Hana and Katie are sisters who find themselves inside The Herd, owned and run by their friend Eleanor. It’s a co-space for women to work, and come together collaboratively. But when Eleanor goes missing, Katie and Hana are forced to delve into her life for answers, and must face their own secrets at the same time.

I enjoyed this story but wasn’t completely wowed by any of the plot “twists” or character reveals. I’m not sure why but the entire thing felt jumbled and not cohesive and I found myself bored and confused through a lot of it. The ending wrapped up interestingly but I didn’t find it an exciting thriller twist, just sort of a throwaway. Overall I’d recommend to those new to thrillers.

Whoa - I wasn't expecting the twists and turns in this book to shock me, but they did! I spent much of the book fairly uninterested in the individual characters or their lives. I was annoyed by each of them at times, and I wasn't invested in what happened to them — but then, a little more than halfway through the book, that all changed. I thought I'd predicted the ending, and I was wrong — not once, not twice, but three times! It had great twists, but overall I didn't find myself that enthused about the plot or its characters. There wasn't really anyone I was rooting for, unfortunately, and even though the end *somewhat* saved it, it wasn't enough to make up for the first 3/4 of the book.

I think that I may be one of the dissenters on this one.

I do agree with the editorial reviewer who states that it shows the hypocrisy of feminism…I just don’t think it’s a good thing. The book takes some really awesome feminist ideals and them tramples them with petty cat fights and general bad behavior.

The mystery at its heart is interesting, but not particularly entertaining. Most of our characters seemed to be playing at being adults, but their underlying lack of maturity gets tiresome to read.

I was intrigued by the idea of The Herd, but ultimately wasn’t particularly satisfied with our story or characters.

Your mileage may vary.

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

I really liked the premise of this book, book at times the execution seemed to drag a bit. I wasn't fully expecting the end, but it was not some groundbreaking, earth shaking twist. I loved reading about powerful women, and I absolutely think that there are not enough books written about strong,determined women.... this book filled that massive hole, but only to an extent when you find out about who Eleanor had to step on in order to obtain her power. I think that was my main concern with this particular novel.... otherwise, it was pretty well written -- full of intriguing plots and sub-plots, developed characters with defined voices, descriptive language, and snappy dialogue. Although this was not my favorite book of the year, I do believe I would recommend it, and I will look for books by Andrea Bartz in the future.

I really tried to like this book. I kept going back to it over the last several days, and trying to get into it. But I just couldn't. Sometimes you just find books that aren't for you and this was one of them. The book isn't bad per se, and I do enjoy a murder mystery, but I just couldn't connect with any of the characters.

I get what this book was trying to do, female empowerment is really important, but I feel like it was too much. It took away the fun of a good mystery.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

this book is actually a 4.5 for me. I gave it less because it took longer to get into than i wanted, longer to care about the characters. but then i did and cared about their secrets and yes just about all of them had secrets all of which was helping define their present. this is a mystery but also more about relationships and what we care behind our facades.

Due to lingering resentment, sisters Hana and Katie sometimes feel as though they’re tied together by mutual friends and not much else. When Katie moves back to NYC, she joins Hana at The Herd, an exclusive co-working space for successful female entrepreneurs founded by their best friend Eleanor. Eleanor goes missing unexpectedly, and the sisters again find themselves at odds again as Katie puts her investigative journalism prowess into action while Hana hustles to ensure her and Eleanor’s long hidden secrets stay buried.

Damn this was fun. I freakin’ LOVED Bartz’s first novel up until the end, and I hoped this one would satisfy me all the way through – happy to report IT DELIVERED! In addition to the well-developed plot, believable characters, and solid ending, this was a really fun peek into the world of corporate feminism and women’s workplace culture. This reminded me of Jessica Knoll’s The Favorite Sister, but with characters I actually liked, and a storyline that was closer to reality. I highly recommend this for thriller lovers, but also for fans of domestic dramas.

I actually LOVE reading books about workplace drama – not white collar corruption or corporate espionage, but day in, day out office dynamics and department drama. This May Hurt by Jillian Medoff and The Herd are two great examples of this.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC.

I really tried to like this. I really did. I tried for nearly two months to read this. And I just couldn’t get through it easily. I was not invested. I was not intrigued. I wanted so badly to be pulled in. The reviews were stellar. But don’t force it. This is a slow read, even when I thought it would pick up, it didn’t. There was a lot of ground-laying for the first 20% that I just didn’t think was necessary. It was not worth the pleasure read to me, sorry folks.

eBook provided for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You know when you find a story that just clicks with you and you automatically know it will be one of your favorite books forever? That's "The Herd" for me.

