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Any One of Us
Her old schoolfriends are dead. She might be next.
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo—the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim—and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo—the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim—and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2022
410 people are currently reading
5031 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
December 24, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this one!
I really liked this book. It took me a bit to get into it because the writing style is very short sentences, very matter of fact, choppy. However, the plot soon had me hooked and I got used to the writing style. There were plenty of twists and turns. The characters themselves were well developed and intriguing. I particularly liked that Ruby was an unreliable narrator, it made it more difficult to guess who was killing the people off. My only small complaint is that there are some things that are never really explained or wrapped up (Scott's issues, the gun in the trunk, Ruby's mental health). Other than that, this was a really solid read that I finished within a day. 👍🏻👍🏻
**ARC Via NetGalley**
I really liked this book. It took me a bit to get into it because the writing style is very short sentences, very matter of fact, choppy. However, the plot soon had me hooked and I got used to the writing style. There were plenty of twists and turns. The characters themselves were well developed and intriguing. I particularly liked that Ruby was an unreliable narrator, it made it more difficult to guess who was killing the people off. My only small complaint is that there are some things that are never really explained or wrapped up (Scott's issues, the gun in the trunk, Ruby's mental health). Other than that, this was a really solid read that I finished within a day. 👍🏻👍🏻
**ARC Via NetGalley**
January 31, 2023
3,25 stars
I recieved this book from netgalley but as always my review will be honest. I really liked the writing of this book as well as the characters. The plot of the book was good too but somehow it was lacking some more depth in the characters for me. It‘s a basic crime book that I always enjoy, but again I felt like I needed a bit more character depth for the plot to make more sense. Also the ending felt a little rushed for me personally. Other than that I really enjoyed the book and will definitely check out more from this author. It was a real quick read and one that was really easy to follow.
Description:
Her old schoolfriends are dead. She might be next.
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo—the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim—and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
I recieved this book from netgalley but as always my review will be honest. I really liked the writing of this book as well as the characters. The plot of the book was good too but somehow it was lacking some more depth in the characters for me. It‘s a basic crime book that I always enjoy, but again I felt like I needed a bit more character depth for the plot to make more sense. Also the ending felt a little rushed for me personally. Other than that I really enjoyed the book and will definitely check out more from this author. It was a real quick read and one that was really easy to follow.
Description:
Her old schoolfriends are dead. She might be next.
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo—the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim—and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
September 20, 2022
I really enjoyed this one.
While I’m not often a fan of books where people from high school are suddenly being killed (I guess I just left high school behind so completely myself), this one was actually compelling. I really liked our main character and was definitely intrigued by our mystery.
I’m happy to say that the author kept me guessing. All of my ‘obvious’ solutions were completely wrong, yet the actual reason and ‘who’ behind everything wasn’t a cheat.
My first book by the author, but I’ll happily read them in the future!
• ARC via Net Galley
While I’m not often a fan of books where people from high school are suddenly being killed (I guess I just left high school behind so completely myself), this one was actually compelling. I really liked our main character and was definitely intrigued by our mystery.
I’m happy to say that the author kept me guessing. All of my ‘obvious’ solutions were completely wrong, yet the actual reason and ‘who’ behind everything wasn’t a cheat.
My first book by the author, but I’ll happily read them in the future!
• ARC via Net Galley
September 20, 2022
This book was a strange one for me, and also the closest I have ever been to DNFing a book. It took me an absolute age to read, and I think that's because I just didn't really get on with the writing style. The sentences are quite choppy, and there was lots of filler writing that I just skimmed over. secondly, the chapters are really long, so I just wasn't engaged throughout the book. The pace definitely picks up in the last quarter of the book, but it was a struggle to make it to that.
I wanted to read this as it gave me 'one of us is lying' vibes, but adults and British! The premise of the book is interesting but doesn't quote love up to the potential. I did guess who the Killer was pretty much as soon as their character was in the book, and this did mean any suspense was lost for me. that isn't to say it wasn't a good twist, but it was quite predictable for me. Also if you didn't guess who it was, then I think the reveal comes as almost too much of a shock - I didn't really pick up on too many hints throughout the book, and it felt really sudden when we do get to the reveal. I did enjoy the story, and could definitely see this working as a good TV adaptation.
Ruby was a really difficult main character for me to like. I'm a bit tired of the main female character with a secret drug addiction storyline, and there was so much more that could have been explored in that. It just felt like her addiction was only there as an excuse for her memory loss. Another disappointing character was Frank. I actually really loved his storyline but was disappointed we didn't find out more about him and his past. Maybe this was intentional, but I felt like this open-endedness to his character was quite disappointing.
