From the USA Today bestselling author, comes the second explosive thriller about attorney Olivia Sinclair who must solve a cold-case murder to clear an innocent man’s name…
HE SAW WHAT YOU DID…
Teenager Ebby Engstrom witnesses a murder – and then passes out. The next morning, he wakes in his bed with no memory of how he got there, and is told his mother was stabbed to death the previous night.
Thirty years later, the case has gone cold, with numerous suspects but no new clues – until Ebby starts having uncontrollable flashbacks to that night. As repressed memories surface, he questions his own role in the murder, leading to a dramatic confession and Ebby’s arrest.
Family friend and attorney Olivia Sinclair is convinced of Ebby’s innocence, but the only way to clear his name is to find the real killer herself. And it seems almost everyone connected to the Engstrom family had a reason to want Cynthia dead…
An unputdownable thriller full of suspense, perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister, Alafair Burke and The Good Fight.
Terry Lynn Thomas is a USA Today bestselling author writing cozy Christmas romances filled with mountain-town charm, found family, and second chances. Her new novel, An Apple Butter Christmas, brings readers to Hartstone, where love and legacy bloom under the glow of Christmas lights.
When she isn't writing, Terry Lynn likes to watch British mysteries, read books about found family and friendship, paint, garden, and take long walks with her husband and dogs.
Olivia Sinclair is back working on a cold murder case for a friend. 30 years later Ebby begins having flashbacks of his mother’s murder that he witnessed as a teenager. Convinced he must have done it, he confesses to the crime, but Olivia is sure of his innocence and sets about proving it with her good friend Brian.
The Witness by Terry Lynn Thomas is the second mystery thriller in the Olivia Sinclair series. Great characters , a well written plot with evenly paced writing makes it an engrossing entertaining read which I would highly recommend . Looking forward to reading the next one in the series!
I would like to thank the TBC Reviewers request group & the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review
Ebby was 13 years old when he witnesses the murder of his mother ..and then promptly passes out. He woke up the next morning with no memory of how he got there.. and was told that his mother had been stabbed to death the previous night.
Thirty years later still has Ebby gripped in the grasp of not knowing what really happened that night. His memory has come back in bits and pieces, but when he tries to remember, he usually passes out. He's been under doctors care for years, but he has decided no more .... he needs to remember .. because his biggest fear is that he killed his mother.
Olivia Sinclaire, a family friend and an attorney, Ebby pleads with her to please investigate even though there haven't been any new clues in years. Brian, an ex-cop and now a private investigator, joins with Olivia to find the truth .. if they can.
The first thing they learn is that Ebby's mother was not liked at all. Because there was no sign on a break-in, they concur that a family member was the most likely suspect. But each of the entire family had reasons for wanting her dead.
This is a compelling thriller filled with mystery, deception, part legal thriller, suspense, with a little romance thrown in. It's well-written, riveting. It's a real page turner with twists and turns along the way and plenty of characters to follow without getting lost. Although second in the series, this is easily read as a stand - alone, although I highly recommend reading in order. This is a terrific series!
Many thanks to the author / HQDigitalUK / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Although this book started off well, I found the plot became lack-lustre and I lost interest. I enjoyed my previous read by this author but thought this latest story just did not have the same impact.
The central plot focuses on Ebby’s mother’s murder. Thirty years on, the case remains cold and it hasn’t helped that Ebby, just a young boy at the time, cannot remember the details of the night. Despite holding his mother’s body straight after the attack, Ebby’s memories have refused to resurface over the years. However, he experiences sudden and unexpected blackouts that take him back to this tragic night and I enjoyed the disruption this offered to the main narrative.
I think this was lacking throughout the story. I was yearning for more flashbacks to detail Ebby’s life as a boy, understand the relationship he had with his mother, and to truly witness what his brother was like (who, in present day, is a complete nightmare). Yet, Ebby’s blackouts seem to suddenly stop and the writer continues to focus on the investigation again into this cold case. As such, I don’t think I properly connected with Ebby’s circumstances and thought this book would have really benefitted from a dual timeline, alongside Ebby’s fragmented memories, to add more depth to this main story line. Instead, it felt quite glossed over.
The sub-plot featuring Olivia and Brian did not spark my imagination. I thought the writer spent too much time on this element of the story. Whilst Olivia is central to helping clear Ebby’s name (not helped when he deliriously confesses to killing his mother), I thought there was a lot of unnecessary waffle that prolonged the narrative. Although Brian’s relationship with Leanne was interesting, again I got the sense that this could have been expanded on and added more flavour to the novel.
