So, unfortunately, this book just didn’t really work well for me. I was very frustrated with the back-and-forth banter between Arden and Cordelia. I also couldn’t understand why Arden was so dedicated to helping Cordelia when she was so manipulative and in general just not a good person. I did not enjoy the fact that the characters names first and last were repeated several times within even one page. All of the characters were annoying, very wordy with their descriptions, argued back-and-forth over the same repetitive things, and in general, I didn’t like them. Arden was so upset about her position at work and losing her job and very repetitive about this. The only redeeming character, pip, the son of Cordelia, whom I found to be a nice addition to the story.

I have read other books by this author, and love them, so I am not sure exactly why this one rubbed me so the wrong way.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Forge books for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Crisis management expert, Arden Ward, knows that one wrong word can ruin your life. Now Arden herself is in crisis mode when she is unfairly fired for a sin she did not commit. Over a barrel, Arden is asked to take on one last case, a case that could make or break her. When Arden meets Cordelia Bannister, her husband, Ned, has just been acquitted of a drunk driving accident that left someone dead. Cordelia is desperate to regain her old lifestyle and to protect Ned and her children and hopes that Arden is the answer to her prayers, but as Arden digs in she ends up with more questions than answers. When another accident points directly at Ned, Arden isn’t so sure that Ned is as innocent as he claims to be and Cordelia swears he’s hiding something, but is Ned the only one with something to hide? Ryan takes us on a twisty journey with her newest psychological thriller and will have you turning pages quickly to find out the whole story. This was a dual read/listen and Gail Shalen does an excellent job in her narration, keeping the reader eager for more from the very first page. Thank you to Tor Publishing Group, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

“Never let your animosity distract you from a solution” – or from reading One Wrong Word, Hank Phillippi Ryan’s latest psychological thriller! I could not wait to get my hands on One Wrong Word, so I was thrilled when selected to receive an ARC (thank you HPR, Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books and NetGalley).

Showcasing how “words have power”, Ryan masterfully takes us on a journey into the post-trial aftermath and PR nightmare cleanup of a wealthy defendant’s verdict. With a compelling female protagonist in Arden Ward, and a cast of unlikeable but oh-so-complex and well-depicted characters, Ryan delivers twisty cat-and-mouse suspense, where the reader must decide what "words matter" and uncover whether or not the "truth is only what someone believes". I also cannot help but mention that HPR truly leaves the reader hoping Ward will return in future novels. Oh, and #acknowledgments

Hank Phillippi Ryan’s latest psychological thriller is about to be released - and it’s a classic, chilling must read, One Wrong Word captures from word one and doesn’t let go until the last - right word.

A glimpse at some of the characters:
Arden- whip smart and determined has built a name for herself in Boston after leaving a tortuous and brewing scandal behind her. She is now a very successful leader in a Crisis Management firm . She loves advocating for her clients and is content with her life. Her mantra is “truth wins”: but admits she sometimes lies to reach a conclusion.

Warren Carmichael - CEO of Vision Works and Arden’s boss - but fires her unexpectedly, if only to further his own career . Because of lies and innuendos Arden has two weeks to pack and go.

Ned Bannister - a client of Arden’s, accused of vehicular homicide and the trial is not going well - the circumstances are murky and he has secrets of his own.

Cordelia Bannister - wife of Ned, mother of two and devistated over her husband’s trial. Is their apparent marriage happiness all that it appears? She often says, “truth is only what someone believes .”

Monelle Churchwood - crackerjack Assistant DA prosecuting Ned’s trial, who has lingering questions and doubts after the verdict .

Nyomi Chang - brilliant attorney representing Ned. An unfortunate turn of events flip her life upside down with possible connections to the case.

Other characters as well, who weave in and out- all who bring more intrigue.

Ryan takes a deep dive into people’s motives secrets, lies and truths .
Get ready for some lost sleep trying to piece the pieces together .
As usual, with Ryan’s thought provoking stories, you won’t know the end until the very last RIGHT word l

Wow! This was a crazy ride and I loved it! It kept me guessing as I tried to figure out the twists and what was the truth and who could be trusted.. This was filled with strong female characters trying to navigate the world and words of powerful men.

Arden Ward has put her past behind her and is a successful crisis manager until a client's wife accuses her of something and her career is ended. Except for one last client her boss wants her to help, Cordelia Bannister's husband Ned has just been acquitted of a drunk driving accident that ended in the death of a man. Cordelia is desperate to get life back on track for her family. She wants Arden to convince her husband that he needs the help but tells her not to trust Ned. As Arden works with Ned more questions are raised and she seeks answers from Ned's lawyer and the assistant district attorney on the case. The more questions she asks the more she has and she wonders if anyone is telling the truth. Can Arden figure it out before it becomes too dangerous?

