I read a lot of thrillers - this one was decent for the most part. This is the 4th in a series, and I'd say you should read the others first as there were some references that seemed to fall on deaf ears as I hadn't read the previous books.

This is the fourth in a series about retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn. I didn’t read the first three, but I picked up easily enough.

The premise centers on Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”, in which Perry Smith and Dick Hickok were convicted and executed for killing a family. But what if there was a third killer involved? What if one of the men convicted left a written confession connecting that third person to the crimes? What if that note is now connected to Brigid Quinn and her family?

This was a bit slow-moving at first, but it lays out the story really well during those parts. By the end, the book really picked up the pace and was pretty solid. The story held my interest and had several suspenseful parts. There were also bits of humor mixed in, which made Brigid’s character a little more likable and relatable.

Not for me. I couldn’t connect to the main characters and as much as I’m into the Clutter murders, the plot was unbelievable every step of the way. Swing and a miss. ⭐️⭐️ #netgalley

Fabulous and engaging! This is a great book for those who are wanting something a bit different! I loved the different twists and turns in this book - and a few surprises along the way (I won't tell you what they are - you have to read it - I can't spoil the book for you).

Murder and mayhem, with secrets to boot - this book does not disappoint at all!

The 4th book in a series. This is very similar to the other three. It involves a cold-case from 1959. It is somewhat reminiscent of Capote’s On Cold Blood. An interesting read, especially for fans of the series.

We Were Killers Once is a decent thriller. I maybe should’ve read the other books in the series first, but I found that just couldn’t quite get myself immersed in this one. I think I’ll give the other books a read and then maybe re-read this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

When I had the opportunity to receive an advance copy of this title, I hesitated because it's the fourth book in a series I wasn't familiar with. But it just sounded too good to pass up. I decided to read at least the first book in the series first - I listened to the audio version and moved on to the second and third before reading this one and I'm very glad I did. This is a book where relationships are building and I much prefer to read that type series in order. Having said all that...
I really, really enjoyed all the books in this series. I love Brigid Quinn - she's a retired FBI agent who's tough and gritty in her professional life, damaged and tender in her personal life, and late in life finds herself building her own unique and unexpected little family. This particular book is built on an unusual premise - people are familiar with the Clutter family murders in November 1959 because of Truman Capote's classic book In Cold Blood. Masterman imagines a what-if - what if there were a third person involved in those murders? How might he have gotten away, and what might've happened to him? And could the Kansas murders be connected to the unsolved murder of a Florida family a few weeks later? Police suspected a connection but could never prove one.
Much of the book is told in flashbacks. There isn't a lot of "action" for Brigid until the later chapters of the books, much is background and the recounting of why her husband, a retired priest, may have some pertinent information of the cases. But for me, that was just fine - I thoroughly enjoyed this book, just as I enjoyed the previous 3 books in the series. I do hope Masterman is hard at work on Brigid's next installment.
My thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

*Many thanks to Becky Masterman, St.Martin's Press, and NetGalley for arc inexchange for my honest review.*
I requested this book specifically by its connection with Capote's In Cold Blood.
In my opinion, Ms Masterman's alterntive version of the tragedy that struck the family of four at the end of 1959 reads well, and connecting it to still unsolved another murder is quite challenging yet the similarities are there.
A rather good effort.

This is the first book I have read in the series. I’m not sure if it would have helped to have read the first three books just for the character development. I was a bit put off by the mixture of a true crime/fiction story. It wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read, but it also wasn’t the best. I basically did not like the author’s writing style and had trouble staying engaged in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

This is an excellent book, one unlike any other out there. A horrific killing in 1959. The present meets the past in the form of a retired FBI agent and former priest. Looking into these cases. It is dark and disturbing. Which I love

I don’t typically start a series in the middle, but the premise and tie to In Cold Blood lured me in. This was entertaining enough, but just not for me. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I read the first books in the series.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Hate to read series books unless I'm in order but this one is enough to carry on its own without the others. will make you want to follow series.

