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The Night It Ended
Finding the truth seems impossible when her own dark past has her seeing lies everywhere she looks…
From the outside, criminal psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine’s life appears picture-perfect—she has a beautiful family, a successful mental health practice and a growing reputation as an expert in female violence. But when she's called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled girls, Madeline hesitates. She’s been through tragic cases before, and the one she was entangled in last year nearly destroyed her…
Yet she can’t turn away when she hears about Charlie Ridley. After the girl was found shoeless and in pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine on campus, the police ruled it a tragic accident. But the private investigator hired by her mother has his doubts. If it were Madeline’s daughter who died, she’d want to know why.
Arriving at the secluded campus in upstate New York, Madeline’s met by an unhelpful skeleton staff and the four other students still on campus during winter break. Each seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. And everyone has secrets—Madeline included. But who would kill to protect them?
From the outside, criminal psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine’s life appears picture-perfect—she has a beautiful family, a successful mental health practice and a growing reputation as an expert in female violence. But when she's called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled girls, Madeline hesitates. She’s been through tragic cases before, and the one she was entangled in last year nearly destroyed her…
Yet she can’t turn away when she hears about Charlie Ridley. After the girl was found shoeless and in pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine on campus, the police ruled it a tragic accident. But the private investigator hired by her mother has his doubts. If it were Madeline’s daughter who died, she’d want to know why.
Arriving at the secluded campus in upstate New York, Madeline’s met by an unhelpful skeleton staff and the four other students still on campus during winter break. Each seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. And everyone has secrets—Madeline included. But who would kill to protect them?
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2023
185 people are currently reading
21155 people want to read
About the author
Katie Garner
3 books320 followersKatie lives in a New Jersey river town with her husband, baby boy, and shih-poo where she writes books about women and their dark, secret selves. She is the author of The Night It Ended and The Family Inside.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews
June 27, 2023
When criminal psychiatrist, Dr. Madeline Pine, receives a call from Private Investigator Matthew Reyes, asking for her help on a case-she isn’t sure if she is in the right “MENTAL SPACE” to be of help, as the “Strum case” from a year ago had nearly destroyed her.
But, he hand selected her because she specializes in women, having written a book called “Dark Side: A Psychological Portrait of the Female Criminal Mind” and because the “Strum Case” also had a victim who was around the same age as the one he is investigating.
There has been a mysterious death at a Shadow Hunt Hall-an exclusive boarding school for troubled girls, and it is being ruled an accident by police. Charlotte “Charley” Ridley was found shoeless and in pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine, and her mother has her doubts.
Her feet were too clean.
Playing on the Doctor’s sympathy, he asks “If it were your daughter, who died, wouldn’t you want to know why?” She is unable to say “no”.
She travels to he secluded campus in upstate New York, and finds an ancient school made of stone, with iron gates and turrets, which looks like a fairy tale castle. Given a room, by the skeleton staff, she will be given access to the four students who didn’t go home for Winter break-Kiara, Hannah, Violet and Alice.
She will be tasked with interviewing the girls, hoping to gain their trust-and in turn, the TRUTH.
Intertwined with the narrative is a transcript of an anonymous interview from a year ago, with all names redacted.
I thought I had these conversations, all figured out.
I didn’t.
Early reviews for this book, spoke of disappointment that the death at the boarding school seemed to take a back seat to the TROUBLES of the good Doctor, but I had a different experience-preferring HER story to THEIRS.
The school, its headmistress, the staff and the students just didn’t seem authentic to me. All a bit too weird-they seemed like “characters” in a book rather than people I might meet. I was glad when that part of the story wrapped up.
And, at 400 pages, I wish it had done so a bit quicker.
Coming to the end of the interview in the transcript and learning the surprising TRUTH there-was actually the more interesting reveal to me. But….PLOT HOLE!
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Mira for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
But, he hand selected her because she specializes in women, having written a book called “Dark Side: A Psychological Portrait of the Female Criminal Mind” and because the “Strum Case” also had a victim who was around the same age as the one he is investigating.
There has been a mysterious death at a Shadow Hunt Hall-an exclusive boarding school for troubled girls, and it is being ruled an accident by police. Charlotte “Charley” Ridley was found shoeless and in pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine, and her mother has her doubts.
Her feet were too clean.
Playing on the Doctor’s sympathy, he asks “If it were your daughter, who died, wouldn’t you want to know why?” She is unable to say “no”.
She travels to he secluded campus in upstate New York, and finds an ancient school made of stone, with iron gates and turrets, which looks like a fairy tale castle. Given a room, by the skeleton staff, she will be given access to the four students who didn’t go home for Winter break-Kiara, Hannah, Violet and Alice.
She will be tasked with interviewing the girls, hoping to gain their trust-and in turn, the TRUTH.
Intertwined with the narrative is a transcript of an anonymous interview from a year ago, with all names redacted.
I thought I had these conversations, all figured out.
I didn’t.
Early reviews for this book, spoke of disappointment that the death at the boarding school seemed to take a back seat to the TROUBLES of the good Doctor, but I had a different experience-preferring HER story to THEIRS.
The school, its headmistress, the staff and the students just didn’t seem authentic to me. All a bit too weird-they seemed like “characters” in a book rather than people I might meet. I was glad when that part of the story wrapped up.
And, at 400 pages, I wish it had done so a bit quicker.
Coming to the end of the interview in the transcript and learning the surprising TRUTH there-was actually the more interesting reveal to me. But….PLOT HOLE!
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Mira for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
September 16, 2024
**3.5-stars**
When a private investigator reaches out to Dr. Madeline Pine, a criminal psychologist specializing in female violence, to ask for her help with a case, she is hesitant to assist.
The case involves traveling to a remote private school, for girls with behavioral challenges, to investigate a recent death of one of the students.
Madeline doesn't know if she is capable of handling this right now. That difficult case last year almost ruined her.
When she hears about the dead girl though, found barefoot and in her pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine, she can't resist. The deceased, Charley's, Mom is the one who hired the P.I. after the police ruled the death an accident.
Madeline has her own daughter, Izzy, about the same age. She can't imagine being in Charley's Mom's position. She would do anything to find out what happened to her own daughter, thus she feels like she has to help.
Madeline travels to the school with the P.I., Matt, and begins interviewing the other girls on campus over the winter holiday. They're few, but have a lot to say.
This story jumps between the current timeline, with Madeline at the school trying to figure out what happened to Charley, and audio transcripts of interviews from a case the prior year. You don't know who the interview participants are, but it's clear a crime has occurred and the interviewee is involved in some way.
I enjoyed this. I thought this was a solid suspense novel. I enjoyed the setting of the private school and the fact that it was winter break made it extra eerie, as there were very few people left on campus.
