4.5
Such a great thriller with all the aspects that attribute to a complicated yet smooth story that keeps the reader engaged!

We start off in the eyes of the killer who sneaks into a house one night to purposely kill a couple and leave a few photos, BUT, another casualty ended up happening. One girl hides as she hears the murders happening in her home, she becomes known as Those Empty Eyes to the media. Fast forward 10 years later and this girl is trying to a) hide from the obnoxious and ruinous media and b) solve her families murder case.

This book read SO fast! I found myself constantly wanting to open it up and continue reading every extra minute I had. Donlea engages the reader bywriting short chapters, creating multiple storylines that are easy to track, and writing concisely. There are a number of side stories happening in the book that ultimately meet at the end in a very satisfying way!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advance e-copy of this book.

*Publish date 3/28/2023. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced e-copy of this book.*

This is my second book to read by Charlie Donlea, and it won’t be my last! Just WOW! Characters that intrigue you + a plot that keeps you guessing + a conclusion that is perfectly satisfying = a perfect mystery for me. Alexandra Quinlan is nicknamed “Empty Eyes” after a photo of her leaving her family home at the age of 17 on the night the rest of her family was brutally murdered there. She spends the next decade trying to escape the notoriety that follows and haunts her while also trying to solve the still unsolved mystery of who killed her family.

Possible trigger warning - the book deals with the topic of various types of exploitation of children but focuses more on bringing justice to the abusers rather than delving into the crimes themselves.

My thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced arc of this e-book.

WOW! A book that I hard a very hard time putting down. Fast paced and at times my heart was just pounding. The story begins through the eyes of the killer entering a home to kill a husband and wife, and oops a 13 year old boy. But the 17 year old daughter, Alex, escapes, maybe through an open window. Then we see the police showing up and finding Alex bloody, holding the rifle, and sitting at the end of her parents bed. She is being taken away to the police station and the number one suspect in the killing of her family. The media who were on the scene as she was taken away in handcuffs called her the girl with the "empty eyes", a label that stayed with her.

Ten years later we have a podcaster about to share a big break on a sexual assault case of a fraternity drugging girls and raping them. And then that podcaster goes missing.

Alex, now an investigator is determined to see beyond what the police see (after her bad experience with them as a child) and begins to find out a lot more than she expected that leads her to a connection back to her family.

Short chapters, compelling reading with some heart pounding moments that made for one of the best murder mysteries I have read in a long time!! My first Charlie Donlea book and definitely not my last!

The story of the girl with the empty eyes starts off with a nighttime slaughter. Husband and wife… mom and dad, are asleep in bed when an intruder enters and shoots them both dead in their bed. The thirteen year old son is awakened and also killed as he enters his parent’s bedroom. Older sister Alex manages to avoid being seen by the killer and escapes. This could be huge problem for the killer because there could be a witness to the crime. Or was there actually an intruder?

Now jump ahead ten years after Alex was charged, then exonerated for the slaughter of her family. Unfortunately a thoughtless reporter from the tabloids dubbed her the girl with the “Empty Eyes.” This moniker seems to now be her calling card.

Alex Quinlan, now known as Alex Armstrong has changed everything about herself—her name, her appearance, her backstory. She’s no longer the terrified teenager an eager audience saw on television as she emerged from her home in the night in handcuffs. A massacre isn’t supposed to happen in a quiet suburban home. And how could they accuse Alexandra Quinlan, of killing her family? She had no reason. But it’s always the next of kin the police question first. And after all, the circumstantial evidence points to her as the killer. After all she was bloody and holding the murder weapon! As you read put yourself in the jury box as the lawyers present the facts and what seem to be facts. The author deftly keeps the reader wondering at her innocence or guilt for a long while.

I advise readers to be intentional when new characters are mentioned as there are a lot of them. As the story strays far from the fateful night you wonder how it will all culminate, but rest assure reader, it does.

The story moves it’s focus from a family murder to a major story about rape and cover-ups on Alex’ college campus. Alex, now an investigator unearths stunning revelations about the university’s faculty, fraternity members, and powerful parents willing to do anything to protect their children.

I highly recommend Those Empty Eyes by Charle Donlea. I’m thankful for this ARC Netgally especially since you have introduced me to a new author to follow..

Alex was the only survivor after her family was killed. The media dubbed her Empty Eyes, and she was wrongly accused of the murder. After suing and winning from the wrongful conviction, Alex changed her appearance and name and became an investigator for a law firm. She always secretly tried to solve the cold case of her family's murder. When a new case seems to have connections to her case and her hidden identity is compromised, Alex is closer to solving the old case that ruined her life.

Charlie Donlea is so underrated. This is my second book by him, and he is a solid mystery/thriller writer. His books are complex and have multi-year timelines, but engaging and easy to read. If I had the time, I would read his books in one sitting. I would put this book up against anything other contemporary writers are doing now. 4.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Charlie Donlea for the advanced copy of Those Empty Eyes in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up.

