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I Know What You Did
When a bestselling novel fictionalizes the death of her childhood best friend—and accuses her of the murder—Petal Woznewski must figure out who wrote it and why. Truth and fiction collide in this captivating debut novel by Cayce Osborne.
Petal Woznewski is content with her quiet, introverted life in New York City: she has her junk food, her movies, and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Gus. That peace is shattered when her name appears on the dedication page of an anonymously written thriller with a cryptic note: “I know what you did, Petal Woznewski. And now everyone else will, too.”
As she reads, Petal realizes the story is rooted in a secret she buried thirty years earlier, when she was fourteen. A secret involving the tragic death of her friend, Megan. A secret that only one other person knows—their old friend, Jenny. Armed with a copy of the book and her own suspicions, Petal returns to her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. There, she discovers more questions than answers. Jenny has disappeared, and Petal’s old high school crush, Ben, doesn’t know anything about the book—at least not anything he’s telling.
As sinister clues pile up, and the thriller’s plot detours dangerously from the facts, Petal has no choice but to confront her past and solve the mystery of who wrote it—before her very real life ends as tragically as the novel.
Petal Woznewski is content with her quiet, introverted life in New York City: she has her junk food, her movies, and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Gus. That peace is shattered when her name appears on the dedication page of an anonymously written thriller with a cryptic note: “I know what you did, Petal Woznewski. And now everyone else will, too.”
As she reads, Petal realizes the story is rooted in a secret she buried thirty years earlier, when she was fourteen. A secret involving the tragic death of her friend, Megan. A secret that only one other person knows—their old friend, Jenny. Armed with a copy of the book and her own suspicions, Petal returns to her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. There, she discovers more questions than answers. Jenny has disappeared, and Petal’s old high school crush, Ben, doesn’t know anything about the book—at least not anything he’s telling.
As sinister clues pile up, and the thriller’s plot detours dangerously from the facts, Petal has no choice but to confront her past and solve the mystery of who wrote it—before her very real life ends as tragically as the novel.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
49 people are currently reading
1811 people want to read
About the author
Cayce Osborne
7 books82 followersCayce Osborne is a writer and graphic designer from Madison, WI. When not writing, she spends her time hanging out with her husband and two sons, reading library books, walking her dog, subscribing to way too many streaming services, and working in science communication. Her debut novel, I Know What You Did (Crooked Lane Books) is available now wherever books are sold. Her short fiction has appeared in many literary magazines and anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
July 16, 2023
I Know What You Did had an interesting premise but didn’t deliver.
Petta is at the gynecologist for her regular checkup, listening to her doctor drone on about a book he just finished and how he thinks Petta should read it too. Petta doesn’t think much of it at the time, but subsequently, she keeps seeing this book advertised everywhere. When Petta finally deigns to look at it, she clocks that the author ominously dedicated it to her, and it sends her into a spiral to find out who wrote it.
I thought I would love this one, seeing as it’s receiving high praise already, but I wasn’t as invested as I had hoped I would be. I enjoyed the initial setup and the last 40%, but the rest was not so exciting. I liked the excerpts more than Petta’s attempts at finding the author.
When the reveal finally came, it came out of nowhere, and the culprit’s motivations were over-explained. Overall, it felt a bit cheesy instead of shocking.
I seem to be in the minority on this one, so there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this more than I did.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
Petta is at the gynecologist for her regular checkup, listening to her doctor drone on about a book he just finished and how he thinks Petta should read it too. Petta doesn’t think much of it at the time, but subsequently, she keeps seeing this book advertised everywhere. When Petta finally deigns to look at it, she clocks that the author ominously dedicated it to her, and it sends her into a spiral to find out who wrote it.
I thought I would love this one, seeing as it’s receiving high praise already, but I wasn’t as invested as I had hoped I would be. I enjoyed the initial setup and the last 40%, but the rest was not so exciting. I liked the excerpts more than Petta’s attempts at finding the author.
When the reveal finally came, it came out of nowhere, and the culprit’s motivations were over-explained. Overall, it felt a bit cheesy instead of shocking.
I seem to be in the minority on this one, so there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this more than I did.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
June 29, 2023
3.5 stars rounded to 4
What if you picked up a book one day that used your full name and not so subtly accused you of a horrific crime, while also alluding that there are more secrets that could come to the surface? And what if that book was already optioned for Netflix and all the rage and you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing it?
”The book was fiction, but it wasn’t. It told the truth but wrapped it in lies. I might’ve called it ominous if I were into the whole foreshadowing thing.”
That’s the premise for I Know What You Did by Cayce Osborne. This slow burning mystery requires patience from the reader, but the subject matter is so intriguing that I found it easy to stay glued to the story, and turning the pages as I neared the ending was a breeze. It’s a short novel coming in at 272 pages, so nothing incredibly deep in terms of characterization, but Petta/Petal has a distinct voice and the sense of place is really well done in this novel. I did not see the culprit ahead of time, which was also a nice surprise! If you’re looking for an atmospheric, slow burning mystery this summer, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
What if you picked up a book one day that used your full name and not so subtly accused you of a horrific crime, while also alluding that there are more secrets that could come to the surface? And what if that book was already optioned for Netflix and all the rage and you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing it?
”The book was fiction, but it wasn’t. It told the truth but wrapped it in lies. I might’ve called it ominous if I were into the whole foreshadowing thing.”
