Reviewer: @writeherereadnow (Instagram)
Can you trust your own memory?
As Jessica prepares to attend her college reunion, facing her demons and peers while showing off her new and improved self, this is the question she asks herself. Has the darkness from her past cast a shadow on who she wants to be, and what exactly was her role in it? She can’t recall. Or doesn’t want to.
This book promised to be a fast-paced, dark academia suspense novel, and it delivered. I feared for a while that it was going to be far too predictable, but it turned out that some well-placed red herrings had led me off course. What a relief!
I liked how the camaraderie and competition gradually unravelled into darkness and distrust. A lot came to light from the friendships in the past and the present, weaving a tale of rivalry, deception and bonds both shaky and impenetrable.
It did fall under the thriller curse of boasting almost-all seriously unlikeable characters. Does everyone have to be awful and have hidden darkness? I suppose it does create the opportunity to truly trust no one.
Despite fearing the most obvious outcome, this book held a few surprises. Have you read it? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks so much @jonathanballpublishers the opportunity to read this book!
Reviewer: @grantdarron_reads (Instagram)
@ashleywinsteadbooks debut novel is a suspenseful thriller that dives into the dark secrets and hidden desires lurking behind a seemingly perfect group of friends. the story unfolds ten years after a college murder, bringing the group back together for a reunion that reignites old wounds and unveils chilling truths.
What I liked about it:
The unsolved murder of Heather Shelby serves as a compelling mystery. the story unfolds through dual timelines, offering the reader glimpses into the past and present.
The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, which kept me guessing.
The novel delves into the darker side of elite universities, showcasing the pressure, ambition, and hidden resentments that can fester beneath the surface.
I enjoyed the group of unlikeable characters. Their flaws and complexities contributed to the overall suspense and exploration of human behaviour.
Highly entertaining, fast-paced storytelling, and the atmospheric setting makes this thriller worth the read!
Reviewer: @betweenthecovers_cj (Instagram)
Rating: 4/5
Six friends.
One college reunion.
One unsolved murder.
Ten years after graduation, Jessica Miller has planned her triumphant return to her southern, elite Duquette University, down to the envious whispers that are sure to follow in her wake. Everyone is going to see the girl she wants them to see—confident, beautiful, indifferent. Not the girl she was when she left campus, back when Heather Shelby’s murder fractured everything, including the tight bond linking the six friends she’d been closest to since freshman year.
But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette ten years ago, and not everyone can let Heather’s murder go unsolved. Someone is determined to trap the real killer, to make the guilty pay. When the six friends are reunited, they will be forced to confront what happened that night—and the years’ worth of secrets each of them would do anything to keep hidden.
This was such a twisty read that I could not put down! Perfect who done it thriller to keep you on your toes and guessing. Thank you @jonathanballpublishers for my copy 🔪📚
In My Dreams I Hold A Knife is available at the following retailers: