When three former assassins become targets themselves, they must team up to stop the threat. I was expecting the mystery that I've gotten from previous Alex Finlay books but this was more nonstop action. There was less suspense and more action. Different vibe than other books by this author, but still a quick read.

This is a story about a group of kids who grew up in a home for orphans that are bonded together by something horrible they did years ago. Now that they are grown up, someone knows what they did and is coming after them for it. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and getting a handle on the storyline. Each chapter jumped to a different person and I was having trouble remembering who was who and what their problems were. Once I got about half way through I started to enjoy it more as I tried to figure out who the bad guy was. It is a suspenseful story with a lot of action and has a surprising ending. I liked this author's other books better. Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I kind of wish this hadn't been my first Alex Finlay book, because I've heard great things about his past two books. I wasn't very impressed with this book at all. I was minimally invested in Jenna and Donnie, but Nico's chapters bored me, and many of the supporting characters, such as Arty and Ben, felt so impersonal and distant from me as a reader I had trouble distinguishing them. The plot itself was incredibly far-fetched an unbelievable to me, and because it felt so ridiculous, the book struggled to keep my interest. It's not a long book by any means, but I believe it took me over a month to get through this. I think I will try Finlay's other books, since generally they've received better reviews than this one, but my expectations are considerably lower.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Disclaimer: This is a translated version of the original review published in Spanish on Goodreads.

Score: 3.8 / 5 Stars.

Before starting this review I want to thank St Martin's Press for sending me the ARC for this book, I have wanted to read this author for a long time and I appreciate that they have given me the opportunity to do so with this novel.

In this book we will meet Donnie, Jenna and Nico, three adults whose lives seem to have no relationship with each other. However, they are all bound by a deadly secret. This secret comes from their youth, where they were best friends and lived in a home for parentless teens. A residence that had to be closed due to the multiple cases of missing children that began to occur.

From that moment on, Donnie, Jenna and Nico will live separate lives and achieve a certain degree of success in their careers, however, they will be forced to see each other again for a reason: Someone wants to kill them.

This is my first time reading Alex Finlay, and it has been a positive experience. I didn't know what to expect, because I decided to start the book without knowing much about its plot. My goal was to be surprised by the author's pen, and I think I have achieved it.

This story is told from three points of view, which correspond to the characters I previously named. They all live their ordinary life until someone tries to kill them, and they must run for their lives. My favorite was without a doubt Jenna, a woman who has a dark past, beyond the one that we will discover about her teenage years. I think Jenna has a fascinating Backstory and I would love to read more stories about her professional life, I will not give details because I want you to be surprised when you meet her, but I will just say that she is a Badass!

The plot is just fine. I didn't love it, but it didn't bore me either. I feel like it's very typical of a thriller book. However, the characters and the twists that we were getting to know in the process gradually got me excited me until I reached the climax of the novel.

As for the narration, I think it was adequate. That is, everything developed in due time. At no time did I feel that the author was rushing to tell us details about the story, nor that things were getting too slow.

Definitely my favorite part was the ending. I was thrilled while reading the scenes in which they discover who is behind everything and how, at all times, it feels like a latent danger. You really feel that their lives are in danger and that they could die at any moment. Also, the epilogue was very epic, especially the one about Jenna, who has to deal with an additional problem at the end of the book.

I think What Have We Done is a perfect read for Thriller readers who want to try the pen of a different author. Especially authors like Alex Finlay, who are not very well known in Latin America. This may be a suitable story for a weekend, or to read on the beach.

I loved Finlay’s previous books, so I immediately started reading this after getting approved. Unfortunately, that was two months ago and I’m only 28% through. I can’t even give a proper synopsis because I just don’t care about any of these characters or their drama. In my opinion, this does not feel at all like his previous books. I’m DNFing at 28% because this book is not working for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Five people did something unthinkable as kids. Now, the past has come back to haunt them. Who will make it out alive?

This book was about 3.5 stars for me, but I rounded it up. I liked the pace of the book and the action. The twists were decent, but I saw a lot of them coming. Still, it's a book I liked reading and I'd read it again.

✨Ｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ✨

What Have We Done 📚 by Alex Finlay

⭐️
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Thank you @netgalley
for this #advancereaderscopy!

Unfortunately this was probably the worst book I read this year. I had heard great things about The Night Shift, so I was excited to read this one. This book was so unrealistic and the writing style was lacking for sure, with some pretty cheesy lines. The plot follows a group of people who experience different events after being in an orphanage together as kids (I don't want to give too much away). The characters, plot, and writing style all lacked and I reallyyy struggled to get through this one.

On to the next book!

