"She came to Dublin. She found Oliver. An unprecedented emergency began. She and Oliver have moved in together. And that's just all in the last month."

This is the first covid-19 thriller I've come across and I have to say, I think the author made brilliant use of the pandemic lockdown as a plot point. It didn't feel forced at all and really heightened the suspense. I enjoyed the dual timelines as the suspense steadily built until all is revealed. I also loved the detectives, Karl and Lee, and their rapport as they work to determine what happened, how someone ended up dead, and whether or not a crime was actually committed. This book is great for fans of Paula Hawkins (The Girl on the Train; Into the Water) and Lucy Foley (The Hunting Party; The Guest List). I highly recommend to fans of domestic suspense! Extra points if you've lived in or visited Dublin because the characters visit many recognizable places, which gave it an added touch of realism that I loved.

Synopsis:
Ciara and Oliver meet on a busy Dublin street during their lunch breaks. Both are attracted and intrigued by the other, but have serious trust issues. After a couple of dates, the first covid-19 case is detected in Ireland and the government orders a lockdown. Everyone is ordered to stay at home and quarantine with members of their household; traveling more than 2km from your home is forbidden. So crazy as it may seem, Ciara and Oliver decide to move in together. A few weeks later, one of them is dead.

This story is set in Dublin, 56 days in the past at the early days of the pandemic. This is the story of Oliver and Ciara, both who are new to the area and begin a relationship that moves very quickly due to the state of the world. The story jumps between the past (and both perspectives) and present day where a dead body has been discovered. This was a good mystery, set in the world we are all starting to break free from. It had great mystery elements and the way information was revealed kept me interested and wondering what would happen next. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed 56 days by Catherine Ryan Howard. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for access to this new thriller, I will look for other books from this author after reading this book. I have already been recommending this to bookish friends on Instagram who regret not making it a Book of the Month choice so I sense a hit in the works!

I think as others will say, I was not sure I wanted to read any book set during our recent shared past with the pandemic and strain and uncertainty associated with it but I really enjoyed this book perhaps for that very setting. I thought there was enough unique themes with the mystery/suspense plot and yet moments of connection with the pandemic, the claustrophobia, uncertainty, and lonely emptiness that many felt during the first weeks of lockdown and distancing. I think it is a delicate balance to create a sense of creepiness and disorientation during an already stressful time and to make it engaging without assuming that these feelings were not felt by many during some time in this past year; I found the approach to storytelling to be understanding of how this past year felt and also thought provoking enough to be a what if this happened/what happened in this story. The back and forth perspectives worked well in this book as well and I say that as someone who does not always find that style to be useful; in this book it works because it adds a sense of dread, multiple perspectives on the context and pandemic, and also rounds out the story as it unfolds in back and forth timelines.

I definitely recommend this to suspense/thriller fans and even encourage those who do not yet feel ready to read a Covid time book to give this one a try.

I wasn’t Sure how I was going to feel about someone writing a Covid thriller, would it be too cheesy? But I can confidently say this one wasn’t. Was not my favorite book I’ve read lately, but wasn’t awful either. Some of the scenes were a bit too drawn out, I think the book could’ve probably been 75 pages less and got in the exact same idea across, but not a bad read at all

4.5

This book has confirmed that Catherine Ryan Howard is a new favourite and auto-buy author for me!

I read The Nothing Man by this author earlier this year and absolutely loved it. It quickly became a favourite of all time. When I saw this one on NetGalley, while I knew I loved her writing, I wasn’t sure I was ready for a book about COVID just yet, but decided to give it a go anyway.

I’m so glad I did!

This book is about Ciara and Oliver, who meet just before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and decide to move in together in order the see each other during lockdown. 56 days later, a body is found in Oliver’s apartment.

I don’t want to say too much about what this book entails because I don’t want to spoil anything, but that initial premise had me so intrigued when I first read about this book.

I thought this was fantastic. I had an idea of where this was going, and despite that, I was still enjoying my time reading it. That just shows how much I love Catherine Ryan Howard’s writing, because if this were the case in another book, I’d have probably been bored just waiting for the reveals to happen.

I WAS SO WRONG. This book took a turn I didn’t expect at all. I couldn’t believe it. It truly shocked me.

