After seeing so many posts about this book that I decided to give it a shot. However, I am sometimes skeptical when I see a lot of hype about a book because in the past, unfortunately, I have been disappointed. Was I this time? Especially since, over the past year or so, the majority of my reading has been psychological thrillers, and with this being a debut, could it stand up to those that I have read before it.

The Pine family has become famous, not only in their home state but nationally due to a documentary, whereas the oldest son, Danny, was convicted for the murder of a local girl. His father, Evan, vowed that he would prove that Danny was innocent. On another tip, the family travel to Mexico to chase it down. However, Evan, mother Liv, daughter, Maggie, and youngest son Tommy never make it back alive. Matt, the 2nd oldest son, and Danny are the sole survivors and now there are rumors that they killed the family for the inheritance. Was it foul play or was it a tragic accident as the Mexican officials claimed it was?

I was hooked from that first sentence, <i>“They found the bodies on a Tuesday.”</i>.

The plot was intricately weaved and interweaved where the story was told by different members of the family and alternating between the before and after of the Mexican tragedy. The narrative was so expertly written that I was transported into the story. The characters were believable and three-dimensional. The suspense was intense and profound with no letup. So many twists and turns, and just when I thought I might be onto something, the story veered again.

An extraordinary debut novel that blew me away! A dynamic and captivating read!!! I suggest putting this author on your radar! I can't wait to see what he has in store next!!!

Blog posting 03/16/21

2.5

Thank you to St. Martins press, Minotaur and Netgalley


This book was a good read. I took me two sittings to finish. I did predict the killer but I still enjoyed the ending. I normally dont like that many POVs makes it confusing but I did enjoy them in this book. One thing I did not enjoy is there is alot of stereotyping in this book

Thank you for my advanced copy. This book has problematic stereotypes and language about Mexico and Mexicans as well as problematic language around homelessness. If these issues were better addressed, I would have given this 4 stars, but due to these issues, this has been 2 stars. Thank you for my copy.

This book started out with a bang - the Pine family (minus two sons, one at college and one in prison) were found dead on their Mexican vacation. Somehow this mystery is connected to the older son's conviction and imprisonment for murdering his pregnant girlfriend - or is it? I thought the way the author used different points of view was terrific - a great way to move the story along and keep the reader hooked. That said, there wasn't terribly much character development, and sometimes I got the more minor characters mixed up. There were a few scenes where I was worried the story was going to veer into cheesy movie-of-the-week mode, but the author reigned that in, for the most part. In hindsight, it was obvious who the bad guys were, but the many story lines and twists kept me guessing until the very end. The first 70% or so of the book was so compelling, I had a hard time putting it down, and the second part moved a little more slowly for me. I was surprised to hear this was the author's debut novel, and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future. Many thanks to St. Martin's press, Mr. Finley, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this thriller and found it kept a quick pace, had some good twists, and was a page turner. I read this in one sitting!

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

And, honestly, I scratching my head over this one. My reaction is so far left field of the majority that I feel cast adrift in another universe. In my defense, my expectation may have been a tad to high since I read a lot of these said reviews first. I won't bore you into the details, but suffice to say, I found the twists to be lacking and it most decidedly did not leave me breathless. It's not a bad book, by any means, but I (probably unfairly) expected to be blown away. Was in the mood for thrills, not family drama, grief, and lives marred by tragedy. Had that been the case, this could very well have been 4 stars, so...take my reaction with a grain of salt.

Once I started this book, I could not put it down. Any thoughts of doing anything else besides reading this book to the finish flew out the window. The very first sentence grabbed me (how could it not?!) and that promise of a good thriller was certainly fulfilled.

Finlay did a masterful job of weaving past and present stories together and making me eager to see what would happen next. The characters are sympathetic and believable. The fact I liked the characters so much made some of the story that much more painful.

There are plenty of twists to please any mystery fan and the strong character of Sarah Keller makes me hope for a sequel.

What a twisty book this is! My heart completely breaks for this family.

You have a son who’s sent away for murder. Another son who believes he’s guilty. A father and daughter who will do anything to prove his innocence. Then a mother who just wants a normal life for her youngest son.

This is a fabulous book!!

I came across Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay on a list of the most anticipated books of 2021. I have to say, I can absolutely see why.

