The Walls is one of the hardest books this year for me to review because I've had a hard time fully accepting the storyline. But, at the same time was it awfully thrilling to read when everything started to happen. To be honest, did I right from the start feel some hesitancy towards this book. The blurb gives away way too much of the plot, and it was pretty obvious what would happen. And, I just didn't connect at first with the story and its characters. But, I loved Baby Doll, the author's debut novel so, despite not feeling the same intriguing feeling towards this book as I did when I read Baby Doll did I decide to carry on reading to see where the story would take me.

As I wrote previously is the blurb way too revealing. You know pretty much half the book just by reading it. And, that's why it took so long time for me to really get into the book. It got better when Kristy started to investigate Lance background and at the same time starting to plan a way out of her marriage. To be honest, was I amazed that she didn't try to tell anyone (besides the most unlikely person) about her situation or in some way try to gather evidence towards her husband. Instead, did she start to think of a way to get rid of him, permanently. Felt a bit drastic. However, I can't deny that it made the last book nail-biting thrilling to read. Would she, in the end, do it? Could she really do it? I will leave it there and just say that this part of the book was my favorite part, it felt like I breezed through the pages in my pursuit of knowing what would happen at the end.

The Walls prove that Hollie Overton is here to stay. With Doll baby did she spellbind me, and with The Walls did she prove that even though the plot is pretty obvious is the writing so good that I ended the book, not 100% sure if I liked the book or not (it was very, very late and my emotions were all over the place), but at the same time did it hook me completely. I mean, there are things that bothered, besides the issues I've written about, but darn it, I must admit that the thrilling aspects of the last half of the book overrule that. Now, I can't for Overton to write something else to spellbind me.

Overton has taken an interesting premise and written a pretty good thriller. Let's face it- Lance is abusive and horrible. You can argue with Kristy's choices but this is a novel and those choices are integral to the plot. There a good growth of menace and you'll want to tell Kristy what to do. You'll also worry about her son Ryan, let alone her dad. This is a page turner and while you might see part of it coming, there were enough twists to keep me reading. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

First of all we have some truly relatable characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. Kristy herself has the biggest heart and you could really tell how much she just wants to do right by her teenage son Ryan and disabled father. Ryan also falls into the same category of caring, and I loved how Hollie captured his age and innocence when describing how unhappy he was with his mum working on death row when he talks about how she is “killing people”. Kristy’s father is an ex prison officer himself and you can tell how proud he is of his daughter in all she does for her family. A little family with a lot of love.

The thing I really enjoyed about The Walls was that I simply had no idea how is was going to end. I just could not work out what Kristy’s or Lance’s next move would be. Even once I thought we were at the end, there was so much more to the plot. Overton really outdid herself here and it truly captured the audience.

I am all too aware that my criticism of this book is going to be way more brutal than the average reader, but that's down the fact that I hated Baby Doll, Overton's debut novel, and so reading this one, I've automatically picked up on things I've disliked. But I'm glad I didn't continue to read this one

What I couldn't get past was how unbelievable the relationship with Kristy and Lance was, right from the start. He shows up at her door in the evening, after one conversation... which is creepy. And then she lets him hang around the house after two conversations... that's weird. And then she lets him buy her things, like $1000 grills, after three conversations... I mean, what? That just wouldn't ever happen.

The romance part of this novel was class-A cheese. I hate romance in novels as it is, it just bothers me, but when it's subtle and doesn't take up too much of the plot, it's OK. In this novel it's not subtle at all, it's cheesy and it's right there, in your face. Thankfully, it simmers down at 25%... but by that point I was bored of reading this already.

This one was too slow for my liking. Nothing happened in the 40% of it that I read, and I admit it, I don't like Hollie Overton's writing style. For me, it feels like she's trying to hard to be cool and relate to us as readers. It's a nice gesture but it doesn't come across great.

I think it's now official that I don't get on with Overton's work and this means I won't try any more of her books. It will waste too much of my precious reading time.

P.S. This was meant to be a buddy reading with Annie @ The Misstery but she got through it in under 24 hours and I couldn't keep up because I was so bored. She also spoiled it for me (on my request) so I know what happens!

I do this all the time; I find a new book, read the synopsis, grab the book, and finally read it months later, having completely forgotten the synopsis. The Walls was one such book, however, this created a great reading experience for me. I went into it not knowing what to expect and I immersed myself in the story.

The Walls started off a bit slow for me. I didn’t know where Kristy and Lance’s relationship was going to go, how it would evolve or devolve, as the case may be. I was getting to the point where I was wondering when it was going to pick up the pace, when suddenly, it did. From there on, things got a whole lot more interesting. The build-up to that point was drawn out some, but the story needed it.

