daddy and commitment issues. Any man approaches her is dead or disappears! So there must be something wrong with her or she might be trouble magnet who chooses the wrong candidates all the time.
This is my first tango with this writer. I heard lot about her previous book. But I think this one is real page turner, mind bender, thrilling, gripping one. You want to learn all the secrets the characters kept! Because starting with Laura , sister Rosie, her husband Joe, even their close friend Gabe, Laura’s last date are not telling the whole truth!
You keep turning the pages to know what’s gonna happen next! With the clever misdirection of writer you may reach the never see it coming conclusion. ( honestly I was expecting this one but still it was great twist)
So the character development, fast paced storytelling, never ending anticipation keep my attention awake and made me love this book so much! At least it took my one sleepless night!
October 25, 2024
**4.5-stars**
That's how you do, Wendy Walker!! Well played.
I had so much fun reading The Night Before.
It's all the best parts of an addicting Lifetime movie put on the page!
Laura Lochner has always felt unlucky in love, but recently, after a devastating break-up, that really seems to be true. She decides to move back to her hometown to recover and lick her wounds.
Once there, she moves in with her loving sister, Rosie, and her family.
Spurred on, more by boredom than anything else, Laura creates a dating profile on a popular site and begins corresponding with someone.
Before too long, she decides to set up a date with him. She's got to get back into the game at some point, right?
When Rosie finds out, she is very concerned about Laura heading off on her own with a stranger.
Is it just normal trepidatio or is there more to her hesitancy than that? Against her own better judgement, Rosie relents and let's Laura borrow her car for her date.
Unfortunately, Laura doesn't come home.
Incorporating dual narratives, as well as dual timelines, this edge-of-your-seat, Psychological Thriller is compulsively readable.
There is a gruesome event that happened in the sister's teen years and you get bits and pieces of that filling in the narrative along the way. You question who you can trust, if anyone!?
This is one of the best thrillers I have read in 2019. I could not put it down. I love Walker's writing and her build-ups. Her ability to create a feeling of dread is top-notch!
Rosie's desperate investigation into her sister's disappearance had lots of juicy leads to follow. Walker keeps the chapters short and each one ends on its own mini-cliffhanger.
I was so impressed with this and would definitely recommend it to everyone. I think it would be the perfect book to bring on vacation, to the beach, or ski resort.
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. As always, I appreciate the opportunity!
Wendy Walker is one of my autobuy authors. I will read anything she writes.
Grocery list? Give it to me!
That's how you do, Wendy Walker!! Well played.
I had so much fun reading The Night Before.
It's all the best parts of an addicting Lifetime movie put on the page!
Laura Lochner has always felt unlucky in love, but recently, after a devastating break-up, that really seems to be true. She decides to move back to her hometown to recover and lick her wounds.
Once there, she moves in with her loving sister, Rosie, and her family.
Spurred on, more by boredom than anything else, Laura creates a dating profile on a popular site and begins corresponding with someone.
Before too long, she decides to set up a date with him. She's got to get back into the game at some point, right?
When Rosie finds out, she is very concerned about Laura heading off on her own with a stranger.
Is it just normal trepidatio or is there more to her hesitancy than that? Against her own better judgement, Rosie relents and let's Laura borrow her car for her date.
Unfortunately, Laura doesn't come home.
Incorporating dual narratives, as well as dual timelines, this edge-of-your-seat, Psychological Thriller is compulsively readable.
There is a gruesome event that happened in the sister's teen years and you get bits and pieces of that filling in the narrative along the way. You question who you can trust, if anyone!?
This is one of the best thrillers I have read in 2019. I could not put it down. I love Walker's writing and her build-ups. Her ability to create a feeling of dread is top-notch!
Rosie's desperate investigation into her sister's disappearance had lots of juicy leads to follow. Walker keeps the chapters short and each one ends on its own mini-cliffhanger.
I was so impressed with this and would definitely recommend it to everyone. I think it would be the perfect book to bring on vacation, to the beach, or ski resort.
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. As always, I appreciate the opportunity!
Wendy Walker is one of my autobuy authors. I will read anything she writes.
Grocery list? Give it to me!
September 23, 2018
5 Frakking Awesome Stars!!
If you thought Wendy Walker hit it out of the park with her earlier novels: “All is Not Forgotten” and “Emma in The Night,” well Fuggedaboutit folks! She just won the World Freakin Series with her latest novel: “The Night Before.”
So what is this one about you ask?:
That’s it. That’s all you get!!
Ok, ok, I lied, that’s not ALL you get..
Here’s a little teaser:
Imagine that there’s something you’ve desperately wanted .. something you’ve needed throughout your life and it has always been just out of reach and your emotions can’t help but rise up when you watch what you wanted simply slip away, time and again, yet you keep going for it..
Then there’s that gnawing feeling in the pit of your stomach, that nervousness you feel, when something just isn’t right and yet you’re too scared to speak your mind. The doubts seep in and you push, push, push them away and then you realize what a bad decision that was. Can you say ruh-roh?
Yep, those are the themes that creep up in “The Night Before” - creep being the operative word. Is your stomach in knots? Are you sick with anticipation? I sure hope so! I’m afraid I can’t say more as I don’t want to divulge any secrets, at least, not yet. Though there may have been one or two things I guessed, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment in the least as I simply couldn’t tear through my copy of this one fast enough.
What I loved about this psychological suspense, versus Wendy Walker’s other novels was that it felt believable and fairly realistic, as if parts of it could happen to me. Like the author, I am also from Connecticut, where all of her novels ‘take place,’ thus our backyards are basically one and the same... and this time, for the first time, I’m actually afraid to go outside and play. Thanks for scaring the bejesus out of me, Ms. Walker, I look forward to the next time!
This was a buddy read with Kaceey! Loved reading this with you as always!
Thank you to Jordan at St. Martin’s Press and to Wendy Walker for providing me with galley of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram on 9.16.18.
*Will be published on Amazon in the Summer of 2019.
If you thought Wendy Walker hit it out of the park with her earlier novels: “All is Not Forgotten” and “Emma in The Night,” well Fuggedaboutit folks! She just won the World Freakin Series with her latest novel: “The Night Before.”
So what is this one about you ask?:
Twelve hours earlier, she was...
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she's gone.
That’s it. That’s all you get!!
Ok, ok, I lied, that’s not ALL you get..
Here’s a little teaser:
Imagine that there’s something you’ve desperately wanted .. something you’ve needed throughout your life and it has always been just out of reach and your emotions can’t help but rise up when you watch what you wanted simply slip away, time and again, yet you keep going for it..
Then there’s that gnawing feeling in the pit of your stomach, that nervousness you feel, when something just isn’t right and yet you’re too scared to speak your mind. The doubts seep in and you push, push, push them away and then you realize what a bad decision that was. Can you say ruh-roh?
Yep, those are the themes that creep up in “The Night Before” - creep being the operative word. Is your stomach in knots? Are you sick with anticipation? I sure hope so! I’m afraid I can’t say more as I don’t want to divulge any secrets, at least, not yet. Though there may have been one or two things I guessed, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment in the least as I simply couldn’t tear through my copy of this one fast enough.
What I loved about this psychological suspense, versus Wendy Walker’s other novels was that it felt believable and fairly realistic, as if parts of it could happen to me. Like the author, I am also from Connecticut, where all of her novels ‘take place,’ thus our backyards are basically one and the same... and this time, for the first time, I’m actually afraid to go outside and play. Thanks for scaring the bejesus out of me, Ms. Walker, I look forward to the next time!
This was a buddy read with Kaceey! Loved reading this with you as always!
Thank you to Jordan at St. Martin’s Press and to Wendy Walker for providing me with galley of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram on 9.16.18.
*Will be published on Amazon in the Summer of 2019.
December 29, 2024
Update: We are so excited to share with you all that Wendy Walker, yes Wendy Walker joined us in our Behind the Pages group. Who else loves her books? Please follow the link below which takes you directly to the page to see what Wendy had to say.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Ingenious, enthralling, & brisk!
