"The Suicide House" by Charlie Donlea is the second book in his Rory Moore/Lane Phillips series.
We are introduced to forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore in "Some Choose Darkness", book one in the series. I was thrilled to watch her work her magic again recreating the night of two grisly murders of students at the Westmont Preparatory High School. Most importantly is why students who survived that horrific night have returned to kill themselves.
Rory works with Lane to find answers that have eluded the police, school and town discovering a dangerous game that thrives on secrecy hasn't ended.
Superb writing and storyline with an ending that promises more in this gripping series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Oooh this was a good one! Mysterious Suicides, murders and a ghost story.
The psychological background of this book was very fascinating.
This book takes place at Westmont prep school where a podcast has been created to follow the mysterious deaths and suicides of many students over the summer of 2019. Rory, an expert on cold cases gets involved, she notices things that others have missed. With the help of her partner Lane, Rory helps solve more than one case here.
I gave this one 4 Stars, only because some storylines were not as in-depth as I'd hoped. The two counselors on campus both seemed to have more going on and had students journaling everything. Delving more into those would have been fascinating. I also wish for more of the ending, everything happened so quickly and it was interesting to figure it all out, but I wish more could have happened during those last chapters!
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I am addicted to podcasts, especially ones that delve into creepy or unsolved mysteries and true crime. This book grabbed my attention not just because I'm always up for a "What evil lurks at the fancy prep school'' suspense story, but also because a podcast is central to the plot. If The Suicide House were a true story, I guarantee I would be a huge fan of Rory Moore and Lane Phillips! Rory and Lane have talents that make them notice details that others might miss. Rory is autistic and puts her senses to work as a forensic reconstructionist and Lane has a knack for analyzing serial killers. Together they are true crime podcast dynamos!

I discovered when I started reading The Suicide House that there is a prior book featuring Rory and Lane -- Some Choose Darkness. I read this novel for review without having read the first book...but I'm going to backtrack and read Some Choose Darkness and then revisit this novel.

There is a lot going on in this book -- different story lines, the past case of students murdered at an abandoned boarding house near the grounds of Westmont Prep, and other students committing suicide, and more. There are also POV changes, lots of characters and events happening all at once. It's a bit chaotic -- but in reality wouldn't a case like this have about a million rabbit holes to make investigation a nightmare? I think the plot busy-ness added to the psychological feel of this story.....so much going on, so much hidden, so many things playing off each other.

Great book! I already have the first book checked out from my local library's digital site. I think I might understand Rory and Lane a bit better if I read the first book and then revisit The Suicide House.

This book definitely kept my attention from start to finish. I loved the podcast angle. The pacing is slow enough to build tension but not too slow, and there are definitely plenty of twists and turns.

Loved it! I hope there is more Rory & Lane to come!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

The Suicide House is the second novel in Charlie Donlea's Rory Moore/Lane Phillips series. Yet it could easily be read as a standalone novel as well (it worked for me). It is a thriller that will draw you in and demand your full attention.

Westmont Preparatory High School has had a rough go, as of late. A series of murders a year ago have forced dramatic changes in the school. Changes that apparently didn't make a difference, if the rash of suicides is any indication.

Now this story has caught the attention of investigators and reporters. Between the lot of them, they might just get to the bottom of this apparent cold case, and all of the mysteries buried within. To think, it might just have stayed buried, if not for that podcast.

“The man in the mirror. The man in the mirror. The main in the mirror.”

Warnings: As you might be able to guess, from the title of this book The Suicide House contains graphic imagery, as well as discussions about suicide, including depictions and graphic details. The deaths in this book are sometimes gory, and the mental health of the characters surrounding those scenes are unsurprisingly compromised.

The Suicide House is a thrilling read, delivering on all the dark promises made by this cover. And to think – this is a story that might not have occurred, if not for the relatively modern invention of podcasts (and before that, radio and investigative reporting).

I never read the first novel in the series, yet I had no problem following along. Or in finding myself invested in what was occurring. This is a story that unfolds through several perspectives, each of whom presents their own take on events.

That made the backstory both elusive yet shockingly comprehensive, as everybody knew something. Just not enough to solve it on their own. That is, not until the plot quickly starts to escalate. That is where the pure thriller elements come into play.

