The prologue efficiently sets the tone for the mystery that lies ahead. I couldn’t put this book down from the start! The story of Jenny and her mission to seek justice is captivating. I pride myself on guessing the murderer in each thriller/mystery that I read, and I’m happy to say I was unsure and unaware until the very end. The amount of drama and suspense in this book had me flying through the pages! I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much!

Jennie Whitmore wanted to escape White Cross as an 18 year old but when her best friend Hannah didn't arrive for the bus to take them both to London Jennie ended up staying and settling into life there, eventually becoming a police officer. Following a school reunion for White Cross Academy pupils in anticipation of the building being demolished the next day, Jennie gets an early wake up call - a body's been found buried in the foundations of the old building and she can only wonder if the mystery of Hannah's disappearance will now finally be resolved?

With such an intriguing premise and the fast paced introduction to the overall mystery I really wanted to love this book. It's exactly the kind of crime thriller I usually enjoy and whilst it grabbed my attention initially I very quickly tired of the repetition of Jennie having to hide her connection to the body found in the school and having to hide her emotions. It felt unethical and a thin plot device to make sure she could stay investigating the case and it wore thin on me as a reader.

I was fully invested for the first 75-100 pages of the story but then my enjoyment dipped due to my annoyance at Jennie's actions and thought processes and the fact that the middle section felt a lot slower paced with what I felt to be unnecessary elements. But I did enjoy the final quarter and I liked that there were plenty of red herrings and multiple viable suspects revealed and the conclusion overall felt pretty satisfying. I think most readers of small town murder mysteries will likely enjoy this book but unfortunately for me there were several story elements just didn't work for me.

2.75*

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group | Orion for this digital review copy of "The Reunion" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Jennie Whitmore is a cop who attended White Cross Academy 30 years ago when her best friend Hannah went missing. They start to demolish the building and they find the body of Hannah. Jennie is heartbroken and suspects that someone from their group done it. She uncovers secrets and lies among her friends.
This was a gripping story that had my attention from start to finish. Thanks NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for this eARC that will be released September 5, 2024!

While the opening of the book gripped me, I struggled to connect with the beginning portion. There was a point where I considered putting it down but am really glad I didn’t because it definitely picked up for me at about 40% and I loved the back half!

I really liked the element of her running the information she learns in the present investigation to the details she remembers from the past. I also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes police procedural aspects! The photography and picture development added a nice atmospheric element to the book.

The pacing felt a bit off at times, sometimes moving too quickly and others dragging a bit. I also felt like I would have enjoyed this more had it been written from a first person perspective. I think I would have connected a bit more to Jennie’s character that way. Some scenes, while very riveting in their own regard, felt out of place with the story and may have been better served to have been more thoroughly woven into the plot. They were enjoyable aspects to read, and I can see their purpose, but felt a bit jarring in how they were presented.

I loved that there were plenty of options for the killer. I was kept guessing on suspects the whole time and enjoyed that I never quite felt confident on who it was. The ending was great and I liked how it wrapped up!

Thank you to M. J. Arlidge, Steph Broadribb, Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC of this thriller! It was a pleasure to read and give my honest review!

This fast and twisty thriller did not disappoint! I am a big fan of M.J. Arlidge and was excited to read his new release with co-author Steph Broadribb. I now have a new author to read!

The Reunion is a fast-paced mystery/thriller that keeps you second-guessing page after page. I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a story that can be devoured in a few sittings.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group /Orion for sharing this book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

Happy reading everyone!

I found the writing to be redundant and trite. I can see the appeal to a partial crowd or age gap though..

I am a real fan of M,J. Arlidge this one didn’t disappoint Jennie has always wondered where her missing friend went so many years ago now she has become a Police Officer she gets a call that a body has been found in a college which is going to be demolished she hopes its not Hannah if it is she can’t let them know that they were best friends as she will be taken off the case which proves difficult as she will have to speak to her old school friends it’s a real page turner and the end was brilliant,

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing group for an ARC

I couldn’t put it down!

An incredible read peppered with twists and served with’Hold your breath’ reveals! This is a book you will always remember.

Written with pure immersive storytelling, an ensemble of characters hiding secrets.. All of them suspects and all proof that no matter how much time passes the past is never far behind you, it is always there like a shadow and the authors use that fact, bringing us to a shocking conclusion.

