Not That I Could Tell is a difficult book to review because it didn't end up being what I wanted it to be. This book is labeled as a thriller, but it feels more like a domestic drama. I enjoyed the idea of a group of moms getting together and developing their friendships and a mystery happening. But... the mystery was so bland and predictable. None of the characters were very developed, so they were all indistinguishable from each other. I got quite bored. Nothing exciting or big happened, there was just a lot of talking among the characters. It just didn't do anything for me.

I do not really know how to feel about this book. It is marketed as a thriller but it felt more like a domestic novel. There is a mystery of where did Kristin go with her kids? What did her ex-husband have to do with it all. But much of it is lots of talking and secret reveals. Nothing terribly shocking happened and the end was just the end. A tiny twist happened in the last chapter but it was just an okay book but I had fun with some of the build up which gave it 3 stars.

This was okay. Not the most exciting read. I did like the characters, though. Will try the author in the future.

Note: clearing old books from before 2019

I read this book in March 2018 after picking it for my BOTM box. I rated it 3 stars because the end just fell a little flat - i would've liked a bit more closure.

A girls' night out. A woman who never returns home.
An interesting read,

I was given the opportunity to read this by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

A group of women meets one night in a backyard around a bonfire to drink, tell stories, and share secrets. Most of them, maybe all of them, wake up the next morning hungover and with regrets about secrets shared. And one of them is missing. It looks like she just got up from her kitchen table and walked out of life, taking her twins with her. Nobody has seen her and nobody knows where she could have gone. As a search begins for Kristin and her children, the women around the bonfire with her the night before are questioned by police and the community. Surely Kristin had to have said something around that fire, tongue loosened by wine. But she didn't. Kristin said nothing, acted no differently and didn't seem afraid about anything or anyone. As time goes on and any potential trails grow cold the women of the neighborhood each wrestle with what Kristin's disappearance meant for their friendship with her and with what they think they know about people.

This was a solid read even though I feel like it was anti-climatic and slightly annoying. I found myself super annoyed with Izzy and to some extent Clara. I think it felt anti-climatic because from the first page it was pretty obvious what had happened and who was involved, it was just everyone else figuring it out. I'm sure I have read other books before in which the first page "gives away the ending" but I felt restless as I read this particular story, the characters didn't grab me and hold on to me. Even Clara's past history with a crime, as it was revealed, felt lackluster to me. There was just something missing. Like a recipe that the salt has been left out of. It tastes good but is missing the real flavor. That's how I felt reading this book.

First time reading this author but not my last. I really enjoyed this book. Great read. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

Great read! Looking forward to reading more by this author! I highly recommend this book and author to all!

A good story with a surprise ending. Shows the length friends will go to for each other and makes you question whether you really know your neighbors. Really enjoyed the characters.

Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an advanced digital copy of this book. Unfortunately I couldn’t get into the characters and did not finish. It was a little slower for me than other women’s fiction! If you’re a fan of Liane Moriarity, give this one a try!

I enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. It didn’t ‘wow’ me or blow me away, but it was a solid book to read by the fire in the winter. The characters were engaging and I liked that this was unique from other thrillers. Glad I read this book!

NOT THAT I COULD TELL
BY JESSICA STRAWSER

The beginning of this book, "Not That I Could Tell, reminded me of my backyard with its fire pit which mostly gets used by my two sons and their friends these days. The book's premise begins much the same way a bunch of neighborhood women all gathered around a fire, laughing and enjoying each other's company except they have their baby monitors with them.
Oh come on their husbands couldn't watch the kids and the babies were all put to bed. I find that sentiment ludicrous.

In the town of Yellow Springs, Ohio a woman goes missing and everybody knows everyone else's business. Kristen is missing and as these predictable psychological thrillers go and in real life the investigation always starts with the police looking for clues from the husband. In this case Kristen who is a successful college administrator the police first suspect Paul. Not only is Kristen missing but so are her kids.

Some of the mother's clothes as well as some of the children's clothes are also missing. Kristen left her cell phone behind. No surprise there. Cell phones have GzpS trackers so whether Kristen left willingly or unwittingly the cell phone is definitely not going to accompany them.

Jessica Strawser's writing is stellar although for me this one was too predictably what I had figured out for myself. I do admire the way the sentences flowed. I will read more from this author.

Thank you to Net Galley, Jessica Strawser and St. Martin's for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely LOVED this book...great summer/beach psychological thriller!!!! Even though the reader has a pretty good idea about "who done it" - the end is absolutely FANTASTIC!!!

This book did not do it for me and I did not finish it . netgalley will not let me leave a short review saying I did not finish this so i guess I will continue to write it until I have a enough characters to accept my review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a quick read. I really enjoy shorter chapters (easier to pick up the book for a quick 5 minutes of downtime, its reinforcing to see progress in chapters, etc). I thought the story was well paced. At times in the beginning I was confused by what character belonged where - people were introduced at too quick of a pace. That would be my only criticism, but it could be a problem only I had!

Not That I Could Tell byJessica Strawser was an engrossing read. The characters were so vivid and believable. I look forward to more from this author.

St. Martin's Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Not That I Could Tell. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

When a Saturday night get together by women neighbors results in one of them missing by the light of day, with her children in tow, what will the police investigation uncover? As the investigation turns up more questions than answers, will Kristin's estranged husband face suspicion by neighbors and police alike?

The author does a good job of twisting the plot, as I did not completely figure out what had transpired that fateful night. Although the story revolves around Kristin and her mysterious disappearance, the ensemble cast of characters all have their own side plots. Despite this, the story does not get too muddled with individual issues because the author ties the entire neighborhood together. I enjoyed reading Not That I Could Tell and would recommend the novel to readers who like mystery and suspense.

A mother and her children go missing. Was she victim or behind the disappearance? Different points of view examine doubt, fear, regrets, and relationships. Nothing new here, but an entertaining read.

I thought the book was boring for the first 70% of it.

If you're looking for a mystery/thriller then look else where. There were no twists or turns or anything major keeping me interested in it. It was a struggle to get through at most times but overall not the worst thing I've read.

Looking for a quick escape from reality? Big Little Lies fans will absolutely love Not That I Could Tell. Pour yourself a glass of wine and get to know this cozy neighborhood and all their dirty little secrets.

The story opens with a neighborhood gathering, centered around the neighbor’s new fire pit, a heavy pour of wine, and the opportunity to catch up on what’s been happening around the ‘hood. On a rare kid-free evening, the wine flows and the women begin to loosen their guards and share more intimately about their lives.

By Monday morning though, one of the women has disappeared.

Despite feeling like they all know each other well, none of them can make sense of this disappearance. Kristin has always seemed happy, sociable, career-driven, and has weathered her impending divorce well. When the police come to investigate though, they find her soon-to-be ex-husband at the center of this case and have questions about what was really happening in their home.

Frankly, no one REALLY knows what goes on behind closed doors and, as a reader, you don’t know if Paul warrants sympathy or more scrutiny.

I don’t want to say anymore about the plot on this because half of the fun is finding out just what happened to this neighborhood mom. Strawser fleshes out each character vividly and all of their own emotions and guilt surrounding this woman’s disappearance.

I really enjoyed this one as a great escape, but also appreciated the reminder that many of our relationships are surface ones and just how important it is to build real relationships with the people we call our friends.

I couldn’t put this one down and I doubt you could too.