Cover Image: Good as Dead

Good as Dead

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

<i>Good As Dead</i> is told from the perspective of six of the main characters; Holly, her daughter Savannah, Evan, Libby & Andy (a couple who are Holly’s neighbours, and Jack; who is an enigma. The chapters are short, punchy, and engaging but the narrative can feel a little all over the place as it jumps from character to character, and also backwards and forwards in time. The writing style was solid throughout.

<i>”We’ll take care of everything”</i>; this is what Holly Kendrick is told after the death of her husband in a hit and run. In comes the fixer for the guilty-party, Evan, with an offer she cannot refuse. For the price of her silence, Holly and her daughter, Savannah will be awarded the home of their dreams. And that’s just for starters.
Once they move into their new Calabases, Californian home, all eyes are on them in the neighbourhood. Who can they trust? Is this just the start of more trouble for the Kendricks?

Thank you to Netgalley/the publisher for the ARC! <i>{Catching up with old ARCs I was sent}</i> 🖤

<b>4 Stars</b>

Was this review helpful?

4.5 stars - rounded up because I couldn’t put it down! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first book by this author and damn was it awesome!

Pleasant surprise with a few unexpected twists along the way! Loved the ending too. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advance copy to read and review.

Was this review helpful?

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this psychothriller. I got caught u in the story right away. The premise and story line were fresh and interesting and I enjoyed the relationships explored in the novel. There was plenty going on throughout to hold my interest. I would definitely seek out this author to read again. Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I wasn't super impressed with this read and it felt like all of the other books that have the same premise. I really wanted to like this one, but it fell flat for me!

Was this review helpful?

I couldn't put this book down. This book kept me guessing all the way until the end. A hit and run results in the death of the main characters husband. Whoever is responsible has a lot of money and offers to trade her a life of wealth for her silence. It all continues on from there. Can money buy happiness?

Overall I really enjoyed this book. You get a little bit of everything. Dark and messed up people doing dark and messed up things, family drama, Hollywood glamour.... ..

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for this boon to review

This was a really fast read for me which I always enjoy so that’s a major thing for me! I will recommend

Was this review helpful?

Good as Dead was DOA for me. Although it started out mildly interesting - a pact is made with the Devil, in a nutshell, a pact which rapidly spirals out of control- it very quickly proved itself to be trite, and not only trite, but ludicrous. Characters were flat, boring, gullible, and idiotic with writing to match. Not a book I’d recommend. To anyone.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the intrigue around this story! Told from alternate points of view and changing timelines, it really makes the tension build and sucks you into the story! This was a book I easily read in one sitting, because I couldn’t leave until I knew what happened next!

Was this review helpful?

𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙣 𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧

This took me a little while to get into, but once I was stuck in, I was stuck! Told via multiple POV from the wife and the daughter to the neighbors and the “fixer”, we get a front row seat to a whole lot of secrets and action. This is a fast paced, intricately deceptive plot, weaving a story of grief, anger, payback, loyalty and greed.

Suspenseful and full of twists, this also takes a deep look at the question “can money buy happiness?” The ripple effect of the impact of one single decision was vast and I found myself constantly questioning what I would do in this situation. I normally don’t enjoy a large amount of narrators but I think it really worked for this story, with following the past and present as well.

What made this book for me was the JAW DROPPING twist that I just did not see coming. A real throw the book down, open mouthed, and explain the plot at the speed of light to my partner just to wrap my head around it sort of twist. Highly recommend picking this up if you enjoy a twisty domestic thriller with multiple POV’s and a thought provoking plot.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 + 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂!

Was this review helpful?

Good as Dead on paper should be a really confusing read as it's told from six different POVs. But it really isn't the author has crafted an interesting story that is easy to follow and is fun to read.

Was this review helpful?

I love books with different POVs. It's always nice to get different sides of the story. This one had 6, and surprisingly enough it was easy to keep track of who was who. I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I'm not sure if that's because there were so many, there wasn't enough to connect with any or if it was just the characters themselves. I liked Evan and Savannah the most. Savannah was so strong for her age.

I liked the story. I never was "hooked" but I wanted to know how the story was going to play out. The twist I saw coming, so I wasn't shocked. I did like the author's writing style, and will read more of her books!

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy in order for honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I love an original thriller and ‘Good as dead’ definitely fits the bill.
It all starts when Holly Kendrick’s husband is killed in a hit and run, she is also injured and whilst still in the hospital, a mysterious man turns up with an offer they can’t refuse. Holly is panicked as to how she can cope financially and support her daughter, Savannah, after such a horrible accident. But a too-good-to-be-true offer has darker intentions after he admits he is working for the guilty party; but can a luxurious lifestyle and a beautiful house really be worthy of maintaining their silence?
I loved this dark, psychological thriller set in a wealthy, suburban setting. Not one character is perfect or innocent in this novel and I loved the play within each person and the opposition between their ‘real’ personalities and the ideals they think they should be presenting to the world. Walter has a really nice style of writing that is easy to read but compelling and layered; perfect for a strong thriller. I enjoyed the pacing and the twists that kept coming by combining the different perspectives in each chapter.
I loved this domestic thriller and cannot recommend it highly enough!

Was this review helpful?

Tension Fuelled Suspense..
Holly’s life has been upended by one act of violence. When she is approached afterwards, what choice does she have but to take up what has been offered to her. How far will anyone go to hide the truth? Tension fuelled suspense, effectively told in multi narrative and timeline form. An engaging read.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the premise of this book. It definitely kept my attention. I picked up on who the culprit was before the book revealed it, but how it unfolded was still pretty intriguing. It really leaves you deep in thought on certain issues. How far would you go to protect those that you love? Also, how the privileged and wealthy can get away with much more than the average Joe. I recommend this novel to thriller readers.

Was this review helpful?

The book was intriguing in its premise but with so many POVs I was kinda lost and the flashbacks and present time happenings made my head ache. I was entertained but found it too taxing and kinda predictable.

Was this review helpful?

WOW! This was a surprising fun & quick read! I loved the short chapters, which I always feel makes for a great thriller. Loved Walter’s writing style, alternating between the direct perspective of the various characters in the present & three months prior. While the outcome seemed obvious to me partway through the book, the actual ending was even more than I expected! I was especially pleased with the epilogue - each character received a fitting wrap-up, which didn’t leave any questions unanswered. Creative, fast-paced & original! Highly recommend this debut from Susan Walter,

Was this review helpful?

What a debut! I loved this. Couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to read more from this author! Highly recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eGalley. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

A great debut novel! I hope to read more by Walter. The beginning portion is more memorable than the ending if I am being honest. I found the different points of view to be a bit confusing at times but believe the ending got most of my questions answered.

Was this review helpful?

When Holly loses her husband to a hit and run, she is devastated. Now a single mother, Holly is approached by a "fixer" that will give her all the money she could ever need to take care of her daughter. When Holly and her daughter Savannah move into the swanky neighborhood of Calabasas, they soon find that there are others around them that have a lot to hide.

The book was good. I like when books are told in multiple points of view, but this one was a few people too many. It would have been better with only three or four people instead of six. Six is a lot of characters to keep track of. Overall, it was an enjoyable book.

Was this review helpful?