LOVED this, it was super complicated IMO but overall good = however, the ending/ characters confused me. Buck, Garrett & Jacqueline all seemed intertwined. Who was the brother? Buck? But Garrett was also involved? The last chapter totally threw me and I can't tell if it was an editing error or what happened.

I adored this book! It was more than I expected it to be based on the description alone. The multi-layered plot made for an extremely engaging read and kept me on the edge of my seat until the end! Will highly recommend for book discussions at my branch as this book feels like a perfect book for my group.

4.75 stars, rounding up to 5!!!

This one was pretty much near perfect and I was obsessed after the first chapter.
The story immediately hooked me and jumped right into the good stuff.

I enjoyed this story so much that I found I was just going along for the ride and not dissecting every character & situation like I often do- trying to figure out where things were going to end up…and I looooved that. The twists came as major surprises to me and I never saw the wild ending coming!

The main character, Alex, was interesting, smart, complicated, determined and I was always routing for her. Her character development was phenomenal and it was fun learning how her inner circle worked.
There were quite a few characters but they all worked together and I didn’t find anything confusing or random like I usually do when there are more then 3 people (personal problem).

The shifts in time and different storylines were really really well written and made this a fast paced read- a few of the transitions made me wonder what was going on and how it would all end up relating but it all ended up making sense…it was just that intricate web of people & plots.

This is the first Charlie Donlea book and I immediately went to see what else I need to read!

Those Empty Eyes
By Charlie Donlea
Pub Date Mar 28
Kensington
Excellent thriller with a shocking twist
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ArC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This novel includes these different storylines and this turned out to be a dealbreaker for me, it took too long for me to connect with each piece of the puzzle. I would have preferred if the book focused on Alex’s case. Many thanks Kensington!
4 stars

This book had me hooked from the very first page. I have heard such great things about this author and I dived right in. The only bad thing I could say it kind of lost its spark half way through.

Charlie Donlea has done it again, writing another excellent thriller.. I can’t express how much I love his writing style. This story kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly enjoyed it, and I do recommend it to crime thriller readers.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. This was a tricky one to review because I was hooked immediately but it kind of fell apart in the middle for me because it felt like a completely different book. That said, I’m happy I kept reading because the twist at the end was too good!

Alexandra Quinlan has changed everything about herself—her name, her appearance, her backstory. She’s no longer the terrified teenager a rapt audience saw on television, emerging in handcuffs from the quiet suburban home the night her family was massacred. That girl, nicknamed Empty Eyes by the media, was accused of the killings, fought to clear her name, and later took the stand during her highly publicized defamation lawsuit that captured the attention of the nation. In the ten years since, Alexandra has continued to search for her family’s killer. She uses her job as a legal investigator and her connections through that job to follow any and all leads to get the answers she’s looking for.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I was able to read an ARC of this book through NetGally. The description intrigued me and I was sucked in within the first two chapters. The book kept my interest and I loved reading through Alex’s point of view. I was confused at times, when the POV switched to other random characters, and when it switched from past to present without much of an easy transition between them. The twist at the end of the book shocked me! I would recommend this book to others.

Pub Date: March 28, 2023
5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! This book exceeded my expectations in all ways! It was captivating and fast-paced and kept me on my toes the entire time.

Thoughts:
-I absolutely loved the different storylines meshing into one
-The different timelines kept the book moving at a fast pace
-All of the characters were interesting and had a purpose. I loved Alex and her strength and dedication to solving her families murder throughout the book
-Donlea crafted such a unique storyline with unexpected twists
-I enjoyed how we got watched Alex through all stages of life and grief
-The book showed the good and the bad of law enforcement and the legal system
-Alex’s crime board gave the criminal minds energy that I love
-I felt like I was trying to solve the case as much as Alex was

I flew through this book in just a few days (quick for how I’ve been reading physical books lately). I could not recommend it more if you’re looking for a good thriller!