When Brenda and I got the opportunity to do an early group read for Wendy Walker’s new book with our Traveling Sisters we were absolutely thrilled. Wendy Walker has quite a few fans in our Traveling Sisters group including myself.
If I were to give you one piece of advice while reading this book would be to put all your other books aside so you can totally be immersed in this tale. This book needs to be read without any interruptions and quickly because the intensity level is all in the execution here and to even let it go for a few hours loses that appeal of needing to know what the heck is going on. Now I wouldn’t necessarily say that you actually need to do that but boy do I ever wish that life didn’t get in the way of this book!
THE NIGHT BEFORE by WENDY WALKER is an intense, thrilling, suspenseful and compulsive psychological thriller novel that was quite the entertaining and enjoyable read for me. I was actually quite stunned and very impressed in the end with how well a seemingly straightforward story turned into something that was so much more complex and felt nothing but new and original.
WENDY WALKER delivers an intriguing, clever and engaging read here with quite a few surprising twists and turns. The story is told in multiple timelines with alternating points of view between two sisters, Laura and Rosie and therapy sessions between Laura and her therapist. The intensity level of the story increases slowly as the story progresses and had me guessing and questioning almost everything that was happening in this book. I absolutely love that feeling of not knowing where a story is headed and when the reveal brings everything together in the end it is just so satisfying to me.
What really made this novel for me was Laura’s character and the ending. She was a complicated, relatable, believable and realistic character. I did have a suspicion early on about one of the reveals, but having guessed that did not take away any of the shocking reveals in the end. I was genuinely impressed with how emotionally attached I got to Laura’s character and the ending for me was absolutely beautiful and very touching.
Expected Publication Date: May 14th, 2019
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: I just noticed the cover for this book and it immediately grabbed my attention! My first thought was WOW what an absolutely gorgeous and striking cover, very eye-catching and an impactful design!
Title: Intriguing, suspenseful, and a simple, but yet an impactful title which represented the story very well.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, mysterious, gripping, stirring and effective.
Plot: Complex, suspenseful, twisty, action-packed, compelling, fast-paced, held my attention and entertaining.
Ending: Shocking, pleasing, impressive, and I was completely satisfied.
Overall: Even though I lost a little of the momentum to the story with having to put it aside it definitely did not take away how appealing and brilliant this story was. I devoured every single word! Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Wendy Walker and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for a review.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Ingenious, enthralling, & brisk!
When Brenda and I got the opportunity to do an early group read for Wendy Walker’s new book with our Traveling Sisters we were absolutely thrilled. Wendy Walker has quite a few fans in our Traveling Sisters group including myself.
If I were to give you one piece of advice while reading this book would be to put all your other books aside so you can totally be immersed in this tale. This book needs to be read without any interruptions and quickly because the intensity level is all in the execution here and to even let it go for a few hours loses that appeal of needing to know what the heck is going on. Now I wouldn’t necessarily say that you actually need to do that but boy do I ever wish that life didn’t get in the way of this book!
THE NIGHT BEFORE by WENDY WALKER is an intense, thrilling, suspenseful and compulsive psychological thriller novel that was quite the entertaining and enjoyable read for me. I was actually quite stunned and very impressed in the end with how well a seemingly straightforward story turned into something that was so much more complex and felt nothing but new and original.
WENDY WALKER delivers an intriguing, clever and engaging read here with quite a few surprising twists and turns. The story is told in multiple timelines with alternating points of view between two sisters, Laura and Rosie and therapy sessions between Laura and her therapist. The intensity level of the story increases slowly as the story progresses and had me guessing and questioning almost everything that was happening in this book. I absolutely love that feeling of not knowing where a story is headed and when the reveal brings everything together in the end it is just so satisfying to me.
What really made this novel for me was Laura’s character and the ending. She was a complicated, relatable, believable and realistic character. I did have a suspicion early on about one of the reveals, but having guessed that did not take away any of the shocking reveals in the end. I was genuinely impressed with how emotionally attached I got to Laura’s character and the ending for me was absolutely beautiful and very touching.
Expected Publication Date: May 14th, 2019
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: I just noticed the cover for this book and it immediately grabbed my attention! My first thought was WOW what an absolutely gorgeous and striking cover, very eye-catching and an impactful design!
Title: Intriguing, suspenseful, and a simple, but yet an impactful title which represented the story very well.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, mysterious, gripping, stirring and effective.
Plot: Complex, suspenseful, twisty, action-packed, compelling, fast-paced, held my attention and entertaining.
Ending: Shocking, pleasing, impressive, and I was completely satisfied.
Overall: Even though I lost a little of the momentum to the story with having to put it aside it definitely did not take away how appealing and brilliant this story was. I devoured every single word! Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Wendy Walker and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for a review.
October 9, 2018
*3 Stars*
For me, this was a middle-of-the-road psychological thriller with a twisty plot and enough back and forth structural-juggling to make make my head spin. (In a good way;)
I did enjoy—however, I wasn’t entirely pulled in or convinced, and I unfortunately felt this story was a bit hollow and consisted largely of dramatic build-up that yeilded a decent though not particularly gratifying finish.
But that’s just me, and sometimes I’m a weirdo. I loved All is Not Forgotten, and many readers are loving this one. I hope you’ll fall into their wheelhouse!
*Sister Read*
For me, this was a middle-of-the-road psychological thriller with a twisty plot and enough back and forth structural-juggling to make make my head spin. (In a good way;)
I did enjoy—however, I wasn’t entirely pulled in or convinced, and I unfortunately felt this story was a bit hollow and consisted largely of dramatic build-up that yeilded a decent though not particularly gratifying finish.
But that’s just me, and sometimes I’m a weirdo. I loved All is Not Forgotten, and many readers are loving this one. I hope you’ll fall into their wheelhouse!
*Sister Read*
September 17, 2018
I always love to approach my books by going in with blinders on!
In this case, that was a very good thing.
The publisher’s ‘blurb’ was purposely vague to draw in the reader. Well, it worked! I couldn’t wait to read this one, and I know I’m not the only one who had the same reaction!! If you’re looking for the next truly top-notch thriller, pull up your chair…You’ve found it!
Laura has a past, to say the least. One that all these years later, continues to haunt her...
It's one innocent evening out, a first date. All arranged conveniently through a trusted online site. So what could go wrong?
Told from different timelines and POV’s, the tension continually ramps-up as the book progresses. (Just the way we like it!) With every page I was pulled more deeply into the mystery, white-knuckling my copy!
This is the third book I’ve read by Wendy Walker, and was by far my favorite! I was immediately dropped into the action and story-line. All without ever losing momentum at any point.
I couldn’t read it fast enough! When I wasn’t reading it…it would just stare at me, taunting me from across the room whispering “read me!!” Lol! I didn’t stand a chance!
I may have guessed some of the twists along the way but others were just complete shockers, with more than a few jaw-dropping moments! The twists and switch-backs just kept coming!
Like the publisher, I’m staying vague regarding the story-line. Wouldn’t want to chance giving any spoilers away! Sorry…You’ll just have to read it yourself to see what the buzz is about!
Highly recommend to all thriller fans.
A buddy read with Susanne! One of our favorites! (Thank you Susanne)🌸
Thank you to Jordan Hanley at St Martin’s Press for my galley copy to read and review.
In this case, that was a very good thing.
The publisher’s ‘blurb’ was purposely vague to draw in the reader. Well, it worked! I couldn’t wait to read this one, and I know I’m not the only one who had the same reaction!! If you’re looking for the next truly top-notch thriller, pull up your chair…You’ve found it!
Laura has a past, to say the least. One that all these years later, continues to haunt her...
It's one innocent evening out, a first date. All arranged conveniently through a trusted online site. So what could go wrong?
Told from different timelines and POV’s, the tension continually ramps-up as the book progresses. (Just the way we like it!) With every page I was pulled more deeply into the mystery, white-knuckling my copy!
