This was a pretty solid, dual timeline thriller. It was fast-paced and had some intense moments. I wouldn't say it was the most exciting or unique thriller I've read, but it was decent in the expected way. The podcast aspect was fun and the plot kept me guessing, though I did have some trouble keeping the timelines straight.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Wooooooo! This was so good! Fast paced, intense and I could not put it down. Sometimes the back and forth confused me a bit but I quickly caught on. Read this ASAP!!!!

Steppy is the host of a hit true crime podcast “Dark Corners,” who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident to find herself at the epicenter of an investigation as she is told her mother was murdered the same night as her car accident. She has no recollection of the crash or weeks leading up to her mother’s murder. Her brother is the main suspect and is also suspected in the disappearance of a local woman.

This book had interesting moments, but the alternating then/now chapters were hard to follow at times. I had difficulty keeping track of when events occurred, and also her finding out the same information in both the then and now chapters, due to her amnesia, got repetitive. Overall, I enjoyed it—I always appreciate a mystery/thriller with a podcast element. Thank you to NetGalley and Headline books for the ARC!

The Night of the Crash by Jessica Irena Smith completely gripped me from the start. The combination of Steppy’s memory loss and the mystery surrounding her mother’s brutal murder made every page intense. I loved how the twists kept coming—just when I thought I had a handle on the story, something new would shift everything. The connection to the missing girl added even more layers to the mystery, and Steppy’s race to uncover the truth felt so urgent. If you’re into thrillers with dark secrets and unpredictable twists, this one will keep you hooked until the very last page!

Wow! This is my first book by this author and I so enjoyed it! It was a thrilling, fast paced, easy to understand read.

You wake up in the hospital, know idea how or why. You’re back in your hometown, you find out your Mother has been murdered and the prime suspect is
Your brother.
What do you do?
This is the situation that Steppy Corner finds herself in when she awakes after a car crash.
The thing now though, is can Steppy use her skills and knowledge as a True Crime podcaster to get to the bottom of this mystery in time?

This is a well thought out, fast paced thriller. The author has done such a good job with the storytelling that it makes you antsy and invokes your nervousness whilst reading it.
I’ll be looking forward to more from this author in the future.

When I picked up this book, I didn’t know quite what to expect, but wow, it pulled me in immediately. The story centers on Steppy Corner, a true crime podcaster who wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the car accident that put her there. Talk about a setup! To make things worse, she learns her mother has been brutally murdered, and her brother is the main suspect. From that point on, I was hooked.

What I loved most was the way the book jumps between ‘then’ and ‘now.’ It added a layer of suspense as Steppy retraces her steps leading up to the crash. The dual timelines worked so well to build tension—I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough because I needed to know what happened. And piecing together her fragmented memories while uncovering her brother’s connection to a missing girl last seen with him on Halloween? It’s as gripping as it sounds.

The pacing was incredible. I was on the edge of my seat for most of it, and the twists? Totally unexpected. There were moments where I literally gasped out loud. The dual investigations that Steppy carries out, even without her full memory, added so much depth to the mystery. I loved that sense of digging into her past alongside her, trying to connect the dots.

That said, I’ll admit that the dual timelines were a little tricky to follow at times. A bit more clarity between transitions would’ve been nice, but honestly, it didn’t take away much from my overall enjoyment. Once I got used to the structure, I was fully immersed.

And the ending! Let me tell you, I did not see that coming. It’s one of those books where you think you know what’s going on, but then it flips everything on its head. If you’re a fan of suspenseful mysteries with complex characters and unexpected endings, I can’t recommend This book enough. It’s one of those stories that stays with you long after you’ve finished it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Headline, for my free ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

True crime podcaster Steppy Corner awakens in hospital to find that she is back in her old hometown, but faces situation where her mother has been murdered with her brother being considered the prime suspect.

Will her investigative skills enable her to unravel this intractable mystery, or is she too close to the story this time?

This is a pulse pounding thriller which never slows down. It's the first time I have come across this writer, but I will definitely be looking out for her books. This one gets 4.5 stars. Read it!

