Some people say it’s too soon to set a thriller to take place across the backdrop of COVID-19 lockdowns, but I’m not that person.

In 56 days, Howard has written a thriller tale that spans multiple timelines and points of view in a way that isn’t confusing or annoying.

This bingeable thriller has all the COVID lockdown references to make it authentic and is a clever use of building proximity and suspense. Set in Dublin, this thriller gives us two characters that are hiding something, one that ends up dead and two detectives trying to figure out if it was an accident or foul play.

This was a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

Triggers: Bullying, Murder of a child, Juvenile Delinquency, Suicide

I need to go find some of the author’s backlist books now.

Oliver & Ciara meet at the supermarket before covid begins changing the world around them. They are dating and getting to know each other and the pandemic hits. They make the decision to move in with each other with covid hitting Ireland. Fast forward to the now, a decomposing host is found at Oliver’s apartment. What happened between them dating to get to this?

This one took me some time to get into! It bumped a lot back and forth between present, past, and different points of view. Once the story picked up for me it was addicting and I thought I had it figured out but I didn’t! This one has a good story line and was very well done for a book involving the pandemic! I recommend you pick this one up if you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you guessing till the end! Thank you @blackstonepublishing and @netgalley for the advanced reader copy! This one hits bookstores August 17th!

56 days ago, Ciara and Oliver met in a supermarket queue. Their tentative dalliance is interrupted when lockdown hits, and they decide to move in together rather than having to stop seeing each other. But they've barely begun dating. Do they really know each other at all??

Today, detectives are investigating a dead body found in Oliver's apartment...

This is one of the first true covid-era stories - certainly the first one I've read. At times I felt like it painted a picture a bit over explained for those who have lived through it, but somehow not explained enough for anyone who hasn't. It kind of assumes knowledge of the covid virus and situation, and yet describes repeatedly what it feels like to be plunged into a city-stopping lockdown. I admit to wondering, at times, who exactly the intended reader was? Those of us who were there, or future people who weren't? Maybe I'm overthinking this a bit.

The story moves back and forth in time, and sometimes shows scenes from different perspectives, so that truths are hidden and revealed. Sometimes I found the time jumps a little confusing - 56 days ago, then today, then 53 days so, then back to 54 days ago etc... I felt like I needed to write down a timeline. However, I do see how this was done to reveal little bits of information and perspectives, to keep the reader on their toes.

I went into this story pretty much completely blind, and I think that's the best way to do it. Although it felt a little slow to get started, there was twist after turn towards the end. I found the ending pretty satisfying.

Overall, I did enjoy this read. It was fairly clever and I was taken by surprise more than once. If you can handle reading about the covid world while in the depths of the covid world, there's a decent story here.

This was a bit of a slow burn thriller that took a while to build up the pace, but fortunately not at the cost of the suspence. I was hooked early on, especially with as the book moved back and forth between how two strangers meet and eventually move in together and the present-day investigation of why one of them is now dead. I worried that the COVID-19 backdrop would be too fresh in my mind as a reader or feel too overplayed, but I actually think the author did an amazing job. The unease and worry of the pandemic really lent to the tone of the book and also provided an excellent backdrop for the plot to unfold. There were certainly some twists I didn't expect that came out in the latter half of the book.

I think the only thing that I would have enjoyed more is better overall pacing. It was a slow read then it was entirely explosive at the end. I usually like a bit more balance. But overall, this was an excellent thriller that is worth the time, and reading a book that actually involved the current pandemic was super unique and felt like it could actually happen in real life!

Its so weird to read a book about what really is going on in our world and how it actually is a real thing, COVID-19. How did we ever think we would be in a real pandemic and not just read about it in a book thinking that would never happen in real life, well it is. I love Catherine's books so I definitely was curious to see where this one was going to go. I had a love/hate relationship with this one. I wanted to know what was going to happen and who the dead body was of. The characters Ciara and Oliver somewhat annoyed me throughout the book and some parts felt repetitive but I was definitely invested in this story. I thought the past and present parts of the book too were good, it made the story flow well and the use of three different characters flowed well too. Overall pretty good book, the ending could of been a bit better but still good book.. I give it a 3.5 stars.

