3.75 stars

This one definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I desperately needed to know where it was going.

Coming up on the tenth anniversary of Phoebe’s death, the town is abuzz with memories of the bright young woman. Her brother Grant, is struggling with his own demons, considering she died while they were in the car together, along with Becca. Why did it take Grant 27 minutes to call an ambulance that night? They are the only ones who know the truth, and Becca’s recollection of events is shady at best.

There were honestly very few likable characters in this book, and I felt the ending was rushed. Even still, this was a great debut and I did find myself glued to the page the entire time.

Considering the premise of the book, I was actually really excited to read this. I don’t read a lot of thrillers, so I was hoping this one would live up to the name. Sadly, it was disappointing. I stopped about 60% through.

This book was so slow and drawn out. Like, we don’t even find out WHY Grant waited 27 minutes to call for help until the VERY END of the book. You don’t really get to know the characters, they’re all terrible people dealing with their own trauma and grief and they’re all using everyone else for their own benefit.

It all felt very stereotypical: the drunk, the crazy girl, the dead girl…. I got all the characters confused and everything just seemed kinda repetitive.

Twenty-Seven Minutes, by Ashley Tate, bounces between two timelines with each chapter told from a different character's perspective. Alcohol, trauma, etc. affect the way the events of a horrific night are remembered. Hints and revelations twist what you think is the reality and have you grasping for the truth. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I found this book easy to get into and I read it in one sitting! The twists and turns kept me hooked throughout.

The prologue started off great. However, the rest of the book did not deliver as well for me. I didn’t really connect with the characters. The ending was interesting if not a bit strange. I actually got quite into the end. . I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through Net Galley.

After a high school party, Phoebe dies. But why did Grant and Becca wait 27 min before calling an ambulance? The flashes between current day and 10 years ago on that night reveal secrets and the truth is revealed. Lots of twists and turns. The ending felt off from the remainder of the book. Overall, a solid 4.5 stars.

I finished this one is 24 hours ! It was definitely more of a slow burn psychological thriller than a typical thriller. . There was a good twist at the end. I think this was really good for a debut novel. I liked the variety of characters and the flashback to 10 years ago and the present. I look forward to reading more of the author's future books.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I was initially intrigued by the premise of this book, which is excellent on paper. But the writing led me to put it down about 1/4 of the way through. It felt clunky and in need of a much more thorough edit. The characters felt fairly one dimensional and although I tried to stick with it and finish I couldn't get through it.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book and knew friends who would also be interested. The issue was the 10 years in the future story line as this felt like too long and makes you question why this is only now being discussed. The books redeeming qualities are the multiple POV way of telling the story and the ending wasn't what I had predicted. However, the whole thing did feel slightly drawn out as to why it took her brother 27 minutes to call an ambulance, 27 minutes that could have saved her life.

I had a hard time finishing this book, but I did. The story goes back and forth from the present to ten years prior, when an accident happened in which the drivers sister died. As the title says, it took twenty-seven minutes for someone to call for an ambulance. The story brings together the three main players in the car and then those around them, that night, and weeks before.

I guess I could not suspend my belief in regards to the behavior of some of the parties, well, mostly all of the parties. Ten years had passed and yet the main characters were still operating in arrested adolescent mode. None of them seemed all that bright or for that matter, sane.

I did not find a lot of suspense. I kept reading just so I could find out exactly what happened that night on the bridge.

Twenty Seven Minutes was a little underwhelming for me. It truly had great promise, but I felt it was far too much of a slow burn. I appreciated the multi pov for each chapter but that added to the chaos in that it feels sporadic and comes in bits and pieces which makes the timeline confusing.. Essentially, Phoebe, a teenager was killed in an car accident 10yrs ago. The title refers to the 27 mins it took Grant (Phoebe's brother & the driver of the car) to call 911. It is alleged that Phoebe could have survived the if grant called immediately. The book surrounds what really happened that night & why Grant didn't call until 27 mins later... The ending is definitely unpredictable though so that gives the story a little bit more.

I have to say that Ashley Tate surprised me with this ending. I did not see it coming at all. This book is well written. I sort of had to push on during the middle of the book, but I am so, so glad I did. I would have missed a good ending if I had not finished this book.

The town of West Wilmer is approaching the 10 year anniversary of the horrible wreck that happened on the bridge and took the life of a young lady, Phoebe, in their town. Not only was Phoebe lost in the wreck, but Becca and Grant were also hurt and have had a long road to recovery. There is also a secret that Becca and Grant share that Becca is determined to help Grant hide. With the approaching anniversary, the truth is eating at Grant and making him regret every keeping the secret that he and Becca have.

On the same night as the wreck on the bridge that claimed Phoebe's life, June's brother Wyatt went away and no one has heard from him or seen him since then. With June's mother passing away, she is left with no family that she can turn to. She desperately wishes that she could find her brother and then she would at least have him. June believes that he is alive and if she could just find him, she could convince him to come home. June is conflicted about whether she should go to the anniversary memorial at the bridge or not. She knew Phoebe but she just doesn't know if she wants to go and stir up those memories.

