It's not that this book wasn't good - I just feel like I've read so many of this type of book (some vague spoilers ahead). The premise is one we've all seen - guy investigating cold case murder, has obvious suspect - obvious suspect isn't the actual culprit - actual culprit is the guy investigating the cold case's right hand man. I knew from early on that the bad guy was the actual bad guy. I did enjoy the misdirect of the uncle being involved, that really threw a wrench in me trying to figure out what was actually going on. Ultimately, I was unable to connect with the main character and it felt like they were dragging out the story with less investigating and more background/unimportant information. It's not a bad read, decent mystery with an "unexpected" ending, just wasn't for me.

A mystery writer returns to his hometown after his divorce. While there, he hears a news story about twins who have gone missing. This brings up an old case of missing girls that he knew in high school. Although his two friends try to talk him out of reopening and writing about this case, our narrator is determined. He goes through some crazy stuff that starts to make our writer unsure what is real and what is made up. Is he becoming a character in his own story? Are his friends really as innocent as they claim to be? Is his uncle, the only member of his family left, involved?
Lots of action, good pacing, and clues for the reader - who will probably be surprised at the end anyway.

This book would have been a four-star if not for the odd rushed ending. You are also led to believe that the protagonist was an unreliable storyteller, but not until the end. Cannot really recommend it.

Say My Name is a mind-blowing blend of true crime and fiction, intertwining a midlist mystery writer's personal struggles with a decades-old unsolved case in his hometown. The small town's secrets and the author's relentless pursuit of the truth blur the lines between fact and fiction. This fast-paced novel with realistic characters will leave a lasting impression. The atmospheric setting and growing tension make it a compelling and engaging read. The title perfectly captures the psychological impact of the story. With an unexpected resolution and thought-provoking writing style, this book stands out from the rest. Reading an advanced copy through NetGalley was a fantastic experience.

Joe Clifford's writing style is out of the ordinary. His first person narration offers a more intimate view and understanding of the protagonist and it sucked me right in. The main character, recently divorced, returns to his hometown in Connecticut to write a True Crime book about the disappearance of twin girls. As he investigates, his "meta" riffs reveal more and more about who he is, his past and current relationships, and gives glimpses onto his seemingly self-distructive behavior. "Say My Name" is a page turner, but also a smart book that gives the reader access to a close-up view of the main characters' psyche. I loved the twists and turns and found the ending to be an excellent surprise. I know I will be twirling "Say My Name" around in my head for a long time. Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t not finish this book due to the poor writing style. It was extremely difficult for me to get into and story did not captivate my interest

A mystery writer returns to his hometown and finds there is a new crime that is similar to one that happened when he was in high school. He gets involved, trying to investigate in the hopes of writing a true crime novel like In Cold Blood, but things unravel and as a reader I couldn't tell where it was going. What is reality and what is fiction?

Say My Name by Joe Clifford

This was a strange book. It may be strange because I am an author and it was a book about an author talking to himself. I do that a lot too. He was telling a story but also talking about being an author. This purports to be a true crime story about a crime that never happened. Returning home after a decades-long hiatus reminiscing about the Rodgers twins and their disappearance, the author does a wealth of soul-searching.

Again, part of the strangeness, I, too, had a heartthrob on a set of twins as a preteen. Since the story has the author being very strange, personality disorder strange, you can imagine why I struggled not to find parallels with my own life. Of course, the author in the story sold far more books than I have so the parallels aren’t one hundred percent.

The book has arrogance, nostalgia, some action, and lots of treachery with bounteous confusion.

Finished this last night. Had to read the ending twice.
The is different and somewhat confusing. Writer tracking down what he believes to be an old murder case. A recent crime seems related. More clear writing would have made a better read.

A 2* ok read for me. The main character returns to his hometown to teach, having written several successful crime novels. Two twin girls disappeared when he was a teenager and upon his return, two more disappear.
Unfortunately, for me, the writing was disjointed and the protagonist really frustrating and irritating. I struggled to finish it, but, persevered. Just not for me, but, an ok read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

Good story. Lots of action and twists and turns. Well worth reading.