Overall, I thought this was quite a disappointing follow-up to the previous book. I had high hopes of another legal thriller but was left feeling quite dissatisfied. I liked the concept of trying to remember the past but I don’t think it had the depth and excitement that I was looking for.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Terry Lynn Thomas writes an entertaining mystery set in California about a divorce lawyer named Olivia Sinclair. In this second book of a series, Ebby Engstrom has started having uncontrollable flashbacks to an occurrence thirty years ago. As a teenager, he witnessed a murder but woke up in bed the next day unable to remember anything about it. His mother died of stab wounds the previous night and now Ebby is convinced he may have played a part in her murder and is arrested. Family friend Olivia sets out to prove his innocence...
Terry Lynn Thomas's novel contains a stirring mix of legal drama, mystery and suspense, and this offering, The Witness is a guilty pleasure type of story filled with various characters, some of whom you will be rooting for such as Olivia who is a great, relatable protagonist. The assemblage of characters all has individual issues that are threaded throughout the story. As the tale unfolds things are not what they appear to be. The author keeps the reader guessing as she spins her compelling tale of haunts, flashbacks and twists, manoeuvring you into a place where questions keep rolling. Olivia and Brian Vickery, an investigator make a great team as they attempt to prove Ebby's innocence, though they have another side story, creating added interest. A rapid read, I'm eager for more in the series and I'm wondering what else Terry Lynn Thomas has up her sleeve for the main characters.
In short, The Witness is a tempting, drama-filled treat.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
A good murder mystery, enjoyed the audio format, it kept me occupied for a few hours. My interest peaked as I got into the story. I love murder mysteries.
With multiple subplots, it kept me hooked with its many suspects. I kept trying to play Detective but soon was lost as halfway many things happened so that decreased my enjoyment. I would have liked if it was kept straightforward.
THE WITNESS is the second mystery/suspense novel in the Olivia Sinclair Series by USA Today bestselling author, Terry Lynn Thomas. This is the second explosive thriller about attorney Olivia Sinclair who must solve a cold-case murder to clear an innocent man’s name…
The novels in the Olivia Sinclair Series Include: The Betrayal (Book 1) 2020 The Witness (Book 2) 2021
After enjoying reading The Betrayal, I couldn’t wait to continue with the next instalment in the series. While The Witness can easily be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend starting with book 1 for clarity and context.
Thirteen -year-old Ebby Engstrom raced home on his bike after being at a party at a friend’s house and arrived home to find his mother in a heated argument with a stranger in the office. Then Ebby watched in horror as the stranger picked up a letter opener and stabbed his mother, Cynthia in the heart. After witnessing the murder, he passes out.
The next morning, he wakes in his bed with no memory of how he got there, and is told his mother was stabbed to death the previous night.
One of his aunts, Elodie found Ebby on that dreadful night outside, under the office window, and soon after had taken over as his legal guardian, assisted with her sister, Fiona. During this time Ebby had been under the care of a psychiatrist.
Ebby knows he saw something that night, and he knows what happened is completely different from the story Elodie has told him.
Thirty years later, with the case gone cold, Ebby who now owns a restaurant, “The No Name Diner”, still suffers dissociative amnesia, from flashbacks and hallucinations, and had an episode at the restaurant and collapsed in the kitchen. As repressed memories surface, he questions his own role in the murder, leading to a dramatic confession and Ebby’s arrest.
Family friend and attorney Olivia Sinclair is convinced of Ebby’s innocence, but she must clear his name by finding the real killer herself. Olivia teams up with Brian Vickery, a retired detective from the San Francisco police department, and now rents a portion of Olivia’s office space for his private investigation practice. They make a great team both on and off the job.
This was a gripping fast-paced mystery/suspense thriller that never let up. Very enjoyable read. Highly recommended. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Many thanks to the author, and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
Terry Lynn Thomas, the author of “The Witness” has written a captivating, intense, and suspenseful legal thriller. This is the second in a series but can be read alone. The genres for this novel are a mystery, suspense, legal thriller, and fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the author’s present and goes to the past (thirty years) when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex, complicated, and flawed. There are betrayals, secrets, dangers, and murder. Many of the characters can be suspect, and I enjoyed the stories involving several characters adding to the main story.
