Member Reviews
Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for allowing me to read this early. I was SO excited to see i was approved for this one. I loved the night shift and read this as soon as i was able to.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. It was different than the night shift. Less thriller and more action/mystery. Think Kill Bill with Mick Riva as a character. I thought all of the characters were interesting. I was sucked in from the beginning. I loved the short chapters.
Being from Delaware County, going to university in Chester, It was weird to me trying to place this all going on there. But that’s just a me thing since I’m from the area. Another great book i read in only 2 sittings and can’t wait for everyone else to be able to read It!
In the prologue, twenty-five years ago, we have a group of teens taking turns shooting into a grave. And now, we have three major POVs: Jenna, suburban housewife, recruited at SoulCycle to be set up for her past assassin skills; Donnie, washed up rock star, being pushed off a cruise ship; and Nico, TV producer, trapped in a coal mine on his coal miner reality show. What do they have in common and what have they done in order for someone to try to kill them? In flashbacks, we find out that the three were together at a foster home called Savior House, along with another friend named Ben, a judge who was just murdered.
In the multiple POVs are flashbacks to the foster home (which can be a tad confusing in transitions), we slowly learn what happened back then. The present day action brings the three back together with yet another one who was present at the gravesite and the appearance of a pair of contract assasins, twin sisters. It’s an action packed story as the trio must outmaneuver the thrill killers and face the past. 4 stars! Alex Finlay again delivers a twisty, brainy, multi-level narrative.
Thank you to St. Martins Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO In fact, no eye colors were mentioned at all, just some red eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Although we do have a character named Blue Flowers.
Whew, what an insane ride! I went into this book completely blind and I’m glad I did. The characters were so well fleshed out & given such amazing stories. I will say that the first 30% and the last 20% were my favorite. It began and ended with such a bang. The middle sections flow seemed a bit off for me? It seemed like a lot was going on while not a lot was going on at the same time? I also wanted the characters to meet earlier than they did, but I understand why they didn’t. This was such a unique book & that’s what I love about Alex Finlay’s stories. I didn’t see the bigger twist coming at all (screw you Arty)!
Overall I liked it a lot, but didn’t fall in love with it.
Incredible thriller that immediately pulls the reader into the plot. I absolutely enjoyed this story and could not wait to enjoy the rest of the book
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Minotaur for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Another winner from Alex Finlay. A fast-paced, quick read. Can't say too much without spoilers. Jenna is a really strong character and my favorite of all of them. The action ramps up at about 70% and you won't be able to put it down until the end. It's like watching a Jason Bourne movie. Some aspects of the ending were a little too far-fetched which is the only reason this gets 4 stars instead of 5. Highly recommend.
This book starts off with a bang and takes you through the perspective of several people all tied together by one murder. The question is who can you trust and who is really to blame. The book is fast paced and keeps the readers attention without delving too deep. It is a light easy read perfect for mystery lovers. Some action no smut.
Finlay's best yet- he is a master story teller and an amazing writer. Can't wait to see what's next!
If you've read an Alex Finlay book before, 'What Have We Done' will not disappoint.
What Have We Done is a mystery/thriller about five kids who lived together in a group home and did something bad 20+ years ago. In present time, a female assassin is trying to kill each of them and the old friends reunite after one of them dies. The story is told from 3 separate POVs: Jenna, Donnie and Nico. From these POVs, we learn each of their backgrounds and what they are up to in present day.
The ultimate question in 'What Have We Done' is will the past continue to haunt these characters or will they one day be able to truly move on?
This is a fast paced, action filled thriller with a little mystery. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I will say the mystery was not a big surprise. If you are looking for huge twists, this may not be the book for you. However, if you are into action packed thrillers, you will enjoy this read even if you've figured out the 'whodunit'.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC!
Alex Finlay does it again! In a market oversaturated with thrillers, Finlay continues to stand out with unputdownable suspense novels.
With three POVs, you get just enough from each character to keep you invested in their stories. What Have We Done will keep you glued to the page right until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Having enjoyed the author's two previous works greatly, I was thrilled to be approved as an early reader for "What Have We Done" - wow, what an action-packed thrill ride! Really enjoyed this tale about three old childhood friends from a group home and the past that has come back to chase them. Highly recommend, sure it will be popular! I received a DRC of this title from the publisher via Net Galley, and I appreciate it. All opinions are my own.
