Norah survived a serial killer 10 years ago. She finally comes back home and things start feeling strange. Is he still out there, or is someone else now following her? Just like Norah said in the book, “It was so obvious now that I think about it.” I feel like there was a lot hints throughout the book that led you to know who the serial killer was. It felt very obvious especially by the end of the book. It was nice seeing the build up and the grand finale of it all, but I felt like it was just too obvious. By the end of the book I was thinking really? It was kind of a let down when reading a physiological thriller like this. The writing was very well written, and I definitely read through the whole book quickly. I just wasn’t expecting everything to be so easy to guess by the end. It all felt very predictable.

The Lucky One was a seriously addictive read. Once I started it I could not and did not put it down. I was totally hooked from start to finish with all the twists and turns. It was fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

The Lucky One is not a story about “luck”. It’s a story about a woman who survived a serial killer with her quick thinking, and thereafter equipped herself with defensive skills whilst still being traumatised by this previous encounter.

On the night of her prom, Norah Silverton witnessed one of her best friends get killed by a serial killer. Norah’s life was spared, and ten years later, she becomes somewhat like a celebrity due to her prominence as an MMA coach and as a subject of interest in crime blogs, having been a survivor of a serial killer in the past.

Present-day Norah finds out about the death of her father, and decides to go back to her hometown for funeral arrangements and to spend some time with her best friends. Unfortunately, Norah’s arrival at her hometown is met by another death, and it appears to be linked to the serial killer whom Norah had an encounter with ten years prior. Is “the” serial killer officially back or was this the doing of a copycat?

I loved the way Norah’s character grew over time. Norah survived a horrific experience, but she managed to pull through, and even became such a badass heroine! I also loved how the author incorporated the theme of “true crime” victims being unjustly objectified by the media and true crime enthusiasts alike. It’s a good wake up call for all of us; we must be sensitive and we need to treat these victims as who they are — real human beings. Last but not the least, from a plot POV, the build-up to the twist was nicely executed by the author! Because of these points, I’m giving this novel 4.5 stars, rounded to 5. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me access to an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Lucky One is an amazing fast-paced thriller. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to stop. Jessica's writing is fantastic and I love that it's written in the first person because it gets us that much closer to Norah. I think this is especially important for the situation Norah is in. The story is twisty and full of tension and I love the back-and-forth timeline. It really makes you think about what you would do if (heaven forbid) you were in a similar situation. Excellent read!

This is the second book by Jessica Payne and I loved both. She's definitely an auto-buy author for me!

"According to my former therapist, the chance of falling victim to a serial killer is .00039 percent." The opening line for 'The Lucky One' by Jessica Payne immediately draws readers in, as you get immensely curious.

Ten years ago, the main female protagonist, Norah Silverton lived after a death-defying encounter with the infamous serial killer, Hansel. Her best friend, however, was not so lucky. Searching for peace, she moves and makes a name for herself as a popular MMA coach. After her father's death, she is forced to return to her hometown and is plunged into her nightmare- Hansel has returned. And he seems fixated on reuniting with her. What follows is a crazy rollercoaster ride as we see how wrong Norah's former therapist was!

I really enjoyed the pacing of this book; there were never many dull moments and it was almost always full of action. I also love 'whodunit' mysteries as it is always fun to guess the identity of the bad guy.

This did not receive a full rating from me because I found the mystery to be lacking- I had the plot figured out pretty quickly. I wish there had been more development of the thrill element in the novel.

Taking all of the above into consideration, I give 'The Lucky One' a rating of 3 stars. The book had the potential to be great; for the most part, I liked the overall storyline and Norah was a credible and strong main character. However, it was not a fully developed mystery as the conclusion was easily foreseen. This is most suitable for persons over 18 due to triggers such as violence, murder, and death of a loved one. In the end, it was a nice introduction to Jessica Payne's work and I look forward to reading more of it in the future!

*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Jessica Payne, and Bookouture for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*

After reading Make Me Disappear, I became an instant fan of Jessica Payne. I was honored to be a part of her cover reveal for this book, and now reviewing it. I have a feeling I will be reading Payne for a very long time.
What are the chances that you will be abducted by a serial killer, two times? Pretty slim to none, but Norah gets to be the exception. It’s how she handles it that makes the whole story.
I loved everything about this book. I loved the serial killer aspect, the kick ass heroine, and the mystery of who Hansel really is. I was suspicious of everyone! When the big reveal happened, I wasn’t shocked but satisfied. It all worked so well. Everything about this book was thrilling and exciting. I finished it in one sitting.
If you want a quick read that will grip you from the start, I really recommend this book. I can not wait to see what Payne brings next.

