4 stars

Lately, I've found myself really disappointed in the predictability of the mysteries and thrillers I've been reading. I was pleasantly surprised with some of the twists and turns this one took. Not everything is shocking, but there is some great red herring action and an interesting premise, and there are so many questionable characters.

I really enjoyed the way privilege impacts every part of this narrative. Bartz highlights this without making it the explicit central focus. Also, an offshoot of this privilege issue can be found in the relationship between the sisters, who alternate perspectives. It's super interesting to evaluate their connections through bits and pieces and through their respective identities. I also really like how some characters seem willing to take risks or even falls, but the impact of those choices is consistently mitigated by their identities. It's a thriller of the times, IMO.

Overall, I enjoyed this read and am already looking forward to more from this author.

In this age of Influencers dictating our everyday lives along comes a story with parallel tales of discovery. The first offer redemption for a character starting over after caring for an ailing parent. One daughter goes home after failing in a world she tried to take by storm through her writing. The other mystery concerns the leader of a cult like startup determined to make her place a safe harbor or incubator for raw feminine talent. It is the disappearance of the woman just as a big announcement was to take place that drives this book. The subsequent discovery of her body gives this story a welcome change in plot and several suspects with tenuous alibis. The death uncovers a marriage constantly changing the rules and a young woman torn between loyalty to their shared early college days and the need to reestablish her life. Happy reading

The Herd is an exclusive women-only, Instagram-worthy workspace located in New York City. The Herd's founder is Eleanor Walsh -- smart, beautiful, and charismatic. On the eve of a big announcement, Eleanor disappears. Was she taken? Did she leave on her own accord?

Told from the point of view of two sisters/close confidants of Eleanor, The Herd shows that all that glitters is not gold. Even the most successful of people have skeletons in their closets. This book absolutely surpassed all of my expectations -- Andrea Bartz is a master at storytelling. Drop whatever you are reading and start this book NOW!

I read this book in one sitting, I loved it so much! It was a perfect female powered thriller, so many twists and turns! I loved how the author dropped little eggs of info throughout the story, and kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Cannot wait to recommend this one to friends!

I was all down for the female empowerment at the center of THE HERD, but I ended up having some issues that kept me from really enjoying this one. I loved the concept of a murder mystery at an all woman's social club, but found myself having issues connecting with any of the characters...I'm all for flawed females, but these women are unlikable and difficult to root for and spend most of the book backstabbing each other. I found myself bored by the murder mystery and ultimately don't think I can recommend this one. However, I know many people are enjoying this one, so pick it up at your own peril.

Katie is a young, aspiring author. She’s working on her first novel and is back in NYC after spending some time in Michigan, writing, researching and also helping take care of her ill mother. Now that she’s back in the big city, she’s excited to learn more about, and hopefully join, The Herd. What is The Herd, you ask? It’s a women-only collective workspace. For a monthly fee you can belong to this exclusive group, use the common areas to conduct work, write, just get away from all the noise, take yoga classes, order drinks from the bar, use the free products in the Gleam Room to beautify yourself for a job interview or a date. It sounds amazing! The brains, beauty and style behind The Herd belong to Eleanor, with support from Hana (Katie’s older sister) and Mikki. These three women attended Harvard together, and they are tight knit, but Katie is an honorary member of their squad. Eleanor’s business concept has struck a real chord and she’s in the process of opening other Herd locations. Things are going great for everyone!! Until Eleanor goes missing and they all learn that things are not going quite as great as they thought.

This book touches a lot of topical issues while also being a great whodunnit with lots of twists. I really recommend this book!!

I was so glad to get an advanced copy of this book! I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep! It was a very memorable book and I will be recommending it to my friends.

I really did like all the stuff about The Herd, that was a unique and interesting concept. The mystery itself was a little blah and the characters were irritating and interchangeable so I didn’t love it but I think there’s a category of readers who will. It was kind of a combo of chick lit/domestic thriller so I think people who like those will enjoy it.