This is the third book I’ve read by Wendy Walker, and was by far my favorite! I was immediately dropped into the action and story-line. All without ever losing momentum at any point.
I couldn’t read it fast enough! When I wasn’t reading it…it would just stare at me, taunting me from across the room whispering “read me!!” Lol! I didn’t stand a chance!
I may have guessed some of the twists along the way but others were just complete shockers, with more than a few jaw-dropping moments! The twists and switch-backs just kept coming!
Like the publisher, I’m staying vague regarding the story-line. Wouldn’t want to chance giving any spoilers away! Sorry…You’ll just have to read it yourself to see what the buzz is about!
Highly recommend to all thriller fans.
A buddy read with Susanne! One of our favorites! (Thank you Susanne)🌸
Thank you to Jordan Hanley at St Martin’s Press for my galley copy to read and review.
January 4, 2019
“Part One--choose a man who can’t love you.
Part Two--reconstruct him into a man who will love you.
Part Three--make him love you by any means.”
Run of the mill psychological thriller about a blind date that goes awry.
The premise is intriguing. Laura is getting ready to go out on a first date with a man named Jonathan she met on a dating website. Laura builds a fantasy around Jonathan and this date. She craves love, and as result, she has a tendency to fall for the wrong men. You see, Laura has a dark and dangerous past: She may or may not have killed her first love when she is a teenager. Dark rage is buried inside of her, and her anger can come out at any time. She is determined to squash her past and find true love. In order to do so, she creates stories inventing the perfect man. Unfortunately, her stories make her vulnerable to those who can hurt her most.
The guys she is on a date with may be deadly. But not to worry, because Laura can fight back.
When she doesn’t return home the night of the date, her sister Rosie investigates.
The narrative switches perspective between Laura and Rosie. Also, we get some insight into Laura by reading her past “sessions” with her psychologist.
The Night Before held my attention and had me flipping the pages. It is a fast-paced and easy read--I was able to get through it in one sitting. On the other hand, I found Laura and Rosie’s voices to be flat. While both had some layers to their characters, they didn’t have enough depth to hold my curiosity. I really was hoping to witness an evolution to Laura’s character but it never came. My biggest issue was that there was too much telling and not enough seeing. It was only the idea of what Laura might be that kept me interested. I was waiting for the payoff but none came.
I went into this with high expectations. I love Wendy Walker’s previous work and I had read a slew of rave reviews. Sadly, I found The Night Before to be a letdown. It has the right elements, but the premise didn’t match the execution.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
Part Two--reconstruct him into a man who will love you.
Part Three--make him love you by any means.”
Run of the mill psychological thriller about a blind date that goes awry.
The premise is intriguing. Laura is getting ready to go out on a first date with a man named Jonathan she met on a dating website. Laura builds a fantasy around Jonathan and this date. She craves love, and as result, she has a tendency to fall for the wrong men. You see, Laura has a dark and dangerous past: She may or may not have killed her first love when she is a teenager. Dark rage is buried inside of her, and her anger can come out at any time. She is determined to squash her past and find true love. In order to do so, she creates stories inventing the perfect man. Unfortunately, her stories make her vulnerable to those who can hurt her most.
The guys she is on a date with may be deadly. But not to worry, because Laura can fight back.
When she doesn’t return home the night of the date, her sister Rosie investigates.
The narrative switches perspective between Laura and Rosie. Also, we get some insight into Laura by reading her past “sessions” with her psychologist.
The Night Before held my attention and had me flipping the pages. It is a fast-paced and easy read--I was able to get through it in one sitting. On the other hand, I found Laura and Rosie’s voices to be flat. While both had some layers to their characters, they didn’t have enough depth to hold my curiosity. I really was hoping to witness an evolution to Laura’s character but it never came. My biggest issue was that there was too much telling and not enough seeing. It was only the idea of what Laura might be that kept me interested. I was waiting for the payoff but none came.
I went into this with high expectations. I love Wendy Walker’s previous work and I had read a slew of rave reviews. Sadly, I found The Night Before to be a letdown. It has the right elements, but the premise didn’t match the execution.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2018
This was such an addictive and gripping read that I could not put it down! I was glued to his book and read most of the book in one day. I just had to know what was going to happen next. Walker did not disappoint; the action was consistent and the twits and revelations came at the right intervals to keep me on the edge of my seat wanting more!
I love that the book blurb does not give a lot of information - just enough to pique the readers interest! This book is cleverly told through both Laura and her sister, Rosie's points of view using differing timelines which are clearly dated and labeled. This was a HUGE plus. I never felt lost and experience no confusion when the timelines jumped around. The book blurb teases the reader with the fact that a woman is missing. I will only tell you that Laura has gone on a date with a man she met on an internet dating site and Rosie, her husband, Joe and their childhood friend, Gabe, become worried when Laura does not show up the next day.
I loved that there is never any downtime in this book. The pacing is consistent and adds to the feeling of dread, suspense and mounting anxiety of the characters (and me while reading). I loved how the Author gives bits and pieces about the main character's past throughout the book. I loved that I never knew the entire story, so I was continuously guessing and creating theories. For most of the book, I kept wondering who was reliable, who was unreliable, what is real, what is the truth, is anyone lying, and where is Laura?
I love putting on my super sleuth hat while reading! I love when an Author can fool me. I found the storytelling to be clever, extremely well thought out, and riveting. By the time the book concluded, I had experienced so many feelings – anticipation, dread, anxiety, happiness, hope, shock, surprise and although my theories were wrong, the Author tidied everything up so nicely that I was not only happy I was wrong but was thrilled by it. Nothing really came out of left field, one does not really need to suspend disbelief while reading. What you do need to do is find a comfortable reading spot and dive in!
This was my first book by Walker, but it will not be my last.
Highly recommend!
Thank you to St. Marin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an hones review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
I love that the book blurb does not give a lot of information - just enough to pique the readers interest! This book is cleverly told through both Laura and her sister, Rosie's points of view using differing timelines which are clearly dated and labeled. This was a HUGE plus. I never felt lost and experience no confusion when the timelines jumped around. The book blurb teases the reader with the fact that a woman is missing. I will only tell you that Laura has gone on a date with a man she met on an internet dating site and Rosie, her husband, Joe and their childhood friend, Gabe, become worried when Laura does not show up the next day.
I loved that there is never any downtime in this book. The pacing is consistent and adds to the feeling of dread, suspense and mounting anxiety of the characters (and me while reading). I loved how the Author gives bits and pieces about the main character's past throughout the book. I loved that I never knew the entire story, so I was continuously guessing and creating theories. For most of the book, I kept wondering who was reliable, who was unreliable, what is real, what is the truth, is anyone lying, and where is Laura?
I love putting on my super sleuth hat while reading! I love when an Author can fool me. I found the storytelling to be clever, extremely well thought out, and riveting. By the time the book concluded, I had experienced so many feelings – anticipation, dread, anxiety, happiness, hope, shock, surprise and although my theories were wrong, the Author tidied everything up so nicely that I was not only happy I was wrong but was thrilled by it. Nothing really came out of left field, one does not really need to suspend disbelief while reading. What you do need to do is find a comfortable reading spot and dive in!
This was my first book by Walker, but it will not be my last.
Highly recommend!
Thank you to St. Marin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an hones review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
May 26, 2019
What a wild ride! I was totally gripped - The Night Before was such a page turner!
Laura is unlucky in love and haunted by a teenage tragedy that has defined her life. She always seems to choose the wrong men. Determined to give love (and herself) one more chance, Laura returns to her childhood suburb and joins an internet dating site. She has an immediate connection with one man from the site and decides to meet him for a blind date. Nervous and excited, Laura walks out of her sister Rosie's house to meet up with her date and doesn't return. Rosie begins a frantic search to find her sister and uncover what really happened to Laura the night before.
Told from the alternating perspectives of both Laura and Rosie, The Night Before gripped me from the onset and never let go. The more you read, the more you question everything and everyone. The pacing of the book left my pulse racing as the suspense (and my anxiety) mounted. I found myself weaving plausible (and implausible) theory after theory. Wendy Walker definitely kept both the tension and suspicion levels high throughout the book!
