Who To Believe is an intriguing book with secrets galore. Although some state this is a faced paced novel, I found it utterly slow. It is definitely filled with so much toxicity which is what I enjoyed the most.

I didn't feel a true connection to the characters. There were A LOT of POV’s so if you're reading it it might get confusing as the chapters don't mention who is speaking. With the narration though it was a different narrator for each.

This book will definitely be confusing to some and demands a lot of attention to detail, connections and everything. I do read for enjoyment and I found this to be a bit tedious.

I do understand the rave reviews about though, it's definitely a mind boggling one.

🎧 The narration is what truly made it better for me. With a full cast of narrators it made it much easier to follow and get invested. Were the narrators my favorite, no I thought some things could’ve been more dramatic in their tones. Overall good performance.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley & RB Media for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, Recorded Books Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful book by Edwin Hill and perfectly narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross, Jennifer O'Donnell, Robb Moreira, Nick Walther, Laura Knight Keating, Leah Horowitz - 4.5 stars!

In small town Monreith, MA, Laurel Thibodeau is found dead in her home by her husband, Simon, who is naturally a prime suspect.. But he's certainly not the only suspect. As a small group gathers to celebrate Alice's 40th birthday the following week, we see the chief of police, the Unitarian minister, the psychiatrist exchange theories and thoughts. Before the night is over, someone else in the group will be dead.

This story was told in such a creative manner - we hear the story from the POV of six main characters and even the dog who sees all! I always like hearing the same situation told from another viewpoint that will change the way I was thinking. And this book continued to do that until the end. Every character had secrets, motivations, and you'll be questioning all of them. It was so helpful to have the audio narrated by a cast to help keep everything straight. This is a new-to-me author and one I'm anxious to read more from!

Edwin Hill's "Who to Believe" is a captivating mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, blending multiple perspectives, intriguing secrets, and unexpected twists. The novel weaves a complex web of murder and deception, offering a thrilling ride for fans of the genre.

One of the standout features of the book is its effective use of multiple points of view. Hill skillfully navigates through various perspectives, allowing readers to experience the story from different angles. This narrative technique not only adds depth to the characters but also provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate plot. Each character's viewpoint contributes to the overall suspense, creating a sense of anticipation that lingers throughout the book.

I loved each of the narrators— they all had interesting perspectives and I had a lot of fun reading them— but my favourite was definitely the last one. I wish there had been a return to certain characters POV’s sometimes, but mostly I felt that the narration for each character aided the story well.

The novel is a rollercoaster of secrets and twists, keeping readers guessing until the very end. This book has like 8 murders that you have to solve for— it’s crazy. The abundance of murders in the plot can be both a strength and a challenge. On one hand, it adds complexity and intrigue to the mystery. On the other hand, keeping track of the various characters, their motives, and the associated murders may prove tricky for some readers. It requires attention to detail to fully appreciate the intricate connections between the characters and the unfolding events.

While the pacing of the novel is generally well-executed, some chapters tend to be on the longer side, resulting in occasional dragging. For the most part, I didn’t mind this though. I was so interested in each of the characters any ways. Fortunately, the majority of the narrative is well-balanced, maintaining a tension that propels the story forward.

Hill masterfully introduces and unveils each characters secrets, ensuring that the plot remains unpredictable and engaging. The wild revelations add an extra layer of excitement, making "Who to Believe" a page-turner that is hard to put down.

So, this was an interesting story for the most part. I found the writing style to be easy to digest. My big gripe with this story is the number of narrators. Going through the same party scene from so many perspectives was really grating. It was like a contest between characters all battling to be the most interesting, and there were too many "gotcha! Twist" moments that felt unrealistic and in-your-face.

Monreith, Massachusetts, was a quiet and peaceful town until the murder of Laurel Thibodeau rocked the town to its core. Naturally suspicion fell upon her husband, Simon, with his gambling debts. But the gossip mill is also talking about the rumors and every one of Laurel's friends has something to hide! They share their theories at Alice Stone’s fortieth birthday and before the night is over someone else will be dead!

This book is told through various POV's including a dog’s POV at the very end. Who amongst them can be believed? That is the question. The author threw in everything but the kitchen sink. There are secrets galore, deception, infidelity, greed, and bullying to name a few.

After an initial issue with the audio, which was promptly fixed, I enjoyed the narration. I also liked there each character POV had a different narrator. That was highly beneficial in helping me keep track of characters and whose POV was being given.

This book has a great mystery with several plot twists and is told in a unique way. I look forward to reading more of the author's books in the future.

This was such a fun read! Absolutely everyone is a bad person and you get to explore each of their POVs (even the dog’s). It keeps you guessing until the end!