The remote location was great and there was even inclement weather to add to that effect.
I liked how cold and dark it felt. Additionally, I liked how mysterious our main character, Madeline, was. She was there to help solve a mystery, but she had her own mysteries as the Reader, I was trying to figure out.
I didn't find Charley's story super compelling, but nevertheless, it was still well done. I was more interested in the students that were still left and just getting to know them, as well as finding out their intricacies and secrets.
One of the downfalls of this for me was the narrative style. We had quite a bit of blocky-feeling, stream of consciousness narrative from Madeline and I'm never crazy about that.
Particularly towards the end, Madeline has some things going on with her where she is starting to lose her grip on reality. In those moments, it just felt too jarring to me, the way it was written. I am not a fan of SOC-narrative style in general though, so take that with a grain of salt.
Additionally, in the moments when Madeline was getting confused, I was getting confused and not in a good, suspenseful way. I feel like those moments could have been dialed in a little more to provide more clarity to the Reader.
Overall though, I did enjoy this. I liked the atmosphere and learning about the characters. I think the ending was satisfying and there was definitely a twist that I did not see coming. That made me happy!
Thank you so much to the publisher, MIRA, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
This was fun and I would definitely be interested in picking up more from Katie Garner!
When a private investigator reaches out to Dr. Madeline Pine, a criminal psychologist specializing in female violence, to ask for her help with a case, she is hesitant to assist.
The case involves traveling to a remote private school, for girls with behavioral challenges, to investigate a recent death of one of the students.
Madeline doesn't know if she is capable of handling this right now. That difficult case last year almost ruined her.
When she hears about the dead girl though, found barefoot and in her pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine, she can't resist. The deceased, Charley's, Mom is the one who hired the P.I. after the police ruled the death an accident.
Madeline has her own daughter, Izzy, about the same age. She can't imagine being in Charley's Mom's position. She would do anything to find out what happened to her own daughter, thus she feels like she has to help.
Madeline travels to the school with the P.I., Matt, and begins interviewing the other girls on campus over the winter holiday. They're few, but have a lot to say.
This story jumps between the current timeline, with Madeline at the school trying to figure out what happened to Charley, and audio transcripts of interviews from a case the prior year. You don't know who the interview participants are, but it's clear a crime has occurred and the interviewee is involved in some way.
I enjoyed this. I thought this was a solid suspense novel. I enjoyed the setting of the private school and the fact that it was winter break made it extra eerie, as there were very few people left on campus.
The remote location was great and there was even inclement weather to add to that effect.
I liked how cold and dark it felt. Additionally, I liked how mysterious our main character, Madeline, was. She was there to help solve a mystery, but she had her own mysteries as the Reader, I was trying to figure out.
I didn't find Charley's story super compelling, but nevertheless, it was still well done. I was more interested in the students that were still left and just getting to know them, as well as finding out their intricacies and secrets.
One of the downfalls of this for me was the narrative style. We had quite a bit of blocky-feeling, stream of consciousness narrative from Madeline and I'm never crazy about that.
Particularly towards the end, Madeline has some things going on with her where she is starting to lose her grip on reality. In those moments, it just felt too jarring to me, the way it was written. I am not a fan of SOC-narrative style in general though, so take that with a grain of salt.
Additionally, in the moments when Madeline was getting confused, I was getting confused and not in a good, suspenseful way. I feel like those moments could have been dialed in a little more to provide more clarity to the Reader.
Overall though, I did enjoy this. I liked the atmosphere and learning about the characters. I think the ending was satisfying and there was definitely a twist that I did not see coming. That made me happy!
Thank you so much to the publisher, MIRA, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
This was fun and I would definitely be interested in picking up more from Katie Garner!
July 20, 2023
From the outside, criminal psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine's life appears picture-perfect—she has a beautiful family, a successful mental health practice, and a growing reputation as an expert in female violence. But when she's called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled teenage girls, Madeline hesitates. She's been through tragic cases before, and the one she was entangled in last year nearly destroyed her...
Yet she can't turn away when she hears about Charley Ridley. After Charley was found barefoot and in pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine on campus, the police ruled her death a tragic accident. But the private investigator hired by her mother has his doubts. If it were Madeline's daughter who died, she'd want to know why.
Arriving at the secluded campus in upstate New York, Madeline's met by an unhelpful skeleton staff and the four other students staying on campus during winter break. Each seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. And everyone has secrets—Madeline included. But who would kill to protect them?
Absolute bliss. If I had to describe The Night It Ended succinctly that would be the perfect phrase. All centering around the truly unforgettable character of Dr. Madeline Pine, she was the flawless combination of unreliable narrator and relentless seeker of the truth. And through her near paralyzing anxiety and self-doubt, Katie Garner crafted a character that kept me spellbound.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the shrewd plot immensely. Told through both Madeline’s eyes and a mysterious unknown therapy transcript, I was left wondering how they could ever connect. But when all was revealed in the utterly earth shattering twist to end all twists, I was left reeling by the reality. Granted, I did have a few flashes of what could be coming down the pike, but I couldn’t put it together before the stunning revelation. And, because of that, this one easily rivaled The Silent Patient in how perfectly it shifted the entire storyline. And that’s saying something.
The best part, though? It wasn’t the only twist to be had. Because the plot within the plot had one all of its own. On top of that, this psychological thriller was complete with the perfect marriage of eeriness and gothic atmosphere. I mean, a decrepit pile turned school for troubled girls? How on earth could that ever go wrong? And then throw in a blizzard that traps everyone on three hundred acres and you have the makings for one epic locked room mystery. But then, the less said about the actual plot the better. After all, going in blind to this one is definitely what I recommend (and why I used the publisher provided synopsis).
By the end, I found myself completely riveted by this brilliant debut author. With secrets piled upon secrets and heaps of hidden agendas, I had no clue what was around the next corner. I mean, the climax was both dark and intense while also managing to be wholly believable. And don’t get me started on the first-rate conclusion that left me with my jaw on the floor. Because if there’s one thing I know after closing the cover, it’s that you shouldn’t trust anyone in this unputdownable triumph. Rating of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: suicide, gaslighting, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, statutory rape, armed home intrusion, assault, death by hypothermia, mention of: teenage pregnancy, miscarriage
PUB DATE: June 27, 2023
*Thank you to Katie Garner, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
**Synopsis provided by the publisher.
Yet she can't turn away when she hears about Charley Ridley. After Charley was found barefoot and in pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine on campus, the police ruled her death a tragic accident. But the private investigator hired by her mother has his doubts. If it were Madeline's daughter who died, she'd want to know why.