That’s the premise for I Know What You Did by Cayce Osborne. This slow burning mystery requires patience from the reader, but the subject matter is so intriguing that I found it easy to stay glued to the story, and turning the pages as I neared the ending was a breeze. It’s a short novel coming in at 272 pages, so nothing incredibly deep in terms of characterization, but Petta/Petal has a distinct voice and the sense of place is really well done in this novel. I did not see the culprit ahead of time, which was also a nice surprise! If you’re looking for an atmospheric, slow burning mystery this summer, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
February 5, 2023
And we know what happened after all! I was thinking about horror thriller while I was reading this short book.
The writing is medium paced. I mention this as it helps a lot when it comes to reading thrillers. So you can expect this and take your time.
The book talks about a new bestselling thriller book in which the story is about a death that happened years ago and it happens to target a particular woman whose real name is being mentioned in the story. Hell breaks lose for her and she has to find out about the mysterious author, get answers and do her best the darkest secret that was kept hidden all this time.
Things turn out not as expected and we have to know what really happened!
I would say the plot, the writing, the character development and the pace all match making it a fun thrilling read. The twist is maintained until it is most required to let known and I absolutely appreciate this.
The book is coming out on 18th July next year!
You will enjoy it.
Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for the advance reading copy.
The writing is medium paced. I mention this as it helps a lot when it comes to reading thrillers. So you can expect this and take your time.
The book talks about a new bestselling thriller book in which the story is about a death that happened years ago and it happens to target a particular woman whose real name is being mentioned in the story. Hell breaks lose for her and she has to find out about the mysterious author, get answers and do her best the darkest secret that was kept hidden all this time.
Things turn out not as expected and we have to know what really happened!
I would say the plot, the writing, the character development and the pace all match making it a fun thrilling read. The twist is maintained until it is most required to let known and I absolutely appreciate this.
The book is coming out on 18th July next year!
You will enjoy it.
Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for the advance reading copy.
December 23, 2022
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! I love the voice of Petal and would read anything else she is in or Cayce Osbourne writes.
Petal Woznewski is living a secluded life in NYC when she hears that an up and coming novel is all the rage and featured a character with her exact name. It isn't long before she realizes that the so-called novel is a fictionalization of her childhood in Madison Wisconsin. It's been 30 years, but Petal is driven to return home to determine who is trying to "out" her and reveal secrets best kept buried.
The book is peppered with well written chapters from the newly released book. The drama and tension rise but even at the worst of times I can't get enough of Petals razor sharpe observations. If you want a new heroine, love a hometown mystery or just want to read a new up and coming author, I Know What You Did is for you!
#CrookedLaneBooks #CayceOsborne #IKnowWhatYouDid
Petal Woznewski is living a secluded life in NYC when she hears that an up and coming novel is all the rage and featured a character with her exact name. It isn't long before she realizes that the so-called novel is a fictionalization of her childhood in Madison Wisconsin. It's been 30 years, but Petal is driven to return home to determine who is trying to "out" her and reveal secrets best kept buried.
The book is peppered with well written chapters from the newly released book. The drama and tension rise but even at the worst of times I can't get enough of Petals razor sharpe observations. If you want a new heroine, love a hometown mystery or just want to read a new up and coming author, I Know What You Did is for you!
#CrookedLaneBooks #CayceOsborne #IKnowWhatYouDid
January 2, 2023
What would you do if someone wrote a book blaming you for a death that happened in your past - and used your full name to do so?
This book was exactly what I hope for when I pick up a thriller. The tension kept building. The new reveals didn't fully eliminate all the suspects. The clues were all there so the reveal at the end wasn't out of left field - but it also wasn't super obvious from the start. I started this after wishing everyone happy new year and didn't put it down until I finished it at 3am. It isn't the fastest paced thriller, but it was an enjoyable ride and I was never bored.
Petta (Petal)'s life is a bit of a disaster - she hides out in her little NYC apartment, eats junk food for breakfast, and generally doesn't have the most stable life. However, it's exactly the way she needs it to be for her to feel safe. She's snarky and I enjoyed her commentary throughout the book. When someone publishes a book that names her - with her full name - as her friend's murderer, she goes back to her hometown to find out who is framing her and clear her name.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This book was exactly what I hope for when I pick up a thriller. The tension kept building. The new reveals didn't fully eliminate all the suspects. The clues were all there so the reveal at the end wasn't out of left field - but it also wasn't super obvious from the start. I started this after wishing everyone happy new year and didn't put it down until I finished it at 3am. It isn't the fastest paced thriller, but it was an enjoyable ride and I was never bored.
Petta (Petal)'s life is a bit of a disaster - she hides out in her little NYC apartment, eats junk food for breakfast, and generally doesn't have the most stable life. However, it's exactly the way she needs it to be for her to feel safe. She's snarky and I enjoyed her commentary throughout the book. When someone publishes a book that names her - with her full name - as her friend's murderer, she goes back to her hometown to find out who is framing her and clear her name.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
June 8, 2023
BOOK: I Know What You Did
PUB DATE: 7/18/23 by @crookedlanebooks
RATING: 4.5 stars
PAGES: 272
GENRE: Thriller/Mystery/Suspense
Thank you to NetGalley and Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
QUOTE: “I know what you did, Petal Woznewski. And now everyone else will, too.”
SYNOPSIS: Petal Woznewski discovers she is named personally in a bestselling novel fictionalizing the death of her childhood best friend Megan, and after discovering it accuses her of her murder, she is determined to figure out who wrote the book. It upends Petal’s slow and quiet life in NYC, so she makes the trek home to Madison, WI to try and put the pieces together from thirty years ago, when she was fourteen years old and tragedy struck. Will she be able to solve the mystery before the person who’s out to blame her ends her life?
