Thank you to St. Martin's Press + NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

It's been 25 years since Jenna, Donnie and Nico were teenagers thrown into the same group home together. It's been almost that long since kids started going missing and the group home was shut down. They haven't seen each other since and have long tried to put the trauma of their youth behind them. Forced to reunite after someone tries to kill all three of them, they'll be forced to confront what really happened when they were children if they're going to survive.

Alex Finlay is one of those authors who I think just gets better and better with each book he publishes. While I've really enjoyed all three of his thrillers, WHAT HAVE WE DONE is definitely my favorite one yet. The pacing in this book was really well done. I especially loved how in the beginning each storyline had a different pacing to it, and when you weave them together, it makes for a fun rollercoaster ride of emotions starting from page one. The story was unique and well-crafted and it delivered on its promise of a truly terrible secret worth killing to protect. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who considers themselves a lover of thriller novels and I can't wait to see what Finlay comes up with next!

This book was so hard to get into. I couldn't follow the characters and it took to long for them to finally connect with eachother. The writing was good but the plot was too meandering and I just didn't see the point. I gave this book a solid chance but I could not focus on it.

Thank you #Netgalley

At first I was confused with so many story lines but then we see how all three are intertwined in this chaos twenty five years later after their group home days. Mixed with flashbacks, secrets, and current threats this book kept me intrigued. Very fast paced and I kept envisioning this as a movie and watching the action play out. So many twists up until the very end!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

This book was RIVETING!! It was action-packed, kept me on my toes from the very beginning, and I couldn’t put it down! Alex Finlay continues to impress me with his thrillers and I will happily continue reading his books. I felt genuine love for some of these characters and hearing their backstory stirred up a ton of emotion for me, which made me love this book even more!

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Alex Finlay for my copy of What Have We Done! This book was about five kids from a group home for parentless teens. Twenty five years after they were split up, someone is trying to kill them all. Their lives have taken them in different directions, and though most of them have not seen each other since their childhood, they are bound together by their traumatic childhood’s and a deep dark secret. Now they need to find out who wants them dead, and why.

Thoughts: This book was SO twisted and wild and I LOVED IT! All of the totally different characters brought something fun and unique to the story, and the connection of growing up in a group home was intriguing. There was a ton of action and it didn’t slow down which I really enjoyed. This isn’t your typical crime thriller, because it is a lot more fun. There are so many little details that Finlay adds to the story to make it enjoyable.

You definitely have to suspend belief for this one, but that is easily done. It was just a super fun read with a lot of great characters. There wasn’t any big twist in the story, but it was more learning about the characters and what made them who they were. Each individual story had a lot behind it, and the ending was satisfying and tied up neatly with a bow. It didn’t read like Finlay’s other books, but I still enjoyed it. 4-stars!

The past eventually catches up with all of us, and time never forgets. The books characters of Donnie, Jenna and Nico are learning on their own. Although inseparable BFFs and foster siblings, they were split up after the questionable disappearance of other kids.
As adults with their own distinct lives, the chapters follow their journeys as individuals and POV. A bit quixotic and sometimes unrelatable, I enjoyed Jenna's view the most. The twist with the assassin hunting them down had a quick and enjoyable, albeit strange twist! This was a must-read.
I have not previously read Alex Finlay, but sure will now!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when your past comes back to haunt you?

Jenna, Donnie and Nico are all former foster students from the Savior House who have grown up and gone their own ways. Jenna is a stay at home mom, Donnie is a has-been rock star, and Nico is a reality tv producer. They’re brought back together when each of their lives are threatened because of their past.

I enjoyed how quick of a read this was! The short chapters were awesome. There were plenty of twists to keep you entertained throughout the book, although some felt unnecessary. I wish the author would have had more distinction between timelines (past and present). I found myself confused a lot, then I would realize it was a flashback, so it would have been helpful to have a “then/now” time frame.
Parts of the ending felt a little rushed once the actual action started but overall this was a fun thriller that I can’t wait to recommend!

The biggest thank you to #netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I’m a huge fan of Alex Findlay and loved his two previous books. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one at a quarter in. I was lost from the beginning and the characters just couldn’t keep me engaged. Perhaps I’ll give it another go, but it just wasn’t the gripping thriller I was hoping for.

First of all, I am a huge Alex Finlay fan. I loved his first two novels so when I was approved I was psyched! What Have We Done is a thrilling ride filled with hitmen, excitement, and traumatizing childhood secrets. From multiple points of view, we follow a group of children who have his a very dark secret from their childhood foster home. Riveting and action packed, Finlay delivers again!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

This was definitely a page turner and kept me glued to the page the entire time. I liked this one and I wanted to know what happened next. I thought the plot was well developed and interesting overall but maybe not believable. I did like Jenna because I felt like she was relatable. overall it was entertaining and I liked it.

I read this quickly and loved the short chapters and multiple perspectives from all these unlikable characters! This is action packed and does not stop until the very end. I really enjoyed the mystery and intrigue surrounding who could be behind the present day drama and why.

Her e a few things I didn't love
There was a LOT of excessive and unnecessary gore that made me lose a star.There are a lot of characters to keep up with at the beginning
The way the flashbacks are integrated is clunky and awkward
You really need to suspend reality for so much of this - I just like a little more believability!

