A suspenseful intriguing mystery. Lots of twists and turns in this unpredictable page turner filled with complex characters. A tragic witty entertaining story that captured me on the very first page!m this is a must read!

Dark, tense and twisty.! The buildup for the ending definitely pays off. Overall, I think this is a true psychological thriller. The roller coaster of emotions the main characters experience are well detailed and kept the pages turning,

June, Grant, Becca, phoebe and Wyatt are characters that you can easily be invested in. I look forward to reading more by this author!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced copy and the chance to review it honestly.

I received Twenty-Seven Minutes as an ARC through NetGalley. I really wanted to love this book but it fell on the average part of the scale for me. Maybe it was just my mood but it felt repetitive and a tad bit long winded for me. What I did enjoy was that it was entertaining enough for me to want to finish the book and I would definitely give this author’s next book a chance. I am also happy with the way the book ended. I’d recommend this book if you like slow burn thrillers. The good stuff mainly happens at the end but it’s the first chapter that really hooks ya!

Happy reading!

"Twenty-Seven Minutes" promises a gripping tale of dark secrets, unbearable grief, and shocking twists, but unfortunately, the execution falls short, leaving readers wanting more from this story.

The central question that propels the narrative—why did it take Grant Dean twenty-seven minutes to call for help on the night of a tragic car accident—fails to sustain the intrigue promised in the book summary. The plot unfolds slowly, and rather than building tension, it struggles to hold the reader's interest.

Grant's internal struggle and guilt over his sister Phoebe's death are explored, but lack emotional depth. The character development feels superficial, leaving the reader disconnected from the supposed heart of the story. "Twenty-Seven Minutes" attempts to explore the consequences of grief and the impact of buried secrets but fails to deliver.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A decent debut novel by Ashley Tate. A small town dealing with the grief and unknown elements of a teenager's death ten years ago. Dual timelines and flashbacks reveal what happened on that tragic night. A slow build and a great twist toward the end as the truth is unveiled. Why did it take 27 minutes for the brother to call the police on that fateful night?

I received a digital ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The characters, the mystery, the pacing, the plot, the writing and dialogue m, everything. Everything here is a HIT!
My only wish for people on this book is to not read anything going in before starting it. I knew little things from the book blurb and feedback, and was blown away by how great the pacing and twists were. Will (hopefully) make a good Netflix or Hulu series one day! Don’t miss this one. Five stars

Phoebe was killed in a car accident on a bridge. Grant and Becca, who were also in the car, waited twenty seven minutes to call for help. Now, ten years later, a memorial for Phoebe and discussion of tearing down the bridge, brings up the past in ways that Grant, Becca, and the whole town aren’t ready to deal with. This novel switches perspectives between multiple characters and time periods (now and the night of the accident), so readers get a well-rounded look at what happened and how it’s affected people. Unfortunately, all of the characters are unlikeable and underdeveloped. The plot was interesting, but the writing was lacking. The twist at the end was worth making it through though.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm forever eager to try new authors so I leapt at the opportunity to read "Twenty-Seven Minutes". This was a slow paced psychological thriller which was very well written.

The characters and overall tone were quite dismal, dark, and depressing. Ten years ago, some teenagers were involved in a drunk-driving accident after a party. Now, coming up to the anniversary of the accident, the mother of the fatal victim of the accident is planning to hold a memorial at her home.

Grant and Phoebe Dean are brother and sister - siblings who have an extraordinarily close relationship. Their father died when they were small, and now their mother tries to keep them close to her. Closer than either of them would like and they both long for escape. Grant was driving the night of the crash when his little sister Phoebe died. He called the ambulance, but it was too late. Twenty-seven minutes too late. If he had called earlier, Phoebe might have survived. This weighs heavily on Grant to this day. His fate was determined by the accident which left him physically and mentally injured - putting paid to any hopes of the football scholarship that he had hoped for. Now he works at a poultry factory.