REVIEW: Debut author, Cayce Osborne, knocks this thriller out of the park! This book captivated me and I didn’t want to put it down. It’s not scary, but is incredibly intriguing and suspenseful, and I couldn’t wait to see how the story would all unfold! It’s quite the page-turner! This one comes out July 18 so get ready to grab it!
Happy Reading!
PUB DATE: 7/18/23 by @crookedlanebooks
RATING: 4.5 stars
PAGES: 272
GENRE: Thriller/Mystery/Suspense
Thank you to NetGalley and Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
QUOTE: “I know what you did, Petal Woznewski. And now everyone else will, too.”
SYNOPSIS: Petal Woznewski discovers she is named personally in a bestselling novel fictionalizing the death of her childhood best friend Megan, and after discovering it accuses her of her murder, she is determined to figure out who wrote the book. It upends Petal’s slow and quiet life in NYC, so she makes the trek home to Madison, WI to try and put the pieces together from thirty years ago, when she was fourteen years old and tragedy struck. Will she be able to solve the mystery before the person who’s out to blame her ends her life?
REVIEW: Debut author, Cayce Osborne, knocks this thriller out of the park! This book captivated me and I didn’t want to put it down. It’s not scary, but is incredibly intriguing and suspenseful, and I couldn’t wait to see how the story would all unfold! It’s quite the page-turner! This one comes out July 18 so get ready to grab it!
Happy Reading!
June 29, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 18, 2023
Petal Woznewski left Madison, WI, and her adolescence, behind her when she moved to New York City. Now, Petal goes by Petta and is trying to live as normal of a life as she can, for an introverted pessimist who tries to push everyone away. When her new love interest (although she won’t admit it to herself), Gus, introduces Petta to the “must-have” novel of the summer, Petta realizes it sounds awfully familiar. It depicts a childhood tragedy that only one other person, besides Petta, knows the truth about. But the novel gives such detail, and even mentioned Petta by name, that she is forced to return to Madison to discover how many people know her secret, and what she needs to do to keep it quiet.
“I Know What You Did” is the debut novel by Cayce Osborne. Full of dark secrets that won’t stay buried and an engagingly twisted plot, it checks all the necessary boxes needed to make Osborne the next “one to watch”.
Petal is unique in more than just her name. She is the anti-protagonist protagonist, with her goth appearance and her negative view on life. However, it is this exact combination that also makes Petal completely lovable (much to her chagrin I’m sure), ensuring the reader will not only root for her, but will also expel a few laughs along the way.
“I Know” is a book-within-a-book, as Petal’s “past” is told through snippets of the novel supposedly based on Petal’s life. This is not at all as confusing as it sounds, as the book snippets are clearly marked and italicized and all of the characters in the featured book (besides Petal, of course) have different names. The reader gets to read the story at the same time as Petal does, ingesting all her thoughts and feelings about how her life is depicted. There were other ways to depict Petal’s past, of course, and I’ve seen variations of this in many novels, but I believe that Osborne went with the best option when scripting this story-within-a-novel.
Of course, the ending has a twist (and it’s a surprisingly unexpected one), but the overall conclusion has everything I could’ve asked for. “I Know” is a creepy novel with a hilarious and realistic protagonist, and Osborne has delivered with her new debut!
Expected publication date: July 18, 2023
Petal Woznewski left Madison, WI, and her adolescence, behind her when she moved to New York City. Now, Petal goes by Petta and is trying to live as normal of a life as she can, for an introverted pessimist who tries to push everyone away. When her new love interest (although she won’t admit it to herself), Gus, introduces Petta to the “must-have” novel of the summer, Petta realizes it sounds awfully familiar. It depicts a childhood tragedy that only one other person, besides Petta, knows the truth about. But the novel gives such detail, and even mentioned Petta by name, that she is forced to return to Madison to discover how many people know her secret, and what she needs to do to keep it quiet.
“I Know What You Did” is the debut novel by Cayce Osborne. Full of dark secrets that won’t stay buried and an engagingly twisted plot, it checks all the necessary boxes needed to make Osborne the next “one to watch”.
Petal is unique in more than just her name. She is the anti-protagonist protagonist, with her goth appearance and her negative view on life. However, it is this exact combination that also makes Petal completely lovable (much to her chagrin I’m sure), ensuring the reader will not only root for her, but will also expel a few laughs along the way.
“I Know” is a book-within-a-book, as Petal’s “past” is told through snippets of the novel supposedly based on Petal’s life. This is not at all as confusing as it sounds, as the book snippets are clearly marked and italicized and all of the characters in the featured book (besides Petal, of course) have different names. The reader gets to read the story at the same time as Petal does, ingesting all her thoughts and feelings about how her life is depicted. There were other ways to depict Petal’s past, of course, and I’ve seen variations of this in many novels, but I believe that Osborne went with the best option when scripting this story-within-a-novel.
Of course, the ending has a twist (and it’s a surprisingly unexpected one), but the overall conclusion has everything I could’ve asked for. “I Know” is a creepy novel with a hilarious and realistic protagonist, and Osborne has delivered with her new debut!
January 11, 2023
I can't, of course, be objective about my own book. But I'm very proud of it and extremely grateful for every reader, rater, and reviewer. Thank you.
August 29, 2023
One hell of an unlikable heroine. That was probably my favorite thing about this book. There were lots of cool elements that could have been incorporated more, and I wish the story had relied more on face-to-face conversations rather than Facebook sleuthing. This could have been longer and more complicated, with better character interactions. Just way more twisty with more potential suspects. Instead, the reveal kinda came out of nowhere, with too much dialogue bogging down the confrontation. Still, this was fun as a quick, brain-candy read, and I really liked Petta. I'd read more from this author.
