Overall, this book was very enjoyable to read, and I would highly recommend it to others to read as well. You get the thrill of a mystery with an unpredictable ending, as well as real-life facts about a condition that so many live with daily.

One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole is a captivating and psychological thriller that expertly blends suspense, mystery, and complex character development. The novel follows Kenetria Nash, a woman with dissociative identity disorder (DID), who takes on a caretaker role at a historic estate on a secluded island in the Hudson River. After a breakdown derailed her career, this position offers Ken a chance at redemption—but her peace is shattered when a Nor’easter traps her on the island with a group of strangers, including a man tied to her past.

Cole's portrayal of Ken’s DID is nuanced and thoughtful, delving into the internal dynamics between Ken and her alters, which adds a rich layer of psychological depth to the story. The tension intensifies when the man connected to Ken's trauma is found dead, and she becomes the prime suspect. Now, with time running out, Ken must confront not only the secrets of the island but also the haunting memories of her own fractured past.

The setting of the isolated estate, coupled with a cast of intriguing and suspicious characters, creates an atmosphere of unease that will keep readers hooked. As the mystery unfolds, Cole masterfully reveals the secrets that bind the characters together, building toward a thrilling climax that explores both external danger and internal turmoil.

One of Us Knows is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller with strong emotional stakes, and a powerful exploration of identity, trauma, and the fight for redemption. Perfect for fans of psychological suspense and character-driven mysteries.

Alyssa Cole is one of my favorite authors. I have loved her romance novels so much that I was skeptical to follow her into thrillers, but it turns out I love those too. One of Us Knows follows Kenetria Nash, who receives a job offer to work as a caretaker at a historical home (MY DREAM JOB!). Two things: Ken has dissociative identity disorder, which means she has alters. And the home is incredibly creepy...perhaps even dangerous?

Truth moment: I can't stand the idea of dissociative identity disorder. It became such a cheesy trope in bad Lifetime movies that I was not able to take it seriously. I nearly put the book aside when I learned it was part of the plot. However, I'm so glad I pushed through. This book is a delight, with twists and turns galore. I ended up loving it and recommending it to a friend who was equally enthralled.

"One of Us Knows" by Alyssa Cole is a thrilling novel that skillfully combines mystery, psychological tension, and social commentary. Cole, renowned for her ability to weave intricate narratives, presents a story that not only captivates readers but also encourages them to reflect on themes of race, identity, and belonging.

The plot revolves around a group of friends who come together after a tragic event shakes their lives. When one of them is found dead, secrets and suspicions begin to surface, forcing them to confront the implications of the incident and their shared history. Cole's narrative delves into the complexities of friendship and loyalty, illustrating how even the strongest bonds can be strained by hidden tensions and unspoken truths.

Character development is a highlight of "One of Us Knows." Cole introduces a diverse array of characters, each with unique motivations, flaws, and backgrounds. Their depth makes them relatable, allowing readers to connect with their struggles and choices. As the story progresses, the characters must face not only the mystery surrounding the death but also their internal conflicts and insecurities.

Cole's writing is both engaging and evocative, capturing the emotional intensity of the characters' experiences. The pacing is well-crafted, balancing suspenseful and action-packed moments with introspective scenes that explore the characters' thoughts and emotions. This creates a rich narrative that keeps readers invested in both the unfolding mystery and the characters' journeys.

Themes of identity, privilege, and systemic issues are intricately woven into the story. Cole addresses these topics with subtlety, prompting readers to consider their views and the societal structures that influence relationships. The exploration of trauma and grief adds depth to the narrative, transforming it from a mere thriller into a profound examination of human experience.

"One of Us Knows" is a compelling thriller that highlights Alyssa Cole's storytelling prowess. With its complex plot, well-rounded characters, and exploration of significant themes, this novel is a must-read for fans of the genre. Cole has crafted a story that not only entertains but also challenges readers to think critically about the intricacies of friendship and the societal dynamics that shape our lives. This book is sure to resonate with anyone seeking an engaging and thought-provoking read.

🛁 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 🛁
One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole
“Do autumn trees know they’re going to wake up, or do they fight the oncoming winter?”

Synopsis: Kenetria Nash has just woken up on the dock of a lake with a boat heading her way. Waking up from being dormant when you have Dissociative Identity Disorder can be a total mind fuck, especially when you’ve been in the dark for years. She has no idea where she’s headed when she steps onto the boat, as one of her other headmates had made this decision for her, but she knows the second she sees the castle she is apparently to be caretaker too, she knows something simply isn’t right.

This book was absolutely bonkers. I’ve never read about DID to this degree before, but I absolutely came away from this piece of gothic horror fiction with a better(?) idea of how a shared system works. It’s so much more complicated than your standard Sybil tale and I truly commend Alyssa Cole on the obvious insane amount of research she had to have done for this book.

That being said, I did find myself getting a little bit confused during the story, but I don’t think I can put that on the author. What I DO wish is that more than halfway through the book that a bunch more characters weren’t introduced, because I think it made for a jumbled ending that felt rushed. I will also say that the ending confused me a lot too.

