Beware! When you begin this book you will not want to put it down until the very last page. Just one more chapter will repeat over and over in your head in this thriller filled with twists and turns. This had a jaw-dropping end that I did not figure out beforehand!

I don't normally read thrillers, but I adored this book! Concept was very interesting, and I was hanging on the edge of my seat. Has me wanting to read more suspense books. Reminiscent of the final AGGGTM book. The storyline was unique and I appreciated that it found a new story to tell, I find that a lot of suspense stories are the same lines in not so many words.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5⭐
Genre ~ domestic mystery
Setting ~ Maine
Publication date ~ May 23, 2023
Publisher ~ Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA
Est Page Count ~ 364 (39 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 21 minutes
Narrator ~ Lauren Ezzo
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ revenge (duh), loss of mother at an early age, slow burn

Frankie (33) is angry at the world. So many people have wronged her in her life that she creates a forgiveness list. “If I die, I forgive you; if I recover, we shall see.”

Her relationship with her father, who is also her boss, is a bit strained. He’s fed up with her antics and sends her to anger management classes. I was a bit fed up with her myself since she definitely acted like she was 3 and not 33.

Once we find out something from Frankie’s past it’s not hard to figure things out. The story itself was fine, but the narration really brought it up a notch for me. I liked the ending, but I’m not sure many readers would.

I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
Wow! What a performance. I felt like she was mad at me with her angry tone.

The Revenge List by Hannah Mary McKinnon

Why is it that women can’t get angry? Why does it seem to be an exclusive man’s prerogative?

Frankie is forced to go to anger management sessions. Her father talks to her vehemently about it and she has no way out. Of course, Frankie doesn’t enjoy a bit of her sessions but agrees to do her first task: a forgiveness list.

There, all the names of the people who have hurt her all through her life are listed, together with a score of how difficult would it be for her to forgive each one of them.

Frankie works for her father in construction, she’s used to dealing with man, of making a place for her own but she’s about to hit rock bottom when it come to her anger.

Compartmentalization is one of the defense mechanics most human being possess and Frankie is not the exception. Forgiving is such a long journey! Especially when the person who hurt us doesn’t acknowledge the deed.

It’s a very cold place to be, there’s loneliness and a lot of thoughts dancing in our minds. Guilt is also associated to this process and Frankie will go through every step of the way trying to heal what is eating her alive, but for that she will have to find her missing list…Because her list, has magically disappeared!

I found this story thrilling and full of twists as it’s written in layers and once you start pealing one after the other, you really get to understand why Frankie was so angry. There are situations in our lives that take us to the braking point and recovering from them may take a lifetime.

Favorite quote:
🗣️“Whoever perceived anger as a negative thing was wrong. For me, it was fuel, and I had a ton of it.”

This book was a 3* for me.

The concept was entertaining and the book had some suspense.

I didn’t find Frankie relatable and it was hard to move past most of her “temper tantrums”. In addition the twist was predictable which spoiled a bit of the book for me.

With that said the ending was still well written and I think the character was meant to be a little unhinged. Overall an interesting read.

Frankie Morgan is a ticking time bomb who definitely doesn't handle anything in her life very well. She has a lot of anger that is uncontrolled. She goes to her first anger management class and this is where the "list" develops from, and turns into everything she doesn't want it to be. When the list goes missing and then people from that list start having coincidental "accidents" she can't help but think it all somehow is connected. Who took her list and then decided to turn it from a forgiveness list to a revenge list?! Frankie only has so long to figure it out while the person behind the attacks is escalating. What happens when it gets to her name?
I have mixed feelings on this one. I liked the creativity to the storyline and that there was a few different things going on to give it dimension. I wouldn't call this a thriller at all in my opinion. While this had mystery elements to it this felt more like a good drama not so much when it comes to thriller suspense. I enjoyed it for the most part but I had moments where I was hoping it would pick up speed and it never really did for my taste in a book in the "thriller" category. Overall I would say a 3.5 stars for my rating. Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for the copy to review with my own thoughts.

The Revenge List is crazy entertaining. Frankie's anger is palpable, and you can't help but root for her. The plot is fresh and fun, but it's the writing that really shines. McKinnon is now an auto-buy for me.

Stomps furiously at the ground. Does best Tyra impression. “We were rooting for you, we were all rooting for you”

This was not it for me. I just think this wasn’t Hannah Mary McKinnon’s best work.

They say life flashes before your eyes when you’re about to die. But all she could see was regret.