Every Last Fear follows Matt as he finds out his entire family has died in a freak “accident” in Mexico and he quickly finds the FBI do not think it was an accident at all. When I say I could not put this book down, I truthfully mean it. I have a very busy schedule and I finished this book in two days. Every chance I got, I would read it. From the very first page the story hooks you in and you have to keep reading until you know what has happened. There were a ton of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, and just as I thought I’d figured it out, I was blind sided.

One of the things I loved about this story is the side characters. I feel like I say that a lot, but I believe side characters can make or break a story. It doesn’t matter how wonderful the main character is or if you like them or not, if the side characters bring nothing to the story, then you will find the story lacking. My favorite supporting characters were Matt’s group of misfit friends from NYU. They didn’t have a huge roll, but I felt their support throughout the story and they always brought a funny moment in the middle of a really intense book. It really was a feel good group of individuals.

Alex Finlay’s writing style is smooth, but also vague to keep you guessing. I don’t mean vague in a bad way either. You know just enough to have you wanting more and keeping you turning the pages. The story does jump around to different characters and times in the past and current times. It was like a puzzle slowly filling in the pieces until the big reveal at the end. There was excellent character development.

Most anticipated books of 2021. One of the best reads of 2021 so far. I look forward to more from Alex Finlay and will be anxiously awaiting the next book. A must read for all thriller lovers!

WOW!! This explosive thriller from Alex FInlay will, literally, keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish! I was thrilled to see it on my shelf and I can't recommend it highly enough.

It is mind boggling that this was a debut novel! It was a great read! The timeline jumps back and forth, allowing for multiple POvs - an aspect that was well done and really allowed us to get to know all members of the family (though I would've liked a bit more from Danny's POV) and to understand their family's dynamics. As a result, the story is a bit slower paced but managed to be heart breaking and yet simultaneously heart warming. I also really enjoyed Sarah's character - as the assigned FBI agent to the case, her struggles and methods were realistic and the snippets concerning her own family were so endearing. There were multiple twists throughout the book but the one at the end... Ahhh, you got me Alex Finlay - here I thought I had it figured out! 👏

Rating: 4.25/5

A huge thank you to Alex Finlay, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

I like the two timelines and multiple points of view. While confusing a bit at times because of the multiple characters, I enjoyed hearing from everyone. I really liked Maggie and hearing from her before.

I loved the concept of the story. I thought it was well done and left me in suspense quite a bit. At some point, I did figure out “who did it”. I don’t know how or why but something set off my crime-solving senses and I had an inclination who was responsible for everything. That being said I enjoyed reading the rest of the story and finally having everything revealed. There was still so much that left me in surprise along the way.

The downside:

@lyatslibrary said it best about how the author used the phrase The Mexicans instead of Mexican authorities etc. It seemed in poor taste. If you want to know better check out her post she explains it so well.

Also, the negativity and corruption shown towards cops in general in the story are sad.

Overall I enjoyed it as a thriller and was glad to have read what everyone was talking about.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

4.5 Hearts Wow what a start to what I am sure will be an incredible writing career. If this isn’t made into a movie, at least a NetFlix original, I will be surprised.

Finlay really has a lot of twists and turns. I could tell you about what happens but the synopsis really does a good job of explaining what happens but what it does not do is tell you how great of a story Finlay wrote. This book has so much more than I expected. It had me not wanting to sleep so I could read more and dinners were late needing to read one more chapter.

This story has everything a fan of suspense could want. A great character, angst, surprises and so much more. If a reader is disappointed in this book I have no idea what more they could want.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Awesome Debut Novel!


This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 and for good reasons. This was an easy five-star read and I didn’t have to really think about the rating at all. I finished this in about three days. This book is an absolutely stunning thriller told from multiple perspectives and timelines that adds so much dimension. Matt is an NYU student whose family is of national acclaim after a documentary series that featured his brother's story. Danny is in jail for the murder of his girlfriend in high school, a crime for which he claims he is innocent. I found myself angry at the family’s hometown because as you read you will learn that Danny’s confession is so coerced, what you will see is a father who has spent a lifetime trying to prove that the wrong man is in prison.

While at NYU Matt is approached by FBI Agent Sarah Keller and told that while on vacation his entire family is found dead during a terrible misfortune and the only family, he has left is Danny the brother in prison. However, this revelation is not the whole story, and as we investigate the case alongside Matt and Keller, the story takes us on unexpected paths to find out not only what happened to the Pine family but also what happened to Charlotte, the girl Danny was accused of murdering so many years ago.

