Twenty Years Later

by Charlie Donlea

The New York Times Best Thrillers This Season | E! News Recommended Books | Overdrive Biggest Books of the Month

Fans of Verity by Colleen Hoover won’t want to miss this thrilling new suspense novel from the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Girl Who Was Taken! Hiding her own dark past in plain sight, a TV reporter is determined to uncover the truth behind a gruesome murder decades after the investigation was abandoned. But TWENTY YEARS LATER, to understand the present, you need to listen to the past…

Avery Mason, host of American Events, knows the subjects that grab a TV audience’s attention. Her latest story—a murder mystery laced with kinky sex, tragedy, and betrayal—is guaranteed to be ratings gold. New DNA technology has allowed the New York medical examiner’s office to make its first successful identification of a 9/11 victim in years. The twist: the victim, Victoria Ford, had been accused of the gruesome murder of her married lover. In a chilling last phone call to her sister, Victori
Emma Kind has waited twenty years to put her sister to rest, but closure won’t be complete until she can clear Victoria’s name. Alone she’s had no luck, but she’s convinced that Avery’s connections and fame will help. Avery, hoping to negotiate a more lucrative network contract, goes into investigative overdrive. Victoria had been having an affair with a successful novelist, found hanging from the balcony of his Catskills mansion. The rope, the bedroom, and the entire crime scene was covered in Victoria’s DNA.

But the twisted puzzle of Victoria’s private life just the beginning. And what Avery doesn't realize is that there are other players in the game who are interested in Avery’s own secret past—one she has kept hidden from both the network executives and her television audience. A secret she thought was dead and buried . . .

Accused of a brutal murder, Victoria Ford made a final chilling call from the North Tower on the morning of 9/11. Twenty years ago, no one listened. Today, you will.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Book Club, Audiobook, Suspense

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 28, 2021

About the author

Charlie Donlea is the USA TODAY, IndieBound, and #1 Internationally bestselling author of critically acclaimed, propulsive thrillers including THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN, DON'T BELIEVE IT, TWENTY YEARS LATER, and THOSE EMPTY EYES. His ninth thriller, GUESS AGAIN, is out now.

Published in 40 countries and translated into twenty-five languages, his books have sold nearly 3 million copies in the U.S. alone.

He spends a part of each year fishing with his father in the far reaches of Canada, where the roads end and lakes are accessible only by floatplane. These majestic trips to “God’s Country” inspired the settings for his novels Summit Lake and GUESS AGAIN, coming in August 2025.

He resides in Chicago with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely a GREAT HIT!

One of the best things about reading a mind-blowing page-turner is experiencing two different storylines at once. As the mysteries intertwine, you gain a deep appreciation for the author’s creative genius, who skillfully juggles both plots while playing complex, enigmatic mind games with the reader.

I’m a huge fan of the author’s Rory Moore/Lane Philips series, which I highly recommend. This standalone thriller is also a heartfelt tribute to the victims of 9/11—I only wish it could have been published on that very day!

The story revolves around two intriguing plotlines. The first follows a twenty-year-old cold case that catches the attention of successful TV journalist Avery Mason, the host of the highly-rated true crime show American Events. She becomes captivated by the case when a 9/11 victim’s DNA is identified by a medical examiner. But this victim isn’t just any ordinary woman; she’s Victoria Ford, who had been accused of murdering her bestselling author lover, found hanged from his balcony.

The opening scene at a mansion in the Catskill Mountains, where a naked body is discovered, is bone-chilling. It’s just as intense as Victoria’s last conversation with her lawyer in the Twin Towers, amid vibrations, explosions, shattering glass, and rising black smoke. I can’t decide which chapter was more terrifying!

Avery travels to New York to meet Victoria’s sixty-year-old sister, Emma. Over a deep conversation accompanied by chilled Chardonnay, Emma reveals secrets, including Victoria’s last voice messages pleading her innocence and begging her sister to clear her name. Avery is hooked—this is a juicy, intriguing crime story she’s eager to dig into.

The second plotline explores Avery Mason’s secret identity. Her real name is Claire Montgomery. Her father, Garth, was indicted for one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American history, dubbed the “Thief of Manhattan.” Approximately $30 billion was fraudulently obtained and squandered on Garth’s lavish lifestyle. After the scandal broke, Garth vanished without a trace. Avery endured personal tragedies, including the deaths of her mother and brother, as well as public humiliation, which forced her to change her name and leave her old life behind.

Now, her father is trying to reach out to her via postcards, catching the attention of the FBI. Reluctantly retired agent Walt Jenkins is reassigned to monitor her, tracking every move and reporting back to the bureau. Interestingly, Walt was the agent who investigated Victoria Ford’s case, and as they collaborate, Avery uncovers more about the investigation.

But as business mixes with pleasure, Walt finds himself in a dangerous position—could he betray the woman he’s developing feelings for?

As Avery and Walt dig deeper, they begin to uncover startling facts about Cameron’s murder. Was Victoria really the killer, or was she a victim too?

Overall, though the book was a bit lengthy, I never felt bored. The characterization was spot-on, just like in the author’s other works. The final twists, especially the last one, were reminiscent of The Usual Suspects’ jaw-dropping ending.

I’m giving this five full, action-packed, head-spinning, earth-shattering stars for such a wild ride!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this incredible digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read with some flaws

Twenty Years Later centers around two crimes: one from the past that holds an eerie link to 9/11 and another surrounding a fugitive on the run. A TV reporter finds herself investigating one crime and playing a starring role in the other.

Avery is a TV reporter with a large fanbase. With a contract extension on the line, she is looking to grow her ratings. When she hears about new technology that can identify DNA from 9/11 victims, she jumps on the opportunity to highlight the latest victim identification on her show. But what makes the story even juicer is that the newly confirmed victim was an accused murderer. At the same time Avery launches an investigation into the DNA 9/11 identification program, Avery is desperately trying to keep a secret from her past from being exposed to her viewers.

