Twenty-Seven Minutes is dark and often heavy. There is a dreariness to the story that showcases the weight placed on the characters. The pace is slow, but the final chapters are tense, and the twist is satisfying.

The story is set ten years after the tragic death of Phoebe Dean. Phoebe was a teenager when she lost her life in a tragic car accident. Before her death, Phoebe was beautiful, popular, and had a bright future. Often, I wondered (along with the characters) whether the perception of Phoebe was colored by what happened to her.

Grant Dean is Phoebe’s older brother and he was driving the night of the crash. It took Grant twenty-seven minutes to call in the accident after it occurred. Phoebe was alive when the car crashed—those twenty-seven minutes could have made the difference to save her life. Why did it take Grant so long to call for help?

Grant is one of four narrators of the story (plus some flashback chapters that take place 10 years earlier just before the accident). The other narrators include Becca, June, and Wyatt. Becca was in the car with Grant and Phoebe the night of the accident. She was fighting with Phoebe over her relationship with Grant. Since the accident, Becca has carried guilt with her, knowing she distracted Grant and was partially responsible for the accident. Becca is in a bad place when the novel picks up.
Becca and Grant are no longer together, though she loves him and protects the secret of what happened that night and during those twenty-seven minutes for him. Grant is distant with Becca, often going periods where he refuses to speak to her at all. Grant is an alcoholic and his life is depressing. He lives with a mother who blames him for his sister’s death.

The other narrators are June and Wyatt—another set of siblings. Wyatt disappeared the night of the accident and wasn’t seen for ten years, until he returns right as the book begins, three days before Phoebe’s memorial. June’s life in the intervening years is not any better than Becca’s or Grant’s. Her mother recently died of cancer, and June lives in their dilapidated home without enough money to afford a car. June is glad Wyatt has finally returned, but he is cagey with her about where he has been. His health is in significant decline, and June worries that he is dying of the same cancer that took their mother.

The town where the book is set, West Wilmer is a small town with a somewhat dreary existence. As with most small towns, the major events like the death of Phoebe has never really gone away. She’s been idealized to such an extent that she appears as a bright flame extinguished too soon, in stark contrast to the dreary town of West Wilmer and the bleak lives of the four narrators.

The majority of the book is slow-moving, and not much develops in the plot until it reaches the day of the memorial towards the end. Leading up to it, the reader will spend most of the book understanding the sad state that the four narrators live in. They all were broken in one way or another the night of the accident. But as we learn by the end of the novel, some of them may have been broken even before that. The accident was a catalyst that set their downward spiral in motion. At one point Becca muses hauntingly that there aren’t stages of grief; it never goes away. Bleak but potentially true in the case of these characters.

I felt that Phoebe needed more development for the reader, though she is dead for the events of the book. Often stories like these benefit from the reader having some attachment to the victim. In this case, Phoebe doesn’t really come into focus for the reader for the person she was until the last 20% of the book.

The characters are largely unlikable, with the small exception of June who is more sympathetic than the others. The book is weighted by the heaviness of the story. This is surely intentional, as the accident itself was heavy and sucked the energy out of the characters who survived it.

It took me longer than usual to get into the book. The narrators switch quickly and added in are the flashbacks ten years earlier. There is little forward movement in the first half and so it was slower to get towards what was really going on. Phoebe’s memorial is a catalyst that sets in motion an uptick in the unraveling of the four central characters. As the story goes on, it becomes clear that the truth of what happened that night may finally become clear at the memorial.

The last several chapters are page-turners. I wanted to know what happened, even if my engagement waned towards the middle of the book. The ending unfolds without a series of reveals and one major twist that I didn’t see coming, though reflecting back there were hints of what may occur.

A heavy and suspenseful book that has a satisfying ending and a solid twist.

When tragedy strikes a small town no one ever really seems to heal, 10 years after the accident and secrets that are just waiting to be revealed. This book is one intense wild ride. Told in multiple points of view, in a dual timeline of the accident and ten years later. We get a glimpse of how time has moved on yet secrets and grief have been tearing lives apart. When will the truth be revealed if ever?
Tate has an amazing plot that was well executed, I was drawn right into the book from the start, was unable to put it down as I flipped pages to try to get to the bottom of what happened that night 10 years ago! A tense atmospheric thriller that will have you in the edge of your seat seeking answers.