Sisters Hana and Katie are in the inner circle of New York's newest rising star Eleanor Walsh — the founder and CEO of The Herd, an all-female co-working space. With the Herd's member waitlist a mile long, the future is bright for these women. When Eleanor goes missing on the eve of a major announcement for The Herd, Hana and Katie begin to question how well they know Eleanor, themselves and even each other.

"The Herd" has a dark and twisty plot that kept me guessing and doubting until the very end. It's part thriller, part whodunnit, part chilling critique of our highly curated online selves. It's a can't miss read for anyone who is both equally drawn in by and suspicious of Instagram-friendly feminism.

I can't wait to pick up a finished copy or two once to share with all my friends.

Guys, this read was great! Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced reader copy. The Herd is an exclusive workspace for elite women with a powerhouse of a leader, Eleanor. When Eleanor suddenly goes missing the night before a huge announcement for the company, her closest friends and family are shocked. The book is told through alternating perspectives, changing back and forth between two sisters with dark secrets of their own. Andrea Bartz did a great job developing her characters and keeping the reader guessing throughout. I seriously had so many theories on who killed Eleanor! Although, I did guess the killer, it was a great thriller with awesome twists and captivating storytelling. I'll definitely be on the lookout for other books by this author. Check out The Herd when it comes out on March 23rd of this year!

I loved this book! A wonderful "who done it" based around a fictional women's work space, Bartz kept me guessing and engaged from the very first page. Well-drawn out characters, lots of surprises, and a great mystery made this one an absolute page turner and a welcome respite from domestic suspense! Kudos!

3.5 stars. This was an entertaining mystery, but it could have been (and I guess I expected it to be) so much more.

When an exclusive New York women's workspace is rocked by the mysterious disappearance of its enigmatic founder, two sisters must uncover the haunting truth before they lose their friendships, their careers--maybe even their lives.

". . . just how fucked women are in society. It's like, women unfairly can't own up their shit because they're punished so harshly for not being perfect. Men can fuck up and move on, but not women. If you're a woman, you're always one mistake away from being worthless again. You go through life waiting for everything to be taken away, bending over backward trying to prove your worth, driving yourself crazy trying to get everyone to like and respect you. We do it in jobs, we even do it in our extra-curricular lives . . .the one way to win, the one fucking way to be a woman and do well in this world is to stomp on the other women's backs."

I expected a book, entitled The Herd, about a women-only communal work space/social space/networking/etc to have more to say like the above quote. I thought it would a running theme through the entire book. But the above quote comes at approximately 89% of the way through, and while I was happy to read it, I was disappointed the theme wasn't more prevalent the entire book.

I liked the characters, I liked the plot, I liked the pacing of the story. I just wanted more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my review.

A fast paced feminist thriller that follows the secrets and lies between a group of girlfriends.

There's lots of twists and the author nailed the way sisters and close female friends can be so nasty to each other.

I can see this book blowing up. It would make a great book club book and I'm dying to talk about it with someone!

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

This author does a wonderful job of writing about the most awful girls in New York. You cheer when the victim is murdered. You kind of get where the murderer was coming from. I enjoyed the book, but I hated the characters. 3.5 Marxist-Feminist stars.

I am really enjoying this new wave of feminist literature that addresses the pros and cons of social media and influencers! This one was a fascinating look at a "women only" company, founded by elite star Eleanor that encourages women to work collectively at The Herd where fashion and beauty intersect and collective workspaces and Mocktail Mondays are all the rage. Told in alternating chapters by sisters Hana and Katie, the novel focuses on several issues relevant to today: the trolls that undermine influencers (in this case the "Anti-herd," a group of men who are angry with the "no boys allowed" restriction), the catty, often-backstabbing nature of women who pretend to like each other but are often more jealous than they let on, the secrets of mistakes made in the past, and rivalries that aren't apparent on the surface. There's also a murder mystery as Eleanor goes missing soon after she plans to reveal the takeover of her company. Many suspects, many red herrings, many backstories. And I also loved the analogy of the "herd" concept as we know that predators will often try to separate members of a herd to threaten and provoke weakness before an attack. And yes, almost all the characters are flawed; I just never let that get in the way of a great story!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Told through the eyes of two sisters, Hana & Katie, we get a glimpse into the world of elite feminists in New York City, those trying to change the landscape for working women, offering them safe places to collaborate away from the gaze of men, while simultaneously dealing with men who feel as though women-only spaces are violating their rights.

Though Hana & Katie are our narrators, the story centers on their friend, Eleanor, CEO of The Herd, and founder of natural makeup company, Gleam. When Eleanor suddenly goes missing on the eve of a big announcement for her company, the investigation reveals that Hana & Katie knew very little about their friend.

