Liss Kehoe was thrown into motherhood unexpectedly when her husband’s mistress, Ashley Hay, appeared at her door with baby Callan. Ashley handed the newborn to Liss and then disappeared. Fifteen years later, Liss is a protective mother of her teenage son, Callan. She has loved him as her own all these years but often wonders if Ashley will return wanting her son back.

This story is one of the twistiest and captivating novels that I’ve read this year! The amount of detail that went into the backstories of the characters made for an engaging read that kept me anticipating what would happen next! I love when a storyline takes you in different directions and I have to fit the pieces together. Being a mom of three sons.m, I appreciated the relatable family connections. Parts family drama, police procedural, and small town secrets, this is the perfect mystery/suspense thriller! Thank you @thrillerloverbookpromotions for my gifted arc

I’ll admit, I had a hard time getting into this one at first, but then the characters started to grow on me and I became invested. The storyline got really good towards the end and there were definitely some twists involved. Worth the read for sure.

Ashley Hay showed up at Liss Kehoe's house in the middle of the night, handed her a baby (Callan), and was never seen again. When Ashley's car is found in a quarry fifteen years later, Liss begins to question everything. As the questions pile up and tensions build, it becomes clear that truth about what happened to Ashley is going to blow her life and her small town apart.

This one had it all -- family drama, small-town meddling, secrets, lies, betrayal, conflict, and even a smidge of romance. I think this was kind of a slow burn, and I figured out Ashley's deal pretty early on, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone looking for a layered, well-written, domestic suspense thriller.

Fifteen years ago, Ashley Hay knocked on Liss Kehoe’s door and handed over her baby, Callan. Then she completely disappeared 🤔🤔 Liss raised Callan as her own. However, one night everything changes when Ashley’s car is found at the bottom of the quarry pond on Liss’ estate… 😱😱 major awks….!!!

This was a solid domestic suspense novel full of LOADS of characters. It was a bit confusing 😵‍💫😵‍💫 to get to grips with them all first but I got into the swing of it after a few chapters. Its definitely a slow burn 🔥 and as someone who likes a bit of pace in my thrillers, the “hook” didn’t come in for me until about 50% with the last 20% being a bit of a sprint 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Told from Liss, Mercer, and an “interstitial“ POV, I was invested in Liss the whole way. Link is an absolute tosspot 😅 Mercer was an alright dude. Lots of unlikeable characters (which I like). I didn’t guess the baddie so always a bonus 🤩🤩

It gave me Broadchurch vibes with its small community and I liked how all the secrets were pulled together in the end - even if one character never got the comeuppance I felt they deserved 😏😏

For fans of a slow burn domestic suspense, The Death of Us will have you guessing and turning the pages into the wee hours.

Liss Kehoe has been raising Callan as her own for fifteen years, since the night his mother Ashley thrust him into Liss’s arms and disappeared into the night, never to be seen again. All these years later, Ashley’s car is found in the bottom on the quarry pond near Liss’s house, bringing to light new questions and old secrets. Was Ashley’s death accidental, or did someone have a reason to want her gone?

This was my first time reading a book by Lori Rader-Day, but it definitely won’t be my last! This book had so many things I love in a thriller: family drama, corruption, a small town full of secrets, and a police procedural. The drama between Liss and her almost-divorced husband, her soon-to-be former in-laws, and her nipped-in-the-bud romance with a police marshal all underpin a tensely-written plot that I couldn’t get enough of! With no shortage of suspects, I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the culprit. Even when I thought I had it figured out, the author had another trick up her sleeve to surprise me!

Highly recommended for fans of small-town domestic suspense! Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for providing me an advance copy of this book.

3.25 stars... I enjoyed this book but that's really it. I felt engaged the entire time and was invested in figuring out the killer. The twists were great and overall I feel satisfied with the story and how it ended. My main hangup is that I wasn't too crazy about any of the characters. I didn't feel like any of them had much depth.. like there wasn't anything about any of them that made me "root" for them in any aspect. I don't think this book is anything great, but it was pretty good. I'd say read it if you like plot driver true crime books.