This is a really fast-paced book. I got through it so quickly. I just wanted to see how it would all come together and didn’t want to put it down. I thought the characters were written so well, and while I didn’t necessarily ‘like’ them the whole time reading this, there were moments I sympathised with the both of them.

The only thing that I didn’t like so much about this book was that it was a little repetitive at times, because in some instances we got the same events but from both Ciara and Oliver’s perspectives.

I didn’t quite love this as much as The Nothing Man, but it’s still a fantastic thriller. If you think you’re ready for books with covid in the plot line, I’d definitely recommend you give this one a go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

While her characters may be unreliable, Catherine Ryan Howard's books are anything but!

She has become a reliable author that readers can count on for a great story.

The story is described as a new relationship that goes from 0 to 60. From 2 dates to flatmates in 3 weeks. However, some additional context is necessary. A Government Covid lockdown went into effect right as their relationship was at the stage of promising potential. This new couple decides to grasp onto their seemingly potential, and instead of squashing it, they choose to embrace it and live with each other during the 2 week lockdown. Despite only knowing each other a few weeks.

And then the secrets! My, my, the secrets they carry. The depth of these unknowns and the genius wit of the author to combine the storytelling with present, some past, along with the present told in duality from both main characters POV, intriguing indeed!

It's not a plot that can be provided in advance. A man meets a woman in a convenience shop at lunch time, then coffee, a date. As the relationship progresses, the reader is slowly revealed to the true nature of the characters along with their pasts. And then your mind will be shocked!

*Thank you to Blackstone Publishing via Net Galley for the digital reader copy.

Wow I actually adored this book! I haven't read a thriller in a while and this was a GREAT one to jump into. It totally sucked me in, and while I did have one part figured out, I was totally shocked a few times too!

Ollie can’t escape his past or the mistakes he made as a kid— but he’s trying his hardest to stay undercover. This is getting pretty difficult when he keeps bumping into the woman across the apartment complex— and when he meets Ciara, complete with his NASA obsession and ready to move in right at the beginning of the lockdown. What truths are being hidden? Who is the stranger in this apartment? What’s the difference between passive killing and being a killer? This is an on-your-seat thriller that I’d recommend to anyone.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for my NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found myself drawn into this thriller quickly - Ciara and Oliver meet at a supermarket at the beginning of COVID and later find themselves isolating together. Howard's writing evokes the unsettling time and place of COVID - everything felt realistic to me - almost too realistic. It's clear that Ciara and Oliver both have a ton of secrets, and I liked the way their secrets were spilled over the course of the book. This one kept me on my toes.

I would not read this book if you're struggling to process COVID and the path forward - I probably should have waited another 6 months to read it. But if you can handle this subject matter, this is the kind of book you'll devour quickly - I read it over two sittings. The multiple timelines can be a tad confusing at times, but if you're used to that plot device, you shouldn't have too much trouble. 3.5 stars.

This book was a roller coaster of emotions that I cannot even begin to describe without giving away spoilers. Every juicy morsel of information knocked me for a loop and I was shocked (repeatedly) when I found out what had happened. I normally do not care for stories that jump around with the timeline but this one made it work seamlessly since it just gave it these wonderful layers of intrigue to unwrap and let you see the story from both his and her perspective. This story floored me and I cannot wait to recommend it to every one of my patrons.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, but my opinions are all mine.

When I first saw the description for this book I wasn’t sure if I was ready for a “COVID thriller.” I should say after reading this book, it is not a thriller about the pandemic. It is a thriller that happens to take place during the global pandemic in Dublin, Ireland.

The story bounces from multiple POV and timelines. I found it a little confusing at first until I realized the flow of the story. The twists were surprising and I didn’t see them coming. I enjoyed this story and the only reason I didn’t go five stars on this one is because it was a little repetitive and the jumping around in the story made it hard to really dive into at first. All in all more of a mystery than thriller but exciting none the less. I recommend adding 56 days to your reading list!

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard Oliver and Ciara are not your ordinary couple as revealed in the many twists and turns and shocking revelations. Intriguing premise. However, the switching timelines were repetitive and confusing.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

They say that there’s three sides to every story – your side, my side, and the truth. Sometimes, though, that’s just the start, and as 56 Days unfolds it starts to become clear that first impressions can cover any number of secrets.

