Buckle up for this one. It had me guessing and gasping until the very end!

A story of abuse by a teacher of a young girl that leads to a labyrinth of mystery.

Unputdownable.

My, oh my! What a read; what a way to lose sleep in the best possible way. Keeland is back with a nail-biter that’ll keep even hardened suspense readers guessing. Red herrings cleverly entwined into the story distracted me from the plot’s true path and I loved every minute of it! Not just the well-thought-out narrative in Someone Knows kept me stuck to the pages—the title is spot on, the cover eye-catching; however, my eagerness to find out who that someone was, not only got the better of me but also Keeland’s protagonist.

To begin with, it was refreshing to see the leading character in her late 30s when it’s not uncommon for authors to choose younger women in romantic suspense novels. At this age, one would hope our lives are relatively stable; we know where we’re at emotionally, reached our goals and aren’t keen on surprises. So, it was easy for me to imagine how English college professor Elizabeth Davis felt while she was reading a piece of writing someone turned in, making a happening in the past bounce back with a bite. Titled, it opened up my intrigue even more than it already had in chapters two and one—not to be confused, all chapters go with the flow, and this one wasn’t merely a student’s prank.

The few people who knew the truth were sworn to secrecy, and Elizabeth tracking them down felt like a race against time. Even though a lot had transpired over the years, neither the pacing nor the tension let up. Keeland cleverly kept me in the dark until she saw fit, her twists throwing me off course, making me feel like I’d missed something, which in fact, I had. Well-deserved kudos here because this showed me how versatile her storytelling is.

Without going into details, I liked how Keeland integrated the past if not disturbing parts of the story with present times. Sometimes, I find flashbacks somewhat irritating or unbalancing but this was far from the case. It just made me want to get to the ending quicker—yes, my sleep debt! Besides Elizabeth’s intriguing love interest who, like her, has a heavy cross to bear, I was grateful the author didn’t simply concentrate on their chemistry—read her romances? Then you’ll know she’s the queen of steaminess. But here, she’s given the story more profoundness by exploring the complexities of love and everything that goes hand in hand with a willingness to overcome obstacles.

Canningly told from present and past multiple perspectives, I went into the book blind and recommend that you do the same for deeper engagement. Nonetheless, there are sensitive matters, so if you’re game to jump on this thrillingly emotional rollercoaster ride which I hope you are, take heed. This is Keeland at her utmost best and the most engrossing thriller I’ve read since I can’t remember when. She merits all the applause—bravo!

I can’t thank Atria/Emily Bestler Books enough for the opportunity to read before publication. My thoughts are all mine.

SYNOPSIS
- Elizabeth, a 37-year-old English professor in New York, is teaching a creative writing seminar when a student submits a story that shakes her to her core. The novel’s opening chapter isn’t fiction—it’s a recounting of a past Elizabeth has fought to bury.
- Two decades ago, her best friend Jocelyn was entangled in a forbidden relationship with a teacher, and Elizabeth knows exactly how that story ends—because she killed him.
- Desperate to uncover who knows her secret, Elizabeth returns to her small Louisiana hometown, where old wounds resurface, family tensions boil over, and danger lurks around every corner.

MY THOUGHTS
- Gripping & addictive: From page one, this book hooks you. It’s fast-paced, packed with suspense, and the short, digestible chapters make it easy to tear through in a single sitting.
- Thriller meets romance: While primarily a psychological thriller, the book weaves in romance elements without overshadowing the tension and mystery.
- Unreliable narrator: Elizabeth’s trauma, memories, and secrets make her a fascinating protagonist. She’s flawed, deeply scarred, and grappling with past mistakes, which adds layers to the storytelling.
- Dark & triggering themes: This is not a light read. It delves into abusive relationships, neglect, and trauma in a way that can be tough to stomach at times. That said, the author handles these topics with depth rather than shock value.
- Twisty & unpredictable: Just when you think you have it figured out, the plot takes another sharp turn. There are plenty of surprises, making it hard to put down.
- Emotional core: Despite the darkness, you want Elizabeth to heal. You root for her, even when she makes questionable choices. The exploration of unhealthy relationships—both romantic and familial—adds an emotional weight that sticks with you.
- Satisfying ending: The conclusion ties things up well without feeling rushed or forced, leaving you thinking about the book long after turning the last page.

TL;DR: a suspenseful, gripping thriller with a dark past, forbidden relationships, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for. Fast-paced, twisty, and emotionally charged—if you love thrillers with a psychological edge and a touch of romance, this one’s a must-read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on June 17, 2025.

First off, a big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve read and enjoyed Vi Keeland’s books before, so I was excited to dive into Somebody Knows—and wow, this one took me on a ride! The twists were so fun and completely unpredictable. I genuinely had no idea where the story was going, which made it impossible to put down.

