Creepy murder mystery with a side of investigative journalism? Sign me up, please!

When a not-so-secret society initiation goes horribly wrong, the remaining survivors are left with dark secrets of their own. After a grizzly double murder takes place on the grounds of a prestigious boarding school, rumors of a shadowy urban legend quickly run rampant. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that the surviving students continue to return to the scene in what appears to be a string of suicides. With the year anniversary nearing, Westmont Preparatory School becomes the subject of "The Suicide House" a hit podcast that follows the the clues left behind.

This is my first novel by Charlie Donlea, and I can confidently say it won't be my last. The characters of Rory Moore (my new favorite female investigator) and Lane Phillips clearly have a backstory, but I was still able to go in blind to this novel and not feel too left behind. Well written using multiple POVs, this was a thriller that I was unable to put down.

The second novel following Charlie Donlea's, Some Choose Darkness, once again featuring forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore and psychologist Lane Phillips trying to solve a double murder at an elite prep school, where students are involved in game called Man in the Mirror. A teacher was convicted of the crime, but why are the students who survived that night return to kill themselves?

Wow! Definitely a creepy thriller!! A lot of twists and turns in this book! The ending was absolutely fantastic! I will definitely be reading more from this Author!

Oh wow, this was so good! There's a school full of secrets, a double murder, suicides and a bunch of twists and turns. I really enjoyed the descriptive writing and the whole setup of the story.

The premise of this novel was unique and there was an overall creepiness that started from the first page and managed to continue on throughout different parts of this story. It was that creepy factor and the unexpected twists this story took that kept me glued to its pages and staying up way too late at night to finish it. I especially enjoyed all the excerpts we got from the killer's point-of-view (and their journal entries OH MY GOODNESS WERE SO GOOD) - although as some others have mentioned the POV does bounce around a bit and it takes some time in the beginning to get used to not only the changing viewpoints, but the bouncing between past and present.

Where this one lost me was in the constant repetition of unimportant details. Case in point - how many times do we need to hear about Rory's "Madden Girl Eloisee combat boots"? It wouldn't surprise me if it was at least a dozen times that this tidbit was mentioned. Also I get it Rory's mind doesn't work the way a "normal" person's mind works. It's this quirkiness that makes her so good at her job because it allows her to see things other people miss. Again - I did not need to be reminded of this fact every couple of chapters.

Also for those of you who have also read this novel - can we talk about that ending in a non-spoiler way? I mean what the heck!? All of that build-up. All of those secrets and THAT IS HOW IT ENDED?!?! *sighs loudly*

Despite those things - this was a thoroughly enjoyable novel and I would read more from this author if I saw their name come up again.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

When you find a book that you truly loved and you never want it to end, this one was it for me. It blew my mind. It was so good!! This is one of those books that had me thinking about during the day when I should have been focusing on work. What a plot!! Amazing characters. I never reread books but I would reread The Suicide House.

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on July 28, 2020

I was lucky enough to receive The Suicide House from NetGalley, and after that I was blessed to received a actual print copy in a BookishFirst giveaway. I had previously read two books written by Charlie Donlea, so I was familiar with several of the characters in this book. The book can be read as a stand alone, but I feel that it helps to have read the others just for a little background on several of the characters in the storyline. It took me a little while to get into this book, only because I have never been crazy over a book moving back and forward in time. Once I did get involved in the book it was hard to put down. So much was happening in this book, and wasn't exactly sure where it was taking me especially towards the end when the way I thought it was taking proved to be wrong. I would certainly recommend this book to those that enjoy this genre. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Although this is the second book in this series, both books read fine as stand alone. But because I love to get to know the main characters, I had to start with book one. I have to say, I liked this one more than the first. A chilling murder in a prestigious prep school? I’m sold right there! One year ago two students were brutally murdered and a teacher was convicted of the crime. But many questions still remain, mainly why are the survivors of that night committing suicide. With a podcast digging up the past, Rory and Lane find themselves embedded in secrecy and lies while trying to reconstruct what really happened that night. Well written, good character development and binge worthy. Looking forward to book 3.
4.5⭐️

Thank you Kensington Books and Netgalley for this arc

4⭐️

First off, I didn't know that this is a sequel. I would read the other book to get to know forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore and Lane Phillips, her psychologist partner even more. The story gave a solid description/background about their professional partnership, and I just want to read the other book to know more about their adventures together. Anyway, this story has a gripping plot. I mean, it involves a school, and students who are either murdered or committed suicide and no one from the investigative forces knew what's going on, and those who knew doesn't want to speak up. Rory is drawn to cases and situations people avoid, and that what makes her intelligent and intriguing. The story bounces from past and current summers making the whole book even more fascinating. Characters are all impressive. Overall, it is compelling and mysterious, and the ending is perfect!

