“The Lucky One” by Jessica Payne will be a hit with a lot of thriller readers for two reasons: serial killers and true crime podcasts 🔪🎧

Thank you to to @bookouture and @netgalley for my gifted copy of “The Lucky One.” It came out 9/14.

⭐️ rating: 3.75
📚genre: crime thriller
#️⃣ length: 387 pages
🗓 pub date: 9/14
⏳pace: fast
🔪 the vibe: Like all serial killer books, this one totally gave me the creeps!

“The Lucky One” is Norah, who survived a serial killer on prom night in Kansas City a decade ago. When she’s unexpectedly summoned back to her hometown — she’s living and working in Los Angeles as a professional athlete — she can’t shake her creeped-out feeling.

No one knows HOW Norah escaped her killer, but it seems like the promises she made are about to come due.

If you like creepy serial killer books, you’ll love this one. I thought I guessed the killer early on; then I was like, nah, too obvious. By the time this individual was revealed as the killer, I was shocked.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was fantastic! Well written and binge worthy. Fast paced, with an engaging plot that was full of twists and turns. The characters were likable and well developed, and the twist at the end. 🤯 What more can you ask for in a phytological thriller?!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

I had a hard time getting through this. The writing seemed very YA and predictable. I do not think I would read another book by this author.

Unfortunately, I have been locked out of my netgalley account for a few months and was not able to see which books I had on my list, in order to properly read and review. I do apologize and am doing a 3 for neutral. Will update once I’m able to obtain a copy and read!

The Lucky One is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Lucky One asap.

Jessica Payne, is what I like to call a hidden gem....

I am also going to hit you with a PSA. If you begin a Jessica Payne novel in the evening, be prepared to stay up late into the night to finish. Once you start, you will never stop.

I was first introduced to Payne, this past May with her debut novel, Make Me Disappear. I remember the utter shock I had felt after concluding . How did this author hit the jackpot of all plots on her first try? The mystery still lingers...

Now, onto The Lucky One. In true Payne fashion, she delivers. If you are looking for a twisted, suspenseful book that will keep you on your toes anticipating the next chapter, this is the book for you.

As soon as I began I knew I was in for a wild ride. I became overwhelmed with the feeling that someone was squeezing my throat and as the suspense built up I was losing my ability to breathe.

Yes, my little thrill lovers, it was THAT good.

Jessica Payne has a writing style all her own that will pull you right in without letting you go. I myself have become an instant fan and look forward to a longstanding "book" relationship .

Five stars, duh.

2.5 rounded up.

This is somewhat hard to review because it's a page turner, the story had a lot of potential, I liked the writing, and I loved the idea of a survivor taking her confidence to the next level by training and coaching in MMA. That said, the ending was so implausible and had so many plot holes that it had me going back and picking apart the story. I liked Norah, but I wish we knew more about her friends.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Lucky One by Jessica Payne is a thriller that was well written, with a plethora of twists and turns. This novel follows Norah, who survived a serial killer on the night of her prom. Afterwards, she left home and vowed to never be in that position again. Ten years later, she is back home and in the middle of another murder investigation. Will she be able to survive again? If you are looking for a fast paced novel that will keep you on your toes, this is the one for you! Many thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!

This book was one that I couldn't put down! What an exciting read! The unexpected turns and revelations were wonderful. The utilization of two timeframes intrigued me a lot as well. For me, that actually worked.

4 Timely Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Oh, this is timely and takes on the current situations some may have thought of in the past. The Lucky One by Jessica Payne touches on the tragic situation of a high school tragic occurrence and how it impacts the survivors.
No one is left without some sort of trauma and what would happen if the only one left is targeted as part of the reason for what happened?

This is a journey back in time and also the way others perceive her now. Interesting.

I LOVE JESSICA PAYNE!

Her stories are non stop action. Her characters are awesome and she even has you like the villain until you find out yes just that…….the villain.

Can’t wait to read more by Jessica Payne. Love her writing!

This is apparently the second book by this author and the first one I have read.
I enjoyed this book, found it well written with short chapters (which I always like).
I found it fast paced, and liked the dual timeline.
I would recommend this book.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this read.

Such a great Sophomore effort by this author. The first half does take a bit to get into, then picks up! Norah and her best friend were taken by a killer when they were teenagers. The killer murdered her best friend, but Norah was able to convince him to let her go. Now, all these years later, has he come back for her?
I definitely did not have this one figured out!

