A missing person, a ghost of a dead girl, and the ten year anniversary in the horizon stirring up trouble for this quaint little town.

Usually I hate books with supernatural aspects and ghost mixed into a mystery but this was done well. It was more like hallucinations than ghosts. Done very well. This is a first read for me of this author and I will be back for more

I had hopes for this novel, but it got so tedious and repetitive. It’s told from several different characters’ perspective, and every single one of them is a miserable, unlikeable loser for various reasons. Apparently, everyone in this small town suffers from some kind of mental disorder, which seems a high percentage. Everyone either treats other people miserably or lets themselves get treated miserably. They don’t leave the town where the car accident that killed the local wunderkind, Pheobe, ten years earlier happened, to try to improve their lives in any way.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES JANUARY 30, 2024.

This book was twisty and I wasn’t sure how it would work out. I had some suspicions, but it was an interesting read.

Twenty-Seven Minutes is so secretly suspenseful with hidden tidbits cleverly revealed that you won't want to put it down until the surprising ending. I loved all the twists that builds the anticipation of solving the mystery. Ashley Tate is a writer to experience.

Wow, that prologue REALLY drags you into the story. I needed to know what happened. So that really kept me reading.

The parents in this book make me so sad. They pick favorites and are just terrible people.

So far I'm 30% through, and it seems fairly repetitive, however, I am still enjoying it and wondering what the big secret is and where a few of the character fit in.

There are multiple timeliness throughout which can get a little confusing because some of them are from characters that don't have a huge role in the story.

Wow, that ending really turned this book around for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this. I would definitely recommend this to other thriller readers.

3.5 star

Not my favorite book to be honest. The death was too much for my taste. I also seemed to loose interest as I was reading until about the last 10-15% where I couldn’t put it down and the twists were totally unexpected.

Did you ever have a friend who likes to rub in our face that they have a secret but then never tell you the secret? That is how I felt reading this story. Like everyone knew what happened but they didn't want to tell me. Then when I finally found out what the secret it was, it wasn't a juicy as you expected it to be. I think the downfall for me was that I just didn't care much for the characters so I just couldn't invest in them. It took me forever to finish because I never felt compelled to pick up.

I am actually speechless. 27 minutes was a slow burn thriller that followed a community, a decade after tragedy stuck. The characters were so well written that I felt like I knew and grew up with each and every one of them. The mystery, grief, and trauma were real and so powerful. My heart pounding right to the every end.

Thank you, Ashley Tate, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this was not my cup of tea. I was disappointed by the plot and the characters annoyed me.

The way this book builds tension is unreal. The last half of the book in particular felt like a corkscrew, grinding and grinding towards the conclusion. The reveals were enjoyable and exciting as they came, and I felt myself pulled along and unable to put the book down, finishing the last half in one sitting. The prose is literary leaning, the style lovely and stark and heart-breaking. This book feels like grief in verse. I loved it. If you enjoyed We Were Liars, or are looking for a literary modern version of an Agatha Christie novel with more teeth, you'll love this book, too.

Ashley Tate does a great job maintaining the constant time warps between the present day & ten years ago. The dialogue is real & authentic. The story grabbed my attention from the beginning. It gives you little glimpses into what happened the night Phoebe died from different perspectives. Everyone has secrets & lies from that night, but the ultimate reveal was not one I was expecting.

What a whirlwind. An absolutely devour-in-one-sitting read. I loved this!!There was just something addictive about it. For one, the story was great. There were a few twists that I didn’t see coming but when they did, I immediately thought “that makes sense”. . The plot is also dark, and it only gets darker as it thickens. At the same time, it’s a very easy read with simple language providing a deep impact. Could not read it fast enough to contain my suspense. Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC <3

This is a deep but slow moving story of three people coping with a tragedy, a car accident that killed a teenage girl 10 years ago. Characters with secrets and characters that lie to them. It is told both in present time and in the past with multiple voices. I was glad I read it but did struggle with the pace

Debut author Ashley Tate has written a fresh book about a drive gone wrong, ending in a beloved teenage girl's death - Twenty Seven Minutes is set to be published in January 2024!

The anniversary of Pheobe's death is coming, and the town is on edge. What happened that night, and why did it take 27 minutes for Pheobe's brother to call for help? He's lost all respect and all sense of self-worth. Becca, another passenger in the car, is obsessed with that night and her perceived relationship with Grant. Wyatt went missing that night, and his sister has no idea what happened to him. What exactly happened on that drive home? Will the anniversary of the accident force everything into the light?

