This book had me hooked from the beginning!
So many secrets, twists and turns that I did not see coming.

Thanks you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars
This is a classic kind of isolated thriller with all its murder mystery goodness. I like this one for its quick pace and familiar structure.

Therese and 9 others gather at an isolated house on the side of a cliff and are forced to rehash their connections to the 20-years-past massacre that claimed the lives of several of their classmates, friends, and family members. Bodies start dropping, secrets start spilling, and the clock ticks as they piece it all together to find the truth.

- I thought Therese was an intriguing character to focus on - her experience in the FBI helped explain why she knew so much about investigating and what to do during the events of the book. She clearly had a lot of secrets - but I also found that her secrets were less exciting than I was anticipating as the main character.
- While the book is told from third person point of view, each of the characters gets their own chapter or two where their own stories are highlighted as they attempt to piece together the mystery around them.
- I LOVE the isolated setting - the lack of communication to the outside world, the threat of weather (and its side effects), the idea of being trapped with the murderer - it all sets it up to be a great, twisty time.
- This felt like a very average, typical thriller setup. It reminded me a lot of Ruth Ware's One by One (minus the snow). Not a bad thing, I just feel like there was nothing that really stood out to me and made me react strongly.

I devoured this novel and was hooked from the beginning. So many secrets, twists and turns that I did not see coming, I found myself totally immersed in the storyline and watching everything unfold. I enjoy reading books with various different POV's and this novel had exactly that. It allows for great character development and allows us to get inside the thoughts of each character and see things from their eyes and their view points.

A great read that I would recommend. I am looking forward to more novels by this author.

This book has a great premise, the first few chapters at the beginning really had me hooked into the story fast. The writing style is also easy to read and I absolutely like a few chapter addition which lets the readers get inside the head of each character throughout the story.

As much as I find the mystery interesting, the middle part of the story is a bit dragging and there's just so many characters to keep track of that I have difficulties in remembering which character related to which victim of the massacre 20 years ago.

Overall, it’s a pretty enjoyable read. If you enjoy a locked-room mystery with multiple POVs then you might enjoy this one.
I’ll keep an eye out for more books by this author in the future.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: murder, injury, bullying, drug use

SHE LEFT was a wonderful novel that kept me second-guessing the situation over and over again. Written so well that the story ends up captivating the reader at every turn. The reality of the situation ensures the reader is able to place themselves into the story itself grasping at “whodunnit” ideas.
The story is about a young girl who leaves a party that turns deadly after she departs. Years later a group of people from the past are called together to be interviewed about the situation. During this encounter, it becomes apparent that someone is up to no good and the reality of why they are really all there becomes deadly.
The story itself reminded me of a murder mystery guest dinner-themed party but more elaborate.
I highly recommend this read to those who enjoy thrillers with a decent-paced story filled with different situations within the timeline.

This was one of the few locked room mysteries I actually enjoyed. It did start off slow for me, but when it picked up, I was really interested in finding out who the suspect was. There are a lot of characters, each with their own unique ties to the massacre 20 years ago, but despite there being so many characters, it didn’t feel confusing for me and I had no trouble remembering who was who or why they were here so it worked for me. I will definitely read more Stacie Grey. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for my eARC. 𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗙𝗧 is available now.

Thank you to Negalley and the publisher for this book. I was very excited to read it. It sounded right up my street. Overall i enjoyed the storyline, i didn't particularly like any of the characters and i felt the story fell flat due to so much repetition. Still a great read!

She Left by Stacie Grey was an excellent book from start to finish and defiantly a great pager turner.

Amy was the only survivor of a massacre, she walked away from a party and all her friends that was there was massacred! This was 20 years ago. Now, She is now an FBI agent and has been invited to a mountain lodge an BnB for a memorial service with 9 other people, by a famous journalist who is looking to cover the story.

As a storm closes in and guests begin to die, Amy realises there is someone in the house who knows more than they admit about what happened that night long ago….......and they will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.

Amy has to work fast to work out who and why it is all happening all over again.

Will she work it out before they strike again?

This book was excellent and I highly recommend it.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced copy of this book to read.

Fans of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" will enjoy this modern take.

