Thank you for the opportunities to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

This read was well paced and the character development was great. It’s a thriller that will keep you pulled in until the last page.

Wow! The word I actually said out loud when I was given a big piece of the puzzle which connected a few dots but still didn't answer all the questions. However, I had no idea it was going that way. It was Jacked up in a very good way.

For me, the author did a very good job in writing this. I loved how she was giving me hints, slight ones, and I didn't even know it.

This book will stay with me for a long time. It's not an everyday, common occurrence, the twists are jaw dropping. I was as blindsided as the detective was.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The Last Day of Emily Linsey is told in two points of view (POV). The THEN POV features kids that are in some kind of strict orphanage and taken care of by a set of 'mothers'. On a specific day of each year, these mothers gather and keep the kids strictly on their respective floor of the orphanage. What do they do on that they? What is this orphanage? Who are these kids?

The NOW POV features Detective Steven Paul who's adopted by an old couple. He gets these strange nightmares and see hallucinations. He takes medication and still works in as a detective. Things escalate for him when he encountered the case of Emily Lindsey who was found with a whole lot of blood but is perfectly safe but in a complete daze. What happened to her? Where did she get all those blood? What is this strange marking she's writing that's putting Paul into so much headache?

This book is one of those mysteries that really makes you ask a WHOLE LOT of questions and makes you draw LOTS of conclusions that probably won't be right at the end of it all. There really isn't much to tell without spoiling anything, to be honest. And you just have to take my word that The Last Day of Emily Lindsey is a mystery novel that wraps into something that really puts you into that so-that's-how-it-is kind of realization. It's full of unexpected twist (which you'll probably be expecting by now) and it really throws the story into very interesting turns.

Aside from finding the connecting between the 'Then' and 'Now' of the story which I have to say was really good, I was really invested in the whole investigation on the Emily Lindsey case. Emily Lindsey is a local blogger and influencer who exposes several people into things behind their business and such. She's got such an infamous reputation that there's so much to explore on who did things to her. There's also that slow unraveling on Detective Paul's memories. What is his connection to this investigation? Why was his name found with Emily Lindsey? If you're not sold to all my questions, I don't know what will. But this book just got me super curious.

OVERALL, The Last Day of Emily Lindsey is an entirely intriguing novel full of exciting twists that you definitely won't see coming. Everything was well-written from the 'Then' and 'Now' POVs to Paul's dilemmas to the unraveling of the mystery.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Detective Steven Paul has had the same nightmare for as long as he can remember, a strange symbol figuring prominently into his terror. He decided long ago that the recurring dreams are nothing more than an unfortunate side effect of his often traumatic profession. Until, that is, he’s assigned to the case of Emily Lindsey, the beautiful, elusive, and controversial blogger found alone, holding a hunting knife and covered in someone else’s blood.
As Steven questions Emily, she repeatedly scratches out the same odd symbol he sees when he closes his eyes. A thrilling suspense ensues as Steven must get inside Emily’s head to solve a mystery without a crime—a mystery that is connected to him in ways he can’t even begin to fathom.

*3.5 stars*

Very clever idea that pretty much gets it right. The idea of Emily scratching the image that the detective sees during his nightmares was cool - as was the following suspense as Steven tries to delve into Emily's brain to uncover what she knows...about the blood and the image that haunts him.

The chopping and changing of timelines didn't really worry me like it normally does...until it got to the reason for the "ceremony" - that turned out to be a little tame. Which is a shame because I thought the author handled the build-up really well.

The same can be said for the final revelation - that felt like it was going to be something so much more than it was...

Overall, however, this was a very clever book, written pretty well and deserves a look.


