Boy, this took me over 5 months to finish the audiobook. I had to listen to it on almost 2x speed because the narrator was painfully slow. I don’t think the book was so much about the murder that no one cared about as it was about Maine and all the facts. However, I did not appreciate the reason for the murder. It’s unnecessary that all these authors throw sexual abuse around in the plots for substance. It was a very very slow burn, for a very unexciting ending. Definitely not a thriller. Barely even a murder mystery. #NetGalley #ARC

Everyone Knows But You by Thomas E. Ricks is a gripping and atmospheric crime novel that introduces Ryan Tapia, a detective who, after the tragic loss of his wife and children, relocates to the remote town of Bangor, Maine, seeking a fresh start. However, his new life quickly becomes entangled in a complex and mysterious case. When the body of a fisherman washes up on federal land, and his boat drifts into Indian reservation waters, Ryan finds himself navigating a web of local secrets, illicit drug trades, and rare fish poaching.

As Ryan dives deeper into the case, he must confront not only the intricacies of the crimes but also the harsh, unforgiving lifestyle of the coastal Maine community. The locals, some of whom are glad to see the fisherman dead, are unwelcoming and quick to judge Ryan for his past mistakes, which led to his assignment in this isolated corner of the country. The tension builds as Ryan uncovers unexpected alliances and encounters a man from the Malpense tribe who holds a key piece of the puzzle.

Ricks, a seasoned writer familiar with Maine's landscapes and culture, brings the setting to life with rich detail and authenticity. His deep knowledge of the area infuses the novel with a sense of realism that enhances the intrigue. The book expertly blends mystery, suspense, and local color, making Everyone Knows But You a compelling read for fans of crime fiction and atmospheric thrillers.

Ryan’s personal journey, along with his determination to solve the case, makes for a deeply engaging narrative that balances both personal redemption and professional investigation. With its slow-burn tension and complex characters, this debut crime novel will keep readers hooked from start to finish.

This book was not my cup of tea. I did not finish it. I just could not get into the narrator nor the storyline.

Ehhh.. This didn’t hook me and I didn’t really like any of the characters that much. An FBI agent sent to a remote Maine location. Murder mystery. 3 stars

This was a suspenseful read and I was totally here for it. I liked seeing Ryan learn the ropes of his new posting and be successful in cracking the case. This was my 1st book by Thomas E. Ricks but will not be my last!!

#EveryoneKnowsButYou
#NetGalley

Everyone Knows But You is the first mystery novel by non-fiction writer Thomas E. Ricks and it is a slow burn of a tale - perhaps, at times, too slow. However, the pacing is made up for by the complexity of the characters, and the beautifully descriptive prose of the Maine coastal area and the people who make it their home. The story is more nuanced than most mysteries and hard to categorize whether procedural, noir, or even literary fiction. Overall, a well- written and interesting mystery and one I enjoyed once I accepted that this was not the simple FBI procedural I had expected. I will definitely look out for more fiction by this author in the future. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Graham Rowat who does a fine job.

I received an audiobook of this novel from Netgalley and Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed this audio book.
I thought the narrator did very well.
Didn't sound like a robot. Really brought you into the story like it was a movie!
The story was great with twists and turns.
Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting murder mystery. I enjoyed the setting in Maine and liked the characters. This was an enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a native Mainer, this story did not feel authentic to the setting. Maybe my standards are just too high but overall, I didn't really enjoy this. It felt quite stagnant at times and I didn't really find the characters to be believable in my opinion. I didn't necessarily dislike it, I just was not captivated. I would give it three stars.

A quick read however I found this book to focus more on scene setting to describe Maine and less about an actual storyline. The author did a great job of describing the surroundings and building the visual but everything else seemed to fall flat. I was not invested in the story. I just kept waiting for something to happen. I read this as an audiobook in one sitting and it felt like it dragged on while simultaneously being over quickly. I also found the narrator’s voice was not a good fit for the story. Way too upbeat so it felt very disconnected.

Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story was passable but not really enjoyable. The story was kind of flat, and the narration was average. An FBI agent requests a post in Maine after the death of his family.

The Maine setting was enjoyable and provided a rich learning experience about the area and its lifestyle, reminiscent of Alaska. While the writing seemed somewhat dry, the story remained engaging enough to continue. The ending could have been more suggestive or left to the imagination (closed door). Overall, it was a solid investigative read, and should it continue into a series, I would be interested to follow the story's development.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

“Everyone Knows But You: A Tale of Murder on the Maine Coast” by Thomas E. Ricks is a riveting crime novel that immerses readers in the insular world of a fishing village on the rugged Maine coast. Narrated by Graham Rowat, this audiobook brings the atmospheric setting and intriguing characters to life.

After losing his wife and children in a tragic car crash, FBI agent Ryan Tapia seeks solace in the remote coastal town of Bangor, Maine. His first case there—a puzzling one—leads him to the corpse of a fisherman on federal land and a drifting boat within Indian reservation waters. The locals are quick to judge, convinced that Ryan’s posting to such an isolated location reflects a significant screw-up on his part.