February 8, 2023
Secrets and lies abound in this mystery! 'I Know What You Did' tells the story through the first-person narration of the main protagonist, Petal Woznewski, or Petta as she prefers to be called, is a self-proclaimed hermit who prefers the company of herself to other people. A simple job, junk food, the occasional smoke, and her sometimes boyfriend, Gus are all she needs to exist. The world has proven unreliable, so why risk getting hurt? One day, however, she is confronted with news that shakes her life as she knows it - someone's written a book that names her as the killer of her childhood best friend! While it would be easier to keep burying her head in the sand, Petta realizes it is time to confront her demons. With all not as it seems, she maneuvers through dangerous moments which change her in unfathomable ways.
I really liked Petta's character - as an introvert, I definitely commiserated with her more often than not. Though afraid, she pushed herself outside of her comfort zone when confronted with no choice. She struggled, but she never gave up. I enjoyed the realism of her. The plot of this was also very different from the regular mystery read, as there was literally a book within the book! Such fun.
I took away a star from the overall rating because the 'whodunit' aspect of it was quite easy for me to figure out. However, this did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
In the end, I give 'I Know What You Did' 4 out of 5 stars as it was a great read, fraught with enough thrill and mystery to keep me engaged. The debut work by Cayce Osborne, the author has a fan in me as I will be awaiting more of her work in the future!
*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Cayce Osborne, and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*
I really liked Petta's character - as an introvert, I definitely commiserated with her more often than not. Though afraid, she pushed herself outside of her comfort zone when confronted with no choice. She struggled, but she never gave up. I enjoyed the realism of her. The plot of this was also very different from the regular mystery read, as there was literally a book within the book! Such fun.
I took away a star from the overall rating because the 'whodunit' aspect of it was quite easy for me to figure out. However, this did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the novel.
In the end, I give 'I Know What You Did' 4 out of 5 stars as it was a great read, fraught with enough thrill and mystery to keep me engaged. The debut work by Cayce Osborne, the author has a fan in me as I will be awaiting more of her work in the future!
*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Cayce Osborne, and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*
July 11, 2023
I know what you need! You need to read this epic page turner! I Know What You Did is a thriller with an unknown antagonist who you will continue to think you know but will be shocked to discover! Not only will it keep you guessing it will keep you reading!
Petal Woznewski, who likes to be called Petta is from Wisconsin but lives in New York City. A movie fanatic she and her friend with benefits, Gus have a great arrangement. Just what Petta needs. Her past is filled with death. So much death for a young girl. All she needs is to keep her mind on other things and not remember. Until Gus tells her about this book everybody is reading called No One Suspected. It’s about a high school girl’s death in Wisconsin which was ruled a suicide, but the story goes into detail as to how it was really a murder. Not really Petta’s kind of read until he tells her one of the main characters has her name. Petal Woznewski. Not a very common name. Chills run down her spine. How could anyone know what happened to her when she was in high school? Why would someone write this story? It must be someone from her past, but the only other person who knew the truth would never tell what happened that terrible night.
You see, she was best friends with two girls in high school, Megan and Jenny. Three peas in a pod, or so she thought. Until Megan dies and they rule it a suicide. But Petta and Jenny know what really happened and neither of them would ever tell. But it seems the author of the novel the mysterious ME Littleton thinks they know, and now so does the world!
Petta tries to find information on this author but is unable to get anything on them, even if it’s a man or a woman. So, she does what she never imagined ever doing in her entire life. She heads back to the scene of all her anxieties, Madison, Wisconsin to try and get information. Unfortunately for Petta that’s exactly what someone wanted her to do.
As she reads the book, she discovers inaccuracies, but some parts are too close for comfort. She knows she was not at fault for her friend’s death. But a pact is a pact, and she can’t betray what really happened. There is someone out there who wants to see her pay for the death of Megan. She begins being followed; clues are left for her as if she is on some kind of a scavenger hunt. The more she tries to discover who this is the deeper she falls into this terrible hole she has tried so hard to leave behind. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she realizes her life is in danger. Who wants Petta dead? Why?
I Know What You did is a brain workout as you try to put the pieces of the puzzle together and root for Petta to save herself! Of course, the endgame is spectacular!
Thank you #NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #CayceOsborne #IKnowWhatYouDid for the advanced copy.
Petal Woznewski, who likes to be called Petta is from Wisconsin but lives in New York City. A movie fanatic she and her friend with benefits, Gus have a great arrangement. Just what Petta needs. Her past is filled with death. So much death for a young girl. All she needs is to keep her mind on other things and not remember. Until Gus tells her about this book everybody is reading called No One Suspected. It’s about a high school girl’s death in Wisconsin which was ruled a suicide, but the story goes into detail as to how it was really a murder. Not really Petta’s kind of read until he tells her one of the main characters has her name. Petal Woznewski. Not a very common name. Chills run down her spine. How could anyone know what happened to her when she was in high school? Why would someone write this story? It must be someone from her past, but the only other person who knew the truth would never tell what happened that terrible night.
You see, she was best friends with two girls in high school, Megan and Jenny. Three peas in a pod, or so she thought. Until Megan dies and they rule it a suicide. But Petta and Jenny know what really happened and neither of them would ever tell. But it seems the author of the novel the mysterious ME Littleton thinks they know, and now so does the world!
Petta tries to find information on this author but is unable to get anything on them, even if it’s a man or a woman. So, she does what she never imagined ever doing in her entire life. She heads back to the scene of all her anxieties, Madison, Wisconsin to try and get information. Unfortunately for Petta that’s exactly what someone wanted her to do.