This book moves in many different directions--too many directions IMHO. In the beginning, it seems like the plot is going focus on the murder from 20 years ago, but it is more about the present. Donlea covers everything imaginable, which muddles the plot, including flashbacks to the murder 20 years ago, flashbacks of those involved in the murder, flashbacks of the detective who solved the murder, and flashbacks to Avery’s past. In addition to all of the flashbacks, much takes place in the present. I didn’t care about any of the storylines until the last 10% of the book, which is when things get very interesting.

Avery is the primary narrator--it took me a while to warm to her. It’s not that she is unlikeable, I just didn’t find her all that compelling. Walt is the other main narrator. I liked him from the start, but I was left with a lot of questions about his past. There are some additional perspectives woven in.

This book is slow in the beginning. I didn’t care much about the case or Avery, but my interest grew as I continued to read. There is a lot of repetition, which made me groan. However, things eventually smooth out. The ending was exciting and a little surprising. The epilogue was fun and added another spin to the events.

Twenty Years Later was a solid 3 star for me, but the ending bumped it up a notch to a 3.5 rating.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the MANY things that I enjoy about Charlie Donlea’s work, is that his stories take place in actual locations which bring them to life for me.

If you have visited, Negril, Jamaica, you may have sampled Hampden Estates rum or watched drunken tourists dive off of the 35 ft cliff at Rick’s Cafe.

Manhattanites in turn, may be drinking their rum at The Rum House, or enjoying a steak at the iconic Keen’s Steakhouse, the only survivor of the Herald Square Theatre District, hoping for a glance at the largest collection of Churchwarden Pipes in the World. It’s pipe club had over 90,000 members over the course of its history, including names like Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, Albert Einstein and “Buffalo Bill” Cody to name a few…

But, it’s more than the locations visited, so let’s talk about this story…

It opens with a death in the Catskill Mountains on July 15, 2001-two months before 9/11 . A newly minted, police detective has been called to the scene-a naked Victim, hangs from a rope from a second story balcony, twirling in the night.

September 11, 2001-Lower Manhattan: A woman named Victoria Ford, has been accused of murdering our Victim from the Catskill scene, and she is meeting with her attorney on the eightieth floor of the North Tower, when American Airlines flight 11, hit its target.

Manhattan, NY-Twenty Years Later: The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office is still working to identify Victims from the Twin Towers, using a newly developed technology which could extract DNA from pulverized bone fragments.*** An identification is made from a tiny fragment. It matches the DNA sample provided by Victoria Ford’s sister.

Avery Mason, the lead anchor for American Events-the most popular prime-time newsmagazine program on television needs a reason to go to NY. She decides that this new technology and identification will be her “cover”.

Her story, and what she uncovers about the newly identified Victim will unfold in six parts:
The Sting
Fate
Deception
Evidence
The Long Game
Repayment

I figured out one piece of the puzzle early on, but was surprised by a second piece, and by the clever revelation in the epilogue. This would make for a fantastic Blockbuster movie, so the Hollywood ending worked for me.

***The 9/11 Project is still ongoing-as of September 11, 2021 there are still 1,106 Victims whose remains have not been identified, per a NY Times article. (about 40%)

AVAILABLE NOW!!

Thank You to Kensington Publishing Corporation for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

[Lindsay L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ stars! Gripping. Twisty. Edgy.

Avery Mason is a famous tv host who is investigating the story behind a victim of 9/11 identified by a bone fragment found twenty years later. Breakthrough technology allowed scientists to determine the DNA within a tiny piece of bone sifted out of the large pile of rubble left after the twin tower attacks. Twenty years later, there remains a team that is still trying to find answers and give closure to the many families who never heard from their loved ones after that devastating day. Avery’s investigation brings forth far more detail and answers than she ever anticipated.

It’s brave for an author to take on 9/11 as a subplot. It’s a tragedy that many of us still cannot process and will never fully understand. I felt the author did an excellent job weaving this devastating part of history into the story.

I enjoyed the tv show angle. It kept the plot fresh and relevant. I really liked the main characters and how their own unique back stories brought suspense and tension to the storyline.

The ending was shocking and highly entertaining! Loved it! Readers will definitely have a “love” or “hate” feeling for the conclusion. For me, I felt it was clever, twisty and absolutely perfect!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty Years Later is the type of book that's difficult to put down once you've gotten going, with many different plots that overlap and bind together by the explosive ending. There is A LOT going on in this book, and I know that's a make it-or-break it deal for some readers, but for me it worked well. I loved the complex nature of the varying degrees of ongoing investigations, and as a seasoned consumer of suspense novels, it kept from any part being obvious and doled out twists as the book progressed, rather than saving one whopping doozy for the end. However, the ending does have a big twist. 😂 If you're looking for a thriller that has murder, sexy shenanigans, a hint of romance, and twists rolling out at a breakneck speed, definitely consider picking up this one!

Please note this book deals heavily with a plot revolving around 9/11, and those with trigger warnings should be aware that it is not glossed over, but central to the story.

*Many thanks to the publisher and author for providing my review copy.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a true affection for author Charlie Donlea, since his page-turning thrillers have busted me out of major reading slumps on more than one occasion.

That said, his 2020 publication, The Suicide House, was a bit of a miss for me since there was just too much going on. So many characters, so many plot lines. While it pains me to say it, 2021’s Twenty Years Later suffers the same affliction.

The start of this one feels like flipping through channels on TV. You bounce around from scene, character, and year, with a hope that at some point they’ll all come together. It took me until about the 30% mark to feel like I was getting invested in anything.

