A Gothic looking school for girls in the middle of a 300 acre forest. A Headmistress, a creepy caretaker and a dead student. You think you know how this book will go and surely end. But you would be wrong, very wrong. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequinn Trade Publishing Mira Books for an ARC. This review is my honest opinion.

Katie Garner’s debut, The Night it Ended, isn’t a constant bombardment of events. It’s so much more. The story unravels slowly, giving out tiny clues that should be gathered and inspected through all 405 enthralling pages. Some readers will call The Night it Ended a slow burn, especially those craving non-stop action, but, for those readers willing to be patient and to let the story unfold at its own pace, what they will find is at atmospheric, complex, thoroughly satisfying read.

It took quite awhile to get into this story, and I considered DNFing it several times (it can be frustrating to read another book that relies on someone's mental health history for why they are unreliable), but ultimately I couldn't completely figure out how the interspersed interview aspects connected with the story being told and I needed to follow through to get the full story. The story did increase in tension as it went on, though, as well as getting more and more messy as the main character devolves.

Run and go get this thriller, it is for sure a slow burn with an atmospheric setting. It is an unreliable narrator, which I usually do not like, but for some reason enjoyed in the book. The only thing is that it starts off slow, but stay with the story and give it a chance. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
4 star

3.25 stars-I was super excited to read this debut thriller…The story is set in “an island in the words” school for troubled girls, where one of the students who stayed back for holiday break has turned up dead. Dr. Madeline Pine a criminal psychologist is called in to help interview the other students for the private investigator hired by the family. I found myself not particularly liking Madeline’s character. I just couldn’t connect with her and all the times that she cut herself, her medications that she NEEDED to take three times a day or else. The story was just too slow burn for me. While I did enjoy the interview that was interspersed, it was not enough to make this worth the read. Also, I don’t know if I missed something, but I did not see where the pieces fit together for her to figure out what happened to the dead girl. There are way better thrillers out there, just my opinion. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for the honest review.

38%
DNF'd. This book was something I could not get through. Overall, I am giving it two stars. I did not enjoy the disjointed flash backs and the main character. The pacing was too slow for me and the character I could not connect with. I was waiting for a reveal and I am sure at some point it was going to come, but I felt myself forcing to pay attention and read this book. Im sure it is a fantastic book for others, but it was not to my liking.

DNF at 47%.

I gave it a good go but this book was a struggle. I liked the eerie atmosphere and 'locked room' setting of a creepy old school. But the pacing was extremely slow and the main character had no redeeming qualities. I'm tired of the 'unreliable narrator' and I found her rambling as the narrator frustrating. And I simply could not believe that Dr. Pine was in any way a mental health professional.

Making things more convoluted, within the story were interview transcripts but the reader doesn't know who is being interviewed since the names are redacted. I'm sure we're told later on why they're important but it was confusing to read within the main story.

This book sounded perfect for me but was disappointing and left me frustrated. Normally, I would just click that I wasn't reviewing the title here on NG I DNF a book, but I was so frustrated with this book and needed to get it off my chest. Since I DNF'd this book I will not be posting my review on my blog/social media.

The Night it Ended by Katie Garner is so compelling. You never quite know who is telling the truth and by the time you figure it out, it’s a twist. The constant feel of suspense is unsettling and even when putting this book down, I was still thinking about it. I really enjoyed this debut book!

This book definitely took me on a journey I did not expect it too. I often don't love books that have unreliable narrators, but this one I really enjoyed as we had the dual story points of solving the murder that Madeline was called in to investigate as well as figuring out Madeline herself. I was really intrigued by the transcript sections that were sprinkled throughout the book and felt they really added to the impact of the story itself. If you're looking for something that will keep you guessing and is full of twists and turns, or if you enjoy unreliable narrator stories that are done really well, this is a great one to pick up.

So great! The writing maybe wasn’t the best but the story got me! The twists! Loved it and seeing it all come together.

Right from the start you can feel something isn’t quite right, but I had no idea what it was. Over and over again I thought I pieced together what it was but while I was slowly piecing together twists before they happened, nothing prepares you for the end of this one. I think this is one of those books that will make epic twists lists. There are two timelines. The first is the present where the death of Charlie is being investigated by Matt and Madeline. And a year ago, a police investigation into an unknown crime with either an unknown witness or maybe the suspect. The reader is dropped into these chapters knowing very little and there is the right amount of tension that grabs you and makes you need to know more.