This book was a murder mystery/investigation story that had a lot going on. There are a lot of plots and characters to keep track of, and I think I would have enjoyed this more if some of that had been cut out. The portions of the book that I loved the most involved the Rory and Lane, the investigative duo were definitely the best parts of the story. I know they are featured in another book, so I look forward to picking that one up!

The writing in the story was great, and the ending was excellent. I think this is a great book for someone that enjoys investigative crime stories with a complicated plot.

I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

True crime podcasts, a prep school with questionable history, murders, and a quirky forensic specialist make this complex suspense uniquely entertaining.

I find Charlie Donlea's writing style engaging and easy to get lost in. The chapters are short and the pacing steady.

The timeline alternates between the summer of 2019, with a supposedly solved murder now called into question, and the summer of 2020, with old secrets unraveling and several more deaths. I thought the dual timelines worked well for building tension throughout.

The Suicide House is the second Rory Moore/Lane Phillips novel. While Some Choose Darkness, book one, is a great read, it's not necessary to have read that one first. Both novels work well as stand-alone reads.

This book started kind of slowly; the reader might ask what all these stories have in common and then slowly by surely and then faster and faster the author weaves them together. I kept thinking I had it figured out and then the next chapter I would find out: No, I really didn't. I also learned more about antique dolls than I ever thought I would need to know, but the explanations did provide a breather inthe story. In the author's note at the end I discovered this was the second book about Rory and Lane, so I will have to go back and read the first and then look forward to the third.

Honestly this might be my favorite thriller of the year. I mean it had everything I could want in a book. A creepy boarding school that has had two murders and three suicides. Short chapters that keep the pace very fast. Multiple perspectives and timelines. Some chapters were written in podcast and journal entry forms. I mean if that doesn't get you excited then I don't know what will!

This is my first book by this author, but now I know it will not be my last. From the very beginning this is a gripping story that pulls you in and doesn't let you go. I love how the main focus is what really happened at Westmont Prep Academy when those gruesome murders took place, but there were so many side plots that led to this huge phenomenal finale. I love when an author can keep me second guessing everything that I thought was true.

I can't think of a single complaint for The Suicide House. The characters were very well developed and even the most genuine ones, I was wondering if they were good or bad. The storyline itself was so unique with the different forms of writing that it intrigued me to continue reading. I was utterly shocked by the ending and truly didn't see that outcome at all. Another thing I really enjoyed was how dark and gruesome some parts were, it made it a very dark thriller but one I loved nonetheless. I don't think I can stress this enough, but this was a flawless thriller.

I love a book that can keep you guessing to then end, I was way off who the killer was in this one. The plot was good, creepy at times yet easy to follow. A preppy boarding school and eerie train tracks that the kids at the school are drawn too make a great mystery crime book.. I loved the character Rory, she is a forensic reconstructionist that has autism, her quirky ways just makes her a really interesting part of the story. This is the second book in the series but reads completely as a sand alone.

Loved it!!! Honestly, the author's books never disappoint me. There are always so many twists and turns and somehow everything comes together. I never guessed who was behind everything. I pretty much suspected everyone, but the actual killer was never on my list. I'm pretty sure Rory will keep Madden Girl in business forever, since she keeps having to replace her beloved combat boots. She will probably die if the company ever discontinues making the Eloisee combat boots. She's not the sneaker or flipflop type of girl. I liked this book even more than the previous one that centered around Rory. I kept forgetting the kids were in high school and not college. Sometimes I got confused when the book alternated between summer of 2019 and the present time. Thought Gus Morelli seemed familiar, he was in a previous book , but I couldn't remember his story.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't wait to find out who was behind everything. Loved everything about it- the story, characters and writing style. I can't wait to read more about Rory and Lane. Rory is set for life with all those boxes of cold cases. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Amazing book!! First time ever reading Charlie Donlea and so highly impressed, I have already ordered another one of his books and will be reading all he has written added to my TBR list. I love the eery creepy factor of the abandoned boarding house in the woods, the mystery of the man in the mirror because who when they were a kid didn't kind of believe in the creepy made up tales of ghosts that appear in the mirror. The characters are great and really fit in well to the whole storyline, and my favorite is Rory she is so quirky but a genius in her own way and definitely one of a kind and her with Lane is a great duo!! I didn't know who the killer was until the end, and actually was suprised I was way off for a little bit about who I even thought the killer could be! Great writing, amazing read!!!