Ryan is on top of her game with this book. a plot of cat and mouse with twists and turns. She is a masterful storyteller. Arden Ward is a crisis management expert. Now she has to handle a crisis of her own after being accused of having an affair with a client. Meanwhile Arden is assisting Cordelia deal with her own crisis. her husband Ned has been acquitted of a fatal drunk driving accident. This book is filled with lies, gossip and words that can hurt you. Make sure you pick this one up.

Thank you so much to @forgereads for the #gifted book!

📖Title: One Wrong Word
📝Author: Hank Phillippi Ryan
🗓️Pub date: February 6, 2024

💙This book was such a fun and quick read!

💙It starts off with a bang as the main character Adren Ward is fired for an alleged affair. When her boss comes to her with one final job, she knows she has no option but to take it, but has no idea how much it will cost her!

💙I thought of so many ways this story could go, but the ending still surprised me (I did guess one twist though 🥨

💙There is so little I can say without spoiling anything in this one, but just trust me, you won't be able to put it down until you know what's fully going on with this crazy cast of characters!

💙This is my second book by Ryan and she is now an auto-read author for me! I can't wait to see what she does next!

Words Matter! That is what Arden, a crisis management expert, will need to remember in this gripping new novel by Hank Phillippi Ryan. This book is full of secrets, lies, deception, threats, and betrayal. This book kept me on my toes trying to figure out who to trust in this twist filled book!

Arden just learned that she is losing her job, but her boss has thrown her a bone, a chance to make some money and to fix a messy situation. Cordelia Bannister asks Arden for help. Her husband, Ned, has recently been acquitted in a drunk driving accident which claimed a life. The court of public opinion has sided against them, and Cordelia asks Arden to help repair their reputation. Arden sets out to find out what really happened that night. She will have her work cut out for her!

This is not an action-packed book but a book packed with conversations. Readers will need to pay attention to the conversations as will Arden. I enjoyed trying to come up with my own theories as Arden tried to get to the bottom of things. I always love trying to figure out who can be trusted, who is telling lies, and trying to read between the lines.

Hank Phillippe Ryan delivers once again! I had both the book and the audiobook which made for an engaging and entertaining read!

Gripping, twist filled and well written.

First of all, Hank Phillipi Ryan can do no wrong. As a reader of everything she has written, I am waiting for the book to break that streak and with her latest, One Wrong Word, my opinion still has not changed. I loved it! This is a really fun book to read! Arden is a PR fixer. She has been wrongly fired from her position but has to take on one last case. What follows is a twisty whodunnit full of rich people problems and I loved every second of it! Starts off running and doesn't let up til the end. And what an end!! Eagerly awaiting the next book!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Hank Phillipi Ryan and Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own!

I will post my review to Amazon, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication.

One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan is the second or third by this author that I have read. It is about Arden Ward who is a crisis management expert. Unfortunately she is thrown into a crisis of her own which forces her to take on one last client. This book has several twists and turns, and the beginning hooked me, but overall I found the middle to be slow. This was not my favorite Hank Phillippi Ryan, but it may be for other readers!

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #TorPublishingGroup for the book #OneWrongWord by #HankPhillippiRyan. This book is amazing and takes you on one heck of a ride. From murder and deceit to secrets and lies, to the final ending plot twist. I highly recommend this masterpiece.

