The Necklace is a compelling story about a woman who plans to travel from upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the execution of the man found guilty of killing her daughter, Amy, 20 years previously. She encounters some very bad luck during her journey and comes to a shocking realization about what she has believed for all those years. The book consisted of flashbacks to the time of Amy's death until we had the entire story as well as chronicling Susan's journey. Although I found some incidents outside the realm of possibility, it was a pleasure to witness Susan's resilience in the face of all the roadblocks. There were many likeable and some not-so-likeable characters in the book and it was a well-paced read. I recommend the book but readers should be aware that there is reference to sexual assault of a child.

This was my second read courtesy of NetGalley and my first courtesy of Oceanview Publishing for which I'm extremely grateful.

The Necklace was soo good! Susan's daughter has been dead for 20 years, and soon her murderer will face the death penalty. Susan has been planning for years to attend the execution, but when she starts her trip from the Adirondacks all the way to Hodge Hills, North Dakota, she starts to believe that someone has made a big mistake.

The necklace her daughter Amy was wearing when she went missing was never found with her body. But these kinds of things don't always stay hidden, and the necklace could go a long way in figuring out who's innocent and who's guilty.

Wow - this book is the first in a long time to really have an impact on me. The ending was so intense that I had to physically get up to finish reading it and pace around the room a little bit....

It did start off a little slow, but the flashbacks to the past really helped keep me interested and once things started picking up they really picked up. I was extremely pleased to have a strong female in the centre of the book, and one who was the mother. Most books of this kind, have been from the perspective of the Detective in charge of the case and not someone so deeply emotionally involved.

I loved the small glimpses of the side characters, the owner of the Diner where Susan worked, the sister of the man soon to be executed , Kyra the teenager Susan befriends , among others - who all helped to keep the pace of the book and create interest, with none being too over the top or unbelievable.

I thought the book did a great job at highlighting some of the issues and unfairness in the Justice system, without being too intense or overbearing and boy did it tug at my heart strings. In fact there were tears.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book, I will be telling all my friends about it.

I was so looking forward to reading this one but i just couldnt get into it and i tried really hard.The book has peomise but just wasnt for me. Sorry.

I enjoyed the format I'm a sucker for past and present timelines. Over all it was fast paced and had disturbing content which I love. I felt engrossed and had to keep turning the page I didn't like the main character not usually a problem for me but I know it can be for others. Some things fell flat, like the conversations and inner dialogue so be warned of that too.

If you're in mood for a good rollercoaster murder mystery book, definitely try this one. Over all, a good page turner that you'll think about for awhile after you're done reading

It’s a shame, because the book starts off pretty promising, with main character Susan heading off on a road trip to the execution of her daughter’s murderer, which is macabre, but also very funny and irreverent? But beyond the inspired setup, this book kinda falls apart, or comes over as contrived, from the action sequences like the holding cell, to the clues, and suspects which are founded on tired tropes. There are little details, like Susan ruminating on the differences between hotels and motels, that ring true, but on the whole, the crisp pace of the plot leaves little room for atmosphere or depth of characterization. In the end, both characters and scenes feel skeletal, or crudely sketched.

This was a really fast paced read. Overall, I really enjoyed the story of Susan finding closure of her daughters death twenty years ago. Susan has a tripped planned to North Dakota to watch the execution of the man she thinks raped and murdered her daughter twenty years ago. During this trip she realizes that she may have gotten it all wrong and starts to look into the past on what really happened.

This book deals with some very heavy topics such has child sexual abuse and murder, this is brought up several times in the book in graphic detail. I think it is important to note this, in case other readers are triggered by that. The Necklace reads like watching a crime show, it is very fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I like that the author went back and forth from the past to the present day. One of the things I didn't think was so realistic was the characters that helped Susan along the way to finding the truth but it was still a very enjoyable read.

If you are a fan of crime and mystery shows or books this is a great one to check out. Thank you for the opportunity to read the E-Arc!!

I enjoyed the format of the book. The chapters sporadically switched between past and present day. I also liked how the reader was privy to what the protagonist, Susan, was thinking in most situations. But, the lack of plot complexity and one-note characters left me wanting more, especially when dealing with such a heavy subject. Also there were some unrealistic events that didn’t sit well with me. All in all, the lack of dimension made this just an okay read for me. That being said, if you are looking for a quick simple thriller - it would be a solid choice.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC before it’s September release.

Told in the past and the present, Susan Lentigo is the main character and she has suffered a tragic loss. Twenty years ago, her daughter Amy was abducted, assaulted, and killed. It led to the end of her marriage, and if it wasn't for her close-knit community, she might have just curled up and died. Even though she has just been surviving, not living, one thing has kept her going. The man responsible has been sentenced to die, and Susan is determined to be there, to look him in the eye when it happens, and perhaps finally feel like Amy has gotten some justice.
Susan won't have an easy time getting to North Dakota and the execution though. Money and car trouble might slow her down, but it is a visit with her ex-husband Danny that leaves her questioning everything she believes about Amy's death. What if an innocent man is about to be executed? Can Susan discover the truth with the clock ticking and so many years gone by after this heinous crime?
A heartbreaking story about loss, grief, and never really knowing the people around you. There were a few scenes that had me rolling my eyes, but otherwise, I had to know who killed Amy.