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#netgalley #arc #winterreads #justread #bookstack #booklovers #alwaysreading #readersofinstagram #bookreview #instareads #goodreads #bookworm #bookaddict #readersofig #bookreviewer #bookaddict #bookstagram

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 3/5 Stars
Publishing: March 7, 2023
Series: N/A
Pages: 368

So, I tried another read on my business travel home and thought to read “What Have We Done” by Alex Finlay, new author to this reader. I liked the action, thrills, and excitement of the story, however being told from alternate POVs and timelines was too confusing for me. I was anticipating more of a thriller mystery from the description provided, but alas it beyond that. This year, mystery-thrillers were one of the genres I wanted to read more and while there were some that hit the mark, this one did not although it was a likeable read. At times, I felt disconnected from the story and characters as I periodically muddled through the story. Overall, it was an okay read but hard to get to the end.

What Have We Done (ARC)
Alex Finlay
4⭐️
Pub Day: 3/7/2023

Something sinister is happening at the Savior House. Children are disappearing from this orphanage. And when 5 kids started questioning this, they were met with dismissal or threats. They took things to their own hands... for their sakes. 25 years later, Benny turned up dead. Jenna, Nico, Donnie and Arty were all targeted for assassination. All because of what they did back at Savior House. What really happened in that forsaken home? Who's after them? And what have they really done to deserve this? They have to revisit their nightmare, all secrets now to be unveiled.

The first part of this book was a little hard to follow. There are 3 storyline, and I didn't really see the quick connection to each. Eventually it got easier to follow as the storylines all started to merge together into omr big plot. It was hard to stop because it was immediately interesting. All the escaping... the rush of the run. Each character dealing with his/her own life dilemma makes them seem more realistic. As with every thriller/mystery book, I made a guess and see if I can actually nail the culprit. Huge twist on this one though. I was totally blindsided by this.

The chapters are relatively short and easy to read. I'm amazed at how the author was able to make such a good and cohesive plot with it. He did not drag each one out and I think this is an impressive skill for an author. Overall, it's a very thrilling read. I immensely enjoyed it.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This is another solid psychological thriller by Alex Finlay. It kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering who was responsible for all the deaths and mayhem. There were a lot of great characters and it was well written, incorporating scenes from the past seamlessly with the present. I’ll read more by this author in the future.

I was stoked to see this title pop up on Netgalley and this was my first read by the ever popular Alex Finlay!

I’m usually a huge fan of thrillers with multiple POVs, but this one took me a little longer than normal to get comfortable with each character, and the back and forth between their past and present experiences. I continued to struggle with the transitions from past to present as the novel went on, and had to sometimes reread passages in order to figure out when things were occurring in time.

I really enjoyed getting to learn about Jenna, Nico, and Donnie’s history while living at the Savior House. I was most interested in this part of the storyline, compared to the present day timeline.

Overall, this one was a bit of a miss for me. It read more like an action movie than a thriller, which wasn’t fully what I was expecting. I did enjoy how things came together in the end, though!

Yep, I’m an Alex Finlay fan. Must read kind of thing. No matter what.

While this was probably personally my least favorite of his, it was still very good and will honestly appeal to some more than the others.

There is a lot going on. Alternating points of view, trying to figure everything out. But that’s part of the fun, right? It’s absolutely action packed and full of twists. Jenna is my hero. Donnie tugged at my heart strings. Just a fantastic ride all around.

Read this if you like thrilling action and mystery.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I can’t wait to see what Alex Finlay brings us next.

1.5 stars, but rounding up to 2 *solely* because it was fast-paced and action-packed & I wasn’t able to guess what the full twist would be (part of it though, I saw coming from a mile away). So at least there was still an element of surprise. But that definitely doesn’t make up for the fact that this book is seriously one of the dumbest ones I’ve read in a while. No offense, but Finlay’s writing is literally awful — it’s cheesy and elementary, so this book reads like an extremely stupid YA novel. The characters and their inner monologues, along with the all the absolutely unnecessary filler (why did Finlay feel like he needed to explain literally everything like we’re 5 years old and know nothing?!) — all of it was so cringey. Oh my god, especially Donnie… I think the guy had an IQ of like 5, I swear. Jenna was the best written character and even her chapters made me question why I was still reading this book lol. It was just SO stupid — everything, every part of it. And the ending was so unrealistic. But hey, at least there’s a silver lining — now I know I never want to read more books by this author lol. So many better thrillers out there.

Thank you, regardless, to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unpopular opinion alert! If you LOVED this book, just skip this review.

This was one of most anticipated reads of 2023! Finlay's last two novels, Every Last Fear, and The Night Shift blew me away!

I don't know what it was but this just didn't fit his usual style. I felt like I was reading someone else's book. Now don't get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with the writing, it just had a much different vibe. It was missing that thriller aspect I've come to love from Finlay's writing.

