This is my first Alex Finlay read, but it definitely won't be my last. I requested based on the interesting blurb and beautiful cover, and I'm so glad I did.

The Pine family is plagued by a crime: their son, Danny, was tried and convicted of murdering his girlfriend. A true crime documentary sheds light on the case and thrusts them in the spotlight. Ten years later, the family is found dead on a spring break trip to Mexico, leaving only Danny, still incarcerated, and his brother Matt. As FBI agent Sarah Keller begins her investigation, the case proves to be more complex than anyone could've guessed, and pulling at one mysterious knot leads to another.

I really enjoyed this read. Structurally, the multi-POV, alternating voices from the deceased family leading up to their deaths, to the Sarah Keller's investigation, to Matt navigating his old town and unfinished business--this worked really well. It kept the pace moving, added layers to the character development without getting bogged down in dense prose, and meticulously laid the mystery to unravel piece by piece. With so many moving parts, it was easy to get lost in the mystery and swept up in the chase.

Perhaps what I liked most about this was how normal everything felt. In a sea of conspiracy theories, homicide, reality stardom, and a one-armed man frame narrative is a family. A family struggling with average problems that give the appearance of nefarious intentions but really are just people trying to figure out a way to be happy. Marital problems. A whip-smart, clever teenage girl trying to navigate consent and assault. Money issues. None of their issues felt outlandish or fantastical; rather, the mystery comes from a place of familiarity, so it very much puts the audience in the seat of "this could be me." Finlay does an excellent job of constructing a believable family, a believable tragedy, and the sadness that comes when truths come to light.

While I had a good idea where the story was going around the halfway point, Finlay plants plenty of subtle clues and red herrings to keep suspicions cast elsewhere. I'd be curious to see if this will end up being a series, but it functions well as a stand-alone.

Overall, Every Last Fear is a fast-paced, thrilling adventure into old grudges, family dysfunction, and conspiracy theories. A well-written intrigue with lots of heart, this is one you won't want to miss in 2021.

Big thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ACR. Gripping and attention grabbing from the first sentence, “They found the bodies on a Tuesday.” The plot is brilliantly thought out as the story unfolds through the points of view of various characters. The characters themselves have great depth and dimension. This book has everything you want in a psychological thriller: lies, deceit, scandals, corruption, and of course murder. Just when I thought I had everything solved, there was that twist and you question everything all over again. I love when I’m kept guessing, right up until the end and this accomplished that with sitting on the edge of your seat action as the clues and details all fell into place.
I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Hollywood is knocking on Mr. Finlay’s door with a movie deal; done right and following his book carefully this could equally be a blockbuster. I look forward to reading more of Finlay’s work.

This was insane! Pacey, gripping and different, "Every Last Fear" is the kind of murder mystery I always crave.

I was immediately drawn to this book's the main character, Matt Pine: an NYU student who stays up late to party and lives in a dorm. Unfortunately, one night he finds out most of his family was killed by a gas leak while on vacation in Mexico. But while this seems like an accident, some evidence suggests it was in fact a murder. And this isn't their first encounter with murder; the Pines had been subject of a true crime documentary, which is the irony of the situation. But perhaps that was the motif of the crime.

In the course of the investigation, a lot of dirty laundry is brought to daylight as Matt not only struggles with the loss of his family, but also the suspicious circumstances of their death. And her could do anything to give them justice.

"Every Last Fear" is jam-packed with action and plot twists, which makes it a 5 star novel for me - especially because I really liked Matt as the main character. Just wow!

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn’t my favorite psychological thriller of late, but it was perfectly serviceable and did the job. The epitome of a three star thriller

This book immediately grabs your attention, and the complexities with the main character’s family will keep you reading until the very end!

When I first read the description of Every Last Fear I immediately put it in my want to read/wishlist and requested it on NetGalley. I was so excited when I saw that I had been approved to read this and did not have to wait until March 2021! I cannot say enough good things about this novel. It was so good!! I was already hooked from the description but as soon as I started reading I didn’t want to stop. I was immediately sucked in and became unaware of what was happening around me. It is told through multiple points of view, both before and after the deaths of the Pine family. There are so many feelings and twists and turns throughout the story. And when all the pieces are put together you will be floored! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books for the ARC! This is one debut novel you do not want to miss out on!

"They found their bodies on a Tuesday." Matt Pine's family is found in their Mexican vacation rental. Local police think it was an accident, but it may not be. It could be connected to Matt's brother- Danny- who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, possibly wrongfully, according to a recent Netflix docuseries.

