Pear Blossom, aka June, was raised on a sort of commune, kept sheltered from the outside world. One of the things that got her through being so isolated was Greer Larkin's writing. Twenty years ago, Greer disappeared without a trace and now that June is a film student, she decides to do a documentary on the disappearance, interviewing Greer's family and friends, including the main suspect, Greer's fiance. The mystery of this was interesting, but I didn't particularly like June. 3.5 stars rounded to 3.

This is a story about love and family told within a mystery, suspense thriller novel.

I had mixed feelings about this book. The mystery plot was fantastic. It felt like a fresh idea and made me interested to find out what really happened. Basically, I really enjoyed the mystery plot, but I did not like the two side stories: June’s relationship with Paul and June’s family drama. I would definitely read another book by this author, especially if it’s another mystery!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

#NetGalley #HerDyingDay

The author wrote in her acknowledgement section that there is a difference between writing a book, and writing a book worth reading. Huh, yeah, I never thought about it like that. As a reader, there really is a difference. She aced it. It reminded me of a mash up of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and The Wife Between Us. Both books I really got in to. It follows the main character June, who is also Pear Blossom, (you will understand when you read it) who is writing her thesis about her favorite childhood author who disappeared without a trace 20 years ago. As she interviews the people involved in this unsolved case she starts to piece together and eventually solve this disappearance. The ending was incredible and the storyline only gives you enough information at a time to keep you guessing as to what is actually happening. The second you think you have it pegged. You get handed more evidence and you realize you have zero idea. It was fun to feel like you were a part of figuring it out

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

Not quite sure what to say about this one. The mystery of the missing prodigy author was intriguing. Overall I just had some issues with how the story was executed.

Her Dying Day by Mindy Carlson ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Pub date 6/7/2022)

I'll be honest. I rounded up for you guys. Thrillers/mysteries are one of my favorite genres to read; I read a lot of them. My expectations for a thriller are pretty high. This one didn't cut it for me, but that doesn't mean that it won't for you.

The plot is really good. Girl investigates a famous author's disappearance and discovers that the secrets surrounding her disappearance are deeper than she thought. Even though I wasn't in love with the book, I wanted to know how it ended. Ultimately, that's why I rounded up.

Sadly, the storyline surrounding the plot was simple. Everything fell into this girls lap, there wasn't a whole ton of depth to her story or really any characters story. A lot of stuff was just very far fetched.

I think this would have done a lot better if told from a dual perspective. That of the "detective" and that of the missing woman, going from past working up to present. I am in now way shape or form an author or anything, but this is the first time I thought, hmm, the classic past/present two narrator trope would have worked really well here.

Thank you to @netgalley and Mindy Carlson for this ARC in return for an honest review.

I couldn’t get past the first few chapters of this book because the main character was annoying. I can’t stand it when female characters are obsessed with married men. It’s unrealistic and takes away from the rest of the story.

The twenty-year anniversary of the suspicious disappearance of best-selling crime novelist Greer Larkin inspires a young filmmaker to set on a quest to discover the truth.

As June Masterson begins re-interviewing the people in Greer's life --- her fiancee, her mother, her agent and her best friend, new theories about her disappearance begin to emerge. But June seems to be uncovering too much new information, as the threats against her begin to emerge as well.

As June gets closer to discovering where Greer really is, she also begins uncovering truths in her own life that will cause her to re-evaluate her entire childhood.

This book was a fast-paced read that kept me guessing until the very end. Finding out what happened to Greer was a satisfying finish, but even more impressive was June's character development as she began to realize the people in her life who would show up for her and support her through her dangerous quest were not the ones she anticipated.

A great debut novel by Mindy Carlson! Looking forward to more of her work.

This was a great debut, very well written and I flew through it. Lots of suspense and drama and kept me gripped from the start. I definitely would read more from this author.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Crooked Lane Books and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Thumbs up for this debut! I look forward to reading more.

Wholly cow! What a great debut book. This story gripped me from page one and I couldn't stop reading. The main character is a film student, raised on a commune with very controlling parents. She doesn't always make the best decisions but her drive to make a great film is intense. Her documentary focuses on an author who has disappeared, presumed to be dead. Was it murder? Suicide? This page turner was well written and suspenseful.

This novel draws together true crime research, personal demons, and pursual by a killer as a tremendous vehicle for an entertaining main character. And her journey was quite a wild ride--some of the slapstick scenes drew me out of the tension of the plot. So if you're looking for a dreary and dark mystery, give this novel a pass. However, if you enjoy dark humor and an engaging plot, you'll be happy to give up the catastrophe of darker novels for this fun caper.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an unbiased opinion.**

Unexpected Suspense..
The unexpected and sudden disappearance of a writer leads down a very rocky path indeed in this compelling suspense with many threads. An intriguing premise that delivers, threads which weave perfectly and a plot populated with a credible cast of characters combine for an excellent read which leads to a wholly satisfying denouement.

Very intriguing story. Pear Blossom/June was an interesting character, having grown up in isolation with her parents, aunt, uncle and cousins in a commune of sorts till she was 18.

June has moved to NYC and studying to be a documentary filmmaker. She is in the process of making a documentary about the mysterious disappearance and possible death of Greer Larkins and ends up embroiled in the controversy.

To complicate things, she is sleeping with her married professor.

There are a lot of storylines going on that keep you interested and also some twists. There was mystery but it wasn’t too violent or graphic.

I don’t like to be left hanging at the ending of a book and this didn’t disappoint. Very satisfying ending for me.

I enjoyed this book. I thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read this book.