Also, being a Donlea fan, I know that while his books can all be read as stand-alones, some of his characters pop up here and there. For example, his tried-and-true forensic pathologist Livia Cutty appears in a few scenes. The impact of this technique though made me constantly wonder if other characters were previously introduced in his other books and I’ve just forgotten them. Do their histories feel told rather than shown because there’s another entire book devoted to them? Or is this just another side effect of trying to cram too much into 300 pages?

But here’s the real question for readers… Twenty years later, are you ready to read a thriller where the central storyline revolves around September 11th? Where real victims’ tragedy is exploited for entertainment value? Turns out I am not.

I’ll direct you to the publisher synopsis, where there is an actual phone number* given to call. When I started writing this review, I was at 3.5 stars since I did end up flying through the back half of the book and still very much look forward to Donlea’s next one. But then I called that number. If it’s a spoiler to say what’s on the other end of the line, I really don’t care. It’s a recording of a fictionalized phone call from one of the characters stuck in the World Trade Center to her sister right before it collapses. I couldn’t even make it through 15 seconds of this absolutely vile marketing stunt. I hope the author didn’t approve this, and I hope it’s removed before major PR efforts roll out.

*UPDATE (Sept. 2021): Since I initially posted this review back in June 2021, the publisher has removed the marketing stunt phone call I referenced from the book synopsis on Goodreads, Amazon and NetGalley. Wise decision!!!

I received an advance readers copy to review courtesy of the publisher via Edelweiss.

Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Two months before 9/11

Death was in the air.

He smelled it as soon as he ducked under the crime scene tape and stepped onto the front lawn of the palatial estate. The Catskill mountains rose above the roofline as the early morning sun stretched shadows of the trees across the yard. The breeze rolled down from the foothills and carried the smell of decay, causing his upper lip to twitch when it reached his nostrils. The smell of death filled him with excitement. He hoped this was because this was his first case as a newly minted homicide detective, and not from some perverse fetish he had never known he possessed.

A uniformed police officer led him across the lawn and around to the back of the property. There he found the source of the foul odour. The victim was hanging naked from a second story balcony, his feet suspended at eye level, and the white rope around his neck angling his head like a broken-stemmed lollipop. The detective looked up to the terrace. The rope stretched over the railing, tight and challenged by the weight of the body. The twine disappeared through french doors that led, he presumed, into the bedroom.

The victim had likely twirled for most of the night, the detective imagined, and had now unfortunately come to rest facing the house. Unfortunate because, as the detective walked across the back lawn, the first thing he saw was the man's naked buttocks. When he reached the body he noticed welt marks covering the man's right burr cheek and upper thigh. The contusions flared a faint lilac against the liver mortis blue of the dead man's skin.

ABOUT 'TWENTY YEARS LATER': Avery Mason, host of American Events, knows the subjects that grab a TV audience's attention. Her latest story--a murder mystery laced with kinky sex, tragedy, and betrayal--is guaranteed to be ratings gold. New DNA technology has allowed the New York medical examiner's office to make its first successful identification of a 9/11 victim in years. The twist: the victim, Victoria Ford, had been accused of the gruesome murder of her married lover. In a chilling last phone call to her sister, Victoria begged her to prove her innocence.

Emma Ford has waited twenty years to put her sister to rest, but closure won't be complete until she can clear Victoria's name. Alone she's had no luck, but she's convinced that Avery's connections and fame will help. Avery, hoping to negotiate a more lucrative network contract, goes into investigative overdrive. Victoria had been having an affair with a successful novelist, found hanging from the balcony of his Catskills mansion. The rope, the bedroom, and the entire crime scene was covered in Victoria's DNA.

But the twisted puzzle of Victoria's private life belies a much darker mystery. And what Avery doesn't realize is that there are other players in the game who are interested in Avery's own secret past--one she has kept hidden from both the network executives and her television audience. A secret she thought was dead and buried . . .

MY THOUGHTS: I liked Twenty Years Later a lot, but I didn't love it. I failed to become totally immersed in the story and am not really sure if it was because the narrator didn't narrate with much emotion, or because the reader is being told much of the story rather than experiencing it.

There are several different storylines going on, narrated in the present and in flashbacks, primarily by Avery, secondly by Walt, and thirdly by various other minor characters. It was the murder that opens the book that I was mainly interested in, but that is very much a secondary thread though, to me, it was definitely the more interesting. I really had no interest in Avery's salary negotiations which went on, and on, and had no real relevance that I could fathom.

I found Avery's character difficult to relate to and I never really warmed to her, although I did admire her cleverness in resolving her family problem.

I really liked the way Donlea tied everything up at the end, even if it was a little tedious in parts getting there.

But the absolute ending, where the solution to the murder is revealed, that is absolutely delicious and made wading through all the other stuff worthwhile.

⭐⭐⭐.8

#TwentyYearsLater #NetGalley

I: @charliedonlea @recordedbooks

T: @CharlieDonlea @recordedbooks

#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #familydrama #murdermystery

THE AUTHOR: Charlie Donlea resides in Chicago with his wife and two young children.

He spends a part of each year fishing with his father in the far reaches of Canada, where the roads end and lakes are accessible only by floatplane.

DISCLOSURE: Thanks to RB Media, Recorded Books, via Netgalley for providing an audio ARC of Twenty Years Later written by Charlie Donlea and narrated by Vivienne Leheney for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

[L.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an outstanding premise and the weaving of several characters to make this one of the top murder mysteries for this year! There were some uncomfortable situations in the horror of 9/11 and those unforgettable last calls home, but an exceptional way of building the story to make you wonder about the possibilities of that day.

July 2001 - In the Catskill Mountains, a brutal murder has taken place of an outstanding author, Cameron. He was found hanging from the balcony, bound and naked. You soon learn in the story about his ultimate affair with another author Victoria. Remnants of her presence were found throughout the room, she was charged for the crime. Two months later, she is meeting with her attorney in the North Tower on that fateful day, 9/11. Another important character is Walt Jenkins, the main investigator on this case and will play another important role twenty years later.