As Ryan delves into the illicit trades of hard drugs and rare fish, he uncovers layers of deception and hidden motives. The dead fisherman was no favorite among the locals, and their whispers hint at a darker truth. But Ryan persists, determined to understand the unforgiving way of life on Liberty Island, where an older, harsher code governs.

Amidst the crashing waves and salty air, Ryan encounters a hermit from the Malpense tribe—an island dweller who witnessed something pivotal. As the investigation unfolds, secrets emerge, and the tension escalates. Ricks, drawing from his deep knowledge of Maine’s woods and lobster industry, weaves a tale that grips the listener.

Graham Rowat’s narration enhances the experience, capturing the nuances of Maine life—the rugged landscapes, the tight-knit communities, and the simmering resentments. His voice guides us through the twists and turns, making “Everyone Knows But You” an audiobook worth savoring.

This mystery/thriller had the premise of a really good story. It's just really slow to start.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review .

A new resident and FBI agent moves to rural Maine to solve a murder.

The mystery was easy to follow along thanks to the trauma of our main character, Ryan, who is trying to move past the accident that destroyed his life and refocus on his career.  On top of Ryan's investigating by the book, he is a brand new member of the small town he is working in.  We get a lot of information about the people and way of life of the small fishing town from the townies/suspects, which really sets up Ryan with unique challenges.

I really liked the thought provoking ending as well as the epilogue up to the point where Ryan's love life is wrapped up.  It screams male fantasy and the specific kinks and details of the hook up gave me a visual I wish I could erase.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

FBI agent Ryan Tapia is running away. He asked for the farthest most remote assignment he could get. Welcome to Liberty Island, Maine. The small fishing community is tight nit and does not take well to outsiders but when one of their own is found murdered it is up to Ryan to find the killer without stepping on the locals toes. They have their own way of doing things and protect their community at all costs. The island politics may only be trumped by the local indigenous people who also have their own standards and rules and land where Ryan has no jurisdiction.

This is a very detailed murder mystery with extremely comprehensive descriptions, some graphic some fascinating, on many topics from boats to ecology and indigenous relationships. I really enjoyed delving into the world of this small town and how the community operates amongst themselves. I do feel like the murder mystery itself got bogged down or lost in all of the details. This was more an example of coping with grief than a suspenseful hunt for a murderer. Ryan was so stricken by grief that he is failing to do his job correctly, being forgetful, not sleeping not eating etc so I do not understand why the FBI would have left him on a case, I'm a little fuzzy on why it was an FBI case anyway. There is not a lot of action as most events are recounted and do not actually happen. The ending is very rushed and a little out of the blue. The epilogue was very left field. This novel is a great peak into the amazing landscape and world of remote Maine and less murder mystery.

I had the audio version read by Graham Rowat who was easy to listen to. His tone was a little off for the character since the reader was more upbeat and Ryan is in the grips of deep debilitating depression. I would listen to more of his narrations.

I was really pulled into this book after reading the description. I thought it would be a great crime thriller. Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for this audio ARC. Unfortunately, the narrator just really missed the mark for me. He had the same voice for every single character, and there were a lot of different characters to keep straight. It also felt like he seemed to be yelling at me instead of just narrating the book. That being said, the content of this book was good. FBI Agent Ryan Tapia suffers a horrible tragedy with the passing of his wife and kids and he wants to get as far away as possible. He takes assignment in Maine and soon gets his first murder case when a body washes up to shore. I really found the descriptions of Maine life and the history of it's people really fascinating. I also liked the duality of rare fishing and drug trade - it was really interesting. I definitely would suggest reading this book vs listening to the audio.

Thanks, Tantor Audio, for the audiobook review copy via NetGalley.

“A crackling procedural about a grieving FBI agent who sets out to solve a murder in Maine. The sturdy whodunit plot is enriched by the author’s firm grasp of his setting and a colorful cast of New England’s who never veer into caricature.” —Publishers Weekly (@pwpics)

While I wasn’t a fan of the audiobook narrator, I still enjoyed this unique spin on a police procedural. For expectations management, this was less about FBI agent Ryan Tapia’s investigative skills and more a character study of the small Maine coastal town’s residents and culture. The author’s non-fiction and journalism background play strongly here, and I loved his perspective as someone who is “from away” learning about lifelong Mainers. Having grown up in northern Maine (known as “The County” or “Potato Country,” as the author quips), I found it fascinating. However, if readers expect a classic murder mystery, they might be confused. It’s not about the mystery. There is no mystery. After all, as one character tells Tapia, “Everyone knows but you.” Tapia’s job is to pay attention to the people and wait for the picture to resolve itself.

There was more “tell than show” than I typically enjoy, especially in the form of dialog. Having a local belly up to the breakfast bar with a new–in-town FBI man and give him the entire history of the area, the state, and the residents is unrealistic. Also, the epilogue felt slapped on like Bondo. But I was so smitten with love for my home state (and the author’s evident appreciation for it) that I allowed all of it.

TW: a sexual assault is described

Very clever and authentic writing, introducing an FBI agent without the hero status. Superb backdrop of Maine and the local customs which makes for some tricky times. Murder is never right - or is it?

I really did not like the narrator on this one. It was extremely boring listening to him. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it would have been a different narrator.