I was caught from the get-go and cannot recommend this brilliant thriller highly enough.

5 Stars absolutely deserved.

This book is absolutely brilliant! I really enjoyed the story and the characters. I liked the cast of dodgy characters and trying to figure out who the guilty person was.

Former student, DI Jennie Whitemore arrives at her school reunion but she has regrets. Her best friend from school, Hannah, isn't there, as she disappeared, thought to have run away. The five people she does know there, from the old photography club, were never really that nice to her and they haven't changed. The day after the reunion, a body is found at the old school building site and Jennie is involved in the investigation.
As Jennie continues the investigation, it becomes clear they are all keeping secrets.

This was another intriguing mystery and while it was slower in parts, there were plenty of twists to keep me engaged. Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for this gifted review copy.

thank you so much to net galley for this arc .jennie is a detective trying to find out who killed her best friend and who buried the body under the school. so this book fell kinda flat for me i wanted more back ground on the characters.

The Reunion is a compelling mystery with a deep emotional core. The story begins with a dramatic twist—a human skull is discovered during the demolition of White Cross Academy. DI Jennie Whitmore, tackling her first major investigation, must uncover the truth behind the remains of Hannah Jennings, a missing student whose case has left a dark mark on the town.

The novel shines with its intricate character development and atmospheric setting. The group of former friends at the center of the mystery each hold their own secrets, making for a suspenseful and engaging read. While the pacing slows in parts, the narrative builds effectively to a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, The Reunion is a captivating blend of mystery and emotional depth, offering a gripping read for fans of character-driven thrillers.

DI Jennie Whitmore is unexpectedly drawn into a murder investigation that hits a little too close to home. When a human skull is found during the demolition of her old school, Jennie is horrified to discover that it belongs to her best friend, Hannah, who disappeared without a trace 30 years ago.

As Jennie delves into the case, she must confront the dark secrets of her past and the tangled web of lies that surround her old circle of friends. Just how well did she know them, and how will she keep the case, given her history with the group?

We’ve some interesting characters, each with their own complex motivations and histories, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative. Drama with her colleagues and her boss added tension to the story, although one side plot seemed a little irrelevant to the story - a red herring, I suppose.

The pacing is good, with twists and turns that kept me guessing for a long time. The book effectively blends elements of a classic whodunnit with the psychological tension of a modern thriller.

I found Jennie to be slightly irritating at times, but her determination to uncover the truth and her struggle with personal biases made her a compelling protagonist. I thought that one element of the book (I can’t say more without spoilers) was far fetched but I ploughed on regardless and was glad I did.

If, like me, you enjoy a small-town murder mystery, offering a satisfying blend of dark history, complex relationships, and a twisty plot then I’d recommend giving this one a go.

A huge thanks to the authors, Orion, and to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for review consideration.  All opinions are my own.

Jennie has lived in White Cross all her life. There was a point 30 years ago that she did want to leave and make a new start. But, she didn't go.

Fast forward 30 years, and Jennie is now a detective in White Cross. And, a case is called in. Human remains have been found buried in the schools basement. It turns out that Jennie has a close connection to the find. Jennie is invested personally in this case. She now wants to know. Who murdered her friend?

I absolutely love M J Alridge's Helen Grace series. So, I knew I had to read this book. The storyline and development were excellent. Slowly, Jennie uncovers new evidence and delves into the lies and alibis of those in the frame. Will she discover the murderers identity before they get to her?

I did have a slight annoyance with this story. I'm a small town girl, and around where I live, we all know everyone and everyone's business. From present to the far past. In this story, apparently nobody really knew Jennie. Despite having lived in White Cross for over 30 years and working her way up the ranks in the police force. She was able to lead the investigation into a murder of her best friend. But, nobody knew that they were friends.

But, anyway, I had to put this qualm to the back of my head and go into the story, believing what I'm expected to. As I've said, the story is excellent. And the discoveries and twists were great.