Description
In 1959, a family of four were brutally murdered in Holcomb, Kansas. Perry Smith and Dick Hickok were convicted and executed for the crime, and the murders and their investigation and solution became the subject of Truman Capote's masterpiece, In Cold Blood. But what if there was a third killer, who remained unknown? What if there was another family, also murdered, who crossed paths with this band of killers, though their murder remains unsolved? And what if Dick Hickok left a written confession, explaining everything? Retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn and her husband Carlo, a former priest and university professor, are trying to enjoy each other in this new stage in their lives. But a memento from Carlo's days as a prison chaplain--a handwritten document hidden away undetected in a box of Carlo's old things--has become a target for a man on the run from his past. Jerry Beaufort has just been released from prison after decades behind bars, and though he'd like to get on with living the rest of his life, he knows that somewhere there is a written record of the time he spent with two killers in 1959. Following the path of this letter will bring Jerry into contact with the last person he'll see as a threat: Brigid Quinn.

My Review

This is book 4 in the Brigid Quinn Series. The detective novel "We Were Killers Once" was thoroughly enjoyable. The characters are well-crafted and having retired FBI agent Brigid return to solve a mystery is believable and well written.

This ARC was provided in exchange for my honest opinion. As far as detective type novels goes, this is on the top of my list. Definitely give this a 5 star.

Thank you for the opportunity to be an early reader. For some reason, I thought this book was more of a deeper dive/alternative IN COLD BLOOD type of story. Which it kind of is. I really struggled with my expectations versus the reality of the story. This is all on me. That being said, I didn't love the story, but I liked it.

We Were Killers Once by Becky Masterman is book 4 in the Brigid Quinn Series. This is the first book that I read in this series but I was absolutely blown away by the level of research done by the author, the clear sense of voice in which the story is told, and the author's mastery of the art of storytelling. This book will absorb you from page one, and it does not have to be read as part of the series. I loved this book and look forward to reading more from this author very soon. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I unfortunately did not enjoy this book very much. I had a hard time with the writing style and also didn’t realize it was the 4th book in a series before starting it. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, so I didn’t want to start the series from the beginning. I’m sure some people will really enjoy the story, however it just wasn’t for me.

This story started strong, but it didn't hold my interest as the book continued. I don't have a desire to go back and read the earlier books in this series after reading this one. I did like the character of Brigid Quinn and her personality.

This was a such an interesting story being fiction but based on a possible idea from a real life true crime situation. This was a violent story at the end, but I figured it would have to be to finish the story. Event though it was part of a series, you can read these stand alone. I have always been a Truman Capote fan, but knowing the In Cold Blood wrecked him, I went in to this one hesitantly. Overall it was a very good read and you can tell the author not only did research to write this she really thought through the process.

This is another book that I didn't realize was part of a series. Yet again I was not disappointed by this though. You are able to clearly follow the story line and characters without having to have read any of the previous books.

Sometimes the past comes back to haunt us. But what if it isn't your past that does the haunting? What if it's someone else who is haunted, but has been brought into your life by pure accident? This is the situation that Carlo and retired FBI Agent Brigid Quinn have to deal with when a mysterious man enters their lives.

This man seems to be exactly what he portrays, but Brigid can't help but trust her instincts that there is more to the story. A nagging feeling that eventually has people thinking she's obsessed over nothing. Obsessed over things that only she seems to see.

When her obsession starts to reveal the truth, what will it take to get those around her to finally believe what she's been saying all along.

An intense story that flips between the past and present day.

This book was okay. The narrative was a little slow for me but did catch up about halfway through. I didnt read the first three books in this series which is evident that it would've benefitted however this book can be a standalone. it made me want to read the first three to get a better feel of the story and this authors work, which could also help me understand it better. This book read to be like a biography or documentary rather than a suspense novel, I guess itcouldve been a little more endearing however I did enjoy the story.