Member Reviews

An absolute speeding train of a book - fast-paced, compelling, absorbing - this is the kind of book that keeps you up all night because you just want to know what happens next. The characters are interesting, the setting is unique and the storyline is crazy but also somehow just realistic enough to keep the reader believing.
Loved it and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a page-turner.

Was this review helpful?

Another fantastic story from Anne Frazier! I can honestly say, I would never want to visit this town. What a group of horrible people. But I did like the relationship that developed between Olivia and Will. It felt right. The story had so many twists and turns, I started to doubt who I thought was guilty. I was right about who I thought it was, but there was so much more to it. When they say it takes a village, they don’t just mean helping. They mean hurting too. Overall, I loved the story and I’ll definitely be reading the next one!

Huge thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

Was this review helpful?

The Night I Died was an INCREDIBLE read. I’ve never read anything by Anne Frasier before, so I didn’t have any expectations going in. So imagine my surprise when this ended up being a five-star read! The main character, private detective Olivia Welles, has died quite a few times in her life, the most notable “death” being the car accident that killed her mother and her childhood best friend. After a string of mysterious child deaths occurs in her hometown, Olivia travels back to Kansas to uncover the truth behind the deaths. However, soon after her arrival, secrets about her past come to the surface. This book was a WILD ride with so many twists and turns! I legitimately could not put it down. I also very much enjoyed all the allusions to The Wizard of Oz. I think it’s safe to say I’ll have to read more from Anne Frasier!

Was this review helpful?

I wanted to love this one so much but I really struggled being pulled into the story. I did finish it, so overall it wasnt to the point to stepping away from, but there was other directions I wish the story took.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this book. I am a fan of Anne Frasier and this book did not disappoint. I admit I did figure out one plot point, but the others kept me guessing. I would recommend this book to my friends. The characters were very well thought out. I would have liked a little more of a back story on her parents, but that is really my only thing I would change or add.

Was this review helpful?

"Death is nature's way of saying, 'Your table is waiting.' " (Robin Williams)

Private Detective Olivia Welles has grazed alongside of Death more times than one could even imagine. It started in childhood back in Kansas when she was involved in a car/train wreck and was pronounced dead in the morgue. Miracuously, she woke up from that one. And the hits keep on a comin'.

Olivia receives a call out of the blue from a childhood friend, Bonnie Ray Murphy, as an eerie memory all the way from Kansas. Bonnie was in that wreck with Olivia that night and she, too, survived. The call originates from Finney County Jail. Bonnie has been accused of murdering her three children.

Good sense would say to back away from this one, Olivia. But something inside Olivia feels the draw back to Kansas in the distance from her home in Venice Beach, California. Bonnie claims that she's innocent while sobbing on the phone. Olivia decides to check it out. It will be a fast trip. That's what you think, Olivia.

In the course of this flight from LAX to the corn fields of Kansas, Olivia will meet up with Will LaFever, a journalist from California. Will has heard of the accusations against Bonnie and wishes to write another Capote's, In Cold Blood. Little do they know, but they'll be forced to join sides in this case. Anne Frasier brings in some humor alongside their first impressions of one another.

Frasier's character of Olivia Welles is one of curious amusement at times. Olivia is not your typical private detective in her manner or in her behavior. She keeps delaying her next inevitable surgery after so many. Olivia has a metal plate in her head. It's been compromised by her other near death experiences and injuries. She travels through life in a zigzag manner, but she gets the job done. This time it's personal to return to Finney where she was born. But there's something eerie in those corn fields. Just you wait and see.

Anne Frasier goes heavy with the descriptors in this one. The ending seemed to unroll in a lengthy manner with fine points explained and explained. A bit of fine-tuning and editing could be put to good use. But The Night I Died is quite the read. I was taken by the budding friendship between Olivia and Will. Hope that Frasier keeps this duo on the ready for the next one. I'd snatch that up in a heartbeat.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Anne Frasier for the opportunity.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fast read that pulled me in, but I did have to suspend reality in many cases throughout the book because some of the actions by the characters were just too wild. I thought the twists were unexpected and I didn’t anticipate many of them, so it was definitely an entertaining read. I found the topic of infant/child death and harm to be tough to read about as well. I would definitely read another book by this author in the future.

Was this review helpful?

"The Night I Died" by Anne Frasier will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. I didn’t guess every twist and turn because Frasier was so skilful at weaving all elements of the story together.

From the outset when I read the synopsis I felt like this wouldn’t be for me- it was just a bit too odd compared to what I usually read. But I’m so glad I kept an open mind because I was quickly captivated.

Frasier’s writing is superb, with excellent characterisation and a well developed town and creepy atmosphere.

Great read. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to provide an honest review

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book! The pace could get a tad slow but there was great character development, so I guess that’s a good payoff. The story was original and surprising. The change of POV was a little hard to follow (on a kindle at least). Overall I’d give this book 4/5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

This was a DNF for me. The writing felt very fragmented and not cohesive in many of the chapters. The story premise was very interesting but it just didn't flow the way I would have hoped.

Was this review helpful?