Wyatt and June Delroy are brother and sister - siblings from a dysfunctional family. Wyatt disappeared ten years ago - the night of the car accident that took Phoebe Dean's life. June was left to care for their mother, a disagreeable and demanding women.

Becca Hoyt was in the truck that crashed. She suffered severe injuries and was hospitalized for several weeks. Now she works in the same small store where she worked back then. She loves Grant, and would do anything for him... Becca comes across as a pathetic woman riddled with guilt, who never matured, stuck in a rut of her own making.

"... and now they dragged their trauma behind them like a ghastly security blanket, tattered and dirty and hardened in the corners with nervous spit."

This was a bleak read. The characters were not very likeable, despite their dire history. The town of West Wilmer, was a rural backwater peopled with the usual dead-end town mentality. The main characters carried their burdens of remembrance, grief, and guilt, but in a way that made them more pathetic than sympathetic.

The story was told via a dual timeline. The present narrative was interspersed with events from the night of the accident. I enjoyed the writing style and would read another novel by this author. That being said, "Twenty-Seven Minutes" didn't resonate with me, and I found it melancholy - peopled with characters who wallowed in their misery on a daily basis. The ending plot twist was one I anticipated. The overlying themes were those of guilt and dysfunction. My opinions of this debut novel are my own, and should not serve to deter other readers. It has received some very positive reviews.

I'm between 3 and 4 stars for this one, because the ending really got me to tear up and a book getting me to express emotions automatically earns a star. BUT it was such a slow build-up that I found myself getting bored throughout the book

Okay so a mystery, but honestly less thriller aspects that I expected. If you're expecting an edge of your seat, suspensful thriller book, then sadly this isn't the one for you. It's such a slow burn that at moments I was getting bored of the characters and wanted something exciting/intriguing to happen. I highly recommend getting a buddy read with this one so you can both keep each other accountable.

A little bit of the synopsis: Phoebe Dean was a popular girl, hence the "was" because she passed away after driving with her brother over a bridge. There are 27 minutes unaccounted for where Grant (her brother) could have saved her but what was he doing during that time?? You'll find out in this book. It takes 10 years for the questions to start coming out, why 10 years exactly? because the anniversary of Phoebe's death makes other reconsider that night and rehash old wounds.

This book focuses on 4 different POVs: June, Grant, Becca, and Wyatt along with a chapters titled "Ten Years Ago." Grant is Phoebe's older brother, June and Wyatt are siblings, and Becca... will Becca is an interesting character and I'll leave it at that. My favorite character was June overall, the rest I either felt pity or just bleh.

Honestly, I was starting to get bored during the book because it was a slow build-up. I felt as if the stories could have been cut down or maybe adding more twists in the middle could have held my attention better. The portrayal of the sibling dynamic did it for me at the ending and pushing up my ratings.

I just finished Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate and here are my thoughts.


One night changed the lives of so many people. 10 years ago the golden girl Phoebe, was killed in a car accident. Her brother was driving and a girl called Becca was injured in the back seat. It’s the same night June’s brother Wyatt leaves town, leaving her and her mother in despair.

Phoebe’s mother is planning a memorial. All it is going to Grant, Phoebe's brother, is bringing up painful memories of that night and the secrets threatening to undo him are even more fragile now that June is asking all the right questions but is anyone listening to her?


The concept was super intriguing. Dual timelines so we can see what happened in the lead up to the car accident that night. It was a slower pace but it was well written enough that I got over that. It had some pretty nice twists in it too but they weren’t earth shatteringly epic but they added nicely to a steady mystery.

I didn’t connect with any of the characters because they were all really unlikeable. June was about the only one that wasn’t awful but even then I didn’t feel like she deserved me rooting for her either. Everyone had secrets, everyone was underhanded. It was a bit too character driven for my liking without any good characters. It needed more plot and build up.


