Every last fear by Alex Finley takes on a hot topic, a true-crime podcast. But, instead of riding the wave of a popular subject, it turns the crime into a riveting, original, and heartbreaking story.

This is a harsh and uncompromising book. It retraces the lives of not one but four victims. The Pine family, mother, father, daughter, and youngest son all die on a family holiday in Mexico. But this was not an ordinary outing. And this was no typical family. It is a miracle that the Pines were still a family at all. They could have easily fallen completely apart after their eldest son was accused and arrested for killing his girlfriend. They have been living under scrutiny ever since.
In Serial style, a duo of journalists dedicated a podcast to proving the innocence of Danny Pine.
The middle son, Matt Pine, the only one that is not still consumed by their misfortunes, is trying to carve a life away from them at NYU. He doesn't know that his sister is obsessed with proving Danny's innocence or that their father can't let it go either. But when a special agent stands in front of him to tell him that now his whole family is gone, and he has no one left. It leaves him no choice. So as not to go crazy, he has to find out what happened to them.
The mystery is intricate, exciting, and well-paced, retold through different Pov, flashbacks, and real-time. It dedicates itself entirely to fleshing out every member of this family unit and knowing what will happen; it means that with every tidbit we are offered, the closer we get to them and the truth, the deeper their loss is felt. Seldom a crime story can merge a whodunnit so exquisitely with a dissection of a family in freefall. The Pines are held together by desperation, love, and dedication, and their fate will completely shatter you in the end. The hero of this story is the sister Marge, a talented investigator who could have gone on to serve the FBI and many other books were it not for her tragic ending. It sounds hopeless and depressing, and you may ask yourself what good will it do to follow an investigation that results in the death of those pursuing it. And that is the miracle of this book; against all odds, it manages to be a warm, beautiful, and a incredibly satisfying puzzle.

Alex Finlay did a good job of weaving together a story, that kept me guessing.
This book was full of, do I believe him, did he, and what really happened.
Thanks Netgalley for this copy.

This was an incredible thriller. Honestly everything that I look for, red herrings, intense plot and very well written. I did not want to put it down. Matt is a filmmaker student and his entire family was on a vacation in Mexico. Matt gets the devastating news that his family was killed in a gas leak…but is that really what happened or is there more to it? Matt’s family has already been so much because his older brother is in prison for murdering his girlfriend Charlotte. This story is written from multiple POV’s which absolutely makes this story that more intense. It goes back and forth between different time lines to put together what happened with Matt’s family and on the night Charlotte died. I highly recommend getting your hand on this one!

FIRST FIVE STAR READ OF 2021! Alex Finlay crafted an incredible read that had me entranced from the first chapter. There were multiple narrators and chapters that alternated between past (before) and present. That writing style won't be for everyone but I felt like it created a slow build, you'd get a few more pieces with each before chapter that helped put things together in the present. There were so many dynamics at work with each character that really brought everything together for me. If you're a fan of Making A Murder, true crime or wrongful convictions, you NEED to read this book.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This wasn't the most original thriller and mystery but I liked how you got to know the victims throughout the story. It gave you a much more personal touch to the characters, knowing their fate, and a greater sympathy to the main character Matt.

I was totally blown away by this book. First time reading the author and not sure what to expect, but this was thrilling. I both read and listened to this one. If you can, definitely listen to it. There are multiple narrators which helps a lot. I will say there are a ton of POV (maybe 8?) in here, so pay close attention to the chapter heading. There are all these intertwining stories that you aren't sure where it's going from here, but it all comes together in the end into one giant bow that resolves everything. I did not want to put this book down at all. I was immersed in this world. The author definitely has a fan after this. Can't wait for what comes next from him!

This book had a nice cover. I enjoyed the story. It was well written. Full of drama, but leaves you unsatisfied at the end.

This book left me hanging. It had so much drama (almost too much) bu then it just ended. Overall I would say it was a dud. I wanted it to be great as a debut book, but it was not.

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.

Whew, this was a wild ride. This is definitely not for thriller newbies, because it contains a lot of morbid twists and turns, including the death of the main character's entire family, little siblings included. It's dark, but you'll be unable to put it down until you're finished.

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.

This was a pretty average thriller for me! I was really interested the first third, but I started to lose interest the more it went on. There were points that I got excited again, but it ended up going in another direction that felt pretty “meh” to me. I wish it had more true crime elements. It was enjoyable, and I’m glad I read it, but it wasn’t a new favorite thriller for me!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing for me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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:)