I loved this book from the opening line to the epilogue. I thought the plot was well thought out and the characters consistent and interesting. There were maybe a couple of things in the story that wouldn’t have been missed but not enough to grumble about. It. So a refreshingly original story well told. A well deserved five stars from me!

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is a much talked about and hyped book. When I read the synopsis I knew that I had to read it. Happy to say that it delivered and is worth all the hype. I could definitely see this as a series on TV. It is clever and very addictive. I was turning pages as fast as I could, needing to know how it would end.

Matt Pine is devastated at the news that his parents and little brother and sister have been found dead in Mexico. The authorities claim that it was a gas leak in the house they were staying in but the FBI is not convinced. What was his family doing in Mexico in the first place? It throws him back into the media spotlight once again. His family is already famous, Matt's older brother Danny is in prison serving a life sentence for murdering his girlfriend and was the subject of a Netflix documentary that didn't win them any friends in their home town. So why is the FBI involved...and is Matt next.

A fantastic thriller that you can sink your teeth into. Highly recommended. Thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book. Out on March 3rd.

The entire Pine family is found dead while on vacation in Tulum, Mexico. That is, everyone except for Matt, an NYU film student, and Danny, who is incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit. At least, that's what his family thinks. Especially his father and sister, who have been determined to solve what really happened and free Danny. In fact, it was the most recent lead in the case that sent them to Mexico in the first place...was their death accidental or a result of foul play?

This part thriller, part crime novel is divided into 'before' and 'after' - with 'before' leading up to the family's trip to Mexico and their murder, and the 'after' following Matt after he learns of his family's deaths.

The FBI, Matt, and two documentary filmmakers are all looking for their own truths about what happened. And there's someone out there who absolutely does not want the truth to come out.

Fast-paced and original, this is a brilliant debut that would be incredible on screen. I look forward to seeing what Alex Finlay writes next!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for provided me with an eARC for review.

This is a very fast paced thriller, that had me hooked from the beginning! The Pine family suffers a terrible loss and the survivors must deal with it, specially the young Matt. His older brother is in jail for a horrific crime, already documented by Netflix, which embarrassed the whole family with public backlash, which caused them an emotional strain. The FBI special agent Sarah Keller is appointed to the case, I found it very intriguing when the mob cartel was involved. Even the President’s daughter got interested in the case and put pressure in solving it, making the story frantic. With a full twist of events and an unexpected end ,this book is a must read if you are into crime thrillers.

I raced through this page turner! It opens with the death of a family who has gone to Tulum, Mexico in search of the truth and then cascades into a thriller where -no spoilers from me. Matt's brother Danny has been in prison for 7 years, convicted in the death of his ex-girlfriend after a high school party. His family was forced to move from their small town and just when things were calming a bit, a pair of documentary film makers started to probe the case. Matt's at NYU now; he's got a terrific support group of friends who are especially helpful when his world falls apart. FBI SA Sarah Keller thinks something's fishy about the deaths but she's surprised when they become an FBI priority because the President's daughter believes Danny is innocent. So who killed Matt's family? And Why? Well, this is told from multiple view points and moves between just before the trip to Tulum and its aftermath. The characters are terrific, the pacing on point, and the big reveal was a surprise to even this veteran thriller reader. I liked this for the small details as well - Keller's 300 mile tdy for a 6 minute meeting, Ganesh's generosity, and so on. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Clear your schedule and plan to read straight through. Two thumbs up!

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is a crazy thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat.

Danny Pine is in prison for killing his girlfriend, even though he claims he didn’t. Evan and Maggie try to figure out who actually killed Charlotte. Evan, Olivia, Maggie and Tommy Pine go to Mexico for Spring Break to try to find a lead in the Charlotte case. They are found dead in the house they are renting. Their deaths are called an accident but people are questioning if they were actually murdered. Matt goes to Mexico to fill out paperwork and collect his family. What actually happened to the Pine family? Is this related to Danny?