Arriving at the secluded campus in upstate New York, Madeline's met by an unhelpful skeleton staff and the four other students staying on campus during winter break. Each seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. And everyone has secrets—Madeline included. But who would kill to protect them?
Absolute bliss. If I had to describe The Night It Ended succinctly that would be the perfect phrase. All centering around the truly unforgettable character of Dr. Madeline Pine, she was the flawless combination of unreliable narrator and relentless seeker of the truth. And through her near paralyzing anxiety and self-doubt, Katie Garner crafted a character that kept me spellbound.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the shrewd plot immensely. Told through both Madeline’s eyes and a mysterious unknown therapy transcript, I was left wondering how they could ever connect. But when all was revealed in the utterly earth shattering twist to end all twists, I was left reeling by the reality. Granted, I did have a few flashes of what could be coming down the pike, but I couldn’t put it together before the stunning revelation. And, because of that, this one easily rivaled The Silent Patient in how perfectly it shifted the entire storyline. And that’s saying something.
The best part, though? It wasn’t the only twist to be had. Because the plot within the plot had one all of its own. On top of that, this psychological thriller was complete with the perfect marriage of eeriness and gothic atmosphere. I mean, a decrepit pile turned school for troubled girls? How on earth could that ever go wrong? And then throw in a blizzard that traps everyone on three hundred acres and you have the makings for one epic locked room mystery. But then, the less said about the actual plot the better. After all, going in blind to this one is definitely what I recommend (and why I used the publisher provided synopsis).
By the end, I found myself completely riveted by this brilliant debut author. With secrets piled upon secrets and heaps of hidden agendas, I had no clue what was around the next corner. I mean, the climax was both dark and intense while also managing to be wholly believable. And don’t get me started on the first-rate conclusion that left me with my jaw on the floor. Because if there’s one thing I know after closing the cover, it’s that you shouldn’t trust anyone in this unputdownable triumph. Rating of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: suicide, gaslighting, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, statutory rape, armed home intrusion, assault, death by hypothermia, mention of: teenage pregnancy, miscarriage
PUB DATE: June 27, 2023
*Thank you to Katie Garner, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
**Synopsis provided by the publisher.
July 10, 2023
The Night It Ended by Katie Garner is a psychological thriller novel. The story in The Night It Ended is one that is told by alternating between an unreliable narrator in the present and then alternating to an unknown transcripted interview.
Dr. Madeline Pine is a well known and admired criminal psychiatrist who has a successful practice. Madeline however has been dealing with her own struggles so when she gets the call late one night from a detective asking for help in the investigation of a deceased student she hesitates but reluctantly agrees to help.
The Night It Ended by Katie Garner is a psychological twist on the old locked room story. The setting takes readers to a remote campus with a gothic feel to it as the unreliable narrator sets the scene. Of course everything is left up to question as the story goes along including what has happened that is being transcribed between the investigation in the current story. There are twists and turns along the way to keep the pages flying by as everything unfolds and with this being a debut I was delighted to find I would be interested in reading more by this new author in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Dr. Madeline Pine is a well known and admired criminal psychiatrist who has a successful practice. Madeline however has been dealing with her own struggles so when she gets the call late one night from a detective asking for help in the investigation of a deceased student she hesitates but reluctantly agrees to help.
The Night It Ended by Katie Garner is a psychological twist on the old locked room story. The setting takes readers to a remote campus with a gothic feel to it as the unreliable narrator sets the scene. Of course everything is left up to question as the story goes along including what has happened that is being transcribed between the investigation in the current story. There are twists and turns along the way to keep the pages flying by as everything unfolds and with this being a debut I was delighted to find I would be interested in reading more by this new author in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 8, 2023
Dr. Madeline Pine, a criminal psychiatrist, helps PI Matt Reyes investigate the case of a girl found dead at Shadow Hunt Hall, a boarding school for troubled girls. Hidden secrets and lies are revealed. This was a very gripping read with some major twists and turns. Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC that will be released June 27, 2023!
July 9, 2023
A dark, disturbing story set in a creepy, isolated boarding school. VERY atmospheric. When a girl dies tragically on campus, Madeline (a psychologist who specializes in female violence) is brought on campus to investigate what happened with the private investigator. They don’t believe the local police that it was a tragic accident; the PI thinks Madeline can help crack the girls on campus to see what really happened that night.
The second part of the story takes place on December 3rd, one year before the boarding school timeline.
It’s an interview- All names are redacted. We learn that "EO12" had an affair and something really bad happened to her family.
We move back and forth from a year ago in interview style to the boarding school. We can see Dr. Pine's mental health is not good. She takes a lot of pills and mixes alcohol. Unreliable narrator at its full extent.
I really wanted to enjoy this one, but if fell flat for me in a major way. I think my biggest issue was that none of the characters really felt "real" to me. were all just so odd! I couldn’t figure out if this was a dream sequence or just bad writing.
This story could have been two different books instead of combining them into one for the twist. I found the so called twist at the boarding school to be especially cringe and just plain juvenile. Honestly, I made it through this book by the skin of my teeth! I contemplated not finishing so many times but I adore the narrator and kept trusting that something would happen! And then boom- the ending was entirely anticlimactic. This is a no from me. A big ole no.
The second part of the story takes place on December 3rd, one year before the boarding school timeline.
It’s an interview- All names are redacted. We learn that "EO12" had an affair and something really bad happened to her family.
We move back and forth from a year ago in interview style to the boarding school. We can see Dr. Pine's mental health is not good. She takes a lot of pills and mixes alcohol. Unreliable narrator at its full extent.
I really wanted to enjoy this one, but if fell flat for me in a major way. I think my biggest issue was that none of the characters really felt "real" to me. were all just so odd! I couldn’t figure out if this was a dream sequence or just bad writing.
This story could have been two different books instead of combining them into one for the twist. I found the so called twist at the boarding school to be especially cringe and just plain juvenile. Honestly, I made it through this book by the skin of my teeth! I contemplated not finishing so many times but I adore the narrator and kept trusting that something would happen! And then boom- the ending was entirely anticlimactic. This is a no from me. A big ole no.
April 3, 2023
Unfortunately, this didn't really work for me as much as I'd hoped. To start, the mystery that's ostensibly the catalyst for this story seems almost ignored. Most of the book, in fact, is about Dr. Pine and the hazy crisis in which she finds herself. And on that note, that's the biggest thing that didn't work for me. We spend all our time with her and she's just so annoying. At no point does she seems like a functional grown-up, nevermind a mental health professional. There is, of course, a late reveal that explains some of that, but it doesn't make the journey getting there more pleasant.
October 17, 2022
Set at an exclusive school for trouble teenaged girls, THE NIGHT IT ENDED by Katie Garner is dark, twisted, and utterly compelling. Impossible to put down, you won’t know who or what to believe and the creepy location will have you looking over your shoulder more than once. One heck of a debut with an ending that left me speechless.