The reader needs to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy parts of The Lucky One. There is a lot going for it: a badass heroine with a unique job, and a solid cat-and-mouse vibe. The book flies by as the other characters get involved in the twisted game between Norah and Hansel. However, there are some inconsistencies in Norah’s character and the reveal of Hansel’s true identity seems lackluster and obvious. The rest of the book saves it. For more details, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Bookouture.

This author is a new one for me, and wow, what a find! It’s been a while since I’ve read such a creepy and gripping thriller.

Norah has been through so much, and has turned her life around, but the irony of the title “The Lucky One” is that even though she was lucky enough to escape with her life, she is forever haunted by what she went through. The fact that the serial killer was never caught has also had her looking over her shoulder ever since. Now she’s back in her hometown, and something is definitely not right.

This book had me completely hooked and the tension is almost unbearable as a series of events escalate, leaving me on the edge of my seat.

The story has a dual timeline and I was gripped by both stories, I really wanted to know what had happened ten years ago, but I also couldn’t wait to get back to the present day, to the danger that Norah seemed to be in.

A really cleverly plotted, fast-paced and chilling book, this is completely unputdownable and addictive. Clear your diary before you start this one. Superb.

I'm giving this one 3.5 stars but rounded to 4. The writing was great, the mystery was very interesting and I liked all of the characters. However the ending really made me frustrated. I just couldn't really find it believable. It was well done but I just couldn't get there. I still really enjoyed reading it but it still bugs me that it ended the way it did.

After managing to escape a serial killer who took her and her best friend after a HS dance, Nora thinks she's in the clear. No one is unlucky enough to be nabbed by a serial killer twice, right? She learned how to defend herself by becoming an MMA fighter and coach, but when news of her father's passing brings her back to her hometown, and another one of her friends is killed, not only does Nora become a main suspect, but she may be the serial killer's next victim.

This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It was a fast paced story with lots of twists and turns and I always enjoy stories where there are multiple timelines. I was gripped from the first chapter and this was a book I could not predict which I loved.

I have never read anything from this author before but I cannot wait to see what this author releases next and I will ready with eager eyes.

*Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

*Thank you to Bookouture, Jessica Payne, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/the-lucky-one-2/

Having read and enjoyed Jessica Payne’s first novel Make Me Disappear, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Lucky One! And wow. What a book.

I don’t think I put it down for more than five minutes in the day it took me to finish it. It gripped me from the first page and wouldn’t let me go. I spent the entire time figuring out who the killer was, and I was wrong! I am never wrong. This book was so clever.

Norah Silverton is the rare “lucky one” who has escaped a serial killer, though her best friend August was not so lucky. While August was killed quickly, Norah convinced the killer that she was attracted to him. Nicknamed “Hansel” for his signature lead to those he has murdered, lets her go with her promises to come back to him. He tells her he will wait for her. In her downward spiral after the escape, she has very little support with her father telling her to “get over it” and the belligerent police officer telling Norah she could be Hansel. She leaves town to start a new life in Los Angeles.

Ten years later, Norah gets word her estranged father has died, and she returns to Kansas City for the first time since she left all those years ago. In her first few hours there, she discovers the body of her close friend Esme, with many similar traits to the murder of her best friend, August, 10 years ago. Is Hansel back? Ironically, the same skeptic cop Norah met 10 years ago is also handling the murder of Esme, and once again doubts Norah’s story. At the same time, an author she had an affair with many months ago has published a book with things she told in confidence. She believes the book may have alerted Hansel, and he is coming for her. When she runs into Owen, August’s old boyfriend, she falls deeply for him. Can she save herself and her friends before they find the next person dead? And who is Hansel? He seems to know her, but she doesn’t know if it is someone close to her or pretending to be someone close to her. This book had me on my toes 100% of the time and I was so sure I knew the answer that I literally gasped at the last pages. I didn’t see that ending coming at all! Payne is the queen of gaslighting her readers. I remember this from her first book. Such a strongly written, suspenseful book. I absolutely loved it.

In the author’s afterword, she says a woman who escaped a serial killer similarly that Norah did inspired her. Payne also did an amazing job with red herrings described as “bread crumbs”. She had me suspecting everyone. There was just so much happening. One of the best thrillers I have read all year.

This was a very good book, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering reading it. It was definitely very intriguing from start to finish. Although I was disappointed to learn of the killer's identity, I didn't see it coming until it was revealed.