It made for a tense and interesting read, one that is totally worth getting cozy for the night, and reading it all in one sitting (speaking from personal experience here). It's a dark yet quick read, one that doesn't hold your hand during the investigation.

Yet, as with my favorite mysteries, there are hints to be found throughout. These parts always make more sense one the revelation has finally come about, and all the pieces finally fall into place. There's something extremely satisfying about that, which is arguably one of the many reasons why I enjoyed this book so much.

This is the first novel I've read by Charlie Donlea, but I have to say that I'm impressed. I'm probably going to go back and read the first novel in this series (Some Choose Darkness), as well as keeping an eye on any of his future novels.

This is a very layered deep dive in what started as a series of murders turned now to suicides (or is something else going on?) in this highly thrilling and rather chilling story.

I rather enjoyed (it doesn't seem to be the right word for this particular story but is the only word I can think of) how twisted in a kind of a realistic way this story moved about. Private prep schools always invite a more chilling environment for tales like this, and this helped immensely in contributing to the overall sinister mood of the story. In addition, it really took on a cinematic quality that makes this seem like the type of story that would translate well to a bigger screen.

Overall, this was a solidly-built thriller with enormous potential for success outside its current form, and one that makes you read it very quickly while definitely losing track of time!

The Suicide House

The Suicide House is smart, savvy and suspenseful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
In 2019, two students were killed in a grizzly slaughter at an abandon boarding house on the edge of the Westmont Preparatory High School in Peppermill, Indiana. The case has since become the focus of a hit podcast titled The Suicide House. Although a teacher was convicted of the murders, mysteries and questions remain. The most urgent, is why so many students who survived that horrible night have returned to the dilapidated boarding house to kill themselves.

Rory Moore, an expert in reconstructing cold cases is working with criminal profiler Lane Phillips, re-creating the night of the killings in order to find answers which have eluded the school, the town, and the police. But the more they learn about the troubled students and a dangerous game gone tragically wrong, the more convinced they become that there’s something sinister still happening there.

“On the other side of that wall are the woods, and in those woods is a forgotten path that leads to the infamous boarding house.“

REVIEW
THE SUICIDE HOUSE is deeply compelling and immensely satisfying. It is full of unsettling tension and is thrillingly well written. The chapter structure jumps back and forth in time, and takes a little getting used to the rhythm, but keep reading. The plot is smart and the investigation into the grisly event is diverse and robust. Investigators includes the podcaster, a freelance journalist, the forensic reconstructionist, and even a retired cop from South Florida.

THE SUICIDE HOUSE is full of unforgettable characters. You can’t help but love the uniqueness that is Rory Moore. She is both brilliant and on the autism spectrum. She loves her Madden Girl Eloise combat boots and her hobby is restoring antique porcelain dolls. Her drive, dedication and willingness to push through her obsessive compulsive disorder is amazing.

Rory first appears in Charlie Donlea’s previous novel SOME CHOOSE DARKNESS, although this is not a series. Donlea states that all his novels are standalone thrillers. But readers can find nuggets of the previous book sprinkled within the pages of each subsequent one. He is very clever!

If you haven’t read anything by Charlie Donlea, you definitely need to catch up. He has written four other novels: Summit Lake, The Girl Who Was Taken, Don’t Believe It and Some Choose Darkness. I have read them all and if you like thrillers with great characters I highly recommend them. Donlea is a USA Today best-selling author who was born and raised in Chicago, where he currently lives with his wife and two young children.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This could be read as a standalone even though it is the second in a series. The main characters of Rory Moore and Lane Phillips are back at it to solve the cold case mystery using Rory's personality quirks and sharp mind combined with Lane's understanding of the human mind. The plot itself pulled me in from the beginning because of the echoes of real life news stories as well as the masterful writing to create the suspense and mystery to continue to hold the readers attention. I am thankful that I was able to voluntarily review an advanced readers copy of this book thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. I will be on the lookout for the next book from this author..

This is the second in a series and while I’m sure you could jump in here there is quite a bit of backstory, mainly with Rory in the first book so just keep that in mind if you jump in at book two. Also, if you’re a fan of the author you may notice some character crossover here, don’t worry if you haven’t read all of his books, (but you should cause they’re all solid reads) it’s just a nice little treat for longtime readers.

