My first Mofina book…and it was GREAT! Kept me in suspense from beginning to end. Just as I thought I had it all figured out, a new reveal had me guessing again. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

A classic film of my generation was “The Bad Seed,” asking if violence can be inherited. This sets the stage for “Everything She Feared.” Anna Shaw, 17-years-old, falls off a cliff while taking a selfie. Nine-year-old Katie Harmon was the only witness. Clearly a wilderness accident…or was it? When Katie’s mother, Sara, arrives on scene she can’t help being alarmed. There is a family secret she cannot share.

I really liked Detective Kim Pierce who tenaciously led the investigation into Anna’s death even when her coworkers insisted this was just an unfortunate accident.

There were so many suspenseful elements in this story, a less talented author would be doing a rushed wrap-up at the end. But Mofina secured all the loose strings giving the reader a satisfactory ending. I definitely have to read more of his books now. He is a master!

I received an advance copy from the publisher, but all opinions expressed here are my own.

Creepy kid? ✔️
Vague past? ✔️
Vigilante sh*t? ✔️ (hey fellow swifties 🪩)

Everything She Feared has so many amazing thriller elements in one novel and it was such an entertaining read! This needs to be a Netflix limited series ASAP

Katie Harmon (the aforementioned creepy kid) was the last person to see her babysitter before she falls off a cliff on a field trip, sketchy right? It gets sketchier because Katie keeps telling her mom and grief therapist about these “bad thoughts” she keeps having around the death and it’s just really creepy and weird

There’s another aspect to the plot that involves the brother of a woman that was murdered by a serial killer couple, who had killed a few people across a few states in the US in the past. The way this all ties in to the main plot with Katie Harmon was executed really well.

Former journalist, crime writer, and bestselling author Rick Monifa's latest highly anticipated novel, EVERYTHING SHE FEARED, is a complex, multi-layered intelligent, and riveting suspense crime thriller— that starts with a bang—when a teen babysitter falls to her death with only one witness.

What comes next is a desperate search for the killer. In this propulsive, well-written, unputdownable domestic thriller, cop procedural, and crime thriller —Monifa intricately interweaves the past and present, keeping you on the edge of your seat, flipping the pages to learn how the stories connect.

Set in Washington State/Seattle area with flashbacks to Montana, Arizona, and Idaho years earlier, Anna Shaw is a 17-year-old girl helping out Sunny Days Youth Center for a day trip outing at Sparrow Song Park with twenty-four kids, four adult supervisors, and three teen assistants.

As she often does, Anna is a babysitter for nine-year-old Katie Harmon. Katie spent the previous night with her for their early morning trip. They are the last off the bus, lagging behind the others on the trail.

When Anna backs up on the edge of the trail on the mountain to take a selfie, she falls off the cliff, hanging on a tree branch. Katie runs for help; however, they cannot save her. Katie is the only WITNESS.

What comes next is an extensive and INTENSE investigation. Was this an accident, pushed, or something more sinister? Was there criminal intent? Could this be a child murderer?

Sara Harmon, Katie's mother, is a hard-working waitress at Jet Town Diner and considering getting her real estate license. She is financially responsible for her adoptive mother's care. She is also very protective of her daughter.

Her husband, Nathaniel, died in a motorcycle accident years earlier. She is a single mom trying to overcome her traumatic past. She never wanted to have children due to her past; however, her loving, kind-hearted husband desperately wanted a child, so Katie was born. She never told him about her history.

Sara has tried to raise Katie like her adoptive parents raised her with good morals and reinforced right and wrong. However, something happened in Canada when Katie was younger, and a boy died. Sara's biological parents were also monsters, which we learn more about later. Is there evil in their DNA?

When the investigation looks like foul play is involved, Katie winds up with Anna's necklace, and her therapist is concerned with her disturbing drawings— Sara is worried that the evil/bad has passed down to her daughter. Is Katie innocent or guilty?

Adopted by a loving couple, George and Marjorie Cole, Sara's adopted dad has passed. Sara and Katie live in her mom's house, and her adopted mom resides at the Silverbrook Hills Senior Living Home.

As a reader, we do not know what happened with Sara's bio parents until later; however, we know it was terrible, and she wants no one to connect her and her daughter to her past. They have changed their names and carefully concealed their horrible past.