But hey! That's just my opinion. There's are TONS of 4/5 star reviews for this book. It just didn't work for me.

Perfect afternoon with a book while on Christmas vacation. When I received notice that I received an advanced reader copy of this one - by an author that I enjoy, I jumped at the chance to make it my next book!📖

What Have We Done is the third book I’ve read from this author - I really enjoyed the first two (Every Last Fear and The Night Shift). This one focuses on a group of friends - who spent their teenage years at a terrible group home. The friends moved on to live very different lives - and then 25 years later they are brought back together when it is clear that someone powerful is looking to kill them to keep secrets hidden.🤔

This book was like a movie - giving you all the vibes of Jack Reacher/Jason Bourne - it’s interesting and keeps you reading but definitely isn’t a favourite. Go into it knowing that you need to suspend disbelief - once you’ve had a chance to read it, you may agree that this book would be a good action movie.⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this advanced copy. It will be available everywhere March 7, 2023 and I’m sure it will be a hit.

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@tolovetoread #tolovetoread #read #reader #reading #readersofig #readthisbook #book #books #bookstagram #bookworm #bookish #bookreviewer #bibliophile #bookaddict #booksofig #booksof2022 #bookrecommendations #amreading #bookishcanadians #bestbooksof2022 #bookthoughts #booklife #readanywhere

This was my first book from Alex Finlay, I enjoyed this thriller. I loved the different point of views and the timelines. I did feel like Jenna’s story was the most interesting, but also the most unbelievable. Which had me rolling my eyes a few times.

The ending of the book was so well done and it was something I wasn’t expecting. My only reason I am giving this 3.5 stars is because there were too many characters, so it took me awhile to finally remember who was who.

This book will be released in March.

2.5 stars

Based on the description, I was expecting a thriller mystery, but this is an out-and-out action thriller. In fact, What Have We Done reads like a movie script for a violent, fast-paced action movie. Every element of the book is preposterous and far-fetched. Twenty-five years ago, Jenna, Donnie, Nico, Benny, and Artemis were all residents at the dreadful foster care home Savior House, ruled by the disgusting and Fagin-like Mr. Brood. It led them to do the unthinkable...In the present, Jenna, a former hired assassin turned stay-at-home mother, Donnie, a washed up, alcoholic rock star, and Nico, a reality TV producer with a gambling problem, discover that someone's trying to kill them all again...and it all ties back to that fateful night when they were teenagers.

What Have We Done is fast-paced, and Alex Finlay knows how to keep a story moving. But it was also so ridiculous and violent! The characters are more archetypes than fully formed, and all of the violent scenarios just didn't do it for me. It held my attention, but I didn't care for the story or characters. This was definitely different for me, but when it comes to popcorn reads, I prefer mysteries more than action. And I've read some violent books this year, but the violence in this felt unnecessary. What Have We Done is like a Sour Patch Kid of a book; it's entertaining, it goes down easily with a bit of bite, but it lacks substance.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book.

As someone who is trying to delve more into new thrillers, this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. The premise is intriguing at first and it was why I wanted to read it in the first place but I was expecting a grander epic than I was given. It was random bursts of action combined with an attempt at feeding backstory about characters that weren’t as developed as they could have been.

For a good 70% of the book, I didn’t feel connected to the characters at all or really understood where the plot was going. I found myself picking it up and leaving it, coming back at random intervals because I just wasn’t as captivated as I wanted to be. It was a mashup of so many diverting tracks, that did end up leading to the same place, but it was not the cleanest set up I’ve ever read.

I will say the ending and the build up toward it in the last quarter, bumped the story up a great deal. It did provide good payoff for how muddled and odd the rest of it felt. By the end, I really loved Donnie and Jenna the most and I was happy with their epilogues. The twins were probably the most interesting part but I could have done without Nico, who felt almost irredeemable.
Overall, I wasn’t at the edge of my seat but it paid off in the end, even though it was a rough time getting there.

DNF at 50% I really loved Every Last Fear but this one lost my initial interest very quickly. In the first 25% we had around 8 character switches in the midst of 8 short chapters. The characters blended together a lot in the beginning, and I couldn't find myself caring for any of them. Though it did get easier to keep track of them with time, I still didn't have an interest in any of them. The story itself also felt very generic right from the start. Nothing was unique or written in such a way that the expected could be forgiven; the whole thing felt uninspired to me. Like a straight to DVD movie. And that's a shame. I loved Every Last Fear, as I've said, but this book did not strike me as anything worth following until the end.

What Have We Done is a fast paced thriller. I appreciated the small chapters, making it a breeze to get through. It was addicting but the writing was a bit all over the place, which slowed my reading a bit. Overall it was suspenseful, even if not particularly satisfying.

I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.