The pacing was great for the most part, keeping me hooked from start to finish. That said, the ending felt a bit rushed, and I personally prefer a more tied-up conclusion. I was left with a few lingering questions, which took away some of the satisfaction for me.

Overall, this was a gripping and entertaining read, even if it wasn’t what I originally expected. If you love suspense with plenty of surprises, you’ll definitely enjoy this one!

Elizabeth is an English professor at Pace University. She has lived in New York City 2 days short of 20 years. 20 years ago, she killed a man. The man in question was a high school teacher who had a "relationship" with one of his students, who happened to be Elizabeth's best friend Jocelyn. Elizabeth has buried her secret deeply, but one day one of her students submits a novel detailing everything under the pseudonym of Hannah. Elizabeth returns to her hometown to investigate who could be behind this story and how much they really know...

This book deals with a sensitive subject in a respectful manner. That being said, an adult teacher grooming an underage high school student isn't a "relationship" and needless to say a high-school student can't "have an affair" with a teacher, Some readers might find this book triggering. Personally, I enjoyed the premise!

Someone Knows starts with Hannah explaining her day-to-day and background in first POV. I know it's trite to say this, but yes, I was totally hooked from the first paragraph. We also get chapters from Hannah's "novel", The Reckoning, which is essentially Jocelyn's story as a victim of grooming. Soon we learn that Elizabeth and Jocelyn were in the same group of friends, together with Ivy. They all bonded over the fact they had single, alcoholic mothers.

This story has two main twists. I gasped out loud with the one midway, it was so good! I was expecting something completely different so that was great. I kind of figured out the final twist, although that didn't take away from it. That last chapter, though... WOW

Thank you to Netgally for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this thriller, it kept me on edge the whole time and I could not guess who the mystery person was behind the emails to Elizabeth.
The best thing about this book was the twist, they were so unpredictable and unexpected, which always makes a thriller stand out for me. I loved the use of the emails and showing me as the reader the emails, as it also provided a flashback into what had happened all those years ago. This kept me on edge the whole time and I was hooked, I finished this book in 24 hours because I just HAD to know who was behind it all! 4 stars and I would recommend to any thriller fan.

This book is a fast-paced, captivating thriller that immediately grabs your attention. The story centers around a professor who’s hiding a decades-old secret, only to discover that someone knows about it and is taunting her with their knowledge while keeping their identity a mystery. From the start, the narrative pulls you in,

Thank you NetGallary for an early review copy of Someone Knows!

Vi Keeland delivers another emotionally charged and captivating romance in Someone Knows, a novel that blends love, secrets, and second chances. The story follows Elizabeth, a driven yet guarded woman who finds herself entangled with Noah, a man from her past who knows the one thing she’s tried to forget.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but as their paths intertwine again, old wounds resurface, and the truth threatens to change everything. Vi masterfully weaves tension, humor, and passion into a story that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. With her signature witty dialogue and deep emotional pull, Someone Knows is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance who love a mix of mystery, heartache, and sizzling attraction.

This is a 5 star novel for me! Well done!!!

4 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the chance to read this ARC

This was my very first Vi Keeland book, and I don't know what has taken me so long! Someone Knows is labeled as an Erotic Thriller, but I would definitely say this leans more towards being a thriller (spice level 1).

Someone Knows centers around Elizabeth, a creative writing professor in NY. Once she starts receiving chapters from a student named Hannah Greer, her past comes back to slap her in the face. The chapters, submitted one at a time, are familiar to Elizabeth. In fact, the chapters are HER story from two decades ago. Back to a night that forever changed her life. The night she murdered her abuser, English teacher Mr. Sawyer.

As Elizabeth returns home to Louisiana to care for her ailing mother, her story continues to unravel as she desperately attempts to find out who Hannah is and what she knows about that night 20 years ago. Throw in some people from her past, (Ivy, former best friend. Lucas, a boy she was close friends with and liked. Her mother, a drunk who spent most of Elizabeth's childhood passed out) and enter some new faces (her abuser's son, Noah) this story will leave you guessing who is playing the part of Hannah. Is it revenge? Is it to scare her? Will Elizabeth ever learn the truth?

I thought I had an idea who Hannah was. And then halfway through I changed my mind and was still wrong. A very good twisty book with short chapters that will keep you invested and flipping the pages (quickly) to see what happens next!

TW: the plot contains child abuse and sexual abuse of a minor.

Vi Keeland’s Someone Knows delivers suspense and intrigue as an English professor’s dark past resurfaces through a student’s writing. While the premise is gripping, the plot feels somewhat predictable, with twists that don’t fully surprise. Be aware, some of the themes are difficult to read. Additionally, a few plot holes weaken the story’s impact.

Overall, it’s an entertaining thriller with tension and drama, but it falls short of being truly unforgettable.

