Thank you to @netgalley and @minotaur_books for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had that secret ingredient that every good thriller recipe has. That secret sauce that makes it better than the average, but you can’t quite put your finger on what it’s made of.

Matt’s brother is accused of murder and is in jail. The family has done everything to try to prove his innocence, including following a trail of breadcrumbs to Mexico. When Matt’s entire family is found dead in a what appears to be a staged scene… it becomes clear they may have been getting closer to the answers than they realized...

I flew through this book and toothpicked my eyes open to finish late at night. Any book that causes me to stay up past 9 PM is worth a read because this early bird loves nothing more than tucking herself in early.

It is the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump because you’re hooked by the storyline very quickly, so your time period to decide if it’s working for you is over before you even realized it began.

This delicious read was published yesterday and if your thriller taste is similar to mine, you’ll want to pick it up!

Matt Pine is a film student at NYU when he gets the news that his parents, Evan and Olivia, his sister, Maggie and six-year-old brother Tommy have been found dead while spending spring break in Mexico. Danny, Matt's older brother, is in Fishkill prison serving a life sentence for killing his girlfriend while in high school. Evan and Maggie are obsessed with finding the true killer and exonerating Danny. After a Netflix series comes out, "The Violent Nature" Danny's story becomes famous even attracting the attention of the president's daughter. The story is told from "Before" by Olivia, Maggie and Evan. The "After" story is from the POV of Sarah Keller, the FBI agent assigned to the case, and Matt.

What a wild ride this was. The characters were very well developed. Who isn't going to love Sarah's husband, Bob? There were lots of twists and turns but just enough info to keep me guessing and thinking I had solved the case when new information would be slipped in. It all lead up to an edge of the seat ending.

I hope there are many more books by this author and I would love to see more of Sarah and Bob.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book.

This book started with a book, I was hooked right away and could not put it down. While it felt outlandish at times, I absolutely recommend this to ALL thriller lovers!

This was the first thriller I’d picked up in a while and let me tell you, did Alex Finlay ever deliver a riveting and dark debut novel!

Matt Pine returns to his dorm at NYU only to hear from the FBI his family has been discovered dead while on vacation in Mexico. His family is already familiar with the media spotlight after his older brother Danny was thrown in prison years earlier for murdering his high school girlfriend. As his families deaths start to become more suspicious to Matt and the FBI, they have to start digging into past secrets to find out what really happened.

I really love a well written complex thriller! Every Last Fear has a lot of perspectives to follow and a few different plot lines that made it hard to put down. You have a narrative from the perspectives of Matt’s family before they die so you really become invested in what happened to them. It only adds to the tension of Matt and the FBI agents storylines told in the present! Each chapter ended on a cliff hanger and I had to just keep reading and reading. It was action packed as well and I would love to see a movie adaption since the plot was so great!

This one surprised me with just how great it was so highly recommend!

I thought that overall this was a really good thriller. The story starts off right away with the death of Matt Pine's family.I felt so bad for Matt as he was trying to figure out what happened to them and just get through. There are two mysteries going on in this book, who murdered the pines and why is one mystery. The second is did the oldest brother Danny Pine kill his girlfriend Charlotte or is he wrongly convicted?

The book jumps back and forth to before and after their murders and there are multiple point of views. There are also documentary episodes about Danny Pine laced in. I liked the documentary elements as it added more to Danny's story. My favorite character was Maggie, she was so smart and capable. There was so much going on in the book that I didn't know what was going to happen but as we get closer to the end the author brings both mysteries together for a final conclusion.

I enjoyed the read but there was a lot going on so I think that prevents this from getting a higher rating. Since we are reading from so many characters I felt that we didn't get to see them develop all the way. It felt like too much going on and not enough of the details were flushed out.

There are also some reviews that say this book came off racist towards Mexicans. I didn't really see that or think that was the case there aren't many scenes in Mexico where they deal with actual Mexicans. However I do see that the author used some basic stereotypes of people, like the racist redneck using foul language which didn't add anything to the book so I don't think it was nessesary.

This one had lots of potential for five stars but I think it just need to be more refined and focus on character development some more.