Let's be honest, Alex Finlay can write anything and I will read it. I'm a fan of his writing for life. I wasn't sure I could enjoy this one as much as the last but surprise - i did and I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early! It's great for thriller fans and I think most people will enjoy it. I enjoyed the characters and enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

What Have We Done is the first Finlay novel I’ve read and I will absolutely be reading more.

“They haven’t seen one another since they were teens but now are reunited for a single haunting reason: someone is trying to kill them.”

What secret are these childhood friends hiding? Is it big enough to warrant the hit that’s put out on each of them? Will they be able to outrun the truth, or must they face their past head on?

The characters, though mostly unlikable, are captivating. They pull you in and it’s impossible to put the book down. What Have We Done will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last second.


Thank you Netgalley for gifting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

They were not wrong when they said this was Finlays best yet. The Night Shift was one of my top thrillers of 2022 and this is going to be up there for 2023.

Alex Findlay delivers again. What Have We Done is captivating and so well written. This author is the only one who can describe an action scene where I can actually visualize it perfectly. Jenna, Nico, and Donnie we buddies in the group home for orphans. Banning together to survive the torment and bullying. Girls keep disappearing and when the head of the home disappears the place is shut down. Twenty-five years later, Jenna, Nico, and Donnie have something in common again - someone wants them dead. The story is told by all three as they find their way back to where it all started to find out who and why. If they work together can they stop whoever is after them? Will their past secrets be revealed? Can Jenna keep her new family safe? It will take all of her skills and more to survive.
I adore Jenna, I can tell she is modeled after Orphan X and Jason Bourne. She’s someone you don’t want after you. She just wants to be a wife and mother but she can kill.
Definitely recommend this one. The pace is good, easy to understand, and keeps you reading past bedtime. Thank you NetGalley and publishers St. Martins Press Minotaur Books this is my honest opinion.

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay
Available on March 7th, 2023 (4/5).

My thoughts:
What Have We Done is fast-paced and action packed. Had I not known who the author was, I would not have guessed it was by Alex Finlay. It is a different type of writing for the author. In some ways, it reads like a spy novel from Mission Impossible. To fully embrace the plot, one must suspend belief.

Synopsis:
As residents of Savior House, a group home for abandoned teens, Jenna, Donnie, and Nico were the closest of friends. After several kids disappeared from Savior House, the three friends were split up.

Despite the trauma of their childhood, each of them moved on to lead successful but troubled lives. It has been twenty-five years since they last saw each other, but they come together because someone is trying to kill them. The group of friends will have to revisit their childhoods. It is their past that holds the key to why someone wants them dead.

Thank you NetGalley, and St Martin's Press (Minotaur Books), for sharing this incredible book with me. Your kindness is appreciated.

#WhatHaveWeDone

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 for What Have We Done!

Are you are looking for a fast paced read that draws you in from the beginning, keeps you guessing, and doesn't let up until the very end? If so, this is your book!!

The story follows 3 adults (Jenna, Nico, and Donnie) who spent a small portion of their childhood in a volatile group home together. Each grew up, moved on, and are living very different lives. Now, someone is trying to kill them all, and not just them, but other members from their group home as well. Are they safe anywhere? Who is trying to kill them? Why are they being targeted? How far will they go to find out and stop it?

Let me say, if you enjoyed the authors other books, this book has a little different feel. The other books were more Mystery/Thriller, where this book is more Action/Adrenaline/Thriller with a mystery thrown in. It is just as good as the other books, but in a different way and with a different tone. Don't go into this book expecting the same paced mystery as the others, this one stomps its foot on the pedal and doesn't hit the brake.

From page 3 the action started and did not let up. The story switches between the 3 points of view of Jenna, Nico, and Donnie. It also includes the present and some flashbacks from the past when they were at the group home. The chapters are short and fast, each filled with adrenaline and action that keep you turning pages. I had my suspicions throughout about who was trying to kill them, but in the end I was pleasantly wrong. Multiple twists throughout the book and all around a great read. Highly recommend giving this one a read when it comes out on March 7, 2023.

DNF’d at 30%

The beginning had too many characters and so much going on. The flashbacks to the past halfway through the chapters was very confusing.

It would be a great movie, but as a book, it wasn’t for me.

2 ⭐️

I’ve heard great things about Alex Finlay’s books but I hadn’t gotten around to reading any before this. I loved the short chapters and multiple points of view. I was able to fly through this book in a couple settings.

Initially, I felt like I was on character overload, as we were introduced to so many, but it all came together pretty quickly. Divided into three parts: The Targets, The Reunion, and The Truth; the story was unveiled at just the right rate. There were some great twists that I didn’t see coming. I really liked the characters in the book, especially Jenna! Throughout chapters, characters often had flashbacks without any kind of warning to the reader. This caused me to need to read back a sentence or two to try to wrap my head around what I was reading several times.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to going reading more from this author in the near future.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an opportunity to read an uncorrected digital galley advance release copy of this book.

Okkkkk Alex Finley! This was oh-so-twisty. This started off with a bang and had me riveted from the beginning! The writing was excellent and kept me engaged. The ending was kind of a cluster otherwise I think this would have been a 5 star. Unfortunately, it got too twisted and unbelievable at the end but I look forward to more from this author!