The Night Before is a well crafted, riveting and thoroughly entertaining thriller that I have no hesitation in recommending! Cozy up, grab snacks and dig in my friends - this is one you won't want to miss. 🥰
Thank you to Wendy Walker, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book.
Laura is unlucky in love and haunted by a teenage tragedy that has defined her life. She always seems to choose the wrong men. Determined to give love (and herself) one more chance, Laura returns to her childhood suburb and joins an internet dating site. She has an immediate connection with one man from the site and decides to meet him for a blind date. Nervous and excited, Laura walks out of her sister Rosie's house to meet up with her date and doesn't return. Rosie begins a frantic search to find her sister and uncover what really happened to Laura the night before.
Told from the alternating perspectives of both Laura and Rosie, The Night Before gripped me from the onset and never let go. The more you read, the more you question everything and everyone. The pacing of the book left my pulse racing as the suspense (and my anxiety) mounted. I found myself weaving plausible (and implausible) theory after theory. Wendy Walker definitely kept both the tension and suspicion levels high throughout the book!
The Night Before is a well crafted, riveting and thoroughly entertaining thriller that I have no hesitation in recommending! Cozy up, grab snacks and dig in my friends - this is one you won't want to miss. 🥰
Thank you to Wendy Walker, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book.
April 29, 2020
The paperback releases for The Night Before is today!! Wendy Walker joined us for a spoiler-free Q & A in our Behind the Pages Goodreads Group. She shared some amazing insight into her writing process
To view the Q & A see what Wendy Walker has to say about her books, her writing process and a peek into how she pulls off those amazing twists, you can find the thread here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My review
Two very different sisters, one goes missing the night before and the other tries to put the nightmare together.
The Night Before is a clever, unique, fast-paced story that had my heart racing right from the start. The characters are so well-developed and the well-layered plot drew me right into the lives of these two very different sisters, their bond and their dark secrets.
I love unreliable characters and Wendy Walker does such a great job here with keeping me on our toes with the best possible sense of dread as I tried to figure out who was the danger and who was in danger.
The twists and turns, red herrings had my head spinning from the excitement and I was going in so many different directions trying to figure out how it was all going to come together I didn’t see that unexpected ending coming that came together so well. I highly recommend!
Thank you to Jordan from St Martin's Press for my copy from NetGalley to read and review.
To view the Q & A see what Wendy Walker has to say about her books, her writing process and a peek into how she pulls off those amazing twists, you can find the thread here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My review
Two very different sisters, one goes missing the night before and the other tries to put the nightmare together.
The Night Before is a clever, unique, fast-paced story that had my heart racing right from the start. The characters are so well-developed and the well-layered plot drew me right into the lives of these two very different sisters, their bond and their dark secrets.
I love unreliable characters and Wendy Walker does such a great job here with keeping me on our toes with the best possible sense of dread as I tried to figure out who was the danger and who was in danger.
The twists and turns, red herrings had my head spinning from the excitement and I was going in so many different directions trying to figure out how it was all going to come together I didn’t see that unexpected ending coming that came together so well. I highly recommend!
Thank you to Jordan from St Martin's Press for my copy from NetGalley to read and review.
October 2, 2018
4.5 stars! UNPUTDOWNABLE!!
This was a fast-paced, tension-filled, edge-of-your-seat thrilling read! I couldn’t flip these pages fast enough! I absolutely love this author’s writing – it pulled me in from page one and kept me fully captivated and intrigued until the very end.
The blurb describing this novel doesn’t give much detail:
“Twelve hours earlier, she was...
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she's gone.”
Knowing the caliber of this author’s writing, I knew I would be in for an intense and gripping read, which is exactly what this was.
Once again, Wendy Walker, mastered the art of brilliant narration. One of my most favourite books is her debut, “All Is Not Forgotten” which had such unique and clever narration. Although that remains my favourite of her books, this comes in a VERY close second. I loved the characters – my suspicions were bouncing all over the place. The various perspectives flow perfectly, revealing new pieces of this addictive and twisty story that will have you changing your theory more than a few times throughout.
The gripping and speedy pace, the vivid characters, the skillful narration, the unwavering tension. It all adds up to one fantastic story that will leave you in high anticipation of what Wendy Walker will come out with next! As you can tell, I highly recommend this incredible novel!
This was a Traveling Sister read that we all truly enjoyed! This review will be posted on our blog closer to the publication date. To check out a sneak peek of the Traveling Sisters discussion and Group thoughts, please visit our blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
A huge thank you to Jordan at St. Martin’s Press, Wendy Walker and Brenda and Norma for inviting me to be part of this exciting Traveling Sister read!!
This was a fast-paced, tension-filled, edge-of-your-seat thrilling read! I couldn’t flip these pages fast enough! I absolutely love this author’s writing – it pulled me in from page one and kept me fully captivated and intrigued until the very end.
The blurb describing this novel doesn’t give much detail:
“Twelve hours earlier, she was...
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she's gone.”
Knowing the caliber of this author’s writing, I knew I would be in for an intense and gripping read, which is exactly what this was.
Once again, Wendy Walker, mastered the art of brilliant narration. One of my most favourite books is her debut, “All Is Not Forgotten” which had such unique and clever narration. Although that remains my favourite of her books, this comes in a VERY close second. I loved the characters – my suspicions were bouncing all over the place. The various perspectives flow perfectly, revealing new pieces of this addictive and twisty story that will have you changing your theory more than a few times throughout.
The gripping and speedy pace, the vivid characters, the skillful narration, the unwavering tension. It all adds up to one fantastic story that will leave you in high anticipation of what Wendy Walker will come out with next! As you can tell, I highly recommend this incredible novel!
This was a Traveling Sister read that we all truly enjoyed! This review will be posted on our blog closer to the publication date. To check out a sneak peek of the Traveling Sisters discussion and Group thoughts, please visit our blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
A huge thank you to Jordan at St. Martin’s Press, Wendy Walker and Brenda and Norma for inviting me to be part of this exciting Traveling Sister read!!
October 27, 2018
First of all I’d like to clarify that a 3* review from me means that the book was a “middle of the road” read for me, not bad but not one that is memorable or that I would necessarily recommend to others.
This book definitely is a page turner and a quick read, in fact the fewer times that you have to put the book down the better -- keeps the tension tighter that way.
The novel is told from three points of view, Laura the night before and present time, Rosie the night before and the present and Laura in the past during sessions with her psychiatrist.
We know that Laura left town years ago because of an incident that happened when she was still a teenager which involved Laura being discovered at the site where her boyfriend was found dead. She doesn’t have clear memories of what happened that night, they were all drinking quite a bit, but she was found with incriminating evidence. She was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Laura has recently come back home to live with her older sister Rosie and her husband Joe and young son. Laura had recently had a bad breakup with someone that she felt deeply for. She was even more traumatized because the breakup was done through a text written to her from her boyfriend Kevin. I already started to question Laura and her state of mind because she apparently never reached out again to Kevin but just considered the text to be proof of his feelings for her and the end of their relationship. This is quite hard to believe, I think most people that had been deeply involved with someone wouldn’t just bolt after receiving a text. Wouldn’t she want to speak with him? At least e mail him and tell him her feelings?
The book opens with Laura getting ready to go on a blind date with someone she met on a dating website. Laura isn’t necessarily a trusting person but there is something about the man’s profile and the fact that he called to speak with her that has her interested in him. She never returns that night or the next day.
I’m not going to reveal any more about the plot of this book as I don’t want to ruin anyone’s enjoyment. The reason this was a 3* for me was partly because I didn't feel the characters were very well developed and there were also some important loose threads at the end of the novel.
There are a lot of red herrings if you pay attention but there are so many twists that it’s hard to keep everyone straight. Just don’t trust anyone or what they might say!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
This book definitely is a page turner and a quick read, in fact the fewer times that you have to put the book down the better -- keeps the tension tighter that way.
