This thriller had me hooked from the start!
A very hard to put down book. The writing flowed so well and it was very descriptive

Grief, Secrets, and Small-Town Tragedy

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is a gripping debut novel set in the small town of West Wilmer. The story unfolds ten years after the tragic death of Phoebe Dean, a beloved local teenager who lost her life in a car accident. The plot kicks off with the return of Wyatt, who had mysteriously disappeared the night Phoebe died. His return sparks a renewed interest in uncovering the truth about that fateful night. The narrative is told over three days, interspersed with flashbacks, as the characters confront their pasts and the dark secrets that have been buried for a decade.

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is a commendable debut that explores profound themes through a suspenseful and character-driven narrative. While it may have its pacing issues, the novel's strengths lie in its complex characters and emotional depth. It is a recommended read for fans of literary suspense and those interested in exploring the darker aspects of human experience.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press - the Publisher and last but not least, Ashley Tate for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. My review is based soley on my own personal opinion and experience.

Twenty-Seven Minutes” by Ashley Tate is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that explores the intricacies of grief, regret, and the lingering effects of past events. Set in the small, claustrophobic town of West Wilmer, the story revolves around the mysterious circumstances of a tragic accident that has left a lasting impact on its residents. The author masterfully crafts a narrative brimming with tension and suspense, ensuring readers remain engaged from beginning to end. The characters are intricately developed, each harboring their own secrets and motivations, which add significant depth to the story. The themes of grief and regret are explored with emotional complexity, making the novel resonate deeply.

One of the standout features of “Twenty-Seven Minutes” is the vivid depiction of the small-town setting. The detailed descriptions and atmospheric writing immerse the reader in the world of the novel, enhancing the overall reading experience. The plot is rich with twists and turns, and the final twist is particularly satisfying, rewarding readers who have been attentive to the clues scattered throughout the story. However, some readers might find the pacing a bit slow in the middle sections, which can affect the story’s overall momentum. Additionally, while the main characters are well-developed, some secondary characters could benefit from more detailed backstories to fully flesh out their roles in the narrative.

Despite these minor critiques, “Twenty-Seven Minutes” is a gripping and well-crafted debut novel that I highly recommend to fans of literary suspense and mystery.

4.5 Stars

This story was a slow burn plot which isn't a bad thing but at certain points it was too slow. I was often hoping that the story would jump ahead to get to a twist, to find a happy moment for a character, to stop focusing on such a grey cloud over this small town. I felt much empathy for too many characters in this story. This town has experienced too much trauma in a small amount of time. I was happy to get to the end and was surprised by the outcome.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity.

The only reason why I finished this book was because I wanted to figure out who the most mentally unstable one was.

This was a hard no for me.

I actually ended up listening to the audiobook of Twenty-Seven Minutes and I had to wait for a long time on the hold list so it's been really popular with our patrons.

I liked this story...I liked the mystery that slowly unfolded and I thought the supernatural elements were great. I'm from a small town and I know how an accident like the one in this book can put a strain on the community.

The audiobook was excellent, too! I'm going to be recommending this book for readers who like psychological thrillers.

100% yes! I loved this book so much and was thrilled to find a new favourite author! Definite recommendation to friends and family!

This book kept me in suspense until the end. The story moved along well with a good mix of past and present and also a good mix of telling the story from different perspectives. I was interested until the end, and the reveal was something that could not have predicted. It really shows how the death of an individual impacts not just their immediate family but the community around them as well but also how perceptions and assumptions can shade how someone is viewed, even many years later.

Twenty-Seven Minutes is a slow-burn, dual timeline mystery about the events surrounding the death of a small town's most popular girl.. The dual timelines worked really well in the story, as the town approaches the 10-year anniversary of her death in the present day, rumors swirl and interest in the case is renewed. Why did Phoebe's brother Grant wait 27 minutes before calling the police the night of her death? Was it to sober up? What really happened that night? While the twist at the end did not shock me (I read a lot in this genre, so it takes a lot to shock me with a twist), it was a satisfactory ending to the story.

I absolutely loved this book!! I couldn’t put it down.
I just loved all the characters. I highly recommend this book.

I wanted to love this story - the idea really drew me in, but I just could mot get into this kne. Perhaps bad timing on my part but I had trouble following the story and keeping the important characters straight.

I do think that author did a great job of bringing everything together at th end and providing a great twist. It was just too late in the story for me.

I had a hard time connecting to the characters in this book. I wasn't invested in what happened until halfway through the story. I did like that the chapters are short and that they alternate POV between the main characters affected by the accident and that we alternate between the present and the past. I was not able to guess the ending of this story, so that was a great surprise.

In the realm of ashley audrain but not quite as strong, doesnt deserve the bad reviews IMO, i actually enjoyed this one, wasnt the most shocking but still an enjoyable read!

This was an exciting and fast-paced thriller. The writing could have been better, but overall I enjoyed it.

This is a really well written thriller and kept a lot of suspense. The characters were a bit hard to connect with, and it slowed down in some areas.
Overall it was good and the storyline was really interesting!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
I’ve really got to say, the concept of this book was extremely interesting to me. The idea of the plot was what initially drew me to this book, and made me want to read it. That being said, this is definitely a slow burn story. The pacing was extremely slow, and at times I felt like I was skipping paragraphs just to keep moving along.

I’m always a fan of books that keep me guessing right up until the end, and this book really did do that! I had no idea the actual outcome of this story until the last couple chapters, which hardly ever happens to me.

For the characters themselves, I didn’t find any of them particularly likeable or even reliable. This made it difficult for me at times, to try and understand their thought process at moments. Overall, the author did do a great job of developing the characters (even if I wasn’t a fan of them).

Overall, this was a slow read and hard to get into, but once I did finally get far enough into the book, I did enjoy reading it. That ending though😧

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆:
- ⏳ Slow-burn stories
- 🎭 Emotional reads
- 🏘️ Small town drama

𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon - Beead and Butter Wines🍷

Phoebe died in a car crash at 17, with her brother Grant at the wheel. Becca, another passenger, spent 18 days in the hospital and appears unhinged in both present and flashback scenes. Siblings June and Wyatt offer their perspectives on the tragic day.

Though each character is unlikable, they are distinct and easy to differentiate in the narrative. There's no sympathy for Phoebe as her troubled nature is gradually revealed. Flashbacks from 10 years ago, narrated by various party attendees, shed light on events. The present-day storyline spans only three days but feels longer.

Overall, the debut reads like YA, and I felt that the characters faiedl to mature even after a decade. Despite a slow buildup, the suspense keeps the reader engaged. The twist was unexpected, showing the author's potential for future works.

I was so excited for this book, but unfortunately it just didn't live up to the hype. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and I found the story to be drawn out and tedious. Finding out what actually happened in the twenty-seven minutes was the only thing that kept me reading and I ended up being disappointed in that reveal. I always love reading Canadian authors, but I don't think I'll be picking up a book from Ashley Tate again.

I was very disappointed in this one and I was so looking forwards to reading it. I just found that for over 300 pages long, nothing much happens. All the characters were unlikable and the "twist" was predictable and disappointing.

The way this book was written was beautiful.
I enjoyed the woven storylines, the characterization and the need to keep turning the pages so that I could learn more.
The twists - more than one - is what sets this book apart from so many others in the genre.
My heart was torn for so many of the characters.
This is a story that won't leave you.