It really is a very slow burn. I’m not usually a fan of these, but something made me want to know what weird things were happening at this school. Or maybe it should be this weird school. Or maybe the weird students. Like I mentioned, there was just this feeling that everything is off. I could not put my finger on it. So the two stories play off of each other even though they don’t seem to be connected. And as any good thriller reader knows, this is not usually the case. Since I had so little to go on in the timeline in the past, my brain filled in the details as I saw fit. And I am sure it was meant to happen this way. I was more interested in the story in the past. Partially because it was so secretive and probably partially because it is such a small part of the book because there is only a chapter here and there for many chapters in the present.

I should also mention the atmosphere of the present setting. An isolated school, surrounded by woods, as a storm approaches. I know this isn’t the first time I’ve read a book in this setting, but it didn’t feel old and familiar. It did a good job of setting the tone for the mystery surrounding the death and the school. It is a pretty dark tone thorough the book and I must say the slow burn never turns into a frenzy, but the reader is rewarded at the end with that twist!

If you are a fan of dark academia and slow burns, this debut book needs to on your radar. And if you are just a fan of ending the book with your jaw on the floor, pick this one up.

I honestly couldn’t have been more disappointed in a book if I tried. A lackluster arc to an otherwise boring plot. This book seemed to drag on and on before coming to an incredibly anticlimactic ending.

Thank you to @htpbooks for sending me a copy of THE NIGHT IT ENDED. This one is out now!

This is a s l o w burn mystery book with an awesome atmospheric setting. I'm glad I read it and I enjoyed it but it's definitely not my favorite locked room mystery, mostly because there weren't any characters that were likable or trustworthy. But the ending, that was awesome, for sure. This one is definitely worth your time, but it won't change your life.

The Night it Ended surprised me. When I read the blurb, I wasn't sure I'd care for the anonymous interview, but I ended up liking that part of the book better than the boarding school storyline. Don't get me wrong, it was good too, but the interview held secrets that I wanted to know. The story starts a bit slowly, but it doesn't stay that way. Katie Garner steadily built the tension and drew me in, especially to Madeline. She really intrigued me. The book is well-written, and it's an impressive debut. Katie Garner is one to watch. I know I'll be watching for whatever she does next.

A big thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Katie Garner for letting me get my hands on an ARC copy of this book! I have had it on my Want to Read list for months and have been waiting for it’s release!

Overall, I would say this was a 4.5/5 star read for me, only losing a point due to it being a bit slow in the beginning. But once it picked up, it REALLY picked up. It was a true thriller. Twist and turns at every page, making you question your guesses on Charley’s murder often. I think the most shocking thing was not even the revelation of what happened to Charley, but getting clarity on the Strum case… INSANE!

Would highly recommend this to anyone that loves a good triller. Amazing debut novel!

Criminal psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine is asked to consult with a detective regarding the death of a student at a remote girl's school. There are many questions about what happened to Charley, and the detective turns to Madeline, an expert in female criminals and a published author regarding a famous murder case.

I'm not going to say much more about the plot because I wouldn't want to spoil anything. This was a visceral read for me, with the first 85% of this book having me scratching my head and just feeling something wasn't right. The school is creepy, the headmistress is creepy, the custodians are creepy, and the girls are definitely keeping secrets. There's so much weirdness going on, I didn't know what to focus on. I kept hoping that at some point it will all make sense. Oh, and the good Dr? She just might be the most strange in this potpourri of strangeness.

I was really worried there wasn't going to be a payoff. But there was! It just happens in the final pages of the book, when the twisty truths are revealed. I have to say I wasn't expecting it, and it explained most of what had me shaking my head during most of the book. That was satisfying and I did enjoy how the author cleverly put this story together.

So overall, an entertaining mystery/thriller with a surprising payoff at the very end. I'm giving this 4 stars because I wished the pace of the beginning had been more brisk and I think there were some missed opportunities for a bigger surprise factor at the end, but I was glad I stayed with it until the end.

The Night It Ended is a who-dun-it shrouded in a twisty narrative.