This is my first read by Lori Rader-Day and... I LOVED it!

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Suspense: 5/5
Overall: 4/5

This story follows Liss Kehoe, who, 15 years ago, opened up her door to see her husband's mistress Ashley Hay holding up her baby son. Ashley ends up handing over her son, Callan, to Liss and asks her to watch over him for a few hours. Ashley is never seen or heard from again.

Liss then takes over motherhood and does everything in her power to raise Callan as her son. She was always afraid that Ashley would turn up and claim back her son. One day, Callan and his friends are taking a joy ride and almost drive off into a quarry near their house and end up finding a part of a car submerged. Eventually, the police confirm there are remains found in the car, and they are of Ashley Hay. As police re-open an investigation, it messes up Liss's life even more than it already is.

The Death of Us was soooo good! Great plot, suspenseful, wonderful writing, and twist after twist I didn't see coming. I also loved the unconditional love oozing from Liss for Callan. It also had a perfect ending that left me satisfied.

Pub date: October 3rd, 2023
Thank you Lori Rader-Day, William Morrow, NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

I read this in two sittings, in less than a day. It definitely kept me turning the pages and guessing! In the end I caught on faster than Liss or Mercer, but only by a little.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧: 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧...𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲'𝐬 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧? 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧? 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝...𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝.

My first read from this author, and it won't be my last! Liss Kehoe’s life was forever changed by a knock at the door 15 years ago. Ashley Hay stood on the front porch and handed over her newborn baby Callan and was never seen or heard from again. Since that night, Liss has raised Callan as her own, but in the back of her mind, she’s always wondered whether Ashley is still out there somewhere—and feared what might happen if she comes back.

When Ashley does reappear, it’s in the quarry pond on Kehoe property. But the discovery of the car dredges up more questions than answers. Was it a tragic accident, or something far more sinister? Someone in town knows the truth, and they’ll go to great lengths to keep it quiet.

Initially it was a little overwhelming to keep track of all the characters, but the plot quickly found its rhythm and everyone settled into place. This was a tense, layered domestic suspense that explores the complex relationship between mother and son with ease. It also reminds us that secrets can never really stay buried because the past will always come calling.

Thank you to William Morrow Books and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for this thrilling early read. This title will publish October 3, 2023.

3 5 rounded to 4

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for access to this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not sure the writing style was for me. At first it was quite confusing with the different characters, then the slow pace of the book but it got better at the end hence my rating. I was rooting for Liss since the beginning !

This story was written with such an economy of words, coming directly from a Lianne Moriarty book with the plentifully flowing prose, I had a bit of a culture shock😂. Once I got over the abruptness of the narrative, I realized how much it fit the story being told , a narrative as sharp as the quarry it was telling us about.

The book had many characters and points of views but each of them distinct and memorable. Some likable, some very much not. I loved the 3 central figures, Liss, Callan and Mercer and was gripped by the mystery till the end. Expect some pretty shocking twists. I did not predict whodunnit but I wasn’t surprised, if that makes sense. I am now going to go check out other books by the same author.

Many thanks to Netgalley, William Morrow and Lori Rader-Day for my very first ARC! What a lovely experience.

Fifteen years ago Liss Kehoes husband’s mistress leaves the baby and never returns. Present day her car is pulled out of the quarry on their land. Mercer
Investigates the case and dark family secrets are revealed. This was an exciting read that kept me up into the night. Thanks NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC that will be released October 3, 2023!

I have loved all of Lori Rader-Day's books and The Death of Us was no exception. Although I found the story difficult to get into at first, once I did the story went like gangbusters. As with all of her titles I highly recommend this title. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this digital ARC.

