This was an unputdownable novel that made me think of all the things that had happened and try to guess it, to no avail. Highly recommended!

Highly enjoyed this one! It kept me engaged throughout and was a joy to read, would certainly recommend!

After a slower start, Nathan Ripley’s Your Life is Mine is a page-turner. It takes some time at first to set the stage for everything, since there is a lot of back story to this novel. The book gets more complex as the story progresses, and I found it to have more depth than the average thriller.

The book centers around documentary filmmaker, Blanche Potter. Her work on a true crime film has finally started to earn her some success and credibility in the industry. Years ago, Blanche changed her name to distance herself from her own true crime story. Blanche is the daughter of notorious cult leader, Chuck Varner, who died in 1996 after a murder spree that Blanche was a witness to as a young child. No one other than Blanche’s closest friend knows who she truly is, and Blanche intends to keep it that way. After all, she can’t be certain that some of her father’s followers aren’t still out in the world, biding their time before carrying on her father’s mission. Blanche knows as well as anyone how influential and powerful her father could be.

When Blanche learns that her mother has been murdered, her feelings are complicated. She’s shocked and a bit relieved. This cuts one more tie she had to her infamous father. Despite assurances that her mother’s death was unconnected to her father, Blanche knows that isn’t true. Her mother never turned on her father, even after everything he did. Blanche left all that behind, and spent years working on herself and processing a childhood ruined by two dangerous and unstable parents. Soon after Blanche learns the news of her mother’s murder, she’s confronted by another troubling truth—the message was delivered to her by an aspiring writer who knows exactly who Blanche is. How has Blanche’s identity been leaked?

Forced to confront the past she has been running from, Blanche returns home for the first time in years. She needs to find out who killed her mother and if it’s connected to her father as she suspects. There’s another part of Blanche that fears this may be a trap. Was her mother murdered to draw her out of hiding? Blanche knows better than anyone that she has to be careful who she trusts, including herself. After all, Blanche was shaped from a young age into the person her father wanted her to be, and spent the time since burying every memory she has from that time.

One big question that looms over the story is how much Blanche was able to shed the manipulation from her parents. She has spent most of her life trying to push down the trauma of watching her father open gunfire that day in the shopping center. Blanche also has to reconcile the fact that she calmly walked home afterwards, and continued to follow the guidelines instilled in her by her father for several years afterwards. Blanche eventually found a way to leave the brainwashing that surrounded her from a young age, but she never expected her past to come find her. The death of her mother unravels the protections Blanche has put in place, and now she must confront how intertwined she is with her father’s ideas.

This is a dark book, but not a graphic book. The terror comes truly in the psychological sense, as Ripley confronts the reader with dark and often taboo content. Blanche is in a frozen state, knowing that many of her father’s followers are still out there. How will they react if they learn she has resurfaced after all of these years?

I enjoyed the excerpts from a true crime book that documents her father’s case peppered throughout the book. They added both a sense of surrealness to what was occurring in the story. Though the book was engrossing, it remained somewhat slow in pacing throughout. A lot happens at the end and I had to reread a few things to follow it all. There were some good twists, but nothing mind-blowing. This isn’t a book about the twists, it’s about the psychological terror of Blanche’s father and his followers.

Thank you to Atria Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

A MUST for your TBR list! Fast-paced! Riveting! Exciting! Addictive! Chilling! Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. It was an artful melding of twisted thrills and heart-pounding action that kept me hanging on every word the whole way!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

"Your Life Is Mine" by Nathan Ripley is a chilling and compelling thriller that takes readers on a gripping journey of dark secrets and unsettling revelations. The book follows the character Blanche, the daughter of a notorious and charismatic cult leader, who, despite trying to escape her past, finds herself plunged into a disturbing mystery when a friend's sudden death is connected to her father's cult.

Ripley's knack for atmospheric storytelling is evident throughout the novel. The narration is peppered with intricate details that paint a vivid picture of the grim reality Blanche is entangled in. His exploration of cult psychology and its lasting effects is insightful, adding another layer of depth to the narrative.

The plot unfolds at a steady pace, keeping readers hooked with constant twists and turns. The tension escalates effectively, leading to a climactic ending that doesn't disappoint. Ripley also manages to weave a delicate balance between Blanche's personal growth and the overarching suspense narrative.

However, what truly sets "Your Life Is Mine" apart is its focus on the psychological aftermath of cult involvement. This poignant exploration of trauma, identity, and the quest for truth makes the story resonate beyond the confines of a typical thriller.