Can you survive a serial killer twice?

This book takes off from the very first page, grabs you, and never lets go. If you're a fan of thrillers, this book is a must read. The plot twists and turns so much. You will suspect literally EVERYONE except the main character. When I read a book like this, I always put an early guess as to "who done it" in the notes in my kindle. I'm often right. I did that this time, but I was completely wrong. The author surprised me at every single turn.

I love the strong, female protagonist, an MMA fighter. This seems unusual to me for this type of book, and I like it. I was right behind her for everything, alongside her best friend. The author made me feel like I was right there with her, trying to figure out what was going on. As I neared the end of the book, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find the truth. Big five stars! Much thanks to Bookouture for the review copy.

As a teen, Norah survives an attack that left her best friend dead but she is determined to not be a victim again. She becomes a boxer and tries to put the past to rest but her best friends twin is getting married and her father has passed away so she must return to her home town. Arriving back in town sets off a deadly series of events that makes her a suspect and a victim when everyone she loves begins to die. Is it the serial killer who took her before or a copycat trying to carry on the legacy.
I enjoyed the story even if I found it a bit long and repetitive. The characters were good and the book is exciting and suspenseful making the reader want to continue turning pages. An enjoyable ride with a satisfying ending.

Overall I really liked this one. I thought it was a really good mstery thriller book. I think would sugges this to my followers.

I didn't want to put this book down! What a page turner! I loved the twists, turns and revelations. I also thought the use of two timelines was very intriguing. That really worked for me.

Norah survived a serial killer (Hansel) ten years ago. Her friend, August was not as lucky. Since then, she has made herself strong, becoming an MMA fighter then MMA coach. She has been estranged from her father who does not believe in mental health and told her she should just get over it. But when word arrives that her father is dead, she returns to her hometown.

Her arrival in town to attend his funeral happens to be around the same time that a book comes out detailing how she survived. Norah is not happy about the book. She thought it was going in another direction. Nor is Norah happy about the messages she has been receiving. To make matters worse, after arriving in town, she follows breadcrumbs and finds the dead body of a friend.

Now there is a murder investigation and Norah, and her friends are trying to survive while mourning their murdered friend and the fear that either Hansel is back and killing or a copycat is taking over. Either way, they are in danger.

I was glued to the pages of this book. As I mentioned, I enjoyed reading the two timelines and watching as Norah sparred (Literally and physically) with others in this book. She must deal with the police detective, a podcaster, the author of the book, her feelings for Owen, and the thought that her father might not have died from suicide. Whew!

What a great book! I can't wait to read what the author writes next!

A gripping page turner that kept me on my toes and turning the pages!

#TheLuckyOne #NetGalley

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jessica Payne is back with a serial killer story this time around and I am here for it! I loved Norah's character and her overall badassery!! Ten years prior, Norah Silverton escaped a serial killer in her hometown of Kansas City. After her best friend was murdered in front of her, she somehow escapes death and vows to leave KC and go somewhere "Hansel," aptly named for his penchant for leaving breadcrumbs at the scene of his crimes, and never return. As martial arts coach and having evolved into a fighting machine, Norah comes back to KC to see old friends and ends up in the fight of her life. Hansel is back and he has every intention of gaining Norah's attention and finding her so they can pick up where they left off a decade ago. I'm trying so hard not to give anything away here!

You will not be disappointed in this non-stop thrill ride to the finish!

- true crime
- badass FMC
- serial killer in hiding comes out to finish the job
- lifelong friendships
- friends as chosen family

These are some of the aspects of The Lucky One I really enjoyed!!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5! I can't wait to read what you have for us next, Jessica!!

Another enjoyable book from Jessica Payne.
To be kidnapped by a serial killer 10 years ago and survive when your best friend doesn't by tricking him was so lucky. To be lured back to your home town years later and be tracked by the same serial killer again is so unlucky but is it him, Hansel? Or a copycat? Who can you trust? It must be someone you know.....but who?

