Cover Image: After All I've Done

After All I've Done

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I love the cover of After All I’ve Done by Mina Hardy. It caught my eye right away.

Imagine getting into an accident, then realizing that you’ve lost chunks of your memory? As if that’s not bad enough, what if you start having nightmares about the accident? Just the thought of this makes me nervous and its exactly what happens to Diana Sparrow.

Diana has no one to help; not her best friend and not her husband. The two are sleeping together! Who can she trust?

And what really happened on the night of the accident?

Here’s the official synopsis:

Five months ago, an accident left Diana Sparrow badly injured and missing a few months of her memory. As if that’s not enough, she’s started having recurring nightmares about the night of the accident. Dreams that feel so real, she’s left questioning: maybe she didn’t just slide off the road into a ditch. Maybe, just maybe, she hit something. Or someone.

She can’t turn to her former best friend Val, who’s been sleeping with Diana’s husband Jonathan for months, but she might find some comfort in newcomer Cole Pelham. Yet the closer they become, the more Diana begins to wonder what really happened that night–and how Cole might be connected. Worse, it seems everyone else could be involved, too.

Who was with her that night? What really happened? As her life unravels thread by thread and the dreams become too real to ignore, Diana will have to face the unthinkable–and do the unforgivable.

This suspense kept me guessing and reading quickly so I could see what really happened on the night of the accident. If you enjoy stories that are fast-paced, have characters that are pretty awful… this book is for you!

Out on November 10, you can pre-order it here.

Was this review helpful?

Hold on to your britches, people, because I’m about to lay down every cliché comment and passé phrase in existence in describing this book. I – LOVED – THIS – STORY! I was on the edge of my seat. Biting my nails. Couldn’t put it down. On pins and needles waiting to see what happened next. I finished this one in just two evenings after work this week! Thrills, and chills, and whatever else ends in “ills” including a main character suffering from anesthesia-induced amnesia (that’s a kind of “ill”, right? Ha ha.)

*First though: A huge shout out to Mina Hardy, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for providing a free Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.*

Diana is fresh out of the hospital after both a devastating car crash and an appendectomy. Due to side affects from the surgery, she has a big gaping hole of several months in her memory, which she finds severely disorienting and more than a little disturbing. She often seems to “get things wrong” and even her close friends and family patronize her with little comments such as, “Oh, Diana, you just forgot”. But Diana is certain that’s not the case. She finds little things that just don’t feel quite right - like the “to do” list in her night stand drawer that she can’t remember writing – what do these things mean? What else has she forgotten and is not remembering? One thing that she IS sure of is that her husband is sleeping with her best friend.

I literally kept (fun-lovingly) “shouting” at my Kindle as I tore from one page to the next in this novel (my husband guffawing at my antics from his easy chair all the while). “This lady’s totally being gaslighted! But I don’t know who’s doing it – is it her mother-in-law? Her husband? Her best friend? Her cute flirt-partner Cole? Or is it ALL of them? I just don’t know!” (Side note: If you haven’t seen the 1994 Ingrid Bergman film “Gaslight”, why are you just standing there - go stream it right now!)

A truly great read and quite a page turner. Five stars, hands down. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, in the style of Daphne DuMaurier’s gothic romance “Rebecca”, then this one’s for you! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed – this is one of the best novels I’ve read all year!

#AfterAllIveDone
#MinaHardy
#MeganHart
#CrookedLaneBooks
#NetGalley
#MysteryThrillers
#GothicRomance

Was this review helpful?

This book was everything I needed right now. I do enjoy a good "memory loss" story when the main character is unreliable. This book was creepy, intriguing, and full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing what actually happened.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoy a bit of amnesia in thrillers. It confuses everything from the offset and gives the reader a real experience trying to unravel the mystery.

I didn't like any of the characters - especially the lead, but as it's a thriller that comes as part of the expectation.

I thought the pacing was well written, it built up a level of creepiness with enough deception to keep you intrigued to continue turning the page. I loved the problems all of the characters had - the intense, messy relationships... but i wasn't keen on the plot twist. WEIRD, but it wasn't entirely guessable until the last minute.

Weird weird weird - definitely worth a read though

Was this review helpful?

I was definitely looking forward to reading this book, and anticipated that it would be something that would keep me thinking. It did not disappoint, and every time I thought I knew what was going to happen the story twisted a little bit more.
The story is told from the aspect of three main characters. Diana is recovering from a car accident that broke her clavicle, and as a result she has anesthesia induced amnesia. She is unable to remember the accident, as well as anything that happened about a month prior to the accident.
Then there is her best friend Val, who is insistent that they are no on her friends. Last but not least is Cole. Cole is the man that Diana can't stop thinking about, that keeps randomly popping up where Diana is.
Things start to change between Diana and Cole, and she finally starts to find out the truth about what really happened the night of the accident and before. It ends up so much more twisted then she could ever imagine!

Was this review helpful?

