story revolves around the survivors or the lucky ones of the fallen oaks killings - was a good listen, overall I am rounding my rating to 2.5stars. There was a bit of more drama than suspense, and a rushed ending.

Five years ago, during an intense multiple murder scenario, five children escape while their parents are killed. They have to try and live on, while suffering trauma from what happened to them and their families. After they all receive letters in the present time, they meet up to find out what they can do next. It seems that people think there is a curse on the land where their parents houses were built. Can this be what caused the murders, or was it something else? Who was responsible for the murders? I enjoyed this thriller, and the audipbook was great, but I did find the ending a little far-fetched. I still liked it though, and it was an interesting mystery story.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Five years ago, in a subdivision in the small town of Fallen Oaks, the adult residents were murdered in their beds. Only the children survived, the fallen oaks five. When each survivor receives a threatening letter seemingly from the killer/killers that were never found, they come together back to Fallen Oaks and begin asking questions. I enjoyed listening to the narrator and the story itself was pretty good but fell a little flat for me as a thriller and was really more of a slow burn mystery.

The audiobook of the "The Lucky Ones" is negatively impacted by the narrator, who sounds overly dramatic and near tears throughout the entire book. I would still recommend this as a book for fans of Kiersten Modglin, but would strongly encourage a physical copy of the book.

I must admit I was a bit skeptical I would like this one. As they arrived at the town and the rumors and curse info started to flow in, my eyebrows were up and I was just not buying it. But as the story slowly continued, peeling away layer after layer, I was hooked. How could this all play out? Not at all the way I guessed and I enjoyed it.

I also experienced this as an audio book and the narrator was excellent. I highly recommend it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

'Their families died...
They survived...
Their luck has run out.'

This is the second book I have read of Kiersten Modglin after The Lost Ones and both as audiobooks. I liked listening to this audiobook much more than the other one since I felt Linda Jones did a good job of narrating it although I felt her voice was a bit mature for the five she was narrating who happen to have just entered their 20s. Maybe it could be to show that these characters matured well before their age as a result of the trauma they suffered as children. A lot of readers enjoy Kiersten Modglin's thrillers saying they are fast paced and full of twists and turns. This one was no different and because of the all the twists the pace never dulled. At just over 5 hours, I managed to listen to the audiobook in one sitting.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher OrangeSky Audio and the author for the audio Arc of the book.

I listened to The Lucky Ones by Kiersten Modglin on audiobook. This is my third novel by this author. While I still enjoyed this one, I preferred the other two. There is a good plot, but this book felt rushed.

The Lucky Ones by Kiersten Modglin - Review.
They were supposed to die. Five years ago, the residents of the Gerbera subdivision in the small town of Fallen Oaks were brutally murdered in their beds. The only survivors, now called The Fallen Oaks Five, were children—practically strangers at the time, forever connected by the weight of all they witnessed. Now grown, the anniversary of their families’ deaths approaches, and the Fallen Oaks Five receive letters of warning: the killers are still out there and they aren’t finished with them.

Thanks NetGalley and OrangeSky audio for this copy.

My ideas for this book are scattered. We start with the characters who are both deep and shallow at the same time; meaning that on one hand it's very developed the ptsd and the psychological aspects of the trauma they went through but still empty enough to not really know them outside it. Maybe it was the intent of showing how traumatic events can consume you completely. But I'm not sure.

I've read it on audiobook, it's fast and approachable. The narrator does a great job. It's not very long even though it took me a while to get a hold on it, was it because of the subject that may make me blue or that it's just wasn't as captivating as I expected.

Although enjoyable it left no impact on me whatsoever.

2.5/5

Maria Lourdes.

------------ En Español -----------------

Se suponía que iban a morir. Hace cinco años, los residentes de la subdivisión de Gerbera en el pequeño pueblo de Fallen Oaks fueron brutalmente asesinados en sus camas. Los únicos sobrevivientes, ahora llamados The Fallen Oaks Five, eran niños, prácticamente extraños en ese momento, conectados para siempre por el peso de todo lo que presenciaron. Ahora que son adultos, se acerca el aniversario de la muerte de sus familias, y los Fallen Oaks Five reciben cartas de advertencia: los asesinos todavía andan por ahí y no han terminado con ellos.

