The Night Before did one of my favorite things a mystery/thriller can do: It kept me guessing!

The story in this book unfolds in a couple ways: through flashbacks to Laura's time in therapy months prior, chapters detailing Laura's experience the night before, and chapters on the current hunt for her. Wendy Walker did a great job operating within this structure; the perspective-switching never felt too jarring or slowed the pace of the book.

Some parts were more believable than others for me (that's why I'm giving it 4 stars rather than 5), but the bottom line is that I was engaged throughout. The Night Before would make a great movie, and I'm absolutely excited to read whatever Walker writes next.

The Night Before is the latest novel of psychological suspense from author Wendy Miller. It's a dark and intense about two sisters and the complicated ways one of them attempts to come to terms with a long ago tragedy. The book is not for the faint of heart, but if you're a reader who loves visiting the darkest parts of the human psyche, this will be a book you won't want to miss.

Laura Lochner is pretty sure she'll never find true love. She's always managing to fall for guys who are looking for quick flings instead of long-term, meaningful relationships. She longs for a stable marriage like the one her sister Rosie has, but nothing Laura does seems to put her in touch with the right man.

After a nasty breakup that leaves her emotionally devastated, Laura takes a leave of absence from her job in New York City and returns home to the small Connecticut town where she grew up, and where Rosie still lives with her husband and infant son. She's hoping for a place to lick her wounds, but even more important, she's hoping to lay the ghosts of a long ago tragedy to rest once and for all. Laura's high school boyfriend died under extremely suspicious circumstances nearly fifteen years ago, and while Laura was never charged with his murder, there's a part of her that wonders if she might have been responsible and blocked the events out of her mind. She's recently undergone some psychotherapy, and she's decided to try to remember what happened that fateful night in hopes of being able to let go of the numerous questions and half-baked suspicions that have haunted her for the past decade-and-a-half.

One afternoon, Laura logs on to a dating site, thinking she'll just browse around for a few minutes, but when she runs across the profile of a man who sounds absolutely perfect for her, she decides to take a break from the hard emotional work she's been doing and go out with him. Rosie, far more level-headed and responsible than Laura, is at first concerned for her sister's safety, but Laura eventually convinces her everything will be fine.The next morning, Rosie wakes up to find her sister's bed hasn't been slept in, and her mind is immediately filled with all the things that could possibly have gone wrong. She considers calling the police, but she's afraid they'll start asking questions about the death of Laura's first boyfriend all those years before, and Rosie isn't sure she wants to deal with all that. But as time passes with no sign of Laura, she is forced to accept the fact that something terrible might have befallen her sister.

We see things from the perspectives of both Laura and Rosie. Laura's chapters focus on the night of the date, while Rosie recounts events following her sister's disappearance. Each chapter heading contains a time and date stamp as well as the name of the narrator, so you'll have no trouble keeping things straight as you read. The chapters are short, but not in a way that makes the writing feel choppy or chaotic.Both sisters are well-developed characters, but Laura tended to get on my nerves at times. She's constantly jumping to the wrong conclusions about the people around her and then getting angry when she realizes she has made a mistake. Ms. Walker does a decent job explaining why she behaves this way, but it still got old after a while. Rosie seemed to be on more of an even keel, so I didn't find myself getting aggravated with her nearly as often.

I can't say I was necessarily surprised by the big twist when it was revealed and I had actually figured it out a few pages earlier. Even so, there were certain aspects of the plot I absolutely did not see coming; Ms. Walker is skilled at dropping little, insignificant-seeming clues throughout the story, things you don't think are important until much later, and I love this about her writing. It forces me to be a more observant reader rather than to just race through the book to learn the final outcome and actually pay attention to even the smallest details.

There is one really disturbing scene about three-quarters of the way through the story that completely turned my stomach. I can't say more without spoiling things, but fortunately, this was the only graphic content I came across while reading.

The Night Before is not my favorite of Ms. Walker's books. That honor still belongs to her début novel, but this is a solidly enjoyable thriller with a twisty plot that promises to appeal to most fans of the genre. I'm definitely glad I picked it up, and I'll be on the lookout for more of the author's work in the future.