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for a advanced copy.

HALFWAY AND HOOKED

Serial killer thriller? Yes, please! 🙏🏼 I’m about halfway into Jessica Payne’s newest release and I already have a feeling that the twist is going to be a jaw dropper. Fast paced plot and short chapters are keeping me turning pages. I keep saying “one more chapter” because there is never a good place to stop!

Many thanks to for this eARC copy! This one is out TODAY and follows Norah Silverton, who has escaped the clutches of a serial killer that goes by the name “Hansel.” Unfortunately, her friend August wasn’t so lucky and it haunts Norah to this day. Since then, she has been the focus of podcasts and novels, including a recently released bestseller.

With the death of her father, Norah returns to Kansas City and quickly realizes that the ghosts of her past are surfacing and she might even be embroiled in a murder investigation herself. What if Norah’s luck doesn’t strike twice?

I was completely caught up in this book. I had never read a book where the main character is an MMA so I knew it would be good story. After being attacked after her prom, and watching her friend die, Norah convinces the killer to let her go. A couple more deaths have brought her back home but she feels like someone is watching.
Spine tingly read as I tried to discern who was the killer. A thought occurred to me early one about the killer‘s identity, but I dismissed it.
Payne cleverly disguises the insidious person behind the deaths and Norah finally figures Out what happened to her mother.
I read this in one sitting and you should too.

The Lucky One by Jessica Payne

Published: September 14, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 387
Genre: Psychological Fiction
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Jessica Payne is the author of MAKE ME DISAPPEAR and THE LUCKY ONE. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where the mountains and Puget Sound are home. Beyond writing, she loves running, rock climbing, and exploring the great outdoors with her daughter and husband. When holding still, which isn’t often, you’ll find a book in her hand and a cat or dog in her lap. Jessica writes suspense and thriller and is the host of #MomsWritersClub on Twitter and YouTube.

“The only way this makes sense is if it’s someone you know.”

Norah had the prom night of nightmares- when she and her best friend were kidnapped, taken to an abandoned cabin, and Norah watched her best friend be murdered. When she does the impossible and survives, she spends the next ten years making sure she is never a victim again. When her father suddenly dies, Norah has to return to her hometown and face her demons. When another friend is murdered, Norah is terrified to think he’s come back for her.

HOLY MOLY, RAVIOLI. This book was fantastic. It started at a ten and did not slow down. I don’t think a book has grabbed me so intensely since reading The Ex by SE Lynes.

The characters were terrific. Norah was a fantastic leading lady, and I loved that she was so strong. Both physically and mentally. She is a survivor. A fighter. And a genuine BA.

The twists and turns in this novel are off the charts. I loved how this story unfolded and how deviously the plot was constructed. The raw emotion, vulnerability, and strength were beautifully done.

I also appreciated how we see the lengths true crime creators go to get their content. Yes, I’m an avid true crime fan, but when survivors are basically harassed for their stories, it isn’t okay.

I cannot wait for Jessica’s next novel. She brings everything to life while making you question everything is brilliant.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Ten years after her friend is murdered right before her eyes on prime night, Nora returns to her hometown to bury her father. After another murder and her friend goes missing, she is determined to find out if it's the original killer. I stopped at 60 percent and was skimming part of it at that point. The story was just drawn out and too much romance in a psychological thriller

The chance of falling victim to a serial killer is .00039 percent. The chance of being the victim of a serial killer twice is so small as to be… nearly impossible.

When I saw a review saying this book was for fans of Stillhouse Lake which was written by the late Rachel Caine, I was doubly excited to get stuck into this one! So far, over the past couple of months, I have been on an excellent reading streak – and this one is no exception. I loved Jessica Payne’s last book – her debut novel; Make Me Disappear – so when I saw she was bringing out a new book and it was available to review, I hit the request button and crossed my fingers – and now, here we are…

Norah Silverton tricked a serial killer into letting her go… but a decade later she realises maybe she hasn’t escaped after all. Maybe, they’ve been close, watching her, this whole time…

We were all there that prom night, but one of us didn’t make it home… We laughed together on the dance floor that night, our dresses glittering in the swirling lights. One final night of fun before the rest of our lives. We couldn’t have known that for one of us it would be our last.

