Many thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I tried a few times to get into this but unfortunately, it was not for me. I really enjoy the author but this fell short of my expectations. I encourage others to try it for themselves!

Thanks to Twenty-Seven Minutes and Net Galley for this advanced copy. This one took a few tries to get into, but once I did, I was captivated. The writing was deep and beautiful, without being overly flowery. Each of the protagonists felt full--while also being flawed, which in a thriller works best to keep the reader guessing. However, the twist at the end was easily guessable, and I remember thinking that if I'd stopped at the 30% mark, I would have been fine to guess the ending. The town and the people were well written, but I needed a few more twists to make this one a true mystery/thriller. 3/5 stars

I really enjoyed reading this book.
I read it over a few days, and couldn't wait till I got free time to read it more.

This heart-wrenching mystery, with its intricate plot twists, had me captivated from the start. The author unflinchingly explores raw grief and loss, weaving a narrative so haunting it left me emotionally raw. It's a testament to the writer's skill that such beautiful storytelling can evoke such powerful emotions.

Note: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m sorry, I really wanted to like this book. Too many characters and quite boring. It took me quite awhile to finish this book, at one time I almost was going to put it down. Thank you for the chance to read this.

Interesting story and did keep me reading to the end. Also led to a surprise ending well. Just felt it was a little bogged down at times. Certainly dug into the effect of trauma on a life and how “27minutes” can change everything.

Dark, twisty & eerie.

I loved how eerie tis book was. There was detailed hallucinations and bodily harm which, me being dark and twisty myself, really enjoyed.

It did feel like a bit of a slow burner for me but I'm glad i finished it because when the twists came, they were very fast-paced and I must admit that I didn't see the final twist coming.

Told in multiple POVs in both the present and past, Twenty-Seven Minutes relies heavily on the characters’ mental health issues to create unreliable narrators and further the suspense of what happened a decade ago. I am always wary of books that use this device in mysteries and unfortunately it didn’t work for me here. I would have liked to see the mystery of the night Phoebe died be shrouded by something other than someone’s deteriorating mental health, especially given that it seems everyone in town believed what was originally told to police on that night so there was no real need to tell this story.

I had so many hopes for this book!
I loved the premise but unfortunately the books itself felt a little flat for me and I felt that it dragged a little bit.

I did enjoy this book but didn't love it. The plot line was definitely interesting and had so much potential but I found it hard to get into this one and it just fell a bit flat for me.

This book has been on my radar since before the actual release as it sounded exactly up my alley and this cover is so striking and has that thriller look. Being on holiday means I can sit outside on my porch swing and catch up on books and today's lucky read was Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate as the first couple I tried were DNFs. This one though had me captivated by the prologue where we see a young girl Phoebe Dean slowly dying on the road after an accident we assume. The book then jumps ten years ahead and it is coming up to the 10th Anniversary of Phoebe Dean's death and the town is also up in arms as they want to pull down the bridge as someone else has died. We can see that Garrett Dean controls the narrative in this book as he has some dark secrets from that night and if it was to get out then everything he has ever known would be gone. He has gotten away with murder for ten years, what's another ten years right? The thing though is that a few people in the town Becca and June are done being quiet and want answers as that same night that Phoebe Dean died, Becca was in the car and Wyatt aka June's brother disappeared without a trace. Becca has kept her mouth shut about what she saw as she is stuck in this delusion that she has been protecting the one she loved, but what happens when she has had enough of the secrets? Twenty-Seven Minutes was a slower read, but worth it as when you get to the ending and the twist with Wyatt - WOW and OMFG - so worth it. I am now looking forward to reading future books by Ashley Tate.

Twenty-Seven Minutes is an absolutely compelling story about a car accident which occurred a decade ago and the horrific trauma which the survivors have lived with through their lives and how because of the tragedy the directions of their lives were changed forever. As the full story of the incident which took place on a bridge is relayed, it comes out that there were twenty-seven minutes which were unaccounted for. The book slowly goes back and relays what happened that fateful night and how those who survived remember the accident.

So, what happened during those twenty-seven minutes?

A decade has passed since a high school student, Phoebe Dean died in a car accident which occurred on a dangerous bridge in the small town of West Milner. Phoebe was perfection. Beautiful, smart and excited about leaving this small town with her brother Grant and moving to the big city and becoming someone.

Although those who were in the car on the bridge that rainy night, have foggy memories of just what happened, the one thing they have in common is that the accident and death destroyed their own lives, and they were changed that night.

Especially Grant, who was in the truck with his sister. He was a football star going places. Now, years later he can barely keep a job and drinks too much. Then there is Becca who was also in the truck and can’t remember much, but Grant has told her what happened, and they have had a pact never to tell. Becca has had a massive crush on Grant all these years, and Grant to this day always keeps Becca at arm’s length because she had issues before the accident and now is even worse.

At the time of the accident, the Sherrif always felt something was off about what went wrong on the bridge and felt there were extra minutes, twenty-seven to be exact which were unaccounted for. But they stuck to their story, and nothing could be proven.