In Peppermill, Indiana, there is a private boarding school. Behind the walls of this school there are secrets. One year ago, two students were murdered at an abandoned house in the woods surrounding the school. The killed was captured, only after trying to kill himself by stepping in front of a moving train outside the house. But then, one by one, the survivors of that massacre return to the house, to kill themselves. This draws the attention from the host of a podcast, Mack Carter, and reporter Ryder Hillier. And eventually, Rory Moore, an expert at solving cold cases and her partner, Lane Phillips, a renowned criminal profiler and psychologist. As they search for answers, they discover many secrets about that night, and that house.

This book had me drawn in from the beginning. The first few pages captures your interest, and holds it. From one page to the next, you don’t know what is going to happen. I fell in love with these characters, they were so well written and even their quarks, made you like them. With a lot of books, I can clearly tell what is going on and what is going to happen. That wasn’t the case with this book. It had be guessing until the end. This is the first book my this author that I’ve read and it won’t be my last. I will say that with some of the things in the book I had trouble following, but had I read the first book in this series, I would have followed better. It’s definitely worth a read. You won’t regret it.

I enjoyed this book- as other reviewers have said, I did not realize it was a sequel, but thought it read find as a standalone. The premise is around the gruesome murders of a couple of kids during what seems to be some kind of hazing/initiation ceremony at a prestigious prep school. The reader gets a lot of POVs on this, including the detective, Lane, his girlfriend and forensic reconstructionalist Rory, the students involved, a reporter, the creator of a podcast, and an unknown villain. Lane and Rory are the primary characters, and much of the story is told from their perspective.

The story itself was interesting- I am a sucker for prep school secret society books and could easily visualize the campus, the creepy house, and the murders. The apparent suicides that kept happening after the initial murders was an interesting twist and definitely hooked me. I had a few different ideas of who the villain might be, but the author did not dive deeply enough into any character for me to have a sure guess. When it came out, it made sense, though. This book starts out with action literally on the first page, and that action continues through, making for a fast-paced read.

My one gripe is that I didn't really get to know the characters well- maybe reading the first book would have given me more background on Lane and Rory. They seemed like an oddly matched pair to me and I didn't understand what drew them together. I also would have liked to understand the students better -I got the allure of wanting to be part of the secret group, but beyond that, I didn't really feel like I "knew" them.

All in all, this was a good story, though, and I recommend it to those who love prep school books, mysteries, and psychological thrillers. I plan on going back and reading the first book featuring Rory and Lane. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I discovered Charlie Donlea not that long ago looking for a new voice in the thriller genre and was impressed with his writing and plot lines. The Suicide House was a gripping read. A bit formulaic, I did guess the culprit, but it kept me reading through the night.

I didn’t know this was a book 2 when I requested it and I hadn’t read book 1, Some Choose Darkness. I found you need not have read it to follow along, but I loved this one so much that I will go back and read it now. This book was simply amazing, yet there was nothing simple about it. Normally I would sum up the book in my own words, but I will skip that and just get straight to gushing.

You know when you’re watching crime movies, and the detectives have these walls of information on all the suspects with their pictures and details? I imagine such a wall in Donlea’s house, but with plotlines and characters. There are multiple perspectives in this book, multiple writing styles, and alternating timelines which seem like it would be utterly impossible to keep track of. The result is a fantastically layered book that comes together in the way of a puzzle.

Let’s talk about the various writing styles. You get the brilliance that is Rory’s mind, a podcast in written form, a journal entry, and the storyline. Add in the multiple points of view, and alternating timelines, then you can see why I picture Donlea’s wall as I described. I think where others are complaining there are too many points of view, I see only the brilliance of how well executed it is.

So I was reading this and going: “hey, I can have more of Rory and Lane in book 1.” But then I got to the Author’s Note at the end and learned that some of these characters crop up in other works of Donlea, and he’s just hooked a reader for life. This was such a super fun read. I loved the multiple mysteries that arise, and I loved the characters and how each of them goes about solving them (or creating them). So well done! Thank you, Kensington Books for sending this along!