This book is a little different than other books this author has written. It’s a locked room thriller set on a remote island during a storm. The main person has multiple personalities and they each speak in the book. At the opening of the book one of the personalities wakes up post COVID and has no memory of the pandemic. I enjoyed the plot very much because it kept me guessing. The book has vivid writing and I felt as if I was on the island with the characters.

I love Alyssa Cole’s writing and there were lines in this book that I really loved. Unfortunately the overall plot just really didn’t work for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

This ambitious and challenging thriller, with themes of trauma, racism, and toxic masculinity, didn’t quite work for me, but I applaud the author for pushing the bounds of the genre. I enjoyed her first thriller, When No-one Is Watching and this has many of the merits of that book, taking hard-hitting contemporary themes and putting them into a mystery.

Kenetria Nash has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder and, at the start of the novel, she and her alters find themselves on their way to a caretaking job on remote Kavanaugh Island in the Hudson River. The whole set up is very gothic with an unwelcoming caretaker as the only other inhabitant and a gloomy haunted castle and local legends about goblins.

When Kavanaugh’s board of trustees turn up unexpectedly, Ken finds herself face to face with the man who ruined her life years ago. As a storm sets in, trapping everyone on the island, he is found stabbed to death and all eyes are on Ken.

There was no author’s note in the review copy, but I’ll take it that she did her research on DID and didn’t just make stuff up. At the start of the novel, there’s a list of the alters, their ages, and their roles in the system. It’s a very intricately created interior world in which the alters live in a castle with their own rooms and each has a distinctive personality and, on the interior, a different physical appearance. This manifests in the exterior when different alters take control. Different alters take over the narrative, further merging the interior and exterior world. I found this all a bit confusing.

The exterior story is fairly standard horror fare: a warning to Ken that she has to last through one night before she can take the job, slamming doors, a vision of a woman without a face and so on. The climactic scenes artfully fuse the terrors of the exterior and the collapse of the interior worlds leading to revelations about why Ken is really on the island and why it all seems so familiar to her.

The creation of Ken and her alters is successfully bold writing but the other characters, particularly the white ones, are two-dimensional at best. This also applies to the plot where all the energy has gone into building a sophisticated world, leaving the rest to be fairly by the book. Does this matter? Probably readers here for the originality of a character with DID won’t mind that the rest of the plot takes a backseat., but those looking for a more straightforward and coherent thriller may be disappointed.

Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

I had thought this one sounded really interesting. The different personalities would add a unique layer to the story. For me though, I found the way it was written confusing. I frequently had to reread parts because I was getting lost who was who. The plot was a little slow and it felt like the action didn't start till 70% in.

I tried to get into it but ended up DNFing. It just didn’t work for me. The structure is a bit messy and the identities needed more depth. I struggled to care about the plot because of this. I never felt grounded, more deeply connected, or emotionally invested. I can see the voice of this one making it a very divisive read, it’ll either work for you or it won’t type of book. And, for me, it just didn’t.

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️✨
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Ugh this one is a hard one for me to write. I liked this one to a degree, but there were just too many things that brought down the star rating on this one unfortunately.
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One Of Us Knows is told in a dual POV - which makes complete sense considering this is a story about DID. Speaking of which, this story has a super interesting concept. One of which I think the execution had to of been a tough one to do; unfortunately I don’t think Cole did well with said execution. The story itself felt very choppy; but hey, maybe that was the point, to make it a story told from a DID POV, which would make sense right? But it just became confusing and hard to follow after some time. I really wish the inner world wasn’t necessarily a part of it because that almost made this story seem too fantastical. I felt like I wasn’t really grasping the point until I was almost at the end of the book.
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My next beef was that while I absolutely loved the exploration of all of the different identities and their roles within the identity of the main host, I honestly cannot say that I cared about a single on of the other personalities. That made this a bit more difficult to enjoy since between their switching and the lack of likable qualities and even depth they just felt almost irrelevant (even though they obviously are significant within the story). I didn’t care about majority of the personalities.
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This is more of a slow burn in my opinion. There is a lot of character building and not much action until the end. I really like how Cole wrapped this one up, I loved finally figuring out the trauma that created these multiple identities, I loved the resolution, but what was that epilogue?
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Lastly, and this is 100% a ME problem. But if I had to read one more time within this book about COVID and wearing masks I was going to lose my mind. Not to mention, there was no point for the constant reminder. It played absolutely no part in the story whatsoever. Covid is a huge trigger for me. I worked in the Covid ICU, I lived it, I know it was bad, I dont need to be reminded of it. I use books as an escape majority of the time. End of my trigger warning rant lol.
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One Of Us Knows was released on 4/16. I think people will love this one. Huge than you to NetGalley, Alyssa Cole and William Morrow for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Book Tour Review…One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole

Years after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder derailed career, Kenetria Nash and her alters have been given a second chance: a position as resident caretaker of a historic home.

