This is the first book I read from this author and I’ve enjoyed it. The characters are believable and the plot is intriguing with many plot twists from the middle to the end. The only downside in my opinion was the constant jump between past and present, and sometimes it felt like reading two different books. Overall it was a good read.

With an explosive beginning, this book held a lot of promise and I ended up finding it a very readable, twisty, enjoyable story. We get a lot of perspectives in this one, as we find out from each of the murdered family members what had been going on with them personally in the days leading up to their deaths- and there is so much potential for the true reasons they were murdered. There were some elements of this story that were more chilling than others, but as dots began to connect it was a race to the finish. There was one thread that I had decided was definitely going to go somewhere, but it ended up not being used and I'm interested to read more reviews and see if anyone else thought there was a connection there that didn't actually happen. Perhaps the best parts of this were with FBI agent Keller and her supportive husband- I loved each of their conversations.

If you’re in the habit of writing reviews immediately after finishing a book, schedule some extra time for this one. You may want to pencil in a nap before hitting the keyboard. Or at least take a moment to shake loose the knots in your brain.

The blurb does a good job of outlining the plot with 2 characters providing narration for the bulk of the story. First up is Matt Pine, a young NYU film student who’s had more than his share of family drama. As a young teen, he watched his older brother Danny go to prison for the murder of a young local girl. The resulting hostility from former friends & neighbours drove the Pines from their small town & permanently fractured their family unit. Several years later a true crime docudrama put Danny’s case (and possible innocence) back in the spotlight.

The resulting publicity meant everyone knew their name & Matt fled to New York for a small measure of anonymity, maybe even a stab at “normal” life. Well, it was nice while it lasted.

Waiting in his dorm one day is our second MC, FBI Agent Sarah Keller. And she has some unbelievably tragic news. Matt’s entire family…parents Evan & Liv along with siblings Maggie & Tommy….have been found dead in Mexico. How is that even possible?

Sarah is smart & intuitive woman who was investigating a separate case with loose ties to Matt’s father so it falls on her to chaperone Matt through this nightmare. She takes over narration duties in alternate chapters & keeps us informed on threads that run parallel to Matt’s version of events. Like Matt, her character is immediately likeable & I enjoyed riding shotgun with her as she picked away at what becomes an incredibly complex case. On a side note, shout out to her entertaining & supportive husband Bob. It was so refreshing to see someone in law enforcement portrayed as being in a solid, stable relationship & their phone conversations always made me smile.

The story unfolds in 2 streams: the present (Matt & Sarah’s reality) & “before” (which follows the Pines from Danny’s conviction to their deaths). Initially I found the historical chapters less engaging because I was invested in current day events & just wanted to get back to Matt & Sarah. But as the story unfolded, I realized there was much to be learned from what happened before as it slowly began to inform the present. Yes, this is a suspenseful thriller but it’s also the story of the demise of a family. How the legal system, social media & bias can rip apart the lives of average people. Everyone gets to tweet an opinion, don’t they…..doesn’t really matter whether you have any facts or knowledge to back it up.

There’s a lot more packed into this fast paced, plot driven thriller. You might need pen & paper to keep track of the gaggle of questions swirling around your head. If you’re looking to escape your current reality for a few hours, find a comfy seat & hold on. Your reading tool kit for this book should include a seat belt, taser, flip flops & tequila.

Matt Pine is crushed when he learns that all but one of his family members were found dead from an apparent gas leak while on vacation in Mexico. Matt’s family was previously made “famous” from a documentary about his brother, Danny, who is serving a life sentence for murder. When the deaths in Mexico begin to appear connected to Danny’s case, Matt has to face his fears in order to get the truth.

This was a highly anticipated 2021 thriller for me after reading the synopsis. However, it fell flat for me in a few ways.

There were multiple plot points happening at once, which made it hard for me to follow. From beginning to end I was never invested— nothing really grabbed my attention. Some parts seemed like unnecessary additions to fill the pages. Alex Finlay also used stereotypes to describe Mexicans, which was very disappointing. There was no reason for Mexico to even be a location in the story to begin with! I’ve been happy to see a couple reviews pointing out the hurtful derogatory language in this book, but I think as white readers, myself included, we need to do a better job noticing when POC/BIPOC are being represented unfairly or disrespected in the books we read. Every Last Fear had the potential, but did not live up to it.

Every Last Fear is a debut novel that reads as if written by a veteran author.

This story is intense! Alex Finlay strikes the perfect balance of characters and plot, giving us people to care about while tossing them into a figurative lion’s den.

The plot is complex, with twists and curveballs leading us into heartbreaking territory that made me wish violent, miserable, torturous deaths on the bad guys.

I was committed. I cared. I probably gasped a time or two.

Can’t ask for more in a thriller!

This book was insanely fantastic. From the very beginning, it had my attention. There was never a lull and therefore, perfectly paced. Alex Finlay is a wonderful story teller with a great imagination. This book was just everything I needed to read to pull me out of a book slump.

