A fast-paced thriller with a strong protagonist - I can see this being popular for fall book club reads.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Another must read a story from the author.

Norah escaped a murderer years ago and everyone said that she is the survivor that brought her the nickname The Lucky one. Years after those events, she still thinks about it and while she moved far away from the place and turned her whole life around, the past comes crushing her down.

While attending her father's funeral, she finds herself in the middle of a similar crime investigation. We get so many then and now moments that make so much more sense of what she has been living all those years ago.

It is intriguing to see how she is back and meeting her old friends, their interaction and remembrance of those times.

Some start disappearing, various messages appear from strangers on her social media accounts and the creepy feelings that the killer is still around and back to his deeds, makes for a great few hours of the edge of your seat reading time.

Twisted and captivating, this book is perfect for any thriller fans.

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy and my place on the blog tour for this title.

I was expecting quite an average easy read her as I thought the concept of something tragic happens in the past that comes back to haunt you years later was quite a tired theme but I was very wrong.
Norah was an excellent main character who I really routed for and desperately wanted her to be happy. There was so many red-herrings which I liked as some thrillers are far too obvious. Without giving anything away I found the ending both happy and sad, but I guess that's life really.
It was my first book by Jessica Payne but won't be my last, I found the letter at the end very touching too, especially noting how we all watch/read true crime, but need to remember these are real people, not characters like in fiction books.
A great read and highly recommended, 5 stars which I pretty much never do. Thank you #NetGalley #TheLuckyOne

While I enjoyed The Lucky One, for the most part, I felt couldn't really come to grips with Norah's character as much as I would have liked to. And I couldn't really understand why she was so ashamed of telling Hansel she'd be back, I mean, it's a seriously dodgy dude, surely you'd say anything to escape, and never question the words you used?!

I liked Janie, and Rob. Never liked Owen at all, it's the hunting thing, that puts me off at once. I had an inkling about the twist at the end, but that didn't change the fact that I was rather pleased about the outcome. I enjoyed the author's previous book as well, and look forward to the next.

Thanks to NetGalley, Boukouture, and Jessica Payne for my ARC.

3.5 stars

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
The Lucky One is a thriller with many twists and turns that keeps you guessing until the very end of the story. The beginning of the story is a little slow but once it picked up, it really picked up speed. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves thrillers with twists, and if you like a cat and mouse catch me if you can game!

Fast paced and twisty thriller. The likelihood of a person being targeted by a serial killer twice is extraordinary low... so is Norah being taunted by a copycat or is she just the lucky one. Ten years after escaping near death at the hands of a brutal murderer, Norah returns home to handle affairs after the passing of her father. And it seems as if her return has thrown her right back into her past.

Lots of twists and red herrings, the plot moved at lightening speed. The author's writing style was easy to read and kept my interest. I had early suspicions about who the actual killer was and I needed to read until the end to see if I was right. I missed any real connection to the characters, and at times irked with the choices the main character made. The biggest being she would take off on runs by herself while a suspected killer was after her. Norah was just a bit too naive for my liking. I think fans of Shari Lapena or B.A. Paris would enjoy this novel. It's a good pick for escaping into a book and enjoying a wild ride.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.

I enjoyed Jessica Payne's previous book (debut?) Make Me Disappear so was looking forwards to this one.

The Lucky Ones features a main character who ten years ago escaped a serial killer. She feels safer now, alert, aware and highly trained in martial arts, then the threatening anonymous messages start arriving...Then her friend disappears.

Is history repeating? Will her luck last?

The Lucky One proves Jessica Payne is consistent, fast and sharp writing, pace and momentum, and a good twisting storyline. This might sound like strange criticism but there's something a little bit precise about her style which keeps me at a distance, I can't quite explain it.

It doesn't Wow! me, but it's a fast and very entertaining read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture

oh wow!

jessica payne knows how to write and she does it well!
The lucky one was great, I very much enjoyed it

Another take on the final girl trope.
After surviving an escaping a serial killer on her prom night Norah finds herself back in her home town and back in the killers sights.

This was a well written thriller based on a serial killer and told in dual timelines.

Polished and gripping.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

WOW! I read Jessica Payne's Make Me Disappear and I thought that was good...well, her second book was AMAZING! It's everything you would possibly want from a thriller: twisty, heart-stopping, action-packing, and page-turning tension!! The plot was so creative, the characters well-developed, and the serial killer...creepy!

Highly recommend!

The Lucky One by Jessica Payne

“Three Friends. Two deaths. One terrible secret.”

The Lucky One tells the story of Norah, who has survived a serial killer. The story is told in two different times, current and ten years ago. Norah was taken by a serial killer ten years ago and while she survived, her friend August did not. How did she get away? That is the question on everyone’s mind. What secret does Norah have?
She moves across the country to start a new life after this traumatic experience. She trains as a MMA fighter and then as a coach. She wants to be strong in case the serial killer, known as Hansel, ever returns for her. Ten years pass and she returns to her hometown after her estranged father passes away. When she arrives home, a book that she provided some information for, is published. This book sets off killings, kidnappings and more. Norah is now involved in a murder investigation and at one time was considered a suspect. She decides to try to find Hansel on her own, which leads to many twists and turns. A psychological thriller to be sure!
The book is a page turner but felt too long at times and drawn out. The author leaves you second guessing who Hansel might be. Many “breadcrumbs” are thrown at the reader to lead them on many different paths. The ending was a complete surprise to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this book! The way it was written kept me hooked throughout the whole book. It’s a great story, nice characters and a good plot twist. Nice balance between the mystery, romance, friendships.

I read this author's first book, MAKE ME DISAPPEAR, and enjoyed it very much. This one is just as good. It kept me turning the pages to find out who Hansel really was. I had three guesses and one I honestly didn't want to be it. Of course that was who it was though. It made the book even more suspenseful though.