The novel is told from three points of view, Laura the night before and present time, Rosie the night before and the present and Laura in the past during sessions with her psychiatrist.
We know that Laura left town years ago because of an incident that happened when she was still a teenager which involved Laura being discovered at the site where her boyfriend was found dead. She doesn’t have clear memories of what happened that night, they were all drinking quite a bit, but she was found with incriminating evidence. She was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Laura has recently come back home to live with her older sister Rosie and her husband Joe and young son. Laura had recently had a bad breakup with someone that she felt deeply for. She was even more traumatized because the breakup was done through a text written to her from her boyfriend Kevin. I already started to question Laura and her state of mind because she apparently never reached out again to Kevin but just considered the text to be proof of his feelings for her and the end of their relationship. This is quite hard to believe, I think most people that had been deeply involved with someone wouldn’t just bolt after receiving a text. Wouldn’t she want to speak with him? At least e mail him and tell him her feelings?
The book opens with Laura getting ready to go on a blind date with someone she met on a dating website. Laura isn’t necessarily a trusting person but there is something about the man’s profile and the fact that he called to speak with her that has her interested in him. She never returns that night or the next day.
I’m not going to reveal any more about the plot of this book as I don’t want to ruin anyone’s enjoyment. The reason this was a 3* for me was partly because I didn't feel the characters were very well developed and there were also some important loose threads at the end of the novel.
There are a lot of red herrings if you pay attention but there are so many twists that it’s hard to keep everyone straight. Just don’t trust anyone or what they might say!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
May 14, 2019
The Night Before is one of most original thrillers I’ve read, bar none. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Full review for pub day today!
Rosie and Laura are sisters and total opposites in their personalities and ways of life. While Rosie has lived the expected life marrying her childhood sweetheart and having a child, Laura is single and has had a lifelong difficulty with anger. It was said as a child that she had fists for hands.
Laura experienced a trauma in her teen years that explains some of why her path has been a diversion from Rosie’s. But why does her life continue to tumble and fall apart every time she meets a new man?
Laura is staying with Rosie and her family when she goes on a blind date and does not return home. Rosie immediately starts looking for her, but knowing her sister’s past, she is desperate to find her. She questions whether her sister could have harmed the man she met on the date, or was Laura hurt this time. As the pieces of that puzzle are shown, it kept me guessing back and forth about Laura’s innocence or guilt.
Another original aspect of this story is the timelines. The story is told in the present day by Rosie as she searches for Laura, the night before (when Laura was on the date) by Laura herself, and in brief entries of conversations Laura had with her therapist in the past.
The Night Before had me riveted, glued to my book, confused by my own thoughts about Laura’s culpability (which I loved!), and questioning just how I felt about Laura and of what she is capable. I felt intense empathy for her knowing the trauma and life experiences she’s had.
Wendy Walker did an exceptional job conveying how two sisters growing up in the same household can have vastly different experiences shaping their entire lives. The Night Before receives my highest recommendation, and I predict it will be a top thriller for 2019!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
————-
This will definitely be one of the best thrillers of 2019, if not the number one! I will post a full review closer to the publication date in May, but I couldn’t resist telling you not to miss it!
In a sea of a sometimes saturated market of thrillers, The Night Before is original and a total knockout. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Rosie and Laura are sisters and total opposites in their personalities and ways of life. While Rosie has lived the expected life marrying her childhood sweetheart and having a child, Laura is single and has had a lifelong difficulty with anger. It was said as a child that she had fists for hands.
Laura experienced a trauma in her teen years that explains some of why her path has been a diversion from Rosie’s. But why does her life continue to tumble and fall apart every time she meets a new man?
Laura is staying with Rosie and her family when she goes on a blind date and does not return home. Rosie immediately starts looking for her, but knowing her sister’s past, she is desperate to find her. She questions whether her sister could have harmed the man she met on the date, or was Laura hurt this time. As the pieces of that puzzle are shown, it kept me guessing back and forth about Laura’s innocence or guilt.
Another original aspect of this story is the timelines. The story is told in the present day by Rosie as she searches for Laura, the night before (when Laura was on the date) by Laura herself, and in brief entries of conversations Laura had with her therapist in the past.
The Night Before had me riveted, glued to my book, confused by my own thoughts about Laura’s culpability (which I loved!), and questioning just how I felt about Laura and of what she is capable. I felt intense empathy for her knowing the trauma and life experiences she’s had.
Wendy Walker did an exceptional job conveying how two sisters growing up in the same household can have vastly different experiences shaping their entire lives. The Night Before receives my highest recommendation, and I predict it will be a top thriller for 2019!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
————-
This will definitely be one of the best thrillers of 2019, if not the number one! I will post a full review closer to the publication date in May, but I couldn’t resist telling you not to miss it!
In a sea of a sometimes saturated market of thrillers, The Night Before is original and a total knockout. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
October 9, 2018
4.5 stars for this one.
Well, that was a wild ride!! At some point I figure my pulse will stop racing.
Laura is getting ready for a blind date. She isn't quite sure if she's ready to date again after a bad breakup not too long ago, but something about this man's picture, his profile, their conversations, makes her hopeful and excited.
It hasn't been easy for Laura since she moved back to her hometown, moved in with her older sister Rosie and her family. Because years ago Laura was involved in a tragic, mysterious incident, and no one really knows the truth of what happened, but it's haunted her every day since then. She doesn't like when people judge her or mistrust her—or even fear her—but she knows some do. And inherently, she knows Rosie is still worried about her.
Laura goes on the date—and then disappears. Rosie, her husband, and a family friend are left trying to figure out what happened that night. But to do so, they must uncover the truth about what happened to Laura all those years ago, and what other incidents that night has set off in her life since then.
The less said about the plot the better, because there is a lot going on and there are a lot of twists and turns to navigate. Wendy Walker definitely takes you on a ride, ratcheting up the suspense as you wonder what all of these characters are hiding. (I trust no one, so I suspect they're all hiding something.)
The Night Before alternates narration between Laura getting ready for the date and as the date happens, and the present, as Rosie searches for answers. It's a fascinating, compelling read that hooked me from its very innocuous start, as Laura is getting dressed for her date. But Walker only hints at what's to come.
This book doesn't come out until mid-May of next year, so if you can't get your hands on an advance copy, I'd definitely recommend one of Walker's earlier books, Emma in the Night. (See my review.) I think this new book is a little better than that one, but it still gives you an idea of Walker's storytelling talent.
We're in the midst of a real glut of thrillers, so it's not always easy to tell which are worth your time. The Night Before definitely is. You'll see everyone reading it come next year!
NetGalley and St. Martin's Press provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
May 13, 2019
𝖂𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖑𝖐𝖊𝖗 𝖉𝖎𝖉 𝖎𝖙 𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖎𝖓
An addictive and compelling read that will suck you in from the very first page and will not let you go until the mind blowing end! 🤯 Laura returns home to Connecticut after living in NYC for many years. Laura has a damaged heart. She is still getting over her last relationship and still scarred from things that happen when she was a teenager. Her sister Rosie is concerned, but happy when Laura finally goes out on a date for the first time in a long time. Happy that is until Laura doesn’t return...
The story bounces around between present and past, and Rosie and Laura’s perspectives. This is one of my favorite things, the changing of times and perspectives, and it was done brilliantly in this book. Each section was clearly labeled so there was never any confusion, additionally each character really had their own unique voice. The tension in this story was palpable, it really just seeped through the pages right into my bones. Do you ever find yourself reading a book and then realize that you have been holding your breath and your neck is all tensed up? That was this book. I was suspicious of every. Single. Character. I also had countless theories, all of them wrong. The pacing of this story was perfection. You were given clues and truths at the perfect pace. It kept me riveted and completely engaged throughout.
This is a can’t miss thriller for all lovers of the genre. It has everything that a thriller lover loves, all those twists and turns that you don’t see coming. And even the twists that I did see coming still somehow surprise me. This is probably my favorite book from Wendy Walker. She really is a wonderful storyteller and I love how she brings so much psychology and authenticity to her stories. There really is no suspending of belief, and that’s what makes it so creepy... because this could happen to you!