I like my thrillers dark, twisty and fast-paced- Every Last Fear delivers. While there is a LOT going on- multiple murders, a Netflix series, conspiracies, mutiple narrators AND a 'before/after' chronology- it's all done really well throughout the book, with those shorter chapters and tons of action to keep you turning the pages to find out what comes next. I will be reminding everyone to get this come publication date, one of my favorite thrillers I've read this year!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank You NetGalley/Publisher & Author for this gifted e-ARC!

Amazon Summary--
“They found the bodies on a Tuesday.” So begins this twisty and breathtaking novel that traces the fate of the Pine family, a thriller that will both leave you on the edge of your seat and move you to tears.

After a late night of partying, NYU student Matt Pine returns to his dorm room to devastating news: nearly his entire family—his mom, his dad, his little brother and sister—have been found dead from an apparent gas leak while vacationing in Mexico. The local police claim it was an accident, but the FBI and State Department seem far less certain—and they won’t tell Matt why.

Review--
WoW this is a book to remember.... I loved this intense, dark, 'what the heck' thriller!!
This book had me gripped from get-go, I was hooked.
I absolutely loved Alex Finlay's writing style... This was my first ever read from this author and it wont be my last!
Every Last Fear was just an overall great book... That i really enjoyed!
Thank You!

Rating-- 4/5

WOW. This is a page turner. I often start on a pile of TBR ARC and read the first chapter to figure out which one holds my interest. Well, I went far past the first chapter and couldn't put it down. The characters are so well fleshed out. At times I felt I figured things out, but you never really know. A great thriller/mystery that also does a great job weaving in how NETFLIX docudrama's can actually cause more damage than this reader ever realized.
10 Stars!!!!

This is one of the most compelling thrillers I've read in a long time. Every Last Fear follows the multiple viewpoints of a family before and after a gruesome tragedy.

The Pine family's life is upended after a Netflix documentary covers the murder of a young girl in their small midwestern town. But the kicker is that Daniel Pine, football star and beloved older brother, gets convicted of her murder. The documentary follows the family's fight to prove his innocence, all the while a much deeper set of secrets are brewing underneath. Several years after the documentary airs, they've become a national fixture in popular and true-crime media. But when younger brother, Matt Pine, gets a terrible call that changes his life, it's up to him to save his family's legacy and finally learn the truth about what happened That Night.

There are so many things this book does right. It's a truly incredible and modern portrayal of the volatile "media and violence" combination. The characters were each compelling, and I never felt the story dragged when viewpoints were switched. I read this entire book in one sitting; I couldn't put it down and I can't wait to get my own copy when this is released. It has everything I'd want in a thriller: cool concept, heartfelt cast, tons of gripping emotion, and of course--a killer ending.

3.8 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Matt Pine is a senior at NYU trying to avoid the spotlight after a Netflix documentary airs trying to prove his older brother didn’t kill his girlfriend and should be released from prison. Then Matt’s parents and two siblings are found dead in Mexico.

I liked but didn’t love the book. The story is told from different family members and the FBI agent Sarah Keller. Just too much tragedy happened to the Pine family. And a small thing but the fact that the FBI sent a 21 year old to Mexico to get four bodies released by himself was ridiculous.

This is an intriguing thriller about the death of a family in Mexico. Their college age son Matt is thrown into the investigation into his family's deaths. The story is told in multiple POVs through past and present which really adds to the story line. I really liked FBI agent Sarah Keller and would love to see her in more novels (series, perhaps?). I figured out the killer pretty early, however, so I don't think there were any real surprises, but a very good read. Recommend!

What an intense read! The author knows how to create a engaging mystery. This fast paced story involves a family trying to prove the innocence of their son who was tried and convicted of the murder of a girl at a party. They know he is innocent and have been trying to prove it for years. When they were sent tips about the murder anonymously, they decided to follow up on them. Unfortunately someone knew they were getting close to finding out the truth about what happened the night the girl was murdered. Who was this person and what were they willing to do to keep their secret. Best thriller/mystery that I have read this year and I have read a lot of them!