Every Last Fear is a crazy thriller with a lot going on. The book is told from multiple perspectives, some in the present and others in the past. Maggie was my favorite character. She is hardworking and will do anything to figure out what happened to Charlotte. She wants to save her brother that she hardly knows. Evan is determined to get his son Danny released from prison, so focuses on him more than the rest of his family. There is so much action this book is a quick read. I was constantly wondering what would happen next and could not figure out what actually happened to the Pines. Matt has distanced himself from his family but now is working with the FBI to find out what happened to his family. Matt also questions if what he thought he knew about Danny is true. There are twists and turns throughout Every Last Fear. The ending is crazy, and I didn’t see it coming.

What a blast! A top thriller - deaths, mysteries, teenage party, dodgy people, trips to Mexico - it has all the ingredients for a rollercoaster of a tale. Absolutely loved this book - a real can't put it down, edge of your seat read. I am waiting for more from this author.

After reading the sample on Bookish First, I immediately rated this book 5 stars and avidly watched NetGalley until I could request it. My last sentence of my sample review was: "I need this book in my life." How I love being right about a book.
This was a crazy read, and unputdownable to the very last page. Lots of characters, but that didn't overwhelm me at all, thanks to Finlay's writing and reminders along the way. The plot twists were IMMENSE and just the kind of novel I needed to fully get me back into my thriller game. I had so many theories throughout, and some were slightly true, but Finlay's masterful storytelling still had me gasping and saying 'oh my days' with each twisty nugget.
SO GOOD. Lovers of fast, twisty thrillers will lap this one up.

The Pine family’s lives are torn apart when eldest son Danny is accused and convicted of the murder of his girlfriend after a high school party. No one in the family is left the same. Dad Evan and little sister Maggie won’t let go of the investigation, chasing every little clue and embracing the opportunity for a Netflix documentary on the case. Mum Olivia focuses on youngest son Tommy, born after Danny is jailed. Middle brother Matt is pursuing his film studies at NYU and trying to forget what he saw the night the murder happened. But, Matt is pulled in even deeper when an FBI agent turns up at his door room to tell him that the rest of his family have died in Mexico. Is it an accident or did Evan and Maggie finally find evidence of the real killer?
This is a well-paced and interesting read. It switches between the present day and the weeks leading up to the ill-fated Mexico trip. Gradually revealing the reasons why the Pine family travelled, and how Danny’s death impacted them all. Matt is a reluctant investigator, his grief explains how he overlooks some of the oddities which give the readers early clues to something more sinister going on. Meanwhile FBI agent Sarah Keller, the white collar investigator who is pulled into the case because of a tangential link between Evan Pine and a money laundering operation involving his former accountancy firm, lends the whole thing a degree of solidity.
The author handles a number of different plotlines well. Gradually revealing the full story and developing the characters so that their actions in response to each reveal are at least consistent if not what I could picture myself doing in a similar situation. Everything comes together neatly to present an enthralling but grounded story building up to the final climax. A fantastic thriller and highly recommended.

A fast paced, heart-breaking mystery/thriller about family, secrets, lies and love.

"You have two choices when you're confronted with your every last fear: Give up or fight like hell." (Evan Pine)

What would you do if one of your loved ones was convicted of a crime, which you knew they didn't commit?
Matt Pine's family is found dead in Mexico, after their true-crime documentary on Netflix about his older brother Danny's conviction for murdering his girlfriend made them famous.
Was their death an accident like the Mexican police say, or was it foul play like the FBI suspect?

OMG I loved this! This is probably going straight into my top ten thrillers for 2021, and we're only in February! This book would be perfect for making into a film, or even a tv series, as it whisks you off to Mexico, NYC, Chicago and Nebraska, and I can totally envision myself hooked on that too!

I thought that Every Last Fear was Alex Finlay's debut but I have my doubts now! This name appears to be a pseudonym, and this book really didn't feel like a debut, but I could be wrong! If it is a debut, then well done Mr Finlay!

Well plotted and suspenseful, Every Last Fear started so strongly, and the plot just kept building and getting bigger, it was so well done, and had me engrossed! It was very emotional reading about a family pulled apart by tragedy, and I was a heartbroken, sweaty mess by the end! Seriously, I lay in bed after feeling so sad, because even though I knew the Pine family were dead from the very first page, I felt like I knew them. Reading from their POV, made me care about them, and I was genuinely upset when I finished the book!