Between the ongoing INTENSE and complex investigation led by Detectives Pierce and Benton, the cameras, the ex-boyfriend, the rock, the sex offender, and suspects —there is an alternating story in the nineties regarding crimes in multiple states: Montana, Arizona, Idaho, and others.

A crime podcast, Tell-Tale Hearts, discusses these crimes that involved brutal murders by a husband and wife serial killer team.

Ryan, a journalist and brother of one of the victims, is determined to find his sister or her body and bring closure to the case.

The tension and suspense build with many red herrings and twists you do not see coming as the two parallel stories connect for an explosive, satisfying conclusion.

ENGROSSING! Dark and chilling, and emotionally complex— WOW! What a book. Superb writing! Dark secrets of the past flow into the present in this emotionally resonant, profoundly insightful tale of family bonds, violence, and mystery.

The author dives deep into the dark spaces of intimate family relationships as they are passed down from generation. Riveting suspense with an intense family drama at its core—from horrific murders and mysteries resurrected from the past, a storyline packed with tension, suspense, and vivid characters brings it all to life.

I cannot believe this is my first book by this talented author with an impressive bio. I read in one sitting. I must get his backlist!

What I enjoyed about EVERYTHING SHE FEARED was the highly creative and impressive investigation and how deep they had to go to come up with clues, whereas most would write this off as an accident.

I enjoyed the forensics, cop procedurals, and crime aspects, mixed with past and present mysteries. I also was highly impressed with the author's writing. He has been added to my favorite author list, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Fans of authors Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner, Michael Robotham, Fiona Barton, and Michael Connelly will enjoy this well-written thriller, both character and plot-driven, which explores genetic and environmental influences on criminal behavior. I find the topics fascinating—an ideal book club pick for further discussions.

Criminal behavior has always been a focus for psychologists due to the age-old debate between nature and nurture. Is it the responsibility of an individual's genetic makeup that makes them a criminal, or does the environment in which they are raised determine their outcome?

Great examples in the novel. While genes and environment play roles in the criminality of an individual, having a genetic predisposition for criminal behavior does not determine the actions of an individual. Still, if they are exposed to the right environment, their chances are more significant for engaging in criminal or anti-social behavior.

Thank you to #MIRA for an ARC via #NetGalley for review purposes.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: April 11, 2023
April 2023 Must-Read Books

*Full review will be shared on my main platform shortly*

I love Rick Mofina! I was introduced to his books by a coworker and fell in love automatically. One of my auto buy authors, so I was extremely excited to get an ARC for this book.

This book was so good from the very beginning! I was hooked from the first chapter and read through it as fast as I could. I enjoyed the multiple povs and how it all connected in the end.

100% a 5 star rating from me!

Thank you for my advanced copy!

4.5 stars
This book is another excellent standalone thriller by Mofina that tackles the question of whether or not evil and violence can be inherited. When a teenage babysitter falls over a cliff trying to take a selfie, a nine-year-old girl is the only witness and is actually considered to be a suspect in Anna's death. What makes this book so tense is that Katie's mother is keeping secrets and at times thinks her young daughter might really be guilty!

The book also includes descriptions of crimes from years ago as part of a podcast discussing murders committed by a husband and wife serial killer team. The brother of one of these victims also plays an important role in the story. At first, it's hard to see how these chapters fit in with the investigation into Anna's death, but it becomes apparent as the story continues.

This book is an engaging domestic thriller that is entertaining from beginning to end. It also has some elements of a procedural since some chapters are told from the point-of-view of Detective Kim Pierce who is leading the investigation into Anna's death. I really like Kim's character and would love to see another book with her as the lead investigator. I recommend this book and the author to thriller fans.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Mira Books. However, my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Book Summary:

When Katie Harmon was only nine years old, she watched her babysitter plummet to her death. Ever since that moment, her mother, Sara, has been plagued with doubts and regrets. What if her biggest fear wasn't irrational?

What if her gut instinct about having children was correct? As the years go on, others become more interested in the teen's death, unraveling the secret Sara has held close to her chest for all these years.