Criminal psychiatrist Dr. Madeline Pine’s life appears picture-perfect: she has a beautiful family, a successful practice, and a growing reputation as an expert in female violence. When she's called to help investigate a mysterious death at a boarding school for troubled teenage girls, Madeline hesitates. She’s been through tragic cases before but the one she was involved with last year nearly destroyed her. But when she hears about Charley Ridley, she knows she has to help. After Charley was found barefoot and in pajamas at the bottom of an icy ravine on campus, the police ruled her death a tragic accident, but the private investigator hired by her mother has his doubts. Arriving at the secluded campus in upstate New York, Madeline’s met by an unhelpful and downright rude staff and four other students who were also on campus during winter break. Each holds a piece of the puzzle. Who would kill to keep their piece a secret?
The story itself if clunky. There is a lot of passing out because the character does dumb things. I really got tired of her passing out in the snow and then waking up somewhere else that kept happening. We spent a lot of time with Madeline in distress from not taking drugs or taking the wrong ones. This creates an unreliable narrator that shadows in comparison to the ultimate twist. There is so much in the body of the plot that just marks time and doesn’t really affect the overall story arc.
The mystery of the anonymous transcript is so simple to figure out, and, I admit, I was disappointed. But I didn’t give Katie Garner enough credit. The ending is beautifully executed, and my mind was blown. It’s this twist and the actions of the character leading to the ending that makes the book enjoyable. The mystery of Charley really became second fiddle to the story of Madeline.
This is Where it Ends lives up to its name and takes you on a mind-blowing journey.

The Night It Ended started off a bit too slow for me. I have to admit, I did think about dnfing it a couple times. However, the more I read, I decided to just keep reading. I did end up enjoying it a lot more as it went on. I don't want to say too much in my review. I think because I read other people's reviews that it kind of took away from my reading experience. I guess you could say I wasn't as shocked because of what I read. So in the end that messed with my reading experience. It does end up turning into a wild ride as you get on with the story. I know this is a debut novel and I was very impressed overall. I just looked at Katie's goodreads page. I see she has a new book so I can't wait to check that one out!

*I was sent this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this copy.*

@katiewritesmystery has written a debut novel that is jam packed full of twists! I figured out a couple, but ultimately there were tons more that I did not guess. I was completely shocked by the ending! I highly recommend checking out this dark academia story, especially if you love psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators and dual timelines.

In “The Night It Ended,” Dr. Madeline Pine is invited to help a private investigator figure out what happened to a girl who was found dead on an all-girl’s school campus.

Thank you @_mira_books_ and @netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been really into mystery/thrillers lately and this one definitely intrigued me! A boarding school setting is one of my absolute favorites, and this one was even creepier because the 95% of the campus was away for winter break. When a girl dies tragically on campus, Madeline (a psychologist who specializes in female violence) is brought on campus to investigate what happened with the private investigator, Matthew, the family hired. They don’t believe the local police that it was a tragic accident; the PI thinks Madeline can help crack the girls on campus to see what really happened that night.

The book was a bit of a slow burn with not a ton happening in the first half, but the setting and characters were intriguing enough to continue. I liked the chapters from the past that were mixed in (an interview or interrogation between two people who are not named) to keep me engaged in multiple stories. I assumed I knew who was in that interview from the previous year, but wasn’t sure if it would be that easy or predictable! I won’t spoil it either way.

Madeline was struggling with some mistakes she’d made in her past – I wanted to know more about what she did to make her act this way and/or lose contact with her family in some way. It was interesting because she often felt like an unreliable narrator based on her behavior and issues she was dealing with. Again, don’t want to get into too much, but she was fairly unprofessional in her work at the school, and it was distracting from the main mystery. I found myself wondering more about Madeline and less about Charley.

The second half of the book (especially the final 25%) was a whirlwind – I kept wondering why early reviewers and folks who blurbed the book were calling it twisty… but oh man, the second half (again especially the final chapters!) was chockfull of them. I will be honest that the conclusion to one of the mysteries was more satisfying than the other (no spoilers on which!).

I found some of the scenes and dialogue to be repetitive but I’m wondering if those would be cleaned up in the final version, since I read an advanced copy? All in all though, I did like this author’s writing style and I would be interested in reading more of her work in the future!