Five years ago, Camille’s teenage daughter died after a party, and she still blames the wealthy young man who was her daughter’s date. From a polished, successful, and married professional woman, she’s become a freelancer barely holding on to her accounts, a divorcée, and her outward appearance matches the chaos of her interior world.

Justice seems impossible until she receives information about a group of women—The Collective—who enact retribution when it is unavailable through legitimate means. But, there are several tests of loyalty, and Camille wonders if the network is real or an elaborate hoax—and, if real, does she really want to become a killer, like the man she hates. Although forbidden to seek out information about other members or their targets, Camille begins researching the group, and she is shocked at what she learns, unsure if she can give herself to the group or if she will try a dangerous break for freedom.

I got sucked in on page one and couldn’t put this book down! In addition to a great, twisty story it presented interesting moral dilemmas about who is responsible for punishment and how far extrajudicial actions can go. The ending is audacious and clever if a little rushed.

I was so entertained by this book and recommend it for anyone looking for a fast-paced, gripping read.

This is a mom book win! Even though it's a thriller it gives you major energy if you are a mom to be the lioness that protects her cubs! Camille wants her daughter's murderer to pay and her anger and vengefulness fuels her wanting to see justice served to the one responsible. This pushes Camille to join the "Collective" which is a group of women also mothers who seek the same thing.... justice for their own similar losses. Where is the line drawn for seeking out justice and just so into revenge that the ones looking for justice become monsters themselves?! Some parts moved a little slow but I think it's an exciting read with some thrill just not the typical type of thrill I read. Thank you NetGalley for the copy to read and review.

Something about vigilante justice just excites the hell out of me. With the way the world is changing and laws aren't really their to protect the good guys anymore, I am believing more and more the vigilante heroism is the soon going to be the route to take. Why I let this book sit on my shelf for so long knowing what it was about is beyond me but maybe it was so I wouldn't get any crazy ideas.

Camille is a grieving mother, who believes her daughter never got justice. Her world has fallen apart, her husband has left her, and everyday all she feels is that burning hole of grief in her heart. After a very viral breakdown she is approached by a stranger leading her towards the Collective. What starts out as a group for grieving mothers soon turns into something much darker, when bodies start piling up.

I went back and forth on Camille's character. I felt terrible for her and really connected with her knowing how I would feel if anything were to happen to one of my kids. However, I think where I got more annoyed with her character is how much she felt uncertain about the Collective. If someone is offering me justice for my baby's killer, then, damn it, I am all in.

I ultimately see this being turned into a Lifetime movie at some point and I would be all for it. Someone make this happen.

Hooked me from the start. Held many surprises including an unexpected ending. I look forward to her next book.

I didn’t enjoy this. The writing was simplistic and the plot was predictable. The ending has a twist but it’s also predictable. This was an interesting premise but the execution left much to be desired.

This book really sucked me in. Camille is a mom who lost her daughter to a tragedy. She is angry, sad, depressed, enraged and feels helpless. She meets a group of women who are just like her and can help. But this group starts to feel sinister and almost cult-like. I really liked that this was a unique story. The plot twists were great.

The collective is a suspenseful story of a mother grieving her daughter and a murderer who goes unpunished. Definitely some strange twists in this. I really enjoyed it and sorta didn’t see that ending

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the novel. I am rating this book with my own opinion and have not received anything in return.

Camille Gardner's daughter died five years ago in an accident, well, at least that's what the police called it. But she knows who is responsible for her daughter's death, a wealthy, entitled college kid named Harrison. Her daughter went to a fraternity party and was raped and left as if she was a disposable piece of trash by this boy. Meanwhile, in the trial, it was her daughter's reputation that was trashed, but Harrison has gone from strength to strength, paying no price for his part in her daughter's death. And this is literally killing Camille. It has cost her a marriage, most of her friends, and maybe her sanity.

Then, unexpectedly, she is offered a chance to find justice for her daughter, and justice for this boy who is living his life as if nothing ever happened. This journey will lead Camille down a dark, dark hole, starting with a dive into the dark web. Camille joins a group of grieving mothers who call themselves The Collective, all determined to work together to seek justice for their lost loved ones.

It was fascinating to see how these plots played out and watch the intricate coordination to bring "justice". At first Camille is filled with power and the righteousness of it all, but then she begins to question, what happens when you begin to play God, and who is really entitled to make that call? It was fascinating to see her joy to find like-minded compatriots, then her gradual, spiraling disillusionment.

I am shocked at the reviews who say they found this dull. For me, it was unputdownable! I literally could not stop listening at night! I ended up listening to this book, and the narrator Vivienne Leheny did an excellent job of making the reader feel all of Camille's emotions, as unreasonable as they sometimes were. I have to give this read five stars because it literally kept me on the edge of the seat!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Alison Gaylin, and William Morrow/Custom House for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

A truly smashing ending that you will not see coming! This book is truly a psychological twist and turn. The writing keeps the reader engaged throughout to the end. It is a true search and fight for justice in a cruel world.

This book! Wow. It was a very fast read, I only put it down because I had to sleep. As a mom, I felt connected to the characters...and it makes you think "what if...", which in this case, is not a comfortable place to be. I did figure out part of the ending, but I think most thriller readers will figure out the same part...but there was a part that surprised me!

