I couldn’t put this book down. That’s how good this book was. We have multiple POV’s, all leading to an amazing end, and one that I didn’t expect. We have a group of people who are being targeted, someone want to kill them off, but WHY? We go back in time to when they all met and OMG, the things that discovered, and the secrets they all kept, it was such a ride. I love me a good psychological thriller read. I am adding this one to my MUST read for EVERYONE!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

25 years ago, 5 kids on a group foster home had a life-altering experience. They went their separate ways and, mostly, didn't speak again until now. One of them has been killed and the others are all targets, but who wants them dead?

This book was wild. It's pretty different from prior books by Alex Finlay, but it's still a page-turner. There are secrets, betrayals, friendships, and ... assassins! If you're looking for something that keeps you reading into the night, and you're willing to suspend your disbelief for a while, this is a good book for you.

I really wanted to love. I’ve read two other books by Alex Finlay (The Night Shift and Every Last Fear) and absolutely loved them. I was hoping this would be the same. Sadly, it just wasn’t.

While it was an OK read, the story didn’t pull me in and I really didn’t care for the characters. The pacing was off, somewhat slow and disjointed in the beginning, but kind of felt rushed at the end. And how it all wrapped up? Eh.

It was an OK read and while I’d recommend it to some, it wouldn’t be the first option to top my recommendations list.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I received a digital advance copy of What Have We Done by Alex Finlay via NetGalley. What Have We Done is scheduled for release on March 7, 2023.

What Have We Done begins with Jenna, Donnie, and Nico in separate places but all in potentially deadly situations. The three manage to survive those opening moments, then work to find the connection between the threats on their lives and their common past in a group home for parentless teens. The story weaves between the three points of view, showing us their paths to rejoin as adults to face their common threat and the threads that have followed them from their past.

The strength of this story is the plot. Finlay manages to create questions for the reader regarding both the current events and the events from the past. These questions were enough to keep me forward in the story, as I wanted to figure out what happened to the characters at the group home and how that tied to what was happening now.

What was disappointing for me was the resolution of those questions. While the events of the story made logical sense, I found that the why of the story did not hold together for me. While we did see the story from the point of view of the three main characters, I did not feel that the characters were deeply developed. Like the secondary characters around them, they read more as types than as individual people. Without that depth of character, it was difficult to follow the motivations of the characters, which made the resolution to the story unsatisfying.

Overall, What Have We Done had the plot potential to be a great read, but I needed more character development to really appreciate the tale that Finlay wanted to tell.

This book was okay. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives to the story and multiple storylines. Still, it felt like there were A LOT of different characters and storylines….Sometimes it did not feel cohesive. At times, I thought that this was a sequel because it felt like there may be something I was missing, only to realize that this was not a sequel.

I love a book with multiple POV and Alex Finley definitely delivered on this front. However, it was really hard to connect to any of the characters; none of them was likeable. In the end though, it was still a very entertaining thriller and I had a good time reading it.

I could not put this book down!! So freaking good! I was instantly hooked from the beginning and on the edge of my seat the entire book! I usually have trouble following along with books that have more than 2 POV but had no problem with this books. The characters, the plot, the writing, the suspense, the ending….I loved it all! If you are looking for a good mystery/suspense/thriller then definitely add this one to your TBR.

I love Alex Finlay so I was excited to jump into his latest. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. There are entirely too many characters and not one of them is likable. The plot is a bit clunky and predictable. Overall, it didn't click for me. A huge thank you to Netgalley, Alex Finlay, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my second book by the author, and while it was entertaining, it just didn't quite grab my attention. I couldn't really connect to the characters, and though the writing was good, I did feel the story was somewhat predictable. That being said, I would give this author another try in the future.

I have been a huge Alex Finlay fan since I attended an author chat with him after The Night Shift came out. I was so excited to get an early review copy of this one and I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint! Now, if you are going into this one thinking it will be like his previous books, you might not be happy. You do have to suspend some credibility with this one, but if you can, you will highly enjoy it!

Alex Finlay is the king of multiple POVs and this one really showed off how well he can craft a character and their individual story. This one felt very character driven and it really seemed like he took the time to develop each of the characters so they felt like real and unique.

As far as the twists go, I saw a lot of them coming and none were really too shocking. But all that said, this one hooked me in from page one and I had a hard time putting it down. It was fast paced and an overall fun read!

I give this one 4/5 stars!

I loved Finlays last book so was very excited to read this latest one. However it missed the mark a bit… I didn’t feel like I connected with any of the characters. It felt pretty disjointed in the narrative sadly. I wanted to love it but would say I just liked it.

Five kids become friends while in a group home for kids named Savior House. Twenty five years later they come back together when they realize someone is trying to kill them. They share a bond but they also share a secret.

