I couldn't get into it. I tried and kept coming back to it but it just didn't keep my interest at all. I also thought this might be a second or something bc I didn't understand some things.

This was by first book by Anne Frasier, with that said I kind of had mixed feelings about this story. It was slow build but once it got going, it had you hooked with all the characters. A small town with secrets to deep that it would have to be in outsider but once part of community to bring town the crimes.

It was just a crazy twist of fate it had you wondering if you had it read it wrong. I can say after reading the story, it truly has me scared to live in a small town. lol

Oliva private detective has not been to her hometown since her childhood, but when childhood friend calls begging for her help, she returns both to help and maybe get answers to so many unanswered questions from her past.

With time on her side, she starts to uncover more questions than answers. With her life at stake, she must close this chapter of her life more than ever.

The Night I Died by Anne Frasier

This wasn’t easy for me to get into, so I read reviews for the book and found a mixed bag that included some that were glowing and some that were quite the opposite…so…I read the end and took time away from the story and then went back in to try again rather than giving up as I thought about doing. And I did finish the book and came away feeling better about it than I did in the first few chapters.

What I liked:
* Olivia Welles: survivor of a train wreck, flat-lined/died more than once, private investigator, actress, dog lover, has holes in her memory, intelligent, liked her but also felt a bit sorry for her
* Will LaFever: journalist, has big writing goals, one-time swimming athlete, interested in the possible multiple child killings that took place in Finney County, intrigued by Olivia
* Dorothy: a rescue dog that Olivia takes under her wing
* Ezra: a young man that Olivia took responsibility for who know works for and with her
* The creep-factor of the Kansas town and its citizens - how can so many be clueless and blind to some of the goings on in town
* The way the story unfolded…it definitely grew on me as Olivia started to piece things together
* Wondering if there is something in the air or water in some places that increases the number of killers
* Wasn’t sure about the many references to The Wizard of Oz and True Blood. For some they might be wonderful but for others a bit much. I also thought of murders in cornfields and had to look up the movie Children of the Corn and found its setting was neighboring Nebraska and not Kansas
* Thinking about LONG rides from Des Moines to California that went through the flatlands of the Midwest but also remembering some beautiful scenery, too.
* That I actually finished the book

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about killers and what motivates them
* That I felt I needed more backstory on Olivia and Will and wondered if this is the beginning of a series and more will be provided later or if I will be left wondering

Did I enjoy this book? Eventually
Would I read more by this author? I think so

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

A well written book by an established author that kept me turning the pages. Would recommend to others as it was captivating, and intriguing.

"Wow, "The Night I Died" by Anne Frasier totally rocked my reading world this year! Picture this: small-town vibes, a dash of suspense, and the spooky charm of Finney County, Kansas. Olivia is just amazing – she's smart, sassy, and a total dog lover. The story's twists and turns had me totally hooked. Anne Frasier's way of describing the characters makes them jump off the page. If you're into thrilling and atmospheric reads, this book is a must! Highly recommend diving into this captivating tale!"

I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!

I enjoy a good murder mystery, and this was a fun read. The first half was a bit slow, but things picked up in the middle. I was surprised at one of the twists happening about 3/4 of the way through, an left me wondering what else could possibly happen. The last 1/4 wraps things up with lots of twists. Even though it was a little predictable at parts, I still enjoyed this book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC. It started out strong and then went downhill. I need a book that keeps me hooked all the way through. This wasn’t it.

This novel started out so promising and felt like it went a bit downhill after that. It was slow and I found myself getting a bit bored! The pacing was off and I found it to be predictable. I give it 3 stars as it was still an interesting read.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Night I Died by Anne Frasier.

I have read a few of Frasier's now and I usually love them, but this was a bit of a mess. The execution wasn't bad, I really enjoyed elements of the story, especially the friendship between Olivia and Will, but so much of the plot was messy and undercooked. I never quite had a grasp of the hazy crimes that Olivia was returning to her home town to investigate, and the longer the story went, the less uncertain I was. I think that this could have really had potential, but the whole thing felt rushed.

This novel has a complex murder plot but it is well crafted. The current deaths had much to do with past events. We discover the truth along with Olivia. There were quite a few twists as secrets were revealed involving her life and childhood experiences.

I liked Olivia as a private detective. She is a brave woman for being willing to go back to the scene of her life-changing childhood experience. Will is a good sidekick and I appreciated the dog rescue, both aspects of the plot adding some interest. And the motive for the murders was something I had never seen before.

This is the first novel I have read by Frasier and will be looking for more.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This book caught be in the beginning but king of lost me in the middle to end. It’s a creative book and the writing is good. I was looking for a fast thriller. This one is more like a slow burn. Also, it has a YA style to it. I’m just not really a YA person. I recommend though if anyone is looking for a slow burn or YA. Thank you for letting me review and read on netgallery!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book follows Olivia a private detective who goes to her hometown after she died (yep she died and came back to life). However her 'quiet life' comes tumbling down when she gets a call from a fellow survivor Bonnie who needs help after being accused of murdering her son. Through help from a journalist giving cozy mystery vibes she aims to find the truth. It's a domestic thriller perfect for fans of thrillers with a twist and with lovable characters.