They say I’m the lucky one, the survivor. But no one knows the truth – the thing I’ve been running from all this time. How I escaped…

Back in my hometown a decade later – the place I’ve avoided – I am feel the questioning eyes on me, the whispers. The rumours. I can’t shake the feeling that I am being followed, the shadow of a reflection in the glass storefronts, the murmur of footsteps before I turn to look. But no one’s ever there, and tell myself it’s all in my head. Then anonymous messages land in my inbox, overly familiar and insistent: I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for you…

I should have known I couldn’t run forever. I want to feel safe surrounded by my best friends. But everyone has something to hide, and I don’t know who I can trust. Someone out there won’t let me forget what really happened that night, what i promised. What if, this time, im not so ‘lucky’?

Someone like me doesn’t get big dreams. I got to survive. I’m still surviving. That’s more than August got!

-Norah

This book was a total binge read for me, just like Make Me Disappear was. Jessica Payne appears to be the Netflix of books – but we don’t need an ‘are you still reading’ message to pop up, rest assured that we are!! Unless life happens to get in the way and you absolutely have to put the book down for a while. I hate it when that happens!

This book was exciting and well written. The short chapters really helped with the suspense and building tension and the story flowed really well between timelines. You find yourself playing armchair detective to try and figure out who the serial killer is and how close they actually are to Norah. You also find yourself really caring about the characters and what happens to them, making the stakes all that more nail biting. This one keeps your mind racing right to the end…

My thanks to the author and Bookouture for my advance copy to review via Netgalley.

I was hooked on 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑦 𝑂𝑛𝑒 from the beginning. It was a pleasant page turner that included a killer, friendships and a little romance.

The plot is based on a serial killer (or copycat) from the past haunting a survivor in the present. I enjoyed the dual-timeline. The main character is a strong female, definitely not a damsel in distress. Loved that. At the beginning to about halfway through elements pointed to various characters as the killer(s), therefore I unintentionally kept guessing. Then it was a bit predictable who the bad guy was. Even though I had it figured out, the story was still interesting and went at a nice pace. This won’t be my last Jessica Payne read and I plan to read her debut novel.

SYNOPSIS: “ Ten years ago: We laughed together on the dance floor that night, our dresses glittering in the swirling lights. One final night of fun before the rest of our lives. We couldn’t have known that for one of us, it would be our last…

Now: They say that I’m the lucky one, the survivor. But no one knows the truth—the thing I’ve been running from all this time. How I escaped.

Back in my hometown a decade later—the place I’ve avoided—I can feel the questioning eyes on me, the whispers. The rumors.

I can’t shake the feeling that I am being followed, the shadow of a reflection in the glass storefronts, the murmur of footsteps before I turn to look. But no one’s ever there, and I tell myself it’s all in my head. Then the anonymous messages land in my inbox, overly familiar and insistent: I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for you.

I should have known I couldn’t run forever. I want to feel safe surrounded by my best friends. But everyone has something to hide, and I don’t know who I can trust.

It was good ~ 4 stars. I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Pub date: September 14, 2022

Thank you @JessicaPayne, @bookouture and @NetGalley for an ebook ARC. The opinions are mine alone and not biased in any way.

I loved Jessica Payne's debut, Make Me Disappear earlier this year, so I was so excited to be able to read her new one. This was a great story with a lot of action and unpredictable twists and turns. While I did figure out the bad guy early on, I think Payne gives a lot of good hints and clues to get to the end. I liked the female lead being an MMA fighter after she had been through something so horrific. I felt she was a strong female lead taking her safety into her own hands. I also liked the short chapters interspersing the present and past which made it hard to put down. Tis was a great thrilling novel which I would recommend for thriller/serial killer aficionados.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for access to this digital ARC which is available on 9/14.

This is my second book by Jessica Payne and it's clear to me she writes very hooky and intriguing stories. Can't deny this had me hooked from the start. While the whodunnit was quite predictable, I think the author left just the right amount of breadcrumbs (no pun intended) for us to figure out things as we go while also trying to throw us off and I like that! Another thing I really enjoyed were the characters. They are so well developed and I felt like I really got to know our main character, Norah. There was a heavy romance plot line that I didn't expect, but it was still interesting to read. Overall, this was a simply fun quick read and I enjoy the author's writing style a lot! Looking forward to read what she comes up with next!