"But Twenty Years Later to understand the present, you need to listen to the past..."

Twenty Years Later, through outstanding DNA analysis and sifting through massive mounds of rubble from those buildings, a single tooth was found belonging to Victoria.
*Astonishing as it sounds, each piece of bone fragment is analyzed to recover those still unaccounted for to this day.*

An outstanding anchor woman, Avery, from American Events, gets information about the identification and also the story behind the scenes of her as an accused murderer. With her sister's release of her phone call on 9/11, we learn about Victoria's plea to clear her name even though she knew she was going to die.

You will be stunned by the research and work put in by this reporter, but you will also learn about her wealthy past and her dad's crimes that has put him on hiatus from life. So many loose ends to tie up in those final chapters that you will think how is he going to do this and so many players in the game.......He does it but not without his twists and turns you will not see coming. I'm just floored by this book and did not know quite how to sum it up because it is just that good!!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books from NetGalley's Public Catalog for this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Sydney Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* This had great moments and I liked the twist(s) a lot! But it felt a little repetitive and inconsistent with pacing at times

[Kaceey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wish I could say I loved this one. But truly all I can say is, it was… ok.💁🏻‍♀️

This story plays out in two timelines.

2001. In the midst of the 911 attack, with many references to the day in vivid detail. So for some this may certainly be a difficult read.

A famous author is killed, and the primary suspect Victoria just happens to be meeting with her lawyer at the time a plane hit the first tower.

2021 Avery, a TV investigative reporter travels to New York to investigate the death of this author, as well as the woman accused of his killing. But perhaps Avery has an alternative reason for being in New York.

The transition between timelines was smooth and was able to follow easily. But with a high number of characters and subplots along the way, you’ll definitely need to pay close attention.

For me, it’s been a bit of hit and miss with Charlie Donlea’s books. I’d say I was engaged throughout but not enthralled.

I toggled between the audio and digital copies. The narrator did an amazing job with the characters and helped to keep me from putting this one aside.

Hoping I will be loving his next release!🤞🤞

A buddy read with Susanne that left both of us a bit underwhelmed.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media and Kensington Books for both a digital and audio ARC

[Kezia Duah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like someone spilling tea, while I diligently sipped.

So many twists! So many secrets! They just kept coming and coming. I’ve said in the past, if you claim to be a mystery book, I better not be able to predict at least 85% of the plot and this understood that.

Avery Mason, a very talented journalist, has a story that can definitely boost her career. Before the 9/11 attacks, a woman named Victoria Ford was being investigated for the murder of her lover. After the 9/11 attacks, she lost her life, the case just sort of vanished, and no one really cared anymore. Twenty years later, because of technology, she is able to be identified as one of the victims of 9/11. After meeting with Victoria’s sister who has some sort of evidence that Victoria might not be the murderer, Avery suddenly becomes a detective, which sounds about right for most characters in mystery books.

Avery is not your everyday character though. She has a lot of secrets that are revealed throughout the book. I always appreciate when authors give us a lot of information on our MCs, so we can understand and connect with them. However, it felt like this story shifted quite a bit to more of her story than what I thought the book was mostly going to be about: “Is Victoria Ford a murderer?” I still really liked the part of the books that were mainly about her and her family. I just think it would have been a great book if it was somehow connected to the big mystery. Maybe there's a way that they were all connected, but I didn’t perceive it that way.

Another character who gets a lot of lines is Walt Jenkins. He was a detective assigned to Victoria Ford’s case and later, lends Avery some help in uncovering secrets that are still hidden. He has his own drama that explains a lot about his relevance in the book.

I didn’t really care for the romances in the book. They’re not really major but just had to put that out there.

Overall, I enjoyed the twists and the overall suspense of this. The story felt like it was shifting in many directions at times, but it was okay, I’m not too mad about it.

[Gina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Billed as a "thrilling suspense novel," I found it neither thrilling or suspenseful. I almost quit reading it a few times, but kept holding out for what many other reviewers said was a shocking twist ending. Maybe I'm just jaded after reading a lot of mysteries in my lifetime, but I found the promised great twist more meh and kind of predictable. The two different mystery storylines never came together in a cohesive way, and I thought the unexpected romance plot line was awkward and skeevy. For example, you can't have a character described as a 48 year old alcoholic who spends every day drinking away his troubles with rum in a Jamaican bar, and then later have a 30-ish year old hot female TV personality frequently think about what a great body he has and want a long term relationship with him. Author wish fulfillment? My one star rating might be a little harsh for what isn't so much a bad book but just a not so thrilling and poorly plotted one, but I'm trying to bring some balance to the gushingly positive ones as I'm annoyed I let those talk me into finishing it.

[Michael David (on hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Hard to put down after getting used to multiple characters! Such a great author.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about two crimes that happened two months apart , one crime had an uncanny resemblance of the book to 9/ 11 where we all know was a horrific event.


Avery a TV reporter has a large fan base but wants to get her ratings up so she decides to press on with her story.

This is a very slow burn which was drawn out until the last bit of the BookIt was tedious & Avery was very unlikeable let’s say for me was disappointing.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2001, two months before the 9/11 attacks, well-known author Cameron Young is found dead in his home in the Catskill Mountains, and all evidence point to his being murdered by his mistress, Victoria Ford. However, before the case could be tried in court, 9/11 happened and Victoria was one of the many who were inside the Twin Towers on the day of the attacks when the buildings went down. The Cameron Young murder case was abandoned but never formally closed.

