I really liked how this book was told, but was left with a few loose ends that had this fall just short of five stars. The author changes the point of view between the husband, the wife, the mother, the daughter and the murderer. So it's not necessarily a murder mystery, as we know who the murderer is pretty much all along. Rather, it talks about different motivations.

There is a lot of talk about infertility and miscarriage (the author's note at the end reveals this is a subject that she lived through and therefore felt like she wanted to write about), so if that is a trigger warning, be aware. I thought the way this was dealt with was done really well, however. This also deals with the ethics of sperm donation and what it means to be a child with a "donor father." Themes of nature vs. nurture are also discussed and overall it did give you a lot to consider.

Great book, captured my attention right from the beginning. Interesting characters and lots of twists.

The story focussed on Park and Olivia. The couple is desperately trying to have a baby. We soon learn that Park donated sperm while in college and has many many donor kids. One of his biological kids may even be a killer.

Lots of dark twists and shocking events happen throughout the book. A great thriller!

*** Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a digital ARC of this book!

Excellent mystery. I loved the premise and the surprises throughout. Great character building and plot development.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>It's One of Us</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Trigger warning: infertility and miscarriage.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>It's One of Us</i> by J.T. Ellison is a disappointing thriller that fails to deliver on its promises of suspense and intrigue.

<h4>The Details</h4>

One of the main issues I have with this story is that it is not going anywhere. I can’t even say that the plot is predictable, because there barely is a plot.

Furthermore, most of the characters in <i>It's One of Us</i> are just plain boring and annoying. It’s the same complaint I had with another book recently. The constant back and forth with a character’s internal conflict. I guess it’s supposed to create anticipation or interest, but I was just plain annoyed.

The writing style in <i>It's One of Us</i> is not bad. There wasn’t really anything wrong with the actual writing, just how it was used that wasn’t my cup of tea.

I’m not sure what else to say. I felt like any sort of drama, tension, anticipation that was created felt forced. I’m still sitting here wondering where this story was supposed to go.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>It's One of Us</i> is a forgettable thriller that fails to leave a lasting impression. I wouldn’t recommend it.

“It’s One of Us” by JT Ellison offers readers a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue. The narrative is rich with tension, and the characters are crafted with depth, drawing readers into their world of secrets and deception. Ellison’s skillful pacing keeps the story moving at a brisk pace, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.

One of the book’s strengths lies in its ability to maintain a sense of mystery throughout. The twists and turns in the plot are expertly executed, leaving readers guessing until the very end. Each revelation adds a new layer to the story, keeping the suspense alive and the pages turning.

However, while the novel delivers on suspense, it also suffers from moments of predictability. Some plot developments feel formulaic, and certain twists can be seen coming from a mile away. This predictability detracts somewhat from the overall enjoyment of the book, as it lessens the impact of key revelations.

Additionally, while the characters are well-drawn, they occasionally fall into familiar archetypes found in the thriller genre. While they are certainly engaging, they lack the depth and complexity needed to truly stand out in a crowded field of similar novels.

Overall, “It’s One of Us” is a solid thriller that will satisfy fans of the genre looking for a quick and engaging read. While it may not break new ground or offer any particularly groundbreaking insights, it delivers on its promises of suspense and excitement. If you’re looking for a book to keep you on the edge of your seat, “It’s One of Us” is worth picking up.

Amazingly smart thriller that will give you whiplash with its twists and turns! JT Ellison does it again and reminds us why they’re the best in the game!

Olivia and Park Bender seem to have an idyllic life. She's a design architect and he's an English professor on sabbatical ghost writing for a thriller author. The only issue they have is that no matter how hard they try, they can't have a baby. And on the morning Olivia's had her latest miscarriage, the police are at her door. There has been a murder of a woman they know and Park's child is the murderer. So many secrets between these two. Will they be able to move past the secrets and lies or will this crush them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Books/MIRA for the opportunity to read and review this book.

While reading this, I thought I knew what was going to happen, but I was very surprised. I read the synopsis of a book when I add it to my TBR, and once it's on there, I already know it's a book I want to read, so I don't remind myself of what it is going to be about.

You never know what is around the next corner with this book. I love J.T. Ellison's work. Her books always leave me guessing until the very end.

This one was just okay. Parts of it reminded me of Lie to Me, but the tension that book had wasn't as palpable here, at least for me. That being said, there were some good twists that kept me reading rather than giving up on this book as I have on several that I've read lately. So for that I give it 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting this ARC.