I was looking forward to Twenty-Seven Minutes, but it was kind of a let down. I kept reading because I was really curious about the conclusion, which was pretty satisfying, but it would’ve been better had I liked any characters. Seriously, what was with those siblings? I thought I was getting into Game of Thrones Lannister territory at some points. Did I really read that their initials were etched together on a wall?! Phoebe was OBSESSED and Grant was an incredibly unsympathetic jerk. It takes guts to make a main character so very unredeemable, but I just kept wondering what on EARTH makes women so obsessed with his arrogant, rude, gaslighting self (I’m holding back on some choice descriptors here.) I did like the way the author unrolled the plot and handled the conclusion, and I think thriller fans who are in the mood for a nice easy read will enjoy it. I was just hoping for more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Lovely debut, but I wouldn’t call this a thriller. It was more a suspenseful recanting of a fateful night 10 years ago. Not to say I didn’t enjoy this, though, because I did! The character development was good, and it was told form multiple povs, which added a lot of depth to the story. It was a quick read for me because I really wanted to know the ending, so it kept me drawn in and invested. Would definitely recommend if you you’re looking for a recanting what happened tale, certainly would read another book by this author as well!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A tragedy happens and multiple families are shattered and left to pick up the people.

Told from 4 of the character's perspectives, this novel spans over the course of 10 years as their stories unfold and we find out what really happened that fateful night.

Why did Grant not call for help after the accident that ended up taking his sister Phoebe's life? What part does Wyatt and June play in the story?

I enjoyed the story, even though it did take me a bit of time to get into. I'd recommend for anyone who loves drama and twists.

Thank you so much @poisonedpenpress and @netgalley for an advance copy of this book!

🔹 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🔹
I loved the concept for this book. There was a bad car accident on a bridge that included Grant and his sister Phoebe, where she ended up dying and she could have potentially been saved if Grant had called sooner. It took him 27 minutes to call for help after the accident occurred and everyone wonders if there is more to Grants story.

Other characters include Becca, who was in the car during the accident, and Wyatt and June, brother and sister. The Multiple POVs include all four except Phoebe.

The present day is days leading up to the 10th anniversary of the accident, and people are petitioning for the bridge to come down. There is a surprise visitor returning to town that could also shake up what happened all those years ago.

The end of this book definitely surprised me, but the story in the middle was a bit slow for me to get into. I would have liked to get more storyline during the time of the accident or what happened afterward present day.

⏰ 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🔹 Slow Burn Mysteries
🔹 Multiple POVs
🔹 Loss and Grief
🔹 Dual Timelines

Venture into the mesmerizing world of "Twenty-Seven Minutes" by Ashley Tate, where secrets linger like shadows and redemption hangs in the balance.

From the very first page, I found myself utterly engrossed in the gripping tale unfolding before me. Set against the backdrop of a small town grappling with tragedy and loss, this debut novel is as haunting as it is compelling.

Tate's masterful storytelling draws you in, weaving together multiple perspectives with effortless grace. Through the eyes of characters like Grant, Becca, and June, we are invited to peel back the layers of deception and uncover the truth hidden beneath the surface.

What truly resonated with me were the intricately drawn characters, each grappling with their own inner demons and struggles. Grant's overwhelming guilt, Becca's unwavering loyalty, and June's relentless search for closure are portrayed with such depth and authenticity that they felt like friends I had known for years.

As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, and the past comes rushing back with devastating clarity. Tate expertly navigates the complexities of grief, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love, leaving a profound impact on the reader long after the final page is turned.

In "Twenty-Seven Minutes," Tate has crafted a truly remarkable debut that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. With its richly textured narrative, unforgettable characters, and hauntingly beautiful prose, this novel is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of storytelling to illuminate the human experience.

