The suspense in this book was masterfully crafted, and the two spects of the story wove together beautifully. This is definitely a page-turner that I could not put down.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I always enjoy a good Rick Mofina book and this time was no different. A fast read that kept me up until I finished.

Rick Mofina masterfully drops subtle clues, leading readers through an exhilarating and turbulent narrative full of surprises.

Rick Mofina is a former journalist, who puts his talents to work in this new thriller. Well written and edge of your seat suspense. All the characters are interesting, and most of them have something to hide. story revolves around a double murder that happened several years earlier. The characters are interesting and believable.

The author has produced many excellent stories, but this one doesn’t quite measure up to his high standards. The characters are okay and the plot is well designed, but the thrill is missing in this thriller as it moves too slowly.

I was issued this book by NetGalley for my unbiased review.

Rick Mofina writes very interesting books. This is no exception!

One of the interesting things in this book was that 3 of the main characters were living with demons or secrets. Made me wonder if we don't all have something (not to extent of these people) in our past we regret. Might be something as simple as a seemingly innocent comment that caused harm to someone, and it bothers us even years later.

This book kept your interest and you really don't have an idea where, and how it is going to end.

Enjoyed!

A true classic thriller and mystery. It had all the elements you're looking for, an unsolved case, twists and cliffhangers with short chapters to keep you reading. I enjoyed this one.

Usually the return to hometown trope is overdone, but this brought new twists with smart connections that really brought the story together. I love when an author has extensive knowledge in the field they're writing about and you can tell Rick Mofina knows his stuff around law enforcement. Would definitely recommend this quick read!

Carrie, the lone survivor of an attack that left 2 of her peers dead. The crime was never solved and eventually she moved away so there are many questions left unanswered about what really happened. It was a slower pace; this is my first book by this author, and I know they are popular. I didn’t love any of the characters, in fact, her husband got really annoying in my opinion, but I kept reading. It was 400 pages but felt fast as chapters were short and easy to read. I will say, I didn’t expect how it was going to end, as I felt none of my questions were really answered until the end. Might be great for others but frustrating as well.

Well, this is a fun and fast read.

I adored our family – the problem with this adoration is that I was never, ever really worried that things wouldn’t work out in the end. It made the book just a touch less suspenseful.

And I finished the book still having some feelings about the husband’s little…moral challenge.

But, all things being said, it was still a terrific beach read. Definitely twisty and I read it at breakneck speed.

• ARC via Publisher

IF TWO ARE DEAD was engaging from the start, with a quick jump into the action and setting up some of the key conflicts that will occur. Carrie’s plot was fascinating and kept me going to find out what truly happened. I did find some of the character motivations to be confusing and some of the actions non-sensical, and ultimately the ending seemed like it came out of nowhere. While this was a well written book, it also felt like the threads didn’t come together and the ending was unsatisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mira for the opportunity to read and review IF TWO ARE DEAD.

IF TWO ARE DEAD
RICK MOFINA
APRIL 29, 2025

Carrie, her husband, Luke and their toddler, Emily are moving back to Clear River, Texas to be with her father, who has colon cancer and is dying. Luke, a former LAPD officer, has accepted a position with the local police force. While Carrie and Emily still remain in California, Luke is driving back to their new rental during a rain storm when he sees something, or someone, running towards him on the road. He has no time to stop, but when he does he cannot find anyone near him. Did he really hit someone or was it a tree branch? Because of a event in LA, Luke has a flashback and starts to imagine that he never hit someone. If he calls 9-1-1, he’ll open a whole can of worms because of LA, so he keeps the accident to himself, and returns to LA to help Carrie with the move.

Carrie left Clear River shortly after her junior year in high school to move to LA with her aunt. She is returning, but it will be very difficult for her. During her junior year, she, and two other high school girls ventured into the woods one day and only Carrie survived. The other two were killed and Carrie suffered brain damage making her totally block why or how the others died.

Now, as she returns, she is triggered by certain places, people and things… will she remember who tried to kill her? Carrie and Luke are both dealing with demons in their lives, but will their search for answers reveal the horrific truth?

Husband and wife Luke and Carrie are both facing demons from there past. They move back to Texas because her Dad is ill. All of their trauma comes back to haunt them. I had trouble liking any of the characters but had to finish the book to see how it ended.

