Another strong thriller from Lyn Liao Butler! Butler really knows how to write family drama that grips you by the throat and characters you can't help but feel for, despite the things they do in order to cope with life and death.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A well-written mystery that also addresses the various ways people cope with (or in some circumstances refuse to cope with) loss of a treasured loved one.

This book tells the story of a little boy who lost his Mom to drugs, and while he is being raised by his aunt and uncle, he is tricked into leaving with a psychotic woman with a warped view of circumstances.

There are many new novels featuring missing children yet this one has different nuances and is full of emotion adding to the thriller. Hope has just taken custody of Luca, her nephew, and was already wrought with guilt about not doing enough to save his mother, her sister from drugs and bad choices. Suddenly the unbearable happens - Luca and his dog disappear while playing in the driveway. Hope is devastated and is determined to find him and what really happened to her sister. It moves quickly, the story of Luca and his mother is heartbreaking and we read with a knot in our stomach as we are discovering the little boys bravery, the love between the mother and the son, and the hope of reuniting him with the only family he has left. I loved it.

Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy.

This is my first time reading a book by this author and I look forward to reading other titles.

In Lyn Liao Butler's gripping novel, "What is Mine," readers are taken on a compelling journey through the intricate layers of family, loss, and the relentless pursuit of truth. The narrative centers around Hope and Shan Chen, who find themselves thrust into parenthood as they take in Hope's nephew, Luca, following the tragic death of his mother due to a drug overdose.

Butler skillfully sets the stage, portraying Luca's tumultuous past marked by constant relocation and the absence of a stable family environment. As the Chens create a nurturing home for Luca, complete with the companionship of a loyal dog, the story initially unfolds as a tale of resilience and new beginnings.

However, beneath the surface of domestic bliss lies the unresolved tension between Hope and her estranged sister, Cassidy, whose mysterious departure from their lives continues to haunt Hope. The author adeptly explores the complexities of family dynamics, infusing the narrative with a palpable sense of longing and regret as Hope grapples with the unanswered questions surrounding Cassidy's actions.

The plot takes a riveting turn when Luca inexplicably disappears from the Chen's front yard, thrusting Hope into a whirlwind of emotions—anguish, fear, and anger. The ensuing police investigation adds a layer of suspense to the narrative, with the dearth of leads intensifying the urgency of Luca's search.

Butler skillfully weaves a web of intrigue as Hope delves into her community, unearthing surprising revelations about her neighbors. The novel's strength lies in its ability to keep readers guessing, with unexpected twists and turns that add a layer of unpredictability to the storyline. Each revelation propels the narrative forward, keeping the reader engaged and eager to uncover the next piece of the puzzle.

"What is Mine" is a masterfully crafted exploration of the intricacies of familial relationships, grief, and the quest for closure. Lyn Liao Butler's evocative prose captures the emotional nuances of the characters, allowing readers to empathize with their struggles and triumphs. The novel's expertly executed plot twists and multifaceted characters make it a standout addition to the genre, offering a riveting and thought-provoking reading experience from start to finish.

First read from this author and I would say that it was well done.

I liked the complex family story wrapped and how it weaved into our delusional PTSD ridden main criminal.

I enjoyed how our main character grew during this story realizing how much her sister loved her and feeling a deeper connection of her nephew. Morphing into a a more protective caretaker.

I would have like to see more from the husband Sean and Richard however I understand that choice from this author to focus on the two woman.

I would read this author again and recommend her book. If this is indeed her first attempt at a novel I cannot wait to see what she brings for her second.

This is the first book I read from this author and it sure won't be the last ! The twists in there, I sure didn't see them coming. At first, I suspected someone of being behind Cassie's death, but I was so wrong. I am glad with how everything turns out for Luca.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Hope is raising her nephew after her sister dies. But after two short months, he disappears right out of her front yard. As they search for him, there are connections to his mom’s death. Very twisty and a fun read!

I received an early copy through Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

This thriller is so good. It starts out on a normal day where Hope one of the main characters is cooking dinner. She can hear her nephew playing basketball in the yard. A short time later she realizes it is silent and starts to look for him. What happens next is chaos as her husband and her and the neighbors try to figure out where Luca went. The twists in this story kept me turning the page. I love the way Lyn Butler writes thrillers. She is definitely one of my favorite authors.

