Ciara & Oliver meet just before Covid-19 brings a lockdown to Dublin. They cautiously begin dating at the beginning of the pandemic and decide to move in together when the lockdown begins a few short weeks later. They figure this way they can continue getting to know each other AND obey all rules of the lockdown. But who is Oliver really? And who is Ciara? Was it just chance that brought them together?

When a neighbor reports a bad smell coming from a nearby apartment, the police come to investigate. They find a dead body, but was this an accidental death or a murder? The scene leaves a few questions in their minds.

I enjoyed this book and how the covid-19 pandemic was used as part of the storyline. It's nice to read something so fresh that recognizes the current state of the world. Oliver & Ciara were unique characters. Twice I thought I had this book figured out, but I did not.

I will say that the portion of the book written in the present day, featuring the police investigation didn't really hook me at all. It was a little flat.

Ciara and Oliver both have secrets, both have reasons to want to get close to each other, and that was without a global pandemic that resulted in a quarantine. Covid plays an oddly quiet roll in the story, more as background noise and the premise for two people to decide to live together on such a short notice. The story is told in multiple timelines and bounces back and forth between Ciara and Oliver's point of view. This is first where it started losing me, mainly because it would repeat entire scenes but from the other narrative. At 450 pages, this meant there was a lot of room for repetition and it started to drag the story down. I did like the twists that came along but think they could have had more impact if I hadn't been so jaded from the repetition earlier in the book.

This is the first book I’ve read that takes place during Covid and man was it eerie.⁣
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Have you ever met someone and been so smitten, so quickly you anticipate every message and overthink every discussion in hopes that it’s going exactly how you want?!⁣
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This story is told by Oliver and Ciara’s point of view. Oliver is keeping a huge secret, that makes him exhausted and anxious; that makes you the reader anxious the whole story. Ciara seems socially awkward and is always on edge about the situation, until you find out why, and it makes complete and crazy sense. ⁣
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I loved the lay out of this story, starting on day 56, going back and forth to present day, and the count down to present day.⁣
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I felt the stress and anxiety of the characters and their situation; and the big choice to end their relationship before it started or diving in head first and living together with a stranger while a pandemic takes place. This was a very crazy ride.⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
Thank you @corvusbooks and @netgalley for an ARC for my honest review. #bookstagram #books #56days #thriller

Review of 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this thriller. I read it fairly quickly and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. I appreciated the accurate portrayal of how things are with the Covid pandemic, though the book isn’t focused or revolving around Covid at all.

Ciara and Oliver meet in line at a supermarket days before Covid hits Dublin. They hit it off immediately and share a great date. When lockdown becomes inevitable, Oliver decides to invite Ciara to move in with him for the 14 days to which she agrees. It seems Oliver has something to hide and Ciara becomes suspicious of him. Then a dead body is discovered in his empty apartment.

The timeless alter greatly from the last to present as the story unravels and reveals itself to the reader, but it was not at all confusing and was very well done.

I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.8 stars

I had access to both the audio book and a digital copy. I listened to the first half and read the second half. While the narrator did a fine job, I felt the story came across better in print. The story skips around a lot over 56 days and it was less confusing to follow in print.

Oliver and Ciara meet by chance in Dublin at the beginning of the covid 19 pandemic. They both have secrets about their pasts.

I liked that this was a mystery set during the pandemic and more than just talking about masks and quarantining. The story worked because of social distancing and allowed this new couple to be alone and not have to meet family and friends.

3.5 - This was an entertaining mystery/thriller set during the early days of the initial pandemic lockdown in Dublin, Ireland. I actually really enjoyed that this story was set during the pandemic and seeing how it led to a perfect set of circumstances to throw two virtual strangers together in the most unusual of times. The author did a great job illustrating the challenges and loneliness people experienced but what didn't work as well for me was how much the story jumped between timelines and perspectives. I wasn't expecting the ending but I got a little bored halfway through if I'm totally honest. This won't be the most memorable read of the year for me but the premise was 10/10. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. What a fun concept! I loved the idea of using pandemic lockdown as the setting for a murder mystery. Seems like the perfect time to pull off a murder without anyone knowing... or do they? This was a quick read and I'll definitely check out future books by this author.

Set in Dublin during the start of COVID-19 and the lockdowns, this book felt less like a thriller and more like a record of life during the strangest times of my life so far. But I’m not complaining, I actually quite enjoy reading about how other people handled lockdowns across the world and what life was like during that time. It felt surreal reading this book 17 months later while we are still in a global pandemic. But I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this story a lot as well and I liked the dual timelines of the present switched back and forth with 56 days before that. Overall this one was entertaining and interesting and I would like to read more of her work.

3.5 stars

What I liked about 56 Days: Wow. . .this book took some twists that I did not expect, especially towards the end. I really thought I had this book 100% pegged with about 25% to go, just waiting for it all to play out. Then it took another turn.

