Right Behind You

by N.L. Hinkens

The truth commands a devastating price. She’s kept it a secret. Until now.

When Lauren’s parents die in a small plane crash, she inherits the fortune they made with the sale of their software business. Determined to follow in their footsteps, she moves her young family to Austin and launches her own successful company.

But her charmed life begins to fray at the edges when an idle threat made eighteen years earlier comes back to haunt her. Someone with a grudge is willing to stop at nothing to destroy her. Someone with time on their hands and murder in mind. Someone who knows her secret.
Can she save herself from a dangerous past before a killer comes calling?

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2021

About the author

NYT and USA Today bestselling author N. L. Hinkens writes twisty psychological suspense thrillers with unexpected endings. She’s a travel junkie, coffee hound, and idea wrangler, in no particular order. She grew up in Ireland—land of legends and storytelling—and now resides in the US. Her work has won the Grand Prize Next Generation Indie Book Award for fiction, as well as numerous other awards. Join her VIP Reader Club for hot new releases, stellar giveaways, exclusive content, behind the scenes and more. https://normahinkens.com/

Pseudonym for author Norma Hinkens

Reviews

[Kathi Defranc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy everything this author writes, but this book is about a woman named Lauren, who I actually thought lived her life as she wanted with no thought on what her actions do to anyone else! I disliked every decision she made, until an ending that made a little more sense! A woman with money and a good family behind her, she had something happen while she was growing up that she has kept secret from her husband and new friends. When her parents' are killed in a plane crash, Lauren inherits plenty of money to start her own business. All is going great until she decides to move back to her hometown of Austin to bring her dream to life. But there is still someone in Austin who knows her secret, and some strange happenings put Lauren on edge bringing danger to everyone currently close to her.
Sometimes what you keep hidden from your family may really not be as bad as it seems, but sometimes those secrets can tear everything you love apart. Will Lauren be able to get out in front of all that seems to be catching up to her,before someone is hurt? Great characters around her bring the story to life, making you wonder just what would You do...

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This storyline just isn't for me. The protagonist frustrates me and the predictable problems she begins to experience remind me too much of other books in this genre. The premise of this story is misdeeds as a teenager, and someone's knowledge of her scarecrow phobia. Really? I just couldn't engage with this one and did not finish.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so freakin' great! Hinkens absolutely rocked this book.

Lauren has a secret from her teen years she has told no one. The only people who know were there. And now she's a business owner, a mother, a wife and just moved back to where it all happened.

Oh man, I loved her phobia. Such a fun and spooky little surprise. Nearly every character in this story was a suspect to me. They all acted a bit strange and weren't terribly likeable. I didn't see the ending coming. Excellent. I can't wait to read more in this series.

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

extremely suspenseful, addictive!

You will definitely be addicted to this book. It is extremely, extremely suspenseful and addictive! Mini twists and turns. You will be shocked when you find out who is the catalyst! Mom, dad, and son. All three are trying to live a normal family, suburban life. There is one person who stands in the way. Mom is running her own business, trying to blend her business life, and her family. She wants to have it all. Something in her past is keeping that from happening! Like I said, you will be shocked!

[Patti Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Right Behind You by N.L. Hinkens. I can truly say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Right Behind You. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Who does not love a psychological suspense thriller with a surprise ending? Once again N. L Hinkens has shown that she is a master storyteller. I love how she developed the story line and the characters. It was an incredible psychological suspense thriller and has me guessing who was behind all the events taking place in the story. I could not put it down and loved every page of this wonderful page turner. I love that the story is told from the perspective of the main character. I loved getting inside her thoughts and feelings. I never saw the villain or the accomplice in the story before they were revealed. It truly took me by surprise. Right Behind You is the story of Lauren Bishop McElroy, who returns hometown in Texas with her husband Jack and young son Lucas following the deaths of her parents in a plane crash to start her own business. Lauren has a fear of scarecrows, and the scarecrow sightings start the moment the moving truck starts to unload their household items. Things get worse when Lauren’s ex-high school boyfriend, Ryder is found dead on Lauren and Jack’s front porch dressed as a scarecrow. During the investigation into Ryder’s death Jack discovers secrets about Lauren’s past that she had always kept hidden. This revelation of these secrets puts a strain on their marriage. Lauren tries to figure out who is behind the harassment and reaches out to her high school friends. Lauren is losing prospective clients and believes one of her high school friends is behind it. My favorite part was the surprise ending when all the truths are revealed. It was an incredible thriller. Looking forward to reading more books by N.L. Hinkens. Looking for a great thriller, then I highly recommend Right Behind You.