Set in Dublin at the start of the COVID 19 pandemic, we’re introduced to Oliver and Ciara as they first meet. They bond over space shuttles and French 75s; when lockdown begins only a couple of days later, they decide to move in together rather than face separation. Unfortunately for them, the reader knows that someone isn’t making it out of there alive; but how and why did it all go so wrong?

56 Days is absolutely excellent – so many of these books turn into a race to the end to find out what happened, but here the reader is going to enjoy the journey just as much as the eventual discovery. It may feel like it reads fast, but that’s just because it will suck you in right from the start – I’d advise against starting this at bedtime, because putting it down again is the only part I didn’t enjoy.

This is one of the first novels I’ve read to take place in the pandemic, and it’s anything but a gimmick. Catherine Ryan Howard has captured the uncertain, unsettled feelings of those early weeks, even down to the odd guilty spark of relief at no longer needing an excuse to stay home. The atmosphere broods in the background, building up the tension and paranoia between our two doomed lovers and bolstering the uncanny feeling of something that’s just not quite right. She’s preserved a moment of time that was hard for the people living in it to put into words, and done it with beautiful clean prose that immerses a reader and keeps them captivated.

56 Days will engage, it will enthrall, and it will most definitely surprise. Easily one of my favorites for 2021, and one I’ll be recommending to everyone in need of a good book.

Oliver and Ciara meet in a supermarket, just before covid-19 lockdown restrictions are placed. To continue their new relationship, they decide to quarantine together. 56 days later, a dead body is found in the apartment they shared.

A unique thriller set in 2020, at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic. The author did an amazing job incorporating the pandemic to fuel the story line. It wasn’t over the top and she executed it beautifully.

The characters were well developed and more complex than I thought at the beginning of the book. Each twist caught me by surprise!

The constantly changing timelines was a bit hard to follow at first. Once I got into the flow of the writing, I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the digital ARC of this book!

Loved! This mystery/thriller set in Dublin during the first lockdown is hard to put down. Ciara and Oliver meet right at the beginning of the pandemic. With the one household rule, Ciara and Oliver decide to move in together. As the story unfolds and secrets are revealed, these two have more than a past in common. 56 Days is filled with so many surprises and twists. Thank you, NetGalley!

Ciara and Oliver have a meet-cute in the grocery store two weeks before lockdown. To continue their new romance they only have one choice....quarantine together. 56 days later police find a body.

56 Days is the first fiction book I've read that takes place in the time of COVID-19. Going in I was a bit apprehensive that it would feel too gimmicky or forced. Fortunately the author found a way to perfectly weave certain aspects of the pandemic into the plot in a way that added to the suspense and feeling of unease. While I wish there had been a few more twist and turns this is still a fab (and timely!) thriller.

56 Days is the first book I've read that takes place during the covid lockdown. I really liked that, as it allows for the extremely unusual circumstances of a global pandemic to shape the narrative. I found the book hard to put down. It was in equal part, thrilling and surprising! I also enjoyed seeing what happened through the lens of both of the main characters. I highly recommend this title. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this digital arc.

I have alwways loved CRH's work so was really excited to be accepted for this on Netgalley! Set during the pandemic, it focuses on Ciara and Oliver who start a relationship in the weeks prior to the Irish lockdown so make the best of a bad situation. It's quite dark and is so full of twists.....I had an inkling what was going on with Ciara but then another twist hits and it was and wasn't what you are led to think! And Oliver....well 😱 Very clever and although I didn't think I would enjoy a book about lockdown, this one was brilliant! Pick it up when it's released ❤

56 days ago: Oliver and Ciara are dating and getting to know each other. As they start that stage where they only want to be with each other, COVID-19 hits Ireland. They make the decision to move in together. Now: A decomposing body is found at Oliver’s apartment.

It took me some time to get into this one. There is a lot of back and forth, jumping around, and same situations in different point of views. Once I got the flow of the book, the pacing started to pick up. The last third of the book sealed the deal as a five star read. There were unexpected twists, some of which entirely changed my emotional experience. Overall it turned out to be a darker and more somber than thriller read, but it was perfect.

“People think the decisions you make that change the course of your life are the big ones. Marriage proposals. House moves. Job applications. But she knows it’s the little ones, the tiny moments, that really plot the course. Moments like this.”

56 Days comes out 8/17.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish