Joel Dicker is one of my must read authors and this book confirms his place as a master of story telling.

Alaska Sanders, is new to town but not without history or secrets in tow but why would someone want to kill her? What do the notes in her pockets mean?

Having read The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair and Baltimore boys it was a privilege to re-visit some of the main characters. Many truths were explored and satisfactory endings given to characters from previous novels.

Joel Dickers book are not fast paced, or action packed but clue by clue they unravel what it means to be human and what it takes to make the decisions they do, even to kill.

It's hard not to compare any new work of Dicker with the beloved "The truth about the Harry Quebert Affair". I liked and enjoyed most of this book, although the twists and turns were much less twisty and turny. For the first time, I was able to figure out the killer and many of the curveballs that the author sent our way, and admittedly, this greatly reduced my joy of this book. I still devoured it over a couple of days, though!
The book follows the same formula as his previous books: present day investigation of a cold case.
There was a lot of repetition and could have been shorter... and I missed Marcus' exchanges with his mum.

I think it's an ok book, and can definitely be enjoyed by lots of people interested in thrillers. But it pains me to say it's not at the height of some of the author's previous work.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Eleven years after Alaska Sanders is found murdered and missing his writer friend and idol Harry Quebert, author and investigative journalist Marcus Goldman finds himself sucked into yet another small town mystery after murder occurs right under his nose.

One of the aspects of this book that I really enjoyed was sitting in front of the Joël, yet again, showed us why we keep coming back for his tension filled small-town mysteries where everyone is a suspect and you can trust no-one. The claustrophobia of the closed off setting really added to the craving of one more chapters, especially when one question was answered another one authentically appeared.

The back and forth of memories and events leading up to deaths were perfectly slotted into place, showing, once again, another well structured and thoughtfully plotted novel. Although at times I felt that I lost a few threads due to the vast size of the cast, I was able to quickly pick it up quickly.

Being back with Marcus was great. He's intellectual and such a humane and thoughtful character. I felt that within the pages of The Alaska Sanders Affair, he showed more vulnerability when it came to his personal life, including his friendship with Harry Quebert, as well as his romantic life.

I did feel that at times, the pace got a tad slow, but all in all, coupled with the excellently executioned red herrings, it added to the air of mystery!

Would highly recommend reading, especially if you're a mystery lover!

I found this book quite hard to follow despite reading it over three days. It would have been easier if I had read the previous book The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair first but I suspect I would still have struggled. Having two books with the same titles as those of the fictional author and main character Marcus invites problems. The frequent switches in time from the present to a crime 10 years earlier does not help and then episodes are often repeated but from a different character’s viewpoint which I found tiresome.
The narrative also felt a bit stilted although I see that it has been translated which may be a contributing factor.
The relationship between Marcus and Perry the police sergeant is an integral part of the book and I thought that this was developed quite well as they investigate the death of Alaska Sanders in a small town in New Hampshire.
The ending was satisfying although it has been designed to lead onto a futher book in the series which I think I will skip.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the ARC.

This is the first time that I have read a book by Joel Dicker and it certainly will not be the last! I was hooked! I really could not put this book down and read through night into the early hours of the morning to finish it!
The author has an amazing mind and writes a very complex story that is transformed into an easy read. I kept thinking that I knew who the murderer was and then was left gobsmacked as I was so very wrong........
The emotions of the characters, sheer determination and tenacity to get the right conviction are demonstrated throughout.
At times I thought that I was part of the investigation team as I was have similar thoughts and questions and these are all answered.
I am really looking forward to finding out how the 'writer' finds his way in the next chapter of the series.

Joël Dicker is without doubt a great thriller writer. The Alaska Sanders Affair is a lengthy and incredibly interesting detective novel. With the main 'detective' being a writer. The writing technique I found very useful, where a current topic or question is followed by a short fly on the wall look back in time. Marcus Goldman, the writer, together with Sergeant Perry Gahalowood, team up again to try and discover who really did kill Alaska Sanders. In the investigation they discover that the sleepy small town appearance of Mount Pleasant is just a façade and it takes a lot of chipping away to reveal exactly what was happening back when Alaska was killed nearby.
This is a very long novel and must represent top value as every page is riveting. I would like to complement the translators who did a faultless job.
A very complex and detailed detective thriller, logical too.

A jigsaw of pieces relating to a cold case in which the convicted man has spent over a decade in prison. A successful writer at a watershed in his life becomes embroiled in the old investigation whilst re engaging with the police involved in the decade old murder of a young girl. Slowly the reader moves between past and present as the writer and policeman responsible for the apprehension and conviction of the felon question the old conviction.. A painstaking cold trail re examining every fact and decision reopens wounds, deceptions, secrets and lies . Crucial witnesses emerge who have in some cases innocently and others guiltily failed to reveal critical details that suggest a miscarriage of justice may have occurred. Several failed conclusions before a reveal that that is as astonishing as Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this 5* read ARC.

Having loved the Harry Quebert Affair, I was excited to be gifted an ARC of The Alaska Sanders Affair by Netgalley. This is a complex crime thriller with lots of twists and turns. Just when you think you have figured out who the murderer is, the author throws in some more complications! There are many time lines and points of view which kept me hooked and guessing throughout. It was also nice to follow the life of Marcus again, I hope we get to find out about the Baltimore Goldmans soon. Thanks #netgalley

Another cold case mystery for old friends Sergeant Perry Gahalowood and writer Marcus Goldman, who previously solved the murder, later chronicled in a book, in The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair. The murder of beautiful young Alaska Sanders seemed to have been quickly solved and two suspects apprehended, one of whom is dead, the other in prison. But eleven years later, the case surfaces again, and closer investigation reveals a complex web of secrets and deceptions that will eventually lead to the truth. I enjoyed the previous novel, but found this one much too long and flabbily written. There are way too many red herrings and new details that just keep coming, so that every time it seems that what happened is becoming clear, there is another unlikely development that sends the action off in another direction. It seems like the original investigation must have been completely incompetent to have missed so many clues! Some may enjoy this labyrinthine unravelling of the truth, but I felt it was stretched out and just became tedious and annoying. There are also a lot of references to what happened to Goldman’s cousins, but this is never explained, and even though I read the earlier book I couldn’t remember, so that was another irritant. A big disappointment.