Title: Every Last Fear
Author: Alex Finlay
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

After a late night of partying, NYU student 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 makes headlines everywhere because this isn’t the first time the Pine family has been thrust into the media spotlight. Matt’s older brother, Danny—currently serving a life sentence for the murder of his teenage girlfriend Charlotte—was the subject of a viral true crime documentary suggesting that Danny was wrongfully convicted. Though the country has rallied behind Danny, Matt holds a secret about his brother that he’s never told anyone: the night Charlotte was killed Matt saw something that makes him believe his brother is guilty of the crime.

When Matt returns to his small hometown to bury his parents and siblings, he’s faced with a hostile community that was villainized by the documentary, a frenzied media, and memories he’d hoped to leave behind forever. Now, as the deaths in Mexico appear increasingly suspicious and connected to Danny’s case, Matt must unearth the truth behind the crime that sent his brother to prison—putting his own life in peril—and forcing him to confront his every last fear.

I enjoyed this read! Solid writing and not too heavy-handed with the trail of clues. I liked Matt and the Misfit Toys a lot. They gave this a fun edge, despite the intrigue and danger. I did figure out whodunit, but it wasn’t because the foreshadowing was too much or anything, just a lucky guess. There’s a lot going on in this novel, but it was a good and engrossing read.

Alex Finlay lives in Washington, D.D. Every Last Fear is Alex’s debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.)

THIS BOOK! I went into this psychological thriller expecting very little. The synopsis sounds interesting but you never really know with a debut. I’m so happy to say this novel absolutely blew me away! From page one you are thrown into the mystery of the Pine family’s brutal murder while on vacation in Mexico, and the suspense doesn’t stop for a minute. Such an incredibly well plotted and well written story. I could not put this one down; in fact, I didn’t as I read the entire thing in one go. A solid 5 stars. I’d give it more if the rating system allowed it!

There is A LOT going on in this one, so be prepared to keep up! Some murders, some conspiracies, multiple narrators, befores and afters, a Netflix series and a whole lot of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end! I appreciated the short chapters and the opportunity to feel the emotion of multiple characters throughout this journey. Let’s call it a thriller with heart ♥️Alex Finlay’s plot execution is captivating and complex without being too over the top. It got ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!

~Synopsis: Matt Pine’s family is found dead in their Mexican vacation rental. Local police claim it was an accident, but the FBI isn’t as convinced. Their deaths may be connected to Matt’s older brother, Danny, who is currently in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, according to a recent Netflix docuseries...but there’s only one way to find out. With the help of some unconventional friends, Matt is finally able to face his past, and use it’s clues to figure out who may have had it out for his family.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy! Every Last Fear will be available 03/02/2021. Make sure to preorder yours and add it to your TBR pile today!

I was drawn into this book from the first chapter and the eerie quality of the tale continued until the very end. It's definitely a complex puzzle of a mystery, and although I pretty much figured out where it was heading, that didn't take away from my experience.

The beginning starts with a bang--four family members of the Pine family are found dead while on a trip to Mexico. Their surviving son Matt is contacted at NYU where he's attending school and told that he has to go to Mexico to claim the bodies. But first--he has to go to the prison in upstate New York where his brother Danny is serving a life sentence for killing his high school girlfriend. On the surface, this seems fairly straightforward, but Danny has been featured in a documentary that promotes his innocence, and all members of the family have been ardent supporters of Danny's innocence--except Matt.

This tale is exciting, with overlapping motives and the reader is never sure who is telling the truth and who is innocent. The portions containing excerpts of the documentary seem like they could be totally real and mirror so many true crime documentaries that I've seen. I connected with Matt and could feel the internal dilemmas he faced at every turn. The secondary cast of characters including the FBI agent and Matt's friends are all incredibly developed as well, which takes great skill by the writer in order to create a broader more interesting story.

Excellent debut novel from a writer to watch!

Books with a lot of characters sometimes lose my interest quickly. However, even knowing from the beginning that four members of a family were going to die didn't keep me from consuming this book. I will admit, I figured out the villain/villains about halfway through, even that couldn't stop me. We got a heads up about this book from our library's Reference Reader's Advisor and the little bit of controversy surrounding this author. It doesn't change my review or opinion of this book. I will recommend it as an intense thriller.

I’ve been seeing this book all over booksta & I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it!! I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve read a five star book so this was definitely a breath of fresh air. When I tell you I was hooked from the first sentence, I mean I was HOOKED! Obviously I would’ve liked a happier ending, but I’m satisfied.

This was AMAZING!! Definitely going to be one of the best reads of 2021! It's very well paced, not too slow nor too fast, just the right amount of mystery with exciting twist and turns. It's been a long while since I've read a book that had me guessing until the very end!! I could not put it down!! BRAVO!

EVERY LAST FEAR is an absolutely riveting thriller/procedural, told through multiple perspectives and timelines. Matt is an NYU student whose family is of national acclaim after a documentary series that featured his brother's story. His brother, Danny, is in jail for the murder of his girlfriend in high school, a crime for which he claims he is innocent. Though there was not much evidence, they did have a coerced confession- shaky grounds at best. Their father has spent his life since then trying to prove his innocence.

