Cover Image: Until the Day I Die

Until the Day I Die

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Member Reviews

Full of charm… an intriguing plot and the twists and turns throughout make for a satisfying tale… an engaging mystery with a menacing undertone and chilling atmosphere running through it… the conclusion was unexpected and satisfying… fans of Agatha Christie and MC Beaton should enjoy this… A superb and highly entertaining , and a perfect read for those dark, chilly nights.

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What appeared to be an everyday thriller took a deeply sinister and disturbing angle.
Definitely one of those books that you convince yourself alright, one more chapter! Immediately followed by total exhaustion after white-knuckling your way straight through to the end!

Erin hasn’t been the same since her husband passed in an accident four months ago. She’s barely treading water, incapable of focusing on the needs of her daughter Shorie. She’s also burdened with her responsibility as CEO of a tech company developed with her late husband Perry and best friends Ben and Sabine. Featuring an App designed to create, maintain and keep you on a budget! (I really want this App... no, I need this App)!

Erin feels she’s got no choice...she needs to sell the company and move on. But everyone else is convinced she’s headed for a breakdown. Maybe a reclusive spa retreat would be the best way to heal.

Shorie is 18 and wise beyond her years. She grew up as the company was developing.
She’s more than familiar with the inner-workings from top to bottom, thanks to her dads’ patient instruction and mentoring. But there’s a problem…now it’s time to go to college and put the business world on hold. Shorie can’t quite do that!

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I was drawn into this book pretty quickly, however, it slowed down shortly after the start. The fundamentals of a strong thriller were in place, but then the plot started going in too many different directions for my liking. The plot slowed down towards the middle, and some parts were confusing to follow. While I wanted to find out the conclusion of the book, there were a few times I was unmotivated to continue reading. I wouldn’t say that the ending was completely predictable, but it wasn’t completely original either. Despite that, the writing was great and imagery was not an issue while reading this book. Overall, I did enjoy this book, but it was lacking some elements of what could have been a great thriller.

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It's a book filled with suspicion and plot with a twist! Everything starts from death of Perry (CEO of Jax). Life falls apart for Erin as she grieves. Her coworkers recommends to send her to Hidden Sand to relax from her grief and stress. Shorie heads to college. Both are suspicious as Erin finds her restoration center strange ,and Shorie follows her instincts in resolving the error that catches her attention. This results in revealing a secret that turns the company upside down and saves her mom. More details to be shared on the blog!

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Rating 3.5 Stars!!

When I saw this book available on NetGalley and I had the cover, I was like Oh......My........Gosh..... I NEED to read this book. I had never heard of Emily Carpenter, the author, but when I looked her up, I see she's no stranger to writing some super awesome books!

When I requested, and was approved to review this book on NetGalley, I got pretty excited.  Until the Day I Die by Emily Carpenter is about Erin Gaines, who is sent away to a "retreat facility" when her family decides she is not handling the sudden death of her husband.  Of course, as expected, things aren't what they seem at the facility and restful retreat is exactly what it isn't. My heart was racing from cover to cover on this one.  (I had to put the book down at one point just to get relaxed since I am recovering from a recent brain bleed.)

And then there's Erin's daughter, Shorie - a strong and intelligent girl.  She knows something isn't right with her mom and she knows something isn't right with her parents company so she goes digging for the truth even when she's not sure who to trust.

The author definitely kept me glued thanks to the back-and-forth pages between the mother and daughter's chapters in this story.  The characters were well developed and the story was well written - slightly implausible at times but hey, it's fiction, right?

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for my review.  A positive review was not required and my views are my own.

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This book is a very interesting look at the different ways people grieve a loss. Until the Day I Die focuses on Erin, who has been recently widowed, and her daughter Shorie, who has lost her beloved father just before going off to college. Erin is falling apart and as a result is sent to a wellness retreat in the Carribbean to recover. Shorie stays behind and works with her parents' successful startup. However, as the two women deal with grief in their own ways, things become more and more sinister. Is Erin really at a wellness retreat, or has she been sent there for dangerous purposes? Is Shorie surrounded by family friends who love her, or people who have betrayed and manipulated her family?

Carpenter handles the dueling plots well and makes you root for both characters. The tension builds as you find out more and more about their circumstances and leaves you worrying for their safety.

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I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and the publisher. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review.

Ms. Carpenter has written a page turning novel about dealing with grief and family. Some of the plot devices are a little far fetched, but on a whole, it's an entertaining read.

3 out of 5 stars.

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Emily Carpenter has definitely written a book that will make you sweat. The ride is one that will have you twisting and turning and most assuredly holding on and holding your breath. The first half, give or take a bit, sets the stage for the most thrilling book I have read this year. Who to trust. Who to fear. Who can you turn to when your very life is in danger of exploding. Your best friends, coworkers, in laws, or yourself? When you think you may be losing your mind it’s hard to know who is your friend or who is out for themselves and couldn’t care less what happens to you. Even family will come under scrutiny while reading this one. I could not take in a good breathe during a lot of this book.

Erin and her daughter, Shorie, are two very strong women who are picking up the pieces of their lives after Perry, husband and father, is taken from them. Erin does not know how to let go and Shorie does not want to. As close as they are, when Shorie is more or less forced to go to college, they have problems. Shorie does not want to go. She wants to work at their compan “Jax” and does not understand why she should go to college when she already knows what she wants to do. Erin of course wants her daughter to get the college experience and do great in her life. While they are there something goes wrong and Erin is talked into going to a rehab/spa to help her get on with her life. Shorie believes that her mother needs this also. Now the action begins.

There are so many twists and turns in this book that you will not get bored in any way. You will be turning the pages to find out what happens, who it happens to and why. Will they survive. Is a friend or family member trying to make you disappear? Who can you trust? Can you trust anyone anymore? Or is it all in your head?

This is such a good book. It gave me all the good feelings that a very good thriller will make you feel. Love, anger, scared, hard to breathe, edge of your seat danger. It’s got it all I assure you. I think this book would make a great movie. Big screen movie. It made me stop and look in a few places, to see if anyone was there or if my imagination was getting the best of me. It is a page turner and one I highly recommend. A huge 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for a copy of this book. This is my review and I was in no way compensated for it. It’s my honest opinion. Thank you to Emily Carpenter for giving us this wonderful thriller.

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I have previously read books by this author so was excited to read another.
However this book was a huge disappointment. It was just so far fetched and unrealistic.
On a positive note I did like the characters in the book

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I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Grieving the loss of her husband Perry, Erin throws herself into work at the company she, Perry, and a couple of college friends started. After suffering memory blackouts, the worst being when she stole a friend's car and showed up drunk at her daughter's college party, she is urged to check herself into an island spa resort. But the resort is a front for something far more sinister and Erin is soon running for her life in the creepy jungle.
This is a thriller with a lot of twists and turns. The jungle island setting was creepy but beautiful. I like the alternating perspectives of Erin and her daughter, Shorie and how they worked to find the traitor. It was not who i was expecting!!

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The husband dies and everything goes wrong is not a unique theme for a book. BUT, Emily Carpenter took the story line and gave it a little twist and a big boost of adrenaline. The story line starts off with a widow having problems after her husband's death and her friends and relatives trying to help her through. The usual story stops there. Written from differing points of view, the reader sees what is coming but will be surprised in the end. A true thriller with lots of mystery thrown in.

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Emily Carpenter can take me on just about any ride, and I'm happy to buckle myself in and enjoy it. I was a huge fan of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies, both of which were evocative examples of Southern gothic literature.

Until the Day I Die is a thriller with smart women who decode financial cyber crimes, and a suspenseful family drama (my favorite) to boot. The story felt very up-to-the-minute with its knowledge of apps, college cheating scandals and private retreats in exclusive settings.

Already looking forward to what Carpenter writes next!

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I guess I'm In the minority on this book. Based on the reviews i expected to love this book. Sadly to say I couldn't get into it. Unfortunately I couldn't even finish.

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3.5 Stars for Until the Day I Die. This is my 4th Emily Carpenter book and I really do love her! While this one wasn't my favorite, it was a solid story. Emily knows how to develop characters that pull you in and make you feel something. They are multi-dimensional and I almost always feel like her characters are based on someone she knows, that these people are out there walking around in the world. For thriller fans this book may be more subtle than you are used to, for me this worked. I liked that I knew where the plot was going in general terms, but there were some spins and turns along the way that kept me flying through the story. I am a technology sales rep by trade and so the subject matter that the book was based on also kept me intrigued. It was well researched and original. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy in return for my honest opinion. Can't wait to read Emily's next one, maybe a series?? What she could do with a trilogy!!!

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I enjoyed the ever-increasing tension and plot twists in this exotic, emotional thriller, and the mother-daughter relationship. No one can be trusted except the two of them, as they struggle through the pain of loss and betrayal separately, but together.

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WOW ! What a thrilling read this was from start to finish. I loved this book !
When one of the partners of a very successful tech company dies his widow Erin falls apart and is not able to maintain her husband's role in the fast growing company at a critical juncture in its growth. The other partners are concerned that the company they all founded together will fail after his death with Erin unable to make decisions. What follows is riveting reading about secrets and conspiracy that may kill Erin and her daughter.