I loved this one! It was fast paced and full of action. I liked the friend group despite their flaws and enjoyed getting the backstory of their time at Savior House. I love a badass female character and Jenna was just that. A contract killer turned SAHM. I loved the authors previous books and this one was a fun, unputdownable read for me. I thought the ending was wrapped up well and I was surprised at how it went down.

I did the audio - and loved it. Multiple narrators always makes me happy.
Children in a group home are bound for life - sharing a deep secret. Missing girls from their group home. A small town run by brothers.
And now someone is hunting them down.
Really good twists. I enjoyed these characters - and their harsh start to life. Very well done.

What Have We Done
Alex Finlay
4⭐️

A stay-at-home mom with a past.
A has-been rockstar with a habit.
A reality tv producer with a debt.
Three disparate lives.
One deadly secret.

✨ I love a story that pulls you in right way! What Have We Done did just that. Although it was a slow-burn, it was fast paced and action packed. Short chapters are my absolute jam, and they were key in this book. There’s a lot going on between the multiple POV’s and flashbacks to a previous timeline, but once I got an understanding of who’s who, and what’s what, I was fully engaged.

What I enjoyed;
✨ Twisty Action-Packed Thriller
✨ Alternating POV
✨ Cat and Mouse
✨ Short Chapters

I would recommend this plot driven thriller, though you really need to be able to suspend your disbelief.

Mark your calendars, What Have We Done is out March 7th.

Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

First, let me say I love Alex Finlay and will continue to read anything he writes. I loved The Night Shift and I had high hopes for his one. I can’t figure out exactly what it was but this wasn’t my favorite. All of the characters were unlikeable. I am all for morally grey characters but I had a difficult time finding any redeeming qualities about any of them. The plot was entertaining and I did enjoy the “ I know what you did last summer” vibes it gave off. It started off great- a bunch of kids burying a body- but that was the best part. All in All a good thriller but not great.

What Have We Done is out March 7th!

WHAT HAVE WE DONE - ALEX FINLAY
4⭐
PLOT - Jenna is a stay at home mom with a past, Donnie is a rockstar with a habit, Nico is a reality TV producer with a debt.
25 yes ago they were best friends living at Savior house a group home for parentless teens.
When the home was forced to shut down they split up and now they will be reunited as someone is trying to kill them.

MY THOUGHTS -
As with all Alex Finlay s books..the suspense is top notch, multiple alternating POVs and short chapters.
There is quite some action also in this one and I did enjoy the uniqueness of the hired assassin.
Out of all 3 characters Jenna's was by far best and well developed as compared to the others.
In all a good suspense thriller.
Thank you publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

For a gal who loves alternating POVs and dual timelines, I have to say that I’m not sure it worked well here. While I was able to follow who was talking, I wasn’t always 100% sure if they were talking from the present or past. I would eventually be able to figure it out, but it took away from the enjoyment of the story.

The sins of childhood spent at an abusive group home come back to haunt them as adults in the twisted mystery that is What Have We Done by Alex Finlay.

After reading & absolutely loving The Night Shift by Alex Finlay, I was excited to receive an arc of this. This story didn’t quite captivate me as much as the previous.

I loved the short chapters with the varying points of view. It kept the story’s pace quick & easy to read. I appreciate that so much was going on & with the separate but connected storylines, it kept it interesting.

While I wasn’t as dialed into the story, I will say that I was glad I read until the end. The ending was action-packed & full of twists & turns, an essential for mystery lovers.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Minotaur Books for the free arc, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Trigger Warnings: This book mentions &/or contains gun violence, violence, addiction, bullying, child death, adult/child relations, murder & sexual violence.

Twenty five years ago, Jenna, Nico and Donnie buried a secret. As orphaned teens in a group home, they bonded over this secret but then their lives took different paths. Now, decades later, another friend has turned up dead while all three of them have had their own close calls as well. To save their lives, they will have to confront the past secret that literally left them asking, “what have we done?”

This was an action-packed drama! The chapters were quick and the points-of-view alternated between Jenna, Nico and Donnie as their shared past became uncovered while they tried to resolve the present day problem of someone trying to kill them. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about these characters; at first they seemed so unrelateable to me, but as their stories continued to unfold, I was finding myself empathizing for all three of them. The excitement and anxiety was palatable as the story headed towards its conclusion.

I listened to the this on audio and enjoyed the different narrators! Thanks to Netgalley, Minotaur Books, and Alex Finaly for the ALC and ARC! “What Have We Done” releases March 7th!

This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly 😊

I definitely preferred the author’s previous mystery/thriller works over this novel, but this was definitely action packed and, as always, well written.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784578