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Told with alternating points of view The Night Before by Wendy Walker is an exciting, twisty, edge of your seat read! If you enjoy psychological suspense this book is for you. It was just supposed to be a first date......
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

𝖂𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖑𝖐𝖊𝖗 𝖉𝖎𝖉 𝖎𝖙 𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖎𝖓


An addictive and compelling read that will suck you in from the very first page and will not let you go until the mind blowing end! 🤯 Laura returns home to Connecticut after living in NYC for many years. Laura has a damaged heart. She is still getting over her last relationship and still scarred from things that happen when she was a teenager. Her sister Rosie is concerned, but happy when Laura finally goes out on a date for the first time in a long time. Happy that is until Laura doesn’t return...

The story bounces around between present and past, and Rosie and Laura’s perspectives. This is one of my favorite things, the changing of times and perspectives, and it was done brilliantly in this book. Each section was clearly labeled so there was never any confusion, additionally each character really had their own unique voice. The tension in this story was palpable, it really just seeped through the pages right into my bones. Do you ever find yourself reading a book and then realize that you have been holding your breath and your neck is all tensed up? That was this book. I was suspicious of every. Single. Character. I also had countless theories, all of them wrong. The pacing of this story was perfection. You were given clues and truths at the perfect pace. It kept me riveted and completely engaged throughout.

This is a can’t miss thriller for all lovers of the genre. It has everything that a thriller lover loves, all those twists and turns that you don’t see coming. And even the twists that I did see coming still somehow surprise me. This is probably my favorite book from Wendy Walker. She really is a wonderful storyteller and I love how she brings so much psychology and authenticity to her stories. There really is no suspending of belief, and that’s what makes it so creepy... because this could happen to you!

*** many thanks to St Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***

Wendy Walker's Emma In The Night is one of my all-time favorite novels so I jumped at the chance to review her most recent release. The Night Before is ah-mazing! The alternating chapters between sisters Laura (in the past) and Rosie (in the present) give the reader a very unique viewpoint from which to experience this twisty tale. Walker does her deception well as the story weaves the reader in and out of various whodunnit culprits while expanding the knowledge of Laura's history and how it affects the current situation. I enjoyed all of the characters and thought each one had a very unique voice. I identify most with Rosie because of similar backgrounds as elder sisters and her worry-wart nature (which is lifesaving here) but it's impossible not to be drawn to Laura as well. She's magnetic in a broken way and you love her all the more for it.

The prose is to the point but it's very emotionally evocative: fists for hands, hard to love, good at inventing things. In particular I really liked the repetition of that first phase throughout the story as they so perfectly encapsulate not just Laura's character but the life that made her into such a person. The pacing is, obviously, incredible and the build for each twist is perfection. Seriously the plotting in this is masterful! I'm not one to lose sleep over reading (I like to read but I *need* my beauty rest.) but I stayed up much later than my bedtime to finish this one; otherwise I would've just laid there wondering what happens next! Definitely recommend this one to any thriller reader or really just anyone looking for a good story. Just make sure you clear your calendar: once you pick it up you won't be able to set it down!

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Press, and the author Wendy Walker for the opportunity to do so.

The Night Before is my first Wendy Walker book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It’s the kind of book I would have finished in one sitting if it weren’t for the fact I work full-time. I was engrossed in the interesting set of characters that Walker has created, as well as their complex relationship with one another.

This thriller takes place within the span of two days and yet it is quite the fast-paced read. The Night Before is told in three alternative points of view: Laura’s first person perspective from the night before when she went on a date, Rosie’s third person perspective during the present time (the next day), and finally, dialogues from Laura’s therapy sessions. These narratives are interwoven in such a way that they enhance the suspense without ever confusing the reader. The plot twists make sense and stay true to the characters and the story, unlike some of the thrillers I’ve read.

Overall, I thought that The Night Before was an engaging and solidly written thriller. I kind of wish there was an epilogue – things got resolved a bit too swiftly in the end. I’m glad to find out that Wendy Walker has published a couple of thrillers in the past because I cannot wait to eventually read them!

ZERO SPOILERS.......

Terrific Sleuthing Teaser...
Terrific Teaser sentences....and dialogue conversations, ( I have dozens highlighted)....
Terrific Teaser characters....[Laura, Rosie, Joe, Gabe, Dr. Brody...etc.]
Terrific crafting...story....storytelling....psychological suspense.....filled with HOLES to fill.
This one sitting thriller....maybe two.....is a delicious ‘blankie-snuggle-type’-read.

You’ll want to know which characters are safe and which are not.
You’ll want to know what happened long ago in the woods.
You’ll wonder what’s going on with date night.....a match connection from *Findlove.com*.
You’ll enjoy surprises.

