Not my favorite book by this author :( I had high y hopes for this book because I have loved the other books by this author, but was kind of disappointed. I just felt like this story was all over the place and the plot was hard to follow. The only reason why did not DNF the book is because I was doing it as a buddy read

At this point, I will read whatever Alex Finlay writes. I know this one wasn't as highly acclaimed as his others, but I would disagree. I love multiple narrators, and this book did a really great job of it. All of the characters had an air of mystery and unreliability. The different narrators for the different characters made this audiobook a little extra.

This is an action thriller that opens with a group of teenagers that have just committed some type of heinous act…
Fast forward 25 years and they’ve all separated and are just living their lives to various degrees of both success and failure. This is when their secret starts to unravel, one of the group has been killed and the rest of them clearly don’t want to meet the same fate, but also don’t want to have to reveal their secrets to anyone.

It’s an interesting read, but I feel like there was a lot of missed opportunity to connect with these characters in a meaningful way. There is a lot of “telling” about the characters past instead of being shown the events and letting the reader draw conclusions. What we do get from the characters is almost caricature clichés of their architypes.

I will say that the pacing is decent, and remains fairly fast throughout the story and that narration team of Brittany Pressley; James Patrick Cronin; Jon Lindstrom; and Maggie Thompson do a great job of bringing the story to life in the audiobook.

Definitely over the top, but It’s entertaining enough to finish but nothing groundbreaking or different here.

Digital review copy provided by the Macmillan Audio through Netgalley

Alex Finlay is a fantastic author I have always enjoyed their work and this one was another hit- I genuinely enjoyed this story from beginning all the way to the end!

I think I tried getting into this one about 3 different times, but there's just something about it that is so bland I couldn't. Maybe it's the author, maybe it's the narrator, maybe it's me. Either way, I could never get into it and would give up after 10%

Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. What Have We Done was a middle of the road read for me. The audio featured a cast of narrators for the various perspectives and that made it really fun. To be honest, the audio was kind of the reason I kept reading. Finlay wrote interesting and whacky characters, and even though they were written as hyperbolic caricatures, I really enjoyed them, especially Donnie. The twins were so annoying and meant to come off that way, so kudos! Overall, the writing was just a little blasé. I predicted some of the twists, but that isn't what brought this down for me. In general, I felt like the writing was kind of dry. The end really picks up with twist after twist, delivering quite a dose of redemption.

This book has over the top characters and a lot of action! At some point you have to suspend belief but that is ok because the book keeps the adrenaline flowing. The narration was very good in the audiobook.

FLEW through this excellent, incredible book. Tightly written, earnest, creepy, and eerie at several parts—one of the best suspense books I've read in ages

"What Have We Done" by Alex Finlay presents an ambitious entanglement of a large cast of characters, weaving together the lives they leave behind and the secrets they carry forever. The story follows Jenna, Donnie, and Nico, who were once close friends bonded by the harrowing experiences they endured at Savior House, a group home for parentless teens. However, when the home closed after the mysterious disappearance of several residents, the trio was torn apart.

Fast forward twenty-five years, and the scars of their past continue to haunt them. Each has forged their own troubled yet accomplished path in life. But now, an unexpected reunion brings them together again for a chilling reason: someone is determined to kill them. To survive, they must confront the nightmares of their shared childhoods and unravel the secrets that hold the key to their assailant's motive.

The book promises an edge-of-your-seat thriller intertwined with a gut-wrenching coming-of-age narrative. Alex Finlay's writing style captivates readers, showcasing them as one of the leading voices in the thriller genre today. However, while the ambition of the story is commendable, the execution falls short in some aspects.

One of the book's major shortcomings is the ambitious cast of characters, which unfortunately becomes its biggest downfall. Finlay's decision to employ multiple points of view complicates the storyline, making it feel dragged out at times. Readers find themselves waiting for new characters to bring movement to the story, only to be occasionally shifted back in time.

Furthermore, the difficulty in forming emotional attachments to the characters creates a sense of detachment throughout the entire reading experience. It becomes challenging to care about their fates, resulting in a disconnect between the reader and the story. This lack of emotional investment makes it difficult to understand the purpose of reading the book, with a faint hope that everything will eventually come together.

The intricate timeline and the abundance of secrets further hinder the engagement with the narrative. As readers are left waiting for crucial information to be unveiled, it becomes a hindrance to fully investing in the story. It would have greatly enhanced the reading experience if the author had revealed at least one more significant detail, providing readers with a stronger sense of engagement and connection.

In summary, "What Have We Done" is a thriller that balances between riveting suspense and a poignant exploration of the protagonists' past. Alex Finlay's mastery of the genre is evident, but the book falls short due to its complex cast of characters, which slows down the pacing, and the difficulty in establishing an emotional bond with them. While the concept is intriguing, the execution lacks the necessary cohesion to fully captivate readers. Nonetheless, it serves as a testament to Finlay's growing potential as a leading voice in the world of thrillers.

I listened to this on audio and I think that this positively impacts the story. The multiple narrators help you get a grasp of who is talking. I also thought that the narrations gave you a better idea of who the characters were when talking in moments where the story felt like it was getting muddled together.

Alex Finlay has done it again. The narration on this one is so good I love when multiples pops have different narrators and it added to the suspense for me. Thank you to the publisher for the ALC.

Damaged Souls, Deadly Pursuit: Secrets and Shadows Collide…….

Book Information

What Have We Done, written by Alex Finlay, is a 320-page mystery published on March 7, 2023. The audio version is narrated by Brittany Pressley; James Patrick Cronin; Jon Lindstrom; and Maggie Thompson and spans 8 hours and 47 minutes.