May 24, 2024
I have no idea where my original review for this book went but I read it last July and it’s an absolute masterpiece and I don’t understand why it’s not talked about more! Severely underrated
February 16, 2023
I had such high hopes for this one...dark academia, one of my favorite tropes; a mysterious boarding school, and a dead student. However, the mystery of the dead student came secondary to the mystery of psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine. Dr. Pine has been through difficult cases before, so she hesitates when she's asked to help investigate. But when she sees the photos of Charley Ridley, barefoot and in pajamas at the bottom of a ravine in freezing temperatures, she decides she must go.
It soon becomes clear that something is very wrong with Dr. Pine. There were numerous descriptions of her medication bottles and frequent references to sticking to a schedule. We gets bits and pieces of her past through frenetic flashbacks that usually involve her husband and daughter. I found myself rolling my eyes frequently at the doctor's behavior, which was not at all professional, but when strange things started happening in the room where she was staying, it wasn't hard to figure out what that meant. The ending of her storyline, however, was quite unexpected and shocking.
I was hoping for a twisty mystery focusing on Charley, but she remained on the fringe of the book's focus, and the mystery behind her death was wholly unsatisfying and anti-climactic. I liked the book well enough to keep reading, and while I did enjoy the writing style, I just felt misled by the blurb.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mira Publishing for the advance copy. THE NIGHT IT ENDED will publish June 27, 2023.
It soon becomes clear that something is very wrong with Dr. Pine. There were numerous descriptions of her medication bottles and frequent references to sticking to a schedule. We gets bits and pieces of her past through frenetic flashbacks that usually involve her husband and daughter. I found myself rolling my eyes frequently at the doctor's behavior, which was not at all professional, but when strange things started happening in the room where she was staying, it wasn't hard to figure out what that meant. The ending of her storyline, however, was quite unexpected and shocking.
I was hoping for a twisty mystery focusing on Charley, but she remained on the fringe of the book's focus, and the mystery behind her death was wholly unsatisfying and anti-climactic. I liked the book well enough to keep reading, and while I did enjoy the writing style, I just felt misled by the blurb.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mira Publishing for the advance copy. THE NIGHT IT ENDED will publish June 27, 2023.
July 3, 2023
This audio was hard to listen to at first because it was sooooo SLOW but once I sped it up, I was able to listen to it pretty quickly which made me a lot more interested in the story line. Madeline was called in to investigate a crime at a school for troubled girls and Madeline herself had her own issues going on that we were told along the way. A nice twist at the end and I knew something was going to come up with Madeline herself but wasn't sure what. It was a pretty good mystery.
June 25, 2023
Dr. Madeline Pine is a criminal psychiatrist called into the case of a young girl’s tragic death. Madeline has become known for specializing in cases of female violence. It is the Christmas holiday and if Madeline takes the case, she will be away from her husband and daughter. But then Madeline imagines how she would feel if her daughter Izzy had been killed, so she agrees to go to the exclusive school where the death took place.
Was the young girl Charley’s death a tragic accident, or could foul play have been involved? Due to the holiday, there is very little staff present at the school and only a handful of students. Madeline does her best to piece together the events surrounding Charley’s death.
As events begin to unfold two things become clear - more than one person has a secret, but then so does Madeline herself. At least one secret is her unstable mental health and how she manages it. Has someone killed to protect their secrets and can Madeline as well as the private investigator also present unravel the truth?
What a stunning debut novel! Not only was this book intense throughout, but the twists just kept on coming. In fact, as shocking as the twists were, the ending literally blew my mind. I can say without a doubt that this was an ending I never saw coming. As this story is being told, there are also conversations in transcript form. Both the investigation into Charley’s death and those transcript conversations were compelling.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Was the young girl Charley’s death a tragic accident, or could foul play have been involved? Due to the holiday, there is very little staff present at the school and only a handful of students. Madeline does her best to piece together the events surrounding Charley’s death.
As events begin to unfold two things become clear - more than one person has a secret, but then so does Madeline herself. At least one secret is her unstable mental health and how she manages it. Has someone killed to protect their secrets and can Madeline as well as the private investigator also present unravel the truth?
What a stunning debut novel! Not only was this book intense throughout, but the twists just kept on coming. In fact, as shocking as the twists were, the ending literally blew my mind. I can say without a doubt that this was an ending I never saw coming. As this story is being told, there are also conversations in transcript form. Both the investigation into Charley’s death and those transcript conversations were compelling.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
July 4, 2024
Just bad. The usual notes about numerous plot holes, clunky writing, flat characters, oddly melodramatic audiobook where every line read sounds like the narrator is about to sob. But two things really pushed this over the edge:
1. This book's odd obsession with the Conceptualized Teenage Girl. The girls introduced here have the dimension of paper dolls with frowny faces; each (with perhaps the exception of Kiara) feels like a Pinterest moodboard of what a teenage girl MIGHT be like from the perspective of an exasperated, resentful parent. Make no mistake: this book hates teenage girls for what it assumes they are, that being inexplicable, angsty, and pathetically rebellious by nature. Violet, Alice, Izzy, etc. have no interiority or reasoning for their behavior, as represented by their sparse characterization and pithy dialogue. The phrase "Mom, please just stop" is repeated by one character 17 times. What is a sad teenager girl but a reflection of a Bad Mother?
2. Obsessed with the way this book portrays anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medication like they're the drug scene in Dumbo. Truly a woman is at her lowest when she is "popping pills" and hallucinating on, um, Lexapro.
completely fitting that I finished this while waiting in line for the DMV (update: I was there for 6 hours). Also, not dark academia!
1. This book's odd obsession with the Conceptualized Teenage Girl. The girls introduced here have the dimension of paper dolls with frowny faces; each (with perhaps the exception of Kiara) feels like a Pinterest moodboard of what a teenage girl MIGHT be like from the perspective of an exasperated, resentful parent. Make no mistake: this book hates teenage girls for what it assumes they are, that being inexplicable, angsty, and pathetically rebellious by nature. Violet, Alice, Izzy, etc. have no interiority or reasoning for their behavior, as represented by their sparse characterization and pithy dialogue. The phrase "Mom, please just stop" is repeated by one character 17 times. What is a sad teenager girl but a reflection of a Bad Mother?
2. Obsessed with the way this book portrays anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medication like they're the drug scene in Dumbo. Truly a woman is at her lowest when she is "popping pills" and hallucinating on, um, Lexapro.
completely fitting that I finished this while waiting in line for the DMV (update: I was there for 6 hours). Also, not dark academia!