The ending was OK. I get it went for a dramatic bow but I felt it needed something more.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to #netgalley and @penguinrandomca

#penguinreader #penguininfluencer #bookinfluencer #bookish #bookreview #readerreview #twentysevenminutes #ashleytate #debutnovel #booklover #kindle #ebook

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of "Twenty-seven Minutes" by Ashley Tate. As a debut, I am always looking to be wowed, and this one did that "sort of". It felt like the story could have benefited from one more edit/revision. The first part was great, the last part I felt needed a little work. Overall, a good story about the secrets we keep and the lies we tell. Looking forward to more from this author,

Thank you for the to preview Twenty Seven Minutes.
A young woman is in an accident and questions remain ten years after on why it took so long to get her help. Why did it take Twenty Seven Minutes?
Told in alternate voices the characters tell their stories and secrets. 3.5 stars

The small town of West Wilmer grapples with the tragic loss of a young girl, Phoebe Dean. The heart of the mystery revolves around the haunting question of why Phoebe's brother, Grant, took twenty-seven minutes to call for help on the night of a fatal car accident. The narrative unfolds with an exploration of grief, guilt, and the dark secrets that bind the town's residents.

Grant, burdened by memories of that fateful night and the weight of a hidden secret, faces the approaching anniversary of Phoebe's death. The town, still haunted by unanswered questions, becomes a stifling backdrop for the characters wrestling with their demons. Grant's struggle intensifies as he grapples with the impact of the accident on his future, reputation, and the loss of his sister. The narrative takes a compelling turn as Becca, a witness to the events on the bridge that night, emerges as a key player in protecting Grant's secret. The tension builds as the characters confront their pasts, and the anniversary becomes a catalyst for the unravelling of long-held mysteries.

June, another character in the story, carries her burden—the disappearance of her brother Wyatt, who has been missing for ten years. A mysterious visitor brings hope and the possibility of uncovering the truth about Wyatt and the events on the bridge. The narrative converges over three days, culminating in a shocking twist that promises to leave readers breathless. It is a gripping tale that delves into the depths of grief, the consequences of secrets, and the pursuit of truth. With elements of mystery and suspense, the novel explores the complexities of human relationships and the enduring impact of tragedy on a tight-knit community.

It is a riveting debut that masterfully weaves together the threads of grief, guilt, and hidden secrets in the aftermath of a tragic event. The author skillfully explores the impact of loss on individuals and a community, creating a narrative that is both poignant and suspenseful. The central mystery of why it took Grant Dean twenty-seven minutes to call for help sets the stage for a compelling exploration of the character's emotions and the consequences of keeping secrets. Tate's storytelling unfolds with a sense of urgency, capturing the reader's attention from the first page and maintaining the suspense throughout.

The characters, particularly Grant, Becca, and June, are intricately developed, each carrying their burdens and facing the repercussions of the past. The author excels in portraying the complexities of human relationships and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect the ones they love. The pacing of the narrative is well-executed, building tension as the anniversary of Phoebe's death approaches and the characters confront their demons. The shocking twist in the climax adds a layer of unpredictability, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The book delivers a gripping and emotionally charged story. Ashley Tate's debut establishes her as a promising voice in the literary suspense genre, offering readers a thought-provoking and immersive experience.

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is a suspenseful drama that unfolds at an unhurried pace and is told in a non-linear structure from the perspective of multiple characters. It is a satisfying narrative that delves into the possibilities of a truth that lies buried under perspectives skewed due to intense self-centric behaviours.

Twenty-Seven Minutes, what I would classify as a slow-burn Literary Suspense novel, is a debut for author, Ashley Tate. In this story, we settle into the small town of West Wilmer, where 10-years ago, their local It-Girl, Phoebe Dean was killed in a car accident on the way home from a party. Her brother, Grant, was the driver that night and for unknown reasons, he waited 27-minutes after the crash before he called 9-1-1.