Two decades ago, the friends Amy left behind at a party were murdered. The killer was presumed to be a fellow student who'd confessed to placing the pressure cooker bomb in the cabin and later took his own life in his cell. Now going by Therese, she dealt with her survivor's guilt and left that life behind. Until an invitation showed up in her inbox by a reporter looking to do a story on the crime. When Therese arrives, she finds a familiar cast of characters - the investigator, the prison guard and friends and family of the victims, including the mother of the alleged killer.

But things aren't what they seem, and the guests are being picked off one by one.

While it took me a very long time to finish this book, that had nothing to do with the story or writing. When I was able to pick up my Kindle, I was flying through it. I enjoyed looking for clues and learning more about those connected to the victims Therese had called friends. I did find myself getting confused about who was who and how they were involved, but I don't think that was on the author. That one was all me. Overall, I recommend it to thriller fans.

Did I guess the big reveal? Sure did. I love this game!

3.75 stars round up to 4.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the arc and opportunity to review.

She left is a fast paced thriller about locked room mystery. I wish there was more part about the event that happened 20 years ago to get them all to the cabin. Because it felt like I just read the short summary and immediately moving on the current event.

It was ok and short but very forgettable.

I just finished She Left by Stacie Grey and here are my thoughts.

Amy Brewer walked out of the house party after some hazing from friends who made her feel like she didn’t belong there. Angry, she walks away. Little does she know that with the hour all five of those friends will be dead. Her whole life was changed in that instance.

It became known as the Memorial Day massacre and it rocked their community to its core. Amy may have survived the night but the aftermath was just as bad.

One day, 20 years later, Amy is invited to a remote cliffside house by a journalist looking into what happened that night. The boy who was arrested for the crime committed suicide in jail. There is something missing from the story and Amy isn’t the only person invited to the get together. 10 people all with connections to what happened that night and one of them knows more than they are letting on and they are not about to let their secret come out.

This was a super interesting and unique concept for a book and I felt drawn in right away. My biggest con with this book was all the POVs we got. I am just not a fan of that. I like to have a central character where I get all the information. I understand why it was necessary to do it, but it made it really hard to connect with a character and get really invested.
The first half of the book is a lot of story building and it is a slow build up but the second half of the book will bring you to the very best kind of crescendo. The atmosphere was there. You could feel the tangible underlying fear, anger and guilt that was rampant through the group. Everyone had secrets so you literally can blame anyone and the story would fit. It was cleverly done. I thought the ending was wild and it wrapped it well enough for my liking. The part I didn’t understand was why would everyone go? You put something in the rear view mirror after 20 years and the killer was dead? Seems weird. I would have liked the rationale as to why all these people showed up.


Other than that I was really entertained.


4 stars


Thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for my gifted copy

This locked room mystery that weaves the past and present was thoroughly entertaining.

Twenty years ago a tragedy that has been named The Memorial Day Massacre occurred which ended with a group of teens murdered. While someone was convicted for the crime there are still many questions and many things that do not quite add up. Amy Brewer was the only person that was there but got lucky after she left the party due to an argument and was unharmed. She's done her best to put the tragedy behind her. However, when she's invited for an interview by a reputable journalist that's doing a story on the murder she's ready to share her story. Amy and nine others connected to the crime head to a remote cabin and while there they realize there's more to their invitation there than an interview. People start dying and a storm leaves them stranded. Now they have to figure out how to get away and who is desperate enough to kill people to keep secrets about that night.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and the writing had my attention locked in. There's quite an array of different characters and the author did a great job of really making you experience each character. The annoying ones were really annoying, the rude ones I couldn't stand, and I was really rooting for the smart and kind seeming ones. The different characters and the way they interacted with each other didn't leave a dull moment in the book. Each character is suspicious of the others and also trying to cast suspicion away from themselves.

The location is perfect. It gives you enough of a foreboding without being completely shocked that anyone would choose to go to the location with people they don't know (though I still don't think I would). The weather adds the perfect touch that makes an already stressful situation downright terrifying. While I enjoyed the character, the setting, and the story as a whole I did find the ending a bit flat. There was something about it that just wasn't quite satisfying but I can't put my finger on it. I was still left with suspicions I guess.

