I knew this was an older romance but I didn't realize it was from 2004. And it definitely reads like 2004 and not just because it's set in that time period. Some of the stuff in this story flew in 2004 when we knew less but just does not work in 2022. For one this had a lot of graphic violence which should've been mentioned in the synopsis because it doesn't spoil the book.

The romance kept breaking up the moment of the serial killer storyline to the point where I just didn't care about the outcome. It's hard for a lot of authors to find a good balance when it come to romantic suspense. They either focus too much on the suspense or they focus too much on the romance. The two characters had no chemistry which made the romance all the more painful. Our male mc Gabriel is pushy and it made me feel uncomfortable especially when our leading lady is an abuse survivor.

I understand why CBS is adapting this story. I can see them trying to capture How to Get Away with Murder vibes. Fitting coincidence the professor here is also Analise. I suggest skipping this one and reading While Justice Sleeps instead.

Never Tell was, unfortunately, not my cup of tea. The first edition of this book was released in 2004, but I wasn't aware of that until I was reaching the end of the story. Now, I look back and can tell that the editor(s) likely didn't change much because there are scenes and exchanges in this book that wouldn't really fly today. There are also a lot of descriptions that refer to Erin's "silky" hair which makes sense for 2004 because Black women were expected to wear their hair straight during that time. Now, the natural hair movement has blown up!

I liked the concept of an academic tracking down a serial killer but was disturbed that there were no content warnings about abuse and grooming. These were huge parts of the story and Erin's drive for investigating this serial killer! If the book had focused on this plot, I would have enjoyed it more. However, this was also a romance. Despite the numerous descriptions of Erin and Gabriel's supposed chemistry, I wasn't feeling it. They didn't seem believable to me because Gabriel came across as predatory or aggressive to me in his pursuit of Erin. This left me confused as to how the two could form any romantic attachment, let alone trust. I'm pretty disappointed about this book.

For those looking for a thriller by Stacey Abrams that was more satisfying, in my opinion, look into While Justice Sleeps. It's a bit slow at first but it's clever and becomes gripping.

Never Tell is a romantic suspense novel by author Selena Montgomery aka the incomparable Stacey Abrams. Overall, I enjoyed this book - it’s been awhile since I read anything other than romantic comedy - but I did have some issues with parts. I know from reading other reviews and sources that this book was originally written in 2004 and shelved before publication, and it shows - it could have probably used an editor. The topics of consent and sexual harassment are skirted a bit more than we are used to reading more current books. I was reminded of some other books published around this same time, and it seems like consent and male dominance are a little outdated by today’s standards (ex: Gabriel really had a hard time taking no for an answer and he used his physical presence an uncomfortable amount to get what he wanted). But I found the thriller aspect of the book, especially the linguistic clues, to be quite exciting and engaging, and Annalise/Erin was definitely the haunted yet determined/strong heroine you can get behind. Just can’t get past how much better this would have been with an editor after sitting on a shelf for 15+ years.

Suspenseful with a sprinkle of romance is how I would describe this book. It reminds me a lot of the Mind Hunters show on Netflix.

Trigger warnings: Violence, psychological and physical abuse, childhood trauma

Dr. Erin Abbott is a criminal psychologist who is trying to escape her past and start a fresh life under the radar. Mysterious murders start taking place around her that hint at her past. Using her academic expertise and understanding from her past, Erin might be the only one who can crack the case with the unwanted help from Gabriel Moss, an arrogant reporter who can't stay away from Erin.

This was an enjoyable read. I really loved the murder mystery aspect of the plot. Throughout the entire book I was trying to figure out who was the murderer!

A couple things I didn't like about the book, which is why I rated it 3 stars.

One: The multiple POV writing style was too chaotic for my taste. At times I found it difficult to keep up with the constant changes of POVs. I definitely love multiple POVs in books because we get to understand the characters better. However, it seems like every character in the book had a POV and it was just too much. Most POVs weren't necessary for the story and I would have been happy with just Erin and Gabe.

Second: The book is advertised (at least from what I read on GoodReads) as a romantic suspense novel. I think the romance aspect of the book fell flat. At times, I could have described it as a slow burn but really the main focus was the suspense. I also found it hard to believe that Erin and Gabe fell in love with each other because their relationship development wasn't really seen throughout the book, especially with how much trauma Erin experienced.

Overall, it was an ok read.

Wow, excellent book! The characters were on point, and relatable. This is definitely a sit down and get comfy, because you won't want to put it down book.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read an advanced copy for an honest review.