Looking forward to more from Joe Clifford
Many thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC and opportunity to enjoy this wonderful book

This was my first introduction to author Joe Clifford who has written a series of mystery novels. Say My Name is a unique book that combines clues in researching a forty-year-old cold case with an unnamed author's process in writing a true crime story about that case. I felt I might have appreciated the novel more if I had known about Clifford and his books. His series was mentioned several times. Is the writer a version of Clifford and his writing experiences or a fictional invention?

Returning from California to his hometown in Berlin, Connecticut, this fictional author believes he has a job teaching writing at a local university. He is depressed following his divorce and has anxiety attacks. He is presented as self-pitying and morose. The job has fallen through. He only has one relative still living in town, a beloved uncle, and a couple of old friends from high school. He decides to spend time researching and writing about twin girls, age 15, who vanished from a mall in 1985. He was also 15 then, had a crush on one of the girls and still recalls the tragic event. Two sisters have now vanished from a neighbouring mall, and he believes there may be a connection and intends to investigate the disappearances for a true crime story. He soon seizes on his two suspects, a man with a criminal reputation and a relative. He discusses his investigation with a man he knew in the past who is now a policeman and a couple of buddies from his old school.

It becomes evident that someone in the town does not want him digging into the past, and they do not want the truth revealed. He is badly beaten and hospitalized while searching for clues. He is lost in his thoughts, and the narration is often a stream of consciousness. He expresses many self-doubts, anxiety attacks, drinking while driving, taking up chain smoking and gulping down pills while pursuing clues and suspects. He ponders thoughts about coincidences, cause and effect, and alternate realities while trying to organize his book. How many of his recollections are unreliable and finding their way into his upcoming book?

A couple of his old friends present him with a partial solution to the mystery of the twins vanishing in 1985. This twist was unexpected and a brilliant conclusion to the story, but how much truth was involved?
This was a gripping mystery story, but its presentation did not engage me. I am now interested in reading some of Clifford's crime fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was an odd book but an ok read if you like a crime solving cold case story.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Say My Name is a true crime story about a crime that never happened.... or did it?

On the heels of a divorce, a midlist mystery writer returns to his hometown in Central CT and is dragged back into a decades old unsolved case involving former classmates to expose horrific secrets of a quaint, idyllic New England town.

This mystery takes place in Berlin, Connecticut. The protagonist is newly divorced and an author. He decides to write a true crime book based on twin girls who went missing from a mall nearly forty years ago. The girls were never found. Coincidently, two sisters about the same age have just went missing from a different mall bring the disappearance of the twins back to the minds of the Berlin locals. I wasn't keen on the authors writing style, so I took off half a star for this reason. This is a fast-paced and twisted read, and there's quite a lot of suspects to choose from.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BooksGoSocial and the author #JoeClifford for my ARC of #SayMyName in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Going home after being away gives him time to think. When he was in school. Sone people went missing. This made him think about that time. This book kept me intrigued throughout the book.

I found this book entertaining; I definitely wanted to read on to find out what happened. I always find this a good measure of a book. The storyline was interesting and kept me wondering what was going to happen and the twist was well-written. If you like crime solving reads and want something that isn’t too taxing or complex, this is a good read.

Say My Name by Joe Clifford was just ok for me. I really couldn’t connect with anything Joe was doing or saying so for that reason I’m giving it 2 stars. Sorry Joe! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release.

This is a book like nothing I've read before but it kept my interest the entire time! The unnamed mystery writer is working on a book combining reality and fiction, based upon unsolved mysteries surrounding the disappearances of two sets of twins set years apart. There are so many suspects, so many red herrings, so many clues that my head was spinning but it's so worth it in the end! I'll be looking at Clifford's other works in the near future as he's a wild story-teller!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Discover the gripping secrets of a small town in this captivating mystery by author Joseph Clifford. With a fast-paced plot and realistic characters, the story keeps you hooked until the very end. As the protagonist returns to Berlin, Connecticut after a divorce, he gets caught up in the puzzling case of missing twins, contemplating writing a nonfiction book about it. "Say My Name" takes you on an exciting journey into the writing process and inner thoughts, offering an unforgettable fiction experience. 4 fabulous stars- thank you allowing me to ARC read this NetGalley!

Say My Name by Joe Clifford is a different and unique kind of thriller.
I was hooked on this from the start! The premise sounded really original and the book is so well written that I just was consumed by the plot.
A quick and interesting read. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters.
A pulsing creepy atmosphere.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!