Ginger has had a rather difficult life. Her husband bailed on her, leaving her with young children to raise on her own. One of which mysteriously vanished on a stormy night. Ginger was of course, grief- stricken but needed to keep putting one foot in front of the other for the sake of her remaining son.

Fast forward: Ginger is middle aged (though portrayed as much older than her years). A gunshot and a scream interrupt an otherwise quiet night. Her best friend Tara sprints from next door to find Ginger standing over a dead body. Dun dun dunnnn!😱

Personal Mini rant:
I found Ginger beyond unlikeable. She grated on my nerves like nails on a chalk board. Every description of her and comments she made all related to the 80’s. Ugghh!

Don’t get me wrong, I do love the 80’s. The music, the slang and of course the fashions. (well maybe not that😜). But like they say, everything in moderation. Sorry but this was just too much. I know this author is fond of her 80’s too, but she attempted to cram every bit of the decade into this book. It started to feel over-loaded and forced instead of a fun look back in time. I was left rolling my eyes “I get it already “🙄.

The entire storyline was just too convoluted. I had high hopes going in after reading many positive reviews. But once again, I came away feeling like I read a different book than everyone else.

I really enjoyed this thriller. I don’t see many people talking about it but it was entertaining and I finished it in one night.

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of Little Does she Know by Pamela Crane.

What's it about?
A 1980s throwback mystery novel - Ginger's son disappears during a walk on the beach one night - And she begins hunting for answers. Her neighbor, Tara, has kept her secrets for all of these years. One night Ginger is standing over a dead body, and Tara's husband is missing. When he's arrested for murder, will Tara protect her husband, or her friendship?

This is a book that's packed with some humor, a mystery (of course, for Crane, what else?) and some family and friendship drama. I enjoy books that really allow for multiple storylines to play out, and Crane does a great job with this. 1980s throwback is a fun twist, too!

As soon as I saw this one mentioned the 80's I was intrigued. Unfortunately it missed the mark for me. I didnt connect with the characters so that really affected my rating.

This was my first book by this author. I tried really hard to get into this book and stay interested. I really didn’t find the suspense in this book as much as the mystery. I know a lot of people reviewing didn’t like all the constant 80’s references but a huge piece of the story did take place then and as an 80’s kid I did enjoy that.

Thank you for the ARC

This book had a great premise, but became so twisted and convoluted (and the 80s and 90s references were constant) that it was hard to follow along and stay invested in the characters. Each twist felt a bit weak, because it would be undone quickly enough that they started losing their punches.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

2 stars ⭐️⭐️

Unfortunately, I was too distracted by the endless and over the top 80s references to really get into this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

There are a lot of interesting things about this book, but for some reason, it just didn't grab me. The beginning made me feel really sad (not the author's fault; in fact, I credit the writing for striking me so deeply), but after that I had a hard time getting into the story. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the right book for me right now.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of Little Does She Know by Pamela Crane from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I'm going to warn you to get everything you need close by (drink, blanket, etc) as you will not move from your spot once you start reading this book. SOOOOOO good! The suspernse is fantastic. Can't wait to read more by this author.

I think I'm a bit on my own here but this book didn't really grab me at all. One sign of a good book for me is how quickly I read it or how desperate I am to grab my kindle. It actually took me weeks to get through and I don't remember the last time a book took that long to read. That tells me that I wasn't invested or felt connected to these characters as I usually am.
The co-incidence of it all was extremely farfetched and like others have said it didn't feel thriller like rather than cosy mystery.
I did enjoy the open chapter but I kind of went down hill from there for me unfortunately, I do realise I am in a minority here those.
#NetGalley #LittleDoesSheKnow

I received a copy of Little Does She Know via NetGalley to read and review.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Overall I enjoyed Little Does She Know. I was kept guessing (except for who killed Benny, I figured that out early on). I do feel one reveal was a little forced and didn’t quite add up but not to a point that it ruined the book for me.

The story features Ginger Mallowan whose son Cole disappears during a beach walk back in the 80s. Her son is never found and now almost forty years later Ginger gets through life with the help of her best friend Tara who lives next door.
Their friendship is about to be tested when Tara is awoken by screams in the middle of the night. The screaming is coming from next door and when Tara goes to investigate she finds Ginger standing over the dead body of Tara’s son. When the police arrive on the scene they arrest Tara’s husband. Tara needs to decide between proving her husband’s innocence or protecting Ginger’s past.
It looks like I’m in the minority on this “1980s throwback thriller,” but this one was only okay for me. I was expecting something else. It’s billed as a psychological thriller, but it really has a cozy mystery vibe. Tara is amateur sleuthing to hopefully find out that her husband isn’t a murderer. A lot of the storyline feels light and sometimes humorous, rather than dark or spooky.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love the 80’s. The music, the slang and of course the fashion but this was just too much. I know this author is fond of her 80’s too, but she attempted to cram every bit of the decade into this book. It started to feel over-loaded and forced instead of a fun look back in time. Also, alot of the twists were just silly. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say the twist that the PI helped Tara uncover was just ridiculous.
Thank you to Independent Publishers Group and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Would you destroy your best friend to save your husband...if he’s done the unspeakable?
Ginger Mallowan embodies everything the 1980s stand for, from big hair to power suits to “Material Girl”...until her son disappears during a beach walk one night. That’s the moment girls don’t want to have fun anymore, and the moment she starts hunting for answers.
Now Ginger’s hair is a bit flatter, her power suits packed into the attic, and her dance steps to Madonna lack the energy of better days. She hasn’t found--or forgotten--her missing son, and she’s only survived the grief thanks to her neighbor and keeper of secrets, Tara Christie. Except for Ginger’s darkest secret of all...about what happened the night her son disappeared.
But that vow of friendship is tested when Tara is jarred awake one night by a scream coming from next-door, where she finds Ginger standing over a dead body. Even stranger, Tara’s husband is nowhere to be found.
As the investigation shakes the town to its core, and Tara’s husband is arrested for the murder, Tara must choose between proving her husband’s innocence or protecting Ginger’s past.
Little does she know they’re about to stumble down a twisty path that could destroy them all.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

If you want to be knocked in the head with 80s references on repeat, this book is a win for you. I get the author wanted to make a point on how much Ginger loved her 80s and how some of the book was in that time frame but felt so forced and cheesy. I’m all about fun flashbacks but this was too much and all wrong.

