WHAT HAVE WE DONE is a fast-paced, action packed thriller that would probably make an excellent movie/tv series. That said, as a book, it didn’t quite work for me.

While it’s a quick and bingeable read, you really have to suspend your disbelief to get through it. I always expect to have to do that to some extent when reading, but I struggled with WHAT HAVE WE DONE because it’s just so over the top in some parts.

Unfortunately the rest of the plot doesn’t really make up for this. I was hoping for more complexity with clever twists and connections between the characters. Instead, I found the plot was a bit surface level and was disappointed that it took so long for the group of old friends to be reconnected in the present timeline. I didn’t guess the ending, but also wasn’t that surprised or wowed by it.

There’s some bright spots with the characters – particularly Donnie and Ben’s relationship in the past timeline – but they would have benefited from more nuance, as they occasionally felt a little cliché (the addict washed-up rockstar, “retired” assassin trying to live a normal life, awkward but brilliant tech millionaire etc.).

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay brings 3 characters with a shared, traumatic past back together after a contract killer tries to take them out. Jenna, Nico, and Donnie must reunite 25 years later to figure out who is trying to harm them and why.

What Have We Done definitely has some over the top elements and a lot of action sequences. I personally would have enjoyed this more if there was more character development and tension in place of the action sequences, and at times the pacing seemed to drag. Overall, it was an entertaining and unique plot. I enjoyed the ending and Jenna’s storyline the most.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

A compulsive, addictive, page turner that kept me up past my bedtime. The different POVs kept me guessing most of the way through. Loved it!

I was not a fan of this one, and it was disappointing because I absolutely loved The Night Shift. I feel like it was similar with shifting characters and timelines but unfortunately the story moved far too slow to keep me engaged. I ended up DNFing halfway through. I am only rating what I did manage to get through

Finlay's "What Have We Done" is a quick read, fast paced thriller told in multi POV.

25 years ago, five kids buried a secret that they vowed to keep in the past. However, when a contract killer starts making attempts on their lives, these (now) adults are forced to reckon with both past and present in a way they never anticipated. Told from the perspective of Jenna (a *retired* assassin), Nico (a reality TV producer with a gambling problem) and Donnie (a washed up rock star), the trio finds themselves back together once again as they dredge up the sordid details of their shared past to protect their futures.

The pacing and entertaining mystery kept me turning pages and eager to find out how this story would end. However, I did find myself partial to Jenna's POV over the others. Donnie and Nico certainly did have some interesting moments, but Jenna really stole the show for me. I enjoyed the inclusion of the flashbacks, but wish we had gotten more background of the kids' lives at Savior House. I loved the ending and how the author wrapped everything up as well as the surprising twist at the end.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This had a very strong opening. I zipped through the first third. The pacing started to slow in the 2nd third and the characters stories became less interesting as the 2 main male characters became more and more unlikeable.
The last third picked up the pace again and the ending was tied up a little too neatly.

I wish the backstory had been more fleshed out. both for the good guys and the bad guys. There seemed to be lots of potential with "The Corporation".

I really enjoyed this book! Fast paced, heart racing, what will happen next. The stories intertwined nicely. Unexpected twists but not so far fetched.

Another great book by Alex Finlay! Thanks #netgalley!

What Have We Done is the story of 5 children who grew up in a group home. When one is killed, and another barely dodges murder, the other three believe that a secret that they've kept since the home is connected to the danger that they're in. As they unravel the truth, they are surprised to find the person and motive behind their friends deaths.

I enjoyed reading this book and think it would make a good bookclub pick.

This is the first book from this author I have ever read.

Although the story was not bad, I do not really understand why I had a hard time reading it.

It is about a group of 5 friends that grew up together in a group home and they all have a murderous secret that happened 25 years ago.

However I found it quiet un-realistic, that all of these friends seem to have become very successful in their adulthood: One being a Federal Judge (that gets murdered), another becoming a (drinking and drugging) Rockstar, One is a Tech Mogul/Millionaire (a.k.a. "Nerd"), there is also a handsome Hollywood reality Star, and the only girl in the group is a former Assassin that is now a Home Maker with an accountant husband and two step-daughters.

And after 25 years, someone is after those 5 friends...but except for the Judge that gets murdered, the rest of the friends seem to each escape murder attempts themselves and nobody knows, who's behind it and why.

The most disappointing part for me personally was, that after getting to know each former group home friend it was not hard at all to figure out, who is behind the murders/attempted murders.
As a matter of fact, the person stood out like a sore thumb - may it be 25 years earlier as well as in the present time.

I do not want to add any spoilers, therefor I can not mention any more.

The book was not too bad, but also very predictable somehow.

Will I try to read more books from this author in the future ?
I won't say no, because there were some scenes, that I can only describe as "thrilling".

So overall it was one of he books, I have to give a 3 star rating - which is really not bad and in my opinion fair.

Another great thriller from Alex Finlay! I do so look forward to his novels. This one is a riveting, heart-pounding thriller where the past rears up to destroy the people involved.

The blurb: Twenty five years ago, Jenna, Donnie, and Nico were the best of friends, a bond forged as residents of Savior House, an abusive group home for parentless teens. When the home was shut down—after the disappearance of several kids—the three were split up.

Though the trauma of their childhood has never left them, each went on to live successful, if troubled, lives. They haven’t seen one another since they were teens but now are reunited for a single haunting reason: someone is trying to kill them.