As she reads the book, she discovers inaccuracies, but some parts are too close for comfort. She knows she was not at fault for her friend’s death. But a pact is a pact, and she can’t betray what really happened. There is someone out there who wants to see her pay for the death of Megan. She begins being followed; clues are left for her as if she is on some kind of a scavenger hunt. The more she tries to discover who this is the deeper she falls into this terrible hole she has tried so hard to leave behind. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she realizes her life is in danger. Who wants Petta dead? Why?
I Know What You did is a brain workout as you try to put the pieces of the puzzle together and root for Petta to save herself! Of course, the endgame is spectacular!
Thank you #NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #CayceOsborne #IKnowWhatYouDid for the advanced copy.
March 3, 2023
What if you read a book that blamed you for a death that happened in your past? And what if that book used your full name? I Know What You Did is about exactly that.
A psychological thriller with a beating pulse. I was pulled into Petal’s story right from the start. Gripping, atmospheric and sharp, this fresh, new voice is written with a wry humor. A must read.
A psychological thriller with a beating pulse. I was pulled into Petal’s story right from the start. Gripping, atmospheric and sharp, this fresh, new voice is written with a wry humor. A must read.
July 26, 2023
Dang, this was crazy. Imagine having a doctors hand up your hoohaa and finding out someone wrote a book accusing you of murder.
January 24, 2023
"But that was before the book began to stalk me. I know that sounds crazy paranoid, but it’s true."
Petal, or as she likes to be called Petta, learns a dark story from her teen years has been spilled. In fact, it's on the New York Times bestseller list--a published book by an anonymous author using a pen name. Only three people know of what happened that night. Petal, her ex friend Jenny, and Megan who is now deceased. But bits and pieces aren't adding up and many different culprits pop up from Petta's past as she desperately tries to uncover the origins if this story she hoped would remain buried.
This was captivating, addicting. I couldn't put it down. There some great and shocking twists. I couldn't decide who was behind the book until the every end it was revealed. I loved the excerpts from the book too. Excellent thriller.
Petal, or as she likes to be called Petta, learns a dark story from her teen years has been spilled. In fact, it's on the New York Times bestseller list--a published book by an anonymous author using a pen name. Only three people know of what happened that night. Petal, her ex friend Jenny, and Megan who is now deceased. But bits and pieces aren't adding up and many different culprits pop up from Petta's past as she desperately tries to uncover the origins if this story she hoped would remain buried.
This was captivating, addicting. I couldn't put it down. There some great and shocking twists. I couldn't decide who was behind the book until the every end it was revealed. I loved the excerpts from the book too. Excellent thriller.
December 28, 2022
Petal (Petta) is content with her quiet life in New York, until she becomes the subject of a novel. Her full name is mentioned in the novel and the author seems to have included details that only her closest friends from her school days knew. It includes a dark secret she has buried for all those years. In attempting to find the author behind the pen name, she returns to her hometown and things really start to get interesting.
I enjoyed the secrets and the dark past entwined through this one and there were some interesting twists. I definitely would not have guessed that this was a debut.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this gifted review copy.
I enjoyed the secrets and the dark past entwined through this one and there were some interesting twists. I definitely would not have guessed that this was a debut.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this gifted review copy.
October 5, 2023
A trio of girls, Petal, Megan, and Jenny, navigate high-school and friendship together, but one night changes everything when one of them ends up dead. Many years later, a book is released blaming Petal for the tragic death of their friend on the author's dedication page. The author of the book wrote under a pseudonym and Petal goes on a trip back home to find the author. Old memories are uncovered and Petal is being followed by someone in town. She is lead to different areas through clues in the book until she uncovers the truth once and for all.
Petal was such a snarky and honest character and I loved the day-to-day life details, such as her Netflix itinerary and cereal of choice in the morning (breakfast of champions). It is such a different writing style than typical thrillers. It was a really relatable book, especially since the flashbacks are centered around Madison, WI where the three girls grew up. I really enjoyed this one!
Petal was such a snarky and honest character and I loved the day-to-day life details, such as her Netflix itinerary and cereal of choice in the morning (breakfast of champions). It is such a different writing style than typical thrillers. It was a really relatable book, especially since the flashbacks are centered around Madison, WI where the three girls grew up. I really enjoyed this one!
July 19, 2023
4.75 ⭐️ (but honestly, I couldn’t find much wrong with this.) Wow!! This is a debut?! I was having so much fun with this book!
Honest thought: I don’t know if I would have felt differently if I lived elsewhere in the country— The fact that this takes place in my home state def helps because I’m familiar with the locations. But I definitely don’t know everything about Madison, WI. And even in the author’s note, Osborne explains that she didn’t want to paint her view of the town she loves so much, but that she wanted to really hone in on her protagonist’s viewpoints of it being a place that she ran from. I appreciate that because I have to say that I LOVED our MC!!
This is our August bookclub pick and I’m not writing this way because of the fact that the author is coming to visit us— these are my genuine thoughts. As I approach 50, having read a whole spectrum of genres, I really have come to learn a lot about myself and what I enjoy in a book. My rating system varies so greatly within each genre that I can’t really put out a general scale for anybody who looks at my reviews. (For instance, there are so many World War II books that I love, but because that category is so heavily written, my rating scale varies with those books versus if I read a chic lit or general drama.) So I will just say that I have noticed in myself that I have come to really, thoroughly enjoy a good throwback, nostalgic viewpoint from a story. We get that with this novel and I WAS HERE FOR IT! When I think of authors like Alice Feeney, you expect an off-the-rails, “no one saw it coming” outcome… she is probably my favorite thriller author for that reason alone. I hate figuring out the plot halfway through book only to be right in the end. While this novel is not an “off the rails crazy”, it was so FUN (in a chase sort of way with an excellent protagonist, Petta) and kept me guessing, and I honestly didn’t predict the outcome.