Alex Finlay seamlessly wove many POVs together, over different timelines, throwing in red herrings and twists which made me gasp. I never knew what happened, who did it, or why! I have to say that I did get a bit of a bad feeling about one of the characters though, and was 100% right!

Although the plot was very well done, and kept me turning the pages and guessing, it was the well developed characters which I loved the most. As I said above, I got to know the dead Pine family, and loved them in all their flawed glory. They suffered so much, and I felt for them, as they tried to navigate life after Danny's conviction. Evan and Olivia, as they tried to keep the case alive, and at the same time bring their family back together. Maggie, the teenaged amateur detective, wanting to help and be as close to her father in any way she could. I loved her, she was well written, and actually felt like a teenaged girl to me, in the decisions she made, her thoughts, feelings, and of course, in her embarrassment of her parents ha ha! Then there was Tommy.. his death hit me the hardest, with him being the same age as my daughter. What a waste of a young life, so sad :(

A lot of the book was written in Matt Pine's POV, as he had to sort out getting his family home from Mexico, and unwittingly got drawn into something else. I really liked Matt, and I sympathised with him, as he felt so lost and alone after the imprisonment of his elder brother, and the death of his family. Luckily he had some great friends, who bought some much needed comedic moments to the story! I also really loved Sarah Keller, the FBI agent tasked with the case. A strong, smart woman, with a good sense of humour. I adored her relationship with her husband Bob, and how supportive and encouraging he was of his wife 😍 After reading the epilogue, I am hopeful that maybe agent Keller will be involved in a spin off?! I would definitely read that!

An intense and clever book, with a satisfying ending, Every Last Fear had me invested from the first page! I definitely recommend it, and advise you to read it in as few sittings as possible! Find a quiet place and enjoy the ride!

Matt Pine is a student at NYU when he receives the terrible news that his entire family has been found dead while vacationing in Mexico. At first the deaths appear to be accidental.

Soon however, Matt’s own life is in danger.

Years prior, Matt’s older brother Danny was incarcerated for murdering his girlfriend. Danny still maintains his innocence. A Podcast has since surfaced which also suggests that Danny was wrongfully convicted.

I LOVED this book!

I loved the intriguing, intense writing style and brilliant outcome of the story which deserved my full, shiny five stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing this incredible ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.

The book starts very interesting and the story is high paced. Im sorry to say the book fell flat for me because the characters are very 2D and some things that were set up in a big way just felt pointless in their payoff. It's an enjoyable read but it didn't live up to my expectations.

I was so excited for this book, the premise sounded like something that would hit a home run for me. So, I had built up some pretty high expectations going into this one. I am happy to say, it smashed all my expectations and then some. It was just a perfect read (for me, at least).
This book mashes together a couple of things I love: part true crime doco along the lines of 'Making a Murderer' and part excellent crime procedural novel (think Meg Gardiner or Karin Slaughter).
Told from a handful of POV's (which I don't always like, but here it is done to great effect), you still know who the main protagonists of this story are and they do most of the storytelling. The writing was pitch perfect and the plotting was tight.
I can't wait to see what is next from this author! I have pre-ordered my hardcover copy of this book and will happily throw down money for any future novels.

This is a complex thriller that takes some concentrating being set over two timelines and form 5 perspectives! But it is done really well and the slow unravelling of the story works perfectly.
This is an excellent debut and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

*thank you to Netgalley, Aria & Aries and Alex Finlay for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


3 stars.

For me, this was a good book with a good story but it wasn't great or amazing. It was worth reading but not one I'd pick up again.

The story kept me interested through out but my attention did start to drift a few times. I was kept interested to see where the events would end up and I was curious to find out the truth. But it wasn't a big bang of a thriller.

My favourite part of this book was the scenes that went back in time. Those I found to be more interesting than the 'present' storyline. I found the characters more enjoyable to hear about and all the little surprises along the way.