This author has rocketed to the top of my favourite authors list. I adored the Quebert Affaor and this book did not disappoint. Superb story and so well written. Brilliant.

Very strong contender for my book of the year!
It was great to be back in the world of Writer and Sergeant whilst delving into another mystery together. Although chapters alternate with differing points of view it is so easy to follow and each page keeps you guessing and wanting more.
Dicker writes with such beautiful prose that you cannot help but be fully engaged with this book and it is the epitome of one you cannot put down. I absolutely loved the relationship between Marcus and Gahalowood and the banter between them.
An absolute winner from me!
Thank you for this copy to read and review

Naturally as a fan of Joel’s books and Harry Quebert being the start of that journey, there is always time to read the latest story. Despite the fact that I raced through this in a day, I felt unsatisfied. The story didn’t feel complete. It was tidy, that is the overwhelming feeling. Everything was touched upon but never explored. Key characters popped up and then down again. Sadly it felt like rewarding a Wikipedia page of the novelist Marcus Goldman. I wished it was as juicy as HQA, I wished I could fully dive into the world of New Hampshire and feel like I was living the story, but it didn’t quite get there for me. Enjoyable to read but nothing heart wrenching to write home about.

I received an advanced reading copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Quercus Books, and the author Joel Dicker.
I found this book really frustrating! I remember enjoying 'The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair', so had high hopes. Unfortunately this seemed painfully similar, but a lazy version with one-dimensional and unlikeable characters. It also went on for way too long, and had a rushed and unsatisfying denouement. All in all, frustrating.

Joel Dicker does it again with his sequel to The Harry Quebert Affair which is published in September. I do suggest reading Harry Quebert first just so the book makes absolute sense, but if you don’t then it’s not the end of the world and I’m pretty sure you’d immediately read it afterwards anyway. Joel Dicker writes with such character conviction that, as with his previous novels, you’ll automatically hit the internet to Google the background to this crime story believing it, and it’s characters, to be true. But here’s the big plot twist, they aren’t but he convinced you that they are. You also care about these characters and their relationships with each other throughout, as much as you care about the storyline.

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Joël Dicker, he writes a mystery like no other. I picked up The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair during lockdown and devoured it in 4 days, since then I've been hooked. Naturally when The Alaska Sanders Affair popped up on Netgalley my request went in immediately. Thank you so much @quercusbooks for granting me a copy.

In true Dicker style this story starts at the end, a murderer has been convicted and has been in prison for 11 years. However, slowly the case against him begins to unravel and we're left asking ourselves whether the right person was convicted.

Alaska Sanders was a beauty queen, an aspiring actress who displayed nothing but kindness to those around her. Who would want to kill her and what was their motive? Marcus Goldman and Sergeant Perry Gahalawood are determined to close the case once and for all.

I really enjoyed this book. The plot revolves around a young girl who is brutally murdered and the man who is found guilty. The story is very carefully woven together, with lots of interesting details interspersed along the way. I liked the twist at the end - I never would have guessed who really killed her! Will definitely recommend to my friends and family! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy.

This was excellent, 5 stars!
Intricately plotted with unexpected twists and a very satisfying whodunnit.
I enjoyed the characters, motivations and the atmosphere.
I generally prefer to read mysteries where the focus is on the crime, victim and method of solving, when the investigators are more impersonal, but this is the exception.
The pacing and build up felt spot on,
Would greatly recommend, a new favourtie crime author!

This was well written and very interesting. I wasn’t sure about the style to begin with, but I soon got into it. It is an interesting take on solving a historic murder and it was well plotted. I haven’t read the other story but will seek it out. Recommended.

Fans of Joel Dicker will know the structure that awaits them in this book. A long twisting back and forth tale with diversions, dead ends and time shifts. All are necessary to the plot which is a great rambling adventure. Marcus Goldman, the narrator, is engaging and good company. This book is book 3 in a series, but you do not have to have read the others to enjoy this one, and the solutions to the preceding mysteries are not given away. They are however flagged in a way that will make you want to read them next if you haven't already read them. This is a perfect holiday read, with universal appeal. SPOILER ALERT! I read crime novels to try and work out whodunnit. The satisfaction of a crime novel is reviewing the story afterwards and and marvelling at the author's misdirections, red herrings, and hiding in plain sight clues, knowing that if you had paid a bit more attention you could have solved the crime yourself. A satisfying crime novel is one you could have solved, but didn't. (Solve it too soon and you will give up on it) This however was not a solvable crime as there was not enough information to spot the perpetrator. If there had been you would have worked it out straight away and given up on the mystery. This left me feeling cheated at the end. If the ending had been clever the book would have earned a solid five stars. At the end I felt it deserved three as I was so annoyed with it. I will split the difference and give it 4. If this is something that doesn't bother you, you will love the book!

I actually really enjoyed theis book. I have heard so much about the first book but never read it. That didn't stop me enjoying the sequel.
The book is a bit long winded, possibly due to the , these are the events happening now but hang on whilst I go back and fill you in on some history. I can see why but it did affect the pace of the book.
I did enjoy the relationship between "Writer" and "Sergeant". There were some very pertinent lines in the book re life and life in general.
The ending is nicely rounded off for those who like that.
A very good read and I can see it becoming a TV series/film too