What I didn't like about 56 Days: THE TIMELINE. OMG. The switching back and forth in time to multiple different times at random points in the book. It was tremendously confusing and unnecessary. You not only have different timelines but different POV from those timelines. . .it was WAY too much and it ruined what could have been a very solid mystery for me.

Title: 56 Days
Author: Catherine Ryan Howard
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

🔊Song Pairing:
Seasons of Love - Cast of Rent
(yes I am a bit sick 🥴)

💭What I thought would happen:

I knew it was a Covid based world that the characters function in. I presumed it was a thriller.

📖What actually happens:

2 timelines: 56 days ago Ciara meets Oliver. A discussion on spaceships has them both enamored with one another. Through instant curiosity, the 2 find themselves about to enter a global pandemic. Do they self-isolate or rapidly move in together so as to not miss a moment without one another?

In the other part of the book today, 56 days later where detective inspector Leah is at a crime scene where a man is found face down in his shattered shower, clothed and ripe AF. The question being was this an accident or foul play…*Law & Order duh dun sound*

🗯Thoughts:

The way the author describes the colors of items: diarrhea-after-carrots-carpet..that is VIVID!

I loved the way the book counted down closer to the present day. It’s like knowing something exciting is coming without having any clue as to what is to come. There were so many twists and turns in the story I could have been car sick 😂

I loved reading a book set in a Covid world. It’s all very relatable being stuck at home with your significant other. I know some find it too soon to be reliving all the tragedy that has happened and is still happening. (Go out and get vaccinated!)

I very much enjoyed this book! The 3 POVs (Ciara, Oliver, and Lee) were great, I loved the mystery of what was to come and the dual timelines were excellent!

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Very captivating with amazing character development.
A pandemic brings two new people that have gone on one date close together quicker than they normally would. They decide to spend time together and move in together when quarantine is mandated. But how much do you truly know someone? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved the synopsis of this book and the idea. But it was really confusing for me with the time jumping.

I was also didn't like that the narratives were repeated from the different perspectives but this is just a personal thing.

I know this one has been loved by many. And I think it is going to so great. It just wasn't for me.

Excellent read! At first, I was hesitant to jump into a “COVID” book but the pandemic is merely a component of the storyline, rather than a focal point. The narrative is keenly written with smooth adaptations in points of view and a fantastic twist!

Thank you to #NetGalley and @blackstonepublishing for the ARC of #56days which was read and reviewed voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

since this was an ARC i won’t spoil anything in this review. i liked this book a lot! it was paced a little differently than a lot of other mysteries i’ve read which took some getting used to but was ultimately a great change. i also really liked how the even during the time jumps you’re presented with several different narrators, and it’s entirely up to you to decide who to trust. i wish it had touched a little more on the distrust of law enforcement many started to feel during lockdown because of large scale, global social movements because i felt like there were many opportunities for it to be woven in and it was already referenced, though sparingly. i definitely loved the dynamic between the characters, their equal love and mistrust of each other was super interesting and not something we’re used to seeing in a romantic relationship. overall this was a fun read!

As someone who had a lot of anxiety during covid and decided to go on meds for it during this time AND THEN decided to come off also during covid, I will say that I have not been gunning to read covid-based fiction. HOWEVER, the premise of this book sounded really interesting and I decided to try it out.

This book was marketed as a thriller (which I suppose it is), but what I really liked about it was that it started out like a contemporary fiction book about a couple who falls in love during a pandemic. We have alternating perspectives between Oliver and Ciara. There are little hints to this or that which is the thriller element, but I mainly was just enjoying watching them start out their relationship.

By the end of the book we have discovered every step leading up to the dead body (which we learn about immediately). I found the style of story telling very interesting and despite the fact that it does involve a dead body, I found this to be much less gruesome than most thrillers I read so it may be a good gateway thriller.

Locked room thriller feel- Covid style. I didn't know how the author would portray this. I saw some reviewers say they were disappointed with the lack of seriousness the author took with the covid background, but I thought it was okay to use as a setting and focus more on the murder mystery. Especially since this was right at the beginning of the world going into quarantine. I laughed really hard when Ciara said “What if the lock down is longer than two weeks?” Oh girl, little do you know. I recommend this as a weekend binge read and loved the twist toward the end. I received this book as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A contemporary mystery/thriller set in the time of Covid-19 in Ireland. Oliver and Ciarra meet a few days before lockdown. Their romance is burgeoning but the country is about to shut down due to Covid-19. How will they make this work? Well, Ciarra moves in with Oliver for the 2 weeks the country is in lockdown. But Oliver has secrets he must keep hidden. Seems Ciarra has a few herself.
This novel was a really cool take on lockdown, the start of relationships, and huge secrets that could ruin just about everything.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early e-arc of this thriller.*

56 Days written by Catherine Ryan Howard is a Covid thriller Pandemic novel that follows three timelines.

Brief Synopsis: Clair and Oliver meet in a grocery store “56 days ago” and really hit it off. This is right before the pandemic is about to hit in Ireland and they really enjoy one another's company. Cue the pandemic and the second time line of “35 days ago”. Clair and Oliver decide to move in together so they can continue to date during the “brief” lockdown. She sees the potential for a great opportunity for their relationship to flourish and he sees it as an opportunity to hide who he really is. Cue the third and final time line of “today”- Oliver is found dead inside his apartment. Detectives work to figure out what happened throughout this lockdown and why Oliver was left for dead in his apartment.