There is a lot going on in this one, a few main plots and then subplots but they all make sense as you keep reading, just know that there’s a few characters to keep track of and it did take me a short time to feel settled into the story. But once I was, I was all in. With so much going on there is no room for boredom which is always appreciated by me and this one was super fast paced and exciting. The flashback chapters to a year ago at Westmont Prep were super atmospheric and had a sinister feel to it as you already know many of the kids will be dead within a year. I loved diving even deeper into Rory and Lane’s characters, they’re both so fascinating and I hope we get more from them. If you enjoy the addition of popular stylistic thrillers like podcasts, etc give this a try it was a tricky mystery and another great read from the author!

After reading Melody's review, I found The Suicide House available on NetGalley.

Always susceptible to boarding school settings and secret fraternities, I couldn't resist giving this one a try. I'd also read a couple of Charlie Donlea books that I'd enjoyed, and I was prepared for suspense.

Multiple characters and several timelines kept things up in the air for a while. I was uncertain about what was actually going on and a bit concerned about whether or not I was going to like the book.

It wasn't until Rory Moore was introduced and the details nudged a familiarity that I felt more comfortable. Which is weird, because Rory is an uncomfortable character. I read Some Choose Darkness last year, and because I like autistic, obsessive compulsive characters with social anxiety, I even mentioned that I'd like a series with Rory.

I'm glad Donlea decided to use Rory and her partner Lane Phillips again, but I did think the book was overly complicated with the multiple characters and timelines. Rory's role was more curtailed than I would have liked. In a way, there is no main character because the shifting pov's are so frequent.

So...a creepy book about murders and suicides in an isolated elite prep school with several elements I liked (Man in the Mirror initiation into secret club), but a congested plot. Also a serious flaw in credibility that I can't mention because it gives away the killer.

Donlea keeps the reader from settling on a suspect, or rather, keeps the reader switching from one possible suspect to another until close to the end. So many characters, so many possibilities. What the book fails to do is make the most of Rory Moore and Lane Phillips.

If you have a chance, try Some Choose Darkness.

NetGalley/Kensington Books
Mystery/Suspense. July 28, 2020. Print length: 368 pages.

I am on a thriller kick and The Suicide House was my latest read! I enjoyed this one a lot - loved seeing Rory and Lane again and I hope we get many more books with them. There’s something so nice about returning to characters we already know - but you could totally read this one first.

One year ago, two students were killed at Westmont Prep in a brutal scene. The teacher suspected of killing them attempted suicide before he was caught - but it’s considered a closed case. Until the other kids who were there also start dying by suicide, one by one. When a podcast begins about the deaths, suddenly everyone has theories about what’s really going on.

This was a quick read that definitely kept me tuned in to see what would happen next. One pet peeve - I began to wonder if this book was sponsored by Madden Girl Eloisee boots because they were mentioned by name so many times. (And personally, I think Rory would have chosen Doc Martens :))

Charlie Donlea is one of my favorite thriller authors and his books are always must read for me. I recommend this to other thriller fans. Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for my advance reading copies. I also used a credit to buy the audiobook from Librofm and listened.

I received an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the fifth book I've read from this author and it might be his best yet. It's book two in the Rory Moore/Lane Phillips series. The book focuses around a esteemed prep school. The prep school is called Westmont. In the outskirt fields of campus there is an abandoned house where things don't seem right. This is where students get initiated to a secret club that no one really knows, but the rumors run rampant, and you have to be asked to join. There are tales about the Man in the Mirror.

The man in the mirror is believed to be a former teacher. Many have tried to explore the case and speak with him but he doesn't speak anymore. The students tell the tale of how he slaughtered two students. Its been over a year but students are still going to the man in the mirror house and killing themselves. This is when Rory and Lane take the case. (Rory takes on old cases.) As I read this book, I thought I had it all figured out. But once again I was totally surprised!! Which doesn't happen a lot since I read mysteries a lot. Even though this book is number two in the series it can also be a standalone which I liked. Sometimes I have a tendency to forgot things in previous books. I will be buying this book to add to my shelf of must own books! Can't wait for the next one. I would recommend this book to friends.