When the FBI finds him, it is with terrible news - his whole family aside from the brother in prison died in a terrible accident while on vacation in Mexico. However, this revelation is not the whole story, and as we investigate the case alongside Matt and Keller, the FBI agent who has become involved, 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.

This the first book I have read in a while that kept me up late reading - it was absolutely unputdownable. Every step along the way leads to new twists and surprises, and I was completely captivated by the family and their past and present. The pacing of the book is absolutely perfect - revealing just enough for never a dull moment and to keep the reader completely hooked. The ending took me by surprise, as this was one that left me with so many unexpected guesses at different stages.

To avoid spoilers, I will just say that EVERY LAST FEAR is a must-read for lovers of mysteries and thrillers. This is a riveting and absolutely shocking read that takes the reader expertly through unexpected twists and turns. Highly recommend picking this one up!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

They are dead, all dead. What happened during their vacation in Mexico? College student Matt Pine was unable to join his family and now he is left behind to find out what happened. Special Agent Keller (I really enjoyed her character) tells Matt that he must go to Mexico to sign papers for the release of his family. He also must tell his brother, Danny, who is in prison for the murder of his girlfriend. I usually don’t mind the back and forth between past and present information, but with it happening between almost every member of the family it became a distraction trying to figure out where the story was heading. Also, it seemed unbelievable (to me) that the FBI would send a young man on his own to Mexico to retrieve the bodies of his family…especially when they believed the family died under suspicious circumstances. Towards the end of the book, the complexity of the story became clear, but I could have done with less of the past to present details. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Every Last Fear is such a good thriller book with a lot of twist and turns. By the end of the book you'll at least feel bad for one of the characters because a lot happens to them all. This book has multiple POVS but mostly follows Matt who has an estranged relationship with his family. I think I felt bad mostly for him and his brother Danny. All that they went through sucks. The plot is pretty fast paced and the characters are pretty great. You get just enough about them to make you want to know more. The plot gives you just enough to want to know more but not so much that it ends up ruining the ending. Can't wait to read more books by Alex Finlay.

There is so much going on in this *very* good book that I feared, early on, that the center wouldn't hold. Instead, I discovered I was in the hands of an expert writer who handled all the plotlines (money laundering; high body count; forced -- false -- confession; unjust incarceration; family dynamics, and more) with respect and skill.

Alex Finlay, the author, also does a good job weaving the many, many alternating timelines together. We know from the shocking first sentence that most of the Pine family is dead. Is it connected to the primary drama in the family's lives: the wrongful conviction of their eldest son on a murder charge? Or is it a Mexican drug cartel's ties with the father's company?

Finlay takes us back and back, and forward, and back again, layering the facts, building the suspense and creating alternate, potential villains and motives.

My favorite part of the book, though is the interaction between Matt, the college-age son into whose lap this mess is dumped, and Sarah, the FBI agent investigating. This is a plot-driven book, so there are not many deep character dives, but this relationship is solid and well-developed.

The authors' website says that Alex Finlay is the pseudonym of a Washington, D.C. author. It would surprise none of his readers if we learned he has a substantial body of work published under other names. The writing in Every Last Fear was that assured.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur for an advance readers copy.

The very first line sucked me in.....“They found the bodies on a Tuesday.”

But then I'm sad to say, it didn't live up to that intense feel of that line. This ended up feeling like a "so so" FBI thriller. I read a lot of thrillers so maybe my view is tainted. I'm giving this 3 stars because I feel that it's best for you to decide for yourself. There were a lot of scenes that were unbelievable and just wouldn't happen in real life. But if you go into something like this suspending belief, then sure, it's fine. The ending was pretty intense once the pieces were coming together but I think this could have benefitted from a bit more polish.

Whew!
When someone says action packed thriller now, this is the book I will think of first!

The story begins with a tragic accident leaving a family of four dead in their vacation villa in Mexico. Left behind are two more members of the Pine family; one son - Matt, a NYU student, and another son - Danny, a prisoner for life for a murder his father and sister are motivated to prove he didn't commit.
To say the Pine family has been through a lot is to put it lightly.

This book has everything I love in a thriller - well-developed characters that sit right on the surface, a dual timeline that keeps the story moving, and short chapters that just really suck you in. There was even an added bonus that I really loved! Transcripts of scenes from the documentary that aired on the Pine family following Danny's sentencing for a murder that happened years prior to the four family members being found dead in Mexico.
I'm sure you're wondering how they all connect right? Don't worry. The past and present timelines flowed so well together to connect everything and really provides those answers to the multitude of deaths that take place within the pages of this book. (Which by the way, I did finish in less than 24 hours - it's a good one y'all).
Remember Alex Finlay's name. The epilogue even had a bit of a twist that I think means we may get a second book! I wouldn't be mad about that at all.

Every Last Fear is on sale March 2, 2021. Don't miss out on this action packed thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic book! Exactly what a psychological thriller should be - fast paced, full of twists and turns, and plenty of mystery. I could absolutely see this being made into a movie - and I'd be first in line to watch it! 5 stars and a HUGE recommendation to my fellow psychological thriller fans!