This book was only an okay one for me. It was a great setting and I liked the story but the characters weren’t great. They didn’t feel authentic.the writing was good though and I will check out this authors books in the future.

I enjoyed this spin on the locked campus murder mystery, but more than that I enjoyed the discussions on the ethics of psychological studies. I feel like it’s not a topic covered much in books and I was surprised, and excited, to see some of that play out here. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters - or their ethics for that matter - but the relationship dynamics within and resulting from the main experimental study were the stars of the show for me.

Nope not for me. I thought this was going to be good but after about 100 pages I had to DNF. It was way to slow

As a thriller, This Is How We End Things, is pretty forgettable. A shadow falls over a team of Psychology grad students after one of their peers is murdered. They are working on a research project focused on deception and quickly start to assess and accuse each other after the crime occurs. The only likable characters were Alana and Patrick, the detective and officer tasked with solving the case. I would give Jacobs’ writing another try as I liked his writing, but would not go out of my way to recommend this title to others

Really good mystery/suspense book! A group of psychology graduate students are studying the science of lying, when one of them ends up stabbed to death on campus, late at night, when all of the rest of them were present but each in their own office. A huge snowstorm is coming in which will close the town and the roads for a few days, so the clock is counting down for the local detective to solve the mystery before the blizzard. A good who-dun-it! I loved the premise of the group studying the behavior of lying. They are all 'experts' in lying, so who is telling the truth?

The dark academia theme sucked me in and then the first chapter really hooked me! I loved the snowy campus vibes of this one. This thriller was fast-paced and kept me engaged. There was twisty turns I wasn't expecting. I didn't care for the characters; they were very unlikable and could have used more development. Overall, a pretty intriguing thriller if dark academia is your thing!

Thank you, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks, for a copy of this in return for my honest review.

What does it mean to lie? The mystery behind the human mind it completely fascinating. This physiological murder mystery has your second guessing your own thoughts on the subject of lying.

When the study of lying becomes the foundation of a murder and all of the members of the study are suspect and each has a secret they don’t won’t share.

Ok R.J. Jacobs, I see you! 👀 I really enjoyed his last book, but I have to say that This Is How We End Things absolutely blew me away! I loved everything about this novel from the multiple viewpoints to the local detective Alana Larson, to the way this read like both a crazy thriller and detective fiction. Due to the multiple viewpoints, I found it critical to pay attention at all times, and I definitely had to give this one my full attention, so I didn't miss anything. I would just keep that in mind, especially if you plan on listening to the audio. Even though this is a mystery/thriller, the psychology aspect was pretty fascinating to me as well, and the fact that the author is a psychologist was apparent to me while reading this.

The audiobook has a sole narrator, but what a narrator she was. Chelsea Stephens did an amazing job, and I was grateful considering how many POVs she had to manage. At times she even seemed like more than one narrator, and it made my listening experience extremely enjoyable. I loved the twists in This Is How We End Things and once we get towards the climax everything moves full tilt to the end. I would love to see Larson come up in future novels, and although he probably won’t do it, I would gladly take a series with her as the lead. The various viewpoints kept tension high throughout and I loved the way viewpoints would end on mini cliffhangers which made me want to keep going until I was finished. Brutal murders and dark academia make this a thriller to remember, and I highly recommend it!

This is How We End Things is a briskly paced, well written murder mystery set in the halls of dark academia. I picked it up because it is written by a fellow psychologist and is centered around a psychology professor and his six graduate research students, all with hidden secrets and questionable ethics. I raced through the pages in two binge sessions and would give it 4* except that I found all of the characters unlikable.

I received a drc from the publisher via NetGalley.

This Is How We End Things
by R.J. Jacobs
3 stars
330 pages
Thriller, Mystery

I thought I knew who it was by chapter 4, but I couldn't figure it out until close to the end. This had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who did it. I enjoyed the characters and how they all came together. I just wasn't a fan of so many points of view. I felt lost by who was who and it was a little overwhelming with so many people. I finally had everyone straight after I made myself a little cheat sheet list.

An enjoyable premise. I like how the author sets things up, however I just did not like any of the characters and couldn’t engage with them. Maybe that was intended. Still a good read.
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOK Landmark and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

RJ. Jacobs is an author I discovered by accident when he first published a book, one day when I was browsing at Barnes and Noble in Nashville. Seeing he was a local author hooked me and the genre made the sell. So I’ve been quick to read any of his releases since. Once again not disappointed

This is how we end things is a unique psychological thriller by R.J. Jacobs in which a group of psychology graduates are faced with not only a challenging study of the psychology of lying but also survival. After a study observation goes wrong , one by one the group members wind up dead.

Each graduate holds a secret and a tragedy in their past and none of them are willingly open to offer those revelations. Why would they when this group was trained to lie and deceive? It is up to the local police force to determine who is the killer amongst them.

The team is lead by Joe Lyons with his right hand man being Robert and a close back up being Scarlett. To make things more interesting there is of course an underlying crush present between Robert and Scarlett, and one of the other graduate students is known to be having an affair with Joe. To round the group off is Britt and Chris and the newest member, Victoria.

When Elizabeth ends up being brutally murdered each and every graduate student and Joe is the first suspect. However, the twists and turns of the novel keep the reader guessing of who did it.

