Matt Pine's older brother, Danny, is serving a life sentence for allegedly killing his high school sweetheart, Charlotte. After his trial, a True Crime Documentary was released claiming Danny was wrongfully convicted. Many viewers seemed to agree; think Making a Murderer.

Matt remembers something about the night of Charlotte's death that no one else knows. Because of this, he thinks Danny may actually have done it, or at least been involved. Their parents, unsurprisingly, fully believe in Danny's innocence. In fact, their father, has never quite given up the search for information that will free his oldest son. The whole situation with Danny had caused quite a bit of strife within the family.

When the Pine family decides a getaway to Mexico is just what they need to reconnect, Matt, currently at school in NYC, is the only one who doesn't get to go. Arriving home after a late night partying, Matt receives the terrible news that his family, Mom, Dad, younger sister and brother, are all dead.

He can't believe the news. Apparently, the authorities in Mexico seem to think their deaths were accidental; due to a gas leak. The individuals Matt speaks to in the FBI don't seem to be so sure however. Matt is sent to Mexico to recover the bodies and it is there that he starts to suspect something much more sinister may be at play.

That feeling doesn't disappear when he returns to his hometown for the family funeral. Matt, along with an intrepid FBI agent, begin an investigation into what actually happened to the Pine family; discovering past crimes may be linked to their deaths.

This was interesting. A fast-paced and solid story. Initially, I was feeling like we were getting too many perspectives, as we followed, Matt, his Dad, Mom, younger sister and the FBI agent, Sarah. But as the story started to weave together, I began to see why all of those perspectives were actually necessary. Each contributed to puzzle and what a puzzle it was!

This was smart, twisted and tense. Some aspects were more predictable than others, but overall, I really enjoyed how it played out. Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm happy that I finally gave this one a shot!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A dreadful story in which a family is found dead during their vacation in Tulum, Mexico.

Review

I was so excited to read this book when I first read the description. It sounded like a great thriller with enough law and crime elements to keep it suspenseful and engaging. Sadly, this thriller did not meet my expectations.

Let me start with the positive. The pace of the book is great. It starts with Matt receiving the news about his family and the background information about Danny’s case and the Netflix documentary about it. We get a lot of details early on which makes the book engaging and easy to read. I finished the book in 3 sittings, so it was a well-paced book with an entertaining plot. The book is told from different points of view so we get a very clear idea about what was happening in Matt’s family life before and after Charlotte’s death.

I loved Sarah Keller’s character. She is a badass and also has a softer side, and we get to see her in many situations not only as an FBI agent but also in her personal life. Her interactions with Matt have a motherly vibe, and it was clear she has great compassion for him and what he goes through after the devastating news he received. She is the most well-rounded character, and I truly liked her.

Matt is clueless but also a believable character. He makes questionable decisions in the story but I chalk it up to him being young and oblivious in general. I was rooting for him to find out the truth but also for him to get some type of therapy to deal with the trauma. The rest of the characters we get to meet more included Evan, Maggie, and Olivia. Overall, well-developed characters.

Now, while there are many positive things about this novel, there are many things I just couldn’t get over.

Maybe because I read so many thrillers and similar books, I was able to figure out one of the main revelations as soon as I read a chapter very early on the book. I was hoping there would a twist that changed it, but I was right so the ending didn’t surprise me.

Next, I was truly bothered by the secondary characters. Usually, in this type of novel, the secondary characters provide us with dialogue or interactions that help build up the story or provide insight into the character’s choices. Matt’s group of friends and their interactions could have been used to deepening his characters or even to release some of the emotional toll caused by the news of his family’s deaths. Instead, we got a group of typecast misfits, in which their races and cultural behaviors were heavily influenced by stereotypes and did not do anything to enhance or advance the story. It felt as if the author used them to check the diversity box in his book, and the characters were an afterthought. The depiction of Tulum and Mexico, in general, wasn’t great either, which was surprising because I read somewhere the author was inspired to write this book after vacationing in the city.

Next, I was shocked that the FBI sent Matt to Mexico to retrieve the bodies. Now, I’m not an expert on law enforcement protocols when it comes to deaths abroad, but it felt as this only happened to put Matt in danger to advance the story. Matt went to Mexico with no money, no ability to speak the language, and no clear law-enforcement protocol to follow, which put his life in danger. That part felt unrealistic but I’m also basing it on similar novels I’ve read.

And finally, I wish we had read more about the documentary. It is implied that it showed Evan in a bad light, but the few scenes’ transcripts we got to read didn’t show enough for us to come up with that conclusion. I wish the author had explored the documentary more. The few parts we got to read felt as heavily influenced by the narratives in Making a Murderer such as the forced confession and the police’s reactions to their portrayal.