A serial killer has returned and he wants Norah and nothing is going to stop him. Ten years ago she made him believe she could love him as he was. She only had to go home and take care of her dad first. She escaped. Her best friend however was not so lucky. She could not identify this killer because he wore a ski mask but she did feel like there was something familiar about him. But that could have been because she was terrified he was going to kill her too.

When Norah's dad dies and she goes back home to take care of things nothing will ever be the same. Her life will be completely turned upside down. All these years later and things are starting again. Last time the cops didn't solve anything. This time she is determined to find this killer and bring justice for what he has done. Her friends, both old and new, are going to help. But who will survive? Who will be left standing after all is said and done? This is a true edge of your seat thriller that will have you guessing all the way through. Who is next and who can she trust?

This is another well written book by a new author, Jessica Payne. Her first book was great and this one is also. You have to read these if you like good edge of your seat thrills. Through in a little love and a lot of friendship and you have a great book. The only fault I found was the over use of the word decade. It just seemed to be used a bit too much. But that was ok too. In the end the only thing that matters is who survived the big fight in the woods. Who was able to walk away from the cabin unscathed.

Thank you #NetGalley, #JessicaPayne, #Bookouture for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

5 stars and a very high recommendation.

This is a psychological mystery/thriller by debut author Jessica Payne. Norah Silverton escaped a serial killer the night of her senior prom. Her whole life since then has been designed to protect herself from danger. She is called back to her hometown when a tragedy strikes. There she is confronted with the demons she has prepared herself so well to confront. This is a well-paced thriller with likeable characters, as well as a whodunnit that keeps you guessing. The main character, Norah, is well -developed and I found myself emotionally invested in her. The plot is twisty and keeps you in suspense right up until the end. 4 stars for mystery and thriller fans.

Thank you to Jessica Payne, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with an ebook copy of The Lucky One for me to read and review. This dual point of view psychological thriller had me gripped from page one. This is Payne's second novel, and after reading her debut, Make Me Disappear, she immediately became a must read author for me and The Lucky One only increased that feeling. I couldn't devour this story fast enough! I loved the strong female that was portrayed as the main character. She had so much strength and is so inspiring in how much she has had to overcome in her life. The unsaid thoughts of the main character amplified the suspense and fear to a whole new level and had me second guessing the innocence of every single character. My mind was completely twisting and turning, not knowing who could be trusted. And holy cow, I was completely caught off guard by the ending. This is definitely a must read for all thriller readers!

I love anything serial killer and this didn't disappoint in the slightest. Fast paced, unputdownable and an absolute page turner.

Very well written with short snappy chapters and a highly engaging plotline.

The characters are cleverly crafted, credible and made for an interesting story.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The second book from Jessica Payne held as much exciting twists as her debut! It follows Nora, likely the worlds most unlucky survivor. 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. Can't wait to see what else this author has in store!

Ten years ago, Norah’s friend, August Taylor, was murdered by a serial killer called Hansel as he left breadcrumbs so her body could be found She and August were heading to her house after prom night to meet up with their friends, Janie, August’s twin sister, and Esme. On the way home, the car simply stopped in a dark area of town and a man came up to the car and opened the door. That night Norah witnessed Hansel kill August. Norah spent hours trying to charm Hansel so she could escape from him.

Now, Norah lives in Los Angeles and works as a fitness coach at a gym teaching people how to train for MMA fights. A true crime enthusiast, she is also a social media influencer. She was recently interviewed by an author about her work as a coach. Turns out he wrote a book about true crime including the night her friend was murdered. She was furious. She receives a phone call saying her father has died back in Kansas City. As her mother left them some years ago, it is up to Norah to return and plan his funeral.

Back in town, she meets with her friend, Janie, who’s August’s twin sister, at her cafe as they wait for their friend, Esme to join them. Many townspeople are angry at her for the information in the book but she insists she did not give it to the author. Owen, August’s old boyfriend comes in and makes her angry accusing her of selling information. Angry at his accusation, Norah goes outside to get in her car but sees a body outside the cafe. It is Esme. She has been murdered and breadcrumbs have been scattered nearby. She knows the serial killer has struck again.

As Norah becomes more involved in trying to find Esme’s killer and possibly Hansel, as well, the tension builds. There are a lot of scary scenes in this book which makes the reader keep turning those pages. I was on the fence between two characters being the killer as I approached the end of the book. I think the author did a good job in keeping the reader wondering right up to the end. Well done.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Norah Silverton fled from Kansas City ten years ago, but now she's back. She escaped from the clutches of a serial killer, but her close friend, August Taylor did not. She has returned from Los Angeles, home following the death of her dad, but the killer, Hansel, is on the prowl again and there is another killing of a friend. A terrific, edge-of-your-seat, one-session read for me. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

"Someone out there won’t let me forget what really happened that night, what I promised. What if, this time, I’m not so lucky?"

Ten years ago Norah and August left prom and only one of them survived. Norah survived the serial killer nicknamed Hansel after convincing him to let her go.

Now Norah has come home to organise her Dad’s funeral when something unthinkable happens. Her friend Esme has been murdered and Norah found the body. The shocking thing is the murder is the same style of killing as Hansel. Is Hansel back or has a copycat killer come out to play?

We are left trying to play Detective and work out who the serial killer is and how close they are to Norah. It could literally be anyone. The ending had me mind blown, just when you think the story ends we have more.

This is my second book from Jessica Payne and as I have said before it definitely won’t be my last.

What I loved:
⭐ Well written with many twists and turns.
⭐ Short Chapters and easy to devour
⭐ A little bit of romance
⭐ The snippets from “before”
⭐ That ending – Mindblown

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.