Gracias Net Galley y OrangeSky audio por la copia de este libro.

Mis ideas para este libro están dispersas. Empezamos con los personajes que son a la vez profundos y superficiales; lo que quiero decir es que, por un lado, están muy desarrollados sus teps y los aspectos psicológicos del trauma por el que pasaron, pero aún están lo suficientemente vacíos como para no conocerlos realmente fuera de él. Tal vez fue la intención de mostrar cómo los eventos traumáticos pueden consumirte por completo. Pero no estoy seguro.

Lo he leído en audiolibro, es rápido y accesible. El narrador hace un gran trabajo. No es muy largo a pesar de que me tomó un tiempo conseguirlo, ¿fue por el tema que puede ponerme triste o porque simplemente no fue tan cautivador como esperaba?

Aunque agradable, no me dejó ningún impacto en absoluto.

2.5/5

María Lourdes.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I did enjoyed it. I listened to the whole book in a day as the pace was good enough to keep things interesting and I enjoyed the narrator. I will definitely read more by this author in the future. Thanks to Netgalley

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a little short, but it’s fast paced and I was engaged throughout. There is not a lot of character development, but I don’t think that’s necessary in a thriller so that didn’t bother me at all. Similarly, it does mean that you don’t really develop many emotional attachments to the characters. I didn’t hate Ellie, but I didn’t love her either (though I sympathized).

The build up and suspense was really good. I felt Ellie’s fear on returning to Fallen Oaks and everything around them trying to find answers. This is told from Ellie’s POV, and I felt what she felt. So that was really well written. The ending wasn’t a total surprise, I did figure out a lot of it before the climax but I still enjoyed it.

I listened to this as an audiobook and that added to the story for me. The narrator had a great voice, and set the tone of the story well. I find that listening to thrillers, as opposed to reading them, is a little spookier.

A big thank you to NetGalley, OrangeSky Audio and the author for allowing me to listen to this in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve so loved listening to Kiersten’s previous books, but I just didn’t really connect with the story or the characters. There is a mystery surrounds children that survived a massacre in their subdivision and where they are in their lives five years later. Someone from their past is targeting them and they must work together to figure out who. I was kept guessing through most of the book. There is nothing wrong with this one, but there is also nothing out of the ordinary either.

Linda Jones does a good job narrating the book and bringing the story to life.

3 stars for my first book by Kiersten Modglin and it was pretty good. Held my interest but didn't find it to be groundbreaking.

In Oaks Park a whole subdivision is slaughtered. 5 kids get out alive. Near the 5 year anniversary they each recieve a threatening letter and decide to investigate.

It leads them home and things aren't cut and dry as to what happened. The police aren't even investigating anymore.

I listened to this on audio and it held my interest.

Tonight, the quiet, evening peace of a local neighborhood will be ripped to shreds. Most residents will never see the light of day again. Butchered in their own beds. Miraculously, five children survived the onslaught.

Now, years later on the anniversary of that horrific night the survivors receive a letter. A reminder that the person responsible for killing their families has never been caught. Jolted back into reality, they face some tough questions. Are their lives in danger? Can they just ignore this turn and keep moving forward? Or do they need to confront the past?

Once again, this reminded me of those slasher movies where you are yelling “don’t go into the basement!”. In this case I was screaming, “don’t go back to your hometown!” I mean seriously!? Unfortunately my book characters rarely (if ever) listen to me. Oh well…I warned them!💁🏻‍♀️

This was my second read by this highly popular author and once again I came away disappointed. Most of the book (audio) was just meh…then the ending simply left me shaking my head….really!? Sometimes you have to realize you don’t ‘click’ with a certain authors’ style. Sadly, I’ve come to that conclusion here.

There are many positive five star reviews for this book and many of her previous works, just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio.