This book starts out, so freaking hilarious, especially if you are a woman! That caught my attention, and I know that was her intent. It worked! Was the ending perfect or believable? Not really. But my rating here is solely based on my sadness each time I couldn’t grab the book to read because of summer break busy days… I really had fun with this one (have I said it enough? Lolol!) I think fun sometimes outweighs content or style, or if a book fits perfectly in a genre box, reiterating the fact that I can’t stick to a general star rating scale.
Super thankful that I was one of the winners of this advanced copy, and I’m looking forward to our discussion with the author in August!
Honest thought: I don’t know if I would have felt differently if I lived elsewhere in the country— The fact that this takes place in my home state def helps because I’m familiar with the locations. But I definitely don’t know everything about Madison, WI. And even in the author’s note, Osborne explains that she didn’t want to paint her view of the town she loves so much, but that she wanted to really hone in on her protagonist’s viewpoints of it being a place that she ran from. I appreciate that because I have to say that I LOVED our MC!!
This is our August bookclub pick and I’m not writing this way because of the fact that the author is coming to visit us— these are my genuine thoughts. As I approach 50, having read a whole spectrum of genres, I really have come to learn a lot about myself and what I enjoy in a book. My rating system varies so greatly within each genre that I can’t really put out a general scale for anybody who looks at my reviews. (For instance, there are so many World War II books that I love, but because that category is so heavily written, my rating scale varies with those books versus if I read a chic lit or general drama.) So I will just say that I have noticed in myself that I have come to really, thoroughly enjoy a good throwback, nostalgic viewpoint from a story. We get that with this novel and I WAS HERE FOR IT! When I think of authors like Alice Feeney, you expect an off-the-rails, “no one saw it coming” outcome… she is probably my favorite thriller author for that reason alone. I hate figuring out the plot halfway through book only to be right in the end. While this novel is not an “off the rails crazy”, it was so FUN (in a chase sort of way with an excellent protagonist, Petta) and kept me guessing, and I honestly didn’t predict the outcome.
This book starts out, so freaking hilarious, especially if you are a woman! That caught my attention, and I know that was her intent. It worked! Was the ending perfect or believable? Not really. But my rating here is solely based on my sadness each time I couldn’t grab the book to read because of summer break busy days… I really had fun with this one (have I said it enough? Lolol!) I think fun sometimes outweighs content or style, or if a book fits perfectly in a genre box, reiterating the fact that I can’t stick to a general star rating scale.
Super thankful that I was one of the winners of this advanced copy, and I’m looking forward to our discussion with the author in August!
July 18, 2023
A fat joint and two hours of admiring the Rock's biceps weren't going to make No One Suspected fade away. It was time (way past, if I was being honest) to face my demons. But there was no handbook for this sort of thing; no "So You're the Target of a Fictionalized Murder Book" article on the internet.
3.5 stars. Imagine that you are a woman with a unique name (say, Petal Woznewski) and that you have some secrets in your past that you've never told anyone. Now imagine that one day you pick up a popular bestseller called No One Suspected, penned by a pseudonymous writer, and see this on the dedication page: “I know what you did, Petal Woznewski. And now everyone else will, too.”
This is the scenario in which Petal (now going by Petta) Woznewski finds herself, prompting her to leave her quiet life in New York City and travel to her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, in search of answers. As Petta delves into her past, someone dangerous is stalking her present, and her only clues to that person's identity are in the pages of a book accusing her of a horrific crime.
What a premise, right?! Cleverly utilizing a book within a book, past-and-present structure through the use of excerpts from No One Suspected, Cayce Osborne sucked me in immediately with this well-constructed, slow-burning suspense debut. Osborne is a Madison native and it shows; I Know What You Did is atmospheric and evocative.
The real strength of this novel, though, is the protagonist and her distinct narrative voice. Petta is funny and self-deprecating and damaged, shaped by a traumatic past but never self-pitying. I found her so engaging and I really rooted for her all the way through. Overcome those self-destructive tendencies, girl!
I'm rounding this one down instead of up, because the culprit kind of came out of left field for me, with a motive that was over-explained and over-the-top. I had a different person in mind for the baddie, which I think would have made this a more interesting novel as a whole. Overall, though, I Know What You Did's unique premise, compulsively readable structure, and strong protagonist make it a worthwhile read. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.
July 17, 2023
I loved the idea for this book, but it kind of just fell flat for me.
Petal, who as an adult goes by Petta, has a childhood marked by tragedy. Her parents commit suicide, which left her leaving with her aunt, starting her first year of high school. Petta makes friends with Megan and Jenny. Megan dies their freshman year. It was deemed an accident, but no one knows that Petta and Jenny were present when it happened, and they know the truth.
As an adult, Petta can't escape everyone talking about the new best-selling book. She picks up a copy, only to discover that the main character has her name, and the book is about her life with Megan and Jenny, pointing the finger at Petta as the murderer. The author is writing under a pseudonym, but Petta is determined to return to her hometown and find out who wrote the book, and who could possibly know so much about her friendship with the girls, and what happened that night.
The writing style wasn't for me. At times, it felt like watching a sitcom where I was waiting for Petta to stop and wait for the audience's reaction/laugh track to something she said. There were a lot of unnecessary things that I thought were trying too hard. The book opens with Petal in the middle of a gyno exam and the doctor telling her about the book. It just added nothing that it was a gyno exam and it felt like it was trying to be funny or edgy by throwing that in there. Same goes for using the name "jackhole" to describe someone she didn't like.
