I received an ARC copy of this book from the publishers, via Netgalley, and am voluntarily providing a review.

This is the first book I've ever read by Kathy Reichs, only having previous experience of her through the TV show based on her Temperance Brennan books, Bones. This, however, is not a Brennan book. This book centers around a new character, Sunnie Night. Ex-army, ex-law enforcement, living a life of solitude on a North Carolina island. Sunnie wishes nothing more than to be left alone but this solitude is interrupted when she is requested by Opaline Drucker to find the persons responsible for killing her daughter and grandson and possibly her granddaughter, among others. Sunnie is motivated by her desire to see the case finished and, if possible, reunite Opaline with her granddaughter, Stella, who she believes may have survived the bombing which took her mother and brother. Sunnie feels that a unique pull that Stella has over her, that's she's asking for help, compelling her onward to see the case to it's conclusion, even if the help Stella's asking is only to bring her killer(s) to justice.

Just as Sunnie was compelled to see the case through, so was I compelled to read this book so I could figure out (or find out) what happened. This is a well-told tale with an interesting main character and I'd be excited to read another book in this series, if it is to be a series. This book also makes me excited to read other books in Ms. Reichs' repertoire.

Being a crime fiction fan, it is not easy to peruse any sort of crime shelf without seeing a book by Kathy Reichs. When I read the synopsis for Reichs’ newest standalone thriller, Two Nights, I knew that I would have to give this one a read. As soon as I started reading Two Nights, it became very clear why all of her books do well. Reichs can weave a serious story!

Two Nights opens with the introduction of Sunday Night. Sunday is a woman with a tumultuous past, a grudge on her shoulder and some serious killer instinct. After leaving the police force after some misconduct, she is drawn back to the scene privately after a wealthy woman approaches her to look into the disappearance of her teenaged granddaughter. As Sunnie begins her investigation, she comes into more danger than she ever believed and not only fights to save the missing girl, but also her own life as well.

From what I know about Kathy Reichs, her other novels have a lot of strong female characters. Similarly, in this novel, we have Sunnie. She is one tough cookie and gives all males in her field a run for their money. But she also has a soft side, which I found to realistic. I find a lot of times in literature, the female protagonist sometimes comes off as cold in order to “hang with the big boys” but not Sunnie. I found her relationship with her twin brother August (Gus) to be quite endearing. Although I liked her in theory, I didn’t really find myself connecting to her as a character.

As for the plot of this one, so many things missed the mark for me. I found this one to be considerably slower paced and, although it was an easy read to get through (probably due to Reichs’ ability to write), I didn’t find like I absorbed a whole lot of what was going on. Nothing really affected me; I didn’t find myself too invested. The one thing I really did like, and what stood out for me, was the cult subplot to this storyline.

Like I mentioned, I did find that although this was a quick read I did not find myself completely invested in the story or connected to the characters. I feel like this would be a good entry point to those new to the crime thriller genre, but to those who are seasoned, this one may miss the mark. I gave this one a 3/5 stars.

3.5/5 stars.

Two Nights is a standalone mystery/thriller. This is my first book by this author.

The narrator is Sunday/Sunnie Night (1st person POV). There is also another POV. But we don't know while reading it whose POV it is or what time period we are reading. These extra parts were definitely not what I thought they were.

Sunnie is a very different type of narrator. She is reclusive and lives on Goat Island, where there is no access except by private boat. And she likes it that way.

Sunnie is ex-military and a former cop with a dark past. She is tough. Not fragile. Rough. Abrasive. Not warm and fuzzy. Stubborn. Determined. Head-strong. Smart. She gets things done.

The premise of the book is that a rich lady, Opaline Drucker wants to hire Sunnie. A year ago there was a tragedy involving her daughter and grandchildren and a bomb. She wants justice and information. Especially concerning her granddaughter Stella Bright. Is she dead? Is she being held captive?

The tone is different from most books that I read. The story kept my interest. There is no romance in the story. It is strictly the mystery.

I did enjoy the mystery in this book. However, the beginning was a bit slow. One of the biggest problems with this book is that Sunnie is not a very likable heroine. And that can make it difficult to connect with the story.

My favorite thing about this book was probably Gus (helped Sunnie with the case). I loved Gus and thought the book was much stronger once he entered the story. It was fun seeing them work the case as a team.

The case takes us from Charleston to Chicago and then around the US.

The last part of the book was definitely the strongest. As Sunnie, Gus and various law enforcement were trying to solve the case.