Can you imagine witnessing a terrible murder, and then waking up and not realizing what happened? Ebby Engstrom was 13 years old when his mother was stabbed, and witnessed it but totally blacked out and for the next 30 years has amnesia to any of the events. Now a successful owner of a restaurant, Ebby is starting to have flashbacks, they are frightening and he blacks out when he has them.
There are some supportive members of Ebby’s family that try to help him, and some have betrayed them. Ebby’s mother was certainly not a class act and showed her hatred of him when he was younger. At a party for his aunt, he blacks out, but wakes up with a torn shirt and blood, claiming he killed his mother when he was 13.
The ambulance is called, and the doctor notes that Ebby is dehydrated and in shock. The Police involved feeling they are readers to open what was a cold case. Ebby is forced to ask Olivia Sinclair to help him, not only stay out of jail but find out who the true killer is. I would certainly recommend this edgy story to other readers.
Olivia Sinclair is back, but instead of practicing family law she is working on a criminal cold case. When Ebby was a teenager he witnessed the murder of his mother and passed out causing him to have amnesia. 30 years later he begins having flashbacks of that murder. He admits to be the killer of his mother.
Can Olivia prove his innocence, even if he did confess to the murder? This is the second of the series and both have been great. Plenty of twists and turns that had me guessing who the real killer was.
Book Review: The Witness: Olivia Sinclair Series, Book 2 by author, Terry Lynn Thomas ARC
A 30 year old cold case leads attorney Olivia Sinclair into a web of secrets, suspense and mystery as she dedicates herself to finding the missing pieces of a most unique case in order to clear the name of an innocent man.
The Witness delves into the connections between the members of the Engstrom Family, the depth of possible suspects and the search for clues that seem nonexistent~ but where it all leads, will surprise you as you're pulled into its descriptive scenes that keep on giving with the clever and surprising elements the author presents in a most intriguing and interesting way.
Terry Lynn Thomas will keep you guessing as she spins her compelling tale of drama, haunts, flashbacks and edge of your seat twists and turns, as she pulls the reader into a place where the questions keep rolling and hooks you exactly when and where she intends to.
The Witness is a tense, gripping narrative that leads its reader to a strong and most satisfying conclusion that holds true to the genre it is meant for... A thriller that offers anticipation, excitement and surprise.
I thank the author, and NetGalley UK, for my copy of this engaging story which I recommend to anyone looking for a fulfilling, page-turning read.
Terry Lynn Thomas has written another page-turner in The Witness, the second book in the Olivia Sinclair series. We are treated to not just one, but two engrossing mysteries in this fast-paced book. The first storyline involves a decades-old murder, and the son of the victim who is haunted by fractured memories of thar night. The other plot revolves around a con artist who involves Olivia and her friend, a detective, in their twisted deeds. It was fun to catch up with Olivia and Brian in this book, two smart people, dedicated to meting out justice and defending the innocent. Although this books the second book in this series, it is a great standalone novel.
This is the second book in the Olivia Sinclair series and I read the first one several months ago. I enjoyed the first book and this one carried on in the same vein. It kept my interest from the start with plenty of twists to keep me guessing. I have to say I'm not keen on books set in the US for some reason but that is purely personal preference.
This was a quick, entertaining read with several plot lines woven into the main one that held my interest till the end. It is the second book in the series featuring Olivia Sinclair, a former litigation attorney who agrees to defend Ebby Engstrom,a family friend against a murder accusation.
Ebby was just 13 when he saw his mother being murdered and he has dissociative amnesia which means he doesn't remember what happened that night. Three decades later, he is troubled by flashbacks and blackouts and decides that he has to find out the truth. Before Brian Vickery, the PI who works with Olivia, can really get to work, Ebby, in a terrible state because of a memory that comes back to him, confesses to killing his mother and is arrested.
Olivia and Brian work to prove him innocent opening up cans of worms and buried truths in the process. It focuses a lot on the characters too besides the mystery itself and that makes it very interesting. I found it a logical and gripping story. Also, Olivia and Brian are atypical protagonists, both being older and having a wealth of life experience. That is a unique thing about this series that I like.
Ebby is 13 when he sees his mother's murder. His brain shuts down and erases all memory of the event.
Now Ebby is in his 40s and a successful restaurateur. His memory of the terrible night, so far repressed completely, starts to return, causing him immense trouble and a possibility of injury.