My Review:

I've heard a lot of good things about Rick Mofina and his writing. However, Everything She Feared is the first thing I've read of it. All things said and done, I must admit this is a pretty solid thriller! I love it when authors lean into the suspenseful side of storytelling.

There are a lot of familiar elements and tropes in this story. That said! They're combined in unique and interesting ways. This makes it impossible to tell which is the truth and which is intentional misdirection. Love it.

This is a great read if you love thrillers and creepy kid stories. On the other hand, if you are the type of reader that thinks creepy kids are just a touch too scary...walk on, my friend. Walk on.

Highlights:
Mystery/Thriller
True Crime Vibes
Family Traits

Trigger Warnings:
Child/teen Death

Everything She Feared by Rick Mofina is a highly recommended suspenseful mystery.

Anna Shaw, seventeen, is the babysitter of Katie Harmon, nine. When the two are with a group on a field trip to a Washington State park, Anna falls off the edge of a cliff while taking a selfie. Holding onto a tree, she begs Katie to run to the group they are with and get help. By the time helps arrives, Anna has already fallen to her death. Investigators gather on the scene to gather evidence. While it seems obvious, Detective Kim Pierce is less sure and senses that something else happened here. Pierce is considering that Katie may have pushed Anna. Katie's mother, Sara, also privately fears that something else may have happened but she will never share their connection to her troubling family secret.

This is an extremely well-written mystery. The plot is compelling and full of tension but it is also a slow burn. This slower pace does allow the tension to build, doubts to evolve, and questions to multiply while the investigation unfolds. Adding to the suspense is a journalist, Ryan, who has spent several years searching for a killer who was released from prison.

Sara is a well-developed, fully realized character, as are, really, all the other characters. They all feel like real people with their own concerns and problems. Sara's very real struggle, wondering if evil is inherited or made, nature versus nurture, is an age old question that has been explored many times so her struggle is understandable.

The great fact about a Rick Mofina novel is that in the progress of the narrative his characters are going to examine and experience every aspect of the story while he adds some twists and new revelations all while keeping total control of the plot. Even, as in this case, if the pacing seems slower, you will be entrenched in the novel until all the plot threads are explored, the last final twists shocks you, and then everything is pulled together in a satisfying ending.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of MIRA Books via NetGalley.



The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

This is an intriguing, twisty, and atmospheric thriller that kept me turning pages even if I guess some of the main twists.
It's a complex story told in third person and let us know what's happening to different characters and their POVs
Even if it's slow burning I felt involved and liked the sense of dread and the will of the different characters to hide or reveal secrets.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last
Recommended.
Many thanks to tMIRA for this arc, all opinions are mine

3.5 stars, rounded up. Another intriguing mystery from Rick Mofina.

Anna, a teen, falls over the side of a cliff while taking a selfie. The only witness is Katie, the nine-year-old girls she is supervising as a part of a field trip with their school. Anna clings precariously to a branch while Katie runs for help, but when others arrive, Anna has fallen to her death. Katie's mother Sara knows that there is something sinister in their past. She begins to wonder if Anna's death is a tragic accident, or could Katie possibly be involved?

This story has a lot of moving parts--many characters, points of view, and motivations. It takes a while for all of the different parts to come together in a cohesive whole, but when it does it's a race to get to the truth. This book kept me guessing until the end, I appreciated that the reader learns everything right along with the police and others, it made the story more suspenseful.

The one thing I didn't love was the portrayal of Katie. Sometimes she seemed much younger than nine, sometimes much older. Her dialogue was awkward and the interactions between Sara and Katie kept going around and around in circles. When taken as a whole, this didn't detract too much from the reading experience for me, but at certain times it tended to slow or halt the pacing.

Rick Mofina is very creative and I always look forward to his books, his plots are creative mysteries that never fail to keep my interest.

Katie is nine years old and on a day trip with a bunch of other children and their counsellors. Katie and Anna, who is a counsellor and also babysits Katie, are the last to get off the bus. Stopping near a cliff to take a selfie, Anna falls off the cliff but manages to grab a branch and hangs on. Katie runs for help but by the time she gets back, Anna is dead at the bottom of the cliff. The police are called in and investigate ... was it an accident ... or suicide ... or was Anna pushed and if so, by whom?

