I absolutely love thrillers - so the synopsis sounded amazing and I new I need to read it! Don't say I did not warn you but once you pick this book up...you will not want to put it down! It engages you from the beginning!
Main character Norah survived a serial killer ten years ago.… but did she really escape him for good? When she comes back home after a decade it appears he’s back and she can’t trust anyone. The killer reveal was so well written! I. can't wait to see what else she writes!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

“Ten years ago, I survived a serial killer. They called me the lucky one, but they don’t know the truth I’ve been hiding ever since…”

Synopsis: Then: We danced together that night, our dresses glittering in the swirling lights. We couldn’t have known that for one of us, it would be our last night alive. Now: Back in my hometown a decade later—the place I’ve avoided because of the memories—I can’t shake the feeling that I am being followed. I tell myself it’s all in my head, but the prickle on the back of my neck feels like a warning. Then the anonymous messages land in my inbox: I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for you. Someone won’t let me forget what really happened that night. What I promised. How I escaped. If the truth comes out, I only hope they can forgive me... I can’t make the same mistake again. I have to keep us all safe. What if, this time, I’m not so lucky?

Personal Review: 4 stars

Jessica Payne throws major nail biting, suspenseful vibes that keep my heart pumping through her novels! This was no exception. Norah suffered a traumatic run in with a serial killer in high school who killed her best friend, she moves away to start over as an MMA trainer, comes home for her fathers funeral and her past starts catching up to her, once again! This novel kept my guessing the whole way, and when the plot twist was thrown upon me, I thought I should have been more clever to figure it out- without giving away spoilers! I binged the majority of this book in one day, just as her last one, and enjoyed every page. Payne created strong female leads that didn’t need to be saved, and sleuthed and searched the twists and turns on their own to figure out the mystery of the Hansel serial killers real identity. The novel was well planned, well written, and well…just thrilling the whole way through!

Thank you @jessicapayne and @bookotoure for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Can I only give a book 5 stars? Because this book DEFINITELY deserves more, and I can tell you this review probably won’t give it the justice it deserves either. This is my favourite book of the year by far and DEFINITELY needs to be chosen for film.

Norah returns to her hometown after a decade away. Her father has just died and the book that has published her story of escaping a serial killer has not long been released. Kansas City is the last place she wants to be as it is, and then she finds another friend dead!!

Alternating between the chapters of 10 years ago and what really happened back then and now – is it all happening again? Makes this one hell of a heart pounding/ edge of your seat/ fast paced – page turner.

The Lucky One was so incredibly well written, it was fast paced throughout, in fact half the time my eyes couldn’t read fast enough. The characters were incredibly well written, likeable, authentic – they became friends to you in their own right. You cared about them all.

Although I had my suspicions of who was really behind it all, I was still scared, yes actually feared reading ahead to find out the truth. I honestly didn’t expect to be right, and although I was it was still the biggest shock to my system.

Jessica Payne is definitely an author on the rising. This is going to be one hard book to beat for the top of the year!! Absolutely incredible.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher Bookouture for my review copy in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published on October 10th and it’s definitely a book you want to hit your kindle with everyone else!! PREORDER NOW!!

I love this author’s style of writing! You keep guessing who the killer is until the very last minute of their drama! 10 years ago, a serial killer took the life of Norah’s best friend and almost killed Norah. When Norah’s father dies, she comes back to town to take care of his estate, not knowing that the serial killer has also come back to town! Thrilling, and twisty!

As a teen, Norah and her best friend August, were kidnapped by a serial killer, dubbed “Hansel”. August was murdered right before her eyes, but Norah was set free, after promising the killer that she could love him someday.
10 years later, after devoting her life to train as an MMA fighter, Norah returns to her home town to bury her father, and reunite with old friends.
Suddenly, murders begin to surround her life again, and the serial killer “Hansel”re-emerges in Norah’s life through texts.
Her worst nightmare is about to begin.

This was a gripping story, full of suspicious characters, and loving friends. Norah tries to solve the murders, but there are so many suspects.
The book was intriguing and exciting, with lots of twists!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy!
5 Star rating!

THE LUCKY ONE is a psychological thriller novel, by Jessica Payne. Having just read and enjoyed her debut novel, “Make Me Disappear”, I was looking forward to reading her second stand-alone thriller, “The Lucky One”.

Her Stand-alone Novels Include:
Make Me Disappear (2022)
The Lucky One (2022)

This is my review of The Lucky One.

Norah Silverton was a serial killer survivor, the high school senior who escaped her killer after being kidnapped, but her friend, August Taylor, never made it out alive. The serial killer nicknamed “Hansel” was responsible for five deaths.

They called her The Lucky One, but she was so traumatized that she moved from the crime scene, Kansas City to LA, where she became an MMA fighter/trainer.

Norah receives a signed copy of a book after she did an interview about her job as a coach and her athletes. But instead, the book followed those that have been victim to, or involved in, crimes. And her story…the high school senior who escaped her killer…would soon become a best seller.