Overall if you're into BBC/ITV crime shows I do think you'd enjoy this, but I think the writing style is definitely personal preference, and for me, it just didn't work for a murder mystery book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
I wanted to read this as it gave me 'one of us is lying' vibes, but adults and British! The premise of the book is interesting but doesn't quote love up to the potential. I did guess who the Killer was pretty much as soon as their character was in the book, and this did mean any suspense was lost for me. that isn't to say it wasn't a good twist, but it was quite predictable for me. Also if you didn't guess who it was, then I think the reveal comes as almost too much of a shock - I didn't really pick up on too many hints throughout the book, and it felt really sudden when we do get to the reveal. I did enjoy the story, and could definitely see this working as a good TV adaptation.
Ruby was a really difficult main character for me to like. I'm a bit tired of the main female character with a secret drug addiction storyline, and there was so much more that could have been explored in that. It just felt like her addiction was only there as an excuse for her memory loss. Another disappointing character was Frank. I actually really loved his storyline but was disappointed we didn't find out more about him and his past. Maybe this was intentional, but I felt like this open-endedness to his character was quite disappointing.
Overall if you're into BBC/ITV crime shows I do think you'd enjoy this, but I think the writing style is definitely personal preference, and for me, it just didn't work for a murder mystery book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
September 13, 2022
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher, Amazon Publishing UK, for sharing an ARC of this book with me through NetGalley!!
Trigger warning: suicide, mention of violence, bullying, murder, PTSD, mention of drugs
“It. Is. About. Power”
This thriller was amazing !!!
This book is perfect for fans of “One of us is lying” but imagining the main characters being back at their school after twenty years.
It was absolutely amazing. I felt engaged in the mystery and completely thrilled and excited in finding out who was behind it all.
The profiling part was, I have to say, even better than the whole action sequences.
I loved every second of trying to figure out the main reasons and common denominator of each and every murder. The characters were absolutely great and I loved reading and meeting them.
I have to say that by the end of the book, I had figured out the truth and the killer’s identity but the reasons where still a bit blurred for me.
Apart from that I have to say that I deeply appreciated all the fundamental mental health issues we should discuss more. Starting from the feeling of nakedness while crying in front of others getting to the feeling of injustice because of witnessing wrongdoings and standing there doing nothing.
Overall it was exactly the kind of book that I needed right now so I’m very glad I had the chance to experience it.
“And you can also commit injustice by doing nothing”
Trigger warning: suicide, mention of violence, bullying, murder, PTSD, mention of drugs
“It. Is. About. Power”
This thriller was amazing !!!
This book is perfect for fans of “One of us is lying” but imagining the main characters being back at their school after twenty years.
It was absolutely amazing. I felt engaged in the mystery and completely thrilled and excited in finding out who was behind it all.
The profiling part was, I have to say, even better than the whole action sequences.
I loved every second of trying to figure out the main reasons and common denominator of each and every murder. The characters were absolutely great and I loved reading and meeting them.
I have to say that by the end of the book, I had figured out the truth and the killer’s identity but the reasons where still a bit blurred for me.
Apart from that I have to say that I deeply appreciated all the fundamental mental health issues we should discuss more. Starting from the feeling of nakedness while crying in front of others getting to the feeling of injustice because of witnessing wrongdoings and standing there doing nothing.
Overall it was exactly the kind of book that I needed right now so I’m very glad I had the chance to experience it.
“And you can also commit injustice by doing nothing”
September 15, 2022
The cover and description of "Any One of Us", by Martyn Ford, drew me in right away, and it was overall an enjoyable and fast-paced read.
The story starts in Australia, where the protagonist, Ruby, is working as essentially a criminal profiler--up until she learns of the deaths of two of her former classmates. She starts getting a bad feeling when her best friend from school--Elizabeth, the one who notified her of the first two deaths--stops responding to her texts, and unfortunately that bad feeling is confirmed when Ruby learns that Elizabeth was the third victim. Although initially hesitant to return home to the UK to investigate the case, Ruby feels obligated now that Elizabeth is dead.
I thought it was interesting how the author portrayed Ruby as somewhat unreliable due to her reliance on non-prescribed Adderall and her subsequent lack of sleep and lapses in memory. That made it a bit more difficult for me to be certain of my predictions on who the killer was. There were definitely parts of the story that were really compelling and hard to put down, as my mind was going in a bunch of different directions,
I did feel that the beginning was a bit slow, and some of the writing was a little hard to get through. I found myself wanting to skim, but I stayed focused since I didn't want to miss anything important. In addition, I felt that the book could have been a bit shorter than it was, and still had the same level of suspense and impact on the reader, if not more.
Overall, I would give this a 3.5, rounded up to a 4. Thanks very much to the author, Martyn Ford, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy!
