Overall, this wasn't exactly my cup of tea. Something about the writing style seemed very bland, and it was hard for me to get really invested in the story. The second-person parts seemed a bit forced, and to me it didn't really make Andy any more compelling of a character. The complete plot was decent, and pacing was fine; but I also found parts of the story to be pretty disturbing, and not because of the murders. I didn't find the ending to be particularly satisfying either, although I see what the author was trying to do there.

Always enjoy shoe Hart's books and this was no exception. Always tough when the husband of the woman you are having an affair with is killed! And then the woman dissapears! Solid whodunit, an easy read.

Or Else
A Thriller
by Joe Hart
Pub Date 01 Apr 2022
Thomas & Mercer, Thomas & Mercer
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers




After novelist Andy Drake returns to his hometown to care for his ailing father, a reconnection with his childhood friend Rachel turns into a secret love affair. With Rachel, whose struggling to maintain the facade of a picture-perfect life, it’s an escape from an emotionally abusive marriage. Then Andy receives an anonymous note warning him to end the affair. Or else.



Whoever was watching is determined they are determined to make Andy Pay Weeks later, Rachel’s husband, David, is shot to death. Rachel and her two young sons vanish without a trace. A single misstep, a careless reveal could make Andy look as guilty as sin. Clue by clue, as his investigation into the mystery unfolds, Andy discovers that he and Rachel weren’t the only ones keeping secrets.




Nothing in this quiet is as it seems. Not a single person peeking from behind their curtains can be trusted, and the worst has yet to come because David isn’t the only one who will die.



I give Or Else, four out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't have a whole lot to say about this one, but I don't mean that in a negative way. This is the kind of book that won't remain in the mind for the long term (one of many in a crowded genre) nor will it win any 'highly esteemed' literary prized, but when it comes to books like this, that's not really the point and is neither here nor there. I enjoyed it in the moment - kept me entertained and engaged, which, lets face it, is sometimes all that we want or need from a book. In other words, definitely readable.

Dull the main character os so weak its hard to take seriously.
Although I did like the ending can't recommend this book.

Andy is back home helping his father after he was diagnosed with dementia, and while home, rekindles a friendship with his old schoolmate, Rachel. Their friendship soon turns into a love affair, and Andy receives a letter warning him to end it - or else. Shortly after the letter, Rachel's husband is found shot dead in his home, and Rachel and her children are no where to be found. This is only the start of a twisty plot filled with more death and mystery.
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This was the first of Joe Hart's books I have read. While I appreciated the story, the characters, and the character relationships, I had a very hard time adjusting to Joe Hart's unique writing style. It felt choppy and a bit elementary to me, and was honestly a bit hard to get through because of this. My 3-star rating takes into account my dislike of the writing, my opinion of the story, and also the belief that I think there are a lot of readers that would enjoy this book.
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Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #OrElse #NetGalley

Joe Hart's Or Else begins with mystery/thriller author, Andy Drake, receiving a note telling him that they know about his affair with his next door neighborhood Rachel and to stop Or Else. Andy returned home to care for his father who is in the early stages of dementia and to work on his next book. He reconnected with his childhood friend Rachel six months ago, but things don't out the way he expected. Besides the note, Rachel's husband David is shot dead and she and her children go missing. Andy knows if he comes forward with the note and truth of his affair, he'll become the number one suspect.

Not trusting the police, Andy takes it upon himself to try and find out what happened to David, and in turn, where Rachel and the children have gone. Things fall apart from there as Andy is consumed with finding what happened to Rachel. Then Andy's friend Mary Shelby, the church secretary who was like a second mother to Andy, is kicked dead by her horse. Soon thereafter, David's business partner Ryan Vallance is found dead. What in the hell is going on here? The setup of the loop neighborhood where everyone knows each other's business, including a man who may be tied to the mafia.

There are so many unknowns amongst the neighbors, that you don't know who is involved, and who isn't. There were a lot more players in this mystery than Andy originally thought and once the layers were drawn back, it was strange how everything looked. David isn't alone in his investigation. His sister Kel is deeply involved in getting to the bottom of things. His relationship with Kel has always been strong to the point where their older brother felt jealous of the relationship. When you lose both your younger sister, and your mother, things have a tendency of changing who you are as a person.

Here is what I will end my review by saying. Stick to the end. Decide for yourself how you feel. This is where I say that I am never going to intentionally point spoilers. The ending is twisted, and a head scratcher.

‘Or Else’ was the first of Joe Hart’s books I’ve read – I wasn’t disappointed. It immediately captured my attention with the warmth and humanity of the main character, Andy Drake. I liked his anxiety about so many things, not least of all the welfare for his father who was in the early stages of dementia, as well as his doubts over his love affair. I found Andy so believable, so was happy to go along the ride with him, cheering him on as well as wanting to shake him as he stepped into spot fires everywhere. The ending was satisfying which wrapped up a really good read.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

First book of Joe Hart I have read, I cannot fathom howI missed this great author. This book was filled with action and suspense, great characters, and a surprise ending.