Her daughter Shorie is savvy smart and justifiably concerned about her families company . She suspects that subterfuge exist in the company that may undermine the companies future . She soon delves into company records and finds someone is stealing the company funds and has their own dangerous agenda. .Soon her Moms friends and co workers suggest she go away for a few weeks at a spa resort in the Caribbean. Someone does not intend for her to return alive. When her Mom leaves Shorie continues to investigate her suspicions and finds a rabid conspiracy. Soon her Mother is at risk in the Caribbean and Shorie works to save not only her Mom but the company her parents built and herself .
This was a thrilling read from beginning to end. I loved it and look forward to further work by this author. The action was nonstop and I loved the well crafted mysterious plot. Very well done to the author !
Thank you for the ARC that does not influence my review.

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I really enjoy Emily Carpenter's book. I liked the character of Erin and thought there was some intense moments. I am not sure how I feel about Shorie's arc. Her view on college were a little off putting. So was the character of Rhys.

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I was anticipating to read this book, from reading the plot. It was a bit slow and dubious in situations. The character development of Erin and Shore was great though. It took me a while to finish the book due to twisting events in the story.

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Until The Day I Die; By Emily Carpenter
Lake Union Publishing
Pub Date March , 12,2019 4. out of 5 stars.

Synopis
From the bestselling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls comes a riveting novel about a mother and daughter separated by grief, secrets, and a conspiracy that threatens to destroy their lives.

If there’s a healthy way to grieve, Erin Gaines hasn’t found it. After her husband’s sudden death, the runaway success of the tech company they built with their best friends has become overwhelming. Her nerves are frayed, she’s disengaged, and her frustrated daughter, Shorie, is pulling away from her. Maybe Erin’s friends and family are right. Maybe a few weeks at a spa resort in the Caribbean islands is just what she needs to hit the reset button…

Shorie is not only worried about her mother’s mental state but also for the future of her parents’ company. Especially when she begins to suspect that not all of Erin’s colleagues can be trusted. It seems someone is spinning an intricate web of deception—the foundation for a conspiracy that is putting everything, and everyone she loves, at risk. And she may be the only one who can stop it..

What I loved:
This book should be categorized as a thriller because it certainly had me on the edge of my seat from page one. Hard topics are introduced; death and grief were used as a means to manipulate the main character, and she was shipped off to a pretend "recovery' spa. which she might not have returned from. This mom wasn't just taking her daughter to college , she was preparing to be alone for the first time in almost 20 years, so the grief was like another death to her. Tech savvy daughter was hacking away into the company system to find who was draining company funds, to save the legacy her father built. This is a fast paced book, that has snappy dialogue with almost a reality tv gitzy feel . Fans of Survivor will love the vision quest into the carribean jungle that has Erin running for her life, and finally we see she has a backbone.

*************What would have made this a five:************
I didn't like that Ben co owner and long time friend just faded away and had nothing to do with helping Shorie, and had so much to do with Erin being shipped off. He was a shady character that was virtually useless and annoying. I didn't like the choice to have Shorie paying her way out of her classes, to "research" the problems with Jax. The author could have found another technological/ and ethical reason to introduce the future boyfriend. . I found this pretentious and entitled. I found the characters slightly disconnected and superficial, and the author while having a surprise ending did not balance out the steps background story line , it all kind of rushed to the end like a runaway train.. but many readers who like slam bam hour long Life time movies will adore this book.

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An Interesting 3★ Book

Erin
"Perry lay on the hospital bed in the shadowy emergency room. In the curtained area, I could barely look at him, he was so bloody and still. He’d been driving from Columbus, Georgia, to meet us at the lake for a family camping trip, first one of the season. On 73, between Waverly and Roxana, he’d fallen asleep at the wheel, the police said. Veered off the narrow road and smashed his car into a pine tree. He hadn’t been wearing a seat belt, that idiot. After his meeting in Columbus, but before he’d gotten on the road, he’d met someone for drinks. A friend from college, Roy. Roy later swore to me that Perry only had one beer. The doctors did a blood test and didn’t find anything to warrant concern, but what did it matter anyway? This motionless body covered in blood was not my husband. My husband was gone."

Shori
"If only we could deal with people the way we deal with computers. Mom needs to be fixed. Maybe it’s not that simple with a human being, but I don’t know. I think finding someone smarter than me— a professional with experience—is worth a try.
Because clearly something is very wrong with my mother. And tonight, for the first time, I’m afraid if it doesn’t get fixed, something terrible is going to happen."
********
Until the Day I Die by Emily Carpenter started a bit slow for me and it didn't hold my attention very well but I stuck with it and the pace picked up and was interesting enough to read all the way through to the end. The story is not very realistic so it takes some imagination to fully enjoy it. It is a creative storyline but it needs a little more reality to be a thrilling novel.
Overall, the book wasn't terrible by any means but it just wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and author, Emily Carpenter, for my advanced digital copy to read and give an honest review.

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