Olivia Welles nearly died when she was a young girl, barely surviving a horrific car vs train accident that killed her best friend Maize and her own mother. Many years later, one of the other train accident survivors, Maize's little sister Bonnie, calls Olivia from jail. She's been taken in after the suspicious death of her third child. Olivia goes back to her hometown for the first time since that fatal accident to try to help Bonnie and has no idea the trap she's about to fall into.

This book was wild and took me on quite an interesting journey. With many sort of strange sub plots and characters I felt like I was kind of in an episode of Twin Peaks! This had a strange vibe throughout. I thought it dragged a bit in the beginning but it picked up speed in the last third. Definitely some interesting twists and karma moments. I'm still not sure things were tied up nicely but in this case that's okay, it was a partially closed ending with enough to draw my own conclusions. I didn't find any characters all the likable (except maybe Dorothy the dog) but overall a decent and unique story. Solid four stars (the weirdness factor definitely rounded it up for me).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer, and Anne Frasier for allowing me to review this fast paced thriller. Olivia survived a tragic event in her past and has never been home since. A fellow survivor, Bonnie, asks for Olivia’s help as she has been accused of murdering her young son. Olivia uses her detective skills to help solve this case and comes homes for the first time. Wow! This was full of twists and turns! I really enjoyed this mystery thriller. Thank you again for allowing me to review this entertaining book. It’s a wild ride!

I've read other books by this author, and I was excited to check this one out. It did not disappoint!

There were a few twists that totally caught me off guard ... and that's always a good thing! I love that the author didn't feel the need to force a romantic angle to the story, instead focusing on a solid, engaging mystery. There were a few places where unnecessary details created a bit of a lull. However, overall, this was a great story with well-crafted, realistic characters. I enjoyed the banter between Olivia and Will, and Dorothy was a fun addition. I read this around Halloween, and the creepy town fit in perfectly! I look forward to reading more from Frasier.


Trigger Warning: Child Mortality

Private investigator Olivia Wells gets a call from a young woman who is being held under suspicion that she murdered three of her children.
Olivia knows this woman because she was the sister of her best friend who died in a car accident that Olivia "died" in.
This book has a ton of glowing reviews but it just did not work that great for me. I got tired of the repetition. Then the twists were just kinda not my favorite. When the first one popped up I was like "Ok I can deal with that" but then the kitchen sink got thrown in and I was bleck.

Netgalley in exchange for review.

Just couldn’t get into this one. It was an interesting idea but for whatever reason I couldn’t connect with the characters.

Private detective Olivia Welles hasn’t been back to her hometown in Kansas since childhood, not since the night she died in a car crash and came back to life in the morgue. Years later fellow survivor Bonnie Ray, now charged with murdering her own young son, calls from a Kansas jail asking for Olivia's help. With the assistance of journalist Will LaFever, Truman Capote wannabe, Olivia investigates the circumstances surrounding Bonnie's son's death and uncovers more than she bargained for.

I really enjoyed this book and found it well written and a smooth read. The characters are well drawn and I liked the bantering between Olivia and Will and how their relationship developed but not in a romantic way thank heavens. I especially loved Dorothy the dog. The town is quite creepy and the residents made me uneasy. I really liked how the author didn't take key incidents in the direction I was expecting but veered into unexpected territory instead. A refreshing change from cookie-cutter type plots. I'd love to see this duo become a series but wouldn't want to see their releationship become a romantic one.

TW: Child Mortality

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: October 24, 2023

THE NIGHT I DIED by Anne Frasier was a story I couldn't resist being set in Western Kansas, where I grew up!

Private Detective Olivia is lured back to Kansas from LA by the phone call from Bonnie, a woman being investigated for harming her 3rd child, after the death of her first two. This brings back the first time Olivia died. As a child, Olivia was riding with her best friend Maizie, Bonnie, and their mom, Ava along with Olivia's mom when an accident occurred on the train tracks. Ava and Bonnie were left alive and the other taken to the morgue where Olivia came back to life. The investigation for Bonnie stirs up old secrets that both Olivia and Will, a reporter, are uncovering, but not before another murder occurs.

This story had promise. Simply put, it just didn't deliver for me. It was a bit too predictable, the characters needed more development for my liking, and there were some area discrepancies that I noticed. Since this last one will be noticed by tens of readers, I can forgive this aspect in fiction!

If you are looking for a quick Detective read, this is a decent choice. I thought it was fine.

Thank you to @netgalley & Thomas & Mercer for the digital ARC of this book that publishes today!