This author is really hit or miss for me and unfortunately this one was a miss. Just couldn't get into it. Maybe the next one will be better!!

JT Ellison has become one of my favorite thriller authors! Theres something about her novels that always have me guessing. This one was one for those written for the modern days, where DNA websites are the main plot lines (aka Ancestry, 23 & me etc). This was a twisty myertery that i enjoyed very much.

This book was a real page turner to me. Loved that we did know who the bad guy was from very early on in the book but that still didn’t help you figure out exactly where it was going. The very convoluted past of our main characters made the reader, unaware of how this was all going to work out. This author is fast becoming a favor of mine

This book was such an interesting premise! I was second guessing myself at every turn! Multiple POVs kept me engaged. I do think the murderer got revealed a little too early, and it made the rest of the book not as fun. Still a solid read that I would recommended!

Olivia and Park Bender get a surprise visit from Nashville detectives when the suspect's DNA in a homicide case is partially matched to Park. The detectives are looking for his son. This comes as a huge shock to Olivia who has been trying to conceive through a series of procedures.

This was a very entertaining thriller with twists and turns. I can feel Olivia's struggles throughout the book. I think it was well paced and I never felt bored at any point. The final reveal really was good but I don't understand the ending (how in the world did... never mind, no spoiler here) but wish we get a different ending!

IT’S ONE OF US
J.T. Ellison

When you think it’s bad it gets even worse. When you think the characters cannot take any more, even more is given.

In IT’S ONE OF US we’re following Olivia. Olivia is happily married to Park. Although they are happily married, they are plagued by the inability to conceive. It’s the biggest burden they carry as a couple and individually.

One day, just like any other day, Park is visited by detectives. They say Park’s son is a murder suspect. This is news to Park as he doesn’t have any children from a prior marriage or relationship and he and Olivia have thus far been unable to conceive on their own.

This is where the mystery begins.




This is the first book by J.T. Ellison that I have read. I am late to the party. I have seen her titles before, but nothing grabbed until I read the synopsis for IT’S ONE OF US There are certain things that I appreciated to an extent and then there are other things I could’ve had less of.

It was easy to get emotionally involved with the characters. I had to remind myself I was reading a thriller repeatedly. The stakes are high from the beginning, and I cared a lot about how the situation resolved itself and how the characters would wind up at the end. I wanted more of this or at least for the focus to continue to be on how it’s affecting the characters.

Unfortunately, it did not

The writing goes in and out of sharpness. Parts of the opening are flowery, almost poetic. The passages where we discuss Olivia’s infertility are heartbreaking and I felt Ellison went there for her characters. When we get to the meat of the story the execution gets rocky. And at some point, in the middle, I stopped caring about the characters and wanted to skim to resolve the mystery.

I found IT’S ONE OF US to be emotional, and thought-provoking, with dynamics that will stay with me for a while. I gave it three stars and I would pick up another Ellison in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and MIRA for the advanced copy!

IT’S ONE OF US…⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of It's One of Us by J.T. Ellison.

Anyone that knows me, know that I am obsessed with J.T. and her books, and I have been for years. This book is just another one to add to my love list!! Definitely an Autobiy Author!¡

Loved this one - I could not stop reading! The story was thought provoking in that it makes you think about fertility and the experience of infertility (this may be a trigger to some readers). I loved how twisty the story was - and the author kept me on my toes! This is a read I recommend 100 percent.

Ellison is a master of mystery and this book was NO different. I loved reading it, loved the flawed characters and could not put it down.

I am a huge fan of J.T. Ellison. Always have been...always will be. While this was a compelling read, I also found it to be quite melodramatic with "soap opera" dialogue. Not the best, but there was a nice little twist at the end, and I was eager to know how it would come to conclusion.

The author's note is excellent and extremely touching, discussing her own journey with infertility (one of the main topics of the novel). I think that aspect might be eye opening for many people.

Looking forward to Ellison's next book!

J.T. Ellison's writing style is captivating, and she skillfully weaves together the elements of mystery, suspense, and personal relationships. The way she explores the themes of infertility, murder, and old unsolved cases adds depth to the narrative and keeps the readers guessing until the very end. Overall, "It's one of us" is a well-written novel with an original storyline that showcases J.T. Ellison's talent as a writer. I could see this story making a really good movie! I liked how the chapters were each titled - it really helped out with the changing pov's. The author's personal note at the end of the book was a nice touch and made me realize how well written Olivia's character was. Excellent book! Not to be missed. Thank you for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.