When a young boy, Luca, goes missing his aunt Tessa must delve into their past to find him before its too late. This story shows one snap shot of how a family struggles with the aftermath of a missing child, the investigation, and the guilt. A very touching story, that did not go as I expected, but did not disappoint.

I don't think my students will be interested in this one, a missing young boy, mysterious letters, addiction and abuse and mental health issues. Think we could have some interesting discussions from the book, but it was a bit too melodramatic and unrealistic for my taste

I liked the first part of the book better than the second half. I guessed the twists but my bigger problem was resorting to overly dramatic and easy answers, rather than really exploring things in more depth. So mixed feelings about this one. 3.5

Engaging and immersive. A recommended purchase for collections where thrillers are darker WF are popular.

I read this book in a day and I never looked back! The twist and the plot were pretty easy to identify but the different POV's kept me intrigued to see how everything was going to unfold. A couple of the characters were so unlikable that it made it hard to feel bad or connect with them in any way. I do wish that the ending would've given a little more, I wanted to know how the characters dealt with the aftermath.


*I received a copy of this eARC via NetGalley*

WHAT IS MINE will grab your attention from page one and keep you turning the pages late into the night.

The story centers around Hope Chen, who is raising her young nephew, Luca. When Luca (and his dog!) disappear, the frantic and fast-paced search begins. As more characters are introduced, Butler does a wonderful job of plumbing the depths of their emotions and secret fears. You begin to feel like you know the characters.

The author has carefully plotted this page turner, which is filled with great tension and characters that come across as real people. Moreover, she totally nails the ending.

I look forward to more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary e-galley; all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. A young boy went missing from his aunt and uncle's house. His mother had passed away recently and their past was unknown as they had been homeless roaming the country together. As they struggled for answers and the list of suspects grew, I was left wondering who on earth could have taken the boy, and why?
After that things unfortunately fell a bit flat for me. I found the culprit a bit one dimensional. It just didn't draw me in or make me feel connected in any way and felt a bit disjointed.

Spoilers below:
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There was one line in which I also found...confusing? "And then my mind shattered, my head bursting until all my cells went flying all over the room. They spattered Herman, and spattered the people now running into the room, hovering over me."
It continues from there but it was just a really strange way to word things for me.

I did enjoy many of the characters, though and look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

An incredible thriller mystery / crime type book, told from two different prospectives. Lots of complicated themes told incredibly well and likeable characters

Wow, I was shocked by how much I was impressed with this book. I truly did not expect to love it as deeply as I did.

We follow Hope Chen, the Aunt to Luca who she had adopted after her younger drug-addict sister recently overdosed. She and her husband never planned to have children until CPS dropped this 9 year old at their door. She has a very distant relationship with her parents who live in California, while she lives in New York in a allegedly "safe" private community by a Lake. But when Luca goes missing one day at 5 PM, with his dog Mochi, she can't help but become very suspicious of everyone that is Neighbors with them. This is a story of Strength and Resilience in the face of the worst fear, was it an accident, did Luca run off, was he killed for Revenge?

Hope starts receiving cryptic and mysterious handwritten notes from her younger dead sister, Cassidy, from years ago talking about how some anonymous person from her past was threatening to kill her Son, and everything she did was to protect him. The police are taking this search and rescue extremely serious, but it's been 3 days and there's still no sign of the boy. I was absolutely obsessed with the content of this book, I couldn't stop turning the pages and kept on reading until 4 AM when my eyes hurt. There is a big plot twist that I never could have seen coming, and I am very tempted to Reread it already.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an Ebook early copy of this book.

This started off SO strong! I was immediately sucked into the story, deeply cared for the characters, and loved trying to figure the situation out. Unfortunately, it just went on and on for way too long. Felt like I was forcing myself to finish.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of What Is Mine by Lyn Liao Butler. I loved the characters in this book, especially Luca. The story was really compelling but when I started to find out what was going on I lost interest in learning more because it seemed to go on so long. The story was actually very good, but the execution and pacing were a little off. If you’re looking for a suspenseful book with great characters and a intriguing story, you should try this one! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This book was quite a pleasant surprise! I haven’t read a thriller in a while and this was a great way to dive back in. I loved the character arcs and plot twists, and appreciated the way the characters interacted with each other. It had a very strong start and was fast paced to keep me interested - will be recommending to my followers!