A few fun notes to consider if going on a match blind date:
.....Consider tossing away high heels 👠.... on match dates.

And my favorite excerpt - one of MANY GREAT excerpts is:
“Driving your sisters minivan 🚐 is better than not shaving your legs to ensure abstinence”.

Utterly engrossing....filled with narrative ENERGY!!!!!


Thank you Netgalley- St.Marins Press ( so kind - requested it late last night),
and Wendy Walker

The Night Before by Wendy Walker was fantastic. It was told in three revolving settings. First it was a clip of Laura talking to a psychiatrist three months ago (and then two months, six weeks, etc); Laura's section, which was mostly The Night Before; and Rosie's section, which was the present day and time. The three sections were clearly labelled, so there was never sny confusion about when what was happening. The suspense definitely kept me reading through the whole book; I read it in less than 24 hours. I did guess who was behind everything; it was a fairly obvious guess, but wanting to know what was going on definitely kept me reading. All on all 4 stars, and i will deginitely be reading more by Wendy. Brava!

4/5*
From the moment I picked up The Night Before, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down until I got to the very end! Although I found the switching between tenses suspenseful and engaging, it was sometimes a bit confusing. I thing that this novel is very topical as we live in a digital age and internet dating is really a cultural norm at this point.  To take something that is so normal and twist it into this psychological thriller is an incredible feat by Walker.

We all want that one big twist in a book, right? Because what are suspense thrillers without a grand-finale-type ending?! Brace yourself, because this isn’t a one off, wait til the end, I’ve got this figured out type story.
Twisty, with lots of “wait a sec” moments, Wendy pulls out all the tricks in this book!

Clever & perplexing, twisty, and ex-trEEEEEm-ely hard to put down!! I started recommending this addictive read when books came up in conversation (which happens often for us bookworms!) before I was even one-third along in it. I have a very strong feeling it is going to be among the top thrillers this summer!!

The Night Before by Wendy Walker is certainly a page turner, although at times I would put it down in pure frustration with Laura Lochner.

from description: Riveting and compulsive, national bestselling author Wendy Walker’s The Night Before “takes you to deep, dark places few thrillers dare to go” as two sisters uncover long-buried secrets when an internet date spirals out of control.

Definitely twisty and told from two points of view--Laura's and her sister Rosie's--also partly through excerpts from Laura's conversations with her therapist.

Events in the past have influenced Laura's life in ways that prevent her from interacting in a healthy manner, especially where men are concerned.

A lot of folks are going to love this one, but Laura's behavior was frustrating and her running conversations with herself became tiresome, slowing down the action.

The Night Before has an intriguing premise, but felt a bit too contrived. It isn't that the book didn't hold my interest; I definitely wanted to find out what actually happened, but Laura's self-destructive behavior annoyed me.

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Psychological. May 14, 2019. Print length: 320 pages.

Honestly from the moment I saw this and I requested. I knew it screamed out read me . Which when it happens I know I’m going to enjoy it. You’ll love me and be engaged with me. It engaging and interesting. Laura was interesting character , it was awesome to see how psychologically stuff can just impact someone. This goes for every character. It was twisted and the writing made me want to keep on reading. I’m so glad that I read it. I have no regrets on doing so. I could definitely read this over and over again just to see if I could have found more clues on what lead up to the ending. Definitely amazing read.

This is the first book I e read by this author and definitely the last. Her writing style is superb at keeping you turning the pages when I should be doing more productive duties. The story was full of twists and turns and leaving me questioning each character. It would be unfair to mention anything else of the story in my review because this is the type of story that reads great going in with no expectations. I’ll be adding more of Wendy Walker’s books to my TBR shelf immediately. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for introducing to this author.

*4.5 stars rounded up!

An exciting thriller from start to finish that is very well constructed. It starts off with a short conversation between Laura Lochner and her therapist in NYC four months earlier, then switches to the present evening as Laura prepares for a first date, the connection made through an online dating service.

She is currently living with her sister Rosie and her family in Branston, CT, after a bad relationship break-up. It is sort of like returning 'home' as she is surrounded by old friends and old memories.

Laura has a troubled past and in many ways, has stayed trapped in her childhood. She has always felt unlovable and seems to make life choices that reenforce this belief, causing her to make the same mistakes over and over.

She borrows her sister's minivan to go off on her date and promises to be back later that night but the next morning, her sister discovers that Laura hasn't yet returned and fears the worst.