This is the second book I've read by Donlea and he has knocked them both out of the park for me! This one is super fast-paced, with a female protagonist you cannot help but root for.

If you find yourself confused a couple times wondering how on earth the storylines will tie together, rest assured you're not alone. I ended up loving how everything played out and to me it made for one excellent ending.

It feels like it's been awhile since I've said this, but I would love to see this book turned into a limited series!

Those Empty Eyes will be on US bookshelves March 28.

Uhm, excuse me, Mr. Donlea, but… mind blown. How do I review this book?

This book had so many intricately moving parts, much like the clock that played such a huge role in Alex’s life. We’re moving along, and then Donlea introduces someone else, and the reader has no clue who this person is or how they will fit into the plot, and it’s so careful, so thoughtful, that you keep reading because you want to see how he pieces the storyline together.

I, too, lost my parents when I was younger. Though I was a few years older than Alex, I understand the unimaginable grief that comes with it. Like Alex, I spent years looking for answers. So perhaps, I can relate to her a bit more. She is strength personified, a character that you will continually root for.

I enjoyed Alex’s story and how she continually fought her way through life. And I especially loved the way characters weave in and out across the author’s books, and if you’ve read them all, you get a warm feeling when someone you know pops into a new book.

I spent the last few months finishing Charlie’s back catalog, and this is the last book of his that I had to read, which feels wretched. But this was a fantastic book to finish with. Those Empty Eyes is a book that settles into your thoughts long after you’ve closed the book. What am I supposed to do with myself now? Kudos!

Thank you so very much, Kensington Books, for sending over an advanced copy.

The massacre of young Alexandra’s family is an event no one recovers from. This superbly crafted mystery highlights society’s infatuation with true crime, the never ending attention placed on the victim, continuing media coverage, invasion of privacy and lifelong affects of scrutiny and assumed guilt.
Alex is falsely accused but never free from the moniker coined that fateful night. The story follows her life as she tries to navigate school, manage finances, moves to new places and even countries to escape the relentless fascination people have with her. Alex never gives up searching for answers to who killed her family. However; the answers may not alleviate her pain and grief.
Laura’s a college student and journalist who was about to break a scandalous campus news podcast, then disappeared. Her story is completely separate and different from that of Alex, but has more in common than I guessed. The connection was one I didn’t see coming and caught me off guard.
This book isn’t part of a series but there was a brief appearance of a character from another of the author’s books which I enjoyed. All the personalities are clearly portrayed and believable. Overall a great mystery full of drama and suspense.
A digital advance reader copy of “Those Empty Eyes” by Charlie Donlea, Kensington Publishing Corp. was provided by NetGalley. Publication date is March 28, 2023. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

This was my first Charlie Donlea book and I already grabbed another. There are a lot of pieces to this book (characters, timelines, settings, storylines) and they work! It's like you find how one piece of the story is connected to the other and bam, you find another piece of the puzzle that you didn't know was missing. And sure enough, all the pieces fit together beautifully in the end in a way that I didn't see coming. Completely blindsided by that ending that seriously had me reeling. Did I go back and search for clues after I finished reading, sure did (Who does that?!)! Did I message the author on Instagram to get more information on the ending, you betcha (Hey Mr. Donlea, please check your messages LOL).

The flashbacks between past and present in the first section of the book were flawless. They flowed beautifully and they really helped to propel the book forward. I felt the pacing was spot on. The investigator part in the middle was great- full on Kalinda vibes from The Good Wife (love, love). And well I already shared my thoughts on that ending. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this eARC and introduction to Charlie Donlea! Can't wait to read more!

I thoroughly enjoyed Charlie Donlea’s recent thriller! Those Empty Eyes was a unique part thriller part mystery. I fell in love with the main character and loved piecing together the pieces to the mystery. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fast paced, engaging thrillers.

A propulsive story that kept going until the last chapter. The reader must grapple with a Robinhood theme and decide if the actions were justified based on the crimes of the victims.

Ohh that last second ending!!!

A family is murdered, the only survivor is the daughter Alex.
Dorothy is the police officer who found her in her family’s home the night of the murder.
Garrett is her lawyer husband who defended Alex.

Alex is on the hunt for her family’s murder.
You will find your head spinning with so much going on and it’s just so so good.

This is not a fast read, you’ve got to pay attention. There’s many characters and a lot going on. This is not for those who don’t like a lot of characters. But for me WOW it was so worth it!

Take it nice and slow and concentrate and enjoy, trust me.

Charlie Donlea you got me in the tail end, ***Holy C**p you got me!!!
You're still my favorite Author!!!

#mustread

I really like Charlie Donlea's writing style. This book had me hooked from the beginning. The characters were well developed and the plot held my attention the whole time. I really enjoyed this book.


Thank you Netgalley and Kensington books for the digital arc.

