All the Lovely Pieces had enormous potential. The story is fairly dark and mildly twisty, but unfortunately, doesn't really push any boundaries. It's as though the author, J.M. Winchester wanted this to be super violent and gritty--perhaps she was inspired by authors such as Karin Slaughter or Jennifer Hillier...but seemed unable to force herself into that head space. Details, important ones, were glossed over and left open to interpretation, and there were big gaps in the timeline which really affected the story's flow. As I was reading, I kept thinking to myself, "No, don't go in that direction...this other direction would make it so much more provocative!"

With the exception of Drew, the characters weren't fleshed out at all, which ultimately dims the story's shine more. Told from three points of view, those of Drew, Catherine, and Michael, Winchester should have gone so much deeper during Michael's chapters. This is, after all, a child whose entire life has been spent running, and who has no idea why. Further, he's the child of a psychopath...is psychopathy an inherited trait? His contributions could have been fascinating, but instead, were generic and dull. Catherine, too, seemed very cardboard cut-out. In addition, this novel could have hugely benefited from adding Adam's perspective as well. And Dr. Collins, Drew's therapist, plays an odd--and not very plausible--part in the story. Finally, I was so disappointed in Drew and Parker's romance. A battered woman, hiding, and on the run for nearly a decade, finds love again...it could have been such a compelling side story, but instead, was once again painted over with broad strokes, which made it seem more like insta-love.

My final thoughts:
This truly had the potential to be a dark, creepy, engrossing read. It just needs more detail and grit. Still well worth reading, I believe.

**Thanks, as always, to the publisher for my free digital copy of this novel.

AMAZING!!! This is the first book I have read from J.M. Winchester and I am so glad that I did! Just look at that cover... it draws you in immediately and keeps you hooked until the very last page.

All the Lovely Pieces follows single mother, Drew Baker, and her son, Michael, as they attempt to run away from their dark and dangerous past involving emotional and physical abuse from Drew's ex-husband Adam. It becomes clear from very early on that Drew is running away from an accident that had occurred several years ago which still haunts her to this day so she is eager to hide this traumatic experience from her son.

The story line is set out in rotating points of view: Drew's, Michael's and Catherine's, the only character still in Adam's life at this point, which I found to be particularly powerful especially when trying to understand Adam's motive from another perspective. Despite my initial concerns, the writing of Michael's POV felt raw and thought-provoking and the ideal way to bring up a further set of questions about his mother's decision to flee from the crime scene. I also found Catherine's perspective to be a fresh and interesting addition to the story line, especially important towards the end when the pace changed. However, I could not warm to Drew and my sense of doubt grew as more events from the day of the accident were revealed. Although unreliable main characters are often emblematic of the genre there were too many lose ends in the chapters written from her POV for me to truly understand her.

Despite a strong start and an interesting set of characters, there was little build up towards a twist or big revelation as usually happens with other books in the genre. In a way I liked how the author decided to lay out all the facts and reach a conclusion based on all the information provided. However, the last few chapters felt a little too rushed and there were parts involving other minor characters and Drew's new love interest that felt exaggerated and at times too unbelievable. This book has all the right ingredients for a gritty psychological thriller but I believe that some of the scenes and character interactions in the last few chapters could have been rewritten to create a more realistic ending.

“They say ten deep breaths can make a world of difference. But for me, relaxing is a doorway for the enemy.”
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Drew has been runing from his abusive husband for nine years. Her main focus is to protect her son, so she settles in little towns and is constantly on the move.
But she is also running away from her own crimes, that could mean be separated from her son permanently.
A twisted, dark and very good psychological thriller, narrated from three points of view, fast-paced and with a very good plot, it kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time, once I started it I just couldn’t put it down.
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Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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“Human beings have a history of seeking out the things that will eventually destroy them.”
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“Mirrors see to much. They are cruel and unforgiving. I can’t look, for fear I won’t recognize the person staring back at me.”
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“I often try to figure out exactly when my life became a nightmare.”

Holy S*** why isn't this book a movie? Words can't describe how good this book was.
All I can say is read it read it read it. "All The Lovely Pieces" just entered my top 15 books of the year.