Mystery/suspense is my favorite genre. The premise of The Death of Us was intriguing. The slow beginning of this book really turned me off and it became a DNF for me. I gave it a lot of chances based on prior reviews and the kudos from authors that I respect. Besides the slow pacing, what turned me off was the beginning synopsis. The disjointed dialogue confused me. As Callan and Liss hemmed and hawed at the beginning, I lost interest.

The Death of Us is the first book book that I have read by the award winning author Lori Rader-Day; it will not be my last. The Death of Us tells the story of a prominent small town family, living a life based on secrets, lies, unresolved conflicts, betrayal, evil and love.. When the body of a young woman who went missing fifteen years prior is discovered, everyone's life is upended, and the discovery has far-reacing ramifications for the family and the community. I must admit that at first the book seemed a bit slow to me, however that was a short-lived reaction. Once it picked up, it was a thrill ride filled with action and extremely believable characters, both good and evil. The pace quickened; I was hooked, and couldn't put it down till the final word. The Death of Us is a highly satisfying read, I highly recommend it. 4 stars.
I received an ARC through NetGalley; that in no way impacted by review.

Holy cannoli! Yet again, I was blown away by one of Lori Rader-Day’s books. The Death of Us was so good, in fact, that I actually forgot I was reading. With a powerful plot, heaps of foreboding, and a poignant mother-and-son relationship, it had me from hello right from the very beginning. But that wasn’t all that I loved, so let me break it down…

The plot was typical Rader-Day through and through. Complex and deftly layered, it felt both genuine but also required a definite suspension of disbelief. At the same time, however, there wasn’t even a hint of anything over-the-top, a fact that couldn’t have been easy to achieve. Told primarily via dual POVs, each filled in just enough detail to keep me firmly in the dark. And with potential suspects galore, I was left unable to guess which decidedly iffy individual could be behind the evil deeds, as there were plenty of characters here that you’ll absolutely love to hate.

The twists, however, were what took this book from one to a hundred. With one in particular that literally had me calling out “WHAT?!” into the night. And as each one came to pass, the foreboding only crept higher up the dial, leading me to flip each page faster than the last. Perhaps that was why I read this book in just about twenty-four hours, but, of course, you won’t hear me complaining.

If I had to name my absolute favorite piece to this domestic suspense novel, however, it most certainly was that compelling mother-and-son relationship. While far from sweet and endearing thanks to Callan’s very true-to-life teenage angst, Liss’s love for him was thick from the start. Even better, though, was how their bond was hardly the only one explored. In a small town heaving with connections, I was delighted by how genuine it all felt, making the scenes play out like I was watching the gossip swirl from the sidelines. Bravo, Ms. Rader-Day, your evocative descriptions brought it all to life for me in a rather breathtaking way.

The only part that didn’t quite win me over was the somewhat confusing slow burn start that was rife with altogether too many characters. Granted, they were necessary due to the multiple storylines running throughout, but my head was reeling nevertheless. Was it necessary given the ultimate direction of the plot? Most definitely, as the subplots wove together into a blindly brilliant climax that had my pulse pounded with rising dread. After all, even the conclusion that followed meant stitching those pieces together. But then, it was the perfect ending to a stellar family drama that ran along the edges of all of those epic thrills and chills.

Done and dusted, I’m already throwing The Death of Us back onto my TBR pile. With so many threads for me to re-explore, I’m excited to dig deeper into the red herrings and rotten dirty deeds. Coming out on October 3rd, I strongly recommend you pre-order this puppy now. But if you can’t wait that long, definitely check out Rader-Day’s backlist. You won’t be disappointed. As if it isn’t already obvious, I give this one two enthusiastic thumbs up. Rating of 4.5 stars (upgraded).

Thank you to @thrillerbookloverpromotions and William Morrow for the ARC!