Highly recommend this thriller!

She Left is a slow burn in the first half, while Stacie Gray introduces the characters and sets the scene, but, once she's laid the groundwork, the pace picks up as characters are slowly picked off in this locked-room mystery. Set in a remote location and cut off from all communication (what kind of a thriller would it be if they weren't), is my favorite setting. Add in the requisite red herrings, and I had each of the characters pegged as the villain before all is revealed in the end (which I did not guess). All in all, this is a strong debut, and I will be anxiously awaiting Stacie Grey's next book!

I truly enjoyed this book! You doubt every character throughout the whole story. Very clever plot and you care about what happens to the characters after the story ends. That is what you hope for from every book.

It's my first Stacey Grey novel, and it definitely won't be my last! This book had me hook from the first chapter and didn't let go. The premise of the book was incredible, a whodunit at its finest. I listened to the audiobook version of She Left, and the narrator was fantastic. She really brought the story to life!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review She Left by Stacie Grey. All opinions are my own.

Amy our main character leaves a house party out of anger for home. After arriving she learns all the people that she left behind are dead. Fast forward 20 years and Amy is now FBI agent. She responds to a reporter's email to come to a remote cliffside house along with several other invitees to recount what they remember about the Memorial Day Massacre.

If you enjoy a closed room style mystery with a little bit of a final girl trope mixed in and also paying homage to Agathe Christie's And Then There Were None, then this one is for you. This read went pretty fast for me although there were areas that felt a bit slow while trying to discover the true killer. The ending was wrapped up nicely, and I didn't figure who was responsible and why until the author told me.

She Left is now available was publish in May and is now available at all major book retailers. Happy Reading!!

Reading "She Left" was an unexpected delight. With no preconceived notions and no prior acquaintance with the author's works, I was drawn in by its cover and the promise held within the synopsis.
The premise teased a classic mystery/horror narrative—a deceptive invitation to an event, reminiscent of a dinner party or weekend getaway, that unfolds into something entirely unexpected. It echoes the timeless "And Then There Were None" and similar tales. The story's pace is relentless, engaging, and straightforward. It was a breeze to get through.

While the story may not break new ground, it doesn't have to—it's thoroughly enjoyable. The plot is compelling and playful, not overly serious yet delivering a well-crafted, intense mystery that ensnares you until the final reveal. Ranking high among the thrillers I've encountered lately, I'd suggest it to anyone in search of an easy, brisk read for the summer. It's a fleeting, yet satisfyingly fun escapade.
Thanks, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC

I think this is a 3.5 for me. I love the premise -- I always get excited about a locked room mystery. This one wasn't complicated but I like the idea of bringing all the people together and stranding them decades after a tragedy.
This story could have benefited from readthroughs with friends, who would have pointed out that there were too many characters for such a claustrophobic environment and we didn't get to know them well enough. But it was fun to watch them as they reacted to their situation, with their behavior providing some of the red herrings.
I think the resolution made sense, too. So many books I've read lately try to provide a shock, but this played fair. I'll probably read more by this writer.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This was a super fun, fast paced thriller by a new to me author. I love a good locked room, isolated murder mystery so this was the perfect setting and plot for me. It's more of a fun, popcorn thriller than anything which I am always looking for especially as a palatte cleanser between more serous books. Fun, possibly forgettable over time, but super glad I read it and would recommend.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley, and Stacie Grey for the opportunity to review She Left in exchange for an honest review. Twenty years ago Amy Brewer survived a terrible fate-she left a party angry at her so-called friends who had humiliated her and less than an hour later all five kids were dead. The Memorial Day Massacre left a terrible scar on this town and especially on Amy. She and her family left town. She changed her name and became a FBI agent and had no desire to return until a journalist contacts her and others with connections to the crime wanting to do a podcast series about what happened that fateful night. Looking to finally put the past behind her Amy makes the foolish decision to come back forgetting that sometimes it’s better to never go home again. Especially when you’re trapped inside a house with a killer and cut off from escape due to storms.
Excellent job at keeping the tension high and keeping me on the edge of my seat 👍🥰