I absolutely loved Cole’s first thriller and I hope to continue to watch her career grow, and while I’m glad I read this book, I don’t know if it was for me (even though Ken was a total badass who I adored, and her headmates were great). I would love to discuss this one more in depth with other who have read it, so please DM me if you have! Let’s explore the depths of this work together.❤️✨📚🛁

I didn't know anything about One of Us Knows going into it, so it started out feeling extremely bizarre to me. When I finally realized Alyssa Cole was creating a storyline with a person with DID (dissociative identity disorder) as the main character, I was in awe of how amazing it actually was. I can't even imagine trying to create a book that makes sense let alone with a serious mental health condition like this at the center. Granted I did still think certain parts were rather strange (Solomon and Ken anyone?), but this is an incredible read from a psychological standpoint. It is also extremely disturbing once we get to the thick of things, so I would say it is very important to check triggers prior to starting if you have any.

The audiobook was a great experience, and I thought Susan Dalian did an incredible job bringing each of the personalities to life. I thought I would be confused with so much going on, but even on audio it was really easy for me to follow along though I am sure some readers will prefer either mixing the two or reading exclusively. I loved the atmosphere of the isolated location and the castle, and the whole thing was a rather chilling experience. There is a lot of action in the book as well so never a dull moment and it would make an excellent book club pick as there is so much to unpack here.

Read this if you love creative thriller plots, are looking for a book that focuses exclusively on an MC with DID, and a twisted and complex story that will blow your mind.

Alyssa Cole does it again! She keeps you on the edge of your seat with this page-turner! Readers are sure to be drawn in with the next cult classic.

The story was ok. It was hard to get into and hard to finish. Once the story started to move along, it was an OK story.

Thank you Netgalley & William Morrow for an eARC of One Of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole! I rotated between ebook and audiobook for this one and to be honest, I found it a bit confusing. This one follows MC Kenetria and her alters (She has dissociative identify disorder) and has been given a second change as a caretaker of a historic home. Tragedy strikes, though, and she and her alters must fight back to stay free.

Maybe it was the alters for me, but I found it a bit hard to follow what was going on, especially at the beginning of this one. Very atmospheric and great writing by Cole, though.

Structurally this was really impressive. It presented popular tropes in a way that made them feel refreshing, and the construction of the storytelling engaged me on multiple levels...

Our main female character has dissociative identity disorder. The book is multiple perspectives. Each perspective is a different identity of the FMC. The FMC takes a job as caretaker of an isolated castle and grows increasingly suspicious of her circumstances and employers. The different identities take turns "fronting", or kind of driving the bus, as the mystery of their situation unravels. We also get access to the inner world of the FMC in which all the personalities interact with each other in her head. Through the inner world, we get insight into the source of their trauma and their strategies for functioning with DID.

If it sounds complicated, it was, but it was also just really fun. It took some time to adjust, and some effort to process, but it was worth it. Not all of it worked, but the fact that the author tried something new is worth my respect and support. If you're burnt out on standard mystery/thrillers, I'd recommend trying this. It's familiar enough to satisfy, but different enough to feel fresh.

I appreciated that this book is about DID without falling into the usual thriller cliches about DID. Ken is a fascinating main character, and it was interesting that the side characters were her alters. I liked learning about each of them--the level of detail in this book was insane. Overall I was more interested in what was going on inside Ken's inner world than the mystery in the outer world. The story is enjoyable regardless!

Oh this was fun! I didn't read the synopsis so was a bit confused when it started with introducing the personalities, but it was also kind of fun to go in blind. I've always been fascinated by DID, and while I don't know if this was researched to be reflective of it, it still makes for an interesting read to think that the mind can work like that.

DNFed this book at 51 percent. I couldn't keep track of the characters, and truly nothing happened for the entire first half of this book. It was well written, I just was not a fan of the plot. I still want to read other books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Team for this Advanced Digital Readers Copy, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Ok, this is one of the most bizarre books I have ever read. The main character has headmates- other personalities. It is a mystery/psychological head twist that I couldn’t tell what all was happening. Very original. Thanks netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Hits:
- More than anything, I liked that this book forced me to step out of my comfort zone and learn about a new topic. I learned quite a bit about DID through reading this book.

- Ken was my favorite alter out of all of them. She was hilarious and so badass. I loved how she was time enough for everyone and was unapologetic about it.

Misses:
- After reading the first chapter, I realized that this book would most likely be difficult to follow for someone unfamiliar with DID and its terminology. As a result, I had to do a good bit of outside research to understand the scope of this book. I ended up researching various terminology associated with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), as well as watching the films, Split and Glass to further my understanding. I wish there had been an inclusion of a glossary and explanations of other things associated with DID to help ease this difficulty.

- For a good majority of this book, I was wholeheartedly confused. Even at about 70%, I still couldn't get a grasp of what was going on. After a while, I felt like I was just reading to finish the book but not actually comprehending what was happening. Every time a bomb was dropped in the plot, we never really went anywhere with it, and I was just back to being confused. Towards the end, I understood the connection between some of the events (I think) however, a majority of it still didn't make sense to me. Moreover, I finished this book still extremely confused with lots of questions and a significant need for clarification.

Overall:
This book just wasn't for me. While it was interesting to learn about and explore DID, this read mainly left me confused and lost more than anything. I think those who have an enhanced understanding of DID might enjoy this book a bit more than those who don’t.
For those who don’t but would still like to give it a try, I recommend doing some outside research on DID terminology and basics before you begin reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

interesting and cool little thriller that's worth a read if you want to read some cool thrillers. check it out.

What can't Alyssa Cole write? I'm partial to her thrillers now that she's two for two. I can't speak to her depiction of DID because I am not diagnosed with it, however, it does seem to me that she treats her character with DID with the utmost respect.

Really fun thriller, but too many twists and turns for me. I do think people who like unreliable narrators in their thrillers will love this one. COle is a really great writer.