This is my second Joe Hart book. I’m going to keep him on the list. Here, a writer goes home to care for his father with dementia. His old home town hasn’t changes much. When he starts an affair with a neighbor he knows it is wrong. When he gets a note telling him to stop it “or else” he knows he should stop. When she disappears and her husband is murdered, he doesn’t know what is going on. And he does some really stupid things to figure out what has happened. There is quite a bit of murder for such a small place and the ending wraps up almost all of it pretty nicely. Nothing ground breaking or that will stay with me a long time, but a nice, solid read that I enjoyed.

Andy Drake is a crime writer working on his latest novel when there’s a murder in his community. His instincts are telling him that the facts surrounding this murder just don’t add up. With an inquiring mind, he launches his own investigation that spans much wider than he ever thought. Everyone he comes in contact with has something to hide, including himself. This book is a fast-paced and entertaining read! Trying to figure out the mystery had me changing my mind often as the story kept twisting with some shocking moments! I plan to read more by this author!

I thought this book was ok, but I found the majority of the story to be anticlimactic. There was a lot of speculation as to who killed David and what happened to Rachel and her sons, and Andy, who felt the need to be involved because of his connection with Rachel, was wrong about pretty much everything. I think what bothered me most was that when the truth was revealed at the end, it felt like a lot of information being dumped on the reader without much of a buildup. I also didn’t feel much of a connection to any of the characters, however I did like Andy’s father (maybe because his condition gave him an air of innocence).

Overall, the story was just ok, maybe a tad mediocre. I personally wouldn’t recommend it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4622763285

When Andy returns to his hometown to care for his father in the beginning stages of dementia, he never expected to reconnect and begin an affair with his childhood friend Rachel, who is suffering in an emotionally abusive marriage. But shortly after Andy receives an anonymous note that says to end the affair--or else, Rachel and her two boys disappear the same night her husband is murdered. Andy knows if he comes forward with the note and truth of his affair, he'll become the number one suspect. But why couldn't he do a little investigating of his own? After all, he's a successful crime thriller writer. But the closer Andy gets to the truth, the more he and his family are in danger.
The setup of the loop neighborhood where everyone knows each other's business added to the plot of the story. There were so many unknowns amongst the neighbors. Add to that the stress of his father's declining health and keeping secrets from the police, the tension just kept building to an explosive conclusion. And even after the suspect is found, there were still loose ends until the very last page. I finished this exciting thriller in one night!
I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller

After the death of his mother, the novelist Andy Drake has to return to his hometown to take care of his father who is suffering from dementia. He reconnects with his old-time friend, Rachel who is married and with kids. Soon this old friendship turns into an affair. That is the time when Andy receives a threatening note demanding him to quit this affair or else! After some time David, Rachel’s husband is found dead and the wife and the children have disappeared. That is when Andy finds himself dragged into a spiral of incidents as he tries to find the truth.

The main reason I have chosen to read this book is the author. Last year I have read two of his horror short stories, “The Line Unseen” and “And the Sea Called Her Name”. I liked them a lot due to their atmosphere. Despite being short stories the writing style was very gripping and atmospheric. Unfortunately, this is what “Or Else” lacks. Although it is a decent thriller, it doesn’t have this dark atmosphere that I was expecting. The premise of the story is really good and I was not able to predict the outcome which is a splendid thing. Around the middle of the book, I kept losing some focus. The story couldn’t keep me that engaged in that part. In the last few chapters, things become fast and interesting though. Overall, this was an alright thriller.

Many thanks to the publisher Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book.

4.5 stars rounded up.
Andy has returned home to care for his father who is in the early stages of dementia. He reconnects with his childhood friend Rachel and they start an affair behind the back of her emotionally abusive husband David. One day, he finds a note warning him off her, telling him that it must stop. Or Else. But then, soon after, Rachel's husband is shot dead and she and her children missing.
Not trusting the police, Andy takes it upon himself to try and find out what happened to David, and in turn, where Rachel and the children have gone. Have they been taken or did they flee? Are they safe? Or has the worst happened?
And Andy believes that only he can get to the bottom of things. But in doing so, he skirts and crosses lines he really shouldn't, putting himself in more danger than he ever knew. But it is something that he just has to do...
Oh my days, this hit the ground running from the start and didn't let up until the very end. Delivering shock after twist along the way, culminating in a perfect satisfying ending.
Only thing I wasn't convinced of was Andy's need to go back and look after his father who appeared perfectly well capable of doing that himself, thus allowing Andy free reign to gad about willy nilly!
There are twists and turns aplenty and more than a healthy dollop of duplicitous behaviour to be found herein. We also have a very eclectic mix of characters who were all well drawn and easy to connect with in some way. I especially liked that Andy was an author and kept referring to his writing in more than humorous observational ways. Plotting was good and kept me on my toes throughout. And the ending when it came, made perfect sense and wrapped things up nicely.
All in all, another winner from an author already on my watch list. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This was my first read by Joe Hart and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a tension filled journey into multiple deaths in a neighbourhood called "The Loop". I was drawn into this story right away and the short chapters had me flipping the pages in anticipation of what was going to happen next. I was surprised by the ending, in a really good way and I loved having a novelist as protagonist. All the characters are feel like real people and they behave in a way that feels authentic. The story has real depth and reveals many neighbourhood secrets and lies. Although it is a short book, just 218 pages on my tablet, it really packed a punch. I recommend this one for readers who like a suspenseful murder mystery.