The story: Ginger had a rough time (in the 80s) as a single mom raising her boys. One night at her beach front, her little boy disappears. Fast forward thirty something years later and she is living her life with a new (well for sixteen years) best friend neighbor and her eldest son. It all comes to a crash when her son is murdered during a dark and stormy night and Tara (her neighbor bestie) finds Ginger crying over her son’s body. Bonus for Tara, the knife he was murdered with is from Tara’s kitchen and her husband was missing when it all went down. Tara has to decide what to do about her husband and her best friend and of course what thriller book doesn’t have all these extra secrets and truths to be revealed in between.

The story and plot itself was enjoyable for the most part. Towards the end I did have to try and not skim over so much fluff but the a - z of it all was ok. It was the little things like the silly references, and not really connecting to any of the characters, and in the end one big reveal was so out of the park that was like, seriously, that added up overall to make it a solid 3 star.

Thank you to Independent Publishers Group and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed it for the most part but felt the 80's mentions were a bit to much. I understand it's probably showing how the character is stuck, but I felt like the book was stuck too.

It was a good read I would read the author again, but just couldn't connect with that main character.

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This is the first book in a trilogy by Pamela Crane but interestingly can also be read as a standalone. There are two endings dependant on whether you plan to read more of this series.

I have enjoyed several books by this author but strangely I struggled a little with this one. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters and never really felt any true compulsion to finish it. Pamela Crane is a very good author and like I say I have enjoyed previous books so probably more down to my tastes in literature than the authors efforts.

The story features Ginger Mallowan whose son disappears during a beach walk back in the eighties. Her son is never found and now almost forty years later she gets through life with the help of her best friend Tara who lives next door.

Their friendship is about to be tested when Tara is awoken by screams in the middle of the night. The screaming is coming from next door and when Tara goes to investigate she finds Ginger standing over the dead body of Tara’s son. When the police arrive on the scene they arrest Tara’s husband. Tara needs to decide between proving her husband’s innocence or protecting Ginger’s past.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Independent Publishers Group for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

this was a very engaging psychological thriller. There is a missing boy and a dead body decades apart but related? Great read, you will love it

A missing boy. A dead body. Four decades apart, but connected by a mysterious link. Ginger Mallowan embodies everything 1986 stands for, from big hair to power suits to “Material Girl”...until her son disappears during a beach walk one night, leaving behind only five clues to find him. That’s the moment girls don’t want to have fun anymore, and the moment she starts hunting for answers. Now Ginger’s hair is a bit flatter, her power suits packed into the attic, and her dance steps to “Material Girl” lack the energy of better days. She hasn’t found-or forgotten-her missing son, and she’s only survived the grief thanks to her neighbor and keeper of secrets, Tara Christie. But that vow of friendship is tested when Tara is jarred awake one night by a gunshot coming from next-door, where she finds Ginger standing over a dead body. Even stranger, Tara’s husband is nowhere to be found. The investigation shakes the town to its core, and Tara’s husband is charged with murder. Ginger could clear his name, but that would require revealing she’s used that gun once before-back in 1986, the night her son disappeared. It’s a secret she plans to take to her grave, though. A grave she might find herself in soon, because little does she know that her past is about to catch up to her.
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group
I just reviewed Little Does She Know: A Psychological Thriller by Pamela Crane. #LittleDoesSheKnowAPsychologicalThriller #NetGalley

Little Does She Know got me right away with the loss of a child. Ginger, though, became more and more ridiculous and it was really hard to understand why she and Tara were so close. I understand that there are ways of getting stuck in a time. Ginger got stuck in the 80s. So, every chapter that surrounds her is filled with 80s music and clothes. I lived through the 80s. They weren't that great. I know the nostalgia is all the rage, but if feels like they are laughing at you and not with you.

There are a lot of twists and turns. Only one of them seemed to come from nowhere. The rest had clues dropped along the way. Some you will pick up and some you will go back to and say, "aha!" It did get to the point that I said to myself, "Oh, come on!" But, overall, it kept my attention and I really wanted to see how this was all going to end. Isn't that what is important?

It looks like I’m in the minority on this “1980s throwback thriller,” but this one was only okay for me, maybe because I was expecting something else. It’s billed as a psychological thriller, but it really has a cozy mystery vibe in some ways. Tara is amateur sleuthing to hopefully find out that her husband isn’t a murderer. A lot of the prose feels light and sometimes humorous, rather than dark or spooky. There are cutesy names like the town being called Bloodson Bay and the ladies living on Deadnettle Drive. A redhead named Ginger… those kinds of things. The number of 80s references were a little over the top too.

Although it wasn’t for me, I do think there are many readers who will enjoy this book, especially if you like your thrillers on the light side or if you’re looking the feel of a cozy mystery with an edge. Many thanks to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group, Tabella House for providing me an advance copy of this book.