A surprise visit from the home’s conservation trust just as a Nor’easter bears down on the island disrupts her newfound life, leaving Ken trapped with a group of possibly dangerous strangers and the man who brought her life tumbling down years earlier. When he turns up dead, Ken is the prime suspect.

Caught in a web of secrets and in a race against time, Ken and her alters must band together to prove their innocence and discover the truth.

One of Us Knows was definitely a unique experience! Once you start reading you realize that it's actually two books in one! You have one part about the island and the other part is about Kenetria Nash, a historical preservationist diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. With Kenetria and her alters you have quite a few characters, it can be confusing but once you figure that out you end up with an incredibly creative and entertaining story! It's definitely not a book for everyone, you will need to let go of reality and pay close attention but in the end its definitely worth trying! Thank you Cocoa Chapters, Alyssa Cole and William Morrow for sharing this book with me!

@cocoachapters @williammorrowbooks @alyssacolelit #cocoachapters #cocoasippers #OneofUsKnows #alyssacole #bookreview #williammorrowbooks #booktour #mysterybook #bookrecommendation #bookstagram #booksta

The genre of this book is part sci-fi, part mystery and all weird. I was lost at the beginning, finally figured a few things out about a third of the way through, got lost again and lost interest in the story that meandered between two plots, two themes and alternative people who were unreliable narrators. I had looked forward to this book after having read and enjoyed others by this author, but this one was way too far out there for me. It seemed to be appealing to too many different audiences and not really hitting the mark for me at all. I figured out the plots, identified the characters (kind of, since they are not realistic or relatable) and deduced the themes. This book just did not work for me so I cannot recommend it unless one enjoys spending time trying to solve the mystery of what in the world is going on and when will it all finally end. The book gets a 2.5, rounded up to a 3 for the author’s active imagination.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I was super intrigued when I first started this one. I loved learning about the DID personalities. But that is about it. It started to get boring after awhile and I ended up stopping at 50%.

Buckle up before you start this one, because it will take you on a wild ride for sure. Packed with twists and social commentary, it's the kind of book readers should go into without reading too much about since it could easily be spoiled- but just try guessing the whole story in this one.

What if having people inside your head meant you were never alone? What if you couldn’t remember how they got there or how many residents took up in that private castle?
This book focuses on DID, and while I personally have never been involved with this subject it definitely opened the discussion of mental health issues and a research of the subject.
While the story development and characters were interesting to get to know this book just felt drawn out until the last 6 chapters where it felted rushed to draw it together for me.

a woman who is living on a island in a historical estate basically around nothing suffers from mpd (multiple personality disorder) one of her personalities goes to this place and doesnt know what is going on, this book is wild i couldnt stop reading it, thank you to netgalley for giving me this to read. quick page turner, love the thriller vibes of this.

In the book One Of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole this book is about a woman who takes over A historical home conservatorship on an isolated island she suffers from multiple personalities and while on the island one of her personalities who hasn’t been around or aware shows up and doesn’t know what they’re doing there. On paper this sounds like a book I would love and probably had it not been written in first person it would’ve been easier to get into but from the beginning her personality speak for their self and talk about the other personalities as if they’re real people and I think that just confuse me and set up a constant disarray for my thought while reading the book. I usually really like this authors books and thought this one sounded so good and I see others liked it but I think the formatting for me was not so great. There was some really interesting parts in the book but my thoughts kept straying and I knew it wasn’t a book for me. I want to thank William Morrow for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A genre-bending gothic thriller centered around a woman with dissociative identity disorder serving as the caretaker at a gothic estate, when she finds herself trapped on the island with a murderer. Chilling!

What’s it about?

Kenetria Nash had a breakdown several years earlier that led to her losing her spot in the Masters of Arts historical preservationist graduate program at Benson College. As a young child, Kenetria experienced trauma that led her to develop dissociative identity disorder (DID) as a way to cope. This involves splitting into different selves who manage or take over different parts of her life or when certain triggers happen. Kenetria and her other “headmates” operate relatively collaboratively to manage her life. They keep a shared journal to update one another on what has been happening in Kenetria’s life while the others have been away.

