A.J. McDine is the real deal, a really talented writer of psychological thrillers. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that she is a former journalist and police press officer herself, as her books bring a level of detail and authenticity that speak to firsthand knowledge of how criminal investigations might unfold in real life. This is the second book I’ve had the opportunity to listen to from this author via NetGalley, and I was so engrossed that I finished in just a day.

In The Photo, Lara, a former journalist herself who is biding time as a wedding photographer until she can sustain herself as a landscape photographer, is editing a photo of just such a landscape and sees a familiar face. She is certain it is her brother-in-law Jason, who she hasn’t seen in 10 years — when he was presumed to have killed himself after killing her sister and two nephews. Her niece Lily was the only survivor of this horrific crime, but didn’t remember much at age 5. Now 15, things are starting to come back to her, and she decides to create a TikTok account to tell her story to a true crime audience.

Suddenly things start to go very wrong in their little remaining family. Who has it out for Lara, her mother and her niece? It’s obviously Jason, with plenty to lose if he’s caught and arrested, right? But not so fast. The book presents several characters who may be innocent but may be perpetrators — and when the final twist came, I wasn’t rolling my eyes like I have with some thriller writers, where it feels like throwing in one more thing just for the sake of it. It felt authentic and believable and just left me wanting more.

The Photo publishes July 11 and, after these two books, this writer is going to be on my automatic read list going forward. I need to dig into her back catalog a bit as well. Thank you so much #NetGalley #Bookouture and #AJMcDine for the excellent advance listen!

Loved this Audio book I listened to it in a couple of days
Lots of twists and turns just what I like in a book
Give it a listen or read

Audiobook Title: The Photo
Author: A.J. McDine
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narrator: Tamsin Kennard
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Pub Date: July 11, 2024
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 339


Story starts with Lara a photographer who take a photo and it appears Jason her brother-in-law in the background. Only he killed himself ten-year-ago after murdering Isabelle his wife (Lara’s sister) as well as little Jack and Milo, their two-year-old twins who were killed in their beds; and five-year-old, Lily, was severely injured.

Now ten years later Lily is a teenager and has a true crime pod cast and has updated it as she too believes she saw her father.

Lara wants authorities to deal with find Jason and not reporters and other social media crime fighters. She is upset with Lilly for doing the pod cast.

I love a good audiobook and I do like narrator Tamsin Kennard as her performance of the characters is always spot on!
I did get frustrated with shouting at Lara to think before she goes into her profanity rants – true, I have a low threshold for obscenities. Although I didn’t like Lilly’s language I do know that most teens have ‘no filter’.

Story kept me curious. It really was a quick read as I was carrying my tablet from room-to-room as I couldn’t stop listening to this story.
I read a lot of psychological thriller so was sure I had it somewhat figured out.
Nope!! The ending was a surprise!

This is only my second A.J. McDine story, The other was " The Baby".
A.J. lives in Kent, UK and is married to A.J. Willis; also a psychological thriller author has two sons and three rescue cats.
She worked as a journalist and police press officer until she realized writing fiction was much more fun. Now she is the author of six dark, domestic thrillers. Her goal is to keep readers guessing till the very last page.
She writes dark, domestic thrillers about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. When she’s not writing, playing tennis or attempting to run a 5k, she can usually be found people-watching in her favorite café.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for granting me this early audio Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 11, 2024.

Wow, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me experience this audiobook early! "Good book" doesn't even begin to cover it. This was a rollercoaster ride of mystery and chills!

The story starts with a seemingly quiet neighborhood rocked by a horrific family tragedy ten years ago. But as the layers peel back, it becomes clear there's so much more to the story than anyone realized. The author absolutely floored me with their ability to keep me guessing – I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering what shocking secret would be revealed next.

And let's talk about that ending! Completely unexpected, but in the best way possible. It left me reeling, but in a way that just makes you want to rewind and listen all over again. The narration was phenomenal too, really bringing the characters and story to life.

This audiobook is more than just good – it's a must-listen for anyone who loves a good mystery with a killer twist!

The Photo is yet another amazing book from AJ McDine. The story follows Lara, a former journalist turned wedding photographer, as she is forced to face the trauma of her sister’s death. 10 years later, her sister Isabelle and two nephews are gone and their deaths remain a mystery. It is assumed they were part of a murder suicide plot with their dad Jason.

As we follow Lara through her life thru photos, we go back to the story. With the help of Lara’s surviving niece, this intricately woven web becomes untangled… or maybe even more tangled? The audiobook for this is phenomenal and I includes one of my favorite ever narrators. I believe this book will be a hit and congratulations and thank you to the author for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this book!

AJ McDine has created yet another amazing psychological thriller. Multiple POVs creates more suspense, while allowing the reader to establish a connection with the characters. Keeps you on your toes right until the end!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I LOVED this audiobook. Plenty of mystery and thrills too. A horrific family annihilation in a mostly quiet neighbors ten years ago now reveals so much about so many.
Author did a phenomenal job holding my interest and having me wonder what really happened.
And oh boy did I not expect that ending! Definitely a surprise that is well worth the listen.
Great job! Narration was phenomenal as well.
This was a good book.

A great story with numerous twists and turns that leads you to a jaw dropping ending, I really loved this part, such a shocker! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller!

Great book, fabulous ending

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only complaint I have is that I listened to it at double speed (slow readers drive me crazy) and so it was over way too fast.