The story starts in Australia, where the protagonist, Ruby, is working as essentially a criminal profiler--up until she learns of the deaths of two of her former classmates. She starts getting a bad feeling when her best friend from school--Elizabeth, the one who notified her of the first two deaths--stops responding to her texts, and unfortunately that bad feeling is confirmed when Ruby learns that Elizabeth was the third victim. Although initially hesitant to return home to the UK to investigate the case, Ruby feels obligated now that Elizabeth is dead.
I thought it was interesting how the author portrayed Ruby as somewhat unreliable due to her reliance on non-prescribed Adderall and her subsequent lack of sleep and lapses in memory. That made it a bit more difficult for me to be certain of my predictions on who the killer was. There were definitely parts of the story that were really compelling and hard to put down, as my mind was going in a bunch of different directions,
I did feel that the beginning was a bit slow, and some of the writing was a little hard to get through. I found myself wanting to skim, but I stayed focused since I didn't want to miss anything important. In addition, I felt that the book could have been a bit shorter than it was, and still had the same level of suspense and impact on the reader, if not more.
Overall, I would give this a 3.5, rounded up to a 4. Thanks very much to the author, Martyn Ford, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy!
October 4, 2022
After a class reunion, members of Ruby's class start dying. After one of her good friends is a victim of the killer, she decides to come back home from Australia and use her criminal profiling expertise to help find the culprit. as she investigates, the answers lead her to a past trauma and those involved.
I really enjoyed this mystery! It felt half thriller, half traditional mystery since Ruby is a profiler and not an actual detective. I did predict the culprit, although I did get fooled by a red herring! It was enjoyable and a good mystery.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this mystery! It felt half thriller, half traditional mystery since Ruby is a profiler and not an actual detective. I did predict the culprit, although I did get fooled by a red herring! It was enjoyable and a good mystery.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2023
⭐⭐⭐
𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩.
I read this book not too long ago and honestly, it’s so forgettable that I already forgot some of the key elements.
Let’s start off with what I can actually remember… I liked the premise behind this book and the characters were surprisingly interesting. Was this one of those incredible books? No. But was it a fun time? Absolutely!
I actually liked the writing - choppy sentences at times though - but I found it to be so captivating and it had me intrigued in the story for the most part. The plot also had so much potential, but some missing elements had me a bit confused.
The crime was so fascinating and I feel like I would have loved this more if the characters were more developed, regardless of whether I found them interesting. It gave me One Of Us Is Lying vibes at times, which I found intriguing.
The last part of the book definitely had me more interested. It set off a great mystery and I skimmed a bit to get to the ending. I wanted to know what was going on. I did predict part of the ending, but this book was still enjoyable for what it was.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing) for the gifted galley in exchange for my honest review, all thoughts are my own!
𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩.
I read this book not too long ago and honestly, it’s so forgettable that I already forgot some of the key elements.
Let’s start off with what I can actually remember… I liked the premise behind this book and the characters were surprisingly interesting. Was this one of those incredible books? No. But was it a fun time? Absolutely!
I actually liked the writing - choppy sentences at times though - but I found it to be so captivating and it had me intrigued in the story for the most part. The plot also had so much potential, but some missing elements had me a bit confused.
The crime was so fascinating and I feel like I would have loved this more if the characters were more developed, regardless of whether I found them interesting. It gave me One Of Us Is Lying vibes at times, which I found intriguing.
The last part of the book definitely had me more interested. It set off a great mystery and I skimmed a bit to get to the ending. I wanted to know what was going on. I did predict part of the ending, but this book was still enjoyable for what it was.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing) for the gifted galley in exchange for my honest review, all thoughts are my own!
October 22, 2022
I enjoyed this read, however I encountered a few issues that I couldn’t really get over whilst reading. It definitely gave One of Us is Lying vibes, but considering I didn’t enjoy that book that may not have added to the enjoyment I did have reading the book. I say this because like in OOUIL I did not find myself liking or invested in many of the characters. That was the biggest struggle I found because it made it really hard to keep going even though the plot and its twist was SO good!
May 18, 2024
This was pretty good, I must say I was fooled till the end.
October 3, 2022
I struggled to finish this book and I am usually a very fast reader. I found the writing style difficult and the pace very slow moving. The idea of a group of people being murdered who are linked by a school photograph is excellent. Even the idea of one of them being an investigator on the case held promise but, in the end, the promise largely failed to deliver. Readers who persist while find that things get better towards the end, but I suspect many will give up before reaching that point.