[litwithneha ( Neha Modi ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS
Lauren's parents died in a plane crash and left her a whooping sum of money earned from the sale of their software business. After their death, Lauren and her family move back to Austin, her hometown. Strange incidents start happening which point fingers to her past which she has kept hidden from her husband.

#bookhoarderreview
The book starts on a very promising note with all the strange incidents with scarecrows appearing everywhere around Lauren, slowly unfolding the carefully hidden past. The story build-up is phenomenal without a dull moment.

75% into the book, I thought I knew the culprit and solved the mystery. Guess what, I was right. That's where I lost interest in the book. Towards the beginning the narrative was very compelling and I could not put the book down but the mystery was given away rather very plainly.

In contrast to a good narrative, the characters were quite under-developed. Except the protagonist, Lauren, none of the other characters were strong enough to support the story. Even the detective solving the mystery came across as dull.

If you are looking to read a quick thriller with a good plot, this one can be a good pick. The pace is fast enough and the plot is interesting to take one out of a reading slump. I wouldn't suggest this one to a seasoned thriller reader though.

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally love Norma Hinkens’ stories, but the main character of this one bothered me. Lauren is constantly taking inadvisable actions, reaching premature conclusions, and above all else, trying to hide her past, even from those who love her most. Every time she was told not to do something, she’d do it. Every time she thought about whether she should do something, she ended up deciding to do it anyway. And she jumped from one potential subject to the next without stopping to think that maybe she had it all wrong. (Also, with all of the money she had inherited, she could have moved anywhere to start her business. Why go back to Austin?! It made me wonder if she might be an unreliable narrator.)

Maybe I’ve acclimated to this author’s style, but I felt like the hints she dropped were more obvious than in other books because I had a pretty good idea who was behind Lauren’s torment. Perhaps for that reason, when it was revealed, it confirmed my suspicions and made a lot of sense.

If you can get past Lauren, for whom I felt very little sympathy primarily because of her dishonesty, it’s a well-written book with great attention to detail and a complex back story. Although it’s not my favorite book from this author, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it.

[Randi Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren just moved back to Austin, the city where she grew up and where something awful happened her junior year in high school. It's Halloween which she hates since she has a fear of scarecrows dating back to that awful thing that happened. The movers open the truck and what is the first thing she sees? A scarecrow! Of course she immediately thinks of Ryder, her high school boyfriend involved in that awful thing. More scarecrows turn up and the police are called in. I was with her up to this point, but when she goes off halfcocked and starts confronting high school friends, only making matters worse, I wanted to tell her to simmer down! She has never told her husband about her past and she doles it out in pieces instead of telling him all of it at once. Of course he is angry with her, more because of the lies than the awful thing that happened. The characters were well developed in pieces and believable if sometimes a little annoying. The plot was interesting. I partly guessed the who fairly early on but definitely not the why. Ms Hinkens style of writing is highly readable and the book kept me reading late into the night. Thanks to the author for a copy of this book. I look forward to the next one!

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book , Hinkens writes with just enough suspense throughout to keep the reader interested . .
In Right Behind You Norma Hinkens takes the reader to Austin where Lauren and her husband with their son begin a new chapter in their lives following the death of Lauren's parents in a car accident .
Lauren has grown up in the town and has secrets in her past which she has never revealed to her husband . So why did the author take her back to this place, that was a question I reflected on as I was reading the book .
A dead body turns up on the steps of her house , the company Lauren has set up begins losing contracts , leading to an overwhelming situation which sees Lauren call on the help of her childhood Nanny Kathy for support . But as things go from bad to worse , Lauren begins to question that decision as well, and she is unsure who she can trust .
The plot was well constructed with enough twists and turns to keep me turning pages , to try and sort out what was happening . Recommend this to anyone who enjoys a mystery/ thriller book .
Thanks to the author for an advanced e copy to read and review

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Hinkens’ thrillers. This one did not disappoint, although I was frustrated by the Lauren, the protagonist in the book.

