Member Reviews
This was a great thriller with a lot of twists and turns. It's one that you are better off going into it now knowing a lot about it. I definitely didn't call the ending. I do recommend this one.
Some books you pick up and realize they weren't what you expected - they're in fact so much more!
The Night It Ended is one of them.
The slow pace keeps you enthralled to the point where you want to know more, when you need to know more. The only thing you can do is turn the page, one after the other, until the story unfolds like a flower petal, revealing the truth inside.
Some books need to be discovered, they deserve the time it takes to discover them and this is one of them.
Enjoy the journey. Enjoy the discovery. I promise the ending is not what you expect!
Dr. Madeline Pine is called to help investigate a mysterious death at a private boarding school for troubled girls. She hesitates to take on the case because she has dealt with tragic cases before and one in particular is still haunting her. Charley was found barefoot in the woods at the bottom of an icy ravine and the police have deemed it an accident, citing sleepwalking. But the circumstances do not ass up and the family requests a private investigator. Upon arrival at the school, Madeline realizes that everyone is hiding secrets, including Madeline herself. But would any of them kill to protect these secrets?
I thought the premise of this book was so intriguing and I found the first half hard to put down. It becomes clear very early on that Madeline is an unreliable narrator and that just enhances the mystery of the book. The second half was a little harder to get through but I really wanted to know what was going on with Madeline. I felt that most of the other characters were a little bland and inconsequential and also, the main mystery (who killed Charley) really could have just disappeared because it added nothing to the story. I enjoyed the way this author wrote but I felt the plot and the characters were a little lacking. I foudn it to be an okay read but would be interested to see more from this author.
The narrative is skillfully structured, alternating between Madeline's perspective and the transcript of an anonymous interview. This dual narrative enhances the intrigue, creating a tantalizing dance between revelation and concealment. The gradual unfolding of the mystery and the gradual unveiling of secrets maintain a relentless pace that keeps readers captivated.
The cast of characters inhabiting the boarding school grounds is a motley crew of individuals, each harboring their own secrets and motivations. The author artfully peels back layers, exposing vulnerabilities and hidden agendas, as Madeline navigates a treacherous path to the truth. The tension is palpable, and the reader is kept on the edge of their seat as the web of deception tightens.
With its seamless blend of psychological exploration, suspenseful storytelling, and expertly executed twists, this debut novel cements [Author's Name] as a promising voice in the thriller genre.
Psychological thriller that I could NOT put down! The story takes place on a remote campus, with locked room thrillers being my absolute favorite! The characters were a little difficult to relate to, as they were all VERY quirky. Overall a solid creepy thriller!
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.
The ending saved this book! The pacing was very slow and the story lacked character development so I didn't care at all about any of the characters. The format of flipping back and forth between the interview one year ago and present day was good. This story probably would have been if it was shorter because most of the books is filler-- a lot of words saying nothing that adds value to the story. The ending (the actual ending, not the reveal of what happened to Charlie) was a great plot twist and is the ONLY reason I gave the book 3:5 stars. If the ending hadn't delivered, this easily would have been a 2.5 or a 3 star. Although I think the author did a great job with the ending I don't feel like it was worth reading the whole thing just to get to the end.
This is the debut novel by Katie Garner. I am a sucker for a boarding school storyline.
This is told from Madeline Price's PPOV and there is a transcript of a patient scattered throughout. Know that the name of patient and all that she talks about are redacted. This makes it a tad confusing, but I was able to get the gist of what was happening.
Dr. Madeline Price is asked by a private investigator to come to the remote boarding school to interview the girls who knew Charley Ridley, the girl found dead outside in the freezing cold. The cops said it was an accident, her mother wants to know the truth. This story follows Dr. Price as she interviews the four girls who stayed at the school over winter break. As she talks to the girls, she learns there are secrets between them and the few staff members left behind.
I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. Not only the investigation into Charley's death, but the secret that Dr. Price is keeping.
Thank you, NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA
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Wow! DID NOT predict this ending! One of those twists that makes you want to start back over to catch all the bread crumbs that were so purposefully and expertfully scattered throughout. Overall, I found this to be a bit of a slow burn thriller but one of the best endings and unique narratives I’ve read in the genre in a while!
Very solid debut novel. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. I look forward to seeing what this author does next.
Thank you #netgalley and #htp for the eARC.
Madeline Pine is a criminal psychiatrist and she is working with PI Matt Reyes on an investigation into the case of a girl found dead at a boarding school for troubled / wayward girls. It is an extremely engaging read and pulls you in immediately. Between the (un)reliable narrator in one timeline and the transcripts of another that alternate (which I LOVE!), this book had me throwing out theory after theory. I remained captivated by the creepy, dark, boarding school vibes, too. Any book with a setting like this is bound to have my attention! Looking forward to whatever Katie Garner does next!
Any psychological thriller or mystery that takes place at a boarding school draws my attention. I am so glad this one did the setting and the main character were **chefs kiss** I can’t wait to read more from this author.
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
This is a gothic thriller that will blow you away with its final chapters! It has an incredibly creepy atmosphere, leaving you with a disdain for boarding schools and headmistresses.
Intertwined with the book narrative is an interview with an anonymous psychiatrist and patient. This interview takes place one year earlier and these were my favorite chapters!