Part multi-mystery, part social commentary, I enjoyed this novel enough to already want it as my March pick for the Golden Bee Book Club at my shop.
I really loved hearing from both Katie and Hana's points of view, especially as they had a shared background and the bond of sisterhood, while moving through the world in very different ways thanks to the different colors of their skin and what kind of privileges and judgements come with being a white woman or a woman of color. The world of HERD is one I would be curious about if it existed in the real world, but also one that raises less questions about safe spaces for women, and more about true intersectional support.

Every character in the book has something to hide, and most of those secrets are truly shocking, though some are simply more heartbreaking than anything. But every secret really seems to beg the question- is this worth killing someone over?

I don't want to say much else, less I risk spoiling the many twists and turns of this fun book.
My only little nit-picky comment is how often the word "chin" is used in this book. It's a normal enough word, so for it stand it, it was really used very often.

Another nasty, dark, bloody, twisty, mind bending, nail biter, soul crushing, riveting page-turner! Oh boy this author is villanelle. She is the evil queen of ultra-talents kingdom, pushing our buttons and playing mind games with us and you’re voluntarily letting her do that because you’re having so much fun.

Welcome to the power drunk, vicious, ambitious, competitive business women’s world. When you google “perfect” you may see their faces on the screen. They’re impeccable, flawless, extra ordinary: Too perfect to be true. They eat their colleagues’ heads or any other vital organs at their lunch breaks and they spit some parts, cleaning their mouths, turning back to their great schemes of stabbing other people behind their back. They’re the workers of HERD. But what a minute, where the hell is the founder? Her name was Eleanor, right? Where is she? Oh, no. She’s gone! No, not dead. At least nobody found a body but she is missing.

And let me to introduce you to two sisters buried some many ugly secrets and kept so many skeletons in their closets reunite in NYC: Katie and Hana. Why were we introduced with them? Oh, I see, they’re good friends with Eleanor. They involved separately to her investigation. They wanted to find her but: as they keep digging about Eleanor’s past to find where she’s hiding or what happened to her, they start to face with their own dirty big secrets. See, sometimes it’s better not to know too much!
I’m not gonna give spoilers not to ruin your enjoyable reading. I canceled my appointment with Henry Cavill for reading this book. ( Okay, not real appointment, I’m not delusional, just a happy drunk. I just skipped to binge watch “Witcher” but as far as I can see I made the right choice, this book is more delicious than ex-Superman’s and Tom Cruise movie villain’s looks. I hate his Legolas wig anyways)

There are lots of twists make you forget your name and repeat to yourself: “Don’t call me Shirley!” several times! You feel flabbergasted, dump, numb because of too much “I didn’t see it coming” moments. The ending is also fantastic. I’m so happy to announce that I found a real five starred, entertaining read.

I already added “Lost Night” novel of the author to my tbr list as high as Mount Kilimanjaro. So happy to read a brilliant writer’s work.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books to share this thrilling ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review. Special thanks to Andrea Bartz for her talented writing and this unputdownable journey.

A riveting thriller about four ambitious young women. Bartz has crafted a memorable group of characters: Katie, a tech reporter with a looming book deadline; Hana, Katie's older sister, who runs her own PR business; Mikki, an artist and graphic designer; and the luminous Eleanor, the founder of two successful start-ups, private and always in control of her own image. Hana, Mikki, and Eleanor met during their first year at Harvard, and eventually accepted Katie (4 years younger than her sister) into their crew. Eleanor runs The Herd, an exclusive coworking space for women, and employs both Hana and Mikki part-time. When Katie returns to New York after a failed research trip, she's desperate to find a new subject for the book she has under contract with a major publisher. Eleanor, this bright and magnetic (but evasive) semi-celebrity, is a natural choice—as a longtime friend and presumptive future member of The Herd, Katie has insight and access. But she knows she'll have to approach quietly, secretly, to avoid having her project shut down by Eleanor, Hana, and The Herd. All four women are protecting secrets, and when Eleanor goes missing on the eve of a major Herd event, everyone is at risk of exposure. I stayed up late reading this, increasingly jumpy as the book neared its end. Chapters alternate between Katie and Hana's perspectives, which helps to maintain the quick, thrilling pace of the plot. Definitely a thriller to look out for in 2020!