In the meantime, Ryan's sister, along with others, were murdered by a serial killing couple back in the 1990s. The husband committed suicide in prison and the wife served her time and was released seven years ago. Ryan has been trying to track the wife because the whereabouts of the bodies is unknown and Ryan wants to know where his sister's body is so he can give her a proper burial and have peace at last. One of the trails he is following takes him to Seattle where Anna had died.

I've read a few books by this author and thought this one was okay. It is written in third person perspective with the focus on wherever the action is. The first part of the book is intentionally vague, alluding to things that Sara knows about her past and is ashamed of ... it eventually all comes out but as it was easy enough to figure out what was going to be revealed, the book could have been edited down a bit. The ending came together quickly and was a bit convoluted.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a suspenseful, slow burn, twisty mystery that I really enjoyed! Anna Shaw babysits Katie Harmon. On a summer excursion to the nature park, Anna falls to her death when taking a selfie. Katie is the only witness. Did Katie witness a horrific event or did she push Anna? Why would a 9 year old do such an evil thing if she did? How can Katie's mother, Sara, even think that her daughter is capable of such evil? And want about the other boy who dies in Katie's presence?

Th narrators alternated between multiple characters which I really liked as it gives you insight into the character's perspective and depth. I found the changing POVs very well done. I thought the author skillfully wove together multiple themes and fast-paced scenes. As the story progressed, I found myself reading faster wanting to know what happened. I did guess part of the mystery but do not believe that took away from the suspense.

Highly recommend!

Everything She Feared is the latest emotion-filled thriller by best selling author Rick Mofina. The novel centres around Sara Harmon and her 9 year old daughter Katie, who has just witnessed a tragic death of her babysitter while on a day camp trip to the forest. While taking a selfie, Anna, Katie’s babysitter falls off a cliff and plummets to her death. Katie’s reaction and strange behaviour raises questions to the police as well as Sara. This horrible incident brings up unresolved emotions and hidden truths from the past that make Sara question if her daughter is an innocent witness or an evil child whose genetics may have contributed to the death. Is the wilderness death a perfect murder or just a hapless selfie accident?

What I liked about the book:
-the premise of a potentially evil child and her worried mother who questions whether past violent, serial killer relatives can contribute to her daughters potentially deviant behaviour and genetics
-the alternating POVs chapters consisting of Sara, and the police, as well as Ryan a journalist who has searched for closure to his sisters years ago disappearance
-the tension building with each chapter and the new pieces of information that kept me wanted more
-some red herrings and the twist at the end
-role of nature versus nurture in forming a person
-the police procedural aspect of the thriller
-short chapters

What I didn’t like about the book:
-the length-I felt that it was 100 pages too long and got a little repetitive- if it was more concise then it could have created even more tension making it more suspenseful an appealing to the reader

My rating 3 out of 5 stars ( I would have given it 4 stars if it didn’t lag in the middle and became repetitive)

Trigger warnings: childhood trauma, witnessing death, serial killers

My final takeaway: I enjoyed this tension-filled novel but I found it slightly too long and repetitive but it raised many questions about if someone has a psychopathic tendency determined at birth by their genetics or by their environment.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing Mira for this eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for my honest review

This was a great thriller, with a twisted storyline and a family of secrets. This was my first read of Rick Mofina but sure will not be my last. I will be sure to check out his backlist. It was quickly paced, and I could not put it down. I love a story with a creepy child, and this did not disappoint. I have to say I was not engaged in the podcast part of the story, but the chapters were short enough to get to the main part of the story. If you like psychological family dramas, be sure to read this! 4.5 Stars

The secret Sara has been keeping for many years is about to come out and she's worried not only for herself but also for her daughter Katie. Katie was there when Anna, the teen who was watching her, went over the side of a cliff. Did she fall while taking the selfie or was she....pushed? Detective Kim Pierce might be a rookie but she's got a nose for clues, most of which Mofina puts up in highlights here (it's not subtle). This is one of those "bad seed" novels that stretch credulity a bit but which rise and fall on the other characters. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I figured the solution out early on but kept reading and did appreciate a couple of twists.

