After reading it, I'm surprised to see The Night She Died being described in some places as a thriller, as it really doesn't have any of the aspects I associate with thrillers. It's more of a family drama that explores grief, loss, and learning to forgive yourself for mistakes, even when those mistakes have horrific consequences. I enjoyed it for the most part, but it definitely started to drag about 2/3 of the way through; I ended up just skimming the last 50 pages or so. I just didn't really care enough about the characters to stay fully engaged through the end.

The night she died by Deirdre Palmer.
My life is split into two parts. Before my best friend Danni died, and after. Danni’s parents see me as a second daughter. We helped each other through our grief. They even have my picture hanging on their wall.
But they don’t know everything about the night their daughter died. And the truth is eating me alive.
A really good read. Wasn't sure about Layla. 4*.

What a wild ride!!! Loved this book!

Great thriller, great writing and was def hard to put down. Had great twists and turns, gripping and dark.

Will recommend this author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

I did enjoy reading the night she died however I was expecting a thriller as this is what it was categorised under, however I would say it’s more a story around grief, love and loss.

At times I found myself slightly confused as it was told in past and present and I couldn’t always work out exactly where I was in this book, but I think in part that was because I was looking for elements of a thriller, the suspense etc which this book didn’t have.

The night she died is centred around the death of Danni, she died a year ago, her parents Rhys and Melody are devastated by their daughter’s death., they feel guilty and are utterly grief stricken. To cope with their grief they are clinging on to her best friend Leila and look at her and treat her as a second daughter.

Leila on the other hand is trying to move forward with her life. She too is devastated by the loss of her best friend Danni but Leila is hiding a secret about the night Danni died, it’s gnawing away at her conscience. Leila hopes her secret never comes out however it maybe the key to everyone moving on after Danni’s tragic death.

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

Before I started reading The Night She Died I thought it was a thriller but on reading it I discovered it wasn't. I found it to be quite slow but nicely written. I just found it a little too confusing as it wasn't what I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this a little disappointing as I was expecting a thriller, but it was more of a family drama, still a good read, but not what I expected.

This book has a good plot but was rather slow and didn't keep me hooked, a decent read but not one of my favorites.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. It had me hooked right away from the start and I didn't want to put it down as I wanted to know more!

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Deirdre Palmer for this ARC to read and review!

Although the blurb about this book gives off thriller vibes, I would say it definitely leans more towards family drama. There is a slow burn element of light suspense as truths are revealed regarding the tragic night that starts it all ... but the true story is one of loss, grief and healing. It's an emotional and relatable journey that will wrench your heart wide open but stitch it back together with sweet hope and fresh starts.

Thank you to netgalley and storm publishing for the oppurtunity to read this.
I read the blurb of this and it sounded really intriguing, so i definitely wanted to guve it a go. It was a good book, but unfortunately i did struggle with it. I just found the storyline confused me. It felt a little like it was all over the place and i just then didnt know what was going on. That being said, i would definitely recommend giving it a read, because it was acrually an ok read. I think ive been inna bit of a book slump, and unfortunately this particular read wasnt ebough for me to get out of. I would definitely purchase and read it again another time to get the full effect from it

After careful consideration, I would confidently rate "The Night She Died" by Deirdre Palmer a solid 4 stars. This gripping family drama successfully explores the profound impact of a tragic event on the protagonist's life, effectively capturing the emotions and complexities of guilt, grief, and hidden secrets.

Palmer skillfully crafts a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers engaged and eager to uncover the truth. The split structure, alternating between the "before" and "after" sections, effectively builds tension and keeps the story moving at a well-paced rhythm.

The main character's internal struggle, wrought with guilt and the need to keep secrets, is depicted with great emotional depth, allowing readers to empathize and connect with her journey. The relationships, particularly with Danni's parents, are complex and provide additional layers of intrigue and emotional resonance.

The author's ability to weave twists and turns throughout the plot maintains a sense of mystery and keeps readers guessing until the very end. The revelations are surprising and satisfying, adding to the overall enjoyment of the story.