Overall, the book was enjoyable enough. It did take me a bit to feel involved in the story. I would have liked to feel a connection to more of the characters. There were a lot of bad guys and a lot of law enforcement. And that definitely made it harder to connect to the story.

Refreshing read. I am thrilled to see Kathy Reichs step away from Temperance Brennan and give us a character who is rough around the edges, one with loads of baggage living the life of a recluse on Goat Island.

Sunnie Night is pulled out of her self-imposed isolation when her friend and foster dad Beau asks her to hunt down the people responsible for the death of a local dowager’s daughter and grandson and investigate the abduction of the old woman’s granddaughter. It has been over a year since the girl went missing. Beau convinces Sunnie that her military training along with events in her past give her an edge that other law enforcement agencies lack. Sunnie begrudgingly accepts the challenge.

Sunnie is no Tempe Brennan. She is angry and bitter at all that life has thrown her way. She is also a trained ex-SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape). She will need all her training as she follows leads all over the country knowing in her gut the girl is still alive. I loved the fast pace of this novel. The bad guys are larger than life, taking on an almost cartoon-like persona but Sunnie, with some timely help [ from Gus (hide spoiler)] is not frightened off by their actions. Bonus points go to Sunnie who unlike Temperance knew when to call in the authorities and keep them informed when the case became so much more than a simple child abduction.

If you enjoy solving mysteries with the biggest mystery being the protagonist herself this is a fun read. When the case is dusted and done we still don’t know all we’d like to know about her.

What I do know is that I would love the opportunity to spend more days with Sunnie Night. She’s got an edge that Dr. Brennan has been missing for a while. Kudos to the author for adding some grit and damaged psyche to her heroine.

4 stars

ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.

As a fan of Kathy Reichs I was definitely a little disappointed with Two Nights. Sunday Night is ok as a protagonist but thats really as much as I can say because we really learn very little about her and the chip on her shoulder gets old fast. The action is very disjointed and nothing really pulled me in, this easily could've ended up as a book I never finished.

If I were on the wrong side of the law, Sunday Night is one woman I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, or even a lit one for that matter. She hasn't had an easy go of things in her life and is a huge mass of psychological and physical scar tissue, but somewhere within her, no matter how traumatized, is a heart. This one-woman demolition crew cares enough to fetch pumpkin seeds for Bob, the neighbouring squirrel that is allowed access to heart and hearth.

Sunnie has spent almost her whole life running from the ugliness dogging her heels, first on the streets then in the military, followed by a stint on the police force. Now she has almost complete seclusion, which she both desires and enjoys. That is, until a job offer floats her way. A girl is missing, a girl very similar to Sunnie. A girl whose life and family were both torn apart by a bomb blast. The case is only a year old, but it has been stagnant since the initial leads were tracked down. There isn’t much for Sunnie to go on, but her instincts are telling her that the girl is alive.

It is time for Sunnie to unleash her own demons and put them onto the scent. She may be the girl’s only hope

‘Two Nights’ is a delicious new stand alone thriller from one of the Grand Dames of Crime Mysteries, Kathy Reichs. Don't be expecting another Temperance Brennan style novel, though. Reichs’ is flexing her writing muscles and bringing solid action and fast paced mystery!

I love Kathy Reichs, so I had to read this one. It did not disappoint. I loved how sarcastic Sunday Night is. It's always refreshing to see a female character that breaks the mold.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-copy of this book.

This book didn't really work for me. I need much more of a connection to the characters in order to really get into a story. And there was no connection for me here. I didn't care for Sunday. I wasn't invested in her finding Stella. Which meant the mystery and suspense element didn't really work for me. I didn't care if Sunday was in danger and it didn't matter to me if they found Stella. If you're a reader who care more about action than character, this book might work for you.

I was intrigued by the notion of this new series by Kathy Reichs. A new female lead, Sunday Night and her twin brother August, (Gus) take on a extremist cult while searching for a kidnapped child. The fast paced read takes you from one nail biting scenario to the next, turning pages as quickly as you can. I'll definitely be recommending Two Nights as the perfect beach read.

Two Nights by Kathy Reichs is a stand-alone novel which introduces us to the character Sunday Night (known as "Sunnie").  I already wonder if this book will turn into a series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher, and of course the author, for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anyway, it must be scary for Kathy Reichs to step out of her comfort zone and the Temperance Brennan and Virals novels.  Kudos to an author with the courage to try something new!  I have always enjoyed her books.   However, I think my expectations may have been a little high, as I was quite excited to see something new from her, and although not disappointed, I was a little underwhelmed.  The book is good, it just may take a bit of an adjustment from me, the reader, to appreciate the new character, which is so different from Tempe.