REVIEW

56 Days
- Catherine Ryan Howard

Releasing 17 August

Rating - 4.5/5

SYNOPSIS

No one knew they'd moved in together. Now one of them is dead. Could this be the perfect murder?

56 DAYS AGO - Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin the same week Covid-19 reaches Irish shores.

35 DAYS AGO - When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests that Ciara move in with him. She sees a unique opportunity for a new relationship to flourish without the pressure of scrutiny of family and friends. He sees it as an opportunity to hide who - and what - he really is.

TODAY - Detectives arrive at Oliver's apartment to discover a decomposing body inside.

Will they be able to determine what really happened, or has lockdown provided someone with the opportunity to commit the perfect crime?

➖➖➖

What a great read! I loved every single page of this mystery. Not only because it takes me right back to the recent first weeks of this neverending pandemic (and it’s my first Covid themed novel), but also the moorish mystery plot. Twist and turns, jumping from point of views and across the timeline, puzzle pieces connecting piece by timely piece. I never saw the finale coming. Brilliantly plotted.

I can see many contemporary mystery lovers raving about this book - it has all the necessary ingredients to entertain, intrigue and surprise.

Highly recommend this one! Thanks @netgalley for sending me this ARC in return for my honest (and rave) review.

@cathryanhoward 👌🏻

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This is the first Covid novel I’ve read, and Catherine Ryan Howard uses lockdown as a great literary and mystery device. Two people (who have just started dating) enter lockdown together. Only one will leave alive.

The novel jumps between perspectives and time frames until you get the broader picture. This was sometimes jarring and frustrating (especially when you had to read through the same scene from a different perspective), but on the whole 56 Days is a twisty, well written, fast paced mystery/ thriller. The irony is not lost on me that I read this through my 3rd lockdown (everyone in my household got out alive though - despite homeschooling 😏).

Wow! What a crazy wild ride. Lots of events in the plot that I wasn't expecting. I liked it overall and would recommend to fans who love mystery/detective/thrillers.

After reading 56 Days, all I can say is “wow!” If you’re looking for a twisted, suspenseful read, this is your book! The plot, characters, & shocking ending are amazing!

This was one heck of a read! So many new contexts, and the first book (I've read) written around the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Set in Dublin, Ireland, Ciara meets a good-looking stranger, but is their meeting a coincidence? Ciara gets to know Oliver more and more, but the pandemic is on the verge of exploding. Once stay at home orders take place, Oliver asks Ciara if she will stay with him. With a small apartment, and no other friends/family in the area, why not?

Move to the current time, and we have a dead body that's been decomposing for at least two weeks. The descriptions here were not for the faint of heart!

Make sure you keep up with the chapter titles. This makes it easier to understand what is going on. Not often you have to do this, but it's pertinent for this read.

I am usually not the type of reader that tries to figure out what is going to happen in mysteries/thrillers. I tend to read these like any other novel so I don't come up with something crazy and spoil how I feel about the ending. Let me tell you that my brain was moving throughout this read. I had so many different scenarios running around that I was surprised that not one of them was actually how the book ended. There are some great twists in this read which made it hard to put down. I read this in 2 days!

Definitely recommend this to fans of the author, thrillers, and those who are looking for some real-life reading. This is in-your-face about COVID-19, so be warned if that is a trigger.

Two people cross paths, both with mysterious backgrounds, lockdown together during COVID. Could this be the perfect setup for murder? YES according to the novel 56 Days!

The story is told from alternating timelines starting 56 days ago to present day, alternating back and forth with multiple narrators - detectives, Oliver and Ciara. Suspense builds and secrets are spilled as the reader discovers Oliver and Ciara backgrounds. WOW blind blown didn't see the big reveal coming, as I followed the path the book was truly leading me.

56 Days plays on COVID fears, adding an extra layer of fright. This is a captivating thriller with twists, turns and murder.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the complimentary copy.

