DNF at 33% (end of Part 2) NO RATING
( note: The title of the UK edition is The Survivor)

TWENTY YEARS LATER-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SUMMIT LAKE -⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
DON’T BELIEVE IT-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SOME CHOOSE DARKNESS (Rory Moore/Lane Phillips #1) Almost ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
THE SUICIDE HOUSE (Rory Moore/Lane Phillips #2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Clearly, I AM a fan of the author’s work BUT this will be a DNF for me.

The first 25% alternates between the night of the brutal crime when Alexandra’s parents and brother are killed, and the day of her “defamation of character” court case, 8 months later. She is suing because the Police ignored the evidence-and instead arrested her for the murders.

Photographs of three different women had been left on her parents bed, and a fingerprint was recovered from her bedroom window, but all of that was disregarded.

I was definitely intrigued by the setup.

BUT- the problem is that we could’ve learned all of that, in one chapter and instead the facts were rehashed in both narratives, (scene of the crime and court case) with Alexandra’s lawyer, Garrett, feeding the witness her lines.
And, the witness, who was the first Cop on the scene, just happened to be his wife. Hmm..

It just didn’t ring true.

Police also OVERSHARED information with reporters at the crime scene and the Press dubbed Alexandra as “empty eyes” an observation of the dead look she wore as Police escorted the seventeen year old from her home, while she was clearly still in shock……

The moniker is OVERUSED throughout the book.

She will attempt to rebuild her like in Cambridge, but when a lead takes her to Switzerland two years later, she is immediately recognized as “those empty eyes”, and she will be threatened with exposure, if she doesn’t pay her blackmailers a huge part of her settlement money.

Fortunately, help will arrive in Cambridge in the form of a man who ends EVERY sentence with the term, “mate”.
Used with the intent to make the location and conversations sound convincing-it had the opposite effect for me.

I am sure that this is a one off- and I WILL give the author the benefit of the doubt, and request his next book based on my previous POSITIVE experiences.

However, as much as I would have loved to solve this crime, I am struggling to move past the repetition and bad dialogue,. This story seems to be lacking the meticulous research, that has given his past novels such a feel of authenticity.

I hope I am an outlier, and you have better luck with it.

Expected Publication Date: March 28, 2023

Thank You to Kensington Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

There's a crime happening in the first few pages of Charlie Donleas newest novel, Those Empty Eyes.
Alexandra Quinlan's parents and thirteen year old brother have been murdered by a shotgun carrying maniac. Alex saved herself by hiding behind the grandfather clock in the hallway. When the police get there, Alex is in her parents' bedroom sitting with the shotgun in her lap. "Empty Eyes" was the display of shock she displayed after she is handcuffed and accused of the murders.

A criminal defense team of Jacqueline and Garrett represent Alex and she is proven not guilty. There's a counter suit that creates piles of money for Alex. Alex, hounded by the media, takes off to London to attend the university.

Ten years later, Alex is working at the same legal firm that assisted her as a now legal investigator. But she's always pursued a deadend when it came to finding out who actually killed her family. She's even created a crime board in her apartment.

We're given multiple story threads and a large cast of characters in this one. The narrative frequently jumps back and forth between them so there is a lot going on. I loved the multiple layers of the story and felt the author did a nice job of bringing everything together at the end as he revealed the complex web connecting all the seemingly unrelated stories. I didn't see the ending coming which is saying a lot. I have always enjoyed Charlies novels and this one was no different. I don’t want to give away too many details but this is one you should definitely pick up March 2023.

Thank you Net Galley and Kensington Publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

There’s a lot to unpack here. When Alex’s parents and young brother are shot to death, she’s wrongfully charged with their murders. After winning her defamation lawsuit, Alex begins work for the defense attorney who saved her. In doing so, she hones her skills as an investigator in the ultimate hope of solving the mystery of her family’s deaths. Lots of side plots soon evolve … fraternity rape, politics, media overreach, money laundering, pedophilia … you name it. I often found myself re-reading certain sections just to keep things straight.

If you like mysteries, this author is worth following. He does a good job of raising questions and keeping the story moving. However, I do have a nitpick about this particular book. There was a revelation at the end which switched a character’s identity from one whom the the reader assumed it to be. For me, it felt like a cheap writing trick and not really necessary.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the chance to read and review this advance copy.

