I think my students would like this book, esp the male students as it is non stop action and ultimately clear good guys and bad guys. I would have trouble recommending it, not much to discuss, ie eithical issues of trauma and justice

This was definitely a miss for me. I loved Night Shift so much. I was highly anticipating this read, but it fell literally flat to the point I had to push through.

3.5 stars, rounded down
What Have We Done is an action packed thriller. Told from the perspectives of three very different individuals, it tracks them as unknown assassins attempt to kill each of them. What the three do have in common, was time spent in an abusive group home for teenagers.
The three main characters are Jenna, a housewife who was formerly an assassin herself, Donnie, an aging rocker with a drinking problem and Nico, a reality tv producer with a gambling problem. There are two other individuals that were also at the home that are targets. It takes a while, but the five eventually come together.
I have enjoyed Finlay’s last two works, but this one is too unbelievable. The pacing is fast, with multiple changes between characters (including the contract killers) and present and past. The ending goes 90 mph and just when you think things have resolved, they haven’t. It’s a Die Hard kind of book. Not my style, but if you like that sort of thing, you’ll love this. (Having said that, I couldn’t wait to see how Finlay would resolve it all.)
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this before its official release in exchange for an honest review.

this book was chaotic and confusing and all over the place with multiple pov's and the timeline bouncing around from past to present and oh my god i enjoyed every second of it!! not a single dull moment and very fast paced. this book JUMPS right into action immediately and its a TINY bit hard to follow at first, simply because you have no idea whats going on! but its exciting and wild and i highly recommend!
p.s im always super good at figuring out the plot twists really early on, but this book was a rare exception. good luck readers!
5/5 stars!

A twisty, exciting ride that takes you on quite the adventure. Filled with a little terror, a background at a group home, secret, and loyalty, you will appreciate the surprises of What Have We Done.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

This book just keeps you guessing! I really enjoyed Alex Finlay's latest, What Have We Done. Thank you to SMP's Influencer Program, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review ahead of publication.

Finlay knocked it out of the park for me with his previous novel, The Night Shift. This one came close to measuring up, but didn't quite reach the same level. The names of the different characters started to blend together quite a bit for me- I struggled remembering who was who and what their background was. Once I got about halfway through, I found a lot of clarity in the plot and story and didn't have that issue again.

Now for all of the positives... This book was very gritty! I really enjoyed the "chase" of the plot, the edge-of-your-seat feeling with the confrontational scenes, Once I had a clear idea of where the book was headed, I really enjoyed trying to untangle the web of mystery and twists. I also LOVED the ending of this one, it packed a punch in the end and was very satisfying.

For anyone considering reading this... if you enjoy thrillers or mysteries, this one is worth a shot, as well as Finlay's other novels. I give What Have We Done between 3.5-4 stars.

What Have We Done is the second book from author Alex Finlay that I have read. The first I went in blind, I was in a book funk and reading Every Last Fear brought me out of that said funk. So I figured I’d go into this book blind as well. Except I couldn’t. After reading the prologue and then finishing the first chapter, I was wondering where the author was heading (in a good way) and needed to know what this book was going to give me. I’m glad I did, it made me want to read faster just so I could figure out what was really going on and why. Normally I hate when books skip around in time or each chapter is about a different character in the book but just like in his book, Every Last Fear, the author does it well. Separating it enough to know who is who and not confusing the characters. I love that you read one chapter about someone but then have to wait a few chapters to get back to their story line or shock. But then you’re hooked on another characters storyline that you just keep being on edge waiting to put them all together. Nothing felt really rushed and there were quite a few good twists. Heck even the epilogue had me wonder what was happening in a wonderful heart pacing way.

This book was hard to finish, I loved Alex Findlay’s previous books and this one wasn’t up to the mark. I didn’t enjoy it

A fairly fast-paced murder and blackmail mystery told from the perspective of the killer and three adults who grew up together in a very dysfunctional orphanage. As adults, they are all being targeted by a sinister source from their past. The secret they have long buried is coming to light decades later and they have to work together to figure out what is happening to them and their families.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I found it dragged a bit in the beginning but by the middle, the plot started to move along and I had to finish reading to find out the mystery. I liked the characters and found them engaging and genuine. I wish more of the story had the three interacting in person instead of waiting until more than halfway through.

Thanks to Alex Finally, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Alex Finlay for the eARC of What Have We Done!

Twenty-five years ago, Jenna, Nico, Donnie, and Ben did the unspeakable while living in Savior House. Now, it’s coming back to haunt them. Ben has been murdered, and someone is after the remaining members of the group. Will they make it out alive, or will they pay for their mistake?

This book captured my attention from the very first page! It was super interesting, fast-paced, and kept me guessing until the very end. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75/4 rating. This book was really fun! I have some minor qualms with it, so I'll get those out of the way first - I think some of the twists were fairly predictable (especially one of them - it seemed very telling that a specific character didn't have a POV chapter). I thought Jenna was easily the most interesting/compelling character of the bunch, which on its own is definitely not a con lmao, but I thought while she was so interesting to me the other characters felt very...flat in comparison? I wasn't really sure why I was supposed to care about them, or their friends' memories, besides the fact that we were TOLD we're supposed to care. I also think the very final epilogue scene felt rushed and unnecessary in all honesty - it seemed like a final dash at action that I think was not needed.

That being said, however, this book was a really fun time for me regardless. Like I said, I LOVED Jenna - honestly I'll take an entire book about her and her family, I wanted so much more of them! The writing was really well-done, and I think it was a solid, tight plot. I flew through this book and the author did just such a great job; everything was descriptive (without going overboard) and I felt like I could picture everything so well. I'm definitely going to check out more of their books in the future.

The premise of neglected and mistreated group home kids may not be a new theme but everything else about this convoluted mystery is fresh and original. This is my second book by this author and he sucked me in again.
The story alternates primarily between three characters from a squalid group home, Jenna, Donnie, and Nico. What have they done since somebody wants them all dead? Just some poor kids who’ve managed to leave the terrors of a group home behind. There were other kids at the home, friends even. Some grew up powerful, wealthy, even famous. Donnie is the boilerplate aging, washed up rock star. Nico is a star of a reality show and a heavy gambler. Annie disappeared from the group home way back then. Bennie is a respected judge. Jenna was the newest of their clique back at the home. Now she’s married, a stepmom, a former assassin.
An unpleasant environment with few good memories left scars. As someone threatens the lives they’ve constructed old secrets tear their lives apart. The truth of what they did takes wild turns and evil won’t stay buried. Who has the most to gain, is it revenge or something much more sinister? I raced through the story to find answers and was blown away with the outcome. Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the plot!
Many thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “What Have We Done” by Alex Finlay and to St. Martin’s Publishing. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

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

⭐️
.
.
.
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!

.
.
#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.