May 29, 2023
Ok this one snuck up on me and the ending kinda flipped my entire rating on its head. It was kind of an odd reading experience for me. I was initially into it, things started off pretty good and the setting was strong. The whole isolated boarding school on 300 acres thing was a pretty creepy vibe and then it flipped back and forth between Madeline’s viewpoint and a year prior with a transcript between two anonymous people. As I really settled into the story I did get a little frustrated though, there were lots of things about Madeleine that irritated me, it was the whole damaged female character who doesn’t know if she can trust herself because she takes meds schtick that I’m getting real tired of. But I pushed on despite this and the slow burn because I just had a feeling it may pay off. It mostly did I guess? The ending was pretty shocking and definitely not what I was expecting, it verges on banana’s territory but it surprised me, so I’ll take it. If you have patience with this one I kind of feel like the ending makes it worth it.
August 21, 2023
This is so anticlimactic. If you're looking for a really....reallllllly slow mystery this would be a great recommendation! I just feel like it's way too long. I also don't think this audio narrator was the right choice for this book. Her intonation is very distracting and extremely melodramatic.
I honestly don't think this audio narrator was the right choice for this book. Her intonation is very distracting. (Xe Sands). I cant tell if this is extremely melodramatic or if its just the Audio narrator.
15% It takes a WHILE to get going hmmmm
23% still feels like nothing is happening and nothing about the writing is really hooking me.
(This headmaster lady makes no sense. Also, These interviewing scenes are so fake....I can't tell if it's a police interview of therapist but either way that's not how they would interview esp the police "okay okay i was just clarifying!" Lol yeah sure. Oh wait, is that because she is a Psychiatrist? Thought she was the police...)
This just is way too long.
HATE THE TWIST....Okay violet who was 14 and Blake that nasty old hag. That's freaking sick. 🤢
ALSO, The ending twist.. okay I guess??? Im confused by it though... what am I missing??? I guess I didn't pay close enough attention, I was too bored along the way and the audio narrator really was annoying me.
.
.
.
Synopsis: Psychiatrist Dr. Madeline is called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled teenage girls. The police ruled the students death a tragic accident. But the private investigator hired by her mother has his doubts. Set at a secluded campus Dr. Madeline is met by an unhelpful skeleton staff and the four other students staying on campus during winter break. Each seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. And everyone has secrets.
I honestly don't think this audio narrator was the right choice for this book. Her intonation is very distracting. (Xe Sands). I cant tell if this is extremely melodramatic or if its just the Audio narrator.
15% It takes a WHILE to get going hmmmm
23% still feels like nothing is happening and nothing about the writing is really hooking me.
(This headmaster lady makes no sense. Also, These interviewing scenes are so fake....I can't tell if it's a police interview of therapist but either way that's not how they would interview esp the police "okay okay i was just clarifying!" Lol yeah sure. Oh wait, is that because she is a Psychiatrist? Thought she was the police...)
This just is way too long.
HATE THE TWIST....Okay violet who was 14 and Blake that nasty old hag. That's freaking sick. 🤢
ALSO, The ending twist.. okay I guess??? Im confused by it though... what am I missing??? I guess I didn't pay close enough attention, I was too bored along the way and the audio narrator really was annoying me.
.
.
.
Synopsis: Psychiatrist Dr. Madeline is called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled teenage girls. The police ruled the students death a tragic accident. But the private investigator hired by her mother has his doubts. Set at a secluded campus Dr. Madeline is met by an unhelpful skeleton staff and the four other students staying on campus during winter break. Each seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. And everyone has secrets.
April 25, 2023
Honestly, I made it through this book by the skin of my teeth - this was definitely not a favorite for me. It was just interesting enough that I wanted to know what would happen, but my goodness it felt like it took forever to get there, and then the ending was entirely anticlimactic. So many little details of this didn't make sense to me - the main character is obsessed with her medication, yet does not remember where she puts it, or notice what they look like as she's chucking them down her throat. As a person who takes medication - this is bogus, we notice things like that. The whole school itself was bizarre beyond belief, I actually wondered for a moment if this was going to take a turn to the paranormal, because the setting would fit much better in that genre. And the freaking cut on her hand! What even is this?!?! I felt like there were some serious timeline issues here, because her constant reopening the wound, obsession with the wound, excessive bleeding, etc just didn't jive with the timeline that was described at all.
The interrelationship between Madeline and Max? Will? Mark? I can't even remember his name, that's how much of an impression he made. This was another area that I felt like the narration didn't jive with the stated timeline at all. They spent whole blocks of hours and hours and whatnot in his cottage, but then it was the next morning? Somehow?
This one didn't work for me - obviously. I stuck around for the ending, and it really wasn't worth it in the long run. I have seen lots of high star reviews on Goodreads, so I'm sure this book will find its audience, but I am not a member.
The interrelationship between Madeline and Max? Will? Mark? I can't even remember his name, that's how much of an impression he made. This was another area that I felt like the narration didn't jive with the stated timeline at all. They spent whole blocks of hours and hours and whatnot in his cottage, but then it was the next morning? Somehow?
This one didn't work for me - obviously. I stuck around for the ending, and it really wasn't worth it in the long run. I have seen lots of high star reviews on Goodreads, so I'm sure this book will find its audience, but I am not a member.
April 22, 2023
The Night It Ended
By Katie Garner
Release Date 06/27/2023
My thoughts ;
So, this debut book is twisty and dark.
What chaps my behind more than anything in a book is a damsel in distress, esp when it’s about a professional woman who can’t get it together. However, you think Madeline is a nut case. She’s not. She’s intuitive and super intelligent.
The book goes back and forth from an interview between a patient and her client and Madi’s summoning to help interview students from an all-girls school who seems to have their curriculum from mid-evil times. One student was found dead in the woods and she is trying to help a P.I. Solve the case. Is this a murder or an accident?
Sound crazy? Well, not as crazy as this dungeon she appears to be staying in.
I read this book in one sitting
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s
#katiegarner #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreader #mirapublishing #harpercollins #bookblog #bookstagrammer #instareads #bookstack #pageturner #thrillmemore #htpinfluencer #suspensebooks #debutauthor2023
Book Blurb
From the outside, criminal psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine's life appears picture-perfect—she has a beautiful family, a successful mental health practice, and a growing reputation as an expert in female violence. But when she's called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled teenage girls, Madeline hesitates. She's been through tragic cases before, and the one she was entangled in last year nearly destroyed her.
By Katie Garner
Release Date 06/27/2023
My thoughts ;
So, this debut book is twisty and dark.
What chaps my behind more than anything in a book is a damsel in distress, esp when it’s about a professional woman who can’t get it together. However, you think Madeline is a nut case. She’s not. She’s intuitive and super intelligent.