The rest of the book is in the present, with little glances into the past. Dr. Pine is a criminal psychiatrist who receives a request from Matt Reyes, a PI hired by a mother, to look into her daughter’s death at an all-girls boarding school for troubled teenagers. Charley was found barefoot, in her pajamas, at the bottom of a ravine on school property. The police investigation ruled it an accident.
The school is very remote and eerie. There are very few staff and students on the premises since it’s winter break. The headmistress is described in so much detail she is easily pictured. Old school, rigid, unemotional, and not well-liked. Most of the characters are strange, creepy, and unrelatable. This includes Dr. Pine. She gave me a weird vibe from the beginning and I was dying to know her backstory. The author hints at some type of trauma and her many medications back that up.
I felt like the story was slow and steady until the final chapters when all hell broke loose! I don’t normally like slower thrillers but I alternated the ebook with the audiobook which helped tremendously. The narrator does a fabulous job so if you like audiobooks, check this one out!
The ending was so mindblowing, I was completely unprepared! And surprised when I learned this was a debut. I’m excited to see what the author comes up with next.
Sincere thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Mira for providing this complimentary copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
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The Night it Ended by Katie Garner
Publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing
Release Date JUNE 27, 2023
*Intertwining the narrative with the transcript of an anonymous interview, this stunning suspense debut from Katie Garner will take you on a twisting path where nothing—and no one—is what it seems.
Finding the truth seems impossible when her own dark past has her seeing lies everywhere she looks…*
With a blurb like that, who would not want to read this awesome thriller. I had never heard of this author before and it is most likely because this is her first book? Well let me tell you that this book will get to the depths of your soul and still want more. You think that you have it all figured out and wrapped in a pretty package, not a chance. There are two stories going on here……. So which one will you believe?
Charley Ridley was found in just her pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine and the police said it must be an accident.. Now we meet Dr Madeline Pine. A criminal psychiatrist who specializes in female violence. She is asked to investigate a mysterious murder at a boarding school. There are already challenges she faces by agreeing to go. Last year she was embroiled in an investigation that almost destroyed her. But Dr. Pine could not turn away from this case. A young girl found dead and her mother needing answers as to why. The mothers PI believes it was no accident. That someone took the little girl, killed her, and placed her lifeless body in the ravine. As Madeline arrives at the boarding school, it is winter break so there are only a few staff available. No one seems to know anything, yet they all have secrets that need to be told in order to figure this out. But can Madeline get the answers she so desperately needs? Or, is someone prepared to kill again in order to keep the secrets safe?
5++++++ stars
Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
This novel is as chilling as it’s cover leads you to believe! The setting was so eerie it was definitely unique with the private school setting and it worked!
Criminal psychiatrist, Dr. Madeline Pine hasn’t practiced much after a devastating case last year. While her life looks picture perfect, all is not what it seems. When she’s asked to help out with a mysterious case of a girl found dead at a boarding school for troubled girls, she’s reluctant at first, but having no reason to hang around for the Christmas holidays she agrees to go to the school and interview the girls that have stayed for the holidays. As the investigation heats up it’s determined that they are looking for a murderer. Secrets abound and Dr. Pine is having a difficult time getting anywhere with the girls. Little by little the puzzle pieces start to fit together, but the biggest twist of all isn’t revealed until the final pages. Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
The Night it Ended by Katie Garner has a creepy and gothic feel. The setting is a girls’ boarding school in upstate New York. Dr. Madeline Pine is called to the school to help a Detective figure out if a student was murdered or died by accident. Let’s just say everyone has secrets and everyone is a suspect. The more Dr. Pine talks to people at the school the more suspicious everybody becomes.
I enjoyed this book. Madeline was an interesting and flawed main character. They are hints at her past, and some thing that went .I enjoyed this book. Madeline is an interesting and flawed main character. There are hints at her past and something major that went wrong. Little by little secrets about her life are revealed along with the secrets of the school. The pacing of this book was excellent and the last several chapters I read at such a fast pace because I couldn’t wait to find out what was happening. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I really wanted to like this book, but couldn't seem get into the story. I had to give up reading about half way through the book. It lacks structure and the characters do not feel real.
Dr. Madeline Pine gets much more than she bargains for when she agrees to help a PI investigate a young woman's mysterious death in The Night it Ended. Dr. Pine, a psychiatrist who specializes in cases involving female violence, is struggling with her personal life. Her family is keeping their distance from her and she relies on pills to get through her day. When Matthew Reyes asks for her help she sees it as a chance to win back her family's respect. But as she asks questions about what happened to Charley Ridley no one is forthcoming with information. In fact, everyone at the school seems desperate to cover up what actually happened. The book keeps up the tension by making the reader question every character's motives, even Madeline's. The twist at the end was a total surprise to me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
WOW what a concept, boarding school in the middle of nowhere for "troubled" girls.
The Night It Ended was dark and eerie. I was glued to my kindle, I needed to know all the girls back stories as to why they ended up there. This book was intense and had intense characters. The twists and turns and OMG the ending. Like speechless!
***** Blog Tour *****
The Night It Ended by Katie Garner is definitely not what I expected. This book could be two independent stories – Madeline Pine’s and Charley Ridley’s. The secret to it lies in the book description. "Nothing – and no one – is what it seems." My favorite aspect of this book is the atmospheric setting of the school. As it is a debut novel, I look forward to seeing where the author goes next.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/07/the-night-it-ended.html
Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher’s blog tour.