Kristy is an interesting character with an even more intriguing profession. Life has handed her boxes of lemons after boxes of lemons; she has done her best to make lemonade. Hollie Overton created a character that people could connect with. I like to root for the underdog and I wanted Kristy to find her happy place.

Our villain, Lance, was exceptionally well-crafted – a true Jekyll and Hyde. Lance has some deep, dark secrets. I loved to hate him and his methods; Lance has one of those faces you just want to smack.

The Walls covers many sensitive themes, such as the death penalty, spousal abuse, and questions at what point it is justifiable to take another person’s life. I can’t say that I agree with all of Kristy’s decisions and actions, but I understood her reasons.

In the end, The Walls was a good story that kept me immersed in Kristy’s life. Hollie Overton created characters that I cared about, I felt involved in their lives.

*4.5 Stars

The Walls is a fast-paced book that pulled me into the story and kept me riveted to the pages until the end.

Kristy Tucker’s job is to work as a public information officer in the prison system. She works closely with the media and death row inmates. She knows the harsh extent of the crimes that people commit and the dangerous people who have committed them. There is never a good day at her job, but it pays the bills and helps her to raise her son and care for her ill father. Being an only child and a single mother, her adult life has been devoted to her family, often putting her own desires on the back-burner. Her personal life takes a turn when she meets the handsome judo instructor who has taken a shining to her son.

With any good book, it is essential to feel something for the characters –whether you love them or hate them, a good book will make you feel. I liked Kristy. It was impossible not to. She was a hard-working mother and daughter who put her loved ones first. I wanted her to find her own slice of happiness. She had a great relationship with her father and son, but I wanted someone to be there and care of Kristy. Oh, don’t get me wrong, she didn’t need anyone to take care of her. She was quite adept at being in charge of her own life, however, she deserved to have someone loving to share her life with. Unfortunately, Lance Dobson wasn’t that man. He wasn’t the man that everyone thought he was. Underneath the charming, charismatic good looks was a cold, calculating, violent man who shook Kristy’s life to the core.

Whenever I read a book, I always try to put myself in the protagonist’s shoes. How would I react in a similar situation? I am always drawn to a book that makes me question the character’s behavior and, in turn, my own beliefs. We all know that committing murder is wrong, but would we do it to protect our own loved ones? I would like to believe that I would be above taking the law in my own hands, and that I would be able to put my faith in the justice system, but being a mother, I also know that my own son will always take priority over everything. The Walls was not only an interesting and entertaining read, but it made me question what is right, what is wrong, and if I could justify something like murder.

Hollie Overton has written an intriguing book with a main character that readers will root for. The Walls was exciting, relevant, and pulse pounding. I was eagerly flipping the pages to find out what was going to become of Kristy Tucker.

*4 Stars

This story touches on a lot of topics. The death penalty, abuse, motherhood, how far one can be willing to go to protect what's theirs, and family. A lot was packed into this book, but it never lost my attention.

If I hadn't read the blurb before the book, I still would have known there was something wrong with Lance. Even while he was still wearing the facade of perfect man, I found him to be simply too much. Too generous, too macho, too overbearing. Didn't like him much from the beginning. It's hard for many people to see beyond how a potential romantic partner presents themself in the beginning, and Kristy was no exception. Having birthed her son as a teenager and raised him as a single parent, Kristy also lacked the sort of experience most people have with dating. She didn't stand a chance against the charming, handsome Lance.

Kristy works as a public information officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Death is part of her job. The hardest part is witnessing executions. She also has to mediate between the staff, the prisoners, and the press. It's not a glamorous job, and she never intended it to be her career. The pay supports her little family though. She can't deny that sometimes her job bothers her sometimes, but she does it diligently. Her world is rocked when she actually begins to believe Clifton Harris, a man convicted of murdering his children and sentenced to death, may be innocent.

In the beginning of the story, it's just her, her ailing father, and her teenage son. Until Lance worms his way in, using her son to get closer to Kristy. They have a fantastic relationship until they're married and Lance snaps on her one night, smacking her face when she's about to drunkenly smoke a cigarette, which she did very rarely. She's stunned. She tells herself it was one time, one overreaction. He loves her. But it doesn't stop at one time. (Once is too many, anyway.) Her father and son Ryan are blind to his true nature, but he keeps getting worse and worse. She's now terrified of the man she married, for good reason. When she finally decides she's had enough and tells him she wants out, he injures her severely and threatens Pops and Ryan, who mean everything to her.

How can she escape without her family getting hurt? Lance is conniving, and has fooled everyone she knows. He's the selfless one, marrying a single woman with a teenage son and caring for him as if he's his own, even kind and charming to her father. She thinks there's no way out that'll guarantee the safety of her loved ones... unless she kills him. Kristy knows what gets murders caught. She knows how they slip up. She thinks she might be able to pull it off... but does she have the strength?