Twenty years later: As the efforts to identify the victims of the attack from the remains collected from the rubble of the buildings continue, DNA testing of bone fragments collected from the site of the attack confirms Victoria as one of the many who perished on 9/11. Thirty two –year old Avery Mason, anchor of a popular television show finds an interesting subject in Victoria for her segment on true crime and unsolved cases and travels to New York for further research. She meets with Victoria’s sister Emma who saved Victoria's final voice message, sent while Victoria was still trapped in the collapsing building, claiming that she was innocent. Victoria embarks on a deep search for details on Victoria’s life and the case and in the process meets up with Victoria's attorney Roman Manchester, her best friend Natalie Ratcliffe who is a best-selling author and Walt Jenkins, a retired (forcibly) FBI Agent who was employed by the New York State Bureau of Criminal Investigation at the time of the murder and was heading the Cameron Young murder investigation. As Walt and Avery dig deep into the case files and study the evidence, they discover discrepancies that were previously overlooked. Was Victoria guilty of Cameron’s murder or had she been framed? Avery is driven and ambitious and aware that Victoria’s story would be a great boost for her career but it is also apparent that Avery’s trip to New York is not just for work and she too has a hidden agenda. Jenkins assists her by sharing details about Victoria’s case but unbeknownst to Avery he was recently brought back into the FBI and is assigned to investigate Avery and her movements in New York on account of Avery’s past – a past that Avery has taken pains to hide even changing her name to hide her true identity so that people could not make the connection to events in her past. Why is the FBI keeping tabs on Avery? Will Jenkins uncover the truth behind Avery’s true motives for coming to New York?

Charlie Donlea’s Twenty Years Later is a well-paced, gripping thriller that kept me hooked till the very last page. There are multiple threads to the story but the author does a great job of keeping the chapters short, the narrative moving and bringing it all together. There is a bit of repetition but not so much that you would lose interest. Of all the sub-plots I found Walt Jenkin’s backstory and reasons for being forced out of the FBI to be the weakest. The romantic angle also felt a bit forced and was unnecessary. The details of the forensic techniques involved in determining the identity of 9/11 victims were very informative. The story is full of twists and turns, a few of which did not surprise me but some I simply did not see coming! The final twist was brilliant and overall, I enjoyed the novel. This was my first book by Charlie Donlea and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

[Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely blown away by this one.

This twisty, layered mystery kept me turning the pages and second-guessing everything and everyone.

Tropes/themes:
Cold case reopened
Dual timelines
Investigative journalist h
Former FBI H
Secret past
Twisty twists
Media manipulation
HEA

I was hooked from the premise, new DNA tech identifies a 9/11 victim, who also happens to be a murder suspect. Just when I thought I miiiiight have things figured out, the author hit me with another piece of the puzzle.

Avery Mason is sharp, ambitious, and hiding some dark secrets. The way her story weaves together with Victoria Ford’s is brilliantly done. I loved the dual timelines and how each clue raised more questions until I finally gave up and just read!

*There’s a slight, closed-door romance woven into this story, and yes, it ends with a satisfying HEA.

Thank you to Dan for the fabulous recommendation!

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: One of the better thrillers I've read this year, though I have mixed feelings about how the 9/11 attacks were used in some scenes.

Story:

The prologue (which is excellent, btw) is set in 2001, but the main story is set ‘twenty years later”, in 2021.

Avery Mason, a top-rung TV news journalist, is always on the lookout for stories that grab the audience’s attention. Her latest story seems to be a potential goldmine for ratings. Developments in DNA technology have made it possible to identify unknown 9/11 victims from mere bone fragments. And the latest victim to be thus discovered happens to be Victoria Ford. The twist is that Victoria was accused of murdering her married lover in cold blood just days before the 9/11 attacks. But till the end, she maintained that she was innocent, contrary to all evidence for at the crime scene.

While Avery is digging more into the Victoria story, the FBI is on her own trail for a secret she has been able to keep from the world all these years. Will Avery be able to keep her past away from the public eye while bringing justice to Victoria?

There are too many characters in the story. Initially I tried to keep track of who's who but that proved a monumental task. I usually keep all the main and secondary character names in mind but in this book, I had to give up after about 20% and just went with the flow, hoping the content would provide enough cues about the character in the scene. Luckily, the writing is clear enough to make you recollect well in time who the character is. To a certain extent, I feel the author went overboard with the number of characters. But to be fair, he uses most of the characters wonderfully in the story and everything comes together neatly at the end. It also helps that the characters were mostly grey and hence felt a bit more nuanced than simple black or white characters.

To add to the confusion, there are too many parallel tracks in the story, and they seem quite disconnected at first. So it is a tough task to keep all stories distinctly in your mind at the beginning. But once the tracks show signs of merging, you realise that every subplot is used well by the author to lay the foundation for the finale. Some of the twists are guessable, especially because of the way the author builds foreshadowing into the narrative. If you are an attentive reader, you will figure out many of the twists. But there are still enough surprises that will catch you unawares. I loved the ending, and in a thriller, if an ending makes me happy, I am quite blind to its other shortcomings.

I was hooked right from the prologue until the end. The author uses all the locations competently. Thought I haven’t been to any of those places, right from the Catskills to NY to Jamaica, I could visualise them clearly through his words. The pace of the story is maintained nicely and there are hardly any scenes which seem added for the heck of it. The sole exception, (but this is a crucial exception), is the detailing of Victoria’s and her lawyer’s experiences in the WTC tower after the plane crashed into the building. I’m okay with authors using the 9/11 attacks in their stories in genuine cases, but to stretch them out needlessly felt like trauma porn. I wasn’t very comfortable with this writing decision.

The audiobook, narrated by Vivienne Leheny, clocks at 11 hrs. Her narration is impeccable and I absolutely loved her voice. However, as I said, there are too many characters and subplots in this book. So if you are an audiobook newbie, I would recommend you read rather than hear this book.