It doesn't matter how much you love an author, sometimes you just have to agree to disagree. And unfortunately, this is probably my least favorite of all of Charlie Donlea's books. Which is not to say it was bad; it was still incredibly enjoyable, and I'd still recommend it. But something just didn't sit right with me.

We'll start with the good: I am obsessed with the overall story. Alexandra Quinlan was 17 when her family was murdered in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, the media and police department decided the easiest route to go with the story was to blame Alexandra, who was spooked and dead eyed when coming out of the home in handcuffs. Thankfully, the first officer on the scene realized that the media and cops were about to filet Alexandra and calls upon her defense lawyer husband. Now only does her lawyer get Alexandra off with a not guilty charge, he also helps her sue for defamation and becomes a father figure.

But that's only the beginning.

What I loved is the ridiculous twists and turns of this novel. I loved the multiple points of view and the story of how Alexandra turned into Alex, a woman bent on a crusade to find out what really happened to her family that night. I was obsessed with wanting to know who was really in her home that night, and when she ends up embroiled in a case that seems totally separate, I had to know how they would eventually tie together.

This novel is totally worth most of the story.

The problem. There were so many different points of view that the novel felt choppy. And it spends the first 20% of the novel focused on the murders of Alexandra's family and the court cases, then jumps around very quickly through a few different timelines, which was enough to make my head spin. By the time I felt that I was actually getting into the meat of the story, the book was almost over!

I also found myself disappointed with the ending. When the killer is finally revealed, there was no "ah-ha!" moment for me. And the tiny twist at the end actually hurt my heart a little bit.

Is it worth it? Yes. But is it Donlea's best? That title still belongs to <i>Don't Believe It</i>.

A quick chaotic read. The characters were well fleshed out and I quickly got sucked in and desperate to find out what was fact and what was fiction. The plot twists kept me engaged and the ending was explosive.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

The plot to this suspense novel was a bit too messy for me. I really didn't connect with the main character at all.

I have been a huge Charlie Donlea fan for years, and this one is definitely vaster in it's scope than his previous thrillers. There is so much going on in this book, and I ended up with mixed feelings about all of the characters and threads that were a part of the story. It has the same emotionally charged suspense Donlea fans love, but I felt like I got invested in a character just to have the whole plot shift in a new direction with a new character.

I really enjoyed reading this one, but I didn't get as invested in the characters and story as I was hoping to.

Thank you to NetGalley, Charlie Donlea & Kensington Books for an arc of Those Empty Eyes in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

This was my first Charlie Donlea read, although I have Twenty Years Later on my shelf currently TBR.

This story centers around Alex Armstrong who was accused of the massacre of her family 10 years prior. She has changed her name, appearance & even her backstory. Alex is not a legal investigator and has stopped at nothing to find out what really happened to her family, who killed them & why - - all while trying to help secure justice for others in similar situations as she had been in (i.e. wrongfully accused). One of these individuals is Matthew who has been accused in the disappearance of his girlfriend Lauren who was about to uncover a major rape story on her college campus. As Alex dives into helping clear Matt & find out what happened to Lauren, she shockingly discovers that this case is linked to her family’s murders.

This was multilayered story. Essentially, there are three storylines that all end up intertwining with one another. So, this is a novel you need to keep you head in. If you are looking for something to read that you don’t have to concentrate too hard on, put this one on the backburner until you’re mentally prepared.

The characters were well developed & the pacing was good, however, I was not a fan of all of the intricate storylines. That’s not to say the book was bad. I think it takes a lot of talent to write a novel with so many layers. There were just too many layers and side stories for me. I didn’t love the book, but I didn’t hate it either, so I’m giving it a straight down the middle 3/5 Stars.

If you like all the intricate storylines and multi-layers, I would definitely recommend this book to you. If that’s all a bit much for you, like it is for me, I would probably pass on this one.

With all of that said – I will absolutely still read other novels by this author in the future!

SHOOKETH - seriously - Donlea has done it again. Every book just gets better. I was so excited to be able to read an ARC - I will admit in the beginning I was like Ehhh...eventually this will all come together - the book has a few different storylines that make you wonder - where is he taking us??? What does this have to do with anything? I did enjoy seeing a few characters from his previous books pop up (don't worry don't need to read them to read this book - BUT I highly recommend reading all of Donlea's books) PEOPLE - keep reading - when I tell you I GASPED. This was chefs kiss perfection

Someone is killing child abusers, pedophiles and abductors as well as those who aided them.

17 year old Alexandra Quinlan survived the slaughter of her parents and younger brother only to find herself held in juvenile detention center awaiting trial where she was treated like a murderer for 2 years.

The plot is quite complex as Alex investigates the crime herself after training and working as an investigator for a law firm. As the 10 year anniversary of the family murders approaches, media and the killer reactivate putting Alex in danger.

A fantastic, nail bitter ending!