'They Did Bad Things' by Lauren A. Forry is a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of human nature and the dark side of ordinary people.

this began a little slow & kind of meandering but stick with it & you'll be well rewarded. And you'll never see the ending coming! Crazy, twisted, wickedly fun, fabulous thriller! Loved it!!

Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat up until the end. I wasn’t a huge fan of the different perspectives but it was important for the book. Would definitely recommend

This book is one of those that just keep on tantalizing you for a little more, a little more secret, a little more behind the scenes. You are kept guessing about what really happened in 1995, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Recommended.

This story took me a while to get into as it goes back and forth between past and present through a diary. Five former college roommates had a sixth roommate that died. The five survivors are each told that they won a free remote getaway, but they quickly realize someone had ulterior motives for having them there. They find out they must tell the truth aboout what happened to the sixth roommate or die. This book definitely gave me Agatha Christie vibes, but it took me a long time to get into. The ending did make up for that.

Maybe it's my ADHD but I could not focus at all on the narratives. It was too much going on at once. I can't get through books that confuse me and give it a good rating to be honest.

Unlikeable characters, a locked room thriller, guilt eating away, LOVED it all. I am a big fan of this type of book and I just love it when bag guys get their comeuppance.

4 stars

I honestly had high hopes for this story; the book had a lot of potentials, but the fact that EVERYONE is unlikeable and one-dimensional doesn't really help the story. I wanted to read something that reminded me of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, but this was not the case. The first chapter had me immediately hooked; however, as the plot unfolded, it showed all its weaknesses, some moments were too confused and not believable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't hate it but I also didn't love it. The plot was interesting and the setting was perfect for the story but the jumping around of timelines was too much for me personally. I also didn't like a single character and this made it hard for me to care about what happened.

Fabulous thriller that kept me eagerly turning the pages!! Fantastic characters and plot, could not put it down.

I enjoy the premise of this book - the old roommates get back together trope and was excited for They Did Bad Things. The story had potential but I struggled to follow all the timeline jumping! I had to reread quite a bit to figure out where we were in the timeline - years, 15 minutes, half hour ago etc. There were some plot twists which was good but again the time jumping all around just wasn’t for me. The story almost felt broken at times. I would try another by Lauren A. Forry for sure! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Very interesting - mostly because of the morale of the story. In reality I did not care about who the villains of the story were, as the characters are not likable and also the writing does not make the story that exciting unfortunately, but there is certain truth and sadness present because of the realistically portrayed egoism, loneliness and coldness of this age. How the good intentions of one can go very much unnoticed in the face of self-full people. And it is this truthful depiction of sadness of the life of only one worthy person being taken out (without remorse from anyone) that will stay with me, as I, too, can be very much egoistically blind myself.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I seem to be in the minority on this, but I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes the narrative was clunky, as it jumped around between different times and from different character POVs. However, overall, i thought it worked well, particularly in revealing, bit by bit, the many twists.

The writing was vivid and really painted the scene of the ill-fated reunion at Wolfheather House well. I could see each of the rooms. I knew who the characters were. Everything was so masterfully described and illustrated. The plot was action-packed and so well-paced

I tend towards psychological thrillers but it’s been awhile since I’ve been this surprised by a twist. The book was gripping and I didn’t want to stop reading till the end.

Would definitely recommend this book to someone looking for a good thriller, though you have to be okay with a little bit of gore.

This fantastic novel deserves far more than 5 stars! I absolutely adored this unstoppable read. Playing that literary riff that Dame Agatha Christie so masterfully strummed, Lauren Forry provides a modern Gothic version of the "small house party vacationing at am isolated estate" gig. Yes! This trope has been played again and again, but rarely this winningly! Words fail me to describe how great is this novel, totally riveting to the point I almost didn't care to solve any of the "who did it"!


Back in 1994-1995, a small collection of previously unmet University students house-shared. As is often the case, there were friendships and animosities, kindness and mild tiffs; and there were house parties. And after the final house party, there was one less. And the survivors scattered.


Twenty years later, this motley group inexplicably and unexpectedly finds themselves reunited, albeit under false pretenses. And then...the revenge begins.


THEY DID BAD THINGS is an unputdownable, heart-in-mouth, don't breathe, masterpiece of psychological suspense!

2.5 ⭐️

Not a favorite of mine.
I had such a hard time understanding the timeline of the story and when we’d jump to the past/present. It was very jarring and I couldn’t get into it as much I had wanted to!

The premise is so interesting and the style is captivating, but the jumping back and forth without warning was too much for me to give it a high rating.

The writing style was super immersive which I liked, but again, the timeline wasn’t clear enough for me!

In 1995, 6 college stidents move into a campus party house, but one of them doesn't survive the school year. Twenty years later, the 5 surviving housemates find themselves lured together again under false pretenses to a remote bed and breakfast in Scotland. Who will make it out alive this time?

This had such a great premise and gave me all the "Clue" vibes, but something just never connected for me. I found I didn't care for any of the characters or care if they made it out alive. I also wasn't a fan of the way the timeline and perspectives jumped all around as it felt clunky and not fluid. It was interesting but not the knock out I hoped for.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Sky horse Publishing and Arcade Crime wise for the ARC of this book in exchange for my own opinion.

Another book about University students, in 1995, six of them, at their end-to-end party, and in the morning, one is found dead on the couch.

The other 5 students, now in their 40's, are invited to a house, on the island of Doon, all under different pretenses and after they arrive, and realize there is no way out, have to relive the night in 1995 and hash out the mystery of the culprit who killed their 6th member.

They don't know who lured them there, but they have a choice: confess or die. This is when all of the bad things they've done come out (because, of course, they've all done bad things) and all the blaming and betrayals and so on and so forth come out and they turn against each other.

Although I feel I've read this same type of book a dozen or so times, the timelines in this book killed me. Years ago, 15 minutes ago, a half hour ago, it was so convoluted with jumping here and there. There were a few twists, but at this point in my reading, I want to read different books, not the same old friends in college times, someone is killed or betrayed, and there's the who-dun-it feel to it. I want to read something different, something that surprises me. Unfortunately, this book did not do it for me. So sorry.

I enjoyed this book. It gave me all the slasher movie vibes which I love! I’d recommend giving it a read, especially if you’re like me and enjoy a good slasher flick.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Too many twists and turns for my liking. It had potential to be a great thriller, but it didn't work for me. The twists and turns got too confusing and the resolution felt anti-climatic.

5 guests lured to a remote Scottish island under false pre tenses. A raging storm and no transportation until the end of the weekend. Sabotage, intrigue, revenge. echoes of 'And then there were none' this is a rollicking thriller set in a wonderfully remote and isolated location.