September 13, 2022
i got 63% through before i had to give up and skim, only because i was semi invested in the twist everyone who rated this book highly talked about. for me, the writing was extremely difficult to get into and read. the short, clipped sentences made everything weird. i didn’t connect with a single character and found the fmc to be the worst of them all. her inner monologue was strange and i’m sure she was not a reliable narrator given the drug addiction but?? by the time i got to the twist i realized how predictable it was from the beginning and just sighed. i’m glad for the people who enjoyed this but it wasn’t the read for me. this did not read really like horror or thriller or suspense. it didn’t have the build up or tension. it was severely lacking in most character and plot developing related things.
November 4, 2022
Book was poorly written. It supposedly started in Australia and then off to the UK. There was nothing about the beginning or UK which indicated any grounding in either country. Could have been anywhere, there was absolutely no sense of the author knowing or experiencing either place. Even the terminology of the police systems was incorrect. Just rubbish. Decided life to short and too many good books to read to bother finishing.
December 13, 2022
3.5 stars
When Ruby's classmates start dying at the hands of a mysterious serial killer shortly after a class reunion, she's assigned to return to her hometown to help profile the potential killer before he can continue his deadly streak across the Class of '99. But this killer leaves barely any evidence behind and seems to strike at random, all while keeping close tabs on Ruby herself. With these odds, Ruby begins to wonder whether she'll ever be able to figure this case out before more bodies turn up.
This book has a really great plot set-up, with a killer seeming to randomly target members of a school class, both the good and the terrible (wait til you hear about Scott and his little set-up). So from the beginning, there's a lot going on with the plot and there's plenty of potential leads for Ruby to follow, but most begin to fizzle out as the investigation goes on. Which leads to classic "what the heck is going on here?!" conundrum. And when we find out, it's quite a reveal, with plenty of twists and switches going around.
Plus, Ruby is dealing with some personal issues related to her health and mental wellbeing that are making her doubt her own abilities as she is dealing with this heavy case. Imagine dealing with such a personal case while not being able to trust your own judgement. It doesn't really work out too well for her, to say the least.
But I think the plot dragged on a little too long. there were some sub plots that got a little too much attention that went nowhere and could have been cut down, like said one with Scott. I don't want to give away anything, but I think a lot was left unresolved there and a lot could have just been cut without harming the plot. Same with some other side plots that made the book just a little too long and over-detailed.
But overall, I didn't dislike the book or anything. It had a good mystery and I liked Ruby as a protagonist. I would recommend the book, with caveats.
When Ruby's classmates start dying at the hands of a mysterious serial killer shortly after a class reunion, she's assigned to return to her hometown to help profile the potential killer before he can continue his deadly streak across the Class of '99. But this killer leaves barely any evidence behind and seems to strike at random, all while keeping close tabs on Ruby herself. With these odds, Ruby begins to wonder whether she'll ever be able to figure this case out before more bodies turn up.
This book has a really great plot set-up, with a killer seeming to randomly target members of a school class, both the good and the terrible (wait til you hear about Scott and his little set-up). So from the beginning, there's a lot going on with the plot and there's plenty of potential leads for Ruby to follow, but most begin to fizzle out as the investigation goes on. Which leads to classic "what the heck is going on here?!" conundrum. And when we find out, it's quite a reveal, with plenty of twists and switches going around.
Plus, Ruby is dealing with some personal issues related to her health and mental wellbeing that are making her doubt her own abilities as she is dealing with this heavy case. Imagine dealing with such a personal case while not being able to trust your own judgement. It doesn't really work out too well for her, to say the least.
But I think the plot dragged on a little too long. there were some sub plots that got a little too much attention that went nowhere and could have been cut down, like said one with Scott. I don't want to give away anything, but I think a lot was left unresolved there and a lot could have just been cut without harming the plot. Same with some other side plots that made the book just a little too long and over-detailed.
But overall, I didn't dislike the book or anything. It had a good mystery and I liked Ruby as a protagonist. I would recommend the book, with caveats.
October 29, 2022
***** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *****
Ruby left Missbrook Bay years before, but now, as her friends start dying, she’s drawn back to help get answers. Ruby heard from her friend Elizabeth that two of their friends has died. Now Ruby can’t get ahold of Elizabeth and she’s panicking. Her panic is warranted when Elizabeth is found murdered as well. Ruby returns home to put her criminal profiling to good use. Ruby ends up staying with her ex. She notices something strange in a photo and begins to think everyone in that photo is in danger… someone wants them dead!
I’d never listened to a Martyn Ford book before. I’m glad I grabbed this one. It does give off a young adult feel but I’m not bothered by that genre at all. Ruby is struggling with an Adderall addiction so she comes off a tad bit unreliable… can we trust what Ruby finds? The narration by Moira Quirk was good. I loved her accent; the British accent is always my favorite to listen too. However, I really didn’t like that she came off very breathy. It was distracting from the story in my opinion.
Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the complimentary copy of this audiobook with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.
Check out my Blog: Next Book Review
Check out my Facebook Page: Next Book Review Facebook
Ruby left Missbrook Bay years before, but now, as her friends start dying, she’s drawn back to help get answers. Ruby heard from her friend Elizabeth that two of their friends has died. Now Ruby can’t get ahold of Elizabeth and she’s panicking. Her panic is warranted when Elizabeth is found murdered as well. Ruby returns home to put her criminal profiling to good use. Ruby ends up staying with her ex. She notices something strange in a photo and begins to think everyone in that photo is in danger… someone wants them dead!
I’d never listened to a Martyn Ford book before. I’m glad I grabbed this one. It does give off a young adult feel but I’m not bothered by that genre at all. Ruby is struggling with an Adderall addiction so she comes off a tad bit unreliable… can we trust what Ruby finds? The narration by Moira Quirk was good. I loved her accent; the British accent is always my favorite to listen too. However, I really didn’t like that she came off very breathy. It was distracting from the story in my opinion.
Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the complimentary copy of this audiobook with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.
Check out my Blog: Next Book Review
Check out my Facebook Page: Next Book Review Facebook
October 15, 2022
Her old schoolfriends are dead. She might be next.
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo—the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim—and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
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 was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo—the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim—and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
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 was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
December 28, 2022
I had high hopes for this book. I loved the premise. The protagonist is Ruby, a criminal profiler working in Australia who is is called back to her home town in England to assist in a murder investigation in which her high school classmates are being killed one by one. From the beginning, I could not find Ruby to be a character I could like or become invested in. She seemed too cold, unemotional, and tedious. These characteristics in someone who works in law enforcement can actually add to a story, but to me all they did was weight the story down. As the story progressed, it seemed that Ruby is obviously a very troubled person who doesn’t seem suited to a job as a criminal profiler. Unfortunately, none of the other characters were people I could get invested in either. Because the premise so interested me, I kept on reading. I will say that there were lots of twists and turns which kept me going, but ultimately it was the writing style that did me in. The chapters were too long and I’m sorry to say that I can only describe the writing style as generally plodding. I did manage to finish the book, but was left with a strong feeling of disappointment. The author had a great idea for the storyline and carried it through to the point that I kept guessing at the identity of the killer until the end. This could have been a great book. Sadly, due to the characters and writing style, I can only give it only three stars.
September 19, 2022
I enjoyed this twisty murder mystery suspense. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.
In the first few pages I was hooked. The murder of a former school friend in Ruby’s hometown in the UK brings this perfectionist “behavioral investigative advisor” AKA criminal profiler on a journey into her past from her home in Australia.
It turns out there is a serial killer on the loose in Missbrook Bay. As the mystery unfolds more people die and it seems Ruby is certainly in danger. Everything seems to be related to a high school incident.
There’s a strange relationship with two of the classmates that’s not fully explainable, but it serves to provide a murder suspect and moved the story forward. Ruby’s addiction to a stimulant medication, which she gets illegally, is a bit of a misalignment with her hyper-perfectionist personality, and is explained as keeping her “sharp.” In a convenient plot action the medication may be contributing to Ruby’s forgetfulness. She also ultimately seems to be a very poor profiler.
I found the final killer reveal engaging, but the killer’s motivations, once revealed, annoyed me. I didn’t think the final act was in alignment with the killer’s behavior throughout the story. That said, I was interested through to the end and it kept me reading.
In the first few pages I was hooked. The murder of a former school friend in Ruby’s hometown in the UK brings this perfectionist “behavioral investigative advisor” AKA criminal profiler on a journey into her past from her home in Australia.
It turns out there is a serial killer on the loose in Missbrook Bay. As the mystery unfolds more people die and it seems Ruby is certainly in danger. Everything seems to be related to a high school incident.
There’s a strange relationship with two of the classmates that’s not fully explainable, but it serves to provide a murder suspect and moved the story forward. Ruby’s addiction to a stimulant medication, which she gets illegally, is a bit of a misalignment with her hyper-perfectionist personality, and is explained as keeping her “sharp.” In a convenient plot action the medication may be contributing to Ruby’s forgetfulness. She also ultimately seems to be a very poor profiler.
I found the final killer reveal engaging, but the killer’s motivations, once revealed, annoyed me. I didn’t think the final act was in alignment with the killer’s behavior throughout the story. That said, I was interested through to the end and it kept me reading.