This is such a creepy book. It had such a weird feeling of paranoia, and suspense, and it made me feel so suspicious while reading this book. It was scary and you wanted to know what had happened to the other person in the woods

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Rick Mofina usually throws a good punch and this book didn’t disappoint. I felt it was a bit slow in the middle but it went out with a bang in the end.
Carrie and her husband Luke move back to their home state of Texas to be closer to her terminally ill father. Luke, a police officer is leaving behind a ‘tragic’ incident at his old job but quickly finds himself in a new predicament. Carrie has a past of her own with no answers. She was the lone survivor after the murder of two other girls when she was in high school. Suspiciously to some, she has no memory of events leading up to or around it. Coming back opens up old wounds in many people and the past can’t stay hidden forever. A solid read.

Three girls go into the woods, but only one comes out… Great read! Some juicy secrets in this book! It also had great suspense, murder, mystery, serial killers, a fantastic who done it that I did not see coming and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this one! Thank you NetGalley, Rick Mofina and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Really good book! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed how good the characters were in this novel. it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed and was hooked from the first page and enjoyed the overall feel of the world. I was invested in what happened with Rick Mofina’s writing and the way the characters were written.

#IfTwoAreDead #NetGalley
Mind blowing. 5 ⭐
If Two Are Dead by Rick Mofina is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that explores guilt, trauma, and dark secrets buried in a small town. Luke Conway, an off-duty cop, faces a life-altering decision after a late-night accident on a stormy Texas road, setting off a chain of events that brings back his wife Carrie’s past horrors. Carrie is the lone survivor of a brutal attack that killed her two teenage friends years ago, a mystery that remains unsolved. As Luke tries to secretly investigate what—or who—he hit, their search for the truth slowly unravels dark and disturbing revelations.
Likes :-
1 Compelling Characters: Both Luke and Carrie are deeply developed characters with intricate backstories. Luke’s internal struggle with guilt and fear over his potential involvement in the hit-and-run, combined with Carrie’s unresolved trauma from the unsolved murder of her friends, creates an emotionally charged narrative.
2 Twists and Suspense: The novel is full of unexpected twists that keep readers on edge. Mofina deftly balances the suspense of Luke’s investigation with the unraveling of the long-buried secrets surrounding Carrie’s past. Each chapter builds tension, making it hard to put the book down.
Overall :- If Two Are Dead is a solid psychological thriller with emotionally charged characters, dark secrets, and a tension-filled plot. While it has moments of predictability and uneven pacing, the intense suspense and moral complexity make it a worthwhile read for fans of mysteries and thrillers. Rick Mofina delivers a tale that will keep readers hooked from start to finish, making them question the consequences of every choice the characters make.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for giving me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 which I will gladly round up to 5 as when I wasn't reading I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen next.

If Two are Dead is a fast pa4ced taut thriller that has it all: secrets, lies, murder, intrigue and characters you like to snarl at to complement the ones your heart goes out to.

Luke and Carrie are moving back to her hometown to spend time with her father who is terminally ill.

Carrie has her demons that would defeat anyone.

She is the only survivor of an horrific murder and the town is divided about her innocence .

Rick Mofina is a master of leaving bread crumbs for the reader to follow and takes you on a journey that is a roller coaster of a ride.

Expect the unexpected.

Grab your copy ( I should have walked the dog first) and settle in for a thrilling atmospheric read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harelquin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the privilege of reading and reviewing If Two are Dead.

If Two are Dead is a masterfully crafted suspense novel. Rick Mofina has once again perfected the elements of suspense with this spine tingling novel. It's two stories woven together seamlessly into one.

Luke and Carrie, each carrying their own demons leave LA and move back to their hometown where Carrie's dying father still resides. Luke, a former LA cop gets a job as a sheriff's deputy with the help of his father in law, the former sheriff. From the start nothing goes right for either Carrie or Luke. Carrie is starting to remember events from her traumatic past where she is the sole survivor of a horrific double murder. Luke is suffering from PTSD after a justified shooting in LA. Both are hiding secrets from eachother while they try to navigate their new life.

This was a fast paced, twisty page turner of a read. Mofina has a knack for drawing the reader in from the start and his attention to detail keeps us turning the pages. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to his next.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing Mira for the advanced copy