Kristy is a single Mom raising her teenage son and taking care of her ailing father , she works in the Federal Prison in Texas as a liaison officer for inmates on death row. She meets Lance who teaches her son martial arts and slowly falls for his caring and protective behavior towards her demanding and emotionally challenging job while mentoring her son and connecting with her sick father. They get married and Kristy discovers the real Lance who is no longer protective but actually controlling and abusive. Lance uses her son and father against her in order to stop her from leaving him or going to the authorities. Kristy has to find a way to get out of this marriage and she uses her experiences working with inmates to come up with a plan...
While I found the story fascinating and kept on reading to find out what would happen next, at times I felt the language too simplistic and emotionally too much on the surface. The main theme of domestic abuse and the topic of the death penalty could have been explored more .

The Walls is another excellent story by Hollie Overton. Ms Overton brings her characters to life and immediately the reader feels at home with the story. As much as I enjoyed The Walls I hated to see it end. Looking forward to the next book from this author. I was given an early copy to review.

I have read Baby doll and loved it so when I saw the author had wrote this book I was ecstatic to read it and let me tell you it was amazing in fact I thought it was even better than the first book I felt that there were so many components to the book that help make it so good! Such as there really aren't that many books out that are based on domestic violence or prisoners on death row so it gives you a unique perspective and outlook on this thriller that most thrillers don't have. Now also usually I only like thrillers that have killer twists to them but this one didn't and that was ok because the book was written so well and still had you in suspense the whole time! this was just an all around Great book that I highly recommend, personally think that the only small negative I found was the cover, It just didn't to any justice to the book and if it wasn't for the authors name on the cover I would have passed it up.

Psychological thriller that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Set in Texas amidst the state's controversial death penalty, this read will have you questioning your own thoughts and ideas on it, but does not come off as preachy. The reader will definitely root for Kristy in her efforts to overcome a nightmarish situation.

I'm always amazed at just much authors can manipulate my feelings and Hollie Overton definitely gave my moral compass a thorough workout here. When you read the blurb and see mention of death row executions and domestic violence you know that there will be some uncomfortable reading ahead and there is. What you also get is a great study of the relationships Kristy has with her teenage son and her ailing father. The letters from the death row inmate definitely added to the narrative and Clifton Harris was a character I won't forget in a hurry.
I had a huge knot in my stomach reading the last third of this book and there was no way I was putting it down until I saw how it finished. It's hard to escape the thought while reading the uncomfortable scenes that they are an everyday reality for many folk. I highly recommend this book.

This book was really really good-- I could barely put it down once I got into it. The main character, Kristy, is a publicist for the Texas Prison System and she handles all the PR for death row inmates when they are put to death. IT is a tough job obviously but one she does well. She is single mom to a teenage son and they live with her dad who has health problems. Her son, Ryan, starts taking Judo classes to learn how to defend himself against bullies which is how she meets Lance (the Judo instructor). They fall in love and get married. Unfortunately Lance turns out to be a super-mean abusive husband to Kristy while pretending to be the bsrt guy ever to Ryan and her dad. He abuses her physically, sexually and mentally repeatedly over and over threatening Ryan and her dad's lives. The story has a really great plot--interesting background, characters that really make you think and care about them and a lot of suspense and detail. I highly recommend this book! I plan to read Hollie Overton's other book as well because I liked this one so much. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this novel! It was outstanding.

Another "Wow" book from Hollie Overton!

After reading Baby Doll, I was definitely interested in reading another book by this author. I loved Baby Doll and was really excited when I received an advance copy of The Walls. I couldn't wait to start reading!

Kristy Tucker works on death row to support her family. It isn't her dream job, but it provides needed income. When she meets Lance, she can't believe her luck in finding such a wonderful man. Unfortunately, he is only wonderful until they are married. His inability to control his temper results in frequent and violent abuse of his new wife. Kristy endures it and does her best not to antagonize him because she believes she has no other options. But when Lance threatens her son and her chronically ill father, she has to make a choice. How far is she willing to go to protect them?

The book was just a little slow getting started (unlike Baby Doll which took off immediately) so I was afraid The Walls wasn't going to compare favorably to Overton's first novel. Was I ever wrong! After getting through the beginning chapters that set the stage for the story, the book gained momentum fast and never slowed from that point. I couldn't wait to finish it, but I didn't want it to end.

This is a second amazing book from Hollie Overton. I have to say that she has jumped to the top of my favorite author's list. I can't wait for another book from her. Hurry up, Ms. Overton, and write another novel!

This didn't have the same draw as her other novel but it was very good. The characters were wonderfully written with a story that flowed well

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Walls by Hollie Overton.
A young mother, Kristy, works for the Department of Correction in Texas. She works with Death Row inmates in a place called "the walls". Kristy sees death all the time, she sees bad people who do bad things, and sees some good people who will be sent to their death.
Kristy is a single mom with a young son and her sick dad. Her life is good, but not great. Her son introduces her to a man helping him learn judo. This man, Lance, is too good to be true and soon they marry.
It is too long before Lance's behavior starts to change and he starts to abuse her but in private. No one knows the private hell Kristy endures - not her family or her work friends. Soon it becomes obvious that Kristy has to take steps to get away from Lance - it is kill or be killed in order to survive.
Very descriptive and emotional book - the story of abuse and secrets. How a young woman can be taken in by a stranger who is not who he appears to be and how her life is no longer her own.
Captivating. RECOMMEND.

Excellent book!! Fast paced, kept me on the edge of my seat, covered so many scenarios of life. I love the way this author wrote her book. The tribute she gave her Mother was great.