I'm not sure if it was just me but I kind of was bored reading this. Ill try to read more from this author but Im not sure when,

The main character is supposedly the author of a detective series. For someone who frequently mentions this fact and the research he has done, Andy goes through the mystery in his own neighborhood with blinders on. He only sees one chain of events and one course of action at a time and doesn't entertain other ideas until that first one is completely exhausted. As a reader, this is incredibly frustrating but this feeling is intensified when the character involved should be the first to know better. As a reader, this made the story feel very amateurish and I was a surprised to find this wasn't the first book from this author. While the story has potential, I felt like this was a very rough draft.

Joe Hart you have a new fan!

Or Else is a fast paced thriller/mystery that keeps the pages turning quickly and the light on.

Andy has returned to his home town to look after his ailing dad.

Andy soon is involved in an affair with Rachel and when her husband is found dead the tension mounts.

Someone wants Andy dead.

Who is leaving him notes and where is Rachel.

I trusted no one , suspected everyone and guessed wrong.

The ending was perfect.

Don't miss Or Else; its a great read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, Thomas &#38 Mercer for a page turning read.

Andy Drake has moved home to care for his father who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Meeting up with Rachel Barren again after so many years first started as friendship and developed into more. The only issue is Rachel is very much married. When Andy receives a note telling him to end the affair “or else”, he wants nothing more than to warn Rachel. Someone knows! In a weeks time things around the Barren family fall apart. Questionable deaths start to pile up AND Rachel and her sons are missing. Andy starts his own investigation, after all he is an author that dabbles in crime. As he slowly starts to piece things together, he and his family are now in the cross hairs and he can’t go to the police without looking guilty. Andy and his family were well written characters while others were not fleshed out as well as they could have been. Joe Hart has a enjoyable, distinctive writing style and while a fun read, it was quite predictable.

Andy is an author so when his dad is diagnosed with early dementia he is able to relocate back to his hometown. He's fortunate to get a house on the block where he was raised. He can help Dad without being too intrusive and he's no stranger in the town. Andy works on his new book during the day, and he and Dad have settled into a rhythm of shared meals and TV evenings. Kel, another of the three siblings, lives farther away and is caring for two youngsters, but she comes by when she can.

So much remains the same from the old days: Neighbors, friends from church. Rachel, Andy's old flame lives up the street with David, her husband who was a jerk even in high school. Somehow, madly, Andy and Rachel start an affair. Stupid, yes, but so wonderful.

Suddenly though, people start dying. David's business partner kills himself. Mary the church secretary is kicked by her horse. Then David is shot dead by a burglar. Andy's instincts say that something is going on and when he starts poking around he stirs up hornets. But there seems to be too much going on. The pieces of the mystery don't fit together at all. Andy keeps poking, of course, and is almost killed in the final showdown.

This is an exciting and readable book. Much of the writing is clever and fun. As a nitpicky reader I have some questions that I would ask the author, but these concerns didn't really interfere with my enjoyment. I think you will like it too.

Joe Hart crafts honest and captivating characters that reveal the inner desire and demons hidden within all of us. I have never read Hart before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I found the novel full of unexpected authenticity and nuance. I really liked the elements of romance because it raised the tension. Overall, an engaging story full of complex and relatable characters.

I am a longtime Joe Hart fan, and his latest, "Or Else," reconfirms why. It's because Hart knows how to tell a "gotcha" novel. From the first page, he's "gotcha" attention and never lets go. As expected from a Hart novel, this one pulls you in and keeps the twists coming.

Andy, an author trying to overcome writer's block, has moved back to his childhood neighborhood to help care for his father in the early stages of dementia. He lives across the street from his dad -- and his not-so-secret blossoming affair with Rachel, a school chum with an abusive husband. When Rachel's husband is killed and she and their two sons go missing, Andy becomes a top suspect. In an effort to clear his name and find Rachel, Andy becomes an amateur sleuth. But his new role has consequences.