Arden Ward is a fixer in a crisis management firm. Her job is to improve the tarnished reputations of her clients by taming public opinion while creating ‘a safer reality’ for people to buy into. I found this best expressed by a sentence in chapter 9 “Truth is only what someone believes or can be convinced to believe.”
This reinforced my opinion that anyone who is in need of a fixer, or as it’s sometimes called a spin doctor, is clearly someone whose behavior has justified their poor reputation. There is however another side and that is people who have been set up to look bad or guilty, but are really victims of someone else’s nefarious behavior. One Wrong Word explores both sides of that coin.
Arden has just been fired by her boss, Warren Carmichael, to placate the wife of a rich and powerful, but morally deficient client. But, in exchange for a sizable severance and a reputation saving public perception, Warren wants a ‘favor’. Arden is to take the case of Ned and Cordelia Bannister for her final two weeks of employment. Ned Bannister, a corporate executive, has just been found not guilty of vehicular homicide, but public opinion has a different verdict. To add to the drama, his wife Cordelia is contributing by insisting that Ned is hiding something and that her reputation, as well as that of their two children, has been seriously damaged by Ned’s behavior. So who should Arden believe? There seem to be compelling arguments, as well as holes in the stories of both sides. Ned Bannister’s past legal situation is closed, so reinvestigating it isn’t going to change anything, but could it significantly impact the future? And then there is what will Arden do with her life and how will she make a living once she leaves the Vision Group?
The Bannister storyline comprises the majority of the book with a somewhat slim connection to the storyline on the background of the loss of Arden’s job.
In true Hank Phillippi Ryan style, the book engages the reader immediately and is an exceptionally well written cat and mouse tale. The direction turned out to be different than I anticipated, but kept my attention. Even the secondary characters made significant contributions. However it’s more than a good story and an enjoyable read. I don’t usually expect a thriller is going to make me think, but this one did. The obvious thoughts were about what I would do if I found myself in the position of either Arden or Ned. The broader thoughts were about how I’m influenced by the barrage of information I’m exposed to from the many sources we have today that I didn’t have growing up or in the majority of my adulthood. Where is the truth? Is there such a thing or is it just the most persuasive mirage? What are reasonable expectations for behavior of those in positions of power? What has happened to past standards?
I do have one criticism, which is a bit picky, but naming one of the main characters Cordelia was an issue. The image created was old fashioned and specific, such as someone in the Gilded Age New York/Newport social set or a prim and proper schoolmarm. Basically the name got in the way of forming an image of this character that fit the story.
Thank you to one of my favorite authors, her publisher Forge Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

I am a huge fan of Hank Phillippi Ryan and really enjoy her books, and this one was SO twisty and fun! The audio was great, I followed along with the book and thought both were equally fine to read. The story starts off fast, it captured my attention out of the gate and the pace did not let up until it was done. Everyone is unreliable, there are so many twists in here that it was dang near impossible for me to figure out. Every time I thought I was have it, something else would happen and off we would go in a different direction. I never had an issue keeping up which was great, and overall I definitely recommend this one!

This one is out February 6, make sure it is on your list! Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, Forge Books and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.

This is the third book I have read by this author and she never disappoints.

She takes you on a ride, One you won't soon forget. Events things that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Late into the night . well are they impossible or did they happen . Well one way to find out pick up A copy and read yours. You won't want to miss this fabulous story. It's One of those books you just can't put
down..

I can say arden was my absolute favorite character in this book..
A woman out to save her career. A strong woman.

One wrong word could it be the end of everything.


Ryan wright terrific books.

Hank is one of my absolute favorite writers and when you read this book you will understand why. Every time I get one of her books I think she can’t possibly top the last one but somehow, she ALWAYS does. I loved this one from start to finish!!!

The author always gives her readers a clever, twisted ride in her thrillers and ‘One Wrong Word’ is no exception.
A false accusation brings on a crisis. More lies, unlikeable characters and manipulation had me whipping through this book as twist after twist surprised me. Well done Ms. Ryan.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher Forge Books for an early copy. This review is my personal opinion.

As always, this author delivers a Thriller that keeps you guessing until the last page. This is about a woman that helps people fix publicity nightmares. And then she finds herself in one!

3.75. This was a solid whodunnit! I love Arden, I hope there’s more of her to come. Cordelia drove me absolutely bonkers from start to finish. The twist was pretty obvious, but it was entertaining to see it all unravel. It lagged bit about 3/5 in but still great!

In the latest thriller from Hank Phillippi Ryan, we meet Arden, who is an expert at turning around the public's opinions of other people when their reputation has suffered, Through no fault of her own, she is unfairly fired from her position, but her boss Warren promises her she can take one last assignment in order for him to give her support and recommendations when she looks for another job. She's assigned the case of a man charged with murder. Even though the jury finds him not guilty, his home life suffers, as he's still seen as guilty. Desperate to get her old life back, his wife reaches out to Arden for help. As the story develops, and Arden questions who really is guilty and what really happened in that parking garage where the person died supposedly at the hands of her client's husband, she must rely on her skills and her gut to outsmart her pursuers, and discover the real truth. Full of twists and turns, in typical Ryan fashion, this will have you guessing until the end, and then remark "well I didn't see that coming!" Out 2/6/24 - pick it up in a few weeks for a great page-turning read!

Wow! Arden has found herself in a cat and mouse twisty situation! She’s a PR executive accused of having an affair with a client. She’s innocent and on the verge of losing her job. She’s asked to take on one more case. Cordelia Bannister reaches out for her husband’s reputation. Ned Bannister is a real estate mogul who was involved in a fatal accident. Did he really try to murder someone? Was it an accident? Can Arden fix her own reputation while working with the Bannister’s? . Can Arden bring out the truth among the lies? Read and enjoy finding out what happens!