Simply put, I loved this book. Ms Bartz has a unique way of making every word feel like a ripe, juicy peach in the middle of summer. She is a young author who has a talent for creating snapshots of her experiences and her surroundings, and turning them into fast-paced thrillers. Having really enjoyed her first book, The Lost Night, I was particularly excited to read her newest novel, and I was not at all disappointed.

Though normally I don't love books with multiple perspectives, I actually really enjoyed that aspect of this book. It never got confusing because the two narrators were so different. Hana: the cool, calm, PR pro, handling everything with grace; and Katie: the impulsive younger sister, flying by the seat of her pants, and often saying the first thing that pops into her head, with little regard for consequences. I felt very much that Ms Bartz had likely added elements of her own personality into both girls, just given how comfortable the writing from each perspective felt.

Just as a side note: I follow Ms Bartz on Instagram, and I definitely feel as though Cosmo, Hana's beloved feline friend, was inspired by her own cat. I pictured her sitting writing this book, and suddenly her cat walking across the keyboard, prompting a Cosmo appearance in the scene she was working on. As a cat lover, Cosmo was a particularly endearing addition.

If you like modern thrillers with a badass feminist vibe, The Herd is perfect for you.

I think the feminism angle overshadowed the true mystery/thriller theme of this book. It took until about halfway through to get to the real meat of the murder mystery, and by that point I was kind of bored of the over emphasis on women and exclusivity of the fictional companies. The parts that actually did focus on the murder mystery were great however, I really enjoyed them and I was surprised at the ending. The author did a great job of shifting blame and making you think it was a different person a few times over. I think I would have enjoyed some other perspectives besides just Katie and Hana, because they were so similar that I oftentimes forgot who's perspective I was reading. I think seeing things from Mikki's angle or even Cameron's would've added depth to the story.

I would say this book leaned 70/30 towards a feminist fiction and thriller where I wish it was more of a 50/50 split. I'm still confused about the Eve Jobs write up? Not sure how that was relevant and seemed unnecessary IMO. The main characters were somewhat unlikeable, specifically Eleanor.

This review may be a little splotchy, because I stayed up way too late inhaling this book until the very end. I’m too tired to try and string appropriate words together to accurately describe the way it made me feel, but I’ll try.
The HERD was my first read of 2020 and I’m so thrilled it exceeded my expectations. I don’t remember where I saw it to add it to my tbr, but I was intrigued enough to apply for an ARC and so excited when I received a copy! I know I put it on my tbr recently, but I never reread the synopsis and couldn’t fully remember the details, so I went in somewhat blindly. I love not knowing just what to expect in a book, especially a mystery thriller. This one was full of mystery, secrets, and drama between friends.
We’re told the story through both Katie and Hana’s pov and the girl power angle was awesome, unique to me, and set up this picture of togetherness, strong bonds between women in a man’s world, the history this group of powerful women share in particular. I loved being in their heads learning the dynamics of everything within their group , their own feelings of self worth, love, etc. I was fully immersed and didn’t want to put it down every time I picked it back up, which is exactly what I want in a good book. The secrets, the mystery was a bonus and kept me flipping and guessing until the very end. And I was not disappointed with the outcome. Yes, the characters are unlikeable at times, but they’re human.
Andrea Bartz is a new to me author that I’m so happy I found and look forward to checking out her previous book, The Lost Night, along with any future works.
The one thing I wish were different, was the synopsis. I went back to reread it before writing this review, lest I spill any spoilers, and was disappointed how much was revealed. There was so much I guessed at from the beginning throughout, having forgotten who was even being investigated into dying and I feel like it heightened my reading experience.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy to review.

Ok, I started this book today and I finished it today. I'm not a fast reader so it was all I accomplished.😃 it is a story of three successful young women, Harvard graduates, and their relationships, careers and secrets. Set in NYC, at their business similar to WE work. The merger announcement is scheduled and the CEO is missing. It's a wild ride with lots of subplots, complex relationships and twists, just the way I like them! Highly recommended. Thanks to @ballantinebooks @netgalley @randomhouse for the Advanced copy for an honest review.

This book was really hard to put down. I found myself taking any opportunity to read this book and I gobbled it up in a few short days. There were a lot of twisty little moments that kept you guessing throughout. But even better than a little mystery and thriller elements of who was sabotaging the Herd with the graffiti and what happened to Elenor??? was the connection of these women. The sisters relationship with Mikki and Elenor just felt so real and was the real draw of this story.

I also really liked getting to read from both Hana and Katie’s perspectives- which I don’t always like. But this time it added more depth to each character and to all the relationships, kept me on edge as well by just the little hints they would drop before jumping to the other sister. Very well done and they were very distinct as well.

thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review. My review is my own and not influenced in anyway