Super fast paced and SO SUSPENSEFUL. I was surprised at everything. This was fantastic and held my interest the entire time.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc of The Night of the Crash. This was a really good story. I've never read anything by this author, but this story had me captivated the entire time. I would recommend checking out this author. I rated this 4.5 stars.

Wow! A 5 star read and one of my top reads for the year. A well crafted thriller that kept me guessing. It is a serious page turner and I had to finish it since each chapter just kept me going. It has some serious suspects, twists and turns. Every time I felt I knew what was going on there was a curveball awaiting.

I liked the timelines, concept of the podcast, underlying themes of relationship, family, success and friendship. The ending literally made me turn back pages. Definitely recommend!

Thank you Headline and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

While this book was pretty well written technically, I found that the jumping between timelines muddied the experience for me. The characters were a bit one-dimensional and could have benefitted from some character development.

This book was soooo good. I loved it. The author did such a good job telling the story that I couldn't put it down. I loved the multiple narratives along with the way the plot twisted! I admit I went through this novel quickly because I enjoyed it so much. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Net Galley ARC

I absolutely loved "The Night of the Crash"! This fast-paced thriller is filled with suspense and unexpected twists that kept me on my toes. As a fan of suspense, mystery, and thriller novels, I can't wait to revisit this story and recommend it to others. If you're looking for a gripping read, this book is a must!

In this engaging novel, the main character, Steppy, suffers memory loss after a car accident during a Thanksgiving visit with her family. At the same time, she becomes involved in investigating the disappearance of a local woman and the shocking murder of her mother, which points to her brother as the prime suspect. The story alternates between timelines, allowing readers to uncover the mystery alongside Steppy.

Every character harbors secrets and appears unreliable, making it nearly impossible to determine who is responsible for the murder until the very end. The final twist left me stunned! This book truly kept me guessing and glued to the pages! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this captivating story in exchange for my honest review.

A dark story full of twists, turns and secrets! Steppy wakes up in the hospital with no memory of why she didn’t make it to her parent’s house. With her mother just brutally murder and her brother a suspect, she must piece together events. This book had me guessing until the end. I was truly shocked by the ending!! This is the first book I’ve read by Jessica. Looking forward to reading more! If you are looking for a really good thriller that will keep you guessing, this book is for you! Thank you NetGalley, Jessica and Headline for the ARC!

Steppy Corner is the host of a smash hit podcast, the first season of which focused on the long ago disappearance of a young girl. Steppy was instrumental in solving that mystery but, when she wakes up in hospital, with no clue how she got there, Steppy finds herself at the centre of a mystery of her own. The police tell her that she drove off the road on the way to her parents' isolated home outside of Heartsick, Colorado. But Steppy and her family are estranged, and she has no memory of leaving her New York apartment, let alone driving across the country to spend Thanksgiving with her parents and troubled younger brother, Garrett. As she learns more and more about what happened in Heartsick the night of her accident - and in the weeks leading up to it - Steppy must turn her investigative skills to finding out what has really been going on, and just how involved Garrett is in it.

The post traumatic amnesia which strips Steppy of any memory of the crash and the week or so leading up to it is an interesting conceit. It allows the narrative to proceed at pace, as Steppy retraces her steps and discovers clues left behind by her pre-accident self. What made her get in the car that night? What is the connection between Casey Carter's vanishing and the murder of Steppy's mother the night Steppy's car went off the road? The chapters are short, with nearly every one heralding a new revelation or avenue for Steppy to pursue. The writing is average, but the story was pacey enough to hold my interest.

The final fifty pages or so detracted from the overall story for me; the author managed to both wrap loose threads up too neatly and leave too many questions without satisfactory answers. Without spoiling anything, I was left wondering what motivated certain characters to behave as they did, I felt confused about the relationships between certain characters and, crucially, the resolutions of the two central mysteries felt rushed and vague.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3 ⭐

I loved the cover and title of this book right away. I'm also a total sucker for amnesia stories, so I knew I'd be hooked. The way the story jumped back and forth between before and after the crash worked for me and kept me guessing.