Sunnie is a woman with scars, both physical and emotional.  Her past is slowly (and incompletely) revealed throughout the book.  She is ex-military, and now ex-police, trying to live the quiet life.  She uses sarcasm and anger to get her through life, and just wants to be left alone.  But her foster-father brings her a "case" which interests her.  A year after a bombing at a Jewish school, where a mother and son were killed, and the daughters body never found, their very wealthy grandmother, Opaline Drucker wants revenge.  She assumes her grand-daughter Stella is dead, but needs to be sure.  She hires Sunnie, at an outrageous fee, to find the scum that did this to her family.  To Sunnie, this becomes personal.  She doesn't care about the money.  She wants to find Stella, who she is sure is alive.  Sunnie travels to Chicago, to Los Angeles, and finally back to Alabama, leaving a trail of dead bodies in her wake.  She gets help from her "twin brother" Gus, who is a much gentler version of Sunnie.  (I really like Gus.)   Together they turn some interesting corners.

So Reichs has left herself open to a new series.  I would definitely read another one starring Sunnie and Gus.  I think there would be a lot of untold stories in their backgrounds, that could easily be fleshed out.  I find myself wanting more details of their horrific childhood, and why they came out the other end with such different personalities.

Overall, a good read!

As a salesperson for Indigo I read and like a lot of different books, but for pure fun the mysteries and thrillers are my favourite, Kathy Reichs previous series was wonderful, but rest assured fans of the genre will love this book as well. I look forward to the next one in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I am a long-time fan of Bones (the TV series), and have found my own kindred spirit in Temperance Brennan (the character, anyway) yet I have never read anything by the show’s creator, Kathy Reichs. This is shocking to me but it has just been one of those things where I have every intention to investigate and explore one of her books, and then I get distracted by something else. (“Oh look! A book with a shiny new cover!”) For this reason I thought “Two Nights” would be the novel to start with, since it’s a standalone from Reich’s Temperance Brennan series.
In “Two Nights”, the main character is Sunday Night, a young woman from a broken background that has left her with physical and emotional scars, as well as a “very particular set of skills” (in Liam Neeson voice). For this reason, she is hired by a Southern socialite to investigate the disappearance of her granddaughter, assumed dead in an explosion that killed her entire family years ago. While Sunnie investigates, uncomfortable memories resurface and Sunnie develops a strong and unyielding desire to help the young girl that time has forgotten.
This novel barely made 3 stars, as I am heartbroken to report. The plot was all over the place, starting with an investigation into a young girls’ disappearance but turning into something entirely different. The disappearance quickly was placed on the back burner as Sunnie and her partner began to investigate an associated anti-Islamic terrorist group. The only reminders we had that in fact, a young girl was missing, was snippets in the novel told from a young girls’ perspective (which turned out not to be from the young girl at all) and the occasional visits Sunnie made to the grandmother who was footing her bill.
Beyond Sunnie, the grandmother and Sunnie’s partner, all of the other characters became a huge blur. There was such a huge cast of police and detectives that made it nearly impossible to follow, and the group of “kidnappers” kept increasing so much so that I could no longer keep track of who was good and who was not.
I really expected this book to play out differently. The ending provided the appropriate amount of satisfaction to the characters (although there are so many that I didn’t really have an attachment to any of them) and there were no unanswered questions. Also, there was no hint of a sequel and although I could see this character holding her own stand-alone series, it would likely get lost in the shuffle of current female-led police novels and would simply not keep the interest needed to generate its own series.
For fans of Reichs’, perhaps they will enjoy this novel. I will get familiar with her writing and re-read this one, perhaps I am missing something. Or better yet, I will go back and re-watch eleven seasons of Bones.

Kathy Reich’s latest book, Two Nights is a terrific thrill ride with a brand new protagonist – the difficult and damaged, Sunday Night.
Night is enigmatic, belligerent, and entirely engaging. With the exception of a squirrel named Bob, she lives in self-imposed seclusion on a small island until she’s convinced to take an investigative job for a wealthy woman. With the help of her twin brother, the two Nights find answers to a year old murder/missing persons case which has some eerie parallels to Night’s own past, forcing her to confront the demons she’s been trying to lock away for years.

Two Nights is scheduled for release in early July, just in time to take to the beach or the cottage for that delightfully escapist summer read.