Very good book about domestic violence. The main character put up with a lot. And her husband left a lot to be desired. This book gives a good look at domestic violence, how it can effect others within the circle of the abused and the abuser. I do not want to give the ending away, but OMG!!! Great ending. Read this book, it is very good and well written. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This is the second book that I have read by this author and I have to say that I loved it.  It has a really tough central subject and the execution of the story is told very well, I read it in a day and just needed to see what was around the corner, the twists and how the plot played out.  The pace was great and the characters really grew on me and took me through so many emotions.  I really wanted to see that Kristy got the ending that she deserved and I wasn't disappointed.  5 stars from me and looking forward to the next book from Hollie.

Loved this book from beginning to end. Following Kristy's journey from single mother and carer to her father to a turbulent marraige and the challenges that brings along side a tough job on death row. This book has twists and turns, gasp out our moments and you will not be disappointed! Five stars from me and I will be reading anything else by this author.

I thought Hollie Overton did some good work in a previous novel of hers I had read, Baby Doll, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. I was glad I did because she knows how to get under your skin.

Overton’s specialty are the suspense filled, gripping plots that make you examine your own views on right and wrong.

The beginning starts off a bit rough with characters being thrown at you quicker than you have time to process who means what to who and the story so the development is a little bit hard to follow with so much information pushed to the forefront. It does smooth out though then all that information you were given up front begins to make sense pulling the various plot points together into one emotionally challenging story.

The good characters feel just as they are intended so you want to hope the best for them while the big bad you secretly want to write a scene in where he gets hit by a car. Once you really get to the meat of the story the adrenaline from wondering if she’ll take her revenge or not and how becomes addictive to the point it becomes hard to point down; almost as if you’re afraid you’ll miss out on that big important moment.

The ending? For pure black and white moralists it will be hard to take but for the rest of the world who believes sometimes the end justifies the means, it was very satisfying.

I loved Baby Doll and I thought this book was even better. If I could give the author a hug I would, I enjoyed the book so much. It is a psychological crime thriller about a young single Texan mum who works in a prison as a liaison officer. She has to deal with terrible things in her job, never dreaming that something dreadful could happen in her own life. Although it's against all the rules she befriends an inmate on death row and the more she learns about him the more she thinks he is innocent. The friendship is not all one sided and she starts to depend on him as much as he depends on her when her life starts to spiral out of control. Once you start reading this book you won't want to put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for an advanced electronic ARC of this novel, in exchange for an honest review.
“The Walls” is a suspense-fueled, gripping read, by the author of the bestselling novel, “Baby Doll”.
Kristy Tucker works at a prison, in public relations, almost exclusively with death row inmates. She sees death every day, and the justices and injustices that exist within a very flawed system. Although the job is emotionally draining, Kristy is happy to have a job that supports her teenaged son and ailing father. One afternoon she meets Lance, and she finally starts to believe that she has everything she ever wanted- he treats her father and son like family, and is a beloved member of the community. However, after the two marry, Kristy begins to serve a prison sentence of her own as Lance becomes controlling and abusive, quick to anger and with a background in martial arts- Kristy thinks she will be forced to live with Lance’s violence in secret for the rest of her life. Until Kristy is introduced to wrongfully-accused inmate Clifton Harris and he puts an idea in her head- could she possibly kill her husband and get away with it?
This novel started off a bit disjointed for me- first, we are introduced to Kristy and her career and her relationship with Clifton Harris. Then, before that gets fully developed, we meet Kristy’s son Ryan and the relationship between Ryan and Lance which quickly becomes the relationship between Lance and Kristy. There is a lot of information jam-packed into the first few pages and I had a little bit of trouble trying to determine where the plot line was going. However, once Kristy and Lance marry and the abuse begins- all of the previous plot points begin to make sense and they congeal together.
Kristy, Ryan and Pops are great characters- lovable, flawed, charming and human (moreso since a lot of Pops’ character is based on the author’s recently deceased mother). Lance is an outright jerk, making it easy to root for Kristy throughout, and hope for her success.
This novel is very much a revenge novel, addictive and completely entertaining. It was difficult to put this novel down once I got started, and although the subject matter is intense and terrifying, it was very easy to continue reading this novel from beginning to end. (Speaking of endings…..Hell. Yes. ) I found it uncomfortable to root for an illegal, criminal ending for Lance but also would have found it unsatisfying if it ended any other way (a conundrum, or quagmire, of epic proportions). Either way, I was completely satisfied with the way this novel wrapped up, although I would’ve liked to have seen Janice get what she deserved too! (Guess you can’t have everything).
A completely addictive, suspense-fueled revenge novel that is difficult to put down, and even harder to forget.

Excellent book. Great main characters and plot. I would recommend this book.

Kristy Tucker is doing her best to be a single mom to her son, working as a public information officer at a prison for death row inmates. When her son gets into trouble at school, she seeks out help from Lance Dobson, a man whom she believes can help instill discipline in her boy. When Kristy the two adults begin to see each other romantically, Kristy thinks she may have finally found her happily ever after, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Bit by bit, Lance isolates and controls Kristy and begins abusing her both physically and mentally. How can she find the strength to leave him, and how can she be sure he won’t kill her if she does escape. That’s when Kristy’s job, and the people she works with provide her with a plan. A shocking and twisty look at domestic violence and how insidious it is. Kristy is a heroine readers will cheer for

Thank you net galley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Kristy, a single mother, meets lance and despite the facade of a perfect marriage he is an abusive control freak. Kristy works with death row inmates and is convinced she could join them.

After loving Baby Doll I was worried this could not hold my attention but it certainly did. Personally I hoped Kristy would have given lance his comeuppance a lot earlier!

Great read!