Yeah, it's suspicious and rumors have swirled for years that the reason he waited so long was that he needed to sober up. For a multitude of reasons, this tragedy hit the town especially hard. As the 10th-anniversary approaches, a memorial is planned for Phoebe and the town is abuzz again with theories and speculation about that night. As you can imagine, this causes stress for those closest to the incident. It's like they have to keep repeating the worst night of their life over and over again. Why won't people just let them forget?

This story is told via multiple POVs and a dual timeline, as we follow those most effected by the events of that night. Basically, if Phoebe's death were a pebble dropped in a pond, we'd be following the ripples closest to impact. And honestly, that's how I thought of this set-up. It worked.

As past and present begin to merge, the truth about that night is finally made clear for the Reader. It's an emotional and angst-filled journey that doesn't rush anything along. I enjoyed this one. I found it to be well-written and the mystery behind that night, the pace at which all is revealed, I thought was really well done.

I think it is important to keep in mind though, this is a slow burn. If you are looking for a fast-paced Thriller, there may be better options. You have to be comfortable just sitting with characters and getting to know them through their thoughts and reflections.

For me, this was truly a story about surviving grief and trauma. Each journey through that space is going to look different. People deal with such events using the resources available to them, and some fare better than others.
I loved the small town atmosphere; she ran deep. I feel like anyone who grew up in a small town could relate with a lot of the vibes Tate created here.

I also enjoyed all the messy, damaged relationships and characters. I found them interesting and frankly, I don't trust characters who are too perfect. I thought Tate did a great job of blending all of their stories together and pulling off a solid conclusion.

Overall, I think for Readers who really love to sink their teeth into fabulous character work, and they don't need to like those characters, this will be a great read. As far as this being a debut, I'm impressed. I think Tate brought everything she needed and more to this story. I am really looking forward to getting more from her!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. While this wasn't exactly what I expected it to be, I am very pleased with what I got!

"Twenty-Seven Minutes" by Ashley Tate is a gripping and thought-provoking read. Tate masterfully crafts a narrative that explores the complexities of human relationships and the impact of time on our lives. The unique concept of the story, revolving around a critical period of just twenty-seven minutes, adds an intriguing layer to the plot. The characters are well-developed, and their emotions are portrayed with authenticity. While the pacing is generally strong, there were moments when the narrative felt a bit rushed. Despite this, the novel delivers a compelling exploration of time's influence on our choices and relationships, earning it a solid four stars.

I so hate to be such a "Debbie Downer" on a debut novel, but "Twenty-Seven Minutes" just didn't do it for me. I found the "mystery" of what happened in that timespan before the authorities were notified about a crash over ten years ago just kind of blah & uninteresting. The twists just couldn't redeem this one, the writing was rather off & most characters very unlikable and I had a really hard time sustaining any interest. Oh well, better luck next time! My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the complimentary DRC, happy to provide a candid review.

This book had a very interesting synopsis and i was excited to read. Why did Grant take 27 minutes to call? It was very intriguing and it was fun to read however i think the pacing was a little slow so the middle took a while to get through. The writing was brilliant though and i would recommend to anyone looking for a suspenseful story.

This was a little lackluster for me. It starts out strong with Phoebe's death, and I wanted to know what happened to her. But then, we jump ahead ten years and the pace slowed down. I would not consider this to be a thriller. It is a relationship drama. It's about secrets and grief and how to move on from that. One character is suffering from mental illness and another is grieving deeply. How they were handling the anniversary of Phoebe's death was more of a focus than the actual mystery.

Readers who love dark, character-driven stories will love this, However, this should not be described as a thriller. It is not a thriller, and readers who are expecting a thriller will be disappointed. There is a twist at the end, but I believe readers who frequently read thrillers will see it coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

It’s been ten years since the accident on the old bridge that left Phoebe Dean dead. As the anniversary approaches, everyone’s secrets come out, including why it took Phoebe’s brother, Grant, twenty seven minutes to call for an ambulance. Fast paced and told from different perspectives. Highly recommend.