Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"The Collective" by Alison Gaylin will be out on November 2nd, 2021.

"The Collective" by Alison Gaylin tells a tale we've all heard before; an innocent victim whose life is ended too soon and the perpetrator left unpunished, their life unblemished by the killing of another. Enter The Collective, a group of vigilante women that may or may not be dealing out their own brand of justice. The story centers around angry and grieving mother, Camille Gardner, and her descent into The Collective.

I found this novel to start off really strongly. Gaylin does a brilliant job grounding the story in reality (I think some of the deaths in the novel drew from real life news stories but I might be wrong). The novel opens strong with showing us who Camille Gardner is and who she was and why she is where she is at the start of the novel. Before Camille finds out who the Collective is, there are a lot of heartbreaking stories that definitely caused me to cry because all of it sounded like something ripped from news headlines; stories of golden frat boys who are accused of rape, a white man fatally killing a black athlete who made the mistake of wearing a hoodie on his walk home, etc.

When I got to about 50% through the novel, I had a more difficult time sympathizing with Camille although I suppose most people in her position would react that way. That said, I found myself disappointed and even annoyed with her? I found myself siding a lot with the Collective whenever Camille pushed back against any rules. And so, by the time the end came around, I didn't feel anything in particular for Camille other than that she had kind of done this to herself. BUT also the twist at the end felt a bit too perfect?

I'm not sure how I feel about this novel as a whole but I wouldn't not recommend it to a friend.

I was not expecting this book to be as intense as it was. I mean it was super intense and just kept me on edge once I got into it. Camille's 15 year daughter had been killed by Harris Blanchard who has never paid the price for her life. After finding others like her on the dark web, she teams up with a group called the Collective

I don't want to give any of the twists away or even the plot, just know that this is unbelievably well written and sucks you in!

My Recommendation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The Collective” By Alison Gaylon

Coming Soon…in November 2021

Electrifying Vigilante Justice Delivered by Anguished Women

Bestselling Author Alison Gaylin’s soon to be released, “The Collective,” will remind you that when you make a pack with the Devil, according to myth, the Devil is guaranteed to collect His due.

That's exactly what grieving mother, Camille Gardener, learned the hard way after pledging loyalty to a cultish ‘women’s only’ group called Ağlayan Kaya (the weeping stone), where access and contact with the Group is entirely through the Dark Web.

Each member of Ağlayan Kaya has lost a loved one to a tragic accident where the perpetrator is found not guilty of a crime. These women are suffering and want revenge at any cost, as well as their own idea of “justice.”

After losing her only child, Emily, at the hands of a rich, pampered, Frat-boy rapist who is found by the court, and the court of public, to be beyond reproach and innocent of any crimes, Camille Gardener is stealthily handed a card with an internet address on it and offered a suggestion to visit the site.

From that time on, Camille’s grieving taking on purpose. She has a venue to rant with others who understand. Little did she expect that promising commitment to the Group, on the memory of her daughter's life, could endanger her own.

As the actions of Ağlayan Kaya become outrageous and deadly, Camille’s overly inquiring mind gets the best of her. She starts constantly emailing the anonymous group leader with dangerous questions about the Group's intent. Soon her life and safety, and that of others that she knows and loves, are in jeopardy.

Hold onto your seats because this is a terrific twisted thriller of the very best variety. It's part “Strangers on A Train” with an O’Henry surprise ending. Enjoy!
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The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs
REVIEWER: J. Hunt
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The Collective”
By: Alison Gaylin
General Fiction (Adult), Mysteries & Thrillers
Publication Date: 02 November 2021
William Morrow, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, and Custom House

My Sincere Appreciation to NetGalley, Author Alison Gaylin, William Morrow, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, and Custom House for Providing this Advance Reader's Copy for Review.

I consumed this book! Alison Gaylin did everything right as far as I'm concerned. The premise was unique, there were likable as well as detestable characters, it was streamlined and intense. At no point did it get bogged down with unnecessary content, it just kept going full tilt. This one will stay with me for awhile. Thank you to Netgalley/HarperCollins for the advanced copy of this. I will look forward to reading more books by Gaylin.

Very enjoyable book! The story concept was something I could get in to. It truly gravitates you in and it is very hard to put the book down, although slow at first. But the intensity of the book midway makes up at the fact that the story takes awhile to pick up. However, superb on the story telling. I can't wait for what else the author has in store!

I don't even know where to take this review. I was excited to read this. The book description had me wanting to pick it up right away.

I'm really confused by the amount of rave reviews for this book. I get that everyone's tastes are different, but I seem to be the only one so far who didn't thoroughly enjoy this book.

I just couldn't connect to the storyline and the characters. They had no real substance to them. They were all very fake and surface level. I found it hard to keep myself engaged with the book because I just couldn't connect in any way.

The plot itself was quite interesting. I enjoyed the twists and turns the author threw at readers. If only the characters were written better in this story. This could have been an overall win for me had they been. Overall I am indifferent about this one.