While parts of the book take a little suspension of belief, I highly recommend! *This book does revolve around mothers getting revenge on those that murdered/caused harm to their children, so trigger warnings for sure.*

This book is amazing!! The Collective is about a group of women who take matters into their own hands and serve some punishment. Love everything about this book. It's a fast read full of suspense you will not be able to out it down. Its so sad to know that this happens all the time, people not paying for the crimes they jave committed.

Thank you to @william morrow for the gifted copy.

I absolutely loved this book. The story mixes the horrors of a Law & Order SVU episode with some sweet, sweet revenge you don't get on tv. Camille, the main character, falls into a group of women - the Collective - all who had lost their children to SVU-esque crimes and have a complex and fascinating approach to getting revenge.. I love the twists in the book and appreciated that this book was more unique than the recent-typical thriller. I read and loved the author's previous book and now after having the opportunity to read this one, I can't wait for more from here. On a personal note, I was born and raised in the Hudson Valley so it was really fun seeing familiar locations on the page. Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A group of women who kill people? Need I say more…?

This book is all about revenge and the bad decisions that go along with it. Camille is a smart but evil woman and I loved it! I found this book incredibly fast paced from the beginning and also thrilling. This was a crazy adventure that I couldn’t get enough of.

This psychological thriller is a dark, tense revenge story. Camille Gardner is still a grieving, angry mother five years after her daughter was raped and left for dead. The privileged young man who killed her has escaped punishment. She is contacted to join the Collective, a secret group of mothers on the dark web who have lost their children and seek justice for the murderers. She has to swear to not reveal anything about the group and to take part anonymously in revenge plots to achieve mutual justice. The members are assigned small tasks within these complexly designed revenge killings. As she participates in the group, Camille questions whether she has joined a group of avenging angels or monsters. The book had many twists and turns, including a surprise ending. Some of the plot elements were unrealistic, but the novel raised questions about whether there is ever moral justification for revenge killing.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 - 𝘼𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙂𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙞𝙣
Publisher: William Morrow (2021)
Genre: Thriller
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 Stars ★★★★☆

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:⁣
An addictive, brutal and raw thriller that will have you flying through the pages! The Collective had me fully engrossed and makes you start to question how well you really know the people in your life. A mother's loss of her daughter 5 years ago sends her down a spiral of grief, rage and hatred. After her daughter's murder, Camille Gardener, can't stop thinking about how the man who killed her daughter is free and has no remorse. Camille spirals leaving her without a husband or any true friends. One day, an invitation comes to her to join a secret society on the dark web. She must pledge to carry out acts of revenge in an anonymous fashion on individuals who escaped justice of their killings. But does Camille really know what she got herself into? This novel keeps you wondering and guessing how large this collective is and its true intenions. A twisty and addictive thriller!

𝙋𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨:
• I really enjoyed the concept/plot of this book - Badass women seeking revenge for their children's deaths
• All of the characters are raw and compelling individuals
• Addicting! I was flying through the pages

𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨:
• Not a fan of the ending- I found it to be disappointing and wanted more from it. If the ending was different this would have been a 5 star thriller

Camille Gardner's life was destroyed five years ago when her daughter died after a brutal attack. The man who attacked her went free to lead an extremely privileged life. And nothing pisses Camille off more than that. She acts out against her daughter's attacker publicly and it garners an invitation to a secret group of grieving mothers on the dark web. The Collective is a group of women who get together to fantasize about the justice that avoided their children. A woman only known to Camille as 0001 leads the group. Camille isn't in the group for long before 0001 asks Camille to perform some pretty benign tasks. But then they become less benign and Camille realizes she does not know who is behind The Collective or what their motivation is for the revenge they seek. Will Camille figure it out before it is too late?

I have seen The Collective show up on a few "Best of 2021" lists, so I thought I would give it a read before the year was over. The Collective turned out to be a fast-paced novel with a lot of twists and turns. Camille Gardner is an empathetic character. How can she not be with the brutal loss of her daughter? I understand everything she did, from the confrontation at the banquet to her very last decision. I understand it all. I had hoped for a better ending, but then again. If you play with matches you are likely to get burned. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS


Bottom Line - I understand why The Collective has made it on so many "Best of 2021" lists. It is a fresh thriller that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

Details:
The Collective by Alison Gaylin
On Facebook
Pages: 352
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 11/2/2021
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave me chills. Unputdownable! See my review, link below.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-10-28/review-a-mother-gets-a-shot-at-revenge-at-a-price-in-alison-gaylins-the-collective

Seriously one of the most bizarre and yet oddly satisfying books I have read! Thriller is the category and I would say yes but in reality probably needs a whole new category. The premise is crazy and you have to suspend your disbelief in many places. Who really can understand the grief of a parent who has lost a child? This book builds on that question.

1. There are some slow parts.
2. There are some crazy parts.
3. I read it in two sittings because I couldn't stop turning the pages!!!

I would read any and every book Alison Gaylin writes if it grabs my attention like this one did and makes me think long after I have finished reading it.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!

This was a fast and interesting read. The story line is similar to other books. As with others there is a group of people that have the same interest that commit some type of act together. This book looks at the feelings of mother's that have lost children due to a perceived criminal act. The book was fast paced and the characters were well developed. The book was a good psychological suspense book where the twisted is not really seen until the end. Anyone wanting a good, fast read this is the book for you.