When he asks his aunts, they have nothing to say. Instead, he turns to Olivia Sinclair, senior attorney and family friend, to solve the case for him.
As Olivia and her retired policeman friend Brian start asking questions and opening closets, a lot of unwanted skeletons tumble out. Who is the murderer? And why did they kill Ebby's mother?
This book was an easy read and I finished it a couple of days. The threads were tied neatly at the end and the explanation was simple and logical. I couldn't guess the murderer until it was revealed/ Olivia Sinclair is a clearheaded, practical woman who knows how to tackle a case. She and Brian work well as a team.
Even if this was the second book in a series, it can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the first book yet there was a succinct summation of the previous book enough to give us the background of the lead pair.
The seconds better than the first! In this follow-up to The Betrayal, we find Olivia called on to help exonerate a family friend who suffers from amnesia after witnessing (or committing?) his mother's murder thirty years ago. Ebby was only thirteen when his mother was killed and is now having vivid memories from that night that cause him to black out. Convinced he must have done it, in a black out state of mind he confesses to it but then has no memory of even doing that. Olivia and her retired detective 'friend' Brian are equally convinced he is innocent. Then there's another plot that involves Brian and a woman who has her sights on him that may have ulterior motives for getting close to him. And then there's the case of the missing gold sovereigns and their connection to the murder. Just when I thought I had it all figured out and wrapped up in a nice little bow then pow! along comes a twist I didn't see coming. This one is very well written and all the plot lines are brilliantly brought together in a climax that is both surprising and satisfying. Although this is the second book in the series it can enjoyably be read as a stand-alone. I'm a fan of this sixty something year old protagonist, Olivia, and her surrounding cast of characters and can't wait for the next thrilling mystery for her to solve. Needless to say, I highly recommend this one. . . Thank you to the author, HQ Digital Suzy Approved Book Tours and NetGalley for the gifted copy and including me on this tour. .
At thirteen years old Ebby Engstrom witnessed his mother's murder. Since then he was diagnosed with dissociative amnesia. Ebby keeps having memories of the night of his mother's death and believes he is responsible. Ebby hires family friend and lawyer, Olivia Sinclair to help him.
This was the second book in the Olivia Sinclair series. I loved the pacing and the mystery. I enjoyed the romance between Olivia and Brian as well. I hope the author will continue with another book in this series because they are well written and very enjoyable. I highly recommend this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I haven’t read the first book in the series “The Betrayal,” but I had no trouble immersing myself in this one. “The Witness” turned out to be a gripping thriller with multiple plots, which was entertaining.
The author progresses the murder mystery very nicely, where you don’t know who the suspect is. Each family member, including Ebby himself, is a potential suspect in Cynthia’s murder and acts suspiciously at one point. Moreover, I always enjoy an excellent amnesiac storyline, and the way the author portrayed Ebby’s guilt made the story hard to put down. Some of the scenes that stood out for me were when Ebby makes a scene at Elodie’s party and when Seth shows his true colors at Olivia. Even though Seth only appeared briefly, he is one of those characters who I immediately despised. It would be interesting if he made an appearance in future novels.
I also loved the second storyline revolving around Leanne, Olivia, and Brian. Olivia and Brian share charming chemistry, and it was interesting to see what happened when Leanne entered the picture. Besides, Olivia uses her skills to make sure that Brian isn’t hurt. Olivia is a fantastic protagonist, and I enjoyed her scenes with Brian and Ebby. However, there were times where I felt like too many things were happening when the author could have concentrated on one or two storylines. As much as I liked Seth, I think the author could have omitted him in this book and given more focus on Leanne or Ebby’s plot.
Overall, “The Witness” is a beautiful addition to the “Olivia Sinclair” series and sparked my interest to pick up “The Betrayal.”
Another spine tingling thriller by Terry Lynn Thomas. The second in the Olivia Sinclair series and I certainly hope not the last.
This one takes off with a bang. Who killed Cynthia Engstrom. It's been many years since her murder and her youngest son has been living with suppressed memories of that horrible night. Did he do it? Or was it someone else. Someone he loved? What caused his many years of amnesia? Ebby was only thirteen when it happened and he does not remember a thing except he heard arguing. He saw something but can't seem to make it come to light.
Could Ebby have murdered his own mother. This book is so full of twists and turns you won't know who did it until you read it. I was taken by surprise and that does not happen often. I tend to figure these things out. Not this time.
This is like reading two stories in one. Olivia and Brian's story continues as does Olivia's search for justice for Ebby. Ebby hires Olivia to help him when he thinks he may have committed the murder. Olivia and Brian work hard to find the truth. There is also another somewhat minor story of sexual harassment and a touch about a rape going on. This book truly has a lot going on and it's an excellent second addition to the Olivia Sinclair story.
The characters are all, most all, very likable. Realistic and endearing. The aunts, Ebby, another family member, they are all ones you will root for. While there are always a couple of characters to dislike in most books they are there for a reason. To make you dislike them and you will. I didn't like Ebby's older brother and I didn't like Brian's "girlfriend" at all. So that makes another story going on during this book. It's a lot of good stories all in one and will keep you turning the pages. It's a very intense story of family. Love and loss. Truths coming out and lives being turned upside down. You don't want to miss this one.
Thank you to #netgally, #hqdigital and #terrylynnthomas for this ARC. This is my own true review.
I gave it 5/5 stars and a high recommendation. It published today!!
I’m sorry to say this book was a major disappointment in comparison to the first novel featuring Olivia Sinclair.
Slow, predictable and a bit of a duplicate of the first book.
There were a couple of things I found annoying. The biggest was the names. Ebby and Elodie, Felicity and Fiona… all a bit too similar when these characters are all family and central to the plot. And then there’s ‘Ebby’. Apparently it’s short for Edward, but this is only evident much later into the book and weirdly the last iteration of his name is Edward. I just found this plain weird if not a bit distracting as I would presume Ebby is a childhood nickname they’ve given him rather than his birth name.
After waiting a whole book for Olivia and Brian to get it together. Guess what? We go through it all again! Even though they both want to be together and have openly confessed their feelings for each other, we’re back at square one folks. And what’s more we have a rather oddly chosen character as Brian’s love interest.
Another part I found really tweaked my frustration with the book was that a family divorce lawyer was able to just become a criminal lawyer. Law is a very big subject! I doubt a divorce lawyer would have all the legal knowledge to be able to stand trial at a murder investigation. I appreciate Olivia was ‘doing a favour’ but even so she wouldn’t have been anywhere near the best representation in court.
As mentioned before, the book is quite slow and although there’s a few ‘extra’ subplots I honestly felt that this book was a weaker storyline than The Betrayal.
The writing, however is really engaging and easy to pick up/put down. I like Terry Ann’s style and whilst I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I’d hoped I’d certainly read others.
First of all thanks #netgalley and #harpercollins for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is book 2 in the Olivia Sinclair series. Olivia is a lawyer who has gone through a rough patch in her marriage ending with the death of her husband’s mistress, of which she was falsely accused, and ultimately in her divorce. Now in the second book she takes on the case of a family friend, Ebby. When Ebby was 13 he witnessed his mother’s murder. Now 30 years later his memory of that night is gradually coming back, and although he has confessed to the murder, Olivia is sure he could not have committed the crime!
I was quite intrigued by the blurb of this book. I’ve always been a sucker for the amnesia trope! I felt the book could have been a little more intriguing! There were no ‘Aha’ moments or built up suspense in the story that manages to grab the reader’s attention. It rather reads as an investigation and court procedural that gradually leads to what actually happened that night.
I felt it to be a bit repetitive and slow paced. The main story failed to hold my interest whereas the second story involving Olivia and Brian, the private investigator, was much more engrossing! I also felt that Ebby’s general adolescent behaviour did not reflect his age (43) and was rather awkward to read.
Apart from that, as I said the secondary story and romance between Olivia and Brian was very enjoyable and I loved the writing. I also found that the ending was all well wrapped up and satisfying.
After the release of The Betrayal last year, I’ve been looking forward to meeting up with Olivia Sinclair again ever since so I made sure to fit this second instalment in as soon as I could.
Just like the first book, The Witness is crammed with intelligent legal procedural and follows an interesting case that is tightly plotted and quick-paced, which you’re sure to enjoy at only 257 pages long.
I was hoping that this second book would go on to see Olivia joining the Truth Project so I’m disappointed that it doesn’t go in that direction. However, it’s a clever move by Thomas to introduce a character from Olivia’s past to keep the story personal. This keeps her emotions high, her dedication at the forefront, and her commitment ruthless.
