I could not put this book down. It was fast-paced and suspenseful and I loved every twist and turn, especially the last two at the end.
Five years after the death of her daughter Camille hasn’t moved on. She hates the boy who killed her daughter and wants him to feel the pain her daughter did. Wants his parents to feel the grief she does. When a woman approaches Camille about joining a group for women like her, at first she isn’t sure. But then she find solace in being part of a group so similar to herself. And before long she is pledging to do anything for them.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, it was unlike anything I’d read before with the exception of The Chain. I’m not a mother so I can’t begin to imagine the pain those feel who’ve lost their child, but I imagine the all consuming rage and grief to be accurate. It’s not hard to imagine that there’d be a group like The Collective out there. And that somewhere along the line there’d be members who question the group.
This raised a lot of moral questions for me, but more importantly it highlighted how human we are. We are capable of both wonderful and awful things. There are those that fall to one side of the scale more than others, but I don’t believe it’s up to us to adjust the scale. While I don’t agree with everything the group did, I understood their motives.

This was a fast paced read with some unexpected twists, though I knew a twist was coming. Overall a fun read.

Love this revenge based psychological thriller!

How far will a grieving mother go to avenge her daughter's death? Loved the vigilante justice concept of this book and it was certainly a fast paced, unputdownable read. Don't go into this book expecting believability. It's a thrill ride, full of unbelievable actions and twists. What a conclusion too! This one definitely had me pondering what I'd be willing to do, for the sake of my daughters. This is dark, disturbing and will mess with your head. I couldn't get enough of this one!

This was a unique thriller that kept my attention the whole way. It was dark, twisty and sad at times. I give it 3.5 stars instead of 4 because I was able to predict the big twist at the end. Despite that, well done!!!

All I had to do was read one novel by Alison Gaylin (If I Die Tonight) and she became an instant favorite/autobuy author for me. I had no doubts that The Collective would be an amazing thriller, and I was 100% correct. I could not put this book DOWN, and once I started the audiobook there was no way I wasn't going to finish quickly. In fact, if I wouldn't have started it on a Sunday night just before midnight, I would have stayed up finishing it because it was so good. It was such a heavy hitter and if you are a parent this story is really going to get you. I am not a parent, but it hurt my heart to read so many of the things that happened and there is no way it isn't going to affect everyone that reads it. I love the way Gaylin is able to blend thrillers with emotional storylines and that is exactly what she has done in both the books I have read by her.

The audiobook narrator is Vivienne Leheny who is freaking fantastic by the way, and I couldn't have picked anyone better myself. She was bomb as Camille, and she just got every emotion spot on, every single time. She really enhanced the book and I highly recommend the audiobook for these reasons. The Collective has legitimately the best revenge plot I have ever read, and I could completely connect to the idea of taking justice into your own hands especially with respect to this plot. I felt on the edge of my seat the entire time and was incredibly impressed by how suspenseful the book was throughout. It ended up being pretty twisty as well and there were definitely a couple of times I gasped out loud because I was so shocked. Gaylin KILLED me with the end though, and I am still coming to terms with how I feel about it. Bottom line, if you love thrillers and revenge plots then you need to read The Collective.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

From the beginning of this book, it was a quick and intense read with well-written character. The plot questions, how far would you go to get justice? I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.

The Collective was a fast paced, hard to put down read. The plot and the characters were memorable yet twisted. Camille's agony lives in all of her thoughts and actions which makes you sympathize with her character. This was the exact book I needed to get me out of a reading slump. The Collective was extremely well written and disturbing, but in a good way.

When I started reading this book, I was not sure I would finish it, However as I got more and more into the story, I could not put it down. I had to finish to see what the characters would do and what decisions they would make and what I would do in their position. Well worth a read.

First I need to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this crazy book early! I wish I could have done that before the pub date, but that being said, I really liked it.
I thought it was a super crazy ride. From the struggles that Cam had, to her weird attachment to Luke and Nora, to this secret group of vigilante women. I mean, in a world where women are not heard, valued, appreciated.. these women really want to make the criminals that get away things, pay.
I highly recommend if you like a story full of twists. You serious can’t figure this out before the last chapters!

I DNF’d this book at 10%. The premise sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, something about the writing style just didn’t click with me.

Holy Cow! What a book. I didn’t see the ending coming. Fast paced kept me turning pages like crazy. My first read by Alison Gaylin and it will NOT be my last. Just WOW. If you like thrillers do yourself a favor and pick this up. You won’t be disappointed!!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital galley. All thoughts are my own.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I have been a fan of Alison Gaylin’s books for quite some time and so of course I requested this book as soon as I heard of this one. And when I saw it being compared to both The Chain and Kill Bill, I knew it would be right up my alley – and I have to say, both comparisons are quite apt!

I love nothing more than a good revenge story and just like The Chain, which I absolutely loved, this one is so addicting and intense. It keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next, driven by the collective grief of losing a child. Just like when I read The Chain, I will state here that I am not a parent, so while I do not come into the book with that connection, I do have nieces and nephews and would be devastated should the unthinkable happen to them.

This is such a unique, creative concept on the typical revenge plot which is really what makes it stand out. I loved how the tension slowly rises throughout. The characters we meet, the women in the Collective, are all so complex and it makes for some interesting dynamics. I didn’t expect to feel the range of emotions that I did throughout this book – especially towards Camille.

This book is twisty, dark and so very clever, and I loved that it went in directions I never saw coming. It is definitely a binge-worthy type of read, the type that just consumes you until you read that last page. I highly recommend picking this one up!

What an amazing book! Quickly draws you in and you just can’t stop reading! The twist at the end was brilliant! Can’t wait to read more by this author.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley

Wow, this book really had me going!! Pulled me right into the story and kept my interest. Really made me think about stuff like this really happening.

Camille is a grieving mother and obsessed with the man who she thinks killer her daughter 5 years ago. She starts making comments about what she would like to do to this person and this gets the attention of a group of women called the Collective.

She thinks that everyone is just venting and getting their frustrations out on what happened. But then she gets involved in the role playing exercises that are done to get the revenge that these mothers have been looking for.

Very good book!! I could not put it down!

I had to wait a week or so before I could write this review. The novel is breathtaking in the scope of rage and revenge. Excellent writing and a testimony to the author that I kept reading, even when I didn’t want to.

My much longer review concludes:

What is particularly striking about THE COLLECTIVE is the degree to which Gaylin avoids appearing to take a clear stand on the moral and ethical problems she presents. Most of those being held responsible by the collective's sisters seem to have evaded prosecution due to their social class or influential connections. When they were tried, they benefited from their privileged positions. On the other hand, the collective does not hold its own trials but simply believes the assertions of the grieving women. Perhaps at least in some cases, they are wrong. Disturbing also is the use of language associated with feminism to characterize the collective and its members.

THE COLLECTIVE is both absorbing and challenging. And if any book clubs have survived the pandemic, they will have a splendid evening discussion this one.

It is honestly so fast paced and can't trust anyone on this book. It has heart too (mother's love) but just like any other "too much", the main character seem to be conflicted with what is really right or justifiable.

One of the most exciting books I've read all year. Fast paced with searing social commentary, this book will stick with me for some time.

A twisty thriller with grief and revenge. I thought the pace of the book was excellent and as a first time reader of this author my attention was held and I finished the book quite quickly.

Suspenseful and propulsive, this book had me on the edge of my seat..... until the end. I enjoyed this book - the plot, the concept, the main character, but the ending was rushed, with little true explanation, and a wonky covid referenced last chapter. You had me until the end, and that took a 5 star book to a 3.5.