This story takes place over 3 days, but we get the back story of what really happened in the wreck and we get the present day what is going on. I liked the back and forth and it helped to build the suspense of the storyline. I don't want to tell you too much to give the story away so you are going to have to read the book to find out what really happened in the wreck. I enjoyed this book and I know you will too!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book! Great read!

Twenty Seven Minutes" by Ashley Tate is a slow burn and intense thriller mystery that demands the reader's attention and contemplation. The author's talent shines through in the thoughtful character development and the meticulously crafted premise.

What sets this novel apart is its deliberate pace. Unlike many fast-paced thrillers, Tate takes the time to delve into the depths of her characters' minds, allowing readers to truly understand their motivations and complexities. This deliberate approach may not be for everyone, but for those who appreciate a more thoughtful and immersive reading experience, it's a rewarding journey.

The story keeps you guessing until the very end, weaving an intricate web of suspense and mystery. I found myself resisting the urge to rush through the pages, opting instead to savor every moment and piece together the puzzle alongside the characters.

While the deliberate pacing adds depth to the characters and the plot, it might be a bit challenging for those seeking a quick, adrenaline-fueled read. However, if you're in the mood for a gripping thriller that encourages you to engage with its characters and unravel its mysteries at a measured pace, "Twenty Seven Minutes" is an excellent choice.

I just reviewed Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate. #twentysevenminutes #NetGalley Thanks NetGalley.

Man, this is a hard review for me to write! I was pulled into this story immediately, and couldn't put it down! Between the different perspectives and 2 timelines I was stumped trying to figure out where the story was going. Unfortunately the middle really slowed down for me, and I had a really hard time sticking with it. Each chapter felt repetitive and I wanted to be pulled in again but it was just too slow. The ending was amazing, and had a twist I somehow didn't see coming! Overall the plot was great, and the character development was good, it just went a bit slow for me. It's still a book I would recommend to my friends I think! Thank you NetGalley and Ashley Tate for the arc in exchange for my honest review of this book!

Ugh this was so overly dramatic and not in a good way. I started skimming the chapters about 20% of the way in and then completely skipped from 50% to 85% of the book and missed absolutely nothing. I kept reading in hopes of some great reveal, but nope just an anticlimactic ending. Also, side note: how weird were Phoebe and Grant as brother and sister? I kept thinking they were in a romantic relationship. Anyway, you can skip this one (or if you're still curious, just read the first few chapters and last few).

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3/5

Overall what kept me going was finding out exactly what happened during those 27 minutes and while I had pretty much guessed what had happened it was still satisfying to find out.

I did feel certain parts of the plot were very underdeveloped, mainly the relationships between characters and even parts of the end that didn’t quite line up.

Overall if you enjoy low burn mysteries and are willing to suspend your questions I think you’ll quite enjoy this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ashley Tate for the advanced read of Twenty-Seven Minutes in exchange for an honest review.

Spilt second decision can change your life. We can wish for different circumstances, try to forget the past, and lie, but the thrush always comes out. Twenty Seven Minutes a story of a desperate decision take change the trajectory of many young lives.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Pub date: Jan 24

This was a very interesting take on a thriller and I mean that in a good way. I liked how it read more upmarket in that it deals with very heavy themes of family and abandonment and self-respect while also keeping the tense atmosphere of a mystery. I enjoyed the unlikeability of all the major protagonists just because I thought it was a very honest look at the negative side of rural life and the effects it can have on emotional development. A really unique read!

Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for letting me read and review. Opinions are my own.

It's been about 18 hours since I finished Twenty-Seven Minutes and I'm still not sure if I liked it or, well, didn't. I was captivated with the opening scene—the gruesome depiction of Phoebe's death. But as the pages turned, my interest diminished. There were several twists throughout the story that were intriguing, but I felt like the plot jumped around a little *too* much. And there are A LOT of characters.

What I liked: It's a fast read with a captivating plot. The twist at the end was interesting and I honestly didn't see it coming. I also like the bit of spook that Ashley brought to the plot with Phoebe's "haunting" of her brother.

What was left to be desired: More character development. I felt like with so many characters, it was tough to really get to know the main group. Phoebe is also extremely unlikable, so I really didn't *need* to know who killed or how she died. And frankly, her death in the end was the most...lackluster. I also didn't love the timeline jumps and it made it quite confusing when trying to keep track of everyone's movements.

I feel like this premise had promise, but it just didn't all come together as much as I would've liked. A solid 3 stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press & Ashley Tate for this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Twenty-Seven Minutes" is a gripping mystery told from multiple POVs and including some unreliable narrators, keeping you guessing until the very end. Some of my enjoyment was brought down slightly by characters who were difficult to root for and a tendency to tell rather than show. I would have liked a little more perspective from Phoebe, even in flashbacks, to underscore the tragedy of her death. Ultimately, she was simply the backdrop of the story and the focus was on those around her (the good and the bad). The novel was elevated for me by a surprising and satisfying twist and finale, that I *almost* guessed along the way, but was in no way predictable. An overall solid debut.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.