Wow, this book is thrilling for me! This book is set during the Covid-19 pandemic, and at first I thought I'll get disturbed/uncomfortable reading this book (especially during times like these) but apparently I'm fine😅 This book is quite thrilling, and has a medium paced. The writing is good. I kept turning the pages but I'm anxious about the ending (which is a good sign for thrillers). Recommended for thriller readers who loves to read thrillers/mystery books with a medium paced. But please warning that this book contains Covid-19 stuff and is Covid backgrounded, so if you're not comfortable with Covid-19 or anything about it, it's better for you to be careful. Trigger warnings : Covid-19 stuff/Covid settings.

What a pleasant surprise this book was!
At first I was like, as I am sure would be many people, do we really already need a book about this madness we are still living in?
But I guess we do!
The pandemic situation is done so nicely and subtle, without pushing too much, right at the perfect places for the plot.
The way POV's are changing is dynamic and always leaves you with a question what happens next?
The plot itself was unpredictable in many ways (which I did not expect would be so many little twists), but it managed to surprise me every time and I would have never guessed it myself.
It really is a memorable book of the world we are living in, but also by its perfect ending (so happy with that part!).

I was a little nervous going into this book that it would bring up a lot of anxiety because #covidlit but what I found was a story that pulled me in and kept me guessing until the very end.

This was the first book I read that included a Covid storyline. There was a very suspenseful mystery and I never knew who was telling the truth and what secrets the characters are keeping. There was also a twisty ending I never saw coming.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This was a page turner! Taking place during the pandemic, this murder mystery kept me guessing the whole book! Ciera meets Oliver at the grocery store right before orders for a lockdown are given. They decide after a couple dates that they will ride the lockdown out together. Little do they know that they are both harboring huge secrets from one another. How these secrets reveal themselves is shocking.

I loved this book! It was just the type thriller that I love! And set in such real time having just experienced lockdown was an added element for me. I highly recommend this to everyone that loves a book that will keep you guessing!!

In the span of 56 Days, Ciara and Oliver meet, move in together for lockdown, and only one leaves. Detectives find a decomposing body in their apartment and try to piece together what happened.

I thought going into it that this book might be too much while still in a pandemic, but I loved every minute of it. It really captured how it felt to be in a lockdown. I had no idea what was going on with either of the characters until it was revealed. This book did such a good job of having a countdown until present time while still keeping all timelines interesting. The only thing that I wish had been left out is when it goes to the other persons perspective and one character has a full on speech and its written out both times. But really that only happened once or twice and didn't detract from the story. I honestly couldn't have predicted the reasoning behind the ending when I started. I kept going through different roles for Ciara and kept getting surprised. This is definitely one you finish in one sitting. For me, this was a 4.5/5.

If you like murder mysteries told from the prospective of all characters, want to relive what it feels like to be in lockdown, or really love NASA, then this is the one for you.

I received a digital copy of this book free from NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars. Thought I had the twist figured out and then it switched on me a little!! Interesting mystery set during the pandemic; true crime fans will be able to pick up on some actual cases in the book also.

I received an advance reviewer copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

56 Days is set at the beginning of lockdown 2020. The book follows Ciara and Oliver who meet at a store purchasing lunch. This seems a coincidental meeting, but is it?
Oliver and Ciara begin to meet up for dates then lockdown begins. They decide to live together in Olivers apartment as Ciaras is too small. Both are new to the area and have no one nearby so it seems a good plan.
The book goes backwards and forwards across different timelines and is very repetitive in places during this back and forth. I got to 50% of the book and did begin to struggle as it did become boring because of all the repetitiveness. I'm glad I pushed through to the end as the twist was cleverly done!

Oo—this one was really giving me quarantine flashbacks! It was interesting to see how that strange, unprecedented time could be used for the plot device in a murder mystery. Told from alternating povs & going back & forth between present day & the days leading up to it, we don’t know what to expect. We’re not even sure who’s dead for quite a while. There was a good surprise at the end too…. I thought I knew where it was going but there were some good twists. I really enjoyed this story that brought all the fear & panic of lockdown back along with a good mystery.