I'm not going to lie, the chapters with Clifton were some of my favorite parts. Good people are wrongfully convicted. It happens, the system isn't perfect. I spent the whole book on edge... wondering if he was innocent, and if he'd be saved. Wondering if Kristy could commit murder and get away with it. Intense! The ending wasn't perfect to me, but still earned four stars.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Hachette Book Group, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

I began reading this book without knowing the storyline, reading it because of author name recognition. I enjoyed Hollie Overton’s first novel Baby Doll and a tv show she collaborated on, Cold Case.

32-year old Kristy Tucker is a public information officer for the Texas Dept of Criminal Justice, handling communications for the “The Walls”, the ‘most active death chamber in the country”, as the conduit between death row inmates and the press. Despite her criminal behavior expertise, Kristy, doesn’t spot the warning signs in a new relationship. Only after marrying the charismatic Lance (who had me fooled as well), does Kristy experience her Prince Charming’s dark side, the torturous abuser. With feelings of fear, helplessness and something resembling love, Kristy grapples with how to get this monster out of her life. I loved Kristy’s character, her resilience and unwavering commitment to protect her son and sick father. She is a resourceful survivor, with guts and tenacity.

Amidst her tumultuous home life, Kristy finds solace at work and befriends a death row inmate named Clifton Harris. Oh my gosh, I loved this character! Clifton is a gentle, kind man and I couldn’t believe he murdered his two young children. The letters he writes to Kristy throughout the book beginning as pleas for help were my absolute favorite parts. Such beautiful and profound prose as their relationship grows into a more caring one.

Overton’s recently deceased mother endured domestic abuse and Hollie’s compassion for an abuse victim shows. She also clearly has a strong opinion about the morality of capital punishment. It is a winner of a book.

*will post on additional sites once book is published.

As soon as I saw that the author of Baby Doll had another thriller out, I wanted to read it. After her blissful new marriage turns into a waking nightmare, Kristy Tucker begins to look differently at the death row inmates she works with. What if murder is sometimes the only option? What if some of the inmates are as innocent as they claim to be? I stayed up way too late to find out how it would end, because wondering would have kept me awake anyway. The Walls didn't disappoint.

This is a great suspense, thriller. I would definitely recommend this book. It is well written. Please see my full review on Goodreads. Review will be on Twitter, Instagram, and FB on Aug 7&8.

Well, there's a job I never knew existed! PR for a prison with specific respect to prisoners on death row. Opened my eyes totally I can tell you but this is single mum Kristy's job. One which exposes her to the worst of the worst, and one which she does with particularly great aplomb despite her son's misgivings. Together they live with her father, an invalid and ex-prison guard himself. At the beginning of the book, they appear to be ticking along mostly OK but, one day she is called to her son's school where she finds out he has been fighting (standing up for himself) and it transpires that he has been taking martial arts lessons without her knowledge. So she does what any parent would do, she confronts his instructor Lance. And this is where the story really kicks off. As Lance inveigles himself into her affections and indeed family, thing start going wrong, very wrong and we see first hand what a woman is really prepared to do to keep her family safe.
Oh my! What a cracking story, as Kristy is drawn more and more into Lance's world, her own starts to unravel as his hold over her increases. This book was definitely not one for the faint hearted as there are some rather nasty scenes throughout. But they had to be for the rest of the story to be credible. And credible it most definitely was. I was gripped from the off, first through my interest into her job, then as things hotted up, I couldn't bear to put it down despite it being rather tough to read at times. I really really felt for Kristy and what she endured.
As well as the main story about Kristy and Lance, we also have Kristy's relationship with one of the inmates she has somewhat taken under her wing - Clifton Harris, convicted child killer - and we are privy to their meetings and his letters throughout the book. He proves to be the catalyst for what happens next. A "what happened next" that will most definitely make this a brilliant book club read as it definitely made me think. A LOT. Talk about an author manipulating my feelings and tugging at my heartstrings. Head vs Heart indeed. An ending that I am still thinking about several days after finishing the book.
All in all, another incredible winner from Ms Overton. Having read and thoroughly loved Baby Doll, her debut book, last year, which also left me emotionally spent, this book cements her on my one to watch list. I really can't wait to see where she takes me next time.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I was in two minds whether to request this book but I read and enjoyed Hollie Overtons first book, Baby Doll so I I decided to ask for it. The book, The Walls is not an easy read because of its storyline. Death row and domestic abuse are not easy to read about or I would imagine write about. Hollie Overton does an excellent job of it. I really wanted Kristy to have her happy ending. She is such a strong character. She deserved to find peace.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

This is definitely a page-turner. I flew through this book just dying to know what was going to happen in the prison where the main character, Kristy Tucker works and at home in her personal life. Her personal life isn't too bad in the beginning, but soon turns out to be nothing like she imagined! The characters were well-developed and believable. You cannot help but love the Tucker family. The plot kept me very interested and not wanting to do anything else. That's the sign of a great book!! Well done!