A slow burn suspenseful debut! It is told in dual timelines with four different POVs. I thought the author did a nice job propelling the story forward with each shift in perspective. I also appreciated having different perspectives from the main characters when the story was in the past. This book has had me thinking days after finishing, partly because I had unanswered questions about the surprising ending. Overall, I believe this story was more about surviving a trauma and working through grief than a thriller. These characters were raw, messy, and damaged. I am really excited to see how Ashley Tate grows as an author and can’t wait to read her next book! 4⭐️

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really like how the book starts out with a glimpse of the past then jumps forward 10 years, with little of the past thrown in! All the characters are well developed and complex, some even felt like people I know personally! I wish the ending would’ve been drawn out a little bit more because it felt like a whole lot of build up to an event that quickly is over. If you like mysteries and thrillers you might just want to check this book out!

This was a great character driven story.

Phoebe Dean may have survived a car accident, but for the 27 minutes it took for anyone else involved to call for help.

The opening of the book is startling and raw. As it unfolds, we get multiple points of view as those 27 minutes are pieced together little by little.

This one was a little bit slow, with a lot of character development. It is definitely not a light popcorn thriller, as it contains a lot of deep concepts surrounding grief and pain.

Personally, I found all of the characters to be unlikeable, so it was a little hard to entirely relate.

Overall though, I loved the twists and turns, and didn't see the ending coming.

Anyway, this book stressed me out. Twenty Seven Minutes is a thriller that tells the story of a small town 10 years after a teenage girl died in a tragic car accident because her brother waited 27 minutes to call 911. The brother, the best friend, the brother’s girlfriend, the neighbor - all a mess from this accident. It was one of those books where facts were slowly leaked out so I had no idea what direction things were going in and who was a reliable narrator. It was a bit dark and like I said, stressful, but it kept me hooked until I figured out what really happened that night.

This is a quick and fun read! Told in multiple POV as the ten year anniversary of a teenager’s death looms near, secrets of what really happened begin to shake a few of the locals

Phoebe was the younger sister of Grant whose life was taken suddenly and tragically too soon. His mother never forgave him. Questions still rise as to why it took him 27 minutes to call for help..

Becca was there. She’s always backed up Grant’s story. They’re in love so of course she believes everything he says, right?

June just lost her mother and is surprised that her brother Wyatt has returned after a decade of being missing. He’s subdued and not talking about where he’s been so she takes it upon herself to find out.

What could all of these plots and people have in common? You’ll have to pick this one up to find out!

After a high school party, a terrible car crash tragically killed local good girl Phoebe Dean. The ambulance came 27 minutes too late to safe her. But was Phoebe as much of an angel as everyone is saying? Why didn't her brother Grant call the authorities sooner? Had he drunk too much? And what about Crazy Becca who sat in the back seat of the car, what did she have to do with it? June cares more about the disappearance of her brother Wyatt. How much of a coincidence is it that he ran away the same night of the accident? Did he have something to do with it? All answers will come at the 10 year memorial of Phoebe Dean's death...

I really liked this story! The plot was very good and even though I read a lot of thrillers, the twist at the end still surprised me. I do think it shows that this is a debut, June seeing Wyatt for the first time in 10 years would have been more suspenseful and would have impacted the readers more if we hadn't already read a chapter from his point of view. I also thought there were too many POV's, which made it a bit confusing sometimes. Still, the writing style in Twenty-Seven Minutes is beautiful, there were some great plot twists and cliffhangers, and you could figure out what had really happened if you were able to connect all the dots correctly. Definitely recommend! 3.75 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, Ashley Tate and Ashley's team for providing me with an ARC!

Going into this one I was intrigued to find out what happened 10 years ago when they waiting 27 minutes to call for help resulting in a death. I appreciated the fact that we got feedback on each of the characters to get to know them and how they relate to the plot. However, it took a very long time for that and wished we spent more time on revealing the truth behind the accident. Once we did get to the reveal I was surprised and liked the ending. It just took too long to get there.