First time reading a Kathy Reichs book, but it won't be my last. Fantastic story, and couldn't put it down until I finished it.
Loved Sunday Night (Sunnie) and how strong a character she is. This book was so well written you feel yourself being pulled into the story. Twists and turns to keep you on your toes, and a lot of suspense throughout.
Well deserved 5 stars.

As a fan of Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan books (as well as that of the books-inspired, "Bones" television show). Even though when I heard that she was trying something new instead of starting another "Tempe" story, I was still very interested in her new character, "Sunday Night." I was not disappointed. I loved this book. It hooked me from the start and I read it at every opportunity, hungry to know more.

Now that I've finished it, I find myself at a loss, wishing there was more. I would definitely read more books with these new characters. Sunday Night is raw and edgy with secrets, fears and an unconventional pet named Bob. Kathy Reichs has brought to life another strong, yet vulnerable female lead to entice not only her loyal following, but bring new ones to the fold.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kathy Reichs, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Kathy Reichs is back with another thriller, though it is not of the forensic variety. Sunday "Sunnie" Night lives an isolated life after leaving the Charleston PD under a cloud of scrutiny. She is happy being off the grid and living alongside nature. When she is approached with a chance to get back in the game, Night remains somewhat skeptical, but takes a gamble and heads to the mainland. There, she meets with Opaline Drucker, a rich socialite who wants answers related to the murder of her daughter and grandson, as well as the disappearance of her granddaughter. The payout and the chance to call the shots are too alluring for Night and she agrees to explore this case, which takes her to Chicago. There, Night learns that the murders took place at a Jewish Girls' School when a bomb detonated. Setting out some feelers, Night must try to ascertain who is behind this and how she can trap them, where the local cops failed. After discovering a few digital breadcrumbs, Night becomes enmeshed in a game of cat and mouse, almost losing her life. However, she is able to trace some of the bombing events to a larger group, a collective who sport a double-J tattoo. Travelling from Chicago to Los Angeles and eventually into the Old South, Night will stop at nothing to get answers. Layered with in the narrative is a side story about how Night got her name and the personal struggles she faced at a formative time in her life. An interesting story that will have some readers on the edge of their seats while others might be praying that Tempe Brennan will soon reappear.

I am of two minds about this book. I applaud Reichs for venturing out of her comfort zone (Tempe Brennan and anything VIRALS), which has given her the chance to create a new and highly curious protagonist. However, I also have such a deep appreciation for Temperance Brennan that I find it hard to step away from that character or at least not to draw large comparisons. The premise of this story is strong and the development of Sunday Night is also done with considerable delicacy. As I mentioned before, it could be that she contrasts so much with Temperance that has left me leery to latch onto her. The story moves along effectively and flows with ease, though I did not find myself as ensconced as I would have liked. I sought something stronger and deeper, rather than bouncing from one side of the country to the other before landing in Kentucky for a terror-based standoff. The banter between characters was decent enough and the backstory that Reichs provides could bear some fruit, but it did not capture me as wholeheartedly as I would have liked. Overall, this is a decent book, but I regret to say, it pales in comparison to the forensic gems I am used to finding when Kathy Reichs is at the helm.

Kudos, Madam Reichs for stepping away and allowing your readers to see another of your layers. I know some authors like to be known not only for a single character, but you have done so well that perhaps Reichs and Brennan will forever be intertwined.

This is actually the first book by Kathy Reichs that I've ever read, and I found it to be an enjoyable read, though one that made my skin crawl from time to time.

Sunday Night is the kind of character I like to read about in these types of novels. She is flawed, and tough, and even though she does briefly allow her trauma to influence her situations she steps up when its needed.

Her brother Gus is an intriguing character because he seems to have gone the opposite of her in reaction to past experiences

The plot of this book is a slow burn I can truly appreciate as not everything was revealed at once but it left me captivated long enough to keep on reading. The motivation of the bombers made my skin crawl, because it felt all too real in the world we live in today, with all that's been happening in the world.

Kathy Reichs builds a world full of danger, but justice, with wounds left behind and it was quite a nice read.

A definite must read for mystery lovers with a little action and physiological thriller all wrapped into one .A new heroine sunday night to follow

Excellent mystery; does not take place in the Bones universe

I enjoyed this book, the first I've read by Kathy Reichs. I liked the character development and I thought that the action scenes were excellent. Reichs gives a lot of detail on the process used by the protagonist, which was interesting but sometimes went on a little too long so I think the pacing could be slightly improved. But this didn't really affect how much I enjoyed the book. I recommend this book for fans of the mystery genre.