Ahhhh!!!
That is literally what I said after concluding “what have we done” . The pace was so fast it literally pushed me into the next page full steam ahead . This is by far the best book I have read this year .
The way that Alex Finlay was able to incorporate numerous characters with intricate histories is still blowing my mind . Every single character (beside the twins) were incredible and lovable . I sympathized for each and every one of them, troubled as they were, they all became a piece of me and I was rooting for them.
I particularly bonded with Jenna. I felt for her even when she did some pretty questionable things . It boils down to survival. What will you do when your back is up against the wall and my god I will take what I read about Jenna and apply it to real life scenarios for the rest of my life .
Alex Finlay is a straight up rock star and I hang on his every word . If I can ever meet and interview an author, it will be him. My mind is just blown. I know I said it before but just WOW WOW WOW. Finlay is a hidden gem who will be the breakthrough author of the year, especially if I have anything to do with it .
If I can offer one bit of advice to the book world this year it will be to pick up this book. 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars !!!!
Although I really enjoyed the synopsis of this book, I felt it could've been executed better. The book failed to pull me in which resulted in my disinterest in following the plot. I did enjoy how it all came together in the end but not one of my favorite thrillers. That being said, I do see how other people could enjoy this. Don't let my review deter you from reading - it just wasn't for me!
Thank you Netgalley for this book. I did enjoy this one, but I found the characters a bit hard to follow. I kept having to jog my memory on who was who. Beyond that, the story was good.
I absolutely loved this one! Alex Finlay is a master of suspense and the twists and turns in this book highlight that. I really loved the storyline, as it focuses on a group of young children who grew up together in a group home, then meeting twenty-five years later, harboring their horrible secret. Each character had their own unique personality, which I love being able to distinguish them from one another. Overall, this book was very well done and I would absolutely recommend reading it!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.
A group of misfit children forms a friendship, an alliance that ultimately bonds them for life through the haunting secret they share.
When that secretive past threatens to resurface they must dig deep, and launch a brave and worthy fight to protect themselves and each other.
Fast-paced and thrilling, this action-packed story will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of What Have We Done for my unbiased evaluation. 4 stars
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from St. Martin’s Press and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Jam packed with intriguing characters in a fast-paced thrill ride.
What Have We Done is another unputdownable thriller from Alex Finlay that shows off his signature jaw dropping twists and unexpected turns. Five teenagers living in a remote group home are forced to do the unthinkable, an act that stays with them throughout their lives but remains hidden until someone threatens to reveal their darkest secret.
Jenna has created a new life for herself and will stop at nothing to protect her family. Nico, who works behind the scenes on a reality show about miners, finds himself deeply in debt and fighting for his life. Donnie, an aging musician fighting his own demons, is thrown overboard on a cruise ship and miraculously survives only to be caught in a real life game of cat and mouse with someone who's determined to kill him.
With an unforgettable cast of characters and a series of heart stopping scenes, this is another winner from Alex Finlay that you won't want to miss.
I really liked this book, some of the characters more than others. It was fast paced and hard to put down. Will be recommending this!
This was an excellent thriller with a "I Know What You Did Last Summer" premise. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, wondering what was going to happen next. I liked all of the different POVs, and learning more about each person's past and their time at Savior House.
Everything came together is a suspenseful final act, and that epilogue was also intense. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it!
Thank you @netgalley for approving me to read this amazing read! I absolutely loved this book! It was action packed since page one. It kept me on the edge of my seat with all that was going on. I never knew what would come next and I love that about a book. When my guesses are wrong, I feel as I am reading a masterpiece.
I enjoyed the development of each character but Jenna took the prize on tough gal! When you read the book, you will understand. Be ready for all the thrills you desire and when you think it’s over, bam! does it take a turn!
I can’t wait for this one to come out as it was perfection, Alex Finlay has a gift for writing great thrillers. I definitely recommend this & his other masterpieces.