Twenty-Seven Minutes. That's the time it took Grant Dean to call 911 after he got into an accident on a one lane bridge in a rain storm. It is also the amount of time it took his younger sister Phoebe Dean to die from her injuries after she was thrown from Grant's truck.

The Deans were at the top of the high school heap in their small town of West Wilmer. Grant had his pick of girlfriends and was about to be recruited to play college football, his ticket out of his go-nowhere town. And Phoebe was intent on making sure he got out. With her. But when she dies in the car accident, all of their dreams die with her.

On the 10th anniversary of her death, Pheobe's mother plans a memorial service that the whole town is talking about and everyone plans to attend. Everyone but Pheobe's brother Grant, who would rather avoid it, and June, the younger sister of Wyatt, a member of the Deans's extended group of friends and acquaintances, who went missing the night of the accident as well. June, alone after the death of her mother, wonders what happened to her brother and why no one in town seems to have noticed that he was gone.

The memorial has people talking again about what happened during those 27 minutes. Grant claims to have blacked out and can't remember. But he isn't the only person who knows. Becca, Phoebe's friend, was also in the truck that night. And while she knows what happened, she would do anything to keep Grant's secret.

The novel is told from multiple points of view and jumps around from the weeks leading up to the accident and the days leading up to the memorial service. It's a bit hard to keep track of all of the characters, with all of their traumatic back stories. (Most have generations of family trauma.) And while there is a steady build up of suspense (the book starts with a fairly high level of suspense and never lets up), very little of what happened is revealed until the end. Instead, Ashley Tate fills the pages with the character's traumatic back stories and their fraught realities ten years later.

Tate does a fantastic job of capturing the claustrophobia of living in a small town with no real hope of getting out. Unfortunately, her success makes finishing the book feel like a herculean accomplishment.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

Absolutely loved this one. The cover pulled in instantly but the story was really fun. It kept me entertained while surprising me throughout the entire book. Highly recommend to anyone looking for suspense with a great ending.

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is a novel set in the claustrophobic town of West Wilmer. It explores the aftermath of a tragic accident through the eyes of Grant Dean, who lost his sister Phoebe. The book attempts to unravel the complexities of grief, secrets, and the search for truth but leans towards familiar genre tropes, especially with its predictable twist concerning Grant's character.

Despite its predictability, Tate’s narrative captures the essence of a small town's tight-knit community, dealing with themes of loss and the heavy burden of secrets. The story's setting and the multi-perspective approach add depth, although the climax might not surprise seasoned readers of the genre.

While Twenty-Seven Minutes may tread on well-worn paths and sometimes feels contrived, it offers a poignant look at the consequences of our choices and the pain of living with unresolved grief. The novel’s exploration of familial bonds and community dynamics might appeal to those interested in emotional narratives centered around tragedy and redemption.

Tate's work reflects on the impact of tragedy and the complexities of human emotions, making it a suitable read for those who appreciate stories with emotional depth despite their shortcomings in originality and predictability.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an e-Arc of Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate for my review.

Thank you Netgalley, Ashley Tate, and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced ebook! Wow! This book had me so hooked and had all my heart strings pulling and my heart beating fast wanting to soak up every word and every chapter to figure out what exactly happened that night. This was such a great read. Highly recommend!

Twenty-seven minutes can change a life. It can also alter an entire town's future, which is exactly what happened on a stormy night in West Wilmer. One family, multiple friends, the death of a young girl and a bridge on a stormy night = recipe for a tragedy that lives in the hearts & minds of those involved for a decade. But the question on everyone's minds is - what happened during the twenty-seven minutes from the time a deadly car crash occurred to when the police were called?

A psychological thriller with characters who actually pull you into the plot? Sign me up! I absolutely loved this debut novel from Ashley Tate. It's rare to find a thriller that twists & turns its way to the very last page, but this book did just that. And I loved that I wasn't halfway through knowing for certain what the end was going to be. Her writing style & character development was so on point, it's possible Sherlock Holmes would have struggled to unravel the truth behind this small town's greatest mystery.

I couldn’t enjoy the book. It was the pace.
The story itself couldn’t hold my interest. There’s no tension that we need in thriller.