*** many thanks to St Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
An addictive and compelling read that will suck you in from the very first page and will not let you go until the mind blowing end! 🤯 Laura returns home to Connecticut after living in NYC for many years. Laura has a damaged heart. She is still getting over her last relationship and still scarred from things that happen when she was a teenager. Her sister Rosie is concerned, but happy when Laura finally goes out on a date for the first time in a long time. Happy that is until Laura doesn’t return...
The story bounces around between present and past, and Rosie and Laura’s perspectives. This is one of my favorite things, the changing of times and perspectives, and it was done brilliantly in this book. Each section was clearly labeled so there was never any confusion, additionally each character really had their own unique voice. The tension in this story was palpable, it really just seeped through the pages right into my bones. Do you ever find yourself reading a book and then realize that you have been holding your breath and your neck is all tensed up? That was this book. I was suspicious of every. Single. Character. I also had countless theories, all of them wrong. The pacing of this story was perfection. You were given clues and truths at the perfect pace. It kept me riveted and completely engaged throughout.
This is a can’t miss thriller for all lovers of the genre. It has everything that a thriller lover loves, all those twists and turns that you don’t see coming. And even the twists that I did see coming still somehow surprise me. This is probably my favorite book from Wendy Walker. She really is a wonderful storyteller and I love how she brings so much psychology and authenticity to her stories. There really is no suspending of belief, and that’s what makes it so creepy... because this could happen to you!
*** many thanks to St Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
September 29, 2018
4.5 stars
I'm sitting here kinda stunned because the author somehow took a pretty basic premise and managed to tell a complex story that felt different and new. I won't go too much into the plot since the publisher hasn't revealed much here on Goodreads yet, but it is a dual timeline story featuring two sisters. Part of what sets this story apart from other books in the thriller or suspense genre is one of the sisters, Laura, isn't some one-note character, she's complicated. And that's why the book is so brilliant because as a reader you just have no idea where the author is going to go with the story as there are many possibilities. I absolutely love that feeling of not knowing what will happen and just enjoying everything as the story slowly unfolds. Definitely recommend this one when it comes out next May.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me an advance copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
I'm sitting here kinda stunned because the author somehow took a pretty basic premise and managed to tell a complex story that felt different and new. I won't go too much into the plot since the publisher hasn't revealed much here on Goodreads yet, but it is a dual timeline story featuring two sisters. Part of what sets this story apart from other books in the thriller or suspense genre is one of the sisters, Laura, isn't some one-note character, she's complicated. And that's why the book is so brilliant because as a reader you just have no idea where the author is going to go with the story as there are many possibilities. I absolutely love that feeling of not knowing what will happen and just enjoying everything as the story slowly unfolds. Definitely recommend this one when it comes out next May.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me an advance copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
January 7, 2019
Laura Lochner was left emotionally depleted by her last relationship. The breakup left her devastated and lacking closure after it ended abruptly. In an effort to move forward she decides to move back to Connecticut where she will live with her sister’s family. Rosie has always been there to support Laura and she was instrumental in guiding her through a tough adolescence.
Laura goes out one evening to meet a man she connected with on a dating site. When she doesn’t return, her sister and brother-in-law fear for the worst. Together they begin to dissect Laura’s life for clues about her disappearance.
“The Night Before” is narrated from both sister’s voices and the plot twists will keep you wondering about the outcome. The pace of this book is fast and will keep you focused while you try to predict the conclusion. This intense thriller by Wendy Walker is a must read for 2019!
Laura goes out one evening to meet a man she connected with on a dating site. When she doesn’t return, her sister and brother-in-law fear for the worst. Together they begin to dissect Laura’s life for clues about her disappearance.
“The Night Before” is narrated from both sister’s voices and the plot twists will keep you wondering about the outcome. The pace of this book is fast and will keep you focused while you try to predict the conclusion. This intense thriller by Wendy Walker is a must read for 2019!
October 5, 2018
4.5 stars
This book is a prime example of what a psychological suspense thriller should be! By far, it’s my favorite thriller read so far this year.
The publisher blurb:
"Twelve hours earlier, she was... Hopeful. Excited. Safe. Now she's gone."
Now that is a perfect blurb! It’s best to go into this read with as little information as possible.
Laura goes on a date with a man she met on an online dating site and doesn’t return home. From there, the story alternates between the ‘night before’ chapters narrated by Laura, and chapters featuring her sister Rosie, who attempts to piece together the clues in an increasingly desperate attempt to locate her sister. Interspersed throughout the book are chapters detailing sessions between Laura and her therapist. I love how the author brings a psychological slant to all her books.
I picked this up early one morning to read and three hours later I was still in the same spot. If life had not intervened I would have read this cover to cover in one sitting. The pacing is perfect and the author reveals additional information at just the right times to keep the tension and suspense high. The ending had my pulse racing and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.
If you’ve given up on thrillers because many are less than thrilling my advice is to put this on your radar for the May 2019 publication date. It will restore your faith in the genre!
*thanks to St Martin's Press for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.
*Many thanks to the Traveling Sisters here on Goodreads, for the pleasure of reading and discussing this book as a group.
This book is a prime example of what a psychological suspense thriller should be! By far, it’s my favorite thriller read so far this year.
The publisher blurb:
"Twelve hours earlier, she was... Hopeful. Excited. Safe. Now she's gone."
Now that is a perfect blurb! It’s best to go into this read with as little information as possible.
Laura goes on a date with a man she met on an online dating site and doesn’t return home. From there, the story alternates between the ‘night before’ chapters narrated by Laura, and chapters featuring her sister Rosie, who attempts to piece together the clues in an increasingly desperate attempt to locate her sister. Interspersed throughout the book are chapters detailing sessions between Laura and her therapist. I love how the author brings a psychological slant to all her books.
I picked this up early one morning to read and three hours later I was still in the same spot. If life had not intervened I would have read this cover to cover in one sitting. The pacing is perfect and the author reveals additional information at just the right times to keep the tension and suspense high. The ending had my pulse racing and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.
If you’ve given up on thrillers because many are less than thrilling my advice is to put this on your radar for the May 2019 publication date. It will restore your faith in the genre!
*thanks to St Martin's Press for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.
*Many thanks to the Traveling Sisters here on Goodreads, for the pleasure of reading and discussing this book as a group.
September 15, 2020
Twelve hours earlier, she was...Hopeful. Excited. Safe.
NOW SHE’S GONE
That was all the publisher said, so if they want to be vague, and have readers go in blind, I am not going to say much more.....but, I will give you a smidgen more....
Excerpt : (page 2)
“ Lipstick, cherry red.
I choose the color because it’s bright and cheerful. It’s optimism in a tube. And, that’s exactly what I need tonight.”
The guest bathroom at my sister’s house is impossibly small, with slanted ceilings and a tiny oval mirror. The lipstick hovers on the edge of a pedestal sink. I put it on first, so I won’t change my mind, rolling that optimism right across my lips.”
Is that not gorgeous writing?
I had the opportunity to read this through Netgalley super early, in exchange for candid feedback, and finally...
All I can say is that if you love thrillers with a twist...
If you have a sister, you have always had to look out for...
If you love stories told through two narratives, and a transcript-this is a book for you!!
THIS WAS JUST OPTIONED FOR TV any Eva Longoria!
I would like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wendy Walker for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
NOW SHE’S GONE
That was all the publisher said, so if they want to be vague, and have readers go in blind, I am not going to say much more.....but, I will give you a smidgen more....
Excerpt : (page 2)
“ Lipstick, cherry red.
I choose the color because it’s bright and cheerful. It’s optimism in a tube. And, that’s exactly what I need tonight.”
The guest bathroom at my sister’s house is impossibly small, with slanted ceilings and a tiny oval mirror. The lipstick hovers on the edge of a pedestal sink. I put it on first, so I won’t change my mind, rolling that optimism right across my lips.”