So the story unfolds in three ways, three timelines: through Laura's first person recounting of the evening of the date, through third person pov as Rosie desperately searches for her sister, and through tidbits of Laura's conversations with her therapist that are interspersed.

Along the way, the reader begins to wonder if Laura is an unreliable narrator as more and more lies and secrets are revealed. Is she the poor girl who cannot find true love no matter how hard she tries or is she a violent murderer? For in her search, Rosie uncovers some startling family secrets as well. There are many layers to this story!

I received an ebook arc of this terrific thriller from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review as well as a paper arc from Jordan Hanley @St Martin's Press. Many thanks!

Lots of twists and turns. Overall, a decent psychological thriller. I didn't see the ending coming. Just not that memorable.

I didn't put this book down once I started reading the first page. There are so many layers, knots to unravel, and pieces to put together. This is a mystery lovers dream come true. The reader gets both points of view and each gives clues and find out information that the other doesn't know. Intriguing, suspenseful, nail-biting and will be on my recommend to everyone list.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Wendy Walker for the opportunity to read and review her latest thriller - 5 stars! I literally put off everything I should have been doing today and read this book!

Laura is staying with her sister, Rosie, and her husband, Joe, in Connecticut after a bad breakup that made her leave her job and take refuge with Rosie. With veiled references to a situation that happened when the sisters were teenagers, Laura has lots of emotional baggage when it comes to men. So when she meets a guy on line, leaves for a date with him and then doesn't return home, Rosie is frantic.

The less said the better about this book before you read it - and you need to read it! Told from Laura and Rosie's viewpoints, it was so helpful to have each chapter labeled with the name and date to keep things straight. Highly recommended for a thrill ride of a story!

This is my 3rd Wendy Walker novel and I believe that her writing just keeps getting better. This is a solid thriller that consumed me. The deeper I got into the book, the more I felt the intrigue and needed to restrain myself from reading the ending. There were twists galore.

A well-organized style of writing with engaging characters. Laura was my favorite. She had a fascinating combination of human traits - compulsive, mindful, instinctive, uniquely interactive. Was Laura mentally unbalanced? I couldn’t decide. Her maneuvers kept me off course. When the big reveal is finally introduced, it completely satisfied. A dark page-turner that could become a great movie.


*will post in online venues upon publication.

This book takes you on a wild ride and will keep you gripped right until the end. It's been a while since I've read a thriller and been genuinely shocked or where I haven't predicted the ending halfway through. So The Night Before was a welcome surprise.

The story is told through the perspective of Laura and her sister, Rosie. In Lauras sections we follow her on her date with the seemingly perfect guy she has met online. From the moment they meet and the strange and disturbing night which follows. In Rosies we see her realise her sister is missing and then kick into gear and desperately try and track her down. All the while helped by her husband and childhood sweetheart Joe and their best friend Gabe. I really enjoyed these dual perspectives in this novel and it worked really well to further the tension and suspense.

I found it interesting that the whole time we are forced to question whether Laura is in genuine danger or whether her date is the one who should be concerned. It all comes back to a traumatic event in Lauras past, when she was a teen, a violent incident involving an ex boyfriend which placed her under suspicion. Interspersed throughout are sessions between Laura and her therapist where they discuss her trauma which also helps paint a picture of Lauras state of mind. Although Laura was cleared of suspicion, Laura and her loved ones are still unsure of what really happened that night in the woods...

I really liked the use of flashbacks and the exploration of the characters pasts. Walker really skilfully weaves together the friendship group here; Laura, Rosie, Joe and Gabe, and it was quite sweet reading about them growing up together and staying close well into adulthood. Because of this being so well written, it's totally believable that each and every one of these characters would do whatever it takes to find Laura. I always enjoy a book which has strong friendship elements and features a 'found family' of sorts so I was pleasantly surprised to find this in a thriller.

While I enjoyed the novel and characters as a whole, there were a few things which I found somewhat repetitive and unnecessary. One major one being how many times it's reinforced how bad Lauras romantic history is, like okay once or twice we get it. However, it was mentioned an overwhelming amount of times to the point where it gets a tad annoying. I wish there was more room in the novel to explore Laura moving on from her troubled past and finding love, whether that be with someone else or even finding solace in herself.

Overall, The Night Before is a twisty, intriguing and refreshing addition to the thriller genre. I read it in a single sitting, that's how gripped I was so take that as a sign that you definitely need to read this book! I would highly recommend this story for thriller or mystery addicts or even a reader who wants to get into the genre.