Trust me when I say that the revelation of who is the killer was completely from left field. The unsuspected killer was such a refreshing entry to this psychological thriller as it was not the typical run of the mill suspect.

There were some loose threads and portions of the story that seemed rushed and not really fleshed out but this did not keep me from enjoying the book. If you are looking for a great psychological thriller then this may be one to add to your list. Until next time, happy reading!

Admittedly this one took me a while to read, but I didn't dislike it. The way the characters' lives tied together was very interesting and I really liked how it unraveled in the end! The stakes were high and the study setting added to the mystery and suspense in a cool way! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Locked-Room Intrigue: The book masterfully exploits the claustrophobic atmosphere of a snowbound campus, transforming it into a crucible for psychological manipulation and hidden motives. With nowhere to escape, the students become both prisoners and suspects, forced to confront their own vulnerabilities and the dark secrets they harbor. This locked-room setting creates a constant sense of tension, keeping the reader guessing until the very last page.

Unraveling the Web of Lies: The true strength of "This is How We End Things" lies in its exploration of deception. As students who specialize in the art of the lie, their narratives become unreliable, twisting and turning with each revelation. This constant questioning of truth and manipulation keeps the reader actively engaged, piecing together the puzzle alongside the detective on the case.

Beyond the Shadows: The novel ventures beyond the confines of a typical murder mystery, delving into the complex dynamics of power, ambition, and the corrosive nature of hidden truths. The students, each with their own demons and agendas, become more than just suspects; they are flawed individuals grappling with the ethical implications of their studies and the consequences of their actions.

A Glimpse into the Abyss: While the novel's strengths lie in its suspenseful plot and nuanced character development, it's not without its potential drawbacks. The exploration of dark themes and morally ambiguous characters might not resonate with all readers. Additionally, the pacing can feel slow at times, as the focus shifts from action to introspection.

A Verdict of Suspense: Despite its minor shortcomings, "This is How We End Things" is a gripping and thought-provoking read. It's a novel that will keep you guessing until the final twist, leaving you pondering the blurred lines between truth and deception long after the last page is turned. If you're up for a chilling exploration of the human psyche and the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface, then this is a book you won't want to miss.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!!

Synopsis: at a North Carolina university, a group of grad students are studying the science of lying. Ironically, they all have something to hide. A part of their study goes sideways and one of the students is found dead. They are trapped on an essentially campus in a snowstorm, with no one but each other and a local detective. The students try to find out who is lying, who is trustworthy, and who might've committed murder.

Review: a very "dark academia" vibey winter thriller, this book is twisty and compelling with its limited cast of characters and suspects. I liked the university backdrop and the focus on psychology (not too sciencey). I honestly didn't figure out the twists and resolution until the author very clearly wanted readers to. There are red herrings and misdirects aplenty, and I won't give away too much more since it's a whodunnit at its core. Worth the read!

The book kicks off with a gripping first chapter, a real page-turner. The unique premise grabbed my attention, but I wish there was more exploration of the tests (I'm still a bit confused about those) and a deeper dive into the human psyche, which felt more like a plot device.

Getting to know the characters was a plus, but unfortunately, half of them were forgettable and could have used more development. Take Veronica, for example – what was her purpose? We hear too much from the least interesting person, Scarlett, and not enough from everyone else.

In the end, while I enjoyed the book, I felt mildly unsatisfied with how it all played out. It's a solid and entertaining thriller but doesn't stand out as the most remarkable.

3 stars!

I was very excited about this because 1) academic setting, 2) graduate students!!, and 3) locked room. I thought the atmosphere with the snowstorm was SO GOOD and the writing overall was fun. However, I did not like any of the characters (which is not a requirement) but also the mystery did not do it for me. It was very easy for me to figure out who the murderer was, and the ending came so fast I felt almost a whiplash.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If the inconveniences of life didn’t get in my way, I could have easily read This Is How We End Things in one sitting!

Each time I picked up the book, I was immediately transported into the tension-filled, blustery world of Dorrance University, where deception reigns among the grad students in a psych study. When one of the students is found dead in the psychology building, secrets are uncovered, fingers are pointed, and everyone is a suspect.

I've admittedly become a bit of a thriller snob over the years, and I've gotten to the point where I feel like I've seen it all. However, this book had me constantly second-guessing myself. Just when I deemed a character innocent, we learned another juicy secret of theirs that had me questioning everything.

The dark academia vibes are a ton of fun, too. Forest, North Carolina is the quintessential college town, and I loved getting a taste of the students' lives in the psychology world. After all, a study about the science of lying? The idea alone was enough to hook me.

While the atmosphere and concept were the first pieces to capture my attention, the layered, complex characters (amongst about a thousand other things, honestly) kept me turning the pages. It initially felt like a lot of names to get familiarized with, but they were written in such a way that made them distinct and easy to follow. Plus, we gradually learned new information about each one that made them all intriguing - and suspicious.

Bottom line, don't miss out on this book. It's fast-paced, darkly atmospheric, and it'll stump the inner detective in you. I promise you'll find yourself glued to it as soon as you pick it up.

An absolutely incredible dark academia thriller! If you are looking for a spooky mystery this winter, you have to read this one, especially when snowed under! Atmospheric and suspenseful!