Despite the teeny flaws, “Twenty Years Later” is still one of the better thrillers I’ve read in an otherwise lacklustre thriller year. I’ve never read any other work by this author but I am definitely interested in trying more. Recommended if you want a complicated and quick-paced thriller that manages to surprise you fairly well.

4.25 stars from me.

My thanks to RB Media, Recorded Books, and NetGalley for the ALC of “Twenty Years Later”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.




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[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A news reported trying to prove she has what it takes. A twenty-year-old murder. A sister wanting to clear her sister’s name. A retired agent called back to investigate. A horrible tragedy.

Twenty Years later started slowly for me and I didn't get fully invested in the book until around the 40% mark. The book starts with a strong opening scene, and I was onboard, the book hits the brakes and begins with the back story. Usually, I don't mind this but this one just hit the brakes for me. There are a lot of characters in the mix - don't worry you will be able to remember and keep track of them, but they did add to the slower pace. Once I got to the 40% mark, things began getting interesting, so hang in there if you feel the beginning is slow as I did.

By the halfway mark, I was trying to figure things out and get to the truth myself. There is the main plot and some subplots and when they merge, there was a nice payoff. The second half of the book went much faster, and the pages began turning. As we learn more and more is revealed, things got juicy and just when I thought, I knew what was going to happen, Donlea threw a curve ball and shocked me at the ending. Well, played, Donlea, well played.

Although, this was not my favorite Donlea book, I did enjoy it once I got past the slow beginning. As always, I will be on the lookout for future books by Donlea.

Be aware that this book does use the 911 tragedy in the plot.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing Group, Goodreads and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Seriously wow! Charlie Donlea has become a go to author for me and I was super excited to get an early copy of his new book Twenty Years Later. If you haven't read his books what are you waiting for?

Avery Mason, presenter of American Events is determined to show her bosses that she is the real deal. She has had the role for a year now, after the death of the former presenter Mack. She hears about a story and travels to New York to find out more. When she gets there the story is so much more than she expected. A victim of the 9/11 terror attacks is identified from fragments in a lab from 20 years ago. But this victim was a murder suspect at the time of her death and her sister believes that she is innocent to this day. The more Avery looks into the story, the most intrigued she becomes. But Avery has her own secrets, and another reason for being in the city.

I could not put this book down and ended up staying up well past midnight to finish it. It was a case of one more chapter, one more chapter but I just couldn't stop. It has all the elements of a great thriller, mystery, murder and so much more. It really was fantastic and will be a favourite book for 2021.

Thanks so much to Penguin Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Out in Australia August 3rd.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Donlea has once again created an entertaining mystery. Avery Mason is a young newscaster who hosts a popular weekly nighttime show. In a search for a hot new topic to bring ratings gold, she latches onto a 20 year old murder, complete with “kinky sex, tragedy and betrayal”. The hook is that the suspect, Victoria Ford, was killed in the 9/11 bombings of the Twin Towers and her DNA has just been identified. Her sister, Emma, has a phone recording from that day where she proclaims her innocence and asks her sister to clear her name.
The story is told from multiple perspectives. In addition to Avery, there’s Walt Jenkins, a retired FBI agent who handled the initial investigation. Turns out, the FBI is interested in Avery as her father was behind a massive Ponzi scheme but disappeared before he could be convicted. The characters were well developed. I did find it a bit of a stretch that no one had revealed Avery’s true identity.
It takes a while to get straight on the various storylines as the story alternates between the characters and we’re given the background on Avery’s past, the FBI agent’s history and the murder. There were some decent twists, not just with the main storyline, but the backstories as well. While I had figured out one of them, I sure didn’t see that ending coming.
I listened to this and found Vivienne Lehenny did a great job of bringing the right amount of energy and emotion to the task.
My thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for an advance copy of this audiobook.

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Moly Cannoli! Twenty Years Later is my first book that I've read by Charlie Donlea. I have 8 of Donlea's books on my TBR.

Donlea's website states, "Stories you can't wait to finish but don't want to end." That completely summarizes how I felt about Twenty Years Later.

A horrific murder occurred several months before the 9/11 tragedy in the US. The suspected murderer, a woman, was in lower Manhattan in the North Tower of the World Trade Center speaking with her attorney on the morning of 9/11. The case against her literally went up in smoke.

Twenty years later, interest in the case resurfaces and it is an interesting, fast-paced ride.

Highly recommend!

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for this audiobook in return for an honest review. Charlie Donlea proves he can write a complex, twisty plot with jaw-dropping twists and revelations. However, there were so many subplots, the book seemed convoluted and bloated and veered off in so many directions with unnecessary padding. It was longer than I felt appropriate for telling a coherent, straightforward story. This detracted from its intensity and suspense for me.

I think that the search for the truth behind a murder in July 2001 that took place in the Catskill Mountains would have made a fluid, fast-paced story without all the distractions along the way. The murder victim was a bestselling novelist found naked and hanging from a balcony. Evidence revealed he had been engaged in violent sex with a woman whose DNA was recovered from blood and urine at the crime scene. A sex tape was also found in the home. The woman was identified as Victoria Ford, and she was accused of murder. On September 11, she met with her lawyer on the 80th floor of the WTC North Tower.

He tells her there is every chance she will be convicted of the crime. At that moment, a plane crashes into the building. The case never went to court, and the tragedy took minds off the scandal surrounding the author's murder and focused thoughts on terrorism. After 20 years, some may feel it is too soon to exploit the memory of the 911 heartbreaking disaster in a crime thriller.