There's a broken pane of glass in the Barrens' front door. Someone lying in the hallway and discovered David Barren deceased from a single gunshot wound to the chest. David’s office was in disarray, and so far it looked like some cash and jewellery were missing. His wife, Rachel Barren and his two sons' whereabouts are unknown.

Before that, his business partner, Ryan Vallance was found dead in his home. Foul play hasn't been ruled out. As a writer of the thriller and mystery genre, Andrew Drake feels responsible for the missing. He's going to work harder than before because he loves Rachel. He's going to do it in secret or he becomes the prime suspect.

A bit slow burn, barking up the wrong trees but Andy got his way to deduce better than any of the sleepy-eyed detectives that he writes in his novel.

Personal rating 4 ⭐

Thanks to @netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for arc inexchange of an honest review.

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#donereading #OrElse #JoeHart #malaysiamembaca #igreads #bookstagram #goodreads #emabaca #thomasandmercer

This is the first of Joe's books that I've come across and thanks to Netgalley I got the opportunity to read it. I was gripped from first page to last, a really rich set of characters and some really tender moments between family members. I would absolutely recommend to anyone to read this, it will keep you guessing to the very end, and doesn't fall into the trap of the crime writer knowing exactly what's going on from the start.

3 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is a good contemporary mystery/thriller. Novelist Andy Drake returns home to care for his sick father. He re-connects with Rachel, a childhood friend, starting an affair that gives her a break from her emotionally abusive husband. After several months, Andy receives an anonymous note telling him to break it off with Rachel, or else.

A few weeks later Rachel's husband is found murdered in their home and Rachel and her kids are gone. Stunned, Andy begins to investigate but every action he takes also makes him look guilty to the police. Yet Andy persists, undeterred by the danger or the risk. Surprising secrets are revealed and Andy has no idea how close he comes to becoming a victim himself.

This book starts off quiet and peaceful. The tension builds slowly until eventually I expected Andy to get killed every time I turned the page. The characters were well developed, including Andy's father and sister. Their relationship with their older brother was a bit weird and clunky, but it wasn't enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book. The author did a great job of adding plenty of twists and turns to the book, including a fun red herring that you'll notice when you read it.

This is a quick and easy read that I enjoyed. I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book by Joe Hart and I think I will be checking out more of his work after this. This is a story about "The Loop" the neighborhood and the people in it. Of course there are a few deaths and a romance that's all intertwined to make it interesting. Andy moved home to the Loop to take care of his father who has dementia. The relationship with his dad, brother, and sister were all very relatable characters, which made this a great read. Add in the murder mystery with a little fling with the neighbor and you have a great story that kept me entertained. Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

For me this book dealt with the issue of dementia in a very sensitive, yet realistic way, given it was in the context of a murder mystery. An easy read

This book was ok.

Andy Drake returns to his hometown to care for his ailing father. (I didn't understand, if they are hurting for money, why buy a house instead of staying with his father?). He has a secret love affair with Rachel (who supposedly her and her husband has money yet live in the same neighborhood). One day, Andy receives an anonymous note warning him to end the affair. Or else. Later, Rachel's husband is murdered and Rachel and her two boys are missing. Instead of turning the note over to the police, Andy decides to look for Rachel on his own.

The writing was good but the story itself was a little boring. I also had a hard time liking Andy's character. He's a mystery writer and even did a tag-along for research. Yet he does some stupid moves.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Joe Hart for a copy of "Or Else" in exchange of an honest review.

Reconnections turn into an affair in this novel. Meet Andy who moves back home Ian’s reconnects with Rachel. Ultimately “someone” finds out and tells Andy, through a note, to end it or else. For me this book was slow moving at parts but overall a great read.

So I thought I was reading a John Hart book and this is a lot different than every other John Hart I’ve read but this is a JOE Hart so that explains that. And it was a quick (under three hour), fine read.

Thanks for Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Or Else by Joe Hart is a mysterious story that begins with an illicit affair. Andy Drake had moved back to his hometown to look after his father who is suffering from the onset of dementia. The two men live across the street from each other and down the street lives Rachel, a married mother of two. Andy and Rachel had been childhood friends and soon the two find solace in an affair. Before long, Rachel’s husband is found shot to death and Rachel and her children have disappeared. There are numerous subplots in Or Else but the novel keeps the reader interested throughout. The pace is quick and the characters are varied and well-drawn. This is an old-fashioned whodunit and the body count grows. The novel unwinds in an unexpected fashion, making this a satisfying read. Joe Hart has written a solid mystery and I look forward to reading more of his books. Highly recommended. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three stars for the writing alone. The plot just was not my favorite, but that doesn't mean it was bad. Just not for me. I did like the characters and felt the author did a good job with their development.

This book wasn’t for me. It thought it dragged at parts and I couldn’t connect to the characters. I kept losing focus and it didn’t keep me engaged.