📚 Series or Standalone: standalone
📚 Genre: mystery thriller
📚 Target Age Group: adult
📚 Cliffhanger: no

✨ Will I Reread: maybe
✨ Recommended For: thriller fans who enjoy very grey (who are we kidding, they’re just bad) protagonists

💕 Characters: 4/5
💕 Writing: 4/5
💕 Plot: 4/5
💕 Pacing: 5/5
💕 Unputdownability: 5/5
💕 Enjoyment: 4/5
💕 Book Cover: 4/5

Thanks, NetGalley and Kensington, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who to Believe by Edwin Hill
Narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross, Jennifer O'Donnell, Robb Moreira, Nick Walther, Laura Knight Keating, Leah Horowitz

Monreith, Massachusetts seems so peaceful with its rugged coastline and country roads, quaint stores, and everybody knows everyone feel. The everyone knows everyone else feel is also the drawback to the place, especially as we learn how many of the characters in the book are seeing the local psychiatrist, Farley Drake. Heck, one of the townsfolk is sleeping with Farley. Would I call Farley ethical? No, but I won't give you all the reasons why. It seems like ethical people might be in short supply in Monreith, at least when it come to the main characters. Some of the not main characters aren't faring so well and you'll learn why when six (actually seven) characters show/tell you about the events of the last few days.

I really enjoyed the audiobook narration, with six (actually seven) characters having several consecutive chapters to tell us what has been going on in Monreith lately. What I especially liked is that each POV/narrator got to tell their part of the story before we went on to the next POV/narrator. First up was Farley, the psychiatrist, and there is a reason he's first. I don't think anyone likes that guy any better than I do, despite him having movie star good looks and lots of money. Then we make our way through the other main players of the story. I sort of got a crush on Max, thanks to his narrator's voice, but I know better than to trust anyone in a Psychological Thriller. My favorite character is thirteen year old Chloe, probably the only thirteen year old in the area without her own phone. She also has other stresses to deal with, big ones, in fact. There is also a surprise POV/narrator who knows so much more than anyone would expect.

Popular restaurateur, Laurel Thibodeau, has been murdered. Does her murder have anything to do with earlier murders? Is there a serial killer on the loose? Which is better, one serial killer or several killers out there? Each characters knows their own secrets and some secrets of others. No one can trust that some of their secrets aren't known by some of the other characters. How many of these people might kill to keep their secrets? Are any of them killers? No matter, they will still get together for Alice Stone’s fortieth birthday, uncomfortable relationships and betrayals put aside (or not) for an evening of food, drinks, and croquet. As we hear from each POV, it's funny to see how each person views the others and the events that have taken place so far. BTW, don't eat the ratatouille...ha ha

Thank you to RB Media, Recorded Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

A solid domestic thriller! I loved the format of the book with the different POVs retelling the different events (especially the dog’s lol)

What an incestuous little group of people! That was irritating but probably realistic

Thanks so much to RB Media for the free audiobook!

I enjoyed this one much more than I expected. The cover led me to believe that this was going to be super creepy and eerie, but it was more lighthearted and suspense for me than intense thriller. It is told from the perspective of several people in a small town that are all connected in more ways than first meets the eye. Everyone in the town seems to be hiding secrets of their own and pretty much everyone in this town is having an affair with someone (didn't like that part TBH).

I think this could be a big hit!

All 6 POVs had a different narrator which really added a lot to the listening experience.

I think the audio production was done very well and would highly recommend the audio version if you have a choice!

This audiobook is available today, January 23rd.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was so so. Waaaaay too many narrators and characters. It took me quite a while to really gain interest in it too.
A strange book that I didn’t dislike but it is far from a favorite.

Thanks NetGalley! This was an exciting book made slightly more exciting by a will-they won’t-they issue with the copy I was issued that cut off at one of the most exciting points 😅

The title refers to the MULTIPLE red herrings throughout the book, leading you to confidently assume you know who “dunnit” right up until the very end. It was a good and enjoyable read, my first by this particular author but definitely not my last!

4 stars

I am updating this review upon receiving the completed audio file for this book. Previously, I received an incomplete audio file, and since that allowed me to review only about half of the book, it negatively impacted my ability to provide a fair review of the whole thing. Fortunately, that situation has been rectified. Here is my review of the whole book:

This is my second Edwin Hill book. I really enjoyed the first, and I feel that way about this one, too. There are quite a few characters, all of whom are geographically connected, and they all have secrets and motives. There are also some surprisingly experienced criminals hiding in plain sight, and that makes this a much more exciting read. If folks have been crafty enough to get away with some scandalous stuff before, couldn't they potentially do it again...? Or will this make them bigger targets, even possibly resulting in them getting blamed for crimes they have not committed (this time)?