What I enjoyed most is that Andy seems real. He has the insecurities of a normal guy, not a one-dimensional character often found in novels. His dad and siblings seem real, too. The red herrings put in Andy's path are a bit overboard, but they play into the story line well. Hart definitely knows how to tell a story. I certainly look forward to his next novel.

Or Else was an okay read, but not in the same league as past thrillers from Joe Hart. Typically, Joe Hart’s thrillers grab me and don’t let go. Obscura, The River Runs Deep, and Cruel World rock on all levels, and I highly recommend them. Or Else had a lot of mystery to sort through, which I dug, but too many characters which felt under developed. The family dynamic of brother vs. brother and sister felt a bit extraneous. I did however like the father/son dynamic as Andy cares for his aging father.

Andy is a writer of thrillers and tries to solve the mystery of Rachel’s disappearance, thinking he has enough ‘writers life knowledge’. I love this idea, but Andy doesn’t come across as smart enough to solve this mystery. He makes some giant leaps of logic and somehow gets enough parts of the puzzle to find a real clue. The story moved slowly and at one point I lost interest in who took Rachel or why. On the plus side, the fact I couldn’t figure out the who or why was great. This is always a plus for me, I enjoy the journey and if I figure out the mystery all the better.

Compelling. Great characters and intriguing plot with plenty of twists and turns. Loved the "ordinary man" as sleuth storyline and the complex, satisfying mystery. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

This is the second book I have read by this author and it didn't disappoint! It was a page turner for sure. I love when authors write the main character as a writer. That is so interesting to me. Their were a lot of characters in this one so it was hard to guess what was going on. I actually did not figure it out until it was revealed to me. The ending really ramped up and was intense. I definitely want to read more by this author.

I would really rate Or Else, by Joe Hart 3.5 stars out of 5. While I enjoyed the story a great deal overall, somehow it felt a little off to me. I mean that in the sense of the writing seemed like that of a first time author who is perhaps not perfectly confident yet. I can't really put it into words. I think maybe part of the problem was that some of the action was very 'told, not shown'. And it left me feeling suddenly outside of the action and the characters looking in. Do not let that turn you away from this book, however, as it was fairly fast paced and entertaining.
The solution to the central mystery of what happened to Rachel and her kids, and who knew what about whom in the neighborhood, is fairly easily figured out for someone who has read as many mysteries and thrillers as I have, but I loved that the author used the theme of changing your viewpoint slightly to see things in a different way to illustrate just how little we all really know about each other in daily life.
In the end, Hart's "Or Else" left me willing to try more books by the author and keep me turning pages for a few hours (I speed read.), so I was quite happy with it. I'd recommend it or buy it for a friend who needs some light (in terms of amusing/entertaining) beach reading, flight reading, or someone who loves mysteries. It's a solid entry in the Thriller and Mystery genre. Thank you to the publishers Thomas & Mercer for letting me have a copy in exchange for an my honest review.

Andy's back in town and he's renewed his friendship with Rachel- except that it's gone further than friendship. Someone- but who- knows and is leaving him threatening notes. Then Rachel's abusive husband David is murdered and Andy, who happens to be a crime novelist investigates. As in many of this genre, David was generally rotten and there are more possibilities for his killer than even Andy thought at first. This is appropriately twisty and the characters are good, if a bit trope-y. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoy Joe Hart's writing style and am always on the lookout for a new book from him. His latest book, Or Else, is a very good read.

Andy Drake returns to his hometown to take care of his father who has dementia. As a writer, Andy can work from anywhere, and he settles into his old hometown easily, buying a house across the street from his dad's on "the Loop", the street where their family grew up. His younger sister Kelly and her family live nearby, and things are going pretty well.

He runs into Rachel, an old high school friend, now married and with two boys. She too, lives on the Loop. When their friendship rekindles, Rachel tells Andy that her husband David is abusive and she's frightened of him. Andy and Rachel begin an affair. They think it's a secret, but it's not. Andy receives a note telling him to stop or else.

Two days later, Rachel's husband David is murdered in their home, and Rachel and the boys are nowhere to be found. Who knows about Rachel and Andy's affair? Who killed David, and why? Andy wants to find Rachel and make sure she and the boys are safe, but his personal investigation stirs up all kinds of things, and he soon finds himself in mortal danger.

Rachel and Andy aren't the only ones with a secret in town. Not everyone is as they seem, and someone is willing to kill to keep their secrets from being revealed!

My sincere thanks to the author and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to access an e-ARC of this novel (set to be published on 4/1/22) via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.