Thank you for a copy of this arc in exchange for my review.
I think this had potential and I enjoyed some of the themes that were going to be explored. However for me the true crime junkie element lost me. That is not something I enjoy but that’s just my opinion and I can see how others would like it.

I wasn’t able to complete the book due to the subject matter not being able to hold my interest due to my personal tastes.

Others will enjoy this so it you’re into a mystery with a true crime junkie element then please give this a go.

Giving 3 stars for fairness as I didn’t make it to the end.

There is something about the books that Charlie Donlea writes that just suck me in and take me for a ride, every single time. Empty Eyes was just as wild. I also love the cameo appearances that other characters make in his books, that if you have read his other books, they are a nice surprise but you can still read them as standalones.

I loved Alex as a character and it was cool to dive into the world of semi legal investigating, as she helps get her law firm answers to questionable clients, all the while trying to solve the case of her own family's murder, Lots of twistys in this story and things that seem to make no sense all tie together in a slam bang finish that left me going what?!! Noooo! It was really good!

And yes this review is light on details but I don't want to give anything away so that others may enjoy the surprising twists.

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book to read and review!

#ThoseEmptyEyes #NetGalley Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I encourage you to check this one out! Really solid read.

Alex Armstrongs family was murdered ten years ago and she was falsely accused. She now works for Garett, the lawyer who got her released, as an investigator. She’s been working on solving their murder and gets help from an FBI agent. Shocking secret’s come to light.
This was a suspenseful read and many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC that will be published March 27, 2023.

Charlie Donlea always grabs me from the first page and this is no different. "Those Empty Eyes" will stay with you for a long time.

Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea was an interesting and very intriguing story.
I've enjoyed Donlea's previous work and his newest was no different!
This book was full of mystery.... twists and turns which I wasn't expecting.
I enjoyed the writng as usual. He kept me engaged and wanting to do nothing but flip the pages.
Alex's story I couldn't tear away from. I enjoyed her story from beginning to end.
There was something very satisfying in the core concept of this plot.
And I'm telling you it hooked me immediately.
It is an easy, fast read, and very engaging. .
Suspenseful, intriguing, and a great storyline!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Kensington,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

Ten years ago, Alex was the sole survivor of a home invasion that resulted in her family being killed. In their haste, the police rushed to arrest Alex for the crime, only to drop charges later on, and Alex received a large award from the State as a result of the false arrest. Now, Alex has a new name and appearance, and works as an investigator for a law firm. When a client of the firm is found murdered with parallels to the massacre of Alex’s family, Alex thinks she may be close to solving the mystery. Those Empty Eyes is told through numerous plot lines, all seemingly unrelated, which ultimately connect. But there is so much going on with those plot lines that the reader has to reset at each new chapter to get their bearings, which really slows down the story and dilutes the suspense. I’ve absolutely loved all the author’s prior books, but the plot overkill in this one is too much to overcome. Still a decent read, but disappointing based on previous books. I received an arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was SO excited to be approved for this book. I love this Author’s writing and have read everything he has written. The characters are wonderful and the story had me glued to my seat from the beginning to the end. I rooted for Alex through the entire book. If you haven’t read this Author start now. I highly recommend this book and all his previous ones. Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you Net Galley and Kensington Publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review.
I have read other books by this author and have always enjoyed them . I think this is the best one so far. It starts out with a bang and keeps going I didn’t want to put it down. Alex is the only family member alive after her parents and brother are both killed.. At first everyone thinks she did it and she is hounded by the media given the name Empty Eyes. She is found not guilty and searches for 10 years for her family’s killer.. This is a page turner with a jaw dropping ending.. I highly recommend this book.

Charlie Donlea has slowly crept up on me, becoming one of my favorite authors. To say I was excited about seeing this new book is an understatement.
Those Empty Eyes kept my attention from begin to the very last page. And I appreciated the little shout out to Avery Mason, another great character.
Alex is the only survivor of the massacre of her family. Most people think she did it, but she doesn’t have time for that anymore. She is looking for the real killer. And the clues lead her a little too close to home.
Loved it, I don’t want to give anything away. I actually slowed down reading at the end to make it last!

Holy Cow!! This book was phenomenal! If you are looking for an extremely intense, adrenaline rush of a story that will have you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages at lightning speed, then you NEED to read this!! I recently discovered Donlea and have since read all of his standalone novels. Loved them all but IMO this is his best yet!!! It starts out with a bang and immediately sucked me in to Alexandra's story. The twists and turns were incredible! At first, I thought that I would be confused because there are quite a few different characters with multiple storylines and bouncing back and forth, but it all meshed together very cleverly and the ending was awesome! It was definitely an incredible, jaw dropping, mic check moment! There was a little redundancy and overuse of names, but the book was just too good for me to care about that.