Lauren’s parents died in a plane crash leaving her a sizable inheritance. Lauren, along with her husband and child, move back to Austin to start her own company. I was a bit confused as to why she would move to Austin when there were so many bad memories there and people who could expose the secrets she has kept from her husband. It didn’t seem like a wise decision.

The taunts start on the day Lauren and her family move into their new home. Then a dead body appears on the doorstep. Someone with a grudge is looking for revenge. From that point on, Lauren makes one bad decision after another, leaving me feeling like banging my head against a wall.

Even with the frustration, it was a good read. I fairly easily guessed the who, but not the why. While not one of my favorites by Hinkens, it was well written and suspenseful.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Jeanineitsme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right Behind You: A psychological suspense thriller (Payback Pasts Collection - Standalone Thrillers)
Lauren hasn’t been back to Austin in years. Her memories of High School and so many bad choices are haunting her as she faces this move, but after her parents died and left a sizeable legacy, she decided to move back to open a new company and make a fresh start. But somebody isn’t ready to welcome her back and they make sure she knows it. First a little sign, a scarecrow in her moving van. Lauren is deathly afraid of scarecrows and only a few people know. Then the trickster gets bolder, and things are getting serious, but Lauren isn’t any closer to finding out who is trying to terrify her.
This book is a great read for someone who likes a stay up late, just on more page read. Great plot and well fleshed out characters make the book believable and enjoyable to read. Just another in a long list of great reads by this author!

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have come to expect that any story written by N.L. Hinkens is going to take my emotions and shred them into little pieces. Additionally, the story will seemingly have the answer to any mystery hiding in plain sight until you realize that it isn’t that easy. Right Behind You was no different, I felt like I was on an extreme rollercoaster ride having gotten so invested into Lauren’s plight as well as trying to figure out what her dark secret might be.

If you enjoy Mystery/suspense thrillers with a heavy dose of psychological thriller thrown in for good measure, grab a copy of this book. But hey do yourself a favor and make it the audiobook like I did because Leanne Woodward did an awesome job of bringing the characters and story to life. There were plenty of times I just closed my eyes and watched the movie unfold as Leanne delivered this story. I received a review copy of the audiobook from the author and chose

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

NL Hinkens has been one of my favorite domestic suspense authors since I discovered her last year. She has such a way of hooking you in and not letting you go until the very end.

This book was no different. I admittedly fell for a lot of her red herrings, which is a credit to her impeccable writing. I couldn't put it down and wanted to see what would happen next. As usual, it was a fast-paced read that blends action, dialogue, and thrills.

My only slight criticism was the "culprit." I felt like it came too much out of left field and wasn't set up as well as some of her other endings. However, it wasn't enough for me to dislike the book and I would still recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers.

Needless to say, I'll be back for more. Until then, I'll be right behind you.

ARC given to me by author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would happen if you buried your past but it came back to haunt not only you but your entire family? This is exactly what happens to Lauren when she moves back to the neighborhood of her youth with her family. As she starts a new company and is getting it up and running she realizes someone is stalking her and leaving scarecrows in many forms to send messages. Due to her past, she is terrified of scarecrows. When a body turns up at her house Lauren involves the police. Do they think she is the murderer or do they believe her? Really enjoy N. L. Hinkens' character development and slow burn as she weaves her story and pulls you in. She makes you know and care about her characters. A wonderful story that is definitely worth the read. I highly recommend this novel.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right Behind You: A psychological suspense thriller (Payback Pasts Collection - Standalone Thrillers), my fourteenth amazing (246-page/7-hour 49-minute) read from author N.L. Hinkens. I enjoyed the outstanding psychological thriller with its intricately woven twists and turns, all of Hinken's works have had more knots than Alexander the Greats Gordian Knot! Norma (N.L.) Hinkens has become one of my favorite authors! I was given an Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Narrator Leanne Woodward's narration adds to the book's enjoyment. What You Wish For: A psychological suspense thriller (Wicked Ways Collection - Standalone Thrillers) is next on my TBR list once it's published in May of this year. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Shawnta · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. The author does an amazing job building this world, its characters, and plot that pulls you in from the very beginning. This is one captivating mysterious thrilling suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. Lauren has a shady past that she has managed to hide till now. Her stalker is slowly tearing her world apart affecting not only her family but also her newly started business. As the plot thickens more suspects start to make the list including one she would never have guessed. I truly enjoyed this psychological thriller and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Jasleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story revolves around Lauren who had a troubled childhood and teens with unavailable parents. She took some wrong steps in her teens which she regrets but has pushed them far away from her present married life. She doesn't want her husband to know of her dark past but it is impossible for secrets to remain secrets when she moves back to her hometown after the sudden death of her parents. She over analyses her every step and thought, but it unable to get rid of her past interfering with her present. Things go worse when her husband and child are dragged into the dirty mess and she has to see her past uncover layer by layer while troubles just keep on rising.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