Moving forward to 2021, new technology has identified Victoria as a WTC victim from her DNA in a tiny bone fragment. Avery Mason is the anchor of a popular TV news magazine. She is highly driven and intense, demanding a higher salary due to her ratings. She decides to pursue the story of the new DNA technology and the newly identified victim. She learns that Victoria was the murder suspect in an old crime involving a famous author that involved kinky sex with a woman, not his wife. She feels she can exploit this old story for ratings gold. Her audience will be glued to a program about a scandalous crime and follow her program intently.

Avery is actually Claire Montgomery. Her father was the notorious Garth Montgomery. He was indicted for a large Ponzi scheme known as the Thief of Manhattan. He embezzled 30 billion from clients and then disappeared. Avery changed her name to escape the humiliation of her father's crimes. She also is haunted by a past tragedy where her brother drowned when their boat capsized.

Walt Jenkins was a young detective assigned to the murder case 20 years earlier. He reluctantly retired from the FBI and is now living in Jamaica. He is recalled as a consultant by the FBI. They have been searching for Garth Montgomery, and Walt's assignment is to team up with Avery and try to discover her father's whereabouts.

After a visit to Emma, sister of the late Victoria, Avery obtains tapes of phone calls made in her final moments after the plane struck the WTC. She pleads with Emma to establish her innocence and exonerate her from a crime she did not commit. Avery and Walt are drawn into a personal relationship, and both start to believe that perhaps Victoria was not a murderer. They examine old forensic evidence that shows Victoria may have been set up for the murder and false evidence planted at the murder scene.

The story got off to a slow start but now picks up its pace. Again, subplots get in the way. The ending is startling and shocking, and the author certainly succeeded in misleading the readers! I believe, despite some misgivings, that this will be a popular book that will entertain the majority of its readers.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping. Twisty. Edgy.

The best part about reading a page turning mystery novel is getting two different story lines at the same time!

Even though the book at times felt long, it wasn’t boring.

There was just too many interesting moments to dig through, and the twist elements were amazing.

Please note that this books deals with a plot revolving around 9/11, and those with trigger warnings should be aware that it is not glossed over, but central to the story.

[Colleen Scidmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first official read in 2022!

This book had me captivated for many reasons. One of those reasons was because it was centered around a very horrific and important date in America’s history, 9/11. I have the memory of a pea brain nowadays, but I will never forget where I was and how I was feeling when I realized the gravity of what was happening on that terrible day. As I’m sure most of you who were alive and old enough will remember. Still to this day some of us are still dealing with the trauma from 20 years ago. So seeing a story surrounding these events really piqued my interest, but also hoping that is was done in a fitting manner.

It took me a minute to get completely engrossed because the story from the very beginning flipped from scene to scene. It was a bit confusing and I wasn’t sure where it was going. But when it finally clicked I was totally sucked in!

It starts out with a murder investigation that takes place 20 years ago in NY that involves a best selling author and his mistress Victoria. The murder made headlines because of who the victim was, as well as during the investigation it was discovered that he had a torrid extramarital affair involving a sex tape and the use of BDSM. Even though the crime scene had Victoria’s finger prints and some irrefutable DNA evidence, she strongly maintained that she was innocent and went as far as to hire one of the best defense lawyers in the country.

Victoria was meeting with her lawyer on the morning of 9/11 in The Twin Towers. As chaos ensued and Victoria realized she may not make it out alive, she made one last recorded call to a loved one, which also pertained to her lovers murder. That message was not heard by another soul until 20 years later.

Present day, Avery Mason, TV Reporter and host of a popular news program similar to Dateline, is trying to clean up a family mess and also following the long forgotten and decades old story of deceased 9/11 victim Victoria Ford being accused of murdering Cameron Young. There was a recent discovery where Victoria’s DNA was found among the 9/11 rubble using a single tooth. Avery thinks this will be a great piece to air on the show as part of a memorial with a twist. And it’s also giving her the perfect reason to be in New York City covering up the real reason why she’s there.

Avery gets in contact with Walt Jenkins, a BCI agent at the time and also the lead detective on the murder investigation. Walt is now a forty something year old retired FBI agent who is more than happy to help the reporter out with his old case for his own reasons, unknown to Avery.
As they work along side each other to put the pieces together of The Cameron Young/Victoria Ford case, things are not so cut and dry as it seemed 20 years ago. Especially after Avery listens to the very last message Victoria left.

Now both this decades old case and the main reason Avery traveled all the way across country are embroiled in one big mess. And both Avery and Walt need to figure out the past in order to move forward in the present.

I loved how Charlie Donlea wrapped both the murder of Cameron Young and the present dilemma, 2 different stories made to come together in such an intricate manner. That takes a lot of talent to do so well and not confuse most readers! The characters were well developed and felt completely realistic. I really enjoyed getting to know Avery Mason and Walt Jenkins, their back stories, faults and all.

And the punches I did not see coming threw me for a loop! I had inklings but I really wasn’t certain, especially on one story line in particular. Be prepared to be blown away! And the epilogue had goosebumps running down my spine.

CD has a new fan and I’m excited to dig out my buried copy of The Girl Who Was Taken and give it a read.

[Francesca (pavisfrancesca) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many things happening at once, especially towards the beginning. The pacing seemed a little all over the place compared to this authors other books. But overall enjoyed it and would recommend. absolutely loved the final twist 🥹

[JanB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria consults with her lawyer in an office on the 87th floor of the World Trade Center on Sept 11, 2001. She will be indicted on the murder of the man she was having an affair with, Cameron Young, a popular novelist who died in a most gruesome way.

Then the first plane hits the tower. 20 years later a lab identifies the DNA extracted from a tooth found at the 9/11 site as that of Victoria’s. It’s painstaking work and an exciting breakthrough that makes the news.

Avery, the anchor of a popular program, American Events, goes to NY to follow the story. She has a second secret reason for going, which involves her well-known NY family who had a spectacular fall from grace. Avery changed her name, reinvented herself and prefers her secrets stay secret. Her father, who was looking at many years in prison for his crimes, is still at large.