The book opens with Ken (Kenetria, the host), who has been away for some time and has just awoken on a dock, waiting for transportation to Ken / Kenetria’s new job as a caretaker on a remote estate on Hudson River Island. She’s unfamiliar with the island, her alter Della evidently applied for the job while Ken was away. When Ken takes control of her body, she discover that Della has disappeared, unable to provide answers to why she applied for this job and what it may entail.

Ken has been looking for something stable and interesting since being removed from her graduate program, and this seems like a great opportunity. But when she arrives on Hudson River Island, she realizes that the house looks almost identical to the one she’s built in her mind to cohabitate with her other headmates. Is it a coincidence? Or is she unaware she’s been here before? Ken is warned not to spend a single night alone in the house. The island seems to have attracted it’s fair share of death over the years. Why do so many who visit here wind up dead?

A surprise visit from the home’s conservationist catches Ken off guard. Meanwhile a strong weather formation is rolling in, bringing battering winds and making it impossible to leave the island. The conservationist isn’t the only surprise guest that will be staying on the island with Ken, one of whom was the very person that triggered her breakdown. When someone is found dead, Ken is the prime suspect. She must work together with her other headmates to find out what happened and clear her name.

What did I think?

This is a dark and addictive thriller with a unique premise and expert execution. The different identities all have their own clear personalities and roles, and seeing their thoughts about one another and what is happening in the shared journal offers surprising levity. They’ve made the best of their situation, and they deliver it with a dry sarcasm and sharp wit that add to the experience. It feels at times like the reader is in the position of one of the headmates, trying to catch up on what the other kooky cast of identities have been up to.

I won’t lie that it is overwhelming at first as the reader is getting the hang of the various headmates that share Ken’s body. It quickly evens out, as it becomes clear that each plays a different role, has a unique personality, and even have different limitations (Ken’s vision is worse than the other, though the share the same eyeballs, for instance). The interactions between the headmates is balanced with the Agatha Christie-esque plot unfolding on the island.

Pulling off this type of story requires a high level of plotting, world building, and writing to execute. I thought Alyssa Cole nailed it. The book is gripping from start to finish, the structure and plot are unique, and the setting was well-developed and unsettling. The way the primary plot wove seamlessly with Ken’s struggles to leverage and integrate her identities was well-done and led to a gripping and heart-pounding story.

Ken is fairly advanced in her treatment of her disorder—she’s aware of the different parts of her occupying space in her life, she’s set up mechanisms to help manage an extremely difficult disorder, and she is mostly in a place of acceptance that this is the unique way her brain operates. She (like most in real life) developed this as a coping mechanism from extreme trauma. The identities allow her to manage which part of her may be best equipped to handle different situations, though it’s not a flawless system. In this story, we see Ken dealing with the presence of a new headmate. Ken doesn’t seem panicked by it, she seeks to understand who it is and why they emerged now.

Final Thoughts

This book is a winner, though it may not be for every reader. It’s a unique structure and narrative format that added layers to the story to wonderful effect. The dialogue among the headmates adds a lightness to a dark and twisted story. Since this is a novel style within the genre and a powerful and different approach to storytelling, this book may not appeal to readers who are looking for a straight psychological thriller. I think most readers will find it not only gripping, but thought-provoking as well. Themes of mental health are understandably present, but it also has a lot of subtext about race and class as well that can’t go unacknowledged.

Chilling, dark, addictive, and twist-filled—this is a must-read for those looking to expand their horizons!

Thank you to William Morrow for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Rating 4.5
Wow, One of Us Knows was a wild ride. I'm still sitting here trying to process everything, but Cole introduces a story that will blow your mind. I enjoyed this story more than When No One is Watching because it discussed Dissociative identity disorder, which I don't see a lot in novels. If you are going to pick this one up, sit back and enjoy the many headmates in the system.