The actual plot didn't make sense in the end. I still wasn't fully understanding why the author targeted Petta (and then obviously tried to kill her because this is a thriller) when the author found out the true story of what happened to Megan that night. It just didn't fully make sense to me.
The main book is interspersed with chapters of the book within the book, and even the ending of the fictional book didn't fully make sense to me.
Overall, I really liked the theory and idea of the book, but the execution wasn't there for me.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Petal, who as an adult goes by Petta, has a childhood marked by tragedy. Her parents commit suicide, which left her leaving with her aunt, starting her first year of high school. Petta makes friends with Megan and Jenny. Megan dies their freshman year. It was deemed an accident, but no one knows that Petta and Jenny were present when it happened, and they know the truth.
As an adult, Petta can't escape everyone talking about the new best-selling book. She picks up a copy, only to discover that the main character has her name, and the book is about her life with Megan and Jenny, pointing the finger at Petta as the murderer. The author is writing under a pseudonym, but Petta is determined to return to her hometown and find out who wrote the book, and who could possibly know so much about her friendship with the girls, and what happened that night.
The writing style wasn't for me. At times, it felt like watching a sitcom where I was waiting for Petta to stop and wait for the audience's reaction/laugh track to something she said. There were a lot of unnecessary things that I thought were trying too hard. The book opens with Petal in the middle of a gyno exam and the doctor telling her about the book. It just added nothing that it was a gyno exam and it felt like it was trying to be funny or edgy by throwing that in there. Same goes for using the name "jackhole" to describe someone she didn't like.
The actual plot didn't make sense in the end. I still wasn't fully understanding why the author targeted Petta (and then obviously tried to kill her because this is a thriller) when the author found out the true story of what happened to Megan that night. It just didn't fully make sense to me.
The main book is interspersed with chapters of the book within the book, and even the ending of the fictional book didn't fully make sense to me.
Overall, I really liked the theory and idea of the book, but the execution wasn't there for me.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Available July 18, 2023.
3 stars
There’s something about a book that opens with a gyno appointment. LOL
Petta is shocked to find out her name has been used in a bestselling thriller novel that recounts a story that hits very close to home. She goes back to her hometown to figure out who’s behind the novel and what they want from her sketchy past.
I thought this was an enjoyable read but I didn’t love the twist. It felt too evil mastermind-ish and disjointed. I also found Petta’s narrative kind of awkward at times with weird pop culture references. It would take me out of the story.
The concept of this book was really great I was really interested in what happened to Petta and her friends in high school. The book within a book was a great addition as well!
Available July 18, 2023.
3 stars
There’s something about a book that opens with a gyno appointment. LOL
Petta is shocked to find out her name has been used in a bestselling thriller novel that recounts a story that hits very close to home. She goes back to her hometown to figure out who’s behind the novel and what they want from her sketchy past.
I thought this was an enjoyable read but I didn’t love the twist. It felt too evil mastermind-ish and disjointed. I also found Petta’s narrative kind of awkward at times with weird pop culture references. It would take me out of the story.
The concept of this book was really great I was really interested in what happened to Petta and her friends in high school. The book within a book was a great addition as well!
July 11, 2023
I Know What You Did by Cayce Osborne. Thanks to @crookedlanebooks and @netgalley for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s a new best seller everyone is talking about. It accuses real life Petal Woznewski of murder and knows a lot about her life. It’s up to Petal to figure out who wrote the book.
I love books that involve books; especially if it’s a thriller! This one intrigued me from the very beginning and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a fairly fast read. You can’t put it down because the mystery grabs you and you’ll have to know what is going on. I wasn’t surprised by the resolution, but I did love the ending.
“Time is supposed to soften us, give us distance from the people we wronged and the deeds we regret. But it doesn’t. I was living proof.”
I Know What You Did comes out 7/18.
There’s a new best seller everyone is talking about. It accuses real life Petal Woznewski of murder and knows a lot about her life. It’s up to Petal to figure out who wrote the book.
I love books that involve books; especially if it’s a thriller! This one intrigued me from the very beginning and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a fairly fast read. You can’t put it down because the mystery grabs you and you’ll have to know what is going on. I wasn’t surprised by the resolution, but I did love the ending.
“Time is supposed to soften us, give us distance from the people we wronged and the deeds we regret. But it doesn’t. I was living proof.”
I Know What You Did comes out 7/18.
December 12, 2022
It's been a few months since I've picked up a book that compelled me to keep reading to the point of finishing it in a day. This was that book that broke the drought.
Petal (Petta) starts out in the first few pages as slightly over the top - one of those people who you grit your teeth dealing with. But as the story unfolds, all is forgiven since she's got a very good reason to keep people at arm's length and to be as, well, neurotic, as she is.
This was extremely well written, a great thriller, lacking a lot of eye rolling overly obvious clues that I have seen in the past with books of this genre. Highly recommended, even if thrillers aren't your normal genre preference.
Petal (Petta) starts out in the first few pages as slightly over the top - one of those people who you grit your teeth dealing with. But as the story unfolds, all is forgiven since she's got a very good reason to keep people at arm's length and to be as, well, neurotic, as she is.
This was extremely well written, a great thriller, lacking a lot of eye rolling overly obvious clues that I have seen in the past with books of this genre. Highly recommended, even if thrillers aren't your normal genre preference.
August 30, 2023
3.5 stars because it was entertaining however the twist wasn’t twisty enough and was a let down compared to how fun the main character was.
February 1, 2025
I simultaneously do not get why this book gets the hate it does and do not get why this book gets the love it does.