Thank you Charlie Donlea, Kensington Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up to four. I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as I have others by Charlie Donlea. I felt like there were way to many characters to keep track of, the timeline jumping from place to place was difficult to follow at times and the plot seemed a little unbelievable and didn't feel as solid as some of his other books, a bit far reaching . There were some decent twists at the end which did help but didn't save it either.

The additional .5 star is for the badass female characters in this novel!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for the opportunity to read and review Those Empty Eyes.

I enjoyed this book so much. It is different than anything I've read in a long time and grabbed me right at the start. The clever plot, filled with twists and turns kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could. My heart broke for the young girl accused of killing her family and her show of strength and determination throughout the book had me totally invested.

Charlie Donlea sure knows how to keep readers guessing. In his latest thriller, Those Empty Eyes, with every new chapter comes a new twist. The story begins in 2013, when Alexandra Quinlan survives the brutal slaughter of her parents and brother, only to be charged with their murder. She then sues the state of VA for defamation after she is found to not be guilty.

Fast forward 1o years later to 2023, and she's still searching for her parent's killer.

Honestly, I haven't read a book with that many surprises in a while. The chapters are short and kept me turning the pages. The ending really shocked me. If you're looking for a great thriller, look no further than Those Empty Eyes.

Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for the eArc!

Alexandra Quinlan still hasn't gotten over that night ten years ago. That night when her mother, father, and 13 y/o brother were killed and she was accused of murder. With a new identity and a new job, she has reestablished herself and escaped the true crime fanatics who referred to her as "Empty Eyes" ... but she's never stopped looking for her family's true killer.

I am a huge fan of Charlie Donlea, and particularly love his Rory Moore stories. I enjoyed the cameo that Lane Phillips (and Avery Mason) makes in this story, connecting his books into the same universe - little things like that make me happy :) I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down to do things like eat, sleep, and, you know, live. There were a lot of different threads and characters early on, and I was curious to see how they would all connect in the end. And boy, did they! Charlie Donlea is pretty much an auto-read for me at this point, and Those Empty Eyes did not disappoint.

I luckily stumbled upon this author while perusing the books my library had ordered that week and I’ve been a fan ever since. He writes medium to slow paced methodical mysteries.

I was a little concerned about this one in the beginning as the story started out with murders and a trial, then fast forwarded to years in the future. I was so interested in the trial, but I should have known it would all work out. There are multiple story lines happening at once. Alex is still trying to solve her parents murder, while she also works on cases for her employer. It is an ambitious and complex book and a lot for the reader to remember while the focus shifts from storyline to storyline. Alex is the constant throughout the book.

It seems every time I was sure I knew where this was heading, there was a twist. I did ultimately figure it all out. Pages before the end. LOL

I had both the book and audio and flipped back and forth, liking both versions. Vivienne Leheny is a terrific narrator, bringing life to all the book’s characters.

And for anyone that is an avid reader of the author, there is a surprise visit from an old favorite character. I loved that he finds a way to interweave his stories.

If you are on the lookout for a great complex mystery with suspense and twists, you should add this one to your TBR.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"There is no coincidence, only the illusion of coincidence."

There's a lot of coincidences, a lot going on, and a lot of characters in the in depth murder mystery thriller by clever author Charlie Donlea but in the end the twists unravel, the coincidences, except for the one that sets everything in motion, are debunked and each character plays a role in those empty eyes.

High schooler Alex is not only a victim of whoever entered her home and brutally shot and killed her parents and brother but a victim of the media who labeled her "empty eyes" when she is rescued by the police. Reasonable people would assume she's in shock but it's much more juicy to say she's an uncaring murderer. Soon social media and the tabloids have there next obsession and forget about the truth.

Alex's lawyers prove her innocence and successfully sue the police for destroying her life and never pursuing the real killer.

Ten years later Alex has changed her name and appearance and works as a investigator for the lawyers who saved her. No one knows about the murder board at home that is filled with leads about who killed her family. When a student journalist goes missing before breaking a big political story and her boyfriend is targeted as the perpetrator, Alex works to prove him innocent. She never thought it would lead to the jaw dropping reason her family was murdered and the WTF guilty party.

