If you like classic slashers/and thrillers this book is for you! A constant thrill from beginning to end you’ll wanna read it in one sitting. Taking the scooby doo scary mansion chase scenes to a whole new level. This Multi perspective story line keeps you on edge for hours. Who was the murderer and who will be murdered next!

I felt the female thought process for these characters was pretty spot on. The male perspective was a little off but in the grand scheme it wasn’t enough to ruin the book or anything.

Over all I’d give this book a 3/4 overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really didn’t enjoy this book. The plot was a little convoluted and ridiculous. The characters were honestly a bit intolerable, and I couldn’t find myself rooting for any of them. Also the twists were just not good.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

The story is narrated in the voices of a few characters in both the present and past tenses. It's all quite simple to understand. The story is such an incredible roller coaster, taking place in less than a day. Every time you believe you know what's going to happen next, something unexpected always occurs. I simultaneously adored and detested the characters in a positive sense, as well as the surroundings. In Darkest Deceit, a high school acquaintance named Mary pays Gale a surprise visit on her birthday. Gale visits a nearby haunted house with her boyfriend Dan, her boyfriend Mary, and her boyfriend Bob before it is demolished. Mary's boyfriend disappears while they are there. The others set out to discover Bob's whereabouts and whether tonight's happenings have anything to do with Gale and Mary's high school history.
Every character in the narrative has been masterfully written. You feel a connection with the characters right away. I could picture the rooms as they were being described in such a detailed manner, and I was able to detect the damp air's fragrance. Though it is written in a variety of points of view and chronological periods, Layne's style makes the novel easy to read. The conclusion's unexpected twist was another! Thank you for Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book.

Sure three can keep a secret if two of them are dead…but there’s more than 3 people and everyone has multiple secrets! This was a twisted plot with slasher vibes. I really enjoyed reading it can’t say I enjoyed all the characters but the story kept me intrigued and then ending tied everything up very well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Layne for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Darkest Deceit by Michael Layne
This novel had me from the first page, something about the authors writing style and his approach to the story, I couldn't put it down. The twists in this novel are crazy, you can't even count them, haha.
The novel is told in present and past tense and in a few of the characters voices. It's all really easy to follow. The story takes place over the course of less than 24 hours and it's such a wild ride. Every time you think you know what will happen next, nope something else happens. I loved the setting and loved and hated the characters, in a good way, all at the same time
This is the first novel by Michael Layne but certainly not the last!

Gale gets an unexpected visit from her friend Mary, who she hasn’t seen in years.
Dan has plans for Gales birthday, a visit to a haunted house. Now instead of just Gale and Dan going alone, Mary and her boyfriend are invited as well.
I like how this was written in different time frames. How the past is catching up to now. There are tons of twists and turns in this one and for the most part it was an ok read.
There were a few parts that were slow and some that were over the top but overall an interesting read.

I really enjoyed this novel and it kept me engaged the entire time. The different character POVs and Timeline changes were easy to follow. The characters were all interesting and got more intriguing as the story unfolded. The setting was intense, spooky and really helped keep me on edge.

I absolutely recommend reading this book.

I enjoyed this thriller with its twisty storyline! The suspense was great until the end and I felt like I was in the story! Will definitely recommend to friends.

Wow if you like slasher movies this book is for you with all the ups and downs that Gale has to face she really is a force kind of like Sydney in Scream. I feel like the characters are very well built up in the story and there are a lot of moments that you are just shocked at what happens but knew it would like Scream. I can’t wait to read more by Michael.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
I am definitely in the minority here according to the reviews. But this was just a pass for me. I felt like I was reading a teenagers diary entry and the characters were all a bit over the top unrealistic and annoying really. I feel like it is very rushed. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you MW for this ARC!

This was a ride from start to finish. I wasn’t sure what the expect when it first began, since it started at a gym. But the story picks up really quickly and the pace doesn’t slow down.

I really have come to enjoy books that have alternating perspectives, and I think this book handles it really well in helping you get more insight, without fully spoiling any reveals. This book had a lot of twists - and I don’t think I was right about any of them (which I love). You go through the book, anticipating a reveal - but for most of the characters, I definitely didn’t expect it.

What kind of took me out of it a little bit was how much some of the characters can endure… not saying this book was going for realism, but it just felt like some of it felt a bit unrealistic.

But other than that, I’m definitely interested in reading more from this author!

Gale is looking forward to a special night with her boyfriend to celebrate her birthday. The evening takes an unexpected turn when an old friend shows up and joins them for an adventure. As the night unfolds, Gale realizes the people she is with may not be as trustworthy as she once believed. Long held secrets bubble to the surface, threatening to shatter Gale’s peaceful life. The narrative switches between characters in each chapter allows the reader a look into the minds of several characters. Flashbacks to a traumatic event in Gale’s past cause tension to mount. As she fights to survive the night, Gale must grapple with betrayal, deception, and the dark secrets that threaten to consume her. This novel is a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns, and every time I thought I had it figured out, another reveal came along. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to more from this author.

Wow! This was such a good book!! Sooo many good twists! I read it in 3 days, it had me hooked!! The author did an amazing job at keeping you engaged. Also one of the easiest books to follow that I’ve read. It does switch between person and timeline sometimes but the author puts in parenthesis if it’s a flashback which made it so easy to keep up with, I really appreciated that because sometimes books get really confusing when they switch between different timelines, but not this one. It also switches narrative to all of the different characters at some point which is really awesome and executed extremely well. It really makes you feel connected to each and every person. I loved this book and I’m already recommended it to my friends! And the ending…mind blown!!