The goods: the mystery/thriller aspect itself. The premise is just off-the-bat intriguing, the book is well-paced (I did not put it down from start to finish), and the turns are straight interesting. The themes of the book - about the main character’s grief and her response to traumatic events - are good. But…
The bads. The book sets itself up to really explore some fantastic truths and just does not stick the landing. The entire book’s tone is extremely juvenile for something that’s centered on gritty and difficult topics. Unfortunately, the main character - Petal - is just so unlikable. She has to make stupid witticisms that seem more at home in a Marvel movie, the author makes her weirdly super intoxicated in a way that is never really explored, and she’s an unlovable asshole.
So the TL;DR: the book is interesting for the author’s interesting premise and the actual mystery plot itself but is pretty poorly written and sounds like it’s narrated by the quippy and plucky trauma-ridden main character of a rom-com. 3 stars for the good time, but no higher because it just is not good literature.
The goods: the mystery/thriller aspect itself. The premise is just off-the-bat intriguing, the book is well-paced (I did not put it down from start to finish), and the turns are straight interesting. The themes of the book - about the main character’s grief and her response to traumatic events - are good. But…
The bads. The book sets itself up to really explore some fantastic truths and just does not stick the landing. The entire book’s tone is extremely juvenile for something that’s centered on gritty and difficult topics. Unfortunately, the main character - Petal - is just so unlikable. She has to make stupid witticisms that seem more at home in a Marvel movie, the author makes her weirdly super intoxicated in a way that is never really explored, and she’s an unlovable asshole.
So the TL;DR: the book is interesting for the author’s interesting premise and the actual mystery plot itself but is pretty poorly written and sounds like it’s narrated by the quippy and plucky trauma-ridden main character of a rom-com. 3 stars for the good time, but no higher because it just is not good literature.
February 26, 2023
This story grabs you from the beginning and takes you on a wild ride all the way to the end. The main character Petal is flawed but likeable. She struggles to deal with her past and move on which gives her that realistic quality you want in a character. All the while, the cast of secondary characters surrounding her may not be who they seem, and it's impossible as a reader to know who she can trust. Overall, a wonderful and engaging psychological thriller.
February 9, 2024
This was a great debut novel by Cayce Osborne. It kept me guessing all possible scenarios, and those types of books are fun to read. I couldn't put it down. It was also a fun read because it was set in my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin.
December 21, 2022
“Was that what reading did, if you let it? Did you get so consumed by the story that the world fell away?”
In the instance of this book- YES. Holy cats, Batman! What. A. Book. You’re going to keep guessing up until the very end. Who is doing this to Petal? Why? What do they want? Petal is an utter delight (probably to her horror) and her inner dialogue was amazing. Do not miss this book.
In the instance of this book- YES. Holy cats, Batman! What. A. Book. You’re going to keep guessing up until the very end. Who is doing this to Petal? Why? What do they want? Petal is an utter delight (probably to her horror) and her inner dialogue was amazing. Do not miss this book.
December 14, 2022
It all started with the gynaecologist. The one who told Petal about the book he was reading that has a character with Petal’s full name - Petal Woznewski. It’s not exactly a common name. The books dedication: “I know what you did, Petal Woznewski. And now everyone else will too.” She knows the past and the secrets she’s been running from for so long have finally caught up with her. Who is doing this? What do they want? Could she be in danger?
I really enjoyed this! It caught my attention from the beginning. There was a lot of subtle humour in this and I loved it. That was definitely a highlight for me. As for the storyline, I loved that too. Especially later on as the suspense and sense of danger increases but the entire plot is so clever and engaging. I also really liked the book within a book aspect. Overall, I enjoyed this a lot and finished reading it in less than a day because it was such a page turner!
(4.5 stars rounded up to 5)
I really enjoyed this! It caught my attention from the beginning. There was a lot of subtle humour in this and I loved it. That was definitely a highlight for me. As for the storyline, I loved that too. Especially later on as the suspense and sense of danger increases but the entire plot is so clever and engaging. I also really liked the book within a book aspect. Overall, I enjoyed this a lot and finished reading it in less than a day because it was such a page turner!
(4.5 stars rounded up to 5)
April 5, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this novel!
When Petta discovers a novel written about an incident that happened to her friend group and which seems to be pointed directly at her, she takes it into her own matter to clear her name and discover who is behind the dreadful book.
I wanted to comment on the things I liked first, but there's not really much. The characters were very unlikable, especially Petta. It's been 30 years from the events of that tragic year, which means she is in her late 40s, but she still behaves like a teenager. She was super immature and only talked about eating junk food and smoking pot (boring).
The premise of the story was interesting, but the plot, even though the book was under 300 pages, dragged for so long. The plot twist barely made any sense, as it turned out to be a character that had barely been mentioned and whose motive was weak at best. The police plot line (both in the novel and the reality) was pointless and we could have done without her. As for her love interest, Petta was rude to him and they had little chemistry.
I don't really recommend reading this.
When Petta discovers a novel written about an incident that happened to her friend group and which seems to be pointed directly at her, she takes it into her own matter to clear her name and discover who is behind the dreadful book.
I wanted to comment on the things I liked first, but there's not really much. The characters were very unlikable, especially Petta. It's been 30 years from the events of that tragic year, which means she is in her late 40s, but she still behaves like a teenager. She was super immature and only talked about eating junk food and smoking pot (boring).
The premise of the story was interesting, but the plot, even though the book was under 300 pages, dragged for so long. The plot twist barely made any sense, as it turned out to be a character that had barely been mentioned and whose motive was weak at best. The police plot line (both in the novel and the reality) was pointless and we could have done without her. As for her love interest, Petta was rude to him and they had little chemistry.
I don't really recommend reading this.
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