The book goes back and forth from an interview between a patient and her client and Madi’s summoning to help interview students from an all-girls school who seems to have their curriculum from mid-evil times. One student was found dead in the woods and she is trying to help a P.I. Solve the case. Is this a murder or an accident?
Sound crazy? Well, not as crazy as this dungeon she appears to be staying in.
I read this book in one sitting
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s
#katiegarner #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreader #mirapublishing #harpercollins #bookblog #bookstagrammer #instareads #bookstack #pageturner #thrillmemore #htpinfluencer #suspensebooks #debutauthor2023
Book Blurb
From the outside, criminal psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine's life appears picture-perfect—she has a beautiful family, a successful mental health practice, and a growing reputation as an expert in female violence. But when she's called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled teenage girls, Madeline hesitates. She's been through tragic cases before, and the one she was entangled in last year nearly destroyed her.
September 15, 2023
A mysterious death of a girl at a boarding school. The more I read the less I was interested in what happened. Criminal psychiatrist Dr. Pine was called in to help in the 'investigation' - if it can be called that. Dr. Madeline Pine was giving unhinged, unreliable addict from the jump. I didn't care for this character and honestly was so annoyed by her.
A lot of the facts were presented in a boring unsurprising way that left a lot to be desired. The two timelines were held together by such a loose thread, I often wondered the point. I would comment on the secondary characters but it felt like the author forgot about them as much as I did.
This was a miss for me and I finished it only for book club, may they appreciate my efforts.
A lot of the facts were presented in a boring unsurprising way that left a lot to be desired. The two timelines were held together by such a loose thread, I often wondered the point. I would comment on the secondary characters but it felt like the author forgot about them as much as I did.
This was a miss for me and I finished it only for book club, may they appreciate my efforts.
April 9, 2023
For a debut novel this gave me chills. Much better than most debit novels that I have read.
The backdrop opens with our female main character getting a call about coming to a all girls school to interview students and determine if a recent death was an accident or a murder.
This book has many twists and turns that left me guessing where the author was going. Lots of foreshadowing and little mentions that’s turns out to be so much more.
Definitely an author to watch.
The backdrop opens with our female main character getting a call about coming to a all girls school to interview students and determine if a recent death was an accident or a murder.
This book has many twists and turns that left me guessing where the author was going. Lots of foreshadowing and little mentions that’s turns out to be so much more.
Definitely an author to watch.
July 31, 2023
I listened to audio book of this one !
Neither engaging nor believable. And a big plot hole.If you want to listen to an annoying character for 13 hours.. Go for it
What a waste of time .. Please Stop
Neither engaging nor believable. And a big plot hole.If you want to listen to an annoying character for 13 hours.. Go for it
What a waste of time .. Please Stop
May 2, 2023
Son of a biznatch!😳 I don’t even know where to begin with this one!
Alternating between the present, a singular pov, and an anonymous transcript from a year prior……the female MC is so obviously harboring various and grievous closeted demons and is wholly untrustworthy. I mean, she’s just neurotic and all over the place. I didn’t know wtf to make of this woman.
I went in blind and was taken on a batshit crazy, funhouse mirror kinda ride! I never knew where this was going and I never knew wtf was coming!
The transcript chapters were oftentimes frustrating, because of the heavy repetition volleyed back and forth between the interviewer & interviewee.
Were there portions of this book that could’ve been tweaked and fine-tuned a little? Probably.
But that ending!?! Ima just say Bravo! This was a helluva debut novel, I’ll give her that! Just read it!
3.5 stars, rounded up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and HTP for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 6/27/23
Alternating between the present, a singular pov, and an anonymous transcript from a year prior……the female MC is so obviously harboring various and grievous closeted demons and is wholly untrustworthy. I mean, she’s just neurotic and all over the place. I didn’t know wtf to make of this woman.
I went in blind and was taken on a batshit crazy, funhouse mirror kinda ride! I never knew where this was going and I never knew wtf was coming!
The transcript chapters were oftentimes frustrating, because of the heavy repetition volleyed back and forth between the interviewer & interviewee.
Were there portions of this book that could’ve been tweaked and fine-tuned a little? Probably.
But that ending!?! Ima just say Bravo! This was a helluva debut novel, I’ll give her that! Just read it!
3.5 stars, rounded up! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and HTP for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 6/27/23
May 16, 2023
Criminal psychiatrist Dr Madeline Pine receives a call on her way home from a therapy session from a private investigator who asks for her help. There was a death at an upstate private school for troubled girls that seems suspicious, and the PI wants Dr. Pine to interview some of the dead girl’s classmates. The Night It Ended details the doctor’s investigation, with a parallel plot line interspersed throughout the story by way of an interview session between unknown characters. While the plot had promise, the story falls flat under the weight of repetitious chapters, dialogues that just echo questions and answers, and a muddled dual timeline that is infuriatingly nonsensical until the very end. This was a slog to get through, and finishing was a challenge. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2023
I can’t, I just can’t… This book started out slowly, and I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. There was this niggling thought in my head that something was off and I couldn’t put my finger on it. However, I soon realized that I couldn’t put the book down and couldn’t stop thinking, wondering, about what was going on when I had to get back to real life. It was so worth it in the end, and there’s not really much more I can say than that! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced read copy, I will look forward to reading more books by this author.
June 22, 2023
The Night it Ended is a Mystery/Thriller with a moody, tense atmosphere and a gothic vibe. A private detective, Matthew Reyes, asks Dr. Madeline Pine to help him look into the suspicious death of a student at an exclusive school for troubled girls. Madeline agrees, even though she is clearly dealing with a trauma in her own life. Most of the students are away for Christmas break, but Madeline questions the few girls and staff members that remain on campus to find out what really happened to Charley. It's clear everyone is keeping secrets and time is running out for Madeline to learn the truth - the head mistress wants her and Matt out of the school and there is a huge snowstorm on its way.
Mixed in with this narrative is a transcript from an interview with all the names redacted about an important event in the anonymous person's life. Who is the character in the transcripts and how does that tie in with the main plot about Charley's death? I kept changing my mind about this as the story progressed. I also changed my mind about who killed Charley because none of the characters at the school were really likable.
As the story progresses, it is very hard to put down. There are a couple things in the story that I was able to figure out from the clues given. However, even though I read a lot of thrillers, I was completely surprised when the final twist was revealed. I didn't see this clever ending coming and it changed what would have been a good book into a great one. I highly recommend this book and would rate it 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Mira Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
Mixed in with this narrative is a transcript from an interview with all the names redacted about an important event in the anonymous person's life. Who is the character in the transcripts and how does that tie in with the main plot about Charley's death? I kept changing my mind about this as the story progressed. I also changed my mind about who killed Charley because none of the characters at the school were really likable.