September 11, 2022
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Uk
I just reviewed Any One of Us by Martyn Ford. #AnyOneofUs #NetGalley
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Uk
I just reviewed Any One of Us by Martyn Ford. #AnyOneofUs #NetGalley
September 11, 2022
When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too.
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Uk
I just reviewed Any One of Us by Martyn Ford. #AnyOneofUs #NetGalley
Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe.
There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Uk
I just reviewed Any One of Us by Martyn Ford. #AnyOneofUs #NetGalley
September 18, 2022
Actual rating: 3.5
Have you ever found yourself reminiscing about the past, wondering where your old classmates are up to, what your old school looks like now, and just about that 'good ol' time'? Me too! But have you ever been pretty much forced back down memory lane when you get the news that there has been a series of murders in your old town and that the victims were your classmates? That's exactly what happens to Ruby.
Working as the equivalent of a criminal profiler, Ruby goes back to her hometown to investigate the murders and find the culprit. And soon. Because it seems that whoever is committing those crimes might have a vendetta against people in her class, and she might be next.
I quite liked this read. It was fast-paced and gives only snippets of information about the case, just enough to only really allow you to guess who the murderer is about halfway through the book, keeping you on your toes.
My biggest complaint would be that for someone working in the police force, she does talk about evidence and theories with just about anybody, including suspects, quite a bit. Then she wonders how the murderer was one step ahead of her. Come on now...
Have you ever found yourself reminiscing about the past, wondering where your old classmates are up to, what your old school looks like now, and just about that 'good ol' time'? Me too! But have you ever been pretty much forced back down memory lane when you get the news that there has been a series of murders in your old town and that the victims were your classmates? That's exactly what happens to Ruby.
Working as the equivalent of a criminal profiler, Ruby goes back to her hometown to investigate the murders and find the culprit. And soon. Because it seems that whoever is committing those crimes might have a vendetta against people in her class, and she might be next.
I quite liked this read. It was fast-paced and gives only snippets of information about the case, just enough to only really allow you to guess who the murderer is about halfway through the book, keeping you on your toes.
My biggest complaint would be that for someone working in the police force, she does talk about evidence and theories with just about anybody, including suspects, quite a bit. Then she wonders how the murderer was one step ahead of her. Come on now...
October 13, 2022
Any One of Us by Martyn Ford.
Her old schoolfriends are dead. She might be next. When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too. Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo—the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe. There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim—and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
I really enjoyed this book. Twisty and tense. I had no clue who the killer was. 5*.
Her old schoolfriends are dead. She might be next. When Ruby hears from her best friend Elizabeth that two of their old classmates have been murdered, Ruby is more certain than ever that leaving her hometown was the right decision. But after Elizabeth suddenly stops responding to texts, and Ruby hears a third classmate has been killed, she knows in her heart what has happened. Elizabeth is dead too. Missbrook Bay is a place haunted by memories Ruby wanted to forget, and people she never wanted to see again, but Ruby has no choice but to go back to investigate. While staying with her ex-boyfriend, she notices a pattern in their full school year photo—the killer seems to be working through victims in a specific order. And after her ex’s house is broken into, Ruby realises nowhere and no one is safe. There are still many faces left in that photo. Any one of them could be the next victim—and any one of them could be the killer. And with each death, the killer is getting closer to Ruby.
I really enjoyed this book. Twisty and tense. I had no clue who the killer was. 5*.
September 11, 2022
The premise of Any One of Us is really great, which led me to having higher expectations of the book than it really warranted. Ultimately, the major failing for me was that I had no real emotional investment in any of the characters, but especially Ruby. She's introduced with a variety of quirks and issues, which were interesting set ups for her, but they don't really factor into the plot at all in ways that make an impact. For example, Ruby has been taking adderall for years and only in this investigation does it cause her memory loss issues? She seems to have some intense OCD when it comes to needs for order and routine and yet it doesn't create any problems for her job or her personal life really? All of the other characters just sort of become background noise.
I also just wish the mystery packed more of a punch. There are some compelling elements (like what exactly Scott's entire deal was?) but they all get brushed aside for a motive to murder that opens up a lot more questions than it answers.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I also just wish the mystery packed more of a punch. There are some compelling elements (like what exactly Scott's entire deal was?) but they all get brushed aside for a motive to murder that opens up a lot more questions than it answers.
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2022
Any One of Us
by Martyn Ford
Pub Date: 13 Oct 2022
Great thriller! Ruby has moved all the way to Australia to get away from her old life in a small town in England. She left behind her old life: the only father she ever knew, Giles a tough ex military step-father who adopted her after mother's tragic death, Will her first love who cheated on her in front of all her classmates, and a sweet friend who truly valued her friendship. Fifteen years later when she receives a text from that friend...someone is killing their classmates and it all started after their 20th class reunion. Ruby, being a profiler of sorts, is interested but it still isn't enough to bring her back, until her sweet friend becomes the latest victim.