Rating 5/5

All the Lovely Pieces by J.M. Winchester is the story of Drew Baker who has been running for nine years to get away from her violent husband, and to protect her ten year old son. Wow, this book was hard to read at times, I wanted to finish it to get it over with, but than again I didn't want to read any more. This book was really a roller coaster ride. If you enjoy a domestic thriller, I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

Drew has been on the run with her son after leaving her abusive husband 9 years ago. She has rules she keeps and so far, they've worked. Now that her son is older and is wanting a normal life, she decides to stay in the town that her car breaks down in for awhile. She lets her guard down and her husband finds her. There are a few times where it drags on a little and times where you want to say "Okay, we get it, she's scared and doesn't trust anyone". It is well written and has a very surprising ending. I did like the book!

In All the Lovely Pieces, romance author Jennifer Snow turns to suspense, and a new pen name. Twisty and turny, the plot will keep you guessing. This is the first J.M. Winchester book, but I hope it isn’t the last, I’m all in.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

On the run with her son for over 9 years, Drew must find a way to expose the truth about her abusive husband.

I enjoyed the plot, it was a bit outlandish but felt more realistic than similar stories. There were some similarities to The Perfect Wife, just a different part of the timeline, but it ultimately felt like a more successful version of Behind Closed Doors, a book I hated despite its popularity.

My one complaint was it felt like a birds eye view, with not enough depth or detail. Drew had no personality other than anxious paranoid mother. The story was told in month by month snapshots and I was never able to connect to the characters in any way. I did find Michael to be an intriguing character, especially given what happens at the end.

Overall, this was a good addition to the genre with a more believable plot, more palatable characters and less frustration from a readers standpoint, but felt light in places.

Netgalley provided me with an arc of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Drew is on the run. Her reasons are tangled, even to herself, but she knows she must protect her child. The chance her haunted past will find her is inevitable.

Drew begins to find a normal life in a small town. She begins to put down roots, and opens her heart again. The shadows seem far away, the wolves appeased.

But the past never stays buried as long as it should.

I was drawn into this twisted tale of madness, escape and desperation.

As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.

As always, as with most thrillers, please check into any trigger warnings before reading. This does include some heavy and dark matters that will be triggering for some readers.

This wasn't necessarily a bad book, but it wasn't my cup of tea in the end. In the beginning, All the Lovely Pieces has all the makings of an unforgettable thriller. It's packed tightly with so many intense qualities and is fast to mess with your mind. However, I felt that there were times where the story lost its own steam and stumbled bit by bit.

At its core, All the Lovely Pieces is about escaping the past and what memories lurk beneath the surface. Nothing is fully certain and the unreliable qualities is what made the novel intriguing in novel's good. You can feel the fear bubbling beneath the surface in the narration and it sets the tone well enough. Winchester has this great prose that toys with readers and is very psychological, which will surely make this a hit.

This novel is a thriller, indeed, but it is also about life and wishing for a sense of normalcy. I really liked the grittiness we get to see throughout the novel. Winchester provides us with characters that are complex and some eternally evil. In all its faults, the characters are ultimately what saves the day and kept me from DNF the story as a whole.

I think that most of my issues with it tied into my mood, I may be burning myself out on the genre, and the narration. Like many thrillers, All the Lovely Pieces takes readers into the minds of several characters.

Typically, I enjoy novels that are told in rotating POV. I love seeing how each character processes things and what each character represents to the central mysteries. In the case of All the Lovely Pieces I found myself struggling with it at times. By the end, it seemed to be more and more relevant to the plot, as different revelations come to light and I eventually adjusted to it.

However, a good chunk of this novel the narration irked me.

While I enjoyed parts of this novel, it was, unfortunately, not wholly for me. I still recommend it to fans of the genre looking for a twisty ride to curve into.

As soon as I read the description of this book I knew I had to read it. I’m so glad I did! This was an excellent psychological thriller that had me on the edge of my seat flipping pages to see what happened next.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. The story was good enough to keep my attention and I flew through it quickly, however it was very far fetched and extremely predictable, which is why I dropped it down a bit. The main character made some choices that felt very fitting for her character and some choices that were not. There were many parts that I wish were more fleshed out (like the fact that Michael might actually be a sociopath like his father, or more information on Catherine after everything). Overall, a decent domestic thriller.