This one blew Some Choose Darkness out of the water! I love the complex character of Rory. The way she works the case combined with her partnership with Lane both personally and professionally keeps you invested. The case was twisted and I was surprised by the outcome. The way the author changed timelines and characters blended seamlessly and built the tension and suspense. This is definitely a suspense read fans will enjoy.

OH WOW!!!!
This book had so many surprises, I LOVED IT!!!!!!
Everyone was a key player in this book, from Rory, Lane, Casper, Ryder, Detective Ott, even the kids, everyone was a key player. I had to think how Charlie was going to wrap this whole thing up, it was too good. I thought it was someone but then I got SHOOK, and it was someone else. WOW!
Even though at times I wish it was one of the remaining teens and all, lol, but I am still so shocked.
This book will have you at the edge of your seat, everyone comes together to solve this case, and I thought they almost ran out of time. The book takes you on a journey that makes you want to read a certain part again and again, because it just takes you by surprise.
LOVED IT!

I was drawn into the mystery of this prep school murder mystery right away but got a little confused with such similarly named characters (Ryder and Rory and then Marc and Mack) and had to keep checking to see who was who.

Throughout the book, there are creepy journal entries that you know to be from the killer, but they kept you guessing and I really liked seeing things through the killer's eyes. I also like how this author always includes little bits of characters from his other books in his current book, so even though this was standalone I recognized some familiar names and that was pretty neat.

Overall, the story was suspenseful and fast-paced, but I wanted more of the true-crime podcast and less about the great Rory and her favorite beer and her boots. We get it--she's not like other girls--she's a cool tough girl! Kinda annoying, but still a worthwhile read if you also like prep school murdery books!

The Suicide House is the second book from Charlie Donlea to feature forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore, and her partner, psychologist Lane Phillips. It follows The Woman in Darkness (also published as Some Choose Darkness), though it can be read as a stand alone.

“Welcome . . . to The Suicide House.”

It’s been a year since two students were murdered on the grounds of an exclusive prep school in Indiana, and though a chemistry teacher was convicted for the crime, his attempted suicide means there are questions that have never been answered.
The mystery surrounding the gruesome slayings, and a subsequent string of related suicides, attracts the professional attention of an investigative reporter/blogger, Ryder Hillier, a podcast host, Mack Carter, and eventually Lane and Rory.

The story unfolds from multiple perspectives over two timelines, and includes journal entries, transcripts and flashbacks. Surprisingly, Lane and Rory’s entry into the story comes quite late so at first I was a little puzzled by their absence. Rory in particular is such a unique and interesting character I was worried she would be sidelined in this mystery, and though that concern eventually proved unfounded, the resolution is very much as a result of a team effort.

The plot is complex though all threads lead to the reveal of what really happened on the night when the students were killed at the abandoned boarding house. Much of the foundation of the story is provided by Ryder and Mack, though the scene of the murder is introduced by an investigating detective. The two murdered teens were part of a larger group of pupils taking part in a traditional initiation challenge, tied to the supernatural legend of ‘The Man in the Mirror’, to be admitted to a campus ‘secret’ society. The police determined that the chemistry teacher, who had been a target of the society’s pranks, killed the boys in a fit of rage but there are inconsistencies that seem to preclude such a neat resolution, hence the involvement of Rory, who is often capable of seeing what other investigators do not. Donlea skilfully develops several red herrings and alternate suspects that draw attention away from the killer so that their identity is obscured until the characters themselves begin to make the connections.

An engrossing mystery with an atmospheric setting and interesting characters I enjoyed The Suicide House

Donlea is becoming one of my favorite suspense writers. I can always count on his books for some twisty mysteries that keep me guessing. I really like the characters of Lane and Rory (liked them in the previous book too) and also liked Ryder. Even though I'd read the previous book, it isn't necessary - this book stands on it's own.

There's a creepy feeling to the book right off the bat and plenty of red herrings to keep the reader wondering who did what!! I really enjoyed the book and though I guessed a few things, no way could I have figured out all of them!

My only complaint with the book - and I admit this is picky - - I got SO sick of reading the name of Rory's beverage every single time she took a sip! I mean, really?!:?

Two students at an elite preparatory school in Indiana are murdered late one summer night after playing a mysterious game at the abandoned boarding house on the edge of the school's property. A year later, a number of the students who had also been at the boarding house that night have committed suicide. Cue the interest of a local news writer and a famous actor. And Rory Moore and Lane Phillips.