Ruby finds herself drawn to the case. She must stop more innocent classmates from dying, but are they really that innocent?
Good read. I had it narrowed down to one of two characters within the first little bit of the book, but, I didn't know the why. The why is the twist of the book.
#AnyOneOfUs #MartynFord #NetGalley
by Martyn Ford
Pub Date: 13 Oct 2022
Great thriller! Ruby has moved all the way to Australia to get away from her old life in a small town in England. She left behind her old life: the only father she ever knew, Giles a tough ex military step-father who adopted her after mother's tragic death, Will her first love who cheated on her in front of all her classmates, and a sweet friend who truly valued her friendship. Fifteen years later when she receives a text from that friend...someone is killing their classmates and it all started after their 20th class reunion. Ruby, being a profiler of sorts, is interested but it still isn't enough to bring her back, until her sweet friend becomes the latest victim.
Ruby finds herself drawn to the case. She must stop more innocent classmates from dying, but are they really that innocent?
Good read. I had it narrowed down to one of two characters within the first little bit of the book, but, I didn't know the why. The why is the twist of the book.
#AnyOneOfUs #MartynFord #NetGalley
January 18, 2024
This character-driven thriller journeys through the haunted memories and dark secrets of Missbrook Bay, where Ruby, a behavioural investigative advisor, is forced to confront her past when a series of murders rock her old hometown. As she delves into the investigations, Ruby realises that the killer is targeting their high school classmates in a specific order, leaving her in fear that she might be the next victim.
The pacing made it a challenge to really engage with the story until I was a good way into the novel. However, once I was hooked, the exploration of Ruby's past, intertwined with a serial killer on the loose, added layers to the narrative. The sudden reveal surprised me because there was a lack of sufficient hints throughout the narrative, though of course this is my personal preference and other readers may feel differently. I also felt that the motivations behind the killer's actions seemed a bit inconsistent with the behaviour throughout the story.
Overall this novel offers a compelling mix of crime, mystery, and psychological drama.
The pacing made it a challenge to really engage with the story until I was a good way into the novel. However, once I was hooked, the exploration of Ruby's past, intertwined with a serial killer on the loose, added layers to the narrative. The sudden reveal surprised me because there was a lack of sufficient hints throughout the narrative, though of course this is my personal preference and other readers may feel differently. I also felt that the motivations behind the killer's actions seemed a bit inconsistent with the behaviour throughout the story.
Overall this novel offers a compelling mix of crime, mystery, and psychological drama.
February 12, 2025
"Any one of us" by Martyn Ford dives deep into the world of suspense and intrigue, where nothing is as it seems. Set against a backdrop of secrets and betrayal, the story kept me hooked from start to finish. Ford weaves a complex web of characters and plot twists that had me guessing until the very end.
The narrative unfolds with enough twists and turns to keep any thriller enthusiast engaged. However, while I found myself enthralled in the unfolding drama, I couldn't help but feel that it lacked that extra spark to elevate it to a truly outstanding read. The pacing was solid, the characters were well-developed, yet there was something elusive missing that would have turned it from good to exceptional.
Overall, "Any one of us" is a solid thriller that delivers on suspense and keeps you turning the pages. If you're looking for a gripping story with plenty of surprises, this book won't disappoint. However, if you're searching for that unforgettable 'wow' factor, you might find yourself wanting just a little bit more.
The narrative unfolds with enough twists and turns to keep any thriller enthusiast engaged. However, while I found myself enthralled in the unfolding drama, I couldn't help but feel that it lacked that extra spark to elevate it to a truly outstanding read. The pacing was solid, the characters were well-developed, yet there was something elusive missing that would have turned it from good to exceptional.
Overall, "Any one of us" is a solid thriller that delivers on suspense and keeps you turning the pages. If you're looking for a gripping story with plenty of surprises, this book won't disappoint. However, if you're searching for that unforgettable 'wow' factor, you might find yourself wanting just a little bit more.
September 4, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the eARC.
Wow, this is one heck of a book; at about 1/3 of the book there's a lengthy scene that is terrifying with such a sinking feeling of doom, I had a hard time shaking it off, very visceral.
At first I had difficulty with the writing style, but soon settled into an easy groove. The protagonist, Ruby, obviously has problems; insomnia and hooked onAdderall are two indicators But that doesn't stop her from leaving Australia to travel back home to England to try to solve the case of a serial killer targeting her childhood school mates and facing her demons.
Those demons are very well described, it's a very realistic read which made me feel very sorry for her.