Walt, who previously was a surveillance agent with the FBI, is hiding away in Jamaica, a place where no one asks questions. It’s been 3 years since his forced retirement.. He was the officer at the scene of the murder that Victoria was going to be indicted for.

The FBI knows Avery’s real identity and thinks Avery is aiding and abetting her father. They approach Walt with an offer for undercover work. He is to make himself available to Avery as she investigates the 9/11 case, in the hopes of learning where her father is hiding out.

Victoria, Avery, and Walt’s stories collide in unexpected ways which made for a fun-page turner. There were a couple of places where I went…hmm??? But no matter. I guessed the first major twist but the ending was a shocker in all the best ways! A fun enjoyable read for me & my reading buddy, the book is available through KU.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My, my

Wow! I was reeled in! Charlie Donlea got me. Twists that I did not anticipate. This rarely happens and I do not, in fact, remember the last time that I was this surprised by a plot twist ( or two, maybe three). I have to unreservedly recommend this book to everyone. Read this - now!. You will not be sorry.

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Charlie Donlea’s newest novel, Those Empty Eyes, and falling head over heels in love with it, I was eager to dive into his backlist. Recommended by many of my book besties, I decided to give Twenty Years Later a try. Boy, was I not disappointed. A riveting combination of crime fiction and a deftly engineered psychological thriller, it took me on a rocketing ride of suspense that few people other than Donlea could have pulled off.

Right from the get-go, I was an avid fan of Avery Mason. No nonsense and with an eye for leaping into drama-filled news stories, she was most certainly someone known to get to the root of the matter. Strong-willed, clever, and thoroughly willing to do whatever it takes, she was one epic female main character. But on top of all of that, she was humanized by the equally likable Walt Jenkins and their endearing romantic attraction. Between the two of them, they managed to provide a stunning backdrop to this twisty thriller.

But I can’t forget to mention the altogether stellar plot. Packed full of gasp-inducing twists and turns, mind-blowing subplots, and one heck of a brilliant climax, it was truly a magical rollercoaster ride. One that I would’ve never expected to get out of a crime fiction novel. Even the conclusion didn’t disappoint. Entirely satisfactory for mind, body, and soul, it ended with my very favorite kind of finale. The kind that provided one parting ball buster of a twist as I closed the book.

The only teeny, tiny disappointment that I had along the way was how I kind of got a glimpse behind the curtain. Just before two of the jaw-dropping twists were revealed, I had a very small inkling of what was to come. Did it ruin this book for me? Not a chance. Nevertheless, I did manage to out sleuth the author, which I tropically prefer not to do.

Back to the many selling points of this one now. Namely, the structure, which blended two thrilling POVs with flashbacks to illustrate a complex yet beautifully masterminded storyline. What could have been confusing and convoluted was anything but. Yet another sign of a true master of the written word.

When all is said and done, this book convinced me of one fact. That if Charlie Donlea hadn’t already been an auto-buy author for me, this one would’ve surely forced the issue. A brilliant story that would make a dynamite movie, it was action-packed, dynamic, and thoroughly unforgettable. I mean, the premise alone had me from hello. So, if you haven’t already guessed, I loved this addictive, bingeable, unputdownable success through and through. Rating of 5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Avery Mason is the young, brilliant host of the broadcast news show hit, American Events. After recently taking over the reins from her co-host after his sudden death, she is determined to prove her worth. And she thinks she’s found just the story. Twenty years after the Twin Towers fell that fateful morning on September 11th, the New York medical examiner’s office has made the first DNA match in years. But that’s not even the juicy bit. No, the victim is none other than Victoria Ford who had been on the cusp of being indicted for the gruesome murder of her married lover.

The case, which had been played out in front of the media, seemed to be an open and shut case two decades ago. After all, Victoria’s DNA had been all over the murder scene. But what makes this story sure to be ratings gold are the facts of the murder itself. Full of illicit sex, tragedy, and deceit, the murder victim was not only a wealthy, bestselling author, but in a secret affair with Victoria herself.

As Avery begins to dig into the evidence, she meets with Victoria’s sister, Emma Kind. Over glasses of wine, she reveals that her sister could never have killed anyone, let alone someone she reportedly loved. After all, the last words she’d ever heard Victoria utter on that fateful day had been a desperate plea to prove her innocence regardless of whether she lived or died.

Determined to find out the truth, Avery hunts down clues and potential missteps. But what she does not know is that she’s not the only one with an agenda. Someone else is hiding in the wings just hoping to root out long hidden secrets and lies. Some that even touch on Avery’s very own well hidden past. And the closer she gets to uncovering the truth, the closer the secrets she’s been hiding from everyone, including her viewing public, are to being exposed to the world.

Trigger warning: 9/11, infidelity, strangulation, mention of: capsizing, financial fraud, abortion, mild BDSM sex, death in the line of duty

[Marialyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sneaky, Sneaky!

It's been almost twenty four years since the tragedy of 9/11. I believe no one who was alive at that time will ever forget where and when they heard and mourned the deaths of so many.

What was the truth behind an awful murder that happened twenty years ago? Avery Mason, a prominent news reporter and lead on the ever popular American Events is hell bent on finding out. It was a murder that had all the markings of what sells, gruesome, deviant sex, and betrayal.

Victoria Ford, a young woman is supposedly the murderess and is poised to go on trial when 9/11 happens and she is in the North Tower when it collapses. She is presumed dead and twenty years later, her tooth is found providing further proof that she is dead.

Victoria's sister, Emma Kind, Avery, and a former FBI agent track down the clues to prove that the dead Victoria is not guilty.

This was a clever story and although it had a few tiny holes an enjoyable whodunit as well.

And that ending was a super duper surprise! .... and Jan and I loved it!