I read Donlea's Some Choose Darkness last year and fell in love with the character of Rory Moore, so I was thrilled to see that Donlea brought her back for another novel. I also tend to love stories set in boarding schools/prep schools, so this hit all the right buttons for me. Donlea's writing is suspenseful and exciting, so much so that I didn't even care that I guessed some of the mystery while reading. Rory and Lane are a fantastic pair (a crime scene reconstructionist and forensic psychologist - incredible!) and I hope that we will see more of them in the future :)

3.75 rounded up!

I had a lot of emotions while reading this book. It started out wonderfully good and I was really into it. It was a touch of a struggle to keep track of the many characters introduced and all the different side stories, but I got the hang of it and figured they would all have something to do with the main plot.

Let me be clear that the prep school/boarding school trope is not a favorite. In fact, I pretty much steer clear of them altogether, however I didn't have much choice because I wanted to read the follow up to Some Choose Darkness so badly that I told myself to just deal for once. I liked SCD, but even a year later, some things about that book really annoyed me. HOWEVER, it was good enough for me to want to continue the story and here we are. SO - let's discuss this book and why I have emotions:

1) Serial Killer - check. I'm in.
2) Strong, female lead that has dimension? - check.
3) Podcast interspersed? check.

So I was pretty sold. Then it got to the middle. I was struggling. Not so much with the story because characters have to do detective work so it isn't going to be quick, but there is a LOT of repetition in this book. I'm talking an annoying amount. If it were repetition carried over from SCD - then maybe I'd be okay with it. However, in this instance it was repetition of character traits that had already been mentioned several times. It was repetition of descriptions of people, places and events that needed no explaining for the third or fourth time. It was honestly becoming a major distraction!! I kept thinking, why is this all here? I never got my answer, but the incessant repetition ground to a halt when I got to the last 100 pages and I was so relieved to enjoy the story again.

I am impressed with how this all tied up - to the point where I forgave the author and gave this a four rating. (Otherwise, it might have been rounded to a 5.) Even though I guessed who did it, I didn't get the why and how we got there was really interesting and clever. For that - I most absolutely will be here front and center for the continuation of this series. I particularly loved the Author's Note, which explained that while all of his books can be read as standalone novels, there are elements that tie them all together. I think this is really, really cool.

So all in all? A great read. I really hope Mr. Donlea can cut out some of the unnecessary repetition in the next book. It would make this reader a really happy camper!

Thank you to Kensington Books for the print galley, Netgalley for the e-galley and Charlie Donlea for another thrilling book. I received this book in exchange for a free and honest review.

Review Date: 07/30/2020
Publication Date: 07/28/2020

The Suicide House was the first book by Charlie Donlea I have read, an oversight I will work to address. It is the second book with Lane Phillips and Rory Moore, but newcomers to the series are not going to be lost nor will people who read the first be bored by rehashing old information. Donlea creates a story that stands alone while seamlessly meshing with not just a first book with this partnership but with other books featuring characters who provide cameos. Reading this, I never felt like I was missing something essential from other books, but I enjoyed the author’s note at the end pointing out who came from what previous books as it gave me a list of books to hunt down.

This was a fair mystery. There is no secret information. In fact, at times we are privy to the killer’s actions and the story of what happened that night and the investigators are not. That does not privilege us, though, since there are enough red herrings for red herring chowder. The way it comes together, I was not surprised by the solution, but really only twigging to the right answer only a page or two ahead of the final discovery. That makes for great suspense.

I received an e-galley of The Suicide House from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Suicide House at Kensington Books
Charlie Donlea author site

THE SUICIDE HOUSE was my second Charlie Donlea read. Earlier in the summer, I read SOME CHOOSE DARKNESS and really enjoyed the characters Donlea created. Donlea writes such complex thrillers. I loved how in THE SUICIDE HOUSE Rory and Lane’s characters developed and we learned more about them. The case they were working on was gruesome and haunting. I loved how so many different pieces were examined to help them try to figure out the puzzle. Sometimes I did feel as if there were too many perspectives, making it confusing to follow. This book could definitely be read as a stand-alone but I loved following each character from the beginning. I recommend this book to people who enjoy shows like Criminal Minds.