Fifteen years ago, Ashley gave up her baby Callan to Lissette; as it turns out, Callan is the product of Ashley’s affair with Lissette’s husband Link Kehole. Lissette loved Callan and raised him as her own, and Ashley seemingly disappeared. But Lissette always wondered where she was and dreaded her possible return, knowing how hard it would be for Callan. Now, after all these years, Ashley’s car is found on the Keholes’ property. What really happened to Ashley? Was it a tragic accident or something more disturbing?

A solid domestic suspense novel, “The Death of Us” pulled me in from the very first few pages! The tension, the fear and the apprehension for Lissette was palpable and I found myself reading late into the night to find out what was going on with Ashley. While initially a bit confusing with so many characters, once I got a little bit into the story, I understood the value of them. Since it was set in a small town, it was beneficial to see the multiple points of view to see who knew what. Because as it turned out, everyone seemed to have their own bit of info to add.

Thank you to Lori Rader-Day, @Thrillerbookloverpromotions and William Morrow for the ARC! “The Death of Us” releases October 2, 2023. This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

The entire Kehoe family is full of secrets that they are unable to hide from in their small town. Everyone seems to know everything that goes on and everybody talks. When a discovery is made in the quarry on their land, the town is quick to point fingers.

I really enjoyed the plot in “The Death of Us”. I will admit, it was a little difficult to keep up with all the characters in the beginning and made me unsure about how it would turn out and how they would all tie together. However, the story (and the secrets) just ended up getting better and better!

Set in a small town filled with secrets Ashley hands over her brand new baby, Callan, on the front porch of Liss’s house. Ashley leaves and is never seen or heard from again. Liss has no choice but to raise Callan as her own. She treats him like he’s her son but does wonder what happened to Ashley. Many years later Ashley’s car is found at the bottom of pond. The discovery of her car digs up many more questions than answers uncovering secrets and darker pasts. What happened to Ashley? Who is hiding what really happened?

Thoughts: If you like a very slow burn with many characters and lots of secrets this book is for you. I liked the mystery behind Ashley and her son. I found myself wondering what really happened to make her up and disappear leaving her most prized possessions with someone else. I am one that doesn’t mind a slow burn but I did struggle with the pacing of this book a bit as it seemed like the action took place in the last 15% of the book. My favorite character was Liss as I she had a good heart and was wholesome. Some of the other characters I struggled to connect with.

Liss Kehoe’s life changed the day her husband’s lover, Ashley Hay, dropped off their baby Callan and never returned in the page-turner mystery The Death of Us by Lori Rader-Day coming out October 3. Never mind that Callan is a “love child”—Liss loved him unconditionally and raised him into the teenager he has become in a twisted tale of love, betrayal, and family secrets.

The plot starts 15 years later when a car is spotted in a quarry on the Kehoe family property consisting of the original home in which Liss, Link, and Callan lived until she kicked out Link as well as the newer home where Link’s parents Patty and Rockwell live. Callan and his friends almost wind up in the quarry themselves when their driver loses control in the same area. Law enforcement arrives and begins a recovery of the submerged car, which appears to be Ashley’s vehicle.

Liss had always feared that Ashley would show up one day wanting to reclaim Callan, but Liss could never have guessed that Ashley might have run off the road the night she gave Callan to Liss. Will there be a body when the car is pulled out? If it turns out to be Ashley’s remains in the car, what caused her to drive into the quarry? Was she suicidal or was there something more evil going on?

After the quarry discovery and identification is complete, Liss starts receiving hangups at all times in the night and early morning. Someone paints “KILLER” in red on her white barn. Apparently, her mailbox has suffered an “accident.” She comes home one night to see a light moving around in her house so she flees and calls the police. She and Callan need not only protection but also answers that will put this seeming scandal and possible murder to rest.

Lori Rader-Day is also the author of Death at Greenway, a work of historical fiction about a mystery at the home of Agatha Christie where children were evacuated during World War II. Born in Indiana, she lives in Chicago, where she teaches creative writing for Northwestern University.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting August 23, 2023.

I would like to thank William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.