To save their lives, the group will have to revisit the nightmares of their childhoods and confront their past—a past that holds the secret to why someone wants them dead.

It’s a reunion none of them asked for... or wanted. But it may be the only way to save all their lives.

These foster kids have all made something of their lives until all at once it seems someone is trying to kill them all. The pace was fast with lots of action and excitement. My heart went out to Jenna. I had more trouble relating to the alcoholic rock-star and the gambling addicted actor. I really felt sorry for the Judge.

Highly recommended for those who like a good thriller! all of Alex Finlay's books have been good, so if you haven't delved in yet - give them a try.

Thanks. to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on March 7, 2023.

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay
3.5 ⭐️

5 teens become friends when their various difficulties at home have brought them together at Savior House, a foster home for kids. The conditions there are dangerous and abusive, and they have to do something unspeakable to escape with their lives, since some of their friends have disappeared without a trace, and they’re not buying into the offered explanations.

Fast forward to today- and it seems someone is trying to un-alive them one-by-one, even though most of the group members haven’t spoken in 15 years.

Curiouser and curiouser 🧐

Pros: dual timelines, female assassins, good pacing, action-packed

Cons: was a bit lost at times trying to keep the characters straight, some issues with plot holes

This was an enjoyable, fast-paced book that reads like an action movie. Some of the characters were really captivating, but I felt that they fell short of having distinguishable voices, which made it difficult to follow at times. I struggled between rating this one 3 or 3.5 stars, and decided to go with 3.5 because Finlay is great (The Night Shift was a 5 star read for me)- I think this one is more action-y and less thrilling, which isn’t my particular favorite cup of tea.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for early access in exchange for an honest review.

This unfortunately was a DNF for me. I wanted to enjoy it, mostly because I absolutely flew through Alex Finlay's previous book but unfortunately this one fell incredibly flat for me. The storyline was too muddled and it was entirely too difficult to try and keep the characters in line and understand the significance of the flashbacks. The synopsis is what really drew me in, unfortunately it didn't meet expectations.

I’ve been a fan of Alex Finlay since his debut novel, so was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of his latest work. I thoroughly enjoyed this; interesting plot, and good pacing in terms of switching between present and past. I really liked Jenna as a character and although some things were slightly predictable it kept my attention throughout! Only complaint is I could have done without the epilogue, resolved too quickly for you to get invested in it, would have been better to have been a plot point earlier in the book or just not included at all

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay

Jenna Donnie and Nico were split up twenty five years ago when Savior House closed down after the disappearance of several kids. The trauma of their childhood has never left them. Now someone is trying to kill them. The three must confront their past to save their lives

This is my second novel by Finlay.
I liked how fast paced and action packed this thriller was, just be prepared to suspend disbelief.
I struggled a little with the flipping between past and present. It also took me quite a bit to keep the characters straight.
While I did enjoy the book, this one didn’t wow me. It seemed like Finlay was trying out a style similar to S. A. Cosby. I just wished it was more like The Night Shift

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance copy

I am very upset to say that I started to read this book and could not get through the multiple character dialogue. I’ve never really been a big fan of multiple dialogue as it is very confusing at points. And however, I will try and pick up something else from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this arc. I am very sorry that I did not get to completely read it. . Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an digital copy of this arc. I am very sorry that I did not get to completely read it.

Yes all the way around for this one. it was so good. It was a story that took me for a ride. The twist was a super big moment and ending had me shocked. I recommend this

Thrill ride of a read! Five kids meet at Savior House and their lives all change from there. As you get to know the characters, see how their lives have changed from Savior House you try to put together who is after them. Keep your enemies close and your friends closer.

This is one of my favorite books so far for 2023 and can’t help but hope it is adapted for the big screen because it would be amazing!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Alex Finlay and Minotaur Books for hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this digital ARC.

I was super-excited to be approved for this read. I simply LOVE Alex Finlay's books!

This book was a small departure from his two previous books in that it was more an action-thriller.
But it still had the Finaly feel. He just has a way with telling a story, the world and the characters he builds keeps you turning pages.

The story unfolds between three POVs and then a fourth is introduced but it works because you can't stop turning pages to find out what the heck is going on.

The three main characters are Jenna, Donnie and Nico and they all met at a foster home when they were kids. They all participated in something quite horrible before they fled the foster home and led mostly successful lives. But now they are being hunted by a killer for that horrible thing they did when they were kids and they must come together to piece together clues and find out who is trying to kill them before they become murder victims.

I can't decide who was my favorite character, Jenna or Donnie. Perhaps Jenna with Donnie as a close second.

This is a must read for Finlay fans. Just be aware that this one is more of a an action-thriller than a true thriller.

I was a big fan of Alex Finlay’s other book Every Last Fear, so much so that as soon as I saw this, I auto requested. I wish I had read the synopsis fully before I requested, but nonetheless it’s a pretty good book.

It’s not really my speed, and it’s not my favorite by any means, but I found the characters very likable. The chapters bounced around a bit much for me, and the plot wasn’t totally believable, but I enjoyed it enough to finish it.

I’m still very excited for future books from this author, and a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review!

“What Have We Done” by Alex Finlay is an intense and action packed thriller. The story is told with three different POV. Five children did something horrible twenty five years ago, and now an assassin is hunting them down one by one. This was an amazing book, not a single dull moment!! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!