For fans of suspenseful family dramas, "The Night She Died" offers a compelling and thrilling reading experience. It successfully captures the essence of guilt, grief, and hidden truths within a tight-knit family. The writing is engaging and the story offers plenty of suspense and unexpected moments.

Overall, "The Night She Died" by Deirdre Palmer deserves a solid 4-star rating, as it accomplishes its aim of providing an absorbing and satisfying family drama with enough twists and turns to captivate readers. This book will surely leave fans of Susan Lewis and similar authors thoroughly gripped by its suspenseful narrative.

layla and her friend Danni are coming to the end of their uni career and have the next chapter of their lifes all planned. One night changes everything.
This book is very deceptive and at various points in the book you think it is taking a particular turn and it doesn't.

Layla is so much in her own head that she only as her own view of the world and as such causes issues for herself.

This book was definitely not what I was expecting. the author very cleverly lead me down various different paths and that is what keep me interested the most. I kept thinking. I know what is coming and then I found out I was wrong.

Lots of family drama caught up in big feelings! Very well developed characters. The ending was abrupt! Otherwise, great book!

A mothers determination to hold on to the memory of her deceased daughter leads to an awkward relationship with her daughters friend.

Layla's guilt over the death of her friend, Danni, keeps her in touch with her friend's family. Layla feels that her visits are detrimental to Danni's mother whom can't seem to move on and accept the death of her daughter.
Layla decides that she needs to move on and falls in love with Morgan who is going through a break up. Lyla is scared of becoming intimate due to the death of Danni. Layla confesses what happened on that night enabling them to move on and build a life together in New York.

Deirdre Palmer has the reader wondering what happened to Danni on that fateful night from the beginning. Melody's constant request for Layla to keep regular visits shows how she holds on to Danni and not being able to let go. I think most readers who have lost close loved ones can identify with Layla to an extent of maybe not wanting to disappoint people. Morgan has his own heartbreak when his wife leaves him. Morgan and Layla are able to get pass their troubled past and build a life together in New York.

I recommend this book.

Disclaimer, I was under the impression that this book is a psychological thriller, so for the first 70% I was angrily disappointed.
When I actually checked, I saw it is a “family drama” and also categorized as a mystery/thriller.
Please beware that there is zero element of suspense or thriller in this book. The few mysteries prove to be wholly unexciting as well.
There are about six characters whose lives all intertwine and this book can be very confusing. Essentially this book is about changing relationships and leaves the impression that as relationships and partners change, that is ok because that’s life.

I mainly did not enjoy this book just because I don’t read this genre or enjoy character-driven stories. The writing was fine, and I would say that it’s an ok read for someone wanting a relationship study.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Although not the thriller I was expecting 'The Night She Died' was a well written novel. It's more of a family type drama which deals with loss, grief and guilt. Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for an arc. 3.5 stars.

I kept waiting for the book to get started and it never really did. It was not a thriller. I couldn’t even figure out what was taking on because I feel like it was just words. Could not get into it at all. Gave up.

A book about loss , shame, betrayal love and healing. It sounds just up my alley, but I did not connect with this book . Maybe I read it at the wrong time. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

I was expecting a thriller and this was most definitely not that, however it was a beautifully written and emotionally stirring book.

All of the characters were well developed and all suffering huge guilt over the death of Danni a year earlier. Rhys and Melody, Danni's parents both thought they had feelings for Leila that weren't true, but were connected to their own guilt and grief, while Leila herself tries to push away from them and ultimately from everyone else, until they are all able to confront their emotions and begin to move their lives forward.

A great read! 4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Deidre Palmer and Storm, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

THE NIGHT SHE DIED

The good: weaving POVs, cliffhanger interest chapters, the pulsing mystery that drives the plot forward

The meh: it takes a while to dive in. I struggled to connect with the characters, but I can see others liking it more. Perhaps I’m too entrenched in the romance world so I took some issue with a development, but I didn’t let that stop me from continuing with it (obviously).

Overall, it’s a solid 3.6, rounded here.