While I wouldn't highly recommend this, I wouldn't say it's not worth reading. I can see a lot of people have really liked this so if it sounds like something you would enjoy, go for it.

This was an action packed, sometimes a little chaotic, but overall a really enjoyable suspenseful thriller! I have a feeling this will be a popular book.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my opinion.

Matt Pine, an NYU student, receives some devastating news that his father Evan, mother Olivia, sister Maggie and baby brother Tommy have died at their holiday accommodation in Mexico. His elder brother Danny is in prison convicted of killing his girlfriend Charlotte. The family utterly believe in Danny’s innocence and cite a false coerced confession which is the subject of a Netflix documentary about wrongful conviction. Matt receives sucker punch after punch in this very compelling psychological thriller. The story is told in multiple perspectives by the Pine family and SA Sarah Keller which works really well. So strap yourself in for a suspenseful read but be warned, you’ll find it hard to tear yourself away until the end!

I’m sure this debut novel will rate as one of the best thrillers of 2021. The credible plot has all the essential ingredients of a well crafted, clever, slick mystery:-
1. Numerous well thought out twists and turns ✅
2. Very believable, well developed characters from Matt to his cute little brother, to clever brave Maggie, Evan who is prepared to go to any lengths for his son and the dogged determination of Sarah Keller ✅
3. Very colourful and likeable minor characters such as Matt’s uni gang of misfits especially Ganesh ✅
4. Intense, well written storyline ✅
5. Instances where your jaw thunks to the deck in shock ✅
6. Excellent fast flowing and fluid pace ✅
7. Mystery, danger, excitement, tension, surprises and unpredictability ✅
8. Coverups, credible, slickly believable liars and diverting red herrings ✅
9. Keeps you dangling with eager anticipation right up to the surprising end ✅
10. Plenty of atmosphere in various locations ✅

I could probably go on but you get the gist! I love the movie references too and the inclusion of the Netflix documentary interspersed in the narrative and the highlighting of the shocking statistics of wrongful conviction which is very concerning.

Overall, this is a standout from the crowd psychological thriller which keeps you riveted and intrigued until the deeply satisfying end. I can’t wait to read what Alex Finlay writes next which hopefully will feature the excellent Sarah Keller. Sign me up now please!!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Aria and Aries, Head of Zeus for the much appreciated arc for an honest review

A well played ‘justice for an injustice’ story
Matt Pine’s brother is serving life for a murder he says he didn’t commit, his family know he is innocent ( as does a Netflix documentary ) then Matt receives the devastating news that his Mum, Dad, another brother and his Sister have all been found dead on holiday in Mexico
The authorities say its a gas leak
Matt knows it isen’t
And so we embark on a tale of investigating and searching, putting pieces together and being alongside Matt as he refuses to give in, whatever obstacle is put in front of him, in his quest for answers
Going back and fro from now and the past this story draws you in and you want justice to be served, revenge is a dish best served anytime as long as it is served!
Enjoyed the descriptions of Mexico and also the ‘fly over’ states ( as described ) and the difference’s show. in NY and Nebraska living and how the 2 ‘joined up’ to make the story
An almost gentle/relaxing telling of a horrific story that really was very good and engaging

9/10
5 Stars

When an appeal to quash his son's murder conviction failed, Evan Pine along with his daughter Maggie still tried to get information to prove his innocence. This resulted in a family trip to Mexico as new evidence had come to light. However the family never returned home. Matt, a student, hadnt made the trip and was given the devastating news about his family. Thus resulting in his quest, along with an FBI agent to discover how his family died. This was a really entertaining read that i couldnt put down
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

Page turner and mind-blowing twisted story for sure.
Sometimes the media goes way beyond its limits to tell or make up a story about families who become celebrities overnight, for good or bad reasons, but mostly bad ones. What happens behind the camera is a different side of the story.
I couldn’t stop reading. From the description and the first chapter, I was immersed into this story full of interesting characters and twists that, some very pretty predictable as I had my theories proven but also many twists that turn out how wrong I was in thinking that I had everything solved.
Captivating writing and a must-read story.