The people in Frankie Morgan’s life say she’s angry. Emotionally stunted. Combative. But really, who can blame her? It’s hard being nice when your clients are insufferable, your next-door neighbor is a miserable woman and the cowardly driver who killed your mother is still out living it up somewhere.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>The Revenge List</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>The Revenge List</i> by Hannah Mary McKinnon falls short of its potential, offering a shallow and predictable tale of betrayal and vengeance that fails to resonate with readers.

<h4>The Details</h4>

One of the main issues I have with the novel is its lackluster characters. The protagonist, Abigail, comes across as unlikable and unsympathetic. It makes it difficult for readers to connect with her struggles or root for her success. Supporting characters fare no better, with motivations that feel contrived and unconvincing.

Furthermore, the plot of <i>The Revenge List</i> is formulaic and derivative. From the outset, the twists and turns of the story feel predictable, robbing the narrative of any real tension or surprise. Instead of keeping readers guessing, the plot follows an unsurprising trajectory, with the resolution feeling inevitable.

The writing style in <i>The Revenge List</i> also leaves much to be desired. While the prose is serviceable, it lacks the depth and complexity needed to truly engage the reader. Dialogue often feels forced and unnatural, hindering the development of meaningful connections between characters.

Additionally, the pacing of the novel is inconsistent, making it difficult for readers to stay engaged with the story. It’s all very frustrating, since I like McKinnon’s other works.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>The Revenge List</i> is a disappointing read that fails to live up to its potential. With its lackluster characters, predictable plot, and uneven pacing, the novel struggles to hold the reader's interest. It may appeal to fans of light suspense.

Frankie Morgan is not unaware of who and what she is. An angry grudge carrying woman so in need of inner work that she enrolls herself in anger management only to find that the exercise of making a Forgiveness List of the people who have wronged her becomes a hit list for someone to check off like a to-do list.
Engaging, quick moving, and beautifully written this is a great read for those who love an unintentional tale of revenge.

I absolutely loved this book right to the very end. I love books that keep me entertained to the very end and this book did just that.

A thrilling ride from beginning to end. Even if you think you know who the culprit is, keep reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital review copy.

Frankie Morgan faces a tough life dealing with difficult clients, a grumpy neighbor, and the person who killed her mother. When she attends an anger-management session, she reluctantly makes a list of people who've upset her. Strangely, the list disappears, and those she named start having dangerous accidents. Frankie needs to figure out if it's just a coincidence or something more sinister before she becomes the next target.

Another fantastic read by the author who has become a must read for me. The book started off on the slow side and I had some doubts about it. The second half picks up in a big way and has some very unexpected twists. The book had a very different premise and the author stuck to her style of family and how it impacts our lives. A solid thriller for sure and one I would recommend to others.

A dark and unique read, I gobbled this one up! I couldn't put it down. I didn't really care for any of the characters but I guess that was the point. 5 stars and excited for more by the author!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

3 stars. I loved Hannah Mary Mckinnon’s book “The Neighbor’s”, but this one is not a favorite. I was put on edge by Frankie’s constant anger. She was a very unlikable character, although her back story does clue the reader into why. Overall, this story was an okay read, even though it was a bit unbelievable at times.
Thank you Harlequin trade publishing and net galley for the complementary advanced copy of the book.

Frankie, struggling with anger and trying to sort out her life, ends up in anger management. The facilitator has them write a list of people they need to forgive. Frankie writes her list, full of sorrow and regret, a list of past hurts, including herself.

When the people on her list are injured one at a time, it could be coincidence or it could be something a bit more sinister.

I won't lie, I went into this one really blind and it took me a while to figure out where it was going but once it took off, it was what I expect from McKinnon....twisty and psychological. I figured out the big twist at the end at about the halfway point but that didn't really impact my enjoyment of the story. The epilogue left me wondering if we're going to see more of Frankie's story, but even if we don't, this one was a satisfying thriller by an author I consistently enjoy.

Hannah Mary McKinnon has been a must-read author for me from her very first book. This is another great one that makes you think as well. How many of you write things down to expunge your feelings but never actually intend anyone to see it? I do. So did Frankie. Her list was of all the people who she feels have wronged her -- she even included herself. But when the list goes missing and the people on it starting meeting their untimely deaths, she needs to figure out what is going on. Intrigued? You should be! Pick this one up; it's so good.

Whoops, I read this book in May 2023. And while I still love HMM writing, I couldn't get behind this MC, she was the worst! Which perhaps makes this book good?? I felt like the MC brought on on all her problems herself, so there was no sympathy from me. Just stop doing things, and then bad things will stop happening. haha. I will say I enjoyed the 'twist' although I guessed it. Felt it tied everything up nicely. While this wasn't a fav, it won't stop me from reading everything HMM writes. :)

This book is so similar to a book I read but I can’t remember what the book was name, and MC pov just pissed me.