A fantastic debut by a rising star!
Expertly written from multiple POV's and timelines and always cohesive and engrossing. This one is so well plotted and crafted that it's now 2:30am because I couldn't put it down. I was so invested in the characters, from the whole Pine family to the awesome FBI investigator that I felt their angst and excitement as all the pieces came together. The mystery had me guessing what would happen and who was responsible right up to the thrilling reveal and conclusion. If you're a person who likes to go into a novel blind I suggest you look no further but jump into this one ASAP. If you're a synopsis reader there are plenty of them posted on IG. I read the synopsis a while ago but had forgotten it by the time I picked it up to read. That said, the synopsis is only a hint at the mastery by the author in telling this story. This is my favorite thriller so far this year and it will take a lot for another to take its place at the top.
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Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC

I was in such a reading slump when I started this book but this book got me 100% out of it. Honestly from the 1st page I was hooked. This is a Thriller mystery about a family murder in Mexico on Spring break. Is it a accident is it foul play. That's the question FBI gets involved and its a mixture of putting the pieces together. From reading chapters from The surviving son who was at College and not with the family during the trip. The FBI agent who has the unfortunate task of telling Matt and trying to figure out why this case isn't so open and close.

It also tells from the family pov before the trip until the very end. Since is a thriller and as the reader you want to find out what happen. There are so many treads in the story to follow. I don't want to give anything away to anyone. This was a fantastic read and I love a good book you have to solve. This is a fast read you will get about half way and not want to put it down. You will want to solve it. Don't rest on this book. Read it let me know if you figured out what happen. If you know how to story ends.

This is released March 2nd. I look forward to reading more from this author.

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐⭐/ 5 stars

I was looking forward to reading this new thriller by Alex Finlay for so long. Matt Pine goes to NYU and comes back to his dorm to find special agent Keller there with terrible news: his entire family are dead after a trip to Tulum, Mexico from what appears to be an unfortunate gas leak. Matt’s other brother, Danny, who is incarcerated at Fishkill, was the focus of the murder of his teenage girlfriend Charlotte years ago. After a documentary that showcased the possibility of wrongful methods of interrogation, many believe Danny was wrongfully accused. Evan Pine, the patriarch of the family, was obsessed with trying to find justice for his son. When Matt is in Nebraska to attend the funeral of his family, he finds his former hometown very hostile towards him after the documentary and how it portrayed them - and more details are coming out of the crime scene that proves there is more to their deaths than originally thought i.e. an extremely clean home, all their phones/laptops wiped, and a mysterious photo Maggie texted Matt during the trip.

The story goes on a rollercoaster going back and forth - I was kept guessing to the very end. There were so many ways that this story could have gone - was Danny involved? Did Matt really do it and not remember? Who can they trust in this town that hates them? While reading this, I found similarities to the story of the Netflix documentary, Making a Murderer and the case of Brendan Dassey/Stephen Avery. This is such a great read for lovers of mystery/suspense novels!

Thank you to Minotaur books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Wow!! Although I've seen a good amount of pre-publication hype about his one, I was hardly anticipating that this would actually be such a breathlessly thrilling, one-sitting read for me! I absolutely could not put it down!!

Finlay's debut (or at least the debut under this pen name?) is an impressive one that really has it all - great pacing, a page-turning structure and lively characters and a twisting plot. The Pine family's story unfolds across multiple perspectives and timelines here. The book opens with NYU student, Matt, learning that his parents and two younger siblings have died in an apparent tragic accident in Mexico. This leaves him and his incarcerated brother, Danny, as the only family left. The Pine family has been in the public light since Danny's arrest and subsequent conviction of murder seven years earlier. Although a popular Netflix documentary (think "Making A Murderer") has given them even more notoriety. Father, Evan, and sister, Maggie, especially will not rest in their quest to prove Danny's innocence.

The novel is broken into two timelines and mostly the perspectives of the Pine family - but also that of Agent Keller, who is tangentially assigned to the case. It's a genuinely thrilling read - and a such a page turner!! Plus, my old office at 875 N Michigan Ave (oddly, its more famous moniker isn't named) even gets a cameo! With snippets of the show's transcripts, this unfolds like an addictive series - and while I appreciate the thoroughness of the ending, I certainly would be excited to see more of Agent Keller in future books from Finlay! But, not matter what, I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more in the future!

I am new to this author and saw lots of buzz surrounding this book so I was quick to request it and check it out. I was honestly impressed, for the most part, The Prologue was absolutely amazing and sucked me in right away. The rest of the book was a fast paced mystery/thriller that kept you on the edge of your seat and reading until the final page. I really did like this book.
However, now that I have finished the book, the only thing I keep thinking about are all of the ill fitting "woke" tidbits scattered throughout the book. They were so distracting, and literally had nothing to do with the book. It's as though this book was written and someone somewhere decided it wasn't woke enough for 2021, so the author was given a checklist of hot button topics that needed mention and every box was checked by the end,! They just didn't fit with the story and it just took away from the enjoyment of the book. This would normally be a 4 star for me but considering I'll remember this book for things other than the actual amazing story told by this author, I'll give it 3.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 Stars Rounded to 5 Stars!

I am just going to say: The hype is real.

If you are a thriller junky, this book is for you.
If you are tired of thrillers, this one will spice it up again for you.
If you don’t like thrillers, this one is going to change your mind.

My only complaint. As soon as the culprit was introduced, I had the whole thing figured out. Which commonly would ruin a story for me. But it absolutely did not. And that is another reason it deserves 5 stars.

Pick this one up. Now. Today. Or else.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the read. It was absolutely amazing.

I'm still reeling from this book! Absolutely fantastic, I loved it! Great writing, terrific story and completely on the edge of my seat from the first page to the very last! Thank you so much! All the stars!

Your brother is in prison for allegedly killing his girlfriend. Your family goes on a nice vacation and ends up being killed. And now the FBI is knocking on your door. What a way to start what ends up being a continually jarring roller coaster ride and an incredible read you won't want to put down! Character development - check! Twists and turns - check! Me losing sleep to read - check! I wonder if we can lobby the author and publisher to make the FBI agent a series? Please? I could tell you more but that would only delay your ability to get started reading this must-read suspense!

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When the FBI came to his dorm at NYU, 21-year old Matt Pine knows it’s more bad news. And it is. His family…his mom, his dad, his 17 year old sister Maggie, and his 6 year old brother Tommy….are dead. Mexican authorities say they died from a gas leak while they were on vacation.

It will be up to Matt to tell his older brother Danny, who has been in prison for 7 years for the murder of his girlfriend Charlotte. He and Danny don’t see eye to eye. The murder was bad enough, but the family (all but Matt) participated in a true crime documentary trying to get Danny’s case over-turned. Matt feels that his brother is right where he should be.

But there are more surprises for Matt. The FBI are questioning the deaths of his family, and when he goes to Mexico to claim their bodies, someone tries to set him up, and the police seem ready to arrest him. Then, upon returning to his home town for the funerals, it seems that the entire town is against him. Apparently that documentary angered people, many people, and he is the only one left to blame. Then there is the fact that the film crew is filming a sequel, and the deaths of his family are going to play center stage again.

Matt will have to find out what really happened.

My Opinions:
WOW. For a debut novel, this was a stunner. I definitely have a new author to follow.

The story is told by different family members, both before the murders, and present day. In this way, the author provides us with clues as to what was really happening in everyone’s lives. There were a number of secrets. This method of story-telling worked really well

It was a true mystery/thriller, as well as being a somewhat emotional read because I found myself really caring about the characters. I must admit that I really liked Matt, and Maggie, but didn’t much care for either parent. As well, FBI Agent Sarah Keller was great! She deserves a series all her own! All the characters were well thought out, and had depth.

The actual plot was really good, quite fresh, and really compelling. I really didn’t want to put this one down. The pace was good, as was the dialog.

The author knows what he/she is doing, and I can’t wait for another book by this talented writer.

For a change, this one lived up to all they hype!

“They found the bodies on a Tuesday.” What a first line! A big thank you to my wonderful publishing partners @minotaurbooks for my advanced copy! EVERY LAST FEAR is out today!

After a late night of partying, Matt Pine returns to his dorm room to devastating news: nearly his entire family—his mom, his dad, his little brother and sister—have been found dead from an apparent gas leak while vacationing in Mexico. The local police claim it was an accident, but the FBI and State Department seem far less certain—and they won’t tell Matt why.