And then there is June who was also in high school with the group and although was not at the bridge that evening, is now alone. Her mother has just died and her brother Wiley, who had been a troublemaker at the time, ran away years ago and her mother was devastated, and the town basically disowned them when he left and when her mother passed no one even came to the cemetery.

Now, with the memorial days away, and a vote to tear down the bridge coming up, Grant and Becca are beside themselves. You see, they know what happened on the bridge…or so they think. Someone knows…

Twenty-Seven Minutes will have you on the edge of your seat, engrossed in the story trying to figure out just what happened that night. And when all is revealed, just know it will shock and surprise you to your core!

Thank you #NetGalley #PoisenedPenPress #AshelyTate #Twenty-SevenMinutes for the advanced copy.

The claustrophobic atmosphere of a small town, the indelible impression left by its tragedies and the legacy of unanswered questions are all eloquently captured in this mesmerising tale. It's carefully woven, layered, and gripping.

From page one, the reader is expected to be on the edge of their seat... but why? Every character is ugh and those little hooks that are supposed to draw you in just never get a grip. Lots of threads, but none of them really grabbed me.

Oh well.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Twenty-Seven Minutes was a great read by Ashley Tate. Phoebe Dean was a popular girl, both alive and dead. For the last ten years, everyone struggled to understand why Grant Dean took twenty-seven minutes to call for help the night his sister Phoebe died in a car accident. Someone out there knows what happened that night and are ready to tell the truth. Her memorial is in three days. Although they were just kids, four people were tied together the night Phoebe died; the caretaker, the secret girlfriend, the missing bad boy, and a former football star. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

Unfortunately, this book just did not do it for me. I love a good thriller and mystery, and this just didn't click. I usually don't have issues with different POV chapters, but there were just some instances that didn't feel distinct enough to remember whose POV we were in. I also didn't find any of the characters likeable with the exception of June.

The ending felt a bit rushed. Reading the book you know it's all leading to an explosive explanation of what happened the night Phoebe died, but when we got there it felt rushed and more of a whimper than a bang. I figured out part of the ending right before the reveal, but I think the author intends for us to be able to do that - she laid plenty of clues to get us there. I also don't like that one character who has seen a doctor for treatment over delusions and creating essentially fantasies was able to suddenly snap out of it after a conversation with their sister. I'm not a psychologist, but it just read as weird because essentially a switch was flipped and suddenly they knew what was up.

Overall this just didn't have the impact I was expecting, and while there's a bit of closure at the end, it's not like we get to see where the characters ended up after the big reveal. This book shows up on a lot of mystery and thriller lists, and I don't think it fits into those categories really. If it's meant to be more of a literary suspense, I could see that label fitting, but also it doesn't have the depth to fit there, either. I think the premise was good but ultimately some things weren't fleshed out well and I couldn't make a meaningful connection with any of the characters. We do see June grow a bit, but I felt like the book kind of didn't know what it wanted to be. I'm sure this will hit the sport for many readers, but for me, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you NetGalley, Ashley Tate, and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this book but it just fell flat for me. There was so much repetition, I found myself just skimming over things...I didn't love the characters, and there were a lot of them to keep track of..I just don't think this book is for me and that's totally okay!

Thank you again NetGalley for this e-arc!

It felt like it took twenty-seven years to read Twenty-Seven Minutes. It was just brutally painful. There was so much here that was repetitive, repetitive, repetitive.... I thought the premise was great - Becca died 10 years ago in a car accident, and as the anniversary is quickly approaching, secrets are being reveled. I love a good 'who done it' thriller just like the next person, but truly this book did not thrill me. The "surprise" ending just didn't hold a candle to other thrillers that I've read and it felt a little anticlimactic.

So if you're looking for something to pass the time and just don't really want to have to think about what you're reading, or you need a cleanser between super "spicy" books, here you go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub Date: 30 Jan 2024

I really wanted to love this book, but it fell flat. The story takes place ten years after a tragic accident which took the life of the beloved Phoebe. The town is preparing a memorial for the ten year anniversary of the accident and subsequent death when another accident occurs in the same location, which drums up sudden memories for the residents of that fateful night 10 years ago. New details are revealed and gossip is hot.

I couldn't get behind this story. It felt over the top and hard to believe. The characters lacked depth, were unlikable, and unbelievable. The truth is, it read like a bad soap opera plot and it took me almost six weeks to complete the book. I couldn't bring myself to DNF as I hoped for some redemption...sadly, it just wasn't there.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 2.75 Stars

I usually love thrillers and I was so excited to read this one. I tried my hardest to love it, but I just don't think it was for me. There were a lot of characters, a lot of strands connecting, but it was lackluster in action and I got a little bored at times. Maybe it's just me. I do love the authors thought processes and writing, I just don't think this particular book was a homerun for me. But I do recommend giving it a try! I just might not have been in the right headspace.