I am trying to be stricter with my 1-5 star rating this year but I can say that this was easily a book that can be an all nightery kind of read. Every chapter adds more to the story making this a captivating and unputdownable read. The pace is stunning giving you just enough of the bread crumb to want to keep you up all night until you know who killed them. Without giving too much away I will say the ending is completely satisfying and very surprising. You will guess who did it and you will be wrong and you will love it.

Thank you to NetGalley and all parties involved in the decision of my receiving of this arc this was a fabulous read I can not wait to see what comes next from Alex Finlay.

This was an amazing thriller that opens with a great tease and twists its way to a conclusion that, while perhaps not so surprising, brings the well-written narrative to a satisfying closure.

Told in snippets of before and after through alternating points of view, this book has an unusual style that keeps you hooked to the pages making it almost impossible to put down. The premise -- four members of the family that has protested the murder conviction of their oldest son, Danny Pine, end up dead in Tulum, Mexico. Since Danny is in Fishkill Correctional, the news of their deaths is taken to the only other survivor, NYU student Matt Pine, by FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller. It turns out that, after all, the deaths were no accident and all the hubbub with the media starts again. Why was the Pine family killed in Mexico and what possible secret were they about to uncover? Why is the FBI involved? The Pine family has spent so much time trying to uncover the truth of the murder that put their Danny in prison and a true crime documentary points to the possibility that someone else was behind the crime. Matt needs to finish this crusade.

There is so much going on in this novel and I don't want to spoil it for any future reader, so I'll just urge you to pick this up and enjoy the incredible story. There were so many great characters to love or hate! A debut written under a pseudonym, this work is quite well-written and there is so much going on in a very complicated plot. I think it would make a fantastic miniseries adaptation and would love to see it brought to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

Reading Between the Wines book review #26/115 for 2021:
Rating: 3.5 🍷 🍷 🍷 ½ (rounded up to 4)
Book 📱: Every Last Fear
Author: Alex Finlay
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
RELEASED ON March 2, 2021!!! Get your copy!

Sipping Synopsis: “They found the bodies on Tuesday.” Matt Pine’s life has been in turmoil since his older brother, Danny, was convicted and sent to prison for killing his girlfriend. Matt’s dad was in constant despair, his mom pretended life was normal, his sister Maggie was trying to be the next Olivia Benson, and his younger brother was just being a typical child. Then this got worse when Matt got word his whole family died on a trip in Mexico due to an alleged gas leak. The story comes to a head when Matt and the FBI realizes the Pine’s family was murdered and Matt may be next.

Final sipping thoughts: Every Last Fear is told through alternating POVs and timelines. I love stories like this because it gives you the real time mystery while the flashbacks give you clues to help solve the mystery. I did not solve the mystery and I actually loved the reveal and the why behind it. That very first line should have clued me on the thrills and suspense that I was in for. While I think the story was good there was just something missing or maybe too many other parts included that could have been left out. I am glad I read it and can’t wait to discuss in my book club.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of @EveryLastFear

#EveryLastFear #StMartinsFear #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #AdultFiction #GeneralFictionAdult

I will not be reading this one due to some stuff that have come to my attention. While I was looking forward to this book it came to my attention that the way Mexican were described came off as cliche and just bad. I was hoping it would love this one but as someone who lives Mexico if rather not read this one.

Matt has been through a lot in the past few years. His brother, Danny, was convicted of his girlfriend’s murder and is now in prison. A Netflix documentary has tried, and failed, to overturn his conviction. Now, the worst has happened. Matt’s father, mother and two younger siblings have died while on vacation in Mexico. While the authorities investigate a possible gas leak, Matt’s Every Last Fear is that their deaths were no accident. Could their demise be related to Danny’s predicament?

Every Last Fear is an exciting race to its conclusion. You won’t be able to put the book down! If you like twisty tales, this is the thriller for you. 4 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was quite a debut! Very intense read with so many twists and turns. Definitely one you want to read in one sitting because you just can't believe what happens next. Told from different POV's it is very interesting to see how they all fit together. Love how he brought in the current fixation on true crime documentaries and how they impact everyone. Will definitely be keeping a watch on Mr. Finlay.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.

This book is incredibly racist against Mexicans, and its inclusion of Mexico and Mexicans as a plot device is unnecessary, cheap, lazy, offensive, deeply problematic, and disgusting. There was zero reason for Mexico to play a part in this story, and the fact that it does, particularly in such a grossly stereotypical, racist way, is evidence of much deeper systemic racism, and it is not okay. There are so many great thrillers out there. Read one of those instead.