Matt Pine is a college student coming back from a hard night of drinking when he is informed that his entire family has died on a vacation to Mexico. Well, most of his family. His older brother Danny is still in jail, serving a life sentence for murdering his girlfriend back when he was in high school. Danny's story was the basis for a true crime documentary a few years prior that put the Pines in the spotlight and made them a household name. Could there possibly be a connection between Danny's conviction and the deaths of the Pine family? As Matt returns to his hometown, which doesn't look very kindly on the Pines after the documentary, to bury his family, he learns that there's a lot more to both stories than he previously thought.

What a wild ride this was! I read this in three sittings, only putting it down when I was falling asleep haha. I started to piece some of the mystery together towards the middle of the story, but still found myself repeatedly surprised by the twists and turns this novel takes to get to the ending. A fun and fast read that you will definitely enjoy if you are a psychological thriller fan!

Thank you so much to the author, Alex Finlay, the publisher, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC for my honest review.

An amazing debut!! This book was flawless and contained so many thrilling pages, that I couldn't wait to devour this in one sitting. True Crime, prison, family, and suspense after suspense; this will leave you sitting at the edge of your seat for the next book by this author.

We have a son who was convicted of murder of his sweetheart, and while the family continuously maintains his innocence, and tries repeatedly to get him out of prison, the family ends up getting murdered in Mexico. The remaining un-jailed son has to travel to get his family from Mexico, and that truly is where the story starts.

I love the conspiracy theories, the story line and the family that ties this whole plot together.

Every Last Fear was an emotional, page-turning, roller coaster ride. From page one you are sucked into the dysfunction that was the Pine family. While older brother Danny languishes in jail for a crime he says he didn’t commit his younger brother Matt must deal with the deaths of everyone else in his family. Was this related to Danny or was it a tragic accident as the authorities are claiming? This is a must read thriller! Thank you to #NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my requested copy of the ARC. Review is my own honest opinion of this book.

Matt's family is murdered, and he is determined to find out by whom. His older brother, Danny, is in prison for murdering his high school girlfriend. Danny was featured in a true crime documentary about the murder. Many believing that he was convicted for a crime that he did not commit.
The question now is are these murders related and if so how?

Crime thriller lovers, put this at the top of your 2021 TBR pile! This book was the perfect quick paced plot driven thriller that still had deep main characters and a lovable supporting crew of college besties.
There is so much happening in this book, but somehow the author makes it work. Lots of twists and close calls will leave you holding your breath at the turn of each page. Extremely well done, I enjoyed this one!

Thank you Netgalley, St Martins' Press, and Alex Finlay for allowing me to read this ARC. I seem to be pretty lucky with books lately. I was hooked from the prologue. Then we meet Matt, who is playing chess with a homeless man. in the park. Matt turns out to be a fantastic character who is in very sad circumstances. I liked how he has a motley group of friends to help him deal with things. At first I didn't like the different timelines. It seems so many books do this these days and it gets tiresome. However, as the book went on (and ended) this turned out to be a great technique. Matt's sister Maggie was the best character, she's smart and daring. I was sorry we didn't get to know more about Danny and his story.
The writing was good. The story flowed well and was easy to read and understand. Sometimes when there are so many characters, it's hard to keep track of everything/everyone, but I didn't have that issue with this book.
The story was great! There were other stories within the main one and they all added up in the end. I recommend this book and the only reason it's not five stars is I am not sure I would read it again.

There’s a lot going on in this book with six main characters going back and forth in time. I was impressed with the characterizations and liked the author’s writing style. Considering all of the complicated connections, the story flowed effortlessly. And there were a few bits of humor I enjoyed, especially Bob, agent Keller’s husband. In his husbandly conversations, he showed a loving, yet sarcastic, wit.

The ending was somewhat disappointing. For example, the revelation about the villain was not surprising. When there are no other choices, the only possible option is the “nice guy” you’re not supposed to suspect. Also, while my pulse was racing, I realized it was reminiscent of the last five minutes of a Lifetime movie. That being said, this was a solid read for fans of mystery/thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur press for allowing me to read and review.