I like this book a lot! I love the mystery of it all and how there are secrets we know as readers, and we are waiting for the secrets to come out in the book to the other characters. I think it was really well written, and it had a good story line! I love !!

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

When I got my hands on an advanced copy of this book I couldn’t read it fast enough! This was a fast paced physiological thriller that keep me hooked from start to finish.

“Someone Knows” by Vi Keeland is a gripping thriller that intertwines past secrets with present dangers. The narrative follows Elizabeth, a college English professor, who encounters a student’s manuscript that mirrors a dark episode from her own past—a tale involving her best friend and a murder she committed. This discovery forces Elizabeth to confront buried secrets and return to her Louisiana hometown, where unresolved issues await.

Overall this book kept me engaged from start to finish, although some of the twists were a little obvious but the suspense was so good!

When I say I couldn't put this book down, I read it in one sitting. The plot is unique, I absolutely love what the author has done with this book. It had me on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out who it was and why 20 years later their secrets had resurfacef! I felt like a detective trying to crack the case! A few plot twists I definitely could not predict, and the ending was jaw dropping! A highly recommended read.

This mystery takes readers on a journey from New York to Louisiana. The story follows Elizabeth, a college professor, who begins receiving anonymous chapters from a student. These chapters eerily recount events from the past. A past she vaguely knows. But the unsettling part? They happened 20 years ago and she can’t recall who this student is.

As the disturbing familiarity of the words sinks in, she’s drawn back to her hometown, determined to uncover who could possibly know the details of what happened all those years ago.

Just when you think the pieces have fallen into place and the dust has settled, the narrative takes a heartstopping plunge into chaos. Every revelation peels back another layer of secrets, making it nearly impossible to put this book down.

And as always, nothing is what it seems.

Vi Keeland masterfully layers tension, weaving together Elizabeth’s memories and the lingering shadows of the truth.

Vi’s writing had me hooked from the very first page and refused to let go. Every twist and revelation pulled me deeper into Elizabeth’s unsettling reality.

Wow. This book had me guessing and questioning the entire time and kept me on my toes. You think you know who it could be, and then you think you’re wrong all over again. This was a page turner, and very well written. I would love to know what happens to Noah and Elizabeth after the fact. I can’t believe it was who it was. I won’t say what happens because I think anyone would love and expect the same surprise as I did. Great book, 5 stars!!

There are some sensitive encounters mentioned in this involving inappropriate age-gap, abuse, revenge, death etc. Just adding as an fyi.

It is always an adventure reading a book written by Vi Keeland! Elizabeth is the main character. She is a professor keeping herself busy and distancing herself from her traumatic past, She has kept secrets for over 20 years.

Elizabeth is smart and strong. She finds that someone knows her past secret, an anonymous writer. Why are they writing to her? Do they know Elizabeth killed her best friend's abuser when they were teenagers? Elizabeth also has a thing for a guy named Noah. They really seemed to like each other. How does Noah fit into Elizabeth's past?

Twists & Turns, Mouth Dropping, and Well Written! 4.5 Stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 6/17/25.

I know Vi Keeland as a romance author who now also writes thrillers, but safe to say we can call Vi Keeland a thriller author as well.

I finished reading someone knows within 5 hours, this story had me hooked from the first page.
The author really messed with my brain, and I definitely didn’t expect the ending.

Do check trigger warnings before reading! There are some dark themes mentioned.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Vi Keeland for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fabulous novel that I raced though! It begins with protagonist Elizabeth whom we know killed someone 20 years ago and now she teaches writing. So when a story comes across her desk with very familiar-sounding details, she is worried that the writer has discovered the truth. But of course there is more to this mystery than we could ever imagine as she searches through the recesses of her own mind and attempts to reconcile what she knows with what she doesn't. It's a fast=paced great story!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

loving the mystery in the book Elizabeth is a professor and in her class her student are writing stries and one student seem to be writing twenty years ago but no one know only her but the shocking truth is more that Elizabeth can handle and believe in. She return to her hometown when she see the past she left behind and Noah who kight be the one hunting her.

Wow, this book had me hooked from the first page! 😱 I couldn’t put it down—talk about a wild ride! Elizabeth, a college professor with a dark secret, is just living her life when bam—someone drops a writing assignment that hits WAY too close to home. Someone knows what she did twenty years ago, and now her past is coming back to haunt her in the form of a chilling and thrilling mystery! 🕵️‍♀️

The twists? Chef’s kiss! 🍽 The suspense? Oh, it's REAL. The fast-paced, page-turning story will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the darker elements add a little extra spice, just enough to make things extra interesting. 🔥

What I really loved, though, was the way the past and present meshed—like, I couldn’t stop guessing who was behind the scenes pulling all the strings. Every new chapter just added to the tension, and that ending? WOW. 🤯

Definitely a great pick for anyone looking for a steamy, thrilling read that'll have you questioning everything until the very end. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!