The novel takes place in the last couple days leading up to the anniversary from the perspective of a variety of characters. I personally never connected with any of them; I found them all distasteful and not excitingly so. The story felt drawn out to me, and I never felt a compulsion to keep reading. There were some twists at the end, and I was surprised by a few elements - which is always fun!

Grab this one at a library or share with a friend!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC; all opinions are my own.

"Twenty-Seven Minutes" by Ashley Tate is an absolute page-turner that delivers on its promises of suspense, tension, and gripping storytelling. Tate's masterful narrative craft keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout, leaving you guessing until the very end.

The story revolves around a small town's decade-old tragedy, and the author skillfully weaves together the past and present, unveiling secrets and hidden truths that will keep you captivated. What sets this novel apart is its exceptional character development, with multi-dimensional characters who elicit a wide range of emotions from readers.

The small-town setting, filled with gossip, parental expectations, and unresolved mysteries, adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. The writing is both insightful and cryptic, providing a thought-provoking exploration of how past events can shape the present and influence the bonds between siblings.

The heart-wrenching prologue sets the tone for the entire book, and the author's storytelling prowess shines through in every chapter. The pacing is impeccable, with short chapters that keep you eagerly turning pages, craving the next breadcrumb of information or plot twist.

As the story unfolds through multiple points of view, the author skillfully navigates unreliable narrators, making you question every character's truth and perspective. This character-driven narrative is a testament to Tate's storytelling abilities, and it's astonishing to think that this is her debut novel.

"Twenty-Seven Minutes" is a dark and ominous masterpiece filled with grief, trauma, tragedy, and secrets. Ashley Tate has proven herself as a natural-born storyteller, and this book is undoubtedly one of the standout thrillers of 2024. If you're a fan of small-town mysteries, complex characters, and unexpected twists, don't miss out on this extraordinary debut. Tate has set a high bar for herself, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
Thank you NETGALLEY and the publishing coffee for allowing me to read and review this early.

This one was a gripping suspense that kept me guessing until the end. There was A lot of characters at once. I was a little overwhelmed to start but once I knew who was who this was a fun read. The ending when Grant was screaming Wy! Brilliant! Thank you net galley and author Ashley Tate for this ARC!

Characters fell flat for me, and often felt like the story was lacking in “suspense”. I tried really hard to like it, but it just wasn’t for me.

The characters fell flat for me. I didn’t enjoy how the timeline was written or how slow the book was. I didn’t enjoy any of the characters or how they were introduced to the story.

Publication date Jan 30, 2024
Review: 4/5⭐️
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Trigger Warnings: Alcohol, Teen Death, Loss, Family Betrayal


Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate will leave you guessing to what truly happened in the town of West Wilmer the night Pheobe dies from a tragic accident on the bridge. Questions are going around as to why Grant waited twenty-seven minutes to call the accident in and what was he hiding? Everyone knows that they were not alone; and that Becca Hoyt was in the truck too. What does Becca know?

This mystery/thriller genre is portrayed in two timelines – Ten years ago and the present day. There are multiple characters that all play a role in what happens throughout this book. You will get to hear POV’s from Grant, Becca, June, and Wyatt. Get ready to embark on a journey of emotions as this book is full of secrets, lies, and regrets!

Grant and Pheobe have an inseparable sibling bond and their plan is to leave town together after graduation. Who would have thought Grant would be changing his mind after secretly dating behind Phoebe’s back and losing all focus to their future? Phoebe was very protective over Grant and Becca was madly in love with him. Does Phoebe find out who Grant is seeing? Does this explain why Becca Hoyt was in the truck the night of the accident?

Also, the night of the accident Wyatt disappears from home. Where does he go and why did he leave? June is left to tend to her mother until the day she passes, and Wyatt shows up at her doorstep. There are so many questions that June wants to ask, but Wyatt says he needs more time before he explains, and she cannot let anyone know he returned. Wyatt has a secret of his own that results in bruises all over his body and his teeth are beginning to fall out. Is there a connection to Pheobe’s death?

I was truly captivated with this book and Ashley Tate did a great job building suspense. This being my first book read by this author I was impressed with her execution. I would not hesitate to read future books from her or recommending them to my friends.

Thank you #AshleyTate #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for providing me with an #ARC of this book!

As much as i loved the prologue and general idea behind the book it was a hard read. The characters were bland and the multiple PoV became hard to keep track of. The "twist" even though was a little shocking, was predictible. As a debut the author is very promising and I cant wait to see what she has in store. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.