While I enjoyed the fast pacing and the plotting, the standout feature of this one is the shady characters and the joy of viewing the world through their perspectives. There are some great structural choices that really enhance this setup. I'll add that younger characters who are featured in this genre often end up harming the overall experience for me, but so far, they have been highlights in Hill's novels.

I have really enjoyed both of the Hill books I've read so far, and I look forward to adding more to this list!

Thank you NetGalley, Edwin Hill and Kingston Books Publishing for letting me listen to an ARC. There was something that just keep my attention to this book. I enjoyed the premise, but with 7 different narrators it felt like it was trying a little too hard.

2.5 stars
I had to sit with this for a bit to decide how to rate. I really liked the premise and much of the execution for this book. We have 7 different POVs, each adding more details to the story until we reach the reveals at the end. I’d recommend reading the book over listening as there were different narrators for each POV and I only liked 2 of them. Also, the last section of the book was miscast for the audio and made the ending weaker than if it had just been 6 different POVs. In the end, I still recommend giving this one a try (reading) as I’m sure most people will love the unique approach.

I really enjoyed this book. It had the perfect mix of edgy humor and mystery. The end of the book really disappointed me, though. It was like I was on the edge of a cliff waiting to see if I was going to slip over the edge

Edwin Hill delivers his best yet, WHO TO BELIEVE —A twisty whodunit suspense mystery thriller set in a small coastal New England town where everyone has something to hide as dark secrets rise to the surface.

WHO DO YOU BELIEVE?

Welcome to the small town of Monreith, Massachusetts. There is a killer on the loose—the brutal murder of Laurel Thibodeau, owner of a popular restaurant. The first suspect is the husband, Simon, due to his gambling debuts and the life insurance policy.

When six friends gather to celebrate Alice Stone's 40th birthday, everyone has an opinion about the murder. From Alice's husband, Damian, the successful documentary filmmaker and cyclist, Georgia, the Minister, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Ritchie, and their teen daughter, Chloe. Max, the cop, and the handsome, charming psychiatrist, Farley. Everyone is keeping a SECRET.

Secrets will lead to another death. Who can they trust? Who among them is capable of MURDER?

Told cleverly in seven parts, we hear from each POV—we get perspectives from each viewpoint.

Part one:
* Farley Drake… THE SHRINK

Part two:
* Alice Stone… THE PATIENT Financial advisor
* Damian Stone… (Alice's husband), the documentary filmmaker

Part three:
* Max Barbosa… THE COP

Part four:
* Richard Macomber… THE BOYFRIEND. The car mechanic with a secret addiction.

Part five:
* Chloe Macomber… THE DAUGHTER

Part six:
* Georgia Fitzhugh… THE MINISTER

Part seven:
Harper...THE DOG. The observer. The one who knows all. (my favorite)

One of these six will be dead soon!

From secrets, lies, affairs, jealousy, greed, betrayal, and revenge. WHO TO BELIEVE is a deliciously wicked, fun, and twisty domestic suspense that will keep you turning the pages (and listening to the audio) into the wee hours of the morning.

Cleverly crafted, a diabolically plotted mystery with a first-person narrator told in seven parts, giving you clues and an inside look into each personality. WHO TO BELIEVE is for fans of Big Little Lies and authors Ruth Ware, Riley Sager, and BA Paris.

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by the fully talented cast: Jonathan Todd Ross, Jennifer O'Donnell, Robb Moreira, Nick Walther, Laura Knight Keating, and Leah Horowitz for distinct voices for each character, making the story come alive! I highly recommend the audiobook!

Thanks to Kensington Books, NetGalley, and RB Media Recorded Books for a gifted ARC and ALC for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 23, 2024
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I was initially thrilled to begin the book due to its many positive reviews. However, as I read on, I found myself unable to connect with the characters on a deeper level or to fully immerse myself in the story's world. Despite my initial excitement, the story failed to captivate me as I had hoped. Overall, an okay read.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Edwin Hil, and RB Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

This one was so good, and I am so thankful to Kensington Books, Edwin Hill, and Netgalley for granting me advanced audio, digital, and physical access to this one before pub day... January 23, 2024.

I wish I could review this audiobook but I wasn’t able to open the file. I’d love to read it/listen if I can figure out how.

Edwin Hill has a new fan. I've never heard of this author, but Who to Believe was available as a Netgalley audio arc and the description sold me. In the style of Ruth Ware (another of my favorites), this "friends, mystery and murder" genre is well done in this novel. Lots to unravel, and a HUGE cast of characters, my only problem with this one is that as an audio, you absolutely must pay attention. Lots, and I mean lots, is revealed from multiple POVs and narrators. On several occasions, I had to skip back to clarify who just confessed to what. But, hey, in the era of writers banging out books like I do laundry, having a complex book which requires some thinking is ok for me.

I can highly recommend, and will also be checking out the rest of Hill's catalogue.