The story is simple. A woman and her young twin sons were murdered and her young daughter was seriously injured. Her husband was no where to be found. The presumption was that he killed them and either committed suicide or went into hiding. Years later his sister-in-law was doing her job as a wedding photographer and noticed someone who looked exactly like the missing husband in a photo. She tries to figure out what is going on, while also protecting her niece from any danger the husband may want to cause.

The ending found a solution that was no big surprise, but it was still good. Then there was more. A twist came that was totally unexpected, but not a stupid jump the shark type of thing. It made me stop what I was doing to listen completely.

Excellent read.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat! Not to mention, the ending wraps everything up nicely! And I was NOT expecting the killer reveal. The whole time listening to the audiobook, I thought I had it figured out, but I certainly did not!

This was a quick listen for me, at 2x and it was the perfect speed. I also really enjoyed the narrator!

If your looking for a book, that has twists and turns, this is it!

At first I was a bit annoyed by our main character Laura. But as I kept on going she really grew on me and I started to really enjoy this twisty story about a family torn apart by a horrible crime! I particularly liked how everybidy tries to go on after such a tragedy. All the characters are so human and that's what I like best!
Tamsin Kennard, like always, performs perfectly!
Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture Audio for this audiobook

An unputdownable, fast paced psychological thriller!
After the murder of her sister and her twin nephews 10 years earlier, Laura sees the suspected killer in a photo she took the day before. The face looking back at her is her sister’s husband, Jason, who disappeared the night they were murdered and was presumed dead. Only her 5 year old niece survived the grizzly murders. Shocked, she questions herself and what she is seeing.
As the story unfolds it is confirmed that Jason has returned on the 10th anniversary of the murders. Laura notifies the police and starts to look for Jason, using contacts from the past. She fears they are all in danger. Has Jason returned to finish what he started? Can she keep her niece safe?
The author and narrator do a great job of keeping the intrigue and thrills at a peak in this book. There are twists and turns and the final twist is jaw dropping.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re on the hunt for a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I would definitely recommend picking up The Photo! This book had me hooked from the first page!

When Lara sees a familiar figure in the background of one of her photos she knows she’s looking at her missing brother-in-law! After her sister and nephews were violently murdered everything pointed to the missing husband as the prime suspect, but evidence led everyone to presume he was dead! Now Lara knows he’s not only still alive, but back! With its gripping story line, and all the twists and turns, this book will keep you guessing right up until the jaw-dropping finale.

This is an addictive read that fans of psychological thrillers will absolutely love. I couldn’t put it down, and neither will you!

Huge thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for the advanced audiobook copy!

The Photo is a fast-paced thriller that gives you a drip feed of new information as it goes to its ending which took a few twists along the way. This was a fun thriller and I was happy with the final twist this book took.

For most of the book, each chapter gave you just enough to keep you engaged. Ten years ago Lara took custody of her niece Lily. This happened after Lara’s sister and her twin sons were brutally murdered. Lily was the only survivor since her father Jason was missing and presumed to have killed himself since the scene was set as a murder-suicide.

In the present day, Lara takes a landscape picture and sees Jason in the background. Upon seeing Jason alive she is determined to find out what he’s doing back and if he was the murderer.

Most of this book was very predictable that’s why I mentioned I was happy with the final twist. Before that twist came I was a little disappointed with how everything wrapped up. Then I was hit with that final twist and it made the entire book better.

If you like thrillers The Photo is one to check out.

I was SURE I knew where this was going. And as the story progressed it just solidified my thoughts. And then PLOT TWIST. It was an exhilarating read and kept me on the edge of my seat.

This is the second audiobook I've listened to from this author and I really enjoyed it.
I think they write really well, building up the story enough to keep you gripped and ready for the twists and turns.
I liked this one as it was interesting to see the developing relationships and also the problems between families.
I didn't see the ending coming, good twist and quite freaky!!
Will definitely read / listen to another
Narrator was good - good pace, right tone and kept me interested.

Photographer Lara is at home editing the pictures shes taken, when she comes across something that makes her stop. It can't be?
Her brother in law Jason, the one who brutally murdered her sister and nephews, and left her neice in a coma in hospital?
Approaching 10 years since their deaths, and assumed Jason dead after murder/suicide, why is she staring at him in her photo?

Little did Lara know, her neice Lily, has decided to get on Tik Tok and tell her side of the story, and what she remembers of the night the murders took place.
Lily goes viral, and before they know it, the past is coming back whether they like it or not.

Told in multiple POVs, I really enjoyed this audiobook. It had me hooked very quickly and kept my attention throughout. Narrator Tamsin Kennard does a brilliant job.
The final twist was not expected!!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Fast paced, thrilling, the ending had my jaw dropped. The narration was really good. I don’t mind the open endedness of the ending but I do prefer when the person who done it gets what they deserve.

Love this. The narrator is quickly becoming my favorite. I listened to this all the way through. There is a lot going on but it is all interesting things. That ending! This isn't a happy story by any means but I love the characters. As an aunt I was terrified for Lilly. Love the ending.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and yet again it was a thrilling and unputdownable read. I loved the pace of the story and found the characters to be excellent . As often with a book I’m reading I am certain I know how things are going to finish but I was most certainly way off the mark with this book . That ending was one which actually had me lost for words and it really had the wow factor for me . The audio version of this book was superb and I found the narrator