Stacey Abrams is one of my heroes. I credit her with getting out the vote that meant the difference in whether this country continued as a democracy or not in the last presidential election. When I learned she is also a writer my respect soared even higher. That said, I am sad that I'm not part of the target audience for her work. I appreciate being given the opportunity to read Never Tell. And I still love Stacey Abrams.

I think it is definitely important that people are aware that this book was not only set in the early 00s, but written in the early 00s. It reminds me quite a bit of the romantic suspenses I've read from that era, but I think it doesn't necessarily age that well on the romance side for a reader in the 2020s.
That being said, I think this is a pretty fun/successful suspense, but the romance elements detract from the overall experience of the book. I wish it had JUST been secrets from the past and a serial killer story, becuase that part was very enjoyable. Still, I think for its time this is pretty solid, but not necessarily to my taste in what I would pick up for a rom suspense today.

CW: SA, domestic abuse, on page violence

I was not prepared for the graphic violence and sexual assault. I wish trigger warnings had been advised. Overall, I found this book deeply disturbing.

The story started out interestingly enough however I found it a bit laborious in the middle and it was clear who the killer really was. I usually enjoy multiple narrators however the way this was conceived it was confusing.

DNF
Love Stacey Abrams and expected to love this but it was too scary for me and I stopped. Expected romance not serial killers

A great page turner in the covid era... a great escape for an afternoon, a day at the beach, a vacation or plane read to divert ones thoughts from everyday life. Stacey is Amazing.

This was a terrific and suspenseful book. It took me a minute to figure out what was going on but once I was sucked in the story I couldn’t wait to see what happened.

Never Tell is the reissue of Selena Montgomery's 2004 book (now that the cat is out of the bag and everyone knows Montgomery is the pen name of Stacey Abrams--yes, that Stacey Abrams). In it, Erin is living her life as a professor at a college in New Orleans when her past comes back to haunt her. A murderer reaches out and makes clear that they are a serial killer, out to get Erin and avenge the death of Erin's former mentor. Erin had changed her name once she escaped the clutches of Nathan, who had been her mentor, guardian, and abuser. Since she can't seem to shake the assistance of a gorgeous reporter, Gabriel, she gives in and they work together to stop the ABC killer from completing the murderous alphabet.

I really wanted to like this but it just didn't work for me. Erin suffered a lot of abuse from Nathan and, while it's clear he meant well, Gabriel's actions were often giant red flags. He wouldn't let her physically leave a room or an embrace on many occasions. His behavior was incredibly domineering, especially given Erin's past. It just seemed like she was going from one controlling relationship to another. The story itself was interesting and the use of Erin's incredible linguistic abilities was fascinating, but all of that couldn't get me over the very uncomfortable feelings brought on by the two main characters' relationship. Thanks to @Netgalley for the eARC. Available 1/25/2022.

TW for this book: graphic descriptions of abuse

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for the opportunity to read and review this book. While this is not my typical genre, I was curious about Stacey Abrams' writing. I recognize that some of the things that occur in this book are problematic today but not considered so when the book was originally published.

The characters are interesting, though the quick connection between Erin and Gabriel is rushed. He is intrusive. The murders are inventive. The plot is plodding at times, harried at others. I am not sure I will read more from this author, though a more recent publication may be interesting to see the evolution of her writing style.

All opinions expressed are solely mine.

After the first chapter the book was a bit slow. It then picks up. I’m not huge on Romantic suspense but this was pretty gripping.

From the first paragraph this book grabs you and holds your attention. One of the best books I have read in a while. I was shocked to find out who was the killer in the end. She kept you in suspense until the very end. Absolutely wonderful!!!!

It took me a bit to get into this story, but once I was, I was hooked. I thought this was going to be predictable, but I was wrong. The ending was a great, twisty surprise. If you like romantic suspense, this is definitely a book to consider for your TBR list.

First of all, thank you to Stacey Adams, the publishers and netgalley for my ecopy! This was actually my first review book!! I enjoyed this book, I believe it was the perfect mix of romance and mystery. The book caught my attention after reading just the first chapter and kept me interested throughout. I do have to agree that I felt like some of the words and terms used to describe things were a little extra in the sense that I had to think a little harder than normal to comprehend what was going on but at the same time this isn’t a bad thing and given the career path of the author it’s understandable. I will be looking to see what other books this author has to find my next!!

3.75 stars. A romantic murder mystery. I enjoyed this one and the characters, Gabe and Erin. I can definitely see a series from them.
Thank you NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book. I like how the author weaved Erin’s (The main character) memories in to what was occurring current day in a way that made sense and helped move the story along. The plot was interesting and kept me guessing.