Overall, while not a terrible book, it was too predictable and weak in some areas for my liking.

More Book Reviews at https://www.brunchwithnat.com/book-reviews/

Sooo overall I liked it but didn't love it for a thousand petty reasons, but I think there are a few intriguing mysteries set up. This is one of those books where you are riveted by the suspense, but you are also emotionally invested in the characters. By letting the reader become familiar with the victims through the different points of view, you are emotionally invested in finding the killer or killers. Even though my suspicions proved to be correct, it did not take away from the satisfaction of the ending. The story really loves, clues revealed slowly throughout the whole novel. I like the character of the female FBI agent, she could carry a whole book by herself.

This wasn’t quite what I expected but I enjoyed it. Matt’s friends were great but I wish they had more to do than be window dressing. I got the most attached to his family, which was pretty rough considering you know they aren’t going to have a happy ending from the first line of the book. A promising debut, I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.

Matt Pine receives the devastating news that his parents and younger siblings died while vacationing in Mexico. This isn’t the only tragedy in Matt’s life. His older brother is in prison for murder. The older brother has maintained this innocence, but Matt isn’t so sure. The deaths of Matt’s family members seems suspicious, so he looks for the truth behind the deaths. Along the way, he also looks into his brother’s case.

Told using multiple points of view and alternating timelines. Though a lot happens in this book, it’s easy to follow. The story is compelling and kept my interest. I enjoy a thriller that keeps me guessing and this one delivered.

A page-turning thriller with complex characters and a smart mystery. A fantastic debut novel. I look forward to reading more by Alex Finlay.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The last thing that NYU student Matt Pine expected was a visit from the FBI regarding his mom and dad, as well as his little brother and sister. Found dead from an apparent gas leak while vacationing in Mexico, the local authorities will not release the bodies until a member of the family appear in person. As the only person in the family able to travel, with Matt's brother Danny in prison for the murder of his teenage girlfriend Charlotte, the young man must go claim his family.

This book suffers because of two major plot lines, competing for space in a book that is less than 400 pages. The suspicious deaths of his family is one, while the brother in prison because of what some feel is a forced confession is the other. Right off the bat, the fact that the FBI allows Matt to dictate the travel to Mexico seems implausible. The FBI is suspicious, yet they are barely a presence when it comes to protecting the young man. The only part of the plot line regarding Danny that I believe is the forced confession, as it is highly likely that something like this might happen.

I am a big fan of mystery thrillers, but this one seemed forced in places. For the reasons listed above, I would be hesitant to recommend Every Last Fear to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Every Last Fear by NetGalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books. The decision to review this book was entirely my own.

To be honest, I really couldn't see any offensive descriptions about Mexicans until a friend physically pointed them out to me. Now that I see it, I agree that it wasn't necessary for the plot- I stand by my Mexican friends.

Focusing on the story-I enjoyed it! The characters were well written (the sister is my favorite) and I enjoyed the political intrigue.

NYU student Matt Pine learns that his entire family is dead after a mysterious and sudden trip to Mexico. This leaves Matt Pine crestfallen since the only other family member he knows, his brother Danny, is behind bars for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Charlotte. This series of unfortunate events sets off a quest to acquire his family members bodies from Mexico and discover what they were doing on this fateful trip.

If you are a fan of mystery and thriller novels, I would highly recommend this book. What Finlay does well is set up each of the characters so you get to know. their backstories and what their emotions are before the time of death. I highly enjoyed learning about each of their characters and reading about their stories before their ultimately deaths.

The story itself is very vast and there is a lot to unpack so the obvious villain isn't clear. I know myself from reading a lot of mysteries sometimes the villain or story is very obvious and you don't get that with this book. There are many sub plots to keep you guessing as well as reading to discover the answer. I had trouble putting down this book but also didn't want it to end since the story was very intriguing and kept me guessing.

If thriller is your genre, I would highly recommend this book. I can also see this as a potential film down the road if it gets acquired.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars.

The Pine family has been through a lot. Their eldest son, Danny, has been charged and found guilty of murdering his high school girlfriend. After being incarcerated for a number of years, a pair of documentary directors take an interest in Danny’s case. The popularity of the documentary thrusts the Pine family into the spotlight and gives Danny’s father, Evan, and sister, Maggie, a chance to plead Danny’s innocence. The other brother, Matt, isn’t so sure and keeps his distance because of that. When all of the Pines turn up dead in Mexico after a last minute vacation to follow a lead, Matt is left to pick up the pieces and find out what really happened.