The tragedy is quick to make headlines, as this isn’t the first time the family has been trust into the media spotlight. Matt’s older brother is currently serving a life sentence for killing his girlfriend, the subject in a popular true crime documentary that took the country by storm. Matt returns to his hometown to bury his family, but he receives an icy reception from the townsfolk who were villainized by the documentary.

Told through multiple points-of-view and alternating between past and present, Alex Finlay's Every Last Fear is not only a page-turning thriller, it’s also a poignant story about a family managing heartbreak and tragedy, and living through a fame they never wanted.

I loved this story. I was fascinated by a family ruined by a true crime documentary, their eldest son accused of murder and living out a life sentence, a small town holding grudges from negative press, leading up to years later, the remaining family members (except Matt!) wiped out in a suspicious gas leak, while on vacation. The local authorities are uncooperative and the FBI is involved, in a gas leak? Why? Could it be something bigger? You’ll have to read to find out! I loved the alternating perspectives of the family, as the puzzle pieces begin slotting into place and you see that not is all as it seems.

From start to finish I was completely hooked on this book. I would rate this 4.5 stars. I can see this being a great book club pick and a book you’ll be hearing lots about. It reads like a series or movie and I’d love to see it made into one.

Matt Pine, a university student in NYC, has just learned the tragic news that his younger siblings and parents have mysteriously died while on vacation in Mexico. Difficult enough to deal with, Matt had added challenge of being well known from a documentary made about his older brother currently in prison for murdering his girlfriend.

Uncovering the details of what happened to Matt’s family was twisty, intriguing and a true page turner. I loved how we got to see the past perspectives of the family mixed with the present from Matt and the documentary aspect was so engaging too. I would be interested in enjoying this as an audiobook too.

It has a pretty interesting premise going in of "giving up or fighting like hell" when you think your child didn't kill their girlfriend and I am going to be honest with yall, it delivers. This was just as thrillingly twisty as it made it out to be. The way it is told works really well for keeping you on the edge of your seat and wanting to know what happens next.

Every Last Fear is a solid plot driven murder mystery for spring reading! It tells the story of a college-age student Matt, whose family is murdered under mysterious circumstances in Mexico. A secondary mystery in the story involves his older brother, who is in jail for the murder of his high school girlfriend, which was the subject of a recent TV documentary. The murder of his family may have to do with their continued attempts to prove his innocence.

The story is told from multiple points of view of the family, prior to the murder, as well as Matt and a Special Agent in the present moment. I did find the constant switching between point of view and time to be a little jarring. The ending was also not a complete surprise, but the pace of the novel kept me engaged until the last page where everything comes to a satisfying conclusion. I would recommend to readers that enjoy contemporary thrillers/murder mysteries.

Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur for the advance copy to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

"They found their bodies on a Tuesday". And so begins a story that grabs you from the first sentence.Every Last Fear is a psychological thriller about an entire family who dies while on vacation in Mexico. Were their deaths accidental or was foul play involved? Two sons survive: One in prison for murder, the other in college. It takes a documentary, an intelligent FBI agent, and a college kid who’s about to break, to solve what really happened to the Pine family. This is a fast-paced, page-turner with characters who made an impression. Once you start you won't want to stop until the very last page! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

“You have two choices when you’re confronted with your every last fear:

Give up or fight like hell.”

Small towns and murder mysteries are just too delectable to pass up for me! Talk about keeping secrets! Nobody does it better than those that live in small towns and that goes with grudges, too. Enter Matt Pine, NYU film student who escaped the small town of Adair where the Pine family is well-known and not exactly well-loved. First, his brother Danny confessed under pressure to the murder of his girlfriend and is currently serving time but second, and perhaps worst of all in the eyes of the townsfolk, they did a documentary on the murder that shines a light on possible corruptness in the town.

After a particularly rough bar night, Matt gets the worst news; his family have all passed while in Mexico on a spur of the moment spring break trip. Was it of natural causes as the Mexican authorities have stated or something much more sinister?

Every Last Fear is cleverly written and perfectly paced, twisty and bendy in all the right places! There’s no lack of suspects and enough red-herrings to keep me guessing through-out. The play between past and present is seamless and gave me insight into characters and changed the scope of the book with keen observation. This is a fascinating and chilling thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. Rock on Linkin Park!

My thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the DRC in exchange for my review.