Diana Sparrow has been injured in an auto accident which leaves the last 3 months of her memories a blur. She is desperately trying to recall those memories but even through therapy she continues have the same variation of a nightmare over and over. Because of the memory loss Dianna cannot recall a falling out with her best friend. Diana realizes she has lost her husband so the only people she has to confide in Harriett, her husband's mother and Cole Pelham. After many strange events and a trip to the psyche ward, Dianna finally figures out what's going on with her.

Spoiler Alert

I really liked the book, I had a feeling in the beginning that Harriett had something to do with all the strange events circling Dianna. I didn't care for how cold Dianna's character was though, it was a little too much but she was definitely the epitome of a strong woman and not afraid to go after what she wants. The turn of events and the writing style kept me coming back for more and I couldn't put it down. Finished it in 2 days!

Was this review helpful?

Diana has lost several months of her memory, she knows her husband is having an affair, but not how she felt about it. Her mother-in-law is overbearing, but cares for her in a way her own mother never did. Her best friend, her husband's mistress, should be like her sister, but now she doesn't have her either. What she does have is questions, endless questions, and a nightmare that tells her something is buried that is the key to everything.

Labeled a psychological suspense, After All I've Done should also be flagged a women's fiction. While there certainly is suspense and thrill, there's a lot of love-triangle drama and family issues that really take over the story. I should've loved this book, I crave unreliable narrators in my books, but I never felt anything towards any of the characters, not a single one. We get so many perspectives, but none that made me feel sympathy or even anger. Diana, despite her memory loss, is described as a fairly successful individual, we certainly never see that in her actions. There's no common sense. Val's perspective is straight fluff, sure she reveals backstory that's vital, but good grief love sick is not fun to read. And then there's the other perceptive, it was a great addition, just one not explored enough.

I did read it over the course of 24 hours, so I was engaged, but it was fairly predictable. Plus, I know Mina Hardy writes women's erotica and romance, but the extra descriptors I usually want in those books I just did not need in this. Just 5% in there is a description of Diana's husband using the restroom, it wasn't necessary, but it's the one scene I can remember most clearly, just the wording use made it stand out. It just isn't what a psychological suspense needs.

So, After All I've Done wasn't my favorite thriller-ish read of the year, but I think it could be for others. I would pass it along to friends.

Was this review helpful?

this was the first book I have read from Mina Hardy. While I thought it started off a little slow for me - as I kept reading I became more and more intrigued with the story. The story is of the 2 main characters Diana and Val best friends for years. They have gone through a lot together. Diana is involved in a car accident where she loses her memory and starts to piece it back together learning of things she had done prior to the accident. There is a big twist in the book which I never saw coming which made the book all that much better.

Was this review helpful?

I was really surprised by this book, in a good way! I thought it was going to be one of those thrillers that gives it away in the synopsis but it was so much more. The final twist was so unexpected and it made the book even more enjoyable. The writing was great and plot were excellent and it was a really fun thriller.



Thank you to Mina Hardy and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Diana Sparrow was in a terrible car accident that left her badly injured and with no memory of the last six months.

As she struggles through her physical rehab she also tries to piece together her missing memories while plagued with horrible nightmares that feel so real she is unsure if they are memories or simply nightmares. Why does she always wake up in a sweat feeling like she is guilty of a crime? Was someone murdered? And did she bury something in the backyard? No matter how hard she tries to remember she can't. And then there's the fact that she knows her husband is having an affair with her (former)best friend.

Unhappy in her marriage, helpless because of her physical injuries, and discouraged by the lost time she just can't get back, Diana tries, with the eager and diligent help her of her mother-in-law, to get her life back to normal.

But then things start happening that can't be attributed to her memory loss, or can they? She can no longer access the home security app and strange things are happening with the heat controls. Her medication seems to be running out faster than it should. The large payout she received when she left her company is nowhere to be seen.

What really happened on the night of her car accident? And why does it seem like the truth is deliberately being hidden from her?

A type of thriller that's been done before, but was still well-executed. I did figure it out before the end, except for the one last twist. Over all an enjoyable read which I finished over two sittings.

Thank-you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy.

Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thrill factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Was this review helpful?

When I started this book my first thought was that will be a unique read but somehow the more I read, I was less convinced in that.
I've read The Girl On The Train and The Woman In the Window and the story reminded me of those books.
I think the beginning was strong but I really had a hard time connecting with the main character. She wasn't likeable at all and tried hard to find something that will make me feel for her.
On one hand the story seemed too predictable but on the other hand it left me with many questions so I definitely have mixed feelings about it.
It had great potential and enjoyed the ride enough to keep reading but however I feel it didn't reach the full potential.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC, This book w=started out interesting, but for some reason it took me a long time to read it. It wasn't one of those books I couldn't put down. Then, about 70% through, it started to pick up and things started to come together. I had a feeling who the culprit was pretty early in the book, but I wasn't prepared for the revelations at the end! Whoa it was disturbing and kind of disgusting.

Was this review helpful?

This book left us, readers, all curious and wondering, wanting answers to so many questions. I couldn't figure out how this book was going to end, and usually, I can predict that much.

This book was mainly about a love triangle between Diana, her husband Jonathan, and her best friend Val. I love how strong the characters are.

Was this review helpful?

Ok whoa! I’m not even sure where to start except to say Holy cow! This book is filled to the brim with drama but the ending is one I NEVER saw coming!

A few months ago Diana was in a horrible accident. She was left with many injuries and a few month of memory loss. What she does know is that before the accident she was in the middle of a love triangle between her, her husband and her best friend. She now has a reoccurring nightmare that makes her question what is true and what is only part of her dream. Thankfully Diana has had help from her mother in law who may be very annoying and overbearing but is able to help her function because her husband is never around when she needs him. Though Diana can not remember many details from the past few months she knows one thing for sure, somethings and some people are just not at all what they seem!

This book is a ride, a very crazy, Wild and outrageous ride! The last twenty pages or so truly left me speechless!

Was this review helpful?

Sadly this wasn't the most original take on the 'woman experiences memory loss/amnesia' plot. But I do think that if you enjoyed The Girl On The Train or The Woman In The Window, you may enjoy this book.
The main character was a bit too unlikeable for me, which made it difficult to sympathise or root for her as the story progressed.
It was also pretty slow and the flashbacks that normally add so much to what is going on in the present were so drawn out that it made me care less and less as it went on.
In many ways it was predictable and then the ending was so out of left field that I wasn't sure what to think.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I’m absolutely breathless after reading After All I’ve Done. I can’t believe this is her first novel in this genre! It ticked every single box for me. Had me gripped from the first page. Kept my attention throughout. Relatable characters. Every storyline explored and resolved. Twisty. Shocking. Appalling. Shocking ending. I didn’t expect to love the characters the way that I did. I thought I had it all figured out and then WHAM!!! She hit me over the head with that ending. I’m still sitting here just thinking about it. And now I wish I could get amnesia and read it all over again for the first time! I’ll be putting this on my permanent list of standalone books to recommend right up there with The Wife Between Us, Take it Back, The Wife Stalker, etc.

I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!

Huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for allowing me the incredible privilege of reading this book in advance!

Was this review helpful?

I rarely hate the protagonist when I'm supposed to be sympathizing with them, but... the cliche flashback/amnesia/story told out of order with the wife who was obviously unkind and nasty to her husband, it's hard to talk about the story itself. There was almost nothing redeeming - or original - in this tale, and I found myself forcing myself to finish the book.
It's not a difficult book to read - in the sense that the only challenge I had by the end of it was actually caring about the people involved. I had to force myself to the end of this, and it was pretty unsatisfying.

Was this review helpful?

After All I've Done spans the topics of friendship, family, marriage, and infidelity, telling its story from four different perspectives across a timeline spanning years. The psychological suspense and tension build as the reader is kept guessing about the twists and turns; you'll pat yourself on the back for figuring some of them out and be blindsided by others. It's a fun and frothy page-turner perfect for fans of The Woman in the Window and The Girl on the Train.

Was this review helpful?

I love psychological suspense and wanted to like this, but the amnesia/recovered bad memories theme is so overdone that it seems hackneyed. Compelling characters and a unique plot would have helped, but those are not present. Flashbacks quickly reveal the main character as a selfish gold-digger who openly scorns her husband but certainly likes his money. I appreciate the chance to read it early, but I'm afraid I did not enjoy it.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can get your copy here on November 10th https://www.amazon.com/After-All-Ive-Done-Novel-ebook/dp/B084V82QLG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=After+All+I%27ve+Done+by+Mina+Hardy&qid=1597695215&sr=8-1
This is my first book by this author, but surely will not be my last book. This book is INSANE!!! I almost read this in one sitting and then realized that it didn’t come out until November and I had received a bunch of denial emails from Netgalley because I owed so many reviews for books that were coming out, so this book somehow got abandoned. I found it when I caught up on my half-read books on Goodreads and saw it was there. I then had to figure out where I had gotten the book before I could continue reading it. This book had my heart racing, my blood pressure on high and my eyes were just spinning from word to word. Are you serious?? I COULD NOT IMAGINE!!!! Imagine waking up and not being able to remember something and not able to get on by yourself-this book is it. Something that people are holding back from you that you simply cannot remember. This ending had me FLOOORED. I was sitting in public with my mouth straight up hanging open catching flies! I will not give spoilers, but I might have been sitting there reading and someone came up and hit me with a brick and just stood there after. WHAT??!! I loved every suspenseful moment of this book. I am now going to be chasing the dragon of this book for a while.
This book begins with Diana, then it toggles between people’s point of view. I am kind of liking this type of story these days! We begin with a bang-she tells us to imagine a dark room and the difference between closing your eyes and opening them is just your lashes. Woah..DEEP! The author dives right into the nitty gritty in this first chapter. Diana suspects her husband is cheating because he is going to be “ working late” Five weeks ago, Diana’s car hit a deer and ended up in a ditch, or so that is what she is told, remember she does not. Last week, nope, prior to the accident, nope, but two broken collarbones and lots of pain, that she cannot escape. I will not give anymore away, because you will relish in every last page, as I did! ENJOY!!!

Was this review helpful?