A début thriller from this new-to me author - J.M. Winchester - whose usual genre is romance. This was a super effort and I can’t wait to read more from her!

This book ticked all the boxes for a good psychological thriller and there was never a dull moment with this action-packed story. All the Lovely Pieces propelled me through the tale on an intense, unstoppable and emotional roller-coaster ride. It was nearly impossible to put down this all-consuming dark and twisted novel. I highly recommend All the Lovely Pieces for your next psychological-thriller read.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience and a very worthy five stars!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This book was so intriguing and intense! I couldn’t put it down! The authors writing just sucked me in!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Wow, this book really takes you on a roller coaster ride. Drew and her son have been on the run from her abusive husband for years, finally settling down in a small town and beginning to make friends. This was a well written book, and the plot was original in my opinion. I could feel the terror that resides within Drew when she was thinking about her past. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Drew has been living in terror at the hands of her sadistic husband. One night she escapes her living hell with her infant son. Only to find herself living a different kind of hell. Nine years on the run, never allowing her and her son a normal kind of life. Scared of the police and her husband catching up with them. Desperate to remember what happened the night she escaped. Just how far will Drew go to protect her son? Even if that means confronting the one thing you are most scared off. A mothers love for her child knows no limits. J.M Winchester weaves a gripping story. One told from the perspectives of Drew, Michael and Catherine. This is one book that will get you thinking long after you had finished. Would you react like Drew did? Is it in your genes or how a person is bought up? That shapes who they are. Recommended for fans of psychological suspense. ARC requested from Net Galley, this is my voluntary review.

All The Lovely Pieces is J.M. Winchester’s first psychological thriller and she has definitely crafted a thrilling story.

Drew Baker fell hard and fast for multibillionaire tech mogul, Adam Crenshaw and thought she was living a dream life until Drew becomes pregnant with their son, Michael. Drew’s dream life then becomes a nightmare. Present day finds Drew and her son living a life on the run, always in fear. Drew struggles to be a good mother to Michael, but also do what she needs to do for them to survive.

The story is told in varying perspectives between Drew, Michael, and Catherine, the nanny that cared for Michael before Drew and Michael were able to escape Adam’s reach. The perspective of the nanny keep me very intrigued and I was able to feel Drew’s anxiety and paranoia as she explained her perspective. I definitely was not able to guess how this one was going to end and that made getting to the end even better because I was pleasantly surprised. I would highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Thomas Mercer for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a few chapters to get into this book, but once it got going I was gripped until the end. It tells the tale of Drew, a mum on the run from her crazed husband who had tortured her physically and mentally. She was not allowed to hold her newborn baby and eventually she managed to escape and this explains how she got to be where she is.

The chapters were told from three different characters - Drew, Michael (her son), and Catherine. I would have appreciated Adam having a chapter every now and again to get to see the working's of his mind, as it was clear he had deep issues but to read about them from his perspective may have added something a bit more.

Overall it did keep me gripped, but did feel the ending was slightly unrealistic. Thank you for the read.

3.5 Stars for J.M. Winchester's first thriller, All the Lovely Pieces

Drew is on the run from her psychotic, abusive husband, Adam. The world thinks she is a murderer and a kidnapper but there is nothing she wouldn't do to keep her son, Michael, safe and away from Adam. Having suffered mental, physical and psychological abuse Drew is desperately trying to keep one step ahead of Adam while building some semblance of a normal life for herself and Michael. But she knows the only way she can ever truly be safe, is by exposing Adam.

I had high hopes for this thriller. A mother on the run, doing whatever it takes to protect her child. A sadistic and ruthless husband who deftly hides his darkness from the world. I love a sexy and terrifying antagonist. Unfortunately, I felt that the character development here wasn't complete. Adam had so much potential - I would have enjoyed seeing more from his point of view and seeing what made him tick. It felt like we only scratched the surface of his story.

Although the story was told from multiple POVs, the strongest was definitely Drew's. I wish I had come to like her more but I was never fully invested. Michael's chapters were short and thoroughly chilling and creepy. I enjoyed the insinuation of a bad seed via genetics despite Drew's efforts to keep the truth from him. Overall, the story was twisty but unfortunately felt a bit rushed, surface level and predictable where it mattered.