This is my second book by Hollie Overton and she's fast becoming one of my favorites.

In The Walls, Overton gives us a fascinating look inside the Texas prison system - and its massive program of executions. She introduces us to one particular prisoner on death row and, frankly, causes the reader to question some of those open and shut cases we see in the news.

More, though, this is a thriller - and it's a good one. The descriptions of abuse are horrifying and I found myself so incredibly tense - wondering how our main character would survive everything that gets thrown at her.

I liked the ending, though I found it a tiny bit...easy. After all the impossibly terrible situations we read, I wanted an ending that was equally challenging.

But I definitely liked the book and can't wait to see what Overton throws at us next. So far, I'm two for two with her books and am looking forward to number three!

The Walls had an extremely intriguing blurb, so I, of course, wondered where the story would go. I read this with Zuky, although she ended up not finishing the book (not a success!). For my part, I must say I did enjoy the book, especially in the beginning, but I ended up quite disappointed by the time I reached the ending.

I never read Baby Doll, so I don't know if the books are similar or not, but the death penalty angle was what attracted me to this story in the first place. After a few pages, though, I realized the story was a domestic suspense novel but I expected the two storylines to come together at some point. Wouldn't you?

This was a thoroughly addictive book, although I think it ultimately lacked a bit of tension. The ending pages could've been more suspenseful but instead, I felt like there hadn't been an actual climax and I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed. The pros? I absolutely adored Kristy's son and I thought she and her family were endearing, so I wanted everything to be okay. I really cared for this family.

3.5 Stars

Psychological thriller about a woman who must choose whether or not to become a murderer.

Kristy Tucker is faced with this conundrum in The Walls. She can either remain in an abusive marriage or she can take the only way out that she can see, which is by killing her husband. Making this even more complicated is the fact that Kristy works as public information officer at “The Walls,” the place where Death Row inmates are executed. Part of Kristy’s job is to mediate between the inmates and the press. As a result, she has encountered some of the most notorious criminals. While she understands the legal ramifications of committing murder, she also is presented with unique insight into how to commit the perfect crime.

When we first meet Kristy, she feels like she is stuck. She hates her job, especially when she has to witness executions. She also is struggling to take care of her ailing father, while at the same time trying to raise her 14 year old son on her own.

When she starts dating Lance Dobson, her son’s martial arts instructor, she feels like she is finally living versus just existing. At first, Lance seems like her "Knight in Shining Armor”, but soon after they marry, Kristy comes to realize that she married a monster. Kristy’s life takes a dramatic turn, to the point where she is safer in the prison than in her own home.

The Walls is fast-paced and suspenseful. Not only does it deal with domestic violence, it also presents commentaries on the justice system and death penalty

I didn’t love The Walls (I think there was a little too much going on in terms of commentaries on the justice system, the death penalty, and domestic violence), but I did like the premise of a woman who works for the prison system potentially becoming a criminal. The Walls made me think, and for this reason I bumped it up to a higher rating than I was planning.

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

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Hollie Overton for the opportunity to read and review her new book.

I liked this book much better than Overton's debut novel, Baby Doll. This was a good story that led you to think about many hot-button topics such as the death penalty and domestic abuse.

Kristy is a single mom, working as Public Information Officer for the Texas Dept of Corrections, handling everything for the death row inmates, housed in an area called the Walls. The job is mentally taxing and yet pays the bills for her son, Ryan, and her ailing father. Kristy has basically lived for her family and her job. When she meets Lance, Ryan's judo instructor, she feels that its finally time for her to have happiness. Lance appears to be the perfect man - until she realizes that he isn't.

Clinton is a death row inmate, accused of killing his two small children. In her dealings with him for her job, she develops a friendship with him. His letters to her are interspersed in this book and help guide Kristy to take care of herself.

I raced through this one to see how it would all end up!

Hollie Overton has outdone herself with The Walls. The Walls gets into your head, I felt like I was experiencing the abuse right along with Kristy. My feels were so wrapped up in the awfulness that Kristy was living through. I was so ready for Lance to get what was coming to him, but hated the thought of Kristy crossing that line. Overton does an amazing job with all the supporting characters. the plot and pacing could not have been better. I can't wait to recommend this title to all my patrons, friends & family.

Yet another great book from Hollie Overton! Kept me reading way after my bedtime had come and gone!

Another good thriller by this author. Started off slow but then the storyline picked up. I was disappointed as the book was nearing the end and I was predicting the outcome. But the outcome proved me pleasantly wrong. A good easy read that I would recommend.