My Thoughts: While reading this book I was a little confused during the bouncing timelines. I had received a digital copy of this book and it isn’t so easy flipping back to the beginning of the chapter to determine which timeline I was in. I think if I had the paper copy of this book, I wouldn’t have been as confused. I liked the idea of this book and the overall mystery was filled with twists and turns that had me guessing throughout the book. What I didn’t like about this book was the whole Covid theme. Here in Ontario, I still feel like we are living this nightmare and I think this book is touching on a sensitive topic for many. I don’t feel like I was ready to see words such as “unprecedented” and “lockdown” and “social distancing” in a book yet. I think that if this book was to come out a few years from now, it would have been more well received by me. When you really think about the lockdown and what the world went through- it is pretty wild. I just wasn’t quite ready to see it in book form yet.

This book is about to hit the shelves in Ontario on August 17th. If mysteries, pandemic related reads and multiple timelines and perspectives are your thing, then I think you would like this one.

Overall Rating 3.5

Thank you to Catherine Ryan Howard, Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced copy.

Yay ! This is the first Covid-related book I've read! The plot sounded really promising, but I was afraid reading about Covid would be a little too much for me, as it still isn't over yet. But nope. It was strangely nice, especially as it's only the background, and an excuse for the protagonists to go on lockdown together, and not just the whole book yelling COVID ! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The plot is a little basic death mystery. Two people live together, and one of them ends up dead. Well, there's a little twist since it's for lockdown, and no one knows the two have moved together for the occasion. I liked that we get the discovery straight at the beginning, and we follow both what happened before death, and the present, with the police investigating. The author drops little information by little information, and I was kept guessing throughout the whole book. Of course, I had my own theory about what happened, but I ended up being surprise by the last 1/4 of the plot. I couldn't put it down during that part!

I think the psychology of the characters was quite well done. We get to see the evolution of both Ciara and Oliver, see them dance around secrets, and ultimately, what caused the death. I see the book is 450 pages, but honestly, it read really fast. Time flew while I read, which allows me to say it's a captivating mystery!

It's not the gripping/chilling kind of mystery. It's more cunning than that. It's an everyday situation, that turns bad slowly. You know, the kind where a neighbour dies, and you realize you didn't really know them, but you're like "Oh, they seemed like a great person, we could never have guessed!". What I mean is it is very anchored in everyday life and reality, which made it somewhat "relatable". It's a great recommendation if you enjoy psychological mysteries!

#56Days
#CatherineRyanHoward

I enjoyed this one! My first #CatherineRyanHoward book and I’m not disappointed. It is more of a mystery than a thriller but it had quite a few of ‘moments’ and ‘reveals’. The writing style is extremely effective building up, and sustaining, the atmosphere of chill and eerie ness.

I kept hoping for a happy ending though I knew it was not possible as from the beginning we know one of the two is dead!

Ciara and Oliver meet at a supermarket in Dublin and feel a chemistry. They begin dating but global pandemic threatens to shut down Ireland. Not wanting to put a pause on a fresh relationship showing promise, they take a chance and decide to move in together and quarantine for the two weeks they feel it’ll take for the lockdown to end. But then, one of them ends up dead.

The read alternates between multiple timelines. The Present is when the detectives are trying to piece together what happened. The Past is from 56 days ago to 35 days ago to 28 days ago when Oliver and Ciara’s relationship begins, develops and then begins to disintegrate.

The multiple timelines didn’t bother me but some may find it repetitive since the same scenario unfolds from different POVs with a new reveal or two. The multiple timelines being used as chapter titles helps you keep track.

The author has used the pandemic as the backdrop of the book. Though we are nowhere near the end of it, it did feel surreal for the initial days to be brought alive. How quickly we forget: the day it was announced, the rush to the supermarket to stock up, the running out of essentials in the shop, the yellow circles in which you had to stand, the ‘stepping aside’ if one saw more than 2 people coming your way, and that complete unease to be locked in and not see soul. Thriving cities going dead!

The book did not feel gimmicky or forced. Nearer the end it was evident how the murder would have happened; but the ‘why’ and ‘who’ had at least two strong possibilities.

Even if you feel you know it, the countdown to the Past and Present converging and the sense of continuous unease did not allow me to put the book down.

Thank you @netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review. Opinions expressed are mine.

The book publishes August 17, 2021.