It may not be a gripping or shocking thriller, but Thomas is an immensely clever writer and there are certainly some interesting twists to keep your interest running high. Mostly, it’s because of the relationship that I made with Olivia in the first book that I enjoyed this one so much. She’s a brilliant character and I would definitely recommend that you head back to The Betrayal if you missed out on it before, and then come back to this if you find yourself drawn in just like I did.
If you haven’t read the first book, then you may not be as invested in the story as I think it does rely on your support of the lead character, but Thomas is a great writer and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Olivia and Brian get up to next.
A truly enjoyable thriller, I read it really quickly in 2 sittings (if only I didn’t need to sleep).
Through amazingly fluid writing and a great story line, you get engulfed in the mystery until the end! A steady pace, nothing slow and nothing rushed. Perfect!
This story is so much more than just a chase after a murderer from a 30 year old case. Terry spoils us with gripping side stories that perfectly tie in together in the end!
Who stole the mysterious gold coins at the time of Cynthia Engstrom’s murder? Where did they disappear?
The protagonists are really well rounded and full of secrets. Everyone has something to hide and you never know who will surprise you next.
Through the clever flashbacks and following Ebby, you are discovering the truth alongside him and you get involved in the story, rooting for him to remember.
What is his family hiding? What are they protecting him from?
What is Mark guilty off? Ebby’s awful brother is certainly not as innocent as he wants us to believe!
Who is this mysterious Leanne in Brian’s life? As Olivia and Brian’s relationship is evolving, has a new threat arisen?
Olivia is such a refreshing protagonist, she’s an attorney, she’s clever but she’s no action woman and doesn’t try to be, she’s authentic, genuinely nice and a great person ! We all want her as our friend if we’re ever accused of murder!
Really great story with all the required ingredients: suspense, romance, betrayal, secrets, family drama.
Another success for Terry Lynn Thomas which should delight the fans of whodunnit stories!
A truly enjoyable thriller, I read it really quickly in 2 sittings (if only I didn’t need to sleep).
Through amazingly fluid writing and a great story line, you get engulfed in the mystery until the end! A steady pace, nothing slow and nothing rushed. Perfect!
This story is so much more than just a chase after a murderer from a 30 year old case. Terry spoils us with gripping side stories that perfectly tie in together in the end!
Who stole the mysterious gold coins at the time of Cynthia Engstrom’s murder? Where did they disappear?
The protagonists are really well rounded and full of secrets. Everyone has something to hide and you never know who will surprise you next.
Through the clever flashbacks and following Ebby, you are discovering the truth alongside him and you get involved in the story, rooting for him to remember.
What is his family hiding? What are they protecting him from?
What is Mark guilty off? Ebby’s awful brother is certainly not as innocent as he wants us to believe!
Who is this mysterious Leanne in Brian’s life? As Olivia and Brian’s relationship is evolving, has a new threat arisen?
Olivia is such a refreshing protagonist, she’s an attorney, she’s clever but she’s no action woman and doesn’t try to be, she’s authentic, genuinely nice and a great person ! We all want her as our friend if we’re ever accused of murder!
Really great story with all the required ingredients: suspense, romance, betrayal, secrets, family drama.
Another success for Terry Lynn Thomas which should delight the fans of whodunnit stories!
When Ebby was 13 years old, he witnessed the brutal murder of his mother, Cynthia. For 30 years, Ebby has had amnesia about that night but bits and pieces have started to be revealed from his traumatized memory.
When Ebby breaks down and confesses to murdering his mother after a flashback, Eddy’s Aunt Elodie asks family friend and attorney, Olivia Sinclair, to represent Ebby.
Ebby wants to know the truth and Olivia along with investigator, Brian Vickery try to find answers in this cold case.
My Thoughts
First of all, the characters in this book have the best names..Ebby, Elodie, Felicity, Fiona- just to name a few.
Secondly, I loved Olivia Sinclair’s first book, The Betrayal, and enjoyed having Olivia back in my book universe. You don’t have to have read the first book to enjoy this one, but I think you’ll like the character development of Olivia if you read both books.
The plot itself was fantastic with a range of lovely and good characters to absolute terrible antagonists. There were some great twists and turns and the ending really grabbed me.
There is also a nice subplot as Olivia’s “ investigator friend”, Brian, (he was in the first book as well), has a new female friendship that leaves Olivia suspicious/jealous?!!