The Herd by Andrea Bartz is a suspense filled novel about an elite all-female professional group called The Herd. The founder of this group is Eleanor who is quite charismatic and demanding. Two of her Harvard educated friends are a part of this community. All of them have secrets. But what happens when the author cleverly unveils their secrets? You will be kept on the edge of your seat until the last page. I could not put this book down and read it in one day. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy a fast paced book with many twists and turns.

I really enjoyed this all female thrill ride in the heart of NYC! Women are cut throat and I loved it. There were a lot of characters and stories to keep straight but I enjoyed the concept and the twists in this book. Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy. Add this to your TBR for 2020!!!

“The Herd” by Andrea Bartz is a twisty psychological thriller set in New York.
Katie and Hana are sisters who’ve managed to get a job at the Herd, an elusive and glamorous all female workspace.
The story takes off when the enigmatic founder, Eleanor, goes missing and the two sisters begin investigating.
I enjoyed this novel. It was hard to put down, the twists surprised me at every turn.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Herd is a compelling examination of how women view themselves and other women in today's world. The book tells the story of two sisters, Hana and Katie, who become part of The Herd, a workspace run by women for women. It is run by Eleanor, whose friendship with the sisters goes back to their college days. She appears to have it all. But looks can be deceiving. After Eleanor disappears without warning, the sisters discover that she was hiding things from everyone in her life. As the book nears its climax it becomes clear that someone in Eleanor's inner circle is out for revenge. The characters are well written. I would read another book by Andrea Bartz.

The Herd is a very, very good thriller. It showcases the complicated dynamics between the characters as the masks of perfection slip and dark pasts are exposed. The characters are well developed and the storyline is outstanding. I enjoyed this book! It was hard to put down, although at times it felt so intense I had to stop and think about what just happened. I highly recommend this one. I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.
#TheHerd #NetGalley

First time I read Andrea Bartz, and certainly not the last. The ending was a little all over the place, in my opinion, but it was a really entertaining read with interesting notions—the place of women in society, women’s friendships, all thrilling good and ugly—and Bartz’s engaging writing feels so natural, it's a real treat.

The Lost Night was one of my favorite books of last year. When I saw this one was on it's way out I couldn't contain my excitement. Not only do they both take place in NYC, where I live, the suspense, storyline and characters draw you in immediately.
This book hit all the markers of how social media is, what the new in things are to say and how feminism is making a new voice in this third wave. So many social identity aspects are discussed, even how POC are affected by our society. It was a page turner that didn't stop for me. I read this in a four hour stretch and I cannot wait for the release.
Herd is a woman owned co-opt style work space run by Eleanor who seems to be the perfect, uprising, on the scene feminist. Her best friends Hana and Mikki help run this awesome company. Katie, Hana's sister shows up after some horrible things she is running away from. She even has her eye on becoming one of the Herd and possibly writing something relating to what it is and who Eleanor really is. But them Eleanor disappears right before a huge event. Did she run away and start a new life or did something happen to her? When the case going towards foul play, everyone is searching out each others secrets. Who really is Eleanor? But really the question is, who really are her friends and family? As we are taken on an in-depth ride from different perspectives, we find out things that we would have never guessed.
Grab this book because it is going to be one of your favorites of the year.

I enjoyed the story so much! Wasn’t your typical thriller.
I loved both POV of the sisters, Hana and Katie, where each had their own secrets.
Not many books makes me stop and marvel at some of the words and sentences used.
The story kept me guessing until the end.

A feminist thriller? Yes and no. A good thriller? Yes. Flawed and complex women with visions and secrets. Higher intentions and bad consequences - it’s all here in a difficult to unravel murder mystery but so much more about the lives and decisions of the four main characters.