I am a sucker for an explosive Prologue or First Chapter of a book, but the author had my undivided attention with just seven words."They found the bodies on a Tuesday." (Side note: I can tell you the book and the author who wrote my all-time favorite opening sentence, and it was ten words long. Please tell me I am not the only reader with this type of obsession!)
Sarah Keller, an FBI agent has the job of delivering tragic news to Matt Pines. His father, mother, sister, and brother have been found dead while on vacation in Mexico. Matt is stunned. This is not the first time the Pine family has been broken. His older brother Danny is in jail, convicted of killing his teenage girlfriend. His father never believed Danny was guilty and has spent the last seven years trying to prove his innocence. Could this have been an accident, or is it somehow related to Danny?
Told from multiple perspectives including a documentary that brought Danny's case to national attention, this is a tale of cover-ups, corruption, false confessions, and murder. Chapters alternate between Matt and Sarah, with Matt's family sharing their stories up until their fateful end. As each chapter added another piece to the puzzle, it became more and more apparent that the Pine family never had a chance. There wasn't one member of the family whose story wasn't gutwrenching, and when the truth is told, the injustice of it all just left me speechless. 4.5 stars.

Ok. Wow! Loved this advanced copy - thank you NetGalley!
There was mystery, suspense, thrills and twists & turns.
It was a page turner and I couldn’t stop reading.
Everything about the story worked - at times, I felt like I was in the story.
My heart hurt for Matt and routed for Sarah - I didn’t want it to end!
HIghly recommend!!

The best book I have read in years! This book had it all, great characters, super interesting plot and lots of twists. I love how books tie in something culturally relative like this one had a Netflix true crime documentary as the back drop. I read this book in less than 24 hours and was sad when it ended. I'd give this book ten stars if it would let me!

Excellent debut thriller. Suspenseful, resonant, and genuinely moving.

Matt Pine is a filmmaking student at NYU, with more than the usual reasons for angst. Matt's brother Danny is in prison for killing his girlfriend; Matt's family has been vilified by their hometown and consumed financially and emotionally by their attempts to clear Danny; and things are only going to get worse. Much, much worse. Soon all of Matt's un-incarcerated family members are dead, victims of an apparent freak accident while on vacation in Mexico. But was it an accident? Or murder? And if it was murder, what does that mean about Danny's guilt or innocence?

It's so much fun to read a thriller with characters and a setting that differ from the current Thriller Formula of privileged women in a posh area blaming one another for men's misdeeds. Even though much of the story takes place in Manhattan, D.C., and Chicago, we also get to spend some time in Mexico and Nebraska. (There's even a runza sighting!) Matt seems like a real college student - smart, sincere, sometimes prickly, sometimes pretentious, occasionally drunken, a loyal brother, and a tremendous friend. Many readers may relate to his simultaneous exasperation with but devotion to his family. I loved the FBI agent who finds herself in the position of repeatedly breaking bad news and then even more bad news to Matt. She is a multifaceted character - compassionate, analytical, and periodically ruthless. Her spouse is endearing, if too good to be true -- a Jiffy Pop-making wonder of endless validation.

The book has some of the common weaknesses of a debut. The plot tends toward the convoluted, and there are unnecessary characters. Partially because of the multiple layers of conspiracy, the most likely culprit is apparent early on. But it's still a great ride, with characters you will care about and an intensity that keeps the pages turning.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 from me.

This book blew me away! I didn't really know what to expect going into this one. The synopsis sounded good so I said why not try and get it from #netgalley. So glad I did! Couldn't put this book down! Had me guessing all the way until the very last page!

Synopsis: the Pines family is murdered except a brother that is spending time in prison for a murder he committed years ago.... Or did he. The other brother goes down to Mexico where his family they believe died from a gas leak..... Or were they murdered ..... He will learn the truth. It's told from lots of POV which I love in a book.

Thank you so much for sending me this #netgalley !!!

Wow! What an amazing debut novel. This book kept me hooked from the first chapter, reading like a Dateline NBC show. Loved loved loved it! I cannot wait to see more from Alex Finlay. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I will look forward to recommending this book!

This was absolutely amazing start to finish.

It’s an amazingly woven web and it kept me guessing the whole way through.

It’s quite emotional. A father’s passion and obsession. Seemingly what got his family killed. Or was it something else all along?

I enjoyed the way the story was told. Alternating past and present chapters. Multiple points of view. All relevant. All significant. All slowly putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

I don’t usually feel emotionally invested in books in the genre. There was something about this one, though. It hit all the right places. Punched me in the feels. I absolutely hated the idea of almost an entire family being wiped out. Especially a little kid. Devastating and heartbreaking.

There was something likable about every character, too. Which was rare—especially with their faults. But perhaps knowing their fate helped.

I loved the culmination. It’s definitely guessable, despite all the misdirection and false clues. But I think hints are there early on.

I also liked how it somewhat reflected the Steven Avery case in some ways. The documentary that shed new light and support for a convicted murderer. The ways that the public took to a criminal. I have no idea if that case played any role in the making of this story, but the vibes are there!

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys trying to solve mysteries. By far one of my favorite books in recent years.