This psychological thriller is a story about the Pine family. Danny, the oldest son, is serving time in prison for the murder of his girlfriend Charlotte. As if that is not enough, with the crime being recreated on TV, Matt, the middle son then gets the most devastating news that he could imagine. His parents, sister and young brother have died while vacationing in Mexico. The FBI need Matt to fly to Mexico to identify the bodies and get them back to the USA. While in Mexico, Matt is followed and realizes that maybe his family did not die due to a gas leak, as the Mexican police had established.
This story is told by various members of the family as a back story, which finally reveals exactly what happened.
Interesting and flows well. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Minotaur Books / Macmillanusa {partner} for a gifted ARC in exchange for a honest review.
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“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪‘𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧: 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡.“

This is the premise of Every Last Fear. A father, Evan Pine, relentlessly searches for the true killer while his son, Danny Pine, is allegedly wrongfully imprisoned for smashing a woman’s head during a party. Evan’s obsessive pursuit even lands him a nationwide infamous documentary that further ruins the Pines’ lives and pits everyone against them.

Evan Pine, his wife Liv, his teen daughter Maggie and the youngest son Tommy all die during a vacation in Mexico. Special agent, Sarah Keller, is entrusted with handling the Pines case and instructs the only free Pine son, Matt, to sign a few papers and bring his family’s bodies back to Nebraska. As with any good thrillers, and this one is a damn good one, nothing comes easy and the Pines family’s death only gets more convoluted and conspiratorial as the story progresses.

This is a very intense and plot-driven psychological thriller that needed my full attention to follow the multiple POVs layered throughout a thick book. Because it’s heavily plot-driven and multiple characters are involved in the story, I felt that most characters, except for Matt, lacked depth. I would have especially liked to know more of Danny as a person who was central to the story. Because of this one factor, I was hovering over 4.5 stars but then thought of it for a day and decided to give the full 5 stars instead, because DAYUM, this story was intricate, fast-paced and international! This is definitely a Hollywood-esque thriller that I hope is made into an action-packed blockbuster! One more thing, I figured the “bad guy” early on because I read too many thrillers and see a certain trend among the baddies. But I still could not figure the whys and hows so I was still swiftly turning the pages till the end. I cannot wait for this novel to be released in March and discuss with other thriller lovers! Absolutely do not skip this book if you’re a thriller lover!

This was the first book that I have read by this author and I completely enjoyed it. It combined my interest in documentaries with my love of reading! I will definitely be on the hunt for more books by this Alex Findlay. Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC.

This was not my favorite. It was an overall entertaining story but I felt like it was missing something. I couldn’t connect to the characters and it felt like the story took too long to get where it was going.

So appropriately titled.
When Matt Pine has an FBI agent visit him at his NYU dorm- he thinks’What now?’.
His brother has already been in prisoned for brutally killing his girlfriend, his family was driven out of their quaint town in Nebraska and their Netflix documentary on his brothers life has put him in a horrid limelight.
His family all dead on a supposed spring break trip to Mexico leads the FBI and Matt to the truth after years of searching. And what they find may be the worst truth of all...

There were parts of this book that were very good and parts that had me shaking my head wondering why on earth something so stupid would be included. One that immediately comes to mind is why would a government agency send a grieving young adult to another country, unescorted, for such a gruesome task without having someone there to guide him? It just didn't make sense.

There also seemed too many side plots that yes, came together in the end, but didn't really add to the story. Parts of the end were a bit over the top, but for the most part it was a good, not great, story.,

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

You know that feeling when you find an exceptional, remarkable, outstanding book? One you can’t stop thinking about? This is one of those✨

The Pine family has lived in grief for years- since the eldest son, Danny was convicted of brutally murdering his girlfriend

Although the family has always believed in Danny’s innocence and fought tirelessly to free him, Matt has harbored secret feelings that his brother is guilty.

A documentary is made about the murder, which further divides the already extremely polarized, strident public opinion....

Now, Matt is away at college when his family goes on a trip to Mexico. The FBI shows up to tell Matt that his family was found dead in Mexico. His father, mother, sister and little brother are all gone.

Matt is left alone to try to figure out what happened.
_________________________________
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This is a tense psychological thriller that is steeped in turmoil and tragedy. It’s a layered story full of secrets and conspiracies.
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I will be shocked if it’s not adapted into a film.

You do NOT want to miss this one!

What a freaking page turner. Book had me guessing from page to page and I never wanted to put it down. Literally did not see the end coming. At all. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Matt is an NYU student whose older brother Danny is currently in prison after being indicted and charged for murdering his girlfriend. The case generated buzz when it was the focus of a true-crime documentary some years ago. Now, Matt's entire family is found dead in Tulum. He must figure out what happened to them and whether their deaths relate back to the murder his brother was charged with years ago.

There is some interesting plotting in this, but it meanders. There' are scenes, descriptions, and anecdotes that really should have been cut out so that it moves more quickly, instead of dragging, and this sadly got in the way of me connecting with the story. The writing is fairly good, but it seems like the revision process was most likely not thorough enough, leading to a lack of focus in the narrative.