Is that not gorgeous writing?
I had the opportunity to read this through Netgalley super early, in exchange for candid feedback, and finally...
All I can say is that if you love thrillers with a twist...
If you have a sister, you have always had to look out for...
If you love stories told through two narratives, and a transcript-this is a book for you!!
THIS WAS JUST OPTIONED FOR TV any Eva Longoria!
I would like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wendy Walker for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
December 5, 2018
I had such a different reaction to this book than the rest of my Goodreads friends. I thought it was slow-paced and definitely put-downable. I kept reading because I did want to know what happened to Laura and because of the rave reviews of others, but even when what I think were supposed to be big twists were revealed, I didn’t care.
The premise is that Laura, who has been angry and violent since she was a child, leaves the city and comes home to her sister, Rosie, and Rosie’s husband, Joe. Joe, Rosie, Laura, and Gabe were close childhood friends. Laura left town as soon as she graduated, but Rosie and Joe got married and stayed there. Laura goes on a date with a man that she met online and then goes missing. Rosie loses her mind looking for her.
This novel alternates between Laura and Rosie’s points of view, and also back and forth in time. I like those types of devices in novels, but I found Laura’s endless dithering about whether she could trust her date even though she found troubling things that didn’t add up grated on me. I’ve done the online dating thing. Everybody lies a little, and sometimes you have to be savvy and figure out if the lies are alarming (oh, I think this person is actually married, egads!)
I’m not entirely sure why this read didn’t work for me, but it didn’t. Maybe because I never actually cared for any of the protagonists.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 21, 2019.
The premise is that Laura, who has been angry and violent since she was a child, leaves the city and comes home to her sister, Rosie, and Rosie’s husband, Joe. Joe, Rosie, Laura, and Gabe were close childhood friends. Laura left town as soon as she graduated, but Rosie and Joe got married and stayed there. Laura goes on a date with a man that she met online and then goes missing. Rosie loses her mind looking for her.
This novel alternates between Laura and Rosie’s points of view, and also back and forth in time. I like those types of devices in novels, but I found Laura’s endless dithering about whether she could trust her date even though she found troubling things that didn’t add up grated on me. I’ve done the online dating thing. Everybody lies a little, and sometimes you have to be savvy and figure out if the lies are alarming (oh, I think this person is actually married, egads!)
I’m not entirely sure why this read didn’t work for me, but it didn’t. Maybe because I never actually cared for any of the protagonists.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 21, 2019.
October 1, 2018
First I'd like to say how much I appreciate the blurb on this book, not much given way, just a short, effective teaser. So rare lately. Also enjoyed the format of this story, two narrators, sisters Rose and Laura, interspersed with sessions between Laura and a psychiatrist. It does go back and forth in time, but the chapters are clearly marked as to date. Easy to keep track of snd follow.
Laura, meets a man on the internet, after he last relationship left her devastated, this is the first time she has ventured out to attempts another. She is excited, nervous, but hopeful. She never returns. Four friends all through childhood, Rose and Joe now married, they all gather together to try to track down her last movements. But, someone knows more, someone has a secret. A murder long ago, how does that connect to this? Who is not who they appear to be, has changed the story. But who? I loved getting lost in the questions, there are tidbits of enlightenment here and there, appearing just when the author wants to reveal them.
The pace is brisk, the story fluid, the characters only developed as much as the reader needs to know to keep them guessing and immersed in the story. For me, it worked.
A sisters early read with dome great discussion.
ARC from Netgalley.
Laura, meets a man on the internet, after he last relationship left her devastated, this is the first time she has ventured out to attempts another. She is excited, nervous, but hopeful. She never returns. Four friends all through childhood, Rose and Joe now married, they all gather together to try to track down her last movements. But, someone knows more, someone has a secret. A murder long ago, how does that connect to this? Who is not who they appear to be, has changed the story. But who? I loved getting lost in the questions, there are tidbits of enlightenment here and there, appearing just when the author wants to reveal them.
The pace is brisk, the story fluid, the characters only developed as much as the reader needs to know to keep them guessing and immersed in the story. For me, it worked.
A sisters early read with dome great discussion.
ARC from Netgalley.
April 4, 2019
Unpopular opinion time: this was basically a book about the worst first date ever for a woman who is either a murderer or the most uncertain person to ever walk this earth.
This is an ARC so I don't want to give any spoilers that are not indicated in the blurb. But let's just say that we spend this entire book with Laura alternately fearing that her date with a guy she met on the internet is a lying psycho or fearing that she is just overthinking things and might miss out on dating a good guy and will end up alone forever. Meanwhile, her sister Rosie spends the entire next day (when Laura is missing) alternately fearing that something terrible has happened to her sister or fearing that her sister is some kind of murderer.
The truth is revealed by the end of the book and I was seriously just wishing for all of these characters to make better life choices and/or therapy appointments.
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is an ARC so I don't want to give any spoilers that are not indicated in the blurb. But let's just say that we spend this entire book with Laura alternately fearing that her date with a guy she met on the internet is a lying psycho or fearing that she is just overthinking things and might miss out on dating a good guy and will end up alone forever. Meanwhile, her sister Rosie spends the entire next day (when Laura is missing) alternately fearing that something terrible has happened to her sister or fearing that her sister is some kind of murderer.
The truth is revealed by the end of the book and I was seriously just wishing for all of these characters to make better life choices and/or therapy appointments.
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2019
A tense thriller with an explosive end!
Online dating can be dangerous and one must be careful. Laura is living with her sister Rosie while she heals from a recent break-up with her boyfriend. She finds an interesting guy on the site findlove.com, and she wants to meet up with him.
Her sister Rosie is on board with her dating, until she doesn't come home.....
All the tension and tidbits of hidden secrets kept me invested in the story line and wanting to know more about Laura. Told in Before and After Timelines, the past secrets sprinkle out as the story unfolds. When I hit the last stretch, there was no slowing down.... I had to finish! Never saw that end coming!
Thriller lovers won't want to miss this one!
October 8, 2018
4.5 dark, compelling and twisty stars!!!
The Night Before by Wendy Walker has very little information out about it. I mean, just looking at the 5 lines that are the entire synopsis. All it tells you is that a girl is missing and we don't know why. With so little information going into this one, I wasn't sure what to expect - but I knew that I was immediately intrigued. Well, let me tell you - what follows is a twisting, layered and complicated story that in the end not only threw me for a loop but I genuinely enjoyed the ride to get there.
...Laura had been hard to love, the little girl with fists for hands. With rage inside her. But maybe they had created that rage-all of them. She knew this now, having her own child. How easy it was to damage them with nothing more than words. Or indifference.
Laura Lochner has a sordid past, a sordid present and a seemingly sordid future. She's not your typical protagonist in a mystery / thriller who has a seemingly perfect life she decides out of no where to implode. No, Laura has been dubbed impossibly difficult to love from birth. Laura's difficulty finding and feeling love becomes the foundation of who she will become as an adult. She's constantly searching to belong, to be wanted and cared for in spite of her own failings and this leads her to be attracted to all the wrong men.
We're given snippets of Laura's past here as well, having been found holding a bat over the bloodied, dead body of her first love. What we don't know - is what happened, if she had anything to do with it and who the real culprit might have been. As we're given little pieces of Laura's past, we see her present unfolding from her perspective as well as her sister Rosie's. It gets a bit complicated as Rosie is living out the present day, searching for Laura who after moving home and going on a date has gone missing, and Laura's perspective of her date the night before. However, despite having all of these shifting timelines, Walker did a phenomenal job of developing all the story lines.
I see Mitch and remember the swirling together of warm, lusty bliss and red-hot rage. Danger waking me from the illusion of safety. Fight-or-flight instinct taking over. My hands in fists at my sides, but a smile on my face because I knew how to win that fight. Or, at least, I thought I did.