Pear Blossom Jubilee Masterson - yes, raised on a commune, isolated from the world - is an aspiring filmmaker who is sleeping with her (married) advisor. We're off to a great start!

As it turns out, only her advisor calls her Pear Blossom, so we're not stuck with unending litanies of that name. Everyone else calls her June. June has - for the last time - change the subject of her film. It's going to be a film about a 20 year old cold case: the disappearance of Greer Larkin, a mystery novelist. Larkin was a hit at age 14 with her first murder mystery, and after that, was withdrawn from school, and isolated from the rest of the world. Larkin is June's favorite writer, as they share the same general upbrringing, on their own tiny island in the sea of humanity, and because June loves the stories. June has read and reread all the books, and she participates in a forum at greersgone.com where she and other fans of Larkin's endlessly speculate about what could have happened and post whatever clues they believe they have about the disappearance.

June sends out emails to Larkin's mother Blanche (high and mighty, with money and lawyers out the wazoo), Jonathan (fiance and general scumbag), Rachel (devoted friend who wanted more than friendship) and Bethany (Larkin's agent). When she gets replies, it's an opportunity to see how each one thinks, and their guesses as to what happened. The women all blame Jonathan, of course, and that's only natural. The partner is always the first and primary suspect. His motive? Money- there's an account in the Caymans under his name with a whopping $18 million in it. But the account is frozen and Blanche doesn't want another nickel of Larkin's money going to him.

Rachel blames Jonathan as well, claiming he was abusive to Larkin, something he denies. Bethany blames Jonathan too, not just for Larkin's disappearance but for the quality of her writing deteriorating, something Rachel also throws at Jonathan's feet, claiming he controlled Larkin with booze and drugs.

June interviews them all, and casts general questions to the forum so as not to tip them off there's a film being made about Larkin's vanishing. June seems to be able to do better than the police did - of course, that was before the internet is what it is today - and as she gets further and further toward the answer, someone dies, and she is threatened as well unless she stops her investigation.

It's a fun book- not for the death and disappearance and threats, of course, but for the way in which June goes about putting the pieces together, and her (sometimes) inventive ways of getting information.

Side note to publishers and/or writers who use domains in their books: go register the thing and put content on it.

The ending is a bit tropey, with the villains giving up an infodump about their why, but it is coherent, consistent reasoning, even if a little weird. There are a few instances, and one in particular where something is presented to June that could have been presented to the police back in the day to help them, and it's odd that the character didn't do that. Other than these things, it's a solid, fun read.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.

Great book. Interesting concept. So glad I was allowed to read this. I look forward to other books by this author.

Her Dying Day
Author: Mindy Carlson
Date of publication: June 2022

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


Pear Blossom Jubilee Masterson didn't have a happy childhood, she was isolated from the outside world, homeschooled and she hates her family for that, her only solace during those days was the author Greer Larkins books. Now suddenly one day Green Larkin disappeared without a trace.
Everyone had a theory about her missing.
Her mother Blanche and her best friend Racheal believe that Greer's boyfriend Jonathan is the culprit, Jonathan claims he is innocent and points at Greer's overcontrolling mother or her friend Rachael responsible for her missing.
Greer's accountant on the other hand believes it to be suicide.
What happens, Greer Larkin, is she dead or alive?

Now June / Pear Masterson is a student at the movie school, she chooses mystery as her documentary project and takes Greer's disappearance as her theme.
June contacts Blanche, Rachael, Jonathan and everyone agrees to be interviewed by her.

There are some great reveals towards the end of the storyline

This is Mindy Carlson's debut novel. For a debut, it's certainly very good,  but it was a slow-paced reading, the plot was captivating but some unnecessary elements like June the main character was sleeping with her married teacher, their love adventures, I found them tiresome to read.
Apart from that, I loved the ending.
This would be a treat to Shari Lapena fans.

The author definitely has an good talent, I wish she writes more and more, All the very best Mindy
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

As a debut novel the author has done a really good job at writing something which kept me gripped throughout.

The premise is a good one - years after the disappearance of a well known author, June decides to investigate the circumstances surrounding that disappearance and try to work out what actually happened. In doing so she puts herself in danger.

Near the end we not only find out the truth of what happened, but June also discovers something from her past which allows her to understand her family better.

A great read and I can’t wait to see what the author brings us next.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Her D Day by M. Carlson, published by Croked Lane Books, is a thriller/mystery, a stand-alone.
June, Pear - you should be ashamed of what you do-Blossom is a student at college. Her thesis advisor, Paul is more than just a advisor, but sorry not sorry no more spoilers here. She's working on her thesis, about to graduate, when she investigates the disappearance of a woman 20 years ago.
While I was torn about the moral compass of the h, the story was that intriguing, I couldn't stop reading. Pear goes on a journey, finding answers without knowing, there are parallels between herself and the case of 20 years ago.
All in all, a slow burn, high on drama with twists and turns that kept me in suspense til the last page. 4,5 stars.

When reading a debut novel, I never know what I will get….this time I got a real winner. June is a documentary film student who has chosen to write about her favorite author, Greer Larkin. Larkin disappeared 20 years earlier and is assumed dead. June becomes involved in the mystery of her disappearance. This involvement is fraught with danger as her life becomes entangled with the people who possibly murdered Greer.

In addition to her struggle to film a documentary, she is in a comically tragic relationship with a very married professor. Though it is cliched, it is very well done and a bit funny in its’ predictability.

The final twists at the end of the book really come from left field, but provide an explanation for what has gone on in June’s life and that of her subject.

Thank you Netgalley for this engrossing and readable novel. I really enjoyed it!