📚 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 / 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝗪 ⁣📚⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
Title: #EveryLastFear
Author: #AlexFinlay
Publisher:@minotaur_books
Pub Date: 3/2/21
Type: #Paperback and #eBook (thanks @netgalley)
Genre: #Mystery #Thriller⁣
Must Read Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

My thoughts:

Well, guys ... this was one of my most anticipated reads for 2021 (thank you @minotaur_books for my {gifted} copy) and this one did not disappoint! I was so excited that we chose this as our December book for the #2CandidBabesBuddyReads group and everyone that's finished it so far has absolutely loved it! I'll be 100% honest ... I had NO IDEA WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON for at least 65% of this book. I tried so hard to crack the case (pun intended), but Finlay did such a fantastic job of keeping the reader completely blind and second guessing every prediction until the very end. I loved the multiple POVs in this book and the switch between past and present - I think that added the perfect element of suspense while nicely tying together the plot. This book is also the perfect mix of genre's - mystery, thriller, psychological suspense and some "true crime" elements that make it deliciously addictive. This one knocks it out of the park - a definite must read!

This was a pleasant surprise. I've been asking for a thriller that kept me guessing, one that I didn't have all figured out by the 30% mark, and this one answered.
The characters were interesting, and the alternate POVs plus timeline jumps were done in such a way that it was engaging, exciting, and flowed with the story. I found the story to be well written and compelling.
My only complaints are that I found the ending to be slightly anti-climatic. I can't decide if it was all wrapped up too neatly or if there was just something missing.
And it dragged in a few places, but I was already hooked so it was easy to keep going.

Overall, would recommend to anyone who loves thrillers, both beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yowzers..........

Picture this: Your fingers are splayed wide while holding the cards that you've been dealt. How 'bout a little small town/big city, money laundering, college kid imprisonment, foul play in a foreign country, multiple murders, and the FBI leaning hard in your direction?

No one wants to receive that phone call that shreds you in seconds. Matt Pine has just been informed that his family has died in their rented casita in Tulum, Mexico. Matt, a film student at NYU, cannot even imagine what horror lies ahead in the oncoming days.The foreign authorities are blaming it on a gas leak. For what this family has endured in the last few years, Matt is not sure about anything anymore.

Matt's older brother, Danny, sits in a prison cell in Fishkill Correctional Prison in Nebraska. His state Supreme Court appeal has been denied. Danny, local football hero, had been found guilty of murdering his high school girlfriend at an alcohol bonanza party in the most brutal way. This sent shock waves through the tiny town of Adair, Nebraska. The family was forced to move out of state to avoid constant harassment. Matt is no longer sure of his brother's innocence. He's been harboring a lead-bottom glimpse of something he saw that fateful night and he struggles with the knowledge every day since.

But Matt's dad, Evan Pine, and Matt's teenage sister Maggie are still investigating leads relentlessly. Before leaving for Mexico, they had been contacted by a documentary film producer who previously released a film that only brought more negative attention to Danny. It's here that Alex Finlay brings pause to his readers as he sheds light on the widespread use and misuse of films, blogs, apps, and snarky internet algorithyms. Could Evan and Maggie be onto something or is it another deadend in the making?

Have mercy! Every Last Fear leads me to think that HBO should be contacting the talented Alex Finlay. This book has all the makings of a hit like "The Undoing" starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant that kept us locked in tight for weeks. Every Last Fear deals with real-life situations that bite off chunks of family stability in nano seconds in a high tech world out there. It's far deeper and darker than the techie dork in his mom's basement.

Excellent fast-paced writing with twists and turns around every corner. Finlay sweeps the story from the days leading up to Mexico and the aftermath that follows. Solid characters, including FBI Agent Sarah Keller and a consulate contact in Mexico, Carlita Escobar. Believe me, you won't let out a breath until the very end.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to the talented Alex Finlay for the opportunity.

Every Last Fear......

I am quite surprised at how good this was. This is the first book that I've finished all year in a little over 2 days. Mind you... I've been in the worst book reading funk all year.

This book honestly reminded me of my love for thrillers. I feel like it's been SO long since I've had an amazing thriller on my hands and friends you don't want to miss this one!!

Plot and storyline are strong... connecting you from the beginning about a family that has died in Mexico on vacation, characters are well likable and developed, told through multiple POV's (which I absolutely loved), and writing that is addicting and engaging.

I absolutely loved the Pine family despite the struggles that they continued to endure. And talk about a slam dunk for a debut novel for Finlay!

I would recommend picking this one up!!

4.5/5 stars

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Minotaur/St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 3/2/21
Published to GR: 12/15/20