Oh. MYGOD. This was SUCH a good book. I'm the slowest reader. It typically takes me at least a week to read a book, but I finished this one in two days. This is the creepy, mystery-filled, engrossing summer read you're looking for.

The collective is a group of grieving women who take it upon themselves to exact revenge. At first, you're rooting for these women, but as you get deeper into the book, the more disturbing the plot becomes. The main character, Camille is super likable and you can't help but sympathize with her right from the start. It's nice to see that despite her grief, she has a conscience very early on and you want her to find someone who can help her. Who can she trust? The reader is as in the dark as Camille is until the very end.

I wasn't entirely happy with the ending, but I will admit it added an extra chill up my spine. Will be checking out more books by this author for sure.

Camille Gardner has lost her fifteen year old daughter, Emily. After five years of grieving, her accused killer, Harris Blanchard, is still living his life and never paid the consequences. Camille is disgusted to learn that Harris is being given a humanitarian award at his school, she attends the award ceremony and has a break down that is recorded on video. Camille soon learns there are others out there that have had been wronged, just like her, and want justice and revenge. She secretly joins a group called, The Collective. Everything about this group is shrouded in mystery and Camille soon learns why.

A brilliant novel written by Alison Gaylin. The plot was well thought out and executed perfectly, I found myself turning the pages quickly. The ending was not what I thought and I always like being surprised. Overall, an exceptional novel that I would highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

Great storytelling at its finest. The premise is fresh and interesting, and I was kept guessing through the entire story. The raw grief experienced by the MC is moving and believably written and shows how transformative the loss of someone so close to us can be. I really enjoyed the idea of this group that helps grieving mothers, but also how it was turned on the MC by the end of the story, showing how easy it is to question the intentions and motives of others, and whether we truly have the right to take our vengeance when we blame others, whether they deserve it, or not.

This is the sort of premise I live for when it comes to suspense: a classic revenge tale, moral gray areas, a journey to try to right universal wrongs. We’ve seen this sort of story: a collective of everyday folks working together to get revenge. But it’s never been done quite like this, with grieving mothers as the main characters.

The story is well written and there’s a lot to chew on as you’d expect in a story that dabbles in this sort of subject matter. In the end, I was satisfied and was never bored. If you enjoy revenge tales, check this one out; it’s well written and unique.

"Say here what you will. Speak your anger and take others’ as your own. Fantasize the worst fates for your children’s murderers and we will join you in it. The only words that aren’t tolerated here are the ones forced on us by those who aren’t part of the mountain—“ Moving on, “learning to forgive,” a newfound understanding,” etc. These are words we say to make others feel comfortable. We do not appease others by hiding our grief. There is no “moving on” here. We are the face of a mountain. No one can move us. Type “yes” if you agree."

Thank you netgalley and William Morrow and Custom House for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book. When I first requested it, I had no idea what to expect. We follow Camille, a woman who's reputation has been vilified in the media after the death of her daughter. Camille wants justice for her daughter, Emily, after she was raped and murdered by the rich Harris Blanchard. His reputation has only improved. He was set free by the justice system, returned to his expensive university, and has flourished ever since.

One day, Camille is invited into a secret group of like-minded women. These women don't give platitudes, they don't tell you it will all get better. They want justice - no, they want revenge. In the collective, she can lay out her darkest fantasies for what she wants to happen to her daughter's killer, but that's all she thinks they are, just fantasies. But Camille quickly realizes the Collective may not just fantasizing.

I read the second half of this book in a day. I couldn't put it down. This is a emotional, powerful thriller that everyone should read.

The Collective by Alison Gaylin

Camille Gardner has (barely) lived through every parent's worst nightmare, the loss of her fifteen year old daughter Emily five years previously. What makes Camille’s pain exponentially worse is the fact that after Emily was murdered, her killer Harris Blanchard, a local college student, not only escaped justice, but his well-connected family made Emily out to be the villain of her own tragedy. Camille learns that Harris is being given a humanitarian award at his school, and the consequences of her attendance at that ceremony makes her something of an internet celebrity, for all the wrong reasons.

The situation serves to perpetuate her anxiety, distress and rage, and Camille feels there is no one out there who truly understands the constant pain she feels knowing her daughter’s killer is not only free, but enjoying his life to the fullest. She quickly learns through mysterious means that not only are there others out there struggling with the same emotions, they are poised to do something about their pain and exact revenge on those who have done their families wrong.

Camille eagerly joins the group, which uses a hive mentality to its advantage. Everyone has a specific job to do, and both the jobs and the collective as a whole are shrouded in secrecy for everyone’s safety; however, as Camille slowly learns, that may not actually be the case for all of its members. Alison Gaylin’s writing is exceptional, and the plot is incredibly well thought out and executed as the reader moves through the story. The only change I would have liked to see would have been a bit more suspense in the ending. It was good, but I felt a bit more detail and subterfuge leading up to the finale would have made it great.