Overall, "Your Life Is Mine" is a riveting and thought-provoking read that masterfully blends psychological depth with high-stakes suspense. It's an intense exploration of the human capacity for resilience amidst darkness and deception.

This is a slow build plot - Blanche is the daughter of a infamous murderer. Determined to gain freedom from her past, Blanche is forced home upon the death of her mother.
I can deal with slow builds - if the plot holds my interest. However, I did not care about the characters - none of them were likable. I couldn't get past it.

Your Life Is Mine by Nathan Ripley is a dark and disturbing story of cults and mass murders. It is not an easy book to read and I did struggle to engage in the story. It was slow and confusing in the beginning and did take me a while to finish it. I did not hate it but I can't say that I would read it again.

Blanche Potter can't escape her past, no matter how hard she tries. When she was little her cult leader father Chuck Varner went on a shooting spree before killing himself. Now Blanche has found out that her mother has been murdered and she returns to her childhood home to finds out more. The local police are not saying a lot about it at all. Has the cult returned?

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

I was completely gripped by this story and was impressed with the writing quality. I was entertained throughout the story and would not hesitate to recommend this book.

Your Life is Mine is the first book I have read from this author. Although the storyline was predictable it flowed and was an interesting read.

Here we find Blanche, an up and coming filmmaker has cut all ties with her notorious killer and cult leader. But as much as she tries, the past comes back to haunt her. She has just found out her mother has been murdered and as she returns to her childhood home she finds out there's more to the death than the police are revealing.

This book was provided to me by Netgalley for an honest opinion. I enjoyed reading this novel and hope to read more from this author.

As usual in the typical fashion the plot was predictable and boring. I figured out the ending before I even got there.

An interesting and well-written psychological thriller.
YOUR LIFE IS MINE is an engaging read, with a very good protagonist and supporting cast. Ripley writes very well, and has a gift for evoking the creepy, sinister and chilling.
Recommended.

I really loved this book in a new to me author. The characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

This is probably not for everyone. It's weird, it's strange, it's darkly atmospheric, it's totally out there and I loved it.

It took me THREE WEEKS to read this. I was just not that into it. It seemed to have started off a little slow, then picked up around the halfway point. I was able to read the last half in a little more than a day. I think that if I were a bit more focused I would have enjoyed it a little more.

I am not saying that this was a bad book at all. It just didn't really capture my attention from the get-go. Since it was a slow start and the ending was a little abrupt, it is not my favorite book of the year. I didn't really love the characters. There were too many insignificant ones who just took up time and space. It was a bit much for me if I am being honest.

Cults are super interesting and if you enjoy thrillers and all of that suspenseful stuff, you will probably enjoy Your Life is Mine. I will probably try to reread this one in the future when I can actually focus on the story.

First time psychological thriller readers will really enjoy this book but for me, it was just okay. With a predictable twist and a slow burn plot, Your Life Is Mine is a good addition to the genre.

RATING: 3 STARS
2019; Atria Books

The creepy amazing cover with an even more intriguing synopsis had me clamouring to read Your Life is Mine. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype I had in my head. It just wasn't as suspenseful as I thought it would be. I was expecting this to be gritty and dark and it was just okay. This is my first novel by Nathan Ripley but I would try hie first book, or a future one. I have heard great things about Find You in the Dark so we will see.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book and to be an early reader via NetGalley! However, I will not be writing a review for this title at this time, as my reading preferences have since changed somewhat. In the event that I decide to review the book in the future, I will make sure to purchase a copy for myself or borrow it from a library. Once again, thank you so much for providing me with early access to this title. I truly appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me with any follow-up questions or concerns.

YOUR LIFE IS MINE is a slow burn. In this story, we follow Blanche, a daughter of a cult leader, who is haunted by her father's involvement in a mall shooting, back when Blanche was a little girl. Blanche almost successfully put her violent past behind, until she got a call about her mother's passing. Blanche suspects that her mother was killed because of her father. So off she goes try to find what really happened to her mother.

Although the premise of this book is interesting, it has a slow pace - 25% into it, still, nothing is happening. My focus constantly drifting and I almost lost my interest. When I finally invested in the story, I found myself not really care about Blanche anymore. However, I'd still recommend this book for those who love a true crime story

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Unable to finish this book. It was slow to start and didn't pick up by the time I put it down.