Now ten years later, Norah has returned to Kansas City following the death of her father. Norah is greeted by her best friend, Janie (August’s twin), and soon to follow her other friend, Esme…the inseparable three!

Back in her hometown —the place Norah has avoided—she I can feel the backlash, the whispers. the rumors. She never told Janie the terrible details of the attack, or how she escaped.

Soon, Norah is in the middle of a murder investigation, similar to Hansel, the serial killer who let her go, and now she is a suspect or person of interest.

Norah, senses she is being followed. Then anonymous messages land in her inbox:
" I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for you."

Who can she trust? Someone out there won’t let her forget what really happened that night.

This was a well-written fast paced, serial killer story that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the big reveal!

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.

Absolutely loved this twisty psychological thriller!! Told in alternating timelines, Jessica Payne is masterful at keeping you guessing. Thank you to NetGalley for the early review copy.

Norah survived a serial killer after leaving prom early with one of her best friends. Her friend did not. Norah was considered “the lucky one” and the odds of facing a serial killer a second time is nearly impossible. Or is it? Norah returns to her hometown after tens years away and it’s once again a fight for her life. I loved this book and would have given it five stars if I hadn’t figured out the whodunnit part a little early.

This is about a girl who escaped from a serial killer like 10 years ago by using some flirting and charm on him. Now she's back in her hometown because of an unfortunate death and within the first few hours in town she witnesses a killing that closely resembles the serial killers scenes from back then. And he's never been caught so is it him ? Or a copy cat?
I mean I don't know how she didn't figure it out sooner who the killer was because I felt like it was pretty obvious.
It's good for a standard thriller but don't expect anything new brought out.

I have been in a real thriller/mystery mood and 'The Lucky Ones' sounded like the perfect book to read whilst in this mood.
I love books about fictional serial killers and this book follows a girl who was kidnapped by a serial killer 10 years ago but was let go by him after he murders her best friend.
I liked this book, it wasn't my favourite thriller that I have ever read but I did enjoy reading it. I do think I forced myself to read most of this book just because I wanted to know who the killer was, because the middle of this book definitely dragged a lot. There was a lot of action at the beginning and end of this book but the middle was a real drag to get through, and made the book seem like it was 500 pages long instead of the almost 400 pages it was. I think that this book could've been slightly shorter and maybe I would've enjoyed it a lot more because I was not hooked the entire time.
I liked the talk of MMA fighting in this book. I don't really know much about it but it was interesting to see a female character who is an MMA fighter.
There was a heavy romance plot in this book which was just ok. I wasn't heavily invested but it did keep me interested during the boring middle section of this book.
The plot twist of who the killer was was a bit of a bore. I did guess who it was but then kept doubting myself because surely it couldn't be as obvious as I thought it would be, but it really was that obvious, so the actual reveal did not make up for the boring middle section.
This book was interesting but I doubt it will be one that I will remember in the future.

Another page turner from Jessica Payne. The blurb had me at serial killer, I just can't resist a good cat and mouse story. Don't start reading this book if you aren't prepared to settle in for the day or night with it. Easy to binge read and get lost in this story.

10 years ago, Norah escaped a serial killer. Her friend, August, did not. They called her the Lucky One, but in reality she doesn't feel lucky. She left home soon after and moved far away to LA where she became an MMA fighter/trainer. Never again will she feel weak. Now she has come back to Kansas for the first time since leaving as her father has passed away. It doesn't take long before she is in the middle of a murder investigation, one that is scarily similar to Hansel, the serial killer who let her go.

Norah is strong and tough now, but the thought of Hansel being back scares her. Is she next? Is Hansel back or is a copycat? The police have alot of questions for her and her friends. We jump back in time to when she was taken and learn about what really happened that night, her prom night.

If you like a fast paced, serial killer story then this one is for you. Published September 14th. Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.

The Lucky One follows Norah as she returns to her hometown a decade after surviving an attack by a serial killer. Norah is faced with planning her father's funeral, visiting with her best friend (whose twin happened to be murdered in the same attack that Norah survived), and avoiding the serial killer who was never caught. While I know people absolutely loved this book, it simply wasn't for me. I found the pacing to be quite slow; there were several sections of the book that dragged on and on. With that said, I actually found the start of the book to be too rushed. The first big "ahhh" moment occurs too quickly, not allowing the reader to really care. I did not relate to or like any of the characters, particularly Norah. I found the romance scenes to be awkward and there was too much detail put into the sparring scenes. Finally, I found the big reveal to be very predictable. Again, this book was simply not for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

The title caught my attention and story held it. I did not want to put this book down! Prom night should be a fun night full of memories, but for Norah is was the start of a 10 year nightmare. It was the night that a serial killer kidnapped her and her best friend August. Norah watched Hansel (serial killer) brutally murder August. Norah was able to escape and moved to L.A. where she became a MMA fighter. Norah ends up returning to her hometown and Hansel has returned.

I figured out who Hansel was pretty early in the book, but I still couldn't stop reading it. I had to know how the story played out. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoy suspense books and want one that will stick with you after it is over. I know this one will haunt me for awhile!