I had no idea who the perpetrator was, nor her reasons and they were quite a surprise.
All in all I thought this a terrific read, disturbing but at the same time unputdownable!
Highly recommended!
Wow, this is one heck of a book; at about 1/3 of the book there's a lengthy scene that is terrifying with such a sinking feeling of doom, I had a hard time shaking it off, very visceral.
At first I had difficulty with the writing style, but soon settled into an easy groove. The protagonist, Ruby, obviously has problems; insomnia and hooked onAdderall are two indicators But that doesn't stop her from leaving Australia to travel back home to England to try to solve the case of a serial killer targeting her childhood school mates and facing her demons.
Those demons are very well described, it's a very realistic read which made me feel very sorry for her.
I had no idea who the perpetrator was, nor her reasons and they were quite a surprise.
All in all I thought this a terrific read, disturbing but at the same time unputdownable!
Highly recommended!
October 12, 2022
Any One of Us has an intriguing premise. What would you do if you found out that members of your class year were being murdered one by one?
Ruby is a profiler working in Australia when she learns of the murders. She is sent home to work on the case. Ruby does not have very fond memories of her childhood there and left as soon as possible. What really upsets Ruby is that her best friend is the third victim.
Ruby herself is not a particularly likeable character. So many books I have read in the past have main characters with drug or alcohol problems and I am a little bored with that. I liked that there were so many suspects that you couldn't guess right away who the bad guy was.
The flow of the book and the writing style were a little off for me. Not an easy read. Had to really concentrate to keep up with the story.
Thanks you to netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the arc
Ruby is a profiler working in Australia when she learns of the murders. She is sent home to work on the case. Ruby does not have very fond memories of her childhood there and left as soon as possible. What really upsets Ruby is that her best friend is the third victim.
Ruby herself is not a particularly likeable character. So many books I have read in the past have main characters with drug or alcohol problems and I am a little bored with that. I liked that there were so many suspects that you couldn't guess right away who the bad guy was.
The flow of the book and the writing style were a little off for me. Not an easy read. Had to really concentrate to keep up with the story.
Thanks you to netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the arc
April 18, 2023
Thank you to Good Reads for a free copy of this book.
I did enjoy this book but one that was not memorable for me. It was a mystery/thriller based on a profiler who returns to her home town to help solve the murders of her former classmates. The story line starts a little slowly but moves along at a pretty good clip after that. The style of writing was hard to adjust to...short, choppy sentences but I suspect that author did this to give a sense of the main character's personality. The plot resolved itself in an interesting, and somewhat, surprising way. However, there were many threads in this story that could have been explored in more detail to give more depth to the novel. Threads that I would have liked to read more are included: the main character's drug addiction, her memory losses, and the story of Frank's last 10 years.
This was a novel that kept me fairly interested but I won't go out of my way to read more by this author.
I did enjoy this book but one that was not memorable for me. It was a mystery/thriller based on a profiler who returns to her home town to help solve the murders of her former classmates. The story line starts a little slowly but moves along at a pretty good clip after that. The style of writing was hard to adjust to...short, choppy sentences but I suspect that author did this to give a sense of the main character's personality. The plot resolved itself in an interesting, and somewhat, surprising way. However, there were many threads in this story that could have been explored in more detail to give more depth to the novel. Threads that I would have liked to read more are included: the main character's drug addiction, her memory losses, and the story of Frank's last 10 years.
This was a novel that kept me fairly interested but I won't go out of my way to read more by this author.
September 20, 2022
I received an advance copy of this book from netgalley and am leaving this book voluntarily.
I liked the concept of this book and felt it did not disappoint. While working in Australia Ruby, a criminal profiler, receives news from an old friend that two of her school year have been murdered. When Elizabeth then stops responding to texts Ruby discovers to her horror that her friend has become victim number three. Ruby reluctantly returns to her home town to investigate.
The book has a lot of strong characters who are well written and relatable. It deals with a lot of issues such as bullying, guilt and grief.
There are a lot of twists and turns in the book and I genuinely did not see the final twist coming, I thought it was really cleverly written and actually although dark very realistic.
Very much enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more from the author.
I liked the concept of this book and felt it did not disappoint. While working in Australia Ruby, a criminal profiler, receives news from an old friend that two of her school year have been murdered. When Elizabeth then stops responding to texts Ruby discovers to her horror that her friend has become victim number three. Ruby reluctantly returns to her home town to investigate.
The book has a lot of strong characters who are well written and relatable. It deals with a lot of issues such as bullying, guilt and grief.
There are a lot of twists and turns in the book and I genuinely did not see the final twist coming, I thought it was really cleverly written and actually although dark very realistic.
Very much enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more from the author.
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