3 fabulous mysteries rolled into one story? Doesn't get much better than that! And this book was brilliant! I love Olivia as a character! She's incredible!
Ebby is still having nightmares about his mother's murder 30 years ago and he knows he has to find the truth to put these nightmares to rest. Did he murder his mother? Did he just witness it? Dissociative amnesia made sure he remembers nothing aside from the little clips in his nightmares. He calls on Olivia to help him investigate.
Olivia and Brian decide to help Ebby out and jump on the case. Meanwhile, Brian has a new girlfriend and Olivia has a hunch that she's bad news. So while investigating Ebbys mothers murder, the gold that went missing after the murder and looking into Brian's girlfriends past, they have their plates pretty full. Pretty full plates make this a wonderful story!
I really love reading about Olivia Sinclair and can't wait for more crazy cases to come up!
The witness by Terry Lynn Thomas. Olivia Sinclair book 2. HE SAW WHAT YOU DID… Teenager Ebby Engstrom witnesses a murder – and then passes out. The next morning, he wakes in his bed with no memory of how he got there, and is told his mother was stabbed to death the previous night. Thirty years later, the case has gone cold, with numerous suspects but no new clues – until Ebby starts having uncontrollable flashbacks to that night. As repressed memories surface, he questions his own role in the murder, leading to a dramatic confession and Ebby’s arrest. Family friend and attorney Olivia Sinclair is convinced of Ebby’s innocence, but the only way to clear his name is to find the real killer herself. And it seems almost everyone connected to the Engstrom family had a reason to want Cynthia dead… I did enjoy this book. More than book 1. I loved Olivia and Ebby. Great story. Kept me reading until last page. Can't wait for next book. 5*.
Ebby is only 13 years old when he witnesses his mother being stabbed to death. Traumatized by her death. Ebby suffers from Amnesia. Thirty years later Ebby starts having blackouts where he sees visions of his mothers murder. On the day of his Aunt Elodies Birthday Party, Ebby has a vision and announces to everyone at the party that he killed his mother. The next day he is arrested for murdering his mother
Ebby hires Oliva Sinclair to defend him. With the help of Brian, a former Police Detective. Olive sets out to defend Ebby and find out who really killed his mother. Was it really Ebby? Was it his egotistical brother Mark? Or maybe it was the maid Felicity? You will have to read The Witness to find out!
This is the second book in the Oliva Sinclair Series but can be read as a stand alone. The Witness is a well plotted psychological thriller with realistic characters. The twists kept me guessing to the very end. I am looking forward to the next book!
Ebby is a successful restaurant owner. He has begun having terrible flashbacks. They are so terrifying that he completely blacks out. The flashbacks include the murder of his mother, which happened 30 years ago. Ebby thinks he did it. He enlists a family friend, Olivia, to help solve his mother’s murder and to pull him back to the present.
Terry Lynn Thomas has woven a unique tale. With all these twists and turns, she kept me guessing until the end. And her characters are spot on. I love Olivia. She is smart and takes no prisoners. Plus, my heart goes out to Ebby. He was just a child when this occurred. So, you can just imagine his pain and trauma.
Need a good legal mystery which keeps you guessing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
I was thrilled to hear that Olivia Sinclair was back for another novel, having devoured the Betrayal previously. Yet again, I was enthralled with the storyline and Terry Lynn Thomas has created another gripping legal thriller with lots of twists and turns. I was really pleased to see that Olivia and Billy had remained in contact and it was fabulous to read and envisage their relationship developing further. The Engstrom family mystery was an interesting story and it was easy to get to know all the characters from the wonderful way they were described in the book. I had my suspicions as to the guilty party but yet again, I was wrong and the way the story concluded was testament to Terry's great writing. I totally recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of a murder mystery or indeed anyone who appreciates a good story.
The Witness is the second book in this series by Terry Lynn Thomas. The series first book is The Betrayal and I loved it. The Witness is almost as good. I love that the Olivia-Brian connection that continues from the first book. Fast-paced and filled with lots of twists and turns. The main plot is a thirteen-year-old boy, Ebby, who sees his mother murdered about six months after his father died. Ebby has dissociative amnesia and cannot remember what happened. There are lots of sub plots involving Brian and Olivia. This book is a quick read and perfect for a rainy day or a day at the beach. I will be looking for a third book in the series! My thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.