Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to preview he this book. With three time-lines it was a little confusing. Laura is a "messed-up" woman with a troubling past. A "nice" twist at the end, but generally the story was rather weak. Somewhat recommended.

It’s a good thing I started reading this book in the morning, because once I started it, I couldn’t stop until I finished it! Although I figured out part way into it who the “bad guy” was going to be, I still had to keep reading to see how it all played out.

Laura, Rosie, Joe, and Gabe have been thick as thieves since early childhood. But there are some secrets not shared among friends. Laura was always bright but moved to her own beat. An outlier. She once was warned by a Catholic Nun “If you keep leaving the herd, the wolves will come.”

“Good thing I like wolves.”

Laura’s preparing for the date. Cherry lipstick, black dress, and heels should do the number. But she is hesitant. Afraid of going back to her old ways. Escaping a stormy relationship in NYC Laura finds herself living with her sister Rosie and husband Joe. Laura has not been back to Branston Connecticut for 10 years except for the obligatory family holidays. After all, its the place she swore she would never run back to. Especially after that night in the woods. Rosie helps her shed her old image with her pretty floral dress. The sisters could not be more different. Rosie is sensible and motherly while Laura has always been fighting her way out of trouble “born with fists for hands.” When Laura goes out on the blind date with Jonathan Fields or is it, Nate, Rosie could not have been happier for her to find the right guy. Until she did not show up the next morning. This is that tale which will ward you off the internet dating. Forever.

“You will pay”

The Night Before tells the story in alternating narratives between Laura’s first date and Rosie’s compulsion to find out what happened to her sister.
Alternating past to present slowly builds the tension reeling you in like a fish on a rod. And waiting for the gaff. Walker has cleverly crafted a twisty story with characters, with flaws and secrets which creep their way into the plot. And into an unforgettable ending.

The four main characters are built up front, allowing you to engage in each of their purpose in the story. In particular, Laura’s character with layers upon layers covering the hurt from many years ago. She is emotional, almost borderline, and we get a glimpse of the psychology of a woman so overwhelmingly insecure and yet intuitive. Gabe, the childhood friend has always been the “brains of the operation” and a protector. Joe has always been part of this family of friends and it was always going to be Rosie. And A sister that will go to all lengths to protect Laura whom she may not know as well as she thinks. One thing they all have in common is to protect Laura from herself.

One of the aspects of Walker’s writing style is her ability to create a fluid narrative that is easy to read yet complex in details. Alternating character narratives and timelines can be tricky and disproportionate. But Walker gets this right. This was also my experience with her previous novel Emma of the Night. The Night Before is creepy and suspenseful and will make you think twice about a “blind date.” And about friendship.

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Contemporary fiction psychological thriller about a woman that disappears after an online date. Her sister, brother-in-law, and childhood friend attempt to uncover clues as to what happened. The protagonist has a troubled past and is seeing a therapist. She has recently experienced a break-up and is trying to recover. She is the prototypical unreliable narrator, and we are privy to her inner thoughts.

I thought the plot was cleverly constructed, alternating a first-person account from the missing woman with her sister’s account of the search for her. It was filled with twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing. It reminded me a bit of <i>Gone Girl</i>, though I enjoyed this book a bit more. I found it a compelling page-turner with a satisfying resolution. Recommended to fans of psychological thrillers or mysteries with a suspense component.

This book moves at the speed of lightening. It grabs the reader from the start and the intensity does not let up. Laura is looking for love and turns to online dating, and finds a match in a fortyish year old man who describes himself as being in finance, recently divorced, and who drives an impressive BMW. Laura reaches out to Jonathan and quickly arranges a date. Laura and Jonathan meet, and not all of the things in Jonathan's online dating profile are what he projected in his online profile.The lies begin.....and start to pile on....and then Laura doesn't return home that evening from her date and her sister and brother-in-law begin to worry that Laura's past history of poor decisions is repeating. Will they be able to save her this time...will they be able to find her...what happened to Laura???
The reader is taken on a fast paced ride, with many twists and turns, and just when you think you have this figured out....the ending comes in to pack its final punch!

Laura has gone missing after a date with someone she met online. The chapters switch from past to present to help set the tone of the characters and the history involved. The people who care for Laura try to fit the pieces of the puzzle together and figure out what has happened to her. By far, this is the best thriller I have read this year. I have never read anything by the author, Wendy Walker, but I enjoyed the twist and turns of this book. Just when you think you have it figured out, Ms. Walker blows your mind. I was excited to receive an early copy of The Night Before from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hands-down, one of the most suspenseful, heart-racing, and stressful books I’ve read this year. The red herrings had me guessing after every chapter. Most of this book is set over the course of 24 hours, with a conversation between two adults. I found that the author provided just enough, to really keep you guessing. I am a huge fan of Wendy Walker and loved both her previous books. I didn’t see the ending coming!

http://posting on social media this week: instagram.com/deebibliophilia

THE NIGHT BEFORE is a thriller about Laura, a woman with a troubled past who moves back in with her sister, Rosie, and her family after a bad breakup. She decided to try online dating, and surprises herself when she agrees to go out with a man she chatted with on the site. Laura goes missing after the blind date. Rosie and their mutual friend, Gabe, decide to investigate the matter on their own.