Alison Gayllin's "The Collective" poses as interesting moral dilemma - should individuals who hurt others (and get away with it) get what they deserve? Camille Gardner lost her 15-year-old daughter after she went to a party and was assaulted by a college student... who walked free after trial. Camille lost her daughter, husband, and basically her life in a matter of months. She is grieving, angry, and wants to hurt her daughter's attacker so he and his parents also feel her pain. She is selected to be in a group of women who want justice as well. The book goes very deep into these cases and asks how much does one really know about another's life? A solid read that will keep you thinking...

I loved the premise of the book and felt a tenderness and deep sympathy for Camille. The book was paced well and I couldn't put it down. While I did find the ending shocking...it was also rather abrupt. I find myself keep thinking about this book and will use it for a book discussion once its published.

The Collective opens with Camille, a mother who is attending an award ceremony for the boy who she blames for the loss of her daughter. A mix of drinks and anti-depressants leads to a monumental meltdown. She becomes an unwilling star on social network due to videos posted by people who attended. Camille has been stuck since her daughter was found dead in the woods. She has lost her marriage, her prime vocation, her friends and lives a life of isolation. As she is leaving the police station, a woman approaches and gives her a car for an organization of women who meet anonymously on the dark web to tell the horrible fates they wish to befall their children's killers. It seems to be all talk, but Camille begins to wonder if some of the group are taking drastic more drastic action to relieve their pain.
This was the first book I have read by Alison Gaylin, and I look forward to reading more of her works. She does a very good job of setting up her world. As the story continues, you find that things may not be as cut and dried as they seemed in the beginning. It was an engaging read which was hard to put down. There was an ending that I didn't expect but I found it to be earned.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Author Alison Gaylin takes you deep into the psyche of Camille Gardner. A mother who lost her 15 year old daughter in such a horrific tragedy and never received closure. Drawing you into her deep, dark emotional rabbit hole of grief, anger, and resentment. After her only remaining friend, Luke, forces her to face her truth about just how far gone she has become, she tries to change.

Her public 'rock bottom' moment has since gone viral though and The Collective now have her on their radar. With promises of freedom to express and release five years of pent-up rage and grief in its raw form among like-minded grieving mothers, her obsession changes direction. Entranced by the ideals promoted by the Collective, she begins playing a deadly game. Sure, she feels more alive than she has in five years but is it worth the price she'll have to pay for peace?

I highly recommend this book to everyone! Alison Gaylin is a masterful writer with the skills to draw you down into each emotion as if they are your own. You live the pain, the excitement, the adrenaline rush, and the fear with Camille. Send the kids out with a family member and start the book early in the morning on your day off from work. You won't want to put this book down until the last word has been read.

Are you kidding me?

Just when I thought I had the whole thing figured out I was slapped firmly into place by brilliant writing, some unexpected developments and a spectacular ending.

Do not miss this one!!

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

What did I do when I finished Alison Gaylin’s latest masterpiece? Flipped back to page one and started again.

Camille Gardner carries the heaviest weight in the world: her teen daughter’s death. She can’t stop herself from obsessively following the life of the young man she blames, letting this obsession consume her until it destroys almost destroys her life. But when her erratic behavior goes viral, she’s contacted by the Collective, a group of wronged mothers who seek justice and accountability. Camille has to decide how far she’s willing to go to find peace.

Camille’s story will clutch your heart, send it racing, and not let you go, until long after you’ve closed the book on the Collective. I found myself willing the story to keep going and I don’t think I’ll ever stop thinking about the characters: their relentless pursuit of vengeance, overflowing cups of hatred, boundless and interrupted motherly love. Gaylin artfully tells Camille’s story and the story of mothers everywhere, who have faced the heartbreak of losing a child. She’s able to weave their grief into a hatred so tangible, so palpable, so strong that I found my fists clenched in anger as I read the tales of their loss.

The Collective is nerve racking, psychologically raw, and devastatingly brilliant. Highly recommended!! Endless thanks to Ms. Gaylin, NetGalley, and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I loved this book! It’s a fast thrilling read.
This book completely shocked me, and left my reeling! Im still trying to figure out what I just read! I may have to read it again just to fully let it all sink in! This book was way more than I expected. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Camille Gardner still blames college student Harris Blanchard for her daughter’s death. At a ceremony honoring him with a humanitarian award, she loses her cool and screams “murderer” in front of the crowd and, of course, her rant becomes an instant viral sensation. As people consider her crazy, Camille withdraws from the public eye until a mysterious woman hands her a card that invites her to a site on her dark web where she can express her feelings without judgment to other mothers who have also experienced the unpunished loss of a child. But soon she begins to wonder if they are seeking justice or retribution.

“The thing with the truth, it hides in plain sight. It crouches in corners and pounces—but you have to look at it first. You have to stop and face it head-on and then it will leap at you and if you are not ready, you will fall. . . .”

I’ve read and enjoyed several books by Alison Gaylin but this could be her best one yet!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.