I absolutely loved narrator Vivienne Leheny using a breathy voice during some anxiety ridden scenes that had me gasping at the edge of my seat. I read parts that made me uncomfortable when the seediness of it all comes to light. There is nothing empty about this thriller so keep your eyes open for the guilty.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Charlie Donlea is one of those authors who seems to slip under the radar a bit. Which is unfortunate, as his books are always first rate, very enjoyable, and have good, interesting central characters. His latest, Those Empty Eyes, is no different and easily maintains the high standards of its predecessors.

Those Empty Eyes opens ten years ago with the brutal murder of a family in Virginia. The only survivor is the teenage daughter of the family, who the police initially suspect as being the murderer. Alexandra Quinlan, nicknamed Empty Eyes by the media, is eventually able to prove her innocence, and even wins a highly publicised defamation lawsuit, but many still consider her a murderer.

Ten years later, Alex lives under a new name far away from the media spotlight. She has an interesting job as a legal investigator, and her latest case involves her in a complicated missing person case. Matthew Claymore is under suspicion in the disappearance of his girlfriend, a student journalist named Laura McAllister, and Alex is sure of his innocence. Laura was about to break a major story about rape and cover-ups on her college campus, but the police are happy to blame Matthew for her suspicious absence. As Alex investigates she discovers links back to the killing of her own family.

Those Empty Eyes is a tightly structured and very clever thriller that keeps you constantly surprised. Donlea does not waste words on flowery descriptions, but instead keeps the plot ticking over at a good pace, with plenty of surprising twists and unexpected changes of direction. The shifting point of view, and an intriguing sub-plot, keep the suspense at a good level, and the final outcome is tense and exciting, and full of surprises.

There is a nice contemporary feel to the novel, with references to the damage done by internet media and podcasts, and the thorny issue of consent and campus rape. Regular readers of Donlea, will also enjoy the references to past novels and the reappearance of a minor character from one of his earlier books.

A good read

Reading Between the Wines book review #33/115 for 2023:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: Those Empty Eyes
Author: Charlie Donlea
Genre: General Fiction (Adult)
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: The opening of this book was so intriguing and thrilling. I needed to know what happened that night then it took a little turn. I lost a little bit of investment but then the plot revved up again. I would say the first 25% and the last 25% were so good. Had the middle been a little bit tighter for me, I would have rated it 5 stars. Either way, I am really loving Donlea’s writing between this book and last year’s Twenty Years Later. I look forward to the next release.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @KensingtonBooks for an advanced copy of @ThoseEmptyEyes.

#ThoseEmptyEyes #CharlieDonlea #KensingtonBooks #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing group for the eARC… I loved this book! 4.5 stars and I will now be seeking out past work by this author.

The novel starts with a bang. Alex’s family is brutally murdered in the beginning, and the police find her with the weapon, next to her parent’s bodies. She’s in shock, and as she is led out of the house in handcuffs, reporters say that she has these crazy “Empty Eyes”— A label/name that true crime fans and a news reporter will use for her for over a decade.

Over the course of the book we follow her all around the world as she navigates this new life without her family and how she tries to create a new identity, all while searching for the real killer. We have many characters, and Alex even creates a murder board to keep everyone straight. The job she holds starts leading her down a path where she starts to see similarities in various cases but she needed people in high places to finally put it all together. (This allows us to have more depth, more than one case in the story.)

This was a fun ride! Despite the reveal and end sequence feeling a bit like a Scooby Doo attempt at killing Alex, I truly enjoyed it!

What an amazing book! It took a minute for me to follow all the pieces, but once they all started to fall into place, I could not put it down! I highly recommend this for a fabulous read.

I received an ARC copy of Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Alexandra Quinlann's family was massacred in their home. She survived and was ultimately pinned for the crime. We see how Alex has tried to move past this tragedy and everything else that followed, but it would seem that the past has followed her to the present as she begins to make new connections years later. We follow the journey of a few other plotlines and crimes that eventually all get woven together in the end to find out what truly happened the night her family was killed and what ultimately led the killer to do the things they have done.