I like Wendy Walker, and have read her before, so I was very excited to get this one approved. However, what starts as a strong suspense story that builds tension fizzled out for me before the ending. I don't know if it felt like the story went on too long, but I wasn't interested in the surprises towards the end and found myself almost skimming the pages to make it to the end. THE NIGHT BEFORE is a decent read, and seems to have worked for most people, but for some reason it just didn't completely work for me. I will still look forward to the next Wendy Walker book.

Thanks to Wendy Walker, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was given the chance to read this book and give it an honest review. Thank You NetGalley for this opportunity.

This book kept me interested right from the start. I had a really hard time putting it down when I was supposed to be going to sleep, and finished it as soon as possible the following day. It’s full of suspense and intrigue, and I absolutely love it!!!

Wow, talk about a page turner?? I could not put this book down!! 4.5 twisty stars!
This is my third book by this talented author and my favorite so far!

Laura goes out on a date, excited and hopeful and then never returns....... “Twelve hours earlier, she was...Hopeful. Excited. Safe. Now she's gone.” Laura was a complicated character and I loved the psychological aspects about her past..

This book was quite suspenseful and had me glued to the pages, very fast paced and well written! I highly recommend to all fans of psychological thrillers and suspense! I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next! #fan

A huge thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity of an advanced readers copy!

Loved the good pace, and twists - oh my! This story is narrated by two sisters where you learn their thoughts about what's happening. Once you know the ending, many pieces fall into place at the same time the characters figure it out and it’s nicely done. I love how not much is given away by the book’s write-up. Once you start reading, you think hmm... and the pages begin to turn quickly. Solid read!

This is one of the better mysteries that I've read in a long time. It's the story of 2 sister one of which is very damaged emotionally, a brother-in-law and a best friend. They grew up together and have been together since childhood. Very interesting premise. Held my interest all the way through. Definitely a must read for all mystery lovers.

This book was ok... good for a plane ride but really, nothing memorable. Sorry but I have read a lot of books like this and nothing special... I wanted to really enjoy it but sorry..

A chilling thriller full of unexpected plot twists and turns readers won't see coming, this is a strong contender for spring best seller lists . I couldn't put it down until I'd figured it out, and that didn't happen until the last Page was turned . Strongly recommend!

I am so impressed with Wendy Walker yet again! I really enjoy the twists and turns she takes as she builds the story. You are going to be guessing pieces through to the end.
Highly recommend!

Do not start this book unless you have the time to devote to devouring it! And devouring it, was exactly what I did. I was hooked from the very beginning of the first chapter. I voraciously kept reading, delaying other responsibilities “calling my name,” vis a vis, life at hand! I do not want this review to contain any spoilers nor will I write about the plot, as one can glean a synopsis from the book flap or a review online. Wendy Walker is an author now on my radar. Her characters are well developed. The format is interesting and she never lost me. The plot is intriguing and mysterious.
Thank you Nethalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this terrific novel.

Pretty good book. There were enough twists to keep me guessing. But it felt a bit padded. The back and forth between voices and time frames didn’t really add anything.

Wow! What a fast paced novel!
"This is why no one loves you. You are damaged and broken and no one ever will.." This is what Laura believes and has thought since she was a young girl. Always angry, always ready for a fight, and not understanding why she felt this way. She always chose the "wrong" people to love, because she felt she was not "worthy" of having anyone who would adore her.
BUT... there is a reason for these feelings.
This book had me turning the pages at all hours of the day and night to see how it would end and it is just amazing!
It's a psychological thriller, mystery, and family story all rolled in to one!

I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller from Wendy Walker. It was twisty and turny and there were definite some developments in the plot I didn't see coming. I couldn't stop turning the pages until I found out what happened to Laura. Every time I thought I knew the answer Walker would add in another red herring to throw me off the trail. Great read!

What a great, edge-of-your-seat, twisty thriller! I read this in almost one sitting because I couldn't put it down; I just had to find out what was going on!

After a bad break-up, Laura has moved in with her sister and brother-in-law, and she at last gathers her courage to try dating again. She ventures out on a date with an older man she meets through an online dating site. Her insecurities are strong, not just because of her recent break-up, but because of past traumas that she has been holding onto since childhood. She takes a chance and goes on the date anyway...and disappears. Knowing about her traumatic past, her sister Rosie and brother-in-law Joe, and childhood friend Gabe suspect the worst and try desperately to find her. Through all of this, the author leads the reader down one road and then another, always tantalizing us with details from the past as well as the present.

This novel was quite the page turner, and I was kept guessing throughout as to what was going to happen - my favorite kind of thriller. Well-written, highly readable and thoroughly enjoyable!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. A strong 4 stars