Summary

Twenty-five years ago, Jenna, Donnie, and Nico formed an inseparable bond as residents of Savior House, an abusive group home for parentless teens. After the home's closure due to the disappearance of several children, they were torn apart. Now, facing a common threat, the trio reunites to confront their shared past and the traumas that still haunt them. Someone is targeting them, and to survive, they must unravel the dark secrets that link their childhoods to the present. This unforeseen reunion becomes their only chance at salvation, even though none of them sought or desired it.

My Thoughts

“What Have We Done” by Alex Finlay is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller/mystery. The book features short chapters, making it a quick read. The unique characters in the story have haunting pasts that have left them damaged and vulnerable. Each character faces their own set of problems and demons, which adds complexity to the challenges they encounter throughout the story. It’s a gripping tale of shattered pasts and dangerous secrets, where nothing is as it seems.

The book is predominantly told from the point of view of various former group home kids, with multiple narrators in the audio version. This narrative choice, combined with the distinctiveness of each character, makes it easy to keep track of the multitude of personalities involved. The book seamlessly blends suspense and action, and the author skillfully weaves in moments of humor.

While the pacing of the novel is excellent and there are plenty of twists to keep readers engaged, I personally found the contract killers to be more annoying than menacing. They came across as somewhat cartoonish, which was not what I expected from the story.

Despite this minor drawback, “What Have We Done” remains a thrilling and suspenseful read. Although the book frames each chapter around a different character's point of view and provides glimpses into their pasts, it does not heavily focus on deep character development. Instead, it relies on the excitement of a cat-and-mouse chase to drive the plot forward.

The audiobook presentation is excellent, with individual narrators for the main players in the story. This added element enhanced my enjoyment of this mystery/thriller, as it helped me visualize the story and keep track of all the characters effectively.

Ultimately, “ What Have We Done” is a thrilling story that blurs the lines between heroes and villains. Full of unexpected twists, dark secrets, and a rollercoaster of emotions, it will leave you breathless and eagerly anticipating the next shocking revelation.

Recommendation

"What Have We Done" by Alex Finlay is a gripping and fast-paced thriller/mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish. With a diverse cast of characters, plenty of action, and a touch of humor, those who enjoy suspense or thrilling page-turners will certainly appreciate this book. Recommended.

Rating

4 Boo Radley Stars

I thought this was a super interesting premise, that had a lackluster execution. This book sounded SO GOOD, but what I thought the whole point would be was the gang getting back together after all this time in order to figure out who was killing them but.... they don't get together until over 60% in? So then it was a lot of backstory that felt very repetitive. But other than that, it was decently enjoyable. I would read something else by this author.

This book brings you into the lives of 5 people (Jenna, Donnie, Nico, Art, & Ben) who all spent time in a group home during their teens when something goes very bad. 25 years later they are called together as some of the group is murdered and stalked by a lethal killer. I liked the back stories of each of them and learning where they ended up but as they are hunted by a killer assassin I found myself speeding through the pages to see who was behind it all. Definitely didn’t guess the ending. *Thank you NetGalley, Alex Finlay, and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy of this in exchange for my thoughts.*

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for making this book available to me. This was an excellent story told in multiple points for view. This book was fast paced and kept me interested from beginning to end. This is not your typical book from Alex Finlay- I think that this is more action movie like than what we normally get from this author. If that's your thing then this book is for you!

2.5 stars

I recently read and highly enjoyed The Night Shift so was super keen to get this ARC. However, if I’d known this book was a full on action thriller, I wouldn’t have requested it. From the get go, this was a story aimed to induce heart racing, adrenaline pumping reaction, which is unfortunately not my cup of tea.

The plot was OTT with assassins and big secret cover ups. I think the publisher synopsis sums it up well. If big, OTT action movies are your thing, you will probably enjoy this book much more than I did. For me, it was too much, too fast. I prefer a slower more thoughtful kind of thriller and this was not it.

The audiobook performance was terrific with different narrators reading the three different character perspectives . The book itself was also well crafted and oozed adrenaline, for readers who are drawn to this genre.

Thank you Netgalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved that there were multiple narrators for this story, which I think made it feel like a movie. I loved the storyline but I think listening to this was a great experience and I highly recommend audio over physically reading this one.

Having enjoyed this authors other books, I was excited to read this one. Unfortunately, this was nothing like the others and was not a great read for me. My main complaint is the lack of character development. As a reader, we weren't given enough backstory and development of the characters when they were young to care and distinguish them as adults. As for the narrator, the voice was a pleasant read but along with so many characters, there wasn't great inflection to help distinguish each character.

While it was hard for me to connect with the the main characters the novel overall has a great storyline. It did take a bit to orient myself to the three storyline perspectives, but in the end it added to the suspense and mystery. I truly believe if I was able to connect with the unlikable main characters this novel would be one I’d rave about.

AUDIO REVIEW

This book was fast paced and enjoyable. I liked getting perspectives from the main characters as it definitely gave the reader insight into these characters’ psyches. Characters Donnie and Nico were not as appealing as the other main character Jenna. Even though Donnie and Nico were both suffering from trauma in their past, it didn’t excuse their actions or behaviors. What Have We Done by Alex Finlay is a crazy story with an exciting blood stirring ending and the epilogue really made this book worth the listen. I enjoyed the narrators of this book, they were stellar. I enjoyed James Patrick Cronin’s narration the best. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

#Netgalley ARC

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The book uses multiple viewpoints to tell the story. It creates a bit of a confusing story at the beginning until the story has progressed enough to connect the different characters. The mystery was interesting enough.