Really enjoyed this "return to your weird small town to solve a mystery" book that has great characters and a compelling plot. Tense, dark, and a really fun read. Thanks NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I’m so glad I did! I was pulled in from the very beginning. There were just enough twists to keep me guessing and wanting to know more! I will definitely be recommending this book to friends!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for allowing me an advanced read of this book!

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book from the author, Anne Frasier, and it did not disappoint! As an avid mystery and suspense thriller fan, I love how the story dives right in with the main character, Olivia Welles. It is in her POV that readers will learn more about the past and present events. Olivia’s character establishes the main plot of the book. Reading the first few pages got me interested in finding out more about the story. I appreciate the author giving the readers different POVs of vital characters. It gives readers a clear understanding of crucial events.

Was this review helpful?

SO good, this was my first from this author and it hands down will not be my last. It was so easy to lose yourself in the pages of The Night I Died. I didn’t want to put the book down because I was so intrigued by finding out the truth of what was happening and getting to the bottom of it along with the characters. I'm big on plot twists and I didn't see more than half of what went on in this book coming and that pulls me in even more. Glad this was fully focused on the mystery and didn’t force the female lead into a romantic relationship to further the plot. I 100% recommend this one you will not regret it!

Was this review helpful?

This was not exactly my kind of book. I thought it was kind of confusing, trying to keep the story line and characters straight. The twists near the ending were a surprise but added to my confusion. I can't say more or I'll give away spoilers .

Was this review helpful?

"The Night I Died" by Anne Frazier is a gripping and haunting mystery that follows private detective Olivia Welles, who returns to her hometown after years of absence. The novel starts with an intriguing premise: Olivia has no memory of her life before a car crash, which she survived after coming back to life in the morgue. When fellow survivor Bonnie Ray, who is accused of murdering her young son, reaches out for help, Olivia feels compelled to investigate, delving into a dark and forgotten past.

The narrative effectively builds tension as Olivia and journalist Will LaFever work together to uncover the truth behind the suspicious deaths in Bonnie's family. Anne Frazier masterfully weaves the complexities of trauma and family dynamics, adding depth to the story. The setting of the foreboding town enhances the chilling atmosphere, drawing readers into a world filled with secrets and danger.

Throughout the novel, Olivia's character development is well-portrayed as she confronts her past and strives to solve the case. The interactions between Olivia and Will offer a captivating dynamic, enhancing the emotional resonance of the plot.

Anne Frazier's writing style is engaging, keeping readers hooked with each chapter. The author skillfully balances suspense, emotion, and intrigue, making "The Night I Died" a page-turner from start to finish.

Overall, "The Night I Died" is a compelling mystery novel that explores the complexities of memory, trauma, and the quest for truth. Anne Frazier delivers a captivating story that will leave readers eager for more of Olivia Welles' investigative adventures.

Was this review helpful?

This was great from the start. It is definitely a page turner! There are twist and turns that wouldn't allow me to put this down. I highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this novel much more than I thought. Olivia is a private detective who left home after a tragic accident. So severely hurt, she ‘died’ that night, brought back to life, now suffers blackouts and dying episodes. Never returning she has very little memory of that night. Out of the blue , one of the survivors from that night desperately needs Olivia to return as she msg be charged with crimes against her children. Bonnie, the mother, has an interesting story for us to follow, but the main plot focuses on what really happened that night, plus a little bit of romance. The ending took me by surprise as I truly didn’t see it coming,

Was this review helpful?

Anne Frasier is one of my new favourite authors, I've binged five of her books in recent weeks, Find Me / Tell Me and the Jude Fontaine trilogy. I love those deep, dark character driven thrillers.

The Night I Died is somewhat different, Olivia Wells is a private detective pulled back to visit her hometown by a call from a childhood friend, Bonnie. Bonnie is in jail under suspicion of m*rdering her own son.

There's an odd couple / buddy movie feel to it as Olivia meets freelance journalist Will LaFever, who's determined to be the next Truman Capote.

There's some humour, some Wizard Of Oz references, mysteries that go back decades and an active threat.

Olivia's character and history is satisfying, but I missed the darker feels of the other Anne Frasier books I've read.

It kept me reading and entertained, but it's quite a strange one to be able to recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer

Was this review helpful?

Anne Frasier is an author I have read before and will be looking to read more of. I found the premise and main character of "The Night I Died" very intriguing.

Olivia is a complex and flawed character and I wanted to find out more about her after discovering she was involved in a fatal accident when she was a child, which she ultimately survived, but that killed her mother and her friend Mazie. Fast forward years later, Olivia receives a phone call from Bonnie, Mazie's sister, another survivor of the accident, asking for Olivia's help. Bonnie is in jail for the death of her child. This is not the first child of hers to die under suspicious circumstances.

Olivia feels compelled to return to Finney, KS where the tragedy happened, not only for herself but for Bonnie as well. I appreciated the fact that Olivia's relationship with Will stayed as it was and didn't turn into a romantic cliche!

This was a very engaging story that kept me turning the pages! If this is the start of a series, I would definitely read more! A solid 4 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Just remind me to never go to Finney, KS!! 😛

A big thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Was this review helpful?