While the book was entertaining overall, the conclusion was somewhat disappointing for myself personally -but I have seen many reviews that have readers feeling otherwise!

All together it was well written and enjoyable to read. I would be keen to try more from this author again.

3/5 Stars

Jessica Irene Smith’s The Night of the Crash is an intriguing mix of suspense, drama, and emotional complexity, though it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. The story revolves around a life-changing accident and the ripple effects it has on the lives of those involved, weaving themes of guilt, forgiveness, and self-discovery throughout.

The book’s strongest moments come from its emotional depth. Smith does an excellent job portraying the internal struggles of her characters, making their pain and growth feel authentic. However, the pacing is uneven, with certain sections dragging while others feel rushed, which sometimes lessens the overall impact of the story.

While the premise is compelling, the plot occasionally leans too heavily on predictable twists, and some of the side characters lack the development needed to fully engage the reader. Still, Smith’s writing style is evocative, and her ability to explore the messy aftermath of tragedy keeps the story grounded.

The Night of the Crash is a solid read with moments of brilliance but doesn’t quite reach the heights it aims for. Fans of character-driven stories with a touch of mystery may enjoy it, but it might leave others wanting more depth and refinement.

<i>The Night of the Crash</i> was a great faced paced thriller. I was pleasantly surprised. Steppy is a podcaster looking for her next big story when she very inconveniently gets into an accident and loses her memory. This all happens while she is in the middle of researching a missing girl from her hometown and he brother might be involved.
The POV switched from Steppy's Now timeline and her THEN timeline. Information was sometimes repeated because of her memory issues. This easily confused me but improved the telling and tone of the story.
Not only is the main character being unreliable, but almost everyone she comes in contact with seems shady. But is it because of her memory or are they really up to something. The missing girl's best friend is the shadiest but Steppy somehow overlooks that an awful lot. I thought I was figuring things out but then second guessed myself constantly because of Steppy's memory.
Needless to say, this one had me on my toes. I was not ready for many reveals.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

A Gripping and Emotional Exploration of Tragedy and Resilience

The Night of the Crash by Jessica Irena Smith is a thought-provoking and poignant novel that delves deep into the emotional aftermath of a devastating event. With a powerful narrative and well-crafted characters, this book offers a compelling look at grief, survival, and the strength it takes to rebuild in the wake of trauma.

The story centers around a tragic crash that changes the lives of its survivors forever. Smith's writing is immersive, drawing readers into the emotional and psychological impact of the crash on those who were affected. The plot follows multiple characters, each struggling with their own personal battles as they attempt to move forward and find healing. The way the book explores different perspectives allows for a well-rounded view of the tragedy and its far-reaching consequences.

One of the strongest aspects of The Night of the Crash is the character development. The characters are complex, relatable, and flawed, making their struggles feel real and heart-wrenching. The author does an excellent job of portraying the nuances of their emotions, particularly the challenges of facing trauma and the slow process of recovery. The relationships between the characters are just as important as the plot itself, and the tension between them—whether it's family members, friends, or strangers—adds depth to the story.

While the writing is engaging and well-paced, there are moments where the story’s emotional weight can feel a bit heavy, especially when the characters linger in their pain or frustration. Some readers might find the pacing a bit slower in these sections, as the book focuses more on the internal journeys of the characters than on external plot developments. However, for those who appreciate deep emotional exploration and character-driven stories, this will be a rewarding aspect of the book.

The ending is both cathartic and bittersweet, offering a sense of closure while leaving room for hope and growth. It’s a powerful conclusion that resonates long after you finish reading.

Overall, The Night of the Crash is an emotional, thought-provoking novel that tackles difficult themes with grace and authenticity. While it’s not without its slower moments, it’s a deeply moving story that will leave readers reflecting on the resilience of the human spirit. A solid 4-star read that will appeal to fans of character-driven dramas and emotional journeys.