Gerbera subdivision was a happy community until shots erupted one night. When everything was over, only 5 children remained alive. It is five years later on the anniversary of their parent's deaths, they all received anonymous letters saying "the killers are still out there and they aren’t finished with them." They all head back to Fallen Oaks and to their old homes to see if they can remember things and finally help the police catch the killers and close the case. What they find is a park where their homes used to be, everyone clamming up when they ask questions and secrets that they never knew about. Will the Fallen Oaks Five ever be free from fear and memories?

The story started with a bang and really grabbed me, but it didn't continue in the same vein. The premise of this book sounded good, but it didn't measure up for me. The plot was all over the place. There were a lot of loose ends, and questions about why, how, what??? There were a couple of characters that showed promise and added some suspense, but it petered out. By the time the ending came about with a final twist, I just didn't care anymore. Linda Jones narrated the audiobook and as I listened while driving, it kept me occupied..

I loved this book it was so gripping and exciting, I just couldn't put it down. It is definitely a brilliant page turner, and you will be on the edge of your seat while reading it. I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator she read this book so well.  She did an magnificent job at bringing out the tension that the book contains. Also creating a wonderful sense of atmosphere.  This book really stood out for me because the tension and the story line just had me on edge all the time. And the book starts with very intense events that certainly do pack a punch creating a thrilling roller coaster ride. The author did a fantastic job developing the characters throughout this book as i really connected with them and was rooting them on to find the answers that they needed. The twists and turns in this book was marvellous as I had no idea how this book was going to end. I loved the antisipation. This really is my type of thriller. So much suspense and the emotions just lept out of the page at me.
I will definitely be looking out for more by this author she is one to watch. I can't recommend this book enough.  So much praise goes out the the author and publishers for bringing us this gripping and tension filled novel that I just couldn't put down. 
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/the-lucky-ones-by-kiersten-modglin-orangesky-audio-5-stars
Under either name ladyreading365 or lady Reading365

ANOTHER captivating read (or listen in the case of an audiobook) from Kiersten Modglin. This time, we see things from the points of view of multiple "survivors" pounts of view, victims who managed to survive a mass murder. This novel is, a unique and and well conceived out mystery as crime victims learn how to continue their lives after years spend in dread, fear, and terror of what the future would hold for each of them. Excellent narration with the audiobook, the narrator gives a perfect voice to the main charater. Special thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity of reviewing this advance copy.

This is my first book by this author. I appreciate the introduction, Net Galley.
The story moves along at a nice pace, with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep one guessing.
Have to admit…I didn’t see that ending coming.
The audiobook narrator was perfect, with expression and character vocalization.

I listened to this whole story in 1 day!

This was a great, twisty story about the 5 survivors of a suburban killing. It kept me guessing and I enjoyed the main characters. The very end was an awesome little surprise and I’m so glad that piece of the puzzle was added!

If you like murder mysteries, I highly recommend picking this up!

*I received a free copy of the audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had to DNF this book as I found it too triggering.. I wish I could have gotten through it as I absolutely love Kiersten Modglin's work. This book just was not for me, unfortunately.

If you survive a massacre but your whole family was killed, would you consider yourself lucky?

Five years ago, five kids managed to escape while everyone in their families in the Gerbera subdivision of Fallen Oaks was brutally murdered one night. They have since all gone their separate ways, but the dread and terror of that night has never left them.

Despite taking every precaution to ensure that they're never traced, they receive letters one day as the 5th anniversary of the massacre is coming up.

They all convene to figure out what to do next, and they visit their hometown to meet with the police there as the case was under their jurisdiction.

What follows is a mish-mash of an urban legend about a curse on the land where their houses had been built, a link to a case of a long-missing woman, and the actual reason why their parents were killed.

The story started well and held a lot of promise, but eventually, it took off on different tangents that did more to make the story confusing rather than creating a sense of doubt and mystery.

The final twist and reveal were also 'meh', and some parts of the story were just plain 'Nah!' Overall, I gave it three stars because I listened to this book on audio and the narrator was good. Despite all the unbelievable twists and eye-roll moments, I did want to keep listening. Perhaps that was because of the narrator who made it sound so interesting. I was looking forward to a big juicy plot twist, but it never came. Ah, well!

Thanks to Netgalley, Orange Sky Audio and the author for providing me with a review copy of this audiobook in return for my honest opinion.