I really enjoyed this one, at this point just give me all things based on true crime. There was so much going on that was intriguing. The novel is written in before and after segments (before and after the murder of the Pine family). The reader also gets all of the Pine family’s perspectives at some point except for the youngest brother. The retellings of their lives just made them so human and I thought the portrayal of their trauma of having a child falsely incarcerated was spot on. The characters were flawed but loveable. The sensationality of Danny’s Netflix documentary seemed loosely based on Making A Murderer, which I thought was an interesting avenue to explore. I did catch on to the end but I didn’t even care but I was invested in the Pine’s seeing justice. I didn’t love Agent Keller either, but the rest of the characters made up for her.

this book kept me on the edge of my seat. i didn’t want it to end. all the characters point of views were interesting to read. i connected with all of the characters. i just loved everything about this book. i can confidently say this is one of my favorite thrillers ever:)

Every Last Fear is such a solid thriller! Alex Finlay is one not to be missed. The story includes a true crime documentary that made the family at the center of this story famous. This attention makes it all the more rough when Matt Pine returns home to bury his family who died from an apparent gas leak while on vacation. The true crime documentary was actually on his older brother who is currently in prison for murdering his high school girlfriend. What happens when Matt finds a connection to both these crimes? The character development is very good. The story had me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommended to anyone looking for THE thriller of 2021.

A man seeks the truth behind his family’s suspicious deaths in Alex Finlay’s superb debut, EVERY LAST FEAR.

We meet NYU student Matt Pine, who learns his mother, father, brother and sister have all died from an apparent gas leak while vacationing in Mexico. The deaths make headlines, especially because it’s not the first time the Pine family has been in the news. His older brother, Danny, was the subject of a viral documentary after being convicted for murder. And while the public largely believes in Danny’s innocence, Matt has kept a secret from that night long ago, convincing him that Danny belongs behind bars.

When Matt journeys to Mexico to claim the bodies of those he loved, however, things happen that raise serious suspicions. Before too long, the case begins to spiral into something appearing far more sinister, something… that may be connected to his brother, Danny.

To figure out what happened to his family, Matt must face the past and confront what really happened that night and what he really saw that convinced him of his brother’s guilt.

Finlay delivers a knockout thriller rife with twists and turns that kept me rapt. Unraveling in alternating past and present chapters, the story explores what happens to one family in the aftermath of tragedy and turmoil. It was wildly entertaining—the kind of book you fly through in a single sitting. Think big-time drama, secrets and layers aplenty, masterfully woven together to develop a propulsive thriller that’s emotional, compelling and full of surprises.

The perfect one-weekend mystery binge.

A family made infamous by a true crime documentary is found dead leaving their surviving son too look into what happened and uncover the truth: Could it. be related to his brothers crime?
Loved all the twist and turns very good story

This was a strong mystery/suspense with excellent character dynamics. I loved the setting and the characters. Held my interest to the end!

Lately it seems like there have been several thrillers that have tied in the trend of podcasts or true crime shows, so I was a bit hesitant, but this one really kept me entertained!

I would definitely suggest this book!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This had more twists and turns than a rollercoaster at Great Adventure. Just when you thought you figured things out- nope. I thought this was such a smart and well thought out thriller. Very much enjoyed!

Finally, a book as good as its synopsis!

Every Last Fear really captured my attention from the first chapter. I loved how similar this was to an episode of Dateline (only much more suspense)! In fact, a big plot point of the book is the family’s previous feature on a true crime documentary, and now, after the tragic death of several family members while vacationing in Mexico, the main character (Matt Pine) is thrust back into a media frenzy as he tries to find answers on his own.

This book was so twisty, I honestly had no idea where things were headed. I felt like all the characters were well-developed and the investigative aspect was quite interesting.

It’s very hard to write much without giving spoilers! I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who is drawn in by the book description (and loves thrillers)... this book was original in so many ways! I definitely look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to @Minotaur_books and #netgalley for an advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, interesting, easy mystery. I enjoyed the family dynamics, small town feel, and the crime aspects. I'd definitely read more by this author!

I loved how the setting, characters, conflict, and plot development all seemed simple but had so many layers of underlying complexities.

I enjoyed how everything tied in at the end. It just didn't really have me hooked completely leading up to it. I was more intrigued about the happenings with Danny's case than what happened with the rest of the family.

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay is an exciting thriller about a university student Matt, who finds out after a night of parting that his mother, father, brother and sister were found dead while vacationing in Mexico. Matt's older brother, Danny was wrongfully convicted of killing his girlfriend, and is serving a life sentence in prison. The more the Mexico case is looked at, it becomes suspicious and connected to Danny's conviction it seems. My heart went out to Matt and Danny. This book was a wild ride, so many twists and turns that kept me reading way past midnight. I strongly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed. I look forward to reading more books by Alex Finlay.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.