Laura is absolutely your unreliable narrator trope and while I don't generally have a problem with it, I do sometimes feel it's mishandled. However, The Night Before was a masterclass in the unreliable narrator. Laura was still a layered, complex and genuinely likable character that I think anyone who has struggled with self esteem issues would find something to connect to. The secondary characters left a little to be desired by way of development but I still felt like they were solid and based in reality instead of being too far-fetched.
Laura Lochner, men don't love you in spite of everything you give them because you are unloveable.
All in all my take away from this was a really quick and fun read. While there were some things I saw coming from the get go, there was a lot I absolutely couldn't have guessed. Past that, even though I knew some of the outcome it didn't detract from the shock factor or how enjoyable the read was. I think Walker crafted a really fun little thriller here and anyone who enjoys the genre would do well to pick it up!
I read this with the Traveling Sisters and it was incredibly fun to discuss with others! Thank you to Netgalley as well as St.Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC.
The Night Before by Wendy Walker has very little information out about it. I mean, just looking at the 5 lines that are the entire synopsis. All it tells you is that a girl is missing and we don't know why. With so little information going into this one, I wasn't sure what to expect - but I knew that I was immediately intrigued. Well, let me tell you - what follows is a twisting, layered and complicated story that in the end not only threw me for a loop but I genuinely enjoyed the ride to get there.
...Laura had been hard to love, the little girl with fists for hands. With rage inside her. But maybe they had created that rage-all of them. She knew this now, having her own child. How easy it was to damage them with nothing more than words. Or indifference.
Laura Lochner has a sordid past, a sordid present and a seemingly sordid future. She's not your typical protagonist in a mystery / thriller who has a seemingly perfect life she decides out of no where to implode. No, Laura has been dubbed impossibly difficult to love from birth. Laura's difficulty finding and feeling love becomes the foundation of who she will become as an adult. She's constantly searching to belong, to be wanted and cared for in spite of her own failings and this leads her to be attracted to all the wrong men.
We're given snippets of Laura's past here as well, having been found holding a bat over the bloodied, dead body of her first love. What we don't know - is what happened, if she had anything to do with it and who the real culprit might have been. As we're given little pieces of Laura's past, we see her present unfolding from her perspective as well as her sister Rosie's. It gets a bit complicated as Rosie is living out the present day, searching for Laura who after moving home and going on a date has gone missing, and Laura's perspective of her date the night before. However, despite having all of these shifting timelines, Walker did a phenomenal job of developing all the story lines.
I see Mitch and remember the swirling together of warm, lusty bliss and red-hot rage. Danger waking me from the illusion of safety. Fight-or-flight instinct taking over. My hands in fists at my sides, but a smile on my face because I knew how to win that fight. Or, at least, I thought I did.
Laura is absolutely your unreliable narrator trope and while I don't generally have a problem with it, I do sometimes feel it's mishandled. However, The Night Before was a masterclass in the unreliable narrator. Laura was still a layered, complex and genuinely likable character that I think anyone who has struggled with self esteem issues would find something to connect to. The secondary characters left a little to be desired by way of development but I still felt like they were solid and based in reality instead of being too far-fetched.
Laura Lochner, men don't love you in spite of everything you give them because you are unloveable.
All in all my take away from this was a really quick and fun read. While there were some things I saw coming from the get go, there was a lot I absolutely couldn't have guessed. Past that, even though I knew some of the outcome it didn't detract from the shock factor or how enjoyable the read was. I think Walker crafted a really fun little thriller here and anyone who enjoys the genre would do well to pick it up!
I read this with the Traveling Sisters and it was incredibly fun to discuss with others! Thank you to Netgalley as well as St.Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC.
April 14, 2019
I had not read any of Wendy Walker’s previous books but I had heard good things about them, so was thrilled to get this ARC.
The book starts off purposely vague. Laura has taken leave from her job as an analyst for a Wall Street firm, supposedly because of an extremely bad breakup. She’s returned to her hometown and is living with her sister, brother in law and nephew. One night she goes out on an Internet date and doesn’t come home. We know there’s something off about Laura and something we don’t know about her past.
The chapters alternate between Laura and Rosie and thus we are given their different perspectives. The chapters also bounce around on the timeline. Therapy sessions with Laura from months before, the night of the date with Laura and the day after with Rosie.
I didn’t know what to make of Laura. She recognizes she’s got issues, she calls herself broken. As the book goes on, we learn more and more about those issues.
I usually know where things are going with books like this. But not with this one. I did not see either of the big twists coming at all.
I love that this book delves into keeping secrets and how much damage it can do.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
The book starts off purposely vague. Laura has taken leave from her job as an analyst for a Wall Street firm, supposedly because of an extremely bad breakup. She’s returned to her hometown and is living with her sister, brother in law and nephew. One night she goes out on an Internet date and doesn’t come home. We know there’s something off about Laura and something we don’t know about her past.
The chapters alternate between Laura and Rosie and thus we are given their different perspectives. The chapters also bounce around on the timeline. Therapy sessions with Laura from months before, the night of the date with Laura and the day after with Rosie.
I didn’t know what to make of Laura. She recognizes she’s got issues, she calls herself broken. As the book goes on, we learn more and more about those issues.
I usually know where things are going with books like this. But not with this one. I did not see either of the big twists coming at all.
I love that this book delves into keeping secrets and how much damage it can do.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
May 15, 2020
For me, this was a 3.5 star book, rounded up to 4 stars. Laura is 28 year old single woman who has just moved into the home of her sister and brother-in-law, after being dumped by text, by Kevin, a man she loved and who has professed to love her. Having a string of bad relationships behind her, a devastated Laura takes leave from her job and never tries to contact Kevin. She feels like a failure at love and with men yet she has a constant need to be loved by men and to please men, stemming from the lack of attention and love from her father, as a child.
Laura goes on a date with a man she met through an online dating service and doesn't come home the next morning. Laura's sister, Rosie, is out of her mind with worry because she is afraid something happened to Laura or that Laura has hurt someone. As a teenager, Laura was found standing over the body of a dead boyfriend, with a bloody bat in her hand. A homeless man was charged with the crime but Rosie is aware that Laura has anger issues and even wonders if Laura killed the boyfriend, all those years ago.
The cast of characters includes Gabe, a lifelong friend of Laura, Rosie, and Rosie's husband Joe, and these three people embark on a mission to find Laura and the man she met that night. We also get to see the date from Laura's point of view, as the story plays out. Almost everybody has some suspicion thrown on them and we can't even be sure that Laura didn't murder her boyfriend, because of the way the book is written.
Early on, I guessed the villain in this story although so much is thrown at us that it's hard to be sure just what is going on. At times I felt manipulated by all the information we get but manipulation is what one of the characters is doing on purpose. I got very lost for a time with the names of two men (and aliases) but at no time did I ever want to put down the book. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and why it was happening although once I guessed the villain, early on, I had a good idea of why things happened the way they happened.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this advance read copy. I also received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.
Laura goes on a date with a man she met through an online dating service and doesn't come home the next morning. Laura's sister, Rosie, is out of her mind with worry because she is afraid something happened to Laura or that Laura has hurt someone. As a teenager, Laura was found standing over the body of a dead boyfriend, with a bloody bat in her hand. A homeless man was charged with the crime but Rosie is aware that Laura has anger issues and even wonders if Laura killed the boyfriend, all those years ago.
The cast of characters includes Gabe, a lifelong friend of Laura, Rosie, and Rosie's husband Joe, and these three people embark on a mission to find Laura and the man she met that night. We also get to see the date from Laura's point of view, as the story plays out. Almost everybody has some suspicion thrown on them and we can't even be sure that Laura didn't murder her boyfriend, because of the way the book is written.
Early on, I guessed the villain in this story although so much is thrown at us that it's hard to be sure just what is going on. At times I felt manipulated by all the information we get but manipulation is what one of the characters is doing on purpose. I got very lost for a time with the names of two men (and aliases) but at no time did I ever want to put down the book. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and why it was happening although once I guessed the villain, early on, I had a good idea of why things happened the way they happened.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this advance read copy. I also received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.
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