Paul
ARH

I was in the mood to read a good mystery/thriller, and this one did not disappoint! The main character, Detective Steven Paul, who has suffered through a horrible recurring nightmare all his life, is called to a crime scene because a woman named Emily Lindsay has been found in a state of catatonic shock, covered in someone else's blood has a piece of paper in her pocket with his name on it - and she later draws a mysterious symbol that appears in his nightmares. Interspersed with this are chapters set in a weird cult-like environment. So, there are 3 mysteries - what happened to Emily, what's her connection to Steven, and what does any of this have to do with the cult scenes? I seriously couldn't put this one down - the kind of book that actually makes you feel a little anxious while reading it, but in a good way, if that makes any sense. I also loved Nic Joseph's first book, "Boy, 9, Missing," but this one was even better, so I will definitely be following her from here on out. 4.5 stars.

RATING: 2.5 STARS
​(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY​)​
(Review Not on Blog)

This book started out so good! The alternating story lines (Then and Now) wouldn't have been bad but I found the "then" too descriptive. I started to skim the "then" as I did not find it that useful to the story. Halfway into the book, I was starting to lose interest in the mystery as it seemed to focus on too much of Steve's blackouts which again did not help the latter part of the story. And, what you think is going to happen in the first third of the book is exactly what happens. I am not sure if this book was trying to be a mystery or a just fiction - the mystery loses suspense and if just simple fiction it might have been a bit better. The characterization in this book is a bit odd. You get a lot of descriptions but don't really bond or know the characters. Not that you dislike them or they are a mystery, but rather they are one dimensional.

A fast and addicting thriller about cults! Very interesting! Took me forever to get to this one unfortunately and wasn't able to review till this was archived. But, def did enjoy it! :).

Recommend if you're in the mood for a fast-paced and hangman cultish thriller!

3.5 stars :).

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

A very different read but good. It kept me guessing and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. If you like a fast paced thriller, this is it.

It is one of those books that will keep you reading and turning page after page just so you can find out what happens next. I’d say the plot is original and is something enthralling. There are two storylines which are both equally intriguing despite the different timelines. The story alternates between the past and the present, which can be tricky, but in this book, I’d say it works just fine as both stories have gripping mysteries that will definitely hold your interest up until the very end as there are not much clues thrown in early on. The writing style is excellent and the characters are remarkable that you can’t help but feel invested in the story they are telling. The fewer facts and background about Emily left me disappointed, though, since I was expecting to read more of her. I would also love it if there are a bit more police procedures involve since Steven is a detective. Also, the ending seemed rushed that there are some points that don’t make sense and left untied. Despite that, though, it is definitely a thrilling read and something that mystery readers would appreciate.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this title. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to read and review before it was archived. Reviews will be posted as titles are read.

Solid psychological thriller filled with suspenseful surprises. Nic Joseph’s clever plot and characters to connect with and care about add together to create a captivating read. If you like this type of book, The Last Day of Emily Lindsey will keep you intrigued from the first page until the last.

What I loved: The mystery surrounding Emily Lindsey was intriguing. She is found covered in blood (not her own) and holding a hunting knife, with two names in her pocket. One of the names belongs to Steven Paul, a detective who gets pulled into the case because of his weird connection and who begins trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Emily. She is a blogger who often writes stories about things going on in her neighborhood or even on a larger scale, but unlike journalists, she is able to bend and slander when she chooses with little consequence. Unless, of course, that's how she ended up traumatized and covered in someone else's blood.

There is also an underlying story in the novel that tells about children living in a communal home. They all share the Mothers and are all raised by all of them, as opposed to being raised by their own biological mother. There is a ceremony that takes place each year, and the children are determined that they will get up to the ceremony and finally learn what's going on.

What I didn't love: The Emily plot twist was a bit confusing. I felt like the author knew what he wanted to have happen, but I didn't feel like it was particularly well done. I feel like there could have been a way to do it much more seamlessly than the way it was done.

Overall, this was a pretty good book. Not a favorite, but worth picking up if suspense novels are your thing.