As the story progresses, it is very hard to put down. There are a couple things in the story that I was able to figure out from the clues given. However, even though I read a lot of thrillers, I was completely surprised when the final twist was revealed. I didn't see this clever ending coming and it changed what would have been a good book into a great one. I highly recommend this book and would rate it 4.5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Mira Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
October 11, 2023
The twists and turns during the last 50 pages or so will make your head spin. It is so crazy how everything turns out. This has spoilers FYI. And when you get to the end, you will wonder how the EFF the main character was able to pull the identity theft off because she was a complete moron throughout the whole book. This lady puts all the wine-drinking crazy woman in any book you read previously to shame. She doubles up on sleeping pills and still runs around in a blizzard looking for a missing woman. But, really, I was only going to give this book 2 stars, the last 50 pages truly made this 4 stars.
Here are some of my favorite thoughts the main character had that made me laugh.
"I wish I had studied the student files Rosemarie had given me. I kick myself for not being prepared." Yep, I agree with you there.
"I clench my teeth, scribble her name in my notepad so hard the pen tears the paper in two." - this is a psychiatrist interviewing someone acting like this.
"I wish I packed more than just a single pair of socks, as I've been wearing the same pair since I'd arrived, but it's better than no socks at all." - this was supposed to be a weekend trip, so you should have the pair you're wearing, plus another pair packed for the next day. This trip ended up being 4 days I think, and she has one pair of socks to her name.
Here are some of my favorite thoughts the main character had that made me laugh.
"I wish I had studied the student files Rosemarie had given me. I kick myself for not being prepared." Yep, I agree with you there.
"I clench my teeth, scribble her name in my notepad so hard the pen tears the paper in two." - this is a psychiatrist interviewing someone acting like this.
"I wish I packed more than just a single pair of socks, as I've been wearing the same pair since I'd arrived, but it's better than no socks at all." - this was supposed to be a weekend trip, so you should have the pair you're wearing, plus another pair packed for the next day. This trip ended up being 4 days I think, and she has one pair of socks to her name.
January 22, 2024
I'm here with a review for The Night It Ended by Katie Garner. I found this book on Netgalley while looking for new debut releases and it did not disappoint. This is a mysterious, fast-paced, adult psychological thriller that will keep you guessing to the end.
“Set at an exclusive school for troubled teenage girls, The Night It Ended by Katie Garner is dark, twisted, and utterly compelling. Impossible to put down, you won’t know who or what to believe and the creepy location will have you looking over your shoulder more than once. One heck of a debut with an ending that left me speechless.” —Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of Never Coming Home
About The Book 📚
About The Author
My Review
Connect With Me 😊
“Set at an exclusive school for troubled teenage girls, The Night It Ended by Katie Garner is dark, twisted, and utterly compelling. Impossible to put down, you won’t know who or what to believe and the creepy location will have you looking over your shoulder more than once. One heck of a debut with an ending that left me speechless.” —Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of Never Coming Home
About The Book 📚
Title: The Night It Ended
Author: Katie Garner
Publication Date: June 27, 2023
Publisher: MIRA (Harlequin Trade Publishing)
Genre: Mystery, Thriller (Psychological), Suspense
Pages: 416
Content Warnings: Mental Illness, gaslighting, murder, adult/minor relationship, self-harm, abusive relationship, medication abuse, depression, anxiety, extra-marrital affairs, blood, wounds
R Contains profanity, violence, drug use, or nudity.
About The Author
"Katie Garner was born in New York and grew up in New Jersey. She has a degree in Art History from Ramapo College and is certified to teach high school Art. She hoards paperbacks, coffee mugs, and dog toys and can be seen holding at least one of those things most of the time.
Katie lives in a New Jersey river town with her husband, baby boy, and shih-poo where she writes books about women and their dark, secret selves. The Night It Ended is her debut novel." https://www.katiegarnerauthor.com/aboutkatie
https://www.goodreads.com/thenightitended
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Ended
https://twitter.com/kgarnerauthor
https://www.instagram.com/katiewritesmystery/
My Review
› Told in dual timelines, The Night It Ended is a wild ride with a shocking twist.
› The first timeline is December 3, one year before the other timeline. "C5" is working with the police department interviewing "EO12" to get the full story of what happened. All names are redacted. We learn that "EO12" had an affair and something really bad happened. The second timeline is a year later, starting on December 16. This timeline is told in first-person from the perspective of Dr. Madeline Pine, a criminal psychiatrist with a teenage daughter named Izzi and a husband named Dave. Something bad has happened with her family and we know that they don't talk anymore. Dr. Pine's mental health is not good. She's acting very strange, like putting the SIM card for her second phone under her tongue "for safekeeping" and then getting rid of it on the train. Why does she have two phones? Is one for work? Why get rid of the SIM card?
Dr. Pine receives a phone call from Matthew Reyes, a private investigator. Charlotte Ridley (Charley), a sixteen-year-old female was found dead in the woods near Shadow Hunt Hall, an all-girls boarding school in upstate New York and her family hired Reyes to get to the bottom of what happened. The police said it was an accident, but Charley's family is suspicious. She was found wearing no shoes and pyjamas outside in winter. The police think she sleepwalked and froze to death. However, her feet were clean and had no marks from walking barefoot in the woods and snow, and she had defensive wounds on her hands and forearms. The autopsy said she died on the first day of winter break and almost all of the staff and students have left for the break. So if Charley was murdered, then the killer is still on campus. There's not a lot of physical evidence, so Reyes needs witnesses to help him figure out what happened.
› Reyes called Dr. Pine because he was impressed by her work on the Strum case last year and saw she's the author of a book called Dark Side: A Psychological Portrait of the Criminal Female Mind. Most of the students have gone home for Christmas break and Reyes has been asked to wrap up his investigation by the time they return on January 2nd. He's having trouble getting the girls to talk to him and is hoping a psychologist can help.
› Shadow Hunt Hall is an old building surrounded by 300 acres of dense forest and a cement wall. With a gated entrance, there's only one way in, and one way out. The only people left on campus are the headmistress - Emilia Hawke, four students - Hannah, Kiara, Violet, and Alice, the school assistant - Rosemarie, the maintenance man - Blake Edwards and his son Jeremy Edwards.
› While Dr. Pine and Reyes work together to try to discover what happened to Charley, Dr. Pine's mental stability unravels. She's having panic attacks, hallucinations, and flashbacks to what happened to her family. Someone left a brick under her pillow, someone has been moving her things around, and messing with her medication. The suspense builds continuously and Dr. Pine is in danger from the beginning as she's interviewing students and tracking down the truth.
› "Questioning the unquestionable is the only way to learn the truth. And I will learn the truth."