This is the first book I've read by Mofina, but I don't believe it will be my last! It's an engaging thriller with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. I wasn't quite as pulled in to the podcast storyline, but it was important to the story overall. The author skillfully weaves a tale with suspense, entertaining characters, and fast-paced scenes that will have the reader turning the pages to find out what happens next (as well as have a hard time putting it down!).

Nine-year-old Katie was out with her day camp and her and the team instructor Anna was holding the rear when Anna decided to take a selfie it would be the last decision Anna would make because the next thing the group knew Katie was running towards them screaming help because Anna fell off the cliff and they would soon learn she was dead at the bottom. Katie is beside herself with grief or at least that’s the way it looks but for her mom Sarah this is something she not only feared but was almost certain it was destined to happen Katie is only nine years old but long before this day on the cliff Sarah worried about her daughter due to family secrets in DNA Sarah had something to worry about but while raising Katie she prepared for the worst but hope for the best. This is one crazy book I didn’t know what to put and what not to put because I didn’t want to ruin it for anyone and OMG is this good and it’s not that it had lots of twists but when you have such great writing talent twist are not something you have to depend on this was a great book and one I totally enjoyed I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future kudos to her for a great thriller read! I received this book from NetGalley and a publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review..

4.5 stars because when I wasn't quickly turning the pages of Everything She Feared I was thinking about the next chapter.

Nine year old Katie is present when Anna Shaw falls off a cliff on a day trip.

Speculation arises and questions are asked how could she have fallen.

Katie was the last person to see her.

Little known to Katie her Mom has a troubled past that has been kept secret for years.

Rick Mofina knows how to tell a story that draws you in from the first to the last page and Everything She Feared is no exception.

The tension mounts with each page as you race to the end.

Rick Mofina is a go to author for me when I want a good thriller that holds my attention and heaven help anyone that interrupts me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harelquin Trade Publishing, MIRA for a nail biting read.

I wanted to love this book so badly but it just missed the mark for me. If it was cut down by about 100 pages it would have been great. I did enjoy the twists and it kept me guessing as to who pushed Anna off the cliff. The twist at the end had me shook. Overall this was a good thriller but nothing memorable.

A teen falls off a cliff while taking a selfie and left standing over her was nine-year-old Katie. As the investigators gather information, Sara, Katie’s mom, feels something in her heart that she can’t share. For years everyone has tried to unravel what happened to a serial killer who vanished, and this case seems to have some parallels. With detectives on the verge of figuring out what happened to the girl who fell, those who are trying to keep secrets hidden become desperate. Is Katie to blame? Or was she just an innocent bystander?

Even though this book was about 450 pages it was fast read. I really enjoyed the fast-paced nature of this one and didn’t want to put it down. I do think that with the page count, the author left a lot to be desired in terms of some of the characters. Without this context I found myself annoyed the information was included and that it was unnecessary as it didn’t add to the plot. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this one and the premise is spooky and gave me chills.

If you are looking for a fast-paced twisty thriller, then check this one out April 11th.

Thank you to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, and netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


Sara Harmon was adopted very young and raised by two loving parents. While she knew she was adopted, as she got older, her parents shared more of her birth parents’ history with her. It wasn’t the nicest story a child would want to hear.

So when Sara gets a call that her daughter Katie was with her baby-sitter when the baby-sitter plunged over the edge of a cliff, Sara’s mind starts to think the worst. But Katie adored her baby-sitter. Sara simply can’t imagine that Katie would have had anything to do with Anna’s death.

One detective at the scene believes it was a tragic accident. The other has this niggling at the back of her mind that something isn’t right. Detective Pierce decides she’s going to give this tragedy the attention it deserves to ensure that if there was foul play, it will be found.

Sara is worried. Katie seems slightly oblivious to how awful everything is. And the more Sara watches Katie’s behavior, the more she wonders if Sara’s past is coming back through Katie.

It’s a very unsettling tale of hereditary or genetic predisposition to violence. Can someone born of a violent past be prone to committing similar acts of violence? Even if said person was never present during the violent acts? It’s an interesting question, and one that Sara Harmon worries is happening in her own child. Is Katie capable of horrible things?

Great page turner. The way the story unfolds with bits from the past revealed at key points. I liked this one.