Wow. 5/5 stars

This book is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. It grabs your attention from the first chapter and doesn’t let up until the very bitter end. I really, really enjoyed it.
The twists and turns come at you from every direction. I had no idea what was going to happen next. Seriously. It’s rare that I have any idea what is going to come next, but in this case, I didn’t. Therefore, when the revelations came, I was like, “Whoa.”
I also really felt for Steve. He has issues. A lot of them. But he seemed like a truly nice person and I was rooting for him. I also liked his parents. They were so sweet, I loved their dynamic.
I liked how the dual stories in the book (“Now” and “Then”) came together in the end. It really fit to see the way things worked out (I’m trying to be vague here so that I don’t give anything away!) in different ways for different choices. I liked that perspective.
Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller. It kept me turning pages all the way until the end. If you’re looking for a good mind-twisting mystery, this is it.

With a story built alternatively between 'then' and 'now' and page turning twists of psychological revelations, The Last Day of Emily Lindsey is a unique adventure which keeps you curious until the very last page.
Everything starts when a woman, apparently Emily Lindsey, the author of a popular inquisitive blog is found in her apartment, covered in blood which is not hers with a knife which does not belong to her either. Detective Steven Paul which was going through a rather difficult career moment is assigned to the case. Once the inquiry advances and more and more strange and outerwordly moments occurs, he is about to lose his fragile balance too, as his visions and nightmares he was coping with his entire life are coming back more and more often.
The second lane of the story - which is relatively slower and more focused on psychological details and descriptions - takes place in a bizarre orphanage where every June 2nd there is a terrible event happens.
At the beginning, it is quite difficult to make the connection between the two stories, but once the end is revealed, all the pieces of the puzzle are nicely put together. It is one of those books whose value is dramatically increased by the final ending, as the art of the writer is to create suspense and keep the reader into a state of permanent inquiry. Ironically, even if you are trying to make suppositions about a possible course of action, you are proven always wrong.
A book recommended to anyone strong enough to read without pause - because you can hardly go to sleep before you know what really happened to Emily Lindsey - a haunting story which will stay with you longer, much longer

The last day of Emily Lindsey runs two parallel storylines....now and then...which weave together seamlessly at the end. The way the two stories are written allows the reader to jump from now to 5 kids struggling in a communal society and as the two stories get further along everything falls into place. This was a great book that I didn't want to put down once I started it

Detective Steven Paul has had the same nightmare for as long as he can remember, a strange symbol figuring prominently into his terror. He decided long ago that the recurring dreams are nothing more than an unfortunate side effect of his often traumatic profession. Until, that is, he’s assigned to the case of Emily Lindsey, the beautiful, elusive, and controversial blogger found alone, who can’t possibly know the symbol from his nightmares… unless she does.

This book is a captivating, addictive read – the kind of book that grabs hold of you and refuses to let go. ‘One more page’ at 11pm turned into a 3am reading binge as I frantically turned the pages desperate to read what happened next.

The chapters alternate between the investigation in the present and a group of five children who are appear to be involved in some type of cult (another huge plus for me as I have a somewhat morbid fascination with cults).

In the present, Steve is a cop who struggles with nightmares he puts down to the pressures of his job. When Steve and his partner start to investigate a strange attack on infamous gossip blogger Emily Lindsey, things start to get weird. Emily is found at her home, nearly catatonic and covered in blood that isn’t hers. When she doesn’t respond to questioning, Steve is left to figure out what happened. In the other timeline, a group of kids in a strange communal living situation hatch a plan to escape their rooms one night to uncover the truth about the odd place where they live. Eventually, these two off-the-wall storylines come together, but not in the way you might expect.

I am delighted to take part in the blog tour for The Last Day of Emily Lindsey by Nic Joseph, a clever mystery that held many surprises in store and kept me guessing until the very end. Featuring two seemingly unrelated threads set in two different timelines, each containing intriguing unexplained elements, I was eagerly turning the pages to find out more. When I started reading this book, I had no idea where it would lead, except that at some stage the two stories would form some sort of connection – and I can happily say that all the threads did come together in the end!