This book had me gripped from the start! I loved the dual timelines - we see Norah in the present day, returning to Kansas City after the death of her father, and we also see her abduction & survival at the hands of a serial killer ten years ago. With Norah’s well deserved paranoia about being able to defend herself when she is next attacked, it really does feel like there is no-one to trust. How well does Norah know her friends? Can she trust the police? Should she trust the true crime blogger who says she just wants to help? I really liked this aspect - I made so many guesses through this story, but kept changing my mind as to who it was. Just when I thought I had something figured out, something else happened to prove me wrong. This was a fast paced & suspenseful thriller that I strut to put down. Jessica Payne had become a go-to author & I can’t wait to see what she does next.

I LOVED this book. I absolutely devoured it.

The main character, Norah, was kidnapped on her high school prom night and forced to watch a notorious serial killer murder her best friend. She somehow escaped that night and now lives in LA, training as an MMA fighter and coach. When the passing of her estranged father brings her back to her hometown, she is forced to confront her past and work to unmask the killer who let her escape all those years ago.

This one had me hooked from very early on in the book (I'm talking first few pages) which is rare for me. The author left little clues throughout the book so that I, as the reader, could do some of my own investigating. I loved that by the end, each plot point and clue was neatly tied up so there were no loose ends. It felt very well thought out and so satisfying!

Outside of the mystery/thriller aspect, I loved that Norah had a non-traditional career and that there were discussions on the effects of trauma. Norah still had significant character development even though that wasn’t the main focus of the book and the depth to her character made it even more enjoyable to read. I highly recommend this book for lovers of thrillers, mysteries, horror, and even drama (if you’re wanting to dabble in the thriller world)! Fans of Riley Sager and B.A. Paris: Jessica Payne may just be your new favorite author!

The call Norah the lucky one because she survived a serial killer. But her life seems like anything but lucky. She lives her life looking over her shoulder and training to fight in case she ever encounters the man who haunts her again. Then her dad passed away and she has to return to her hometown. Things escalate quickly from there. Buckle up for a wild ride!

I absolutely loved this book. I read in two days of course I got nothing else done but SO worth it ! Suspense and mystery written to perfection! Norah escaped a serial killer named Hansel after watching her best friend killed by him . She knew she had to stay alive and get in the killers head to escape. He lets her go and now is he back? or is this just someone close to her playing a game of cat and mouse. So many twists and turns and this book is SOOOO good! I am now a forever Jessica Payne fan. Read this book!! It is the best book I have read this year !! Five starts doesn't do this book justice. Keep writing Jessica Payne I will be looking forward to your next book!

I guessed who Hansel was in the earlier parts of the book. That didn’t stop me from totally loving this book! I loved how it always kept me wanting more with all the action packed vibes. I loved the true crime journalist vibes it had. Also, let’s talk about the MC! She’s an MMA fighter/coach! Yes! Not the usual, doctor/lawyer/psychiatrist/etc that we see SO MUCH in thriller books. That was a breath of fresh air for sure and so different. This book is about a girl who leaves prom and is kidnapped along with her best friend by a serial killer. Her friend is killed right in front of her but then the killer just…let’s HER go. Now she’s all grown up (and a fighter!) and is coming back to her hometown where it all started! Hansel is still out there though. And he’s been waiting.

Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture for an eARC of The Lucky One by Jessica Payne in exchange for an honest review! I SLAMMED Payne’s debut novel earlier this year, so as soon as I saw this on NG I had to click the request button. I’m a sucker for thrillers that bring back the past, and this book does just that.

What’s it about?
10 years ago, Norah survived being taken by a serial killer after her prom. Her best friend did not make it out alive. She’s been known as the lucky one, the survivor - But she has been running from the past for her entire life. After a tragedy brings her back to her hometown a decade later, things still don’t feel right. Then, an anonymous message lands in her inbox - I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for you. Who is it? And what if this time, she isn’t so lucky?

This book is bingeable with a creative plot and no shortage of characters to question when it comes to who the bad guy(s) - or girl(s) - are. The suspense is high throughout the book and you’ll get whiplash trying to decide who is wreaking havoc on Norah’s life. The main character in this book is an absolute powerful badass woman, which I love. Cheers to Jessica Payne on another great thriller read!

Very intense, fast-paced, riveting page-turner is how I would describe this book. Norah and one of her best friends, August, leave the prom early and on the way home Norah's car breaks down. Before they can summon help, a man appears, yanks the door open and forces them at gunpoint to an abandoned cabin in the woods where August is murdered but the killer lets Norah go free. After graduation, Norah leaves Kansas City and heads to California where she decides to take up cage fighting, then MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and coaching with the goal of never becoming a victim again. Fast forward 10 years and her father dies suddenly and Norah has to go back home to Kansas City to bury him and take care of things. Once she gets back there, another girl friend of hers is murdered. Is the the work of the same killer from 10 years ago??? This story moved right along and I really enjoyed it, but I was left with a couple of unanswered questions.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this excellent read that really did keep me up late at night.