› I rate reviews similar to the CAWPILE method
0-3 Really bad
4-6 Mediocre
7-9 Really good
10 Outstanding
› Characters: 8
I just wanted a little more characteristics and backstory.
› Atmosphere: 8
I love the setting and mood, I just wanted a little more description and world-building.
› Writing Style: 7
High-quality writing, high readability, however a little wordy and repetitive.
› Plot: 7
My one complaint is the first half of the book felt a little willy-nilly. It felt like a 3-star book for most of it until the ending blew me away.
› Intrigue: 6
I struggled for the first half.
› Logic: 6
I don't know if the plot holes have been fixed before the final copy, but I would hope that an editor caught them.
› Enjoyment: 7
This book had me feeling all the feelings. I felt frustration, anger, confusion, and sadness.
Average 7
1.1-2.2 = ★
2.3-4.5 = ★★
4.6-6.9 = ★★★
7-8.9 = ★★★★
9-10 = ★★★★★
My Rating ★★★★
› Final Thoughts
• The Night It Ended felt like a 3-star read for most of my experience, then the ending absolutely blew me away and twisted everything I thought I knew. This is a dark, mysterious, tense, fast-paced, emotional debut novel with complicated characters about self-preservation and survival. I will read everything Katie Garner writes. According to her website, the author has another adult psychological thriller coming out next summer. Bring it on. You won't trick me next time.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.
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July 27, 2023
3.75⭐
…the bullet points
- dark academia murder mystery
- psychological thriller
- past (transcripts with a psychiatrist from a year before) & present timelines
- slow-burn that runs a little too long
- an exhilaratingly twisty ending
But that ending…seriously, it’s what saved this book from being a total meh/so-so kind of read. This was kind of like two stories in one. The main story was the possible murder of a student at a remote off-the-grid school, which was really right on the border of being unremarkable. But then the story going on in the background, so to speak, which was a transcript (with names redacted, which was very well-played, btw) of a psychiatrist and a patient…this was what made the book a worthwhile listen, overall.
…about the narration
🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
- Xe Sands…I seriously have a difficult time with her narration…it always takes me at least half the book to warm up to her style of narration. I both dislike and like her.
...the score (out of 10)
- 7.34/10
- Opening ￫ 6
- Characters ￫ 7
- Plot ￫ 7.5
- Atmosphere ￫ 7.3
- Writing Style ￫ 7.3
- Ending ￫ 9
- Overall Enjoyment ￫ 7.3
…the bullet points
- dark academia murder mystery
- psychological thriller
- past (transcripts with a psychiatrist from a year before) & present timelines
- slow-burn that runs a little too long
- an exhilaratingly twisty ending
But that ending…seriously, it’s what saved this book from being a total meh/so-so kind of read. This was kind of like two stories in one. The main story was the possible murder of a student at a remote off-the-grid school, which was really right on the border of being unremarkable. But then the story going on in the background, so to speak, which was a transcript (with names redacted, which was very well-played, btw) of a psychiatrist and a patient…this was what made the book a worthwhile listen, overall.
…about the narration
🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
- Xe Sands…I seriously have a difficult time with her narration…it always takes me at least half the book to warm up to her style of narration. I both dislike and like her.
...the score (out of 10)
- 7.34/10
- Opening ￫ 6
- Characters ￫ 7
- Plot ￫ 7.5
- Atmosphere ￫ 7.3
- Writing Style ￫ 7.3
- Ending ￫ 9
- Overall Enjoyment ￫ 7.3
August 19, 2023
An intriguing and twisty debut psychological thriller. Fans of dark academia books will enjoy this.
For those who follow me and only read clean reads: Some language.
For those who follow me and only read clean reads: Some language.
July 18, 2023
The premise of this book definitely hit a lot of my hot buttons - isolated setting + boarding school + a mysterious death that was ruled and accident and appears to be anything but + police investigation + an outsider brought in to try to help solve the crime.
Dr. Madeline Pine is a criminal psychiatrist, with an expertise in female violence. Following the mysterious death of boarding school student Charlotte Ridley, which is ruled accidental (never mind that she was barefoot and in her pajamas in the snow in the middle of the night...). Charley's parents are looking for answers which is why Detective Matt Reyes turns to Madeline.
She heads to upstate NY to interview the handful of girls who are at school over the Christmas break and very quickly learns that the school is closing ranks and the students are hesitant to speak.
All of this makes for a novel I could really get into, but ultimately the story missed the mark a bit for me. I'm all for an unreliable narrator, but I can struggle when their unreliability hinges on their use of prescribed medication. And while I found the reveal to make for an interesting turn to the story I almost wished it was revealed sooner so that we could experience things *knowing* the reveal. That said, it didn't take away from the story as a whole.
If you're looking for a solid, slow burn mystery with a wonderfully creepy atmosphere this book might be right up your alley. Give me some suspect characters in an isolated setting any day of the week and I am there!
Dr. Madeline Pine is a criminal psychiatrist, with an expertise in female violence. Following the mysterious death of boarding school student Charlotte Ridley, which is ruled accidental (never mind that she was barefoot and in her pajamas in the snow in the middle of the night...). Charley's parents are looking for answers which is why Detective Matt Reyes turns to Madeline.
She heads to upstate NY to interview the handful of girls who are at school over the Christmas break and very quickly learns that the school is closing ranks and the students are hesitant to speak.
All of this makes for a novel I could really get into, but ultimately the story missed the mark a bit for me. I'm all for an unreliable narrator, but I can struggle when their unreliability hinges on their use of prescribed medication. And while I found the reveal to make for an interesting turn to the story I almost wished it was revealed sooner so that we could experience things *knowing* the reveal. That said, it didn't take away from the story as a whole.
If you're looking for a solid, slow burn mystery with a wonderfully creepy atmosphere this book might be right up your alley. Give me some suspect characters in an isolated setting any day of the week and I am there!
June 19, 2023
EXCELLENT debut!! If you are looking for a light, happy book, this is not for you. As for the rest of us, this should check all the boxes. A dark, disturbing story set in a creepy, isolated boarding school. VERY atmospheric. We have one dead student, an approaching snowstorm and unwelcoming staff and students all in a locked-room type setting. Something is not quite right with Dr. Pine. We figure this out early on. Whether it is a good not-right or bad not-right remains to be seen. She is called to the school by the Private Investigator hired to look into the on-campus death. He thinks she can get more information out of the students than he is. This was not your traditional boarding school drama that I was used to and veered off in a completely different way, but I really enjoyed it. Most of the action takes place near the last quarter but the rest is a nice set up for what is to come. I never saw any of it coming. Definitely looking forward to more from this author!
Thank you to #NetGalley, Katie Garner and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to #NetGalley, Katie Garner and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
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