This book subject is disturbing and may not be for every reader. The author, Matt Witten, has carefully created intriguing and memorable characters. The story flows easily; moving from past to present. Each chapter’s timeline is clearly identified.. The Necklace is a thought provoking read. Although I might not describe this book as an enjoyable read, due to the subject matter of the storyline, it is a worthwhile read!
I am glad to have had the opportunity to read and review this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC.
*the swipe up to advance the pages is very sensitive.

The necklace is a fast paced mystery that draws the reader in quickly and doesn’t let them go until the finale. The ending is fairly predictable but satisfying nonetheless. The book could easily be made into a movie with minor changes.

The first half of the book alternates between the past and present day, a great way to see how characters and their story develop. I really enjoyed this part of the book, the glimpses of the past and seeing it unfold really drew me in. This was definitely the slower/less action part of the book but it begins to pick up as connections are made and the reader begins to ask questions along with the main character, Susan.

The second half, the action, is very quick and rather predictable but it does leave you content. The epilogue added the (possibly too) perfect ending but it did provoke some emotions.

This would be a perfect book to bring to a beach or read at home. It’s not too deep, meaning that, other than the main character, you just meet the surface of others. Yes it’s a mystery, but you aren’t weighed down with many fine details about the case, people, etc.

I would probably rate this a 3.5/5, rounding up to a 4 for this rating system because taking it for what it is, a quick read mystery, it was pretty good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy of the book to review. This review is my own opinion.

I’m calling it now, “The Necklace” will have the hype of “Gone Girl” this year. I couldn’t put this one down and haven’t read something this engrossing for a while! I thought the novel moved well from the past to current day. This novel does contain sensitive content (pedophilia, childhood abuse) and was at times hard to get through, but I believe it tells an important story that author Matt Witten mentioned in his Author’s Note was inspired by true events.
I’ve read that The Necklace is being optioned for film, I think it could be carried well onto the screen.

Thank you NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC. Much appreciated and enjoyed!
4.5/5

I didn't even need to read a synopsis to know this book would be good. The cover itself drew me in and boy did the story live up to my expectations. Within the first few pages, I was drawn to Susan. There wasn't much description of her and I don't have a specific reason for why I feel this way, but I just had a gut feeling.. Matt Witten really knows how to write a character. Each person was described in a way where I felt like I was watching a movie play out in my head. The plot was slightly predictable but the twists and turns are enough to really keep you engaged. It was an enjoyable quick read that I would definitely recommend to anyone who is a fan of thrillers!

This was really hard to read. The main character was really unlikable and I had a hard time with the structure.

It’s not very often I can finish a book within 24 hours, but this book captivated me the whole time. I HAD to know what was going to happen. I loved the way the book went from 20 years ago to present day. I felt the pain of Susan’s character throughout this book.

Susan Lentigo's daughter was murdered 20 years ago and now the time has come for Susan to travel to the execution of the murderer. Susan is broke and so friends and family host a fundraiser for Susan to be able to afford the trip. Her husband left her shortly after the murderer was caught, but she feels compelled to let him know about the execution. Susan decides to take the trip by bus and gives herself plenty of time to get there.

During the trip she has many misadventures, including the stop to inform her husband about the execution. She meets many interesting people as well.. Sometime during her trip she comes across something that makes her have serious doubts that the man whose execution she is attending. She starts to suspect someone else. She has to prove it before an innocent man is executed. But how? She is not sure where to start, but Susan is a smart and resourceful woman.

This was an awesome book, and even though you know pretty early on who the suspect is, the suspense in proving it keeps you reading long in to the night! Highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of The Necklace by Matt Witten in exchange for my honest review.

Amy was brutally murdered and a man convicted and sentenced to die. Amys' mother Susan on her way to witness the execution and get justice for her child. Except, Susan isn't certain the correct person has been convicted.
When the case won't be reopened Susan decides to take matters into her own hand and find out the truth and get the justice for Amy.

This book kept me on the hook to see how it was going to end and who the killer was. Written at a fast pace and left many possibilities open as to which way the story would go.

Enjoyed the ride and would read more by this author

The Necklace by Matt Witten read like a movie script. There were a lot of visual descriptions that made you feel like you were there with Susan Lentigo. Susan is on a voyage to attend the execution of the man that raped and killed her daughter Amy 20 years ago. The story has you on the ride with Susan from upstate NY to North Dakota. On the way, she suffers a lot of misfortune. However, this journey has Susan reliving the whole ordeal and has her second guessing if the man that was accused is actually the man who did this horrendous crime.
I enjoyed the book. In the beginning it was pretty slow. Susan was put into a lot of unrealistic scenarios but strangely enough it works and reads like a movie i.e it would never happen in real life. I don't want to spoil the plot! Read it!

Thank you #Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read #thenecklace by #MattWitten

What a heartbreaking story of a young girls murder and her mother’s quest for justice. A necklace that was never found and and a convicted killers recanted confession. This mystery novel pulled out all the stops, kept me guessing until the final pages. So entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley for this highly entertaining arc

The Necklace took me on a rollercoaster ride. I enjoyed how it had flashbacks between the past and present and we got a true sense of what Susan and her family were like in the past and we can see how Amy's murder affected her. I was invested in Susan's journey to reach North Dakota and witness the execution of her daughter's killer. When he meets Danny and sees Amy's necklace on Emily-I was shocked. I did not see this twist coming at all. Right along with Susan, I began to doubt that the real murderer was behind bars. I wanted to see justice and Susan prove that Danny was the true killer. The only thing I wish was in the epilogue was more information about Danny. Was the necklace enough to convict him? Did he end up in jail? Did he confess? I felt there wasn't enough closure with Danny being the true murderer.