Kenetria wakes up and has no idea where she is or what is going on. An alarm rings off, informing her that she is starting a new job as a caretaker for a medieval castle. She suffers from dissociative identity disorder ("DID"). This suggests she has several personalities and is living in the same body. She has been dormant for six years and is receiving information from her inner world about what she has missed. And which of them applied for the position.
The moment they get to the island, everything feels odd. Ken knows nothing about the past or what to expect. When familiar figures from her past appear, things quickly spiral out of control. A dead body. Fingers start getting pointed at Kenetria, and they must work to discover the truth and escape this island. Will they make it out alive? Or will they perish on the island? I thought the premise of this book was unusual, the plot was entertaining, and the ending was satisfactory. However, I discovered that it lacked overall organization. I believe there could have been more emphasis on creating each distinct alter and Ken's character than a summary of their personalities or the blog posts they write. I wish there had been anecdotes from each of the alters' points of view regarding the main story so that I could better relate to them. It appears that this book attempted to develop a plot with a smart concept without establishing its depth.
I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher William Morrow. This is my honest opinion, and own words regarding this book. This was the first book by this author, and I found it enjoyable, I will be looking into her backlog as well.

This book is absolutely wild. It follows a Kenetria Nash who has dissociative identity disorder. Ken "wakes up" on the dock waiting to be taken to her new caretaker job of an old castle on an island. One of her alters applied for the job, but she can't talk to the one who did it because she's gone quiet (for now? forever? That's part of the tension). There are multiple perspectives in the book, all of them are Kenetria's alters. The author does a great job developing each of these distinct personalities and the role they play in the group.

There is suspense both in the external and internal world. I thought the internal suspense (which felt as concrete as the external) was very interesting and original. The external plot was incredibly trope driven and felt too extreme, which was very disappointing, but it didn't stop the book from being a wild page-turner.

Most readers are either going to love or hate this book primarily because of the voice of the primary narrator. Ken is self-destructive, crude, and she hates herself. She's definitely not a likeable character, but she is interesting and well-written, that just might not be a enough for some readers. The book is also very engaged with a Covid-world and the politics that go along with it. That will also be hit-or-miss with some readers. Again, I liked it, but it won't work for everyone.

I recommend this book for people looking for a suspenseful page-turner with complex characters, and wild twists and turns.

I wanted to like this book soooo bad. After reading the description on NetGalley, I was immediately intrigued. But once I got into the story, it confused me, made me bored at times, and ultimately just fell flat for me. I've never read a book by the author before, and I think I would still try some of her other work, but I personally would not recommend this one in particular.

The premise of the character having DID was super interesting to me and was pretty well done. And the themes of classism, race and privilege, etc. were also well executed; but dare I say that some of this story felt a little too political. With the alters and the constantly flip-flopping POV, it was just too hard for me to follow. I was intrigued more at the end when the story picked up a bit, but the beginning 50-60% of the book did too much. It had too much detail that felt slightly unnecessary, and weird humor that took away from the thriller aspect quite a bit.

Thank you so much, as always, to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing this ARC for me to read and review!!

This was a quick, fun thriller. I will admit I struggled with the writing. When I think of this book, I don't remember the plot. My initial thought is the overuse of the F bomb. I don't mind cursing in books, but I feel like the author could have expanded the vocabulary a little. It's distracting when those words are used excessively.

Overall, the book had a great premise. I was locked in and interested majority of the book. The pace was good and I liked the ending!

At first, this book was a little confusing, but only at the very beginning. Soon the story started to make sense and, bizarre as it was, I loved this novel. Kenetria, aka. Ken, is afflicted by dissociative identity disorder, most commonly known as multiple personality. Some of her alters are always there and others are mysterious, but they have their own voice and it’s very easy to know who’s saying or doing what. The internal dialogues and interactions are funny and poignant and dynamic. They read like a close-knit family with issues, and I grew to know and like each one. Ken wakes up after a long time to discover that one of her alters, who’s missing, took a job as caretaker of a creepy castle on an island. She has to piece together what’s going on, with the help of her remaining alters, who then also start going missing. So we get two mysteries, what’s happening to her other personalities (can they even be killed?) and what on earth is going on with the island. The plot is very well thought out, how each alter’s strengths and weaknesses affect Ken’s plight, and how everything turns out in the real world. There may be a ghost. I loved the descriptions of both castles, the real one and the inside place where the alters live. I do have a pet peeve, which is that I’m not a fan of fiction referencing the pandemic we had to live through. COVID features heavily here, but in a way that made sense and didn’t bother me. It also has a heavy political content which, again, I rather not have intrude on my reading choices but, again, didn’t bother me. This book is a lot of fun and I truly enjoyed it.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#William Morrow.