What if a vengeful ex was coming after you? At least, that’s how it was feeling for Lauren, who had moved back home with her family. The story takes a while to settle as I’m not really sure where the scarecrow fear comes from or what happened with the ex. To be honest, this one didn’t quite rope me in like in “The Class Reunion.” Most of the time we’re just dealing with Lauren’s crazy paranoia. Then there may be some connection between her past and her business and all the while she doesn’t even hint to what her terrible secret might be. I would’ve preferred a tiny hint to keep me reading, which was hard to do.

I certainly wouldn’t get behind “Right Behind You.” Don’t even bother.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren is the main character in this story. After the death of her parents, she returns to her hometown with her family to start a business. While I enjoyed this psychological thriller, I found myself frustrated with the decisions that Lauren made. She wasn't forced to move back, especially since she had a secret she didn't want her husband to find out about. I have read and enjoyed several of Ms. Hinken's books and I was a little disappointed with this one. It was well written and enjoyable and I would recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

She had money, a great marriage, a beautiful son, and a good business opportunity. Money was not a problem. What she was not counting on was to have to face secrets from her past that she thought had been forgotten and would have no impact on her present life. However, someone knew and decided to make of her life an opportunity to obtain the success and money they were not able to get on their own. A great plot, well-written, and good entertainment!
I downloaded a free copy of this book through BookFunnel and this is my honest review.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the first few pages, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down, until I got to The End. Compulsive and gripping! Suspenseful, addictive and complex! Will keep you swiping the pages furiously. If you like absolutely unpredictable, twisted suspense as much as I do, you can't go wrong with this book!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Dee Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well...I'm not sure what to say. I was confused through a lot of this book. In the end, it explained most of what I was confused about. It too me a lot longer to read this book than most. I couldn't give up though, and I was pleasantly surprised at the ending. That's my advice, if you are having a tough time with this book, keep going.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read this advanced copy.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller I could not put down. Lauren has a dark secret from her past. She also is terrified of scarecrows since a ex boyfriend in high school scared her with one. Someone is putting scarecrows on her property. She thinks it is her ex, but he turns up dead on her doorstep. Twists and turns to keep you guessing.

[Barbara Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chalk up another good one

This was real brain twister. The shadow of guilt falls on so many of the players that I was completely blinded by an semi obvious choice. There were moments when I was very aggravated by the stupid and foolish actions the lead character took. But it worked itself out. Good story.

[Svetla Nencheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Norma Hinkens’ thrillers. “Right behind you” is not the first book which I read by N.L.Hinkens and I hope will not be the last one, but every time she surprises me with her original and twisted plots and master building of characters. I loved how the book pulled me in, right from the start. Couldn't put it down. Well written and keeps you guessing until the end. Strongly recommend!

[Kalliekaykat · Rating 2 out of 5]

much too long and repetitive

Good grief. I wanted to like this book, but I had to force myself to keep reading . 1/3 of the book could have been deleted. It was painful to keep slogging through the same descriptions and rehashing of events. Sorry, but I didn’t like it. Don’t waste your time.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic as always. Lauren inherited her parents fortune and their secrets. This physiological thriller grips you from start to finish. You never know what might happen next. Don’t miss out on this book.

[Valerie Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

N.L. Hinkens knows how to write a great thriller. This book had me from the beginning. The story line and characters were well written and easily relatable. This is a book that keeps me wanting more. Super excited to see what N.L. Hinkens comes up with next!

[Carey Mundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love her twisty novels and this one hit the mark! Lauren has returned to Austin where she grew up and made some serious mistakes as a teen. Her business starts to fail and strange things are happening at home - her past is catching up to her. Enjoyed it a lot