Just an FYI! I saw this book listed on GoodReads as having two totally different names, Those Empty Eyes and The Survivor. Donlea fans and all lovers of crime thrillers, I highly recommend this one, so make sure to look for it under either name!!

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Alexandra is the sole survivor after her family is shot to death. A reporter named her empty eyes. Alex will stop at nothing to find out the truth.
There were a few parts that kept confusing me, but once it came together, it made perfect sense.
Holy cow, that ending! It had me completely speechless.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this one.

Oh man, what a rollercoaster of a ride… jaw-dropping and edge-of-the-seat... couldn’t put it down till it was finished
This was fantastic from the character development, to the setting, to the plot. Every single element of one helluva good read.
This moved at a breakneck pace and absolutely haunted me.
The twists and turns along the way were breathtaking…. And the final twist….. hold on to your hat.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the copy of Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea. I was so excited to get it because I love his writing style and this book was no exception-the writing was great. The book opens with a horrible crime that grabbed my attention right away. There are so many seemingly unrelated characters introduced it was hard for me to keep up the same level of interest, but I trusted that it would all come together in the end, and it did, in an unexpected way!
Alex was such a good character. I loved learning how her life turned out and I’m glad she got the ending she deserved.

4.5 ⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the E-Arc of Those Empty Eyes.

I absolutely loved Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea so when I got the arc for this I was super excited!

While I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as Twenty Years Later, I still thoroughly enjoyed Those Empty Eyes. I read it in a day and found myself not being able put it down. Definitely a page-turner.

The only critique I have is that there are a lot of characters in this book and it got a bit confusing at times. Especially when a character was mentioned at the beginning and then didn’t appear again until ten chapters later. I found myself forgetting who they were as well as the character’s connection to the story by the time they reappeared.

Overall a great read. Checked all the boxes I look for in thrillers.

Hard driving ambition can trip you up at times.

Charlie Donlea has infused Those Empty Eyes with a wide panoramic vision. You'll see what I mean when you open the door on this one and hop in. There are a multitude of characters, settings, timelines, and backstories to make you swoon. Ambition on overdrive. Those Empty Eyes could have been split up into three volumes and with a pending series in the make. Like just too much buttercream on that cake.

But let's begin........

There's a horrendous crime happening in the first few pages. Alexandra Quinlan's parents and thirteen year old brother have been murdered by a shotgun totin' maniac. Alex saved herself by hiding behind the grandfather clock in the hallway. When the police get there, Alex is in her parents' bedroom sitting with the shotgun in her lap. "Empty Eyes" was the display of shock after she is handcuffed and accused of the murders.

A criminal defense team of Jacqueline Jordan and Garrett Lancaster represent Alex and she is proven not guilty. There's a counter suit that creates piles of money for Alex. Alex, hounded by the media, takes off to London to attend the university.

Ten years later, Alex is working at the same legal firm that assisted her as a now legal investigator. But she's always pursued a deadend when it came to finding out who actually killed her parents. She's even created a crime board in her apartment.

Now Alex's story would have been plenty to go with in pursuit of the killer. Charlie Donlea insists that we widen the playing field by miles stepping into trams that take us to a summer camp in the Appalachian Mountains, a media hound hot on the trail of a story, deaths of pedophiles, and a college investigator with a popular radio program. And there's plenty more to chew on here.

Those Empty Eyes was a 3.5 kicked up to 4 Stars because it's Charlie Donlea on the other side of that pen. I couldn't dismiss that and the fact that there were some very creative aspects to this one. But it was exhausting keeping track of everyone and hopping to a different location constantly.

I admired the focus on strong powerful females stepping forward in this world. Perhaps pare it down a bit in the next one, Charlie. It's back to that buttercream frosting........too much of a good thing happenin' here.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Books and to Charlie Donlea for the opportunity.

Alex’s family are brutally murdered and she spends the next 10 years trying to find out why and looking for the killer. There were multiple stories within the main story and I wasn’t sure why till they all came together in an explosive conclusion. I stayed up way too late because I had to know what happened. I would highly recommend this to anyone that loves a good mystery.