It didn't take me long to get through the story, and as the lies start unravelling, the pace quickens until we get to the reveal

The Reunion by M.J Arlidge & Steph Broadribb
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OUT 5th September 2024
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It's a brilliant Whodunit small town murder mystery. Told from various perspectives, including the lead detective, this story had me gripped the whole way. It's absolutely brilliant 5 big stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
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Thanks, @netgalley @m_j_arlidge @crimethrillergirl
And @orionbooks for my arc
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This book is written by two authors but you would never know because it is written seamlessly from start to finish.

The story is told over eight days, day one is when a body is found at a school that Jennie used to go to. She is now a police detective and is leading the case. She learns that the body is her old friend. We soon learn she has conflicted interest in the case so has to tread very carefully. Over the eight days we follow the investigation to find out who the killer is.

I enjoyed reading this book, the characters were not very likeable though but they made a good story. I found it to be a good crime thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this blindly and not knowing what to expect... and all I can say is WOW. I was immediately glued to the pages. This is one of the best books I've read this year. The characters were interesting and relatable. The authors did such a great job of describing the setting that I even felt like I was back in high school. The suspense and thrill was perfect with the added bonus of an unpredictable ending. This was the first book I've read by this author and I look forward to checking out the others. I highly recommend this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group | Orion for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The reunion - my worst nightmare, actually, so like Jennie, if I were to drag myself to attend a school reunion, it would be with extreme reluctance, but then I don’t have what Jennie had to give her that extra push - a missing best friend. Hannah didn’t arrive to meet Jennie on the night they planned to run away to London, 30 years ago, and has never been seen since.

Jennie, now a DI, is determined to stay on the case when a skeleton is discovered beneath the old school building, and so she has to hide her true feelings and not let on that Hannah was like a sister to her.

As the case progresses, Jennie realises there was a lot she didn’t know about Hannah and I really felt her emotional struggle. The character development, the writing and the pacing was spot on. I enjoyed the relationships between Jennie and her police colleagues, particularly when they sensed she had a deeper connection to the case than she was revealing.

There are a number of suspects and it’s really tricky to work out who the perp is, as the authors cleverly drop red herrings in to keep us guessing.

A fabulous read!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, M. J. Arlidge, Steph Broadribb and Orion for an ARC in return for an honest review.

It's the day of the demolition at White Cross Academy, and a crowd of former pupils and teachers have gathered to watch. But as the final charges are laid in the basement, the crew makes a shocking discovery - a human skull. Former student Jennie Whitmore is assigned to the case, her first big murder investigation, and one where there can be no room for mistakes. The remains are identified as Hannah Jennings, a popular, but troubled classmate who went missing during her lower Sixth year. As news of the body's discovery soon leaks, the small town erupts with intrigue, conspiracy and accusation. At the center of the investigation, is Hannah's five closest friends who used the basement as a base for the photography club.

Although I have read a couple of M.J. Arlidge books before, I have never read any by Step Boardribb. I was a bit unsure about requesting this book, as I'm not keen on books where authors pair up. But I'm happy to say I enjoyed this one. DI Jennie Whitmore had attended the Academy, where a skull had been found in the basement by the crew hired to demolish the school. In this twisted read, there are secrets, lies, and betrayal. The classmates are all hiding something. This is a cleverly crafted story.

Published 5th September 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #OrionPublishingGroup and the authors #MJArlidge and #SteptBroadribb for my ARC of #TheReunion in exchange for an honest review.



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Jennie Whitmore, a Detective Inspector with the local police force, attends a school reunion, reconnecting with the friendship group she hadn't seen for years. Shortly after the reunion she is called to the basement of the school, where a body has been discovered, soon identified as her best friend Hannah. As teenagers, both Jennie and Hannah had a difficult home life and planned to run away together, however Hannah never arrived at the bus station, Jennie assumed Hannah had left without her and still feels betrayed all these years later. Jennie knows she should exclude herself from the investigation however is intent on finding out who is responsible for her friend's murder. The pressure on her is immense, Concealing her connection to Hannah proves harder and harder as Jennie realises most of the witnesses in the original enquiry were less than trustworthy.

The Reunion is a great read, well thought out plot with twists, turns and deceits a plenty. Clever writing style, I felt part of Jennie's investigating team which I really like. Jennie is a very relatable character, her pain at realising her relationships with Hannah and the others isn't quite as she thought is eloquently described.

Satisfying ending, not just the reveal of who murdered Hannah, but how all the elements of the story were wrapped up.

With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.