The story starts with Detective Steven Paul, who has been going through a rough time with the break-down of his marriage and persistent nightmares that haunt him on a regular basis. Lately, frightening visions are plaguing him even in his waking hours, threatening his career and forcing him to see a counsellor at work. He is one of the officers first on scene to investigate the strange case of a woman, well-known blogger Emily Lindsey, found in her own home covered in blood, but with no visible injuries to her own self. Seemingly too traumatised to speak, the detectives are at a loss as to what has happened to her. She has a slip of paper with Steven’s name in her pocket – but Steven cannot remember ever having met her. What happened to Emily Lindsey in the hours she has been missing? Is she a victim or a killer? On leaving the hospital, Steven spots something on the woman’s bed that triggers one of his “visions” – but what exactly does it mean, and how does it connect them together?

With many irresistible elements of mystery and suspense, the book drew me in right from the start. I knew that the two different threads must be connected somehow, but whilst I had a few suspicions that proved to be right, I was never able to completely solve the mystery until it was revealed – layer by layer – as the story progressed. Joseph’s writing is engaging, her characters realistically drawn, and I couldn’t help but feel for Steven as he is working hard to work out the meaning of his visions whilst trying to hide his vulnerable side in order to keep his job. Often, two separate stories are difficult to pull off, as usually one tends to hold more interest than the other. However, Joseph has handled this art beautifully, and I felt myself equally intrigued by the timeline that featured the children, as it had so many deliciously sinister elements that could not lead to anything good.

The story kept me up way too late into the night reading, until I could read no more and had to save the last bit for the next day. I must say that there was one element of the ending that fell a bit flat for me. However, there were plenty of surprises and aha-moments that made this story a suspenseful and original read, and my overall feeling was that of enjoyment. Seeing that most of the book’s power lies in its original surprise elements, I recommend going into this story blindly and letting it sweep you away, so I am trying very hard not to give any spoilers here!

In summary, The Last Day of Emily Lindsey was a clever, original mystery featuring two separate narratives which kept me enthralled until all was revealed at the end. It will appeal to readers who are looking for something a little bit different from the fray – I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to any lovers of the genre.

The Last Day of Emily Lindsey is not your usual suspense novel. The writing style is what keeps the reader on the edge, in a particular way. It puzzles and drops hints here and there, with a parallel timeline of paat vs. present, with bits of psychological mystery and disturbed characters.

Oh the characters are deranged on many ways, though they all finally get their closure and they manage to undestand their psychotic natures by the end of the book.

Steven is hurting deeply ever since his childhood and no one knows why. Hence he keeps hinding his blackouts and visions by hurting himself in other ways, at the same time trying to keep up with life and his passion of solving crimes as a detective.

I was surprised by Lill's character and her actions in the present, while at the same time it somehow made sense based on her past decision to save the other children. Yet how can it all make sense from so many different perspectives? A very controversial way of life, damaged souls and messed up futures. About Emily herself I could not say much without divulging the key actions. She was just a very determined person, likely the most determined of them all to discover and expose the truth by any means.

At least there are some normal relationship resolutions by the end of the book. Steven/Lara/Kit is one of them, also incredible due to lack of communication issues based on Steven's emotional problems. His work relationship with Gayle is strengthening throughout the novel, despite the necessary lies about his condition. At times I felt Steven's suffering to be exaggerated on purpose, yet I have never encoutered such in real life, so I could not clearly judge his actions.

This is a gripping novel for sure, pickled with disturbia, engaging plot and a good writing style for suspense and crime. All in all, you've got a great mix of everything, with a higher dose of psychological suspense at a slightly gory level, smartly packed up as a complete unit which will keep you guessing, tossing and turning until the end.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read and review this arc. It is a must read for fans of psychological suspense and crime.

I am honored to be part of the October blog tour taking place October 27 - November 3 for #thelastdayofemilylindsey by #nicjoseph 📚
My review is scheduled to be posted on October 30th.

Although the suspenseful storyline kept me turning the pages, I found it really hard to connect with or like any of the characters in this book. I enjoyed the present day storyline much more than the children's storyline.