Avery followed her father’s career path, becoming an officer in the Kentucky State Police. But after a traumatic call, she quit her job and left her boyfriend, also a KSP officer, opting to enroll in graduate school while working as a university security guard and avoiding her family—her father, injured in the line of duty, her stepmother, in the early phases of dementia, and Anna, her younger half-sister, who she resents.

For her part, Anna, a college student, has lost focus and started struggling in her classes. The last time she visited home, she and her father argued about a deadly police shooting, him taking the position that the officer was justified. She decides to drive to Louisville for a protest without telling anyone.

Avery’s father calls her insisting she track Anna down. Though Avery thinks he’s overreacting, she finally agrees especially after making a harrowing discovery in Anna’s apartment. She and her father’s former partner make it to the protest, but a combustible combination of protestors, counter-protestors, and SWAT (some of the latter of whom prove the point of the protest) unleash terrible violence. Before the park is cleared, Avery and Anna make contact, but they are quickly separated.

Anna learns a devastating secret and flees, but Avery tracks her to a county led by a corrupt sheriff and run by a criminal family. Getting her back safely will require Avery to confront her darkest fears and reassess the meaning of family.

This book kept me reading because I wanted to find out what happened! I really enjoyed aspects of the book, such as the behavior of police, the courage of the undocumented immigrants in the story, and how the mystery came together which was truly jaw-dropping. I thought both Avery and Anna made impetuous and misguided decisions, and that key figures kept information from Avery when it would have been useful in her mission. It’s a very entertaining read though, and so much different than KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS. This is a great beach read for thriller lovers.

What a wild ride! This book focuses on two characters – half-sisters Anna and Avery. Avery is a current college campus security guard after an experience as a state police officer left her traumatized and unable to continue working. Her father is a retired cop who was injured in the line of duty, and while they both are officers of the law, they see things slightly differently, especially after the drama surrounding his divorce with her mother because of his affair. Anna is the result of the affair that broke up their father and Avery’s mother, and it seems that she might blame Anna for everything, although Anna just feels that she isn’t close to her sister, and while she loves her parents, after a significant world event involving cops, Anna is at odds with her father over his viewpoint, and decides to ice him out, resulting in him reaching out to Avery to find Anna as he fears she is missing, especially after Avery finds Anna’s roommate dead. This was an interesting read that was slightly confusing, and really the ending is what saved it for me, finding out Anna’s true identity, and both sisters finding out the truth about their father and Anna’s mother.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

If high intensity suspense thrillers are your jam, do I have a book for you. Try Not to Breathe kept me flipping pages way into the night. It hits the ground running and never lets up. Twisty, compelling, a surprise around every corner, this one kept me guessing right up until the final, breath-stealing reveal.

Dysfunctional family dynamics are at the heart of this tale, threaded throughout both the mystery surrounding a murder and Anna's stalker, as well as the fraught sibling relationship between Anna and Avery. And that's not even taking into account the complexities of the relationships both women have with their hardline father.

If you're looking for a romance-centric thriller this may not be the book for you, but if you're in the mood for a danger-filled, action-packed, thought-provoking roller-coaster ride with a light romantic thread, give this one a try. I enjoyed it and will be looking for more books from this author.
4.5 Stars

*ARC received from publisher. Fair and unbiased review.

Sister dynamics and family secrets in Try Not to Breath by David Bell.

"Avery Rogers left the Kentucky State Police after a water rescue went bad. Now she works campus security and feels like she's barely hanging on.
Anna Rogers is the sister that nobody wanted. She ditches class to head to a protest march. She has no idea of the danger she's in.
Avery gets a call to find her younger sister but loses track of her after the protest turns to chaos. She tracks her to a remote farm. But family secrets have a way of not staying secret..."

This is an entertaining read from Bell. It's full of complicated family dynamics. A superb twist at the end. Some unexpected revelations. And of course - the secrets - so many secrets. No character wants to bring up the past - because then they would have to answer for their decisions.

Bell uses current events to wrap his story in. Plenty of unlikable characters to choose from but also some to cheer for. A messy ending but I like it.

Some good fiction to add to your summer reading list.

David Bell has done it again! edge-of-your-seat suspenseful, gripping, and rippling with trepidation. I read this during an insomnia riddled night, and it did an excellent job of keeping me company because I was thoroughly entertained and turning the pages at a rapid, frantic pace. I practically got whiplash from all the twists and turns. I will definitely continue reading his books!

***thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book via netgalley exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley, David Bell and Berkley Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I am usually really interested in Bell’s writing, but for some reason this one did not connect fully for me. The beginning was good and got me really into it, but the middle just seemed like nothing was going on and all the action is in the end. It was well written, just not as fast paced and twisty as I am used to for Bell.

Out July 27th!

I always enjoy a David Bell novel, and being a Kentucky girl, I like that I can picture so many of the settings he mentions in his books. Try Not to Breathe started out a little slower than I expected from Bell, but it does pick up as the story progresses. It never quite makes it to what I would consider a thriller, though. It feels more like a domestic suspense. That said, there are a couple of things going on that raise the creep factor a bit. Like the mystery around Anna's stalker. The family secret wasn't too hard to figure out, but the twist at the end was still a pretty good one despite the predictability. The book is well written, and while I didn't find the characters exactly likable (at least at first), I wanted to know how things would turn out for them. All things considered, this one isn't my favorite David Bell novel, and it's more domestic suspense than thriller, but it's still a good book overall. I feel like this one would do well on screen with its colorful characters and family drama.

There’s nothing better than secrets to split a family up and make for a great read! I really enjoyed this thriller and it was the 2nd book I’ve read by this author and I do think it was better than the one before (Cemetery Girl). I loved the back stories of the two half-sisters, their disabled but highly respected police officer dad they shared, and the sinister secret hiding in the Kentucky woods. The book had a pretty good steady pace, kept me invested in both even though at times I was a bit frustrated with how the sisters treated each other. I loved the way it ended and I really think book 2 should be done – just saying. This was a fun thriller if you are looking for a thriller beach read!

Try Not to Breathe is a fast-paced thriller. The chapters are short, which I like. The storyline moves quickly but not so quick that you lose any of the plot. The characters are relatable, each with their own drama in their lives and within their families.



There is a lot going on in this book. There is family dynamic issues, being a blended family. The parents are aging and in need of extra help. Police brutality is mentioned numerous times but not explored too much, I would have like to know more about the background of this. The three main characters were half-sisters with their names starting with A, at times this was confusing and hard to keep track of even though it was explained why their names started with the same letter.



David Bell is an amazing author and I recommend all his books to anyone who reads thrillers. Try Not to Breathe is another book that I will start recommending.

4.25/5

Well, it seems that David Bell has done it again! And by again, I mean a page-turner, hell of a ride full of mystery and pulse-pounding moments. Try Not to Breathe is basically everything I have come to expect from one of my favorite authors (Bell 😉), and the premise of an ex-cop setting out to find her 'missing' sister was right up my alley. There are several viewpoint switches to keep things interesting, and Bell decided to tackle multiple subjects that I wasn't expecting to find in these pages. I thought he would dig a little deeper into them than he did, but he certainly brought up a lot of current issues. I wouldn't say I completely loved this aspect just because I like my fiction to be more removed from reality, but I'm sure a lot of readers will appreciate them.

The audiobook gets an honorable mention thanks to our sole narrator Erin Spencer. It is very common for this author's audiobooks to only have one narrator and it's usually a man, but being as our main viewpoints here are girls, it made sense. I would have liked to see different narrators for the various viewpoints though, and Spencer's voice was a little too sweet for the cruder male POVs in my opinion. However, that is nothing against her though and her narration was spot on, especially for Avery and Anna. I could totally see this being made into a movie, and if it was, I would definitely watch it. If you are a fan of Bell, I don't see how you won't enjoy Try Not to Breathe, and I officially have a copy on my shelf!

David Bell's latest novel has hit shelves and online retailers. Dubbed a thriller, I felt this was more of a domestic suspense at best.

This was not my first Bell book. "Kill All Your Darlings" was a 4 star thriller that I reviewed in 2021.

This book started very, very slow and stay that way for 85% of the story. I found it so hard to pick up and read it daily because I truly didn't connect or care about a single character in the book.

The three sisters names were all similar so even halfway through the book I was still confused about who was who. This family was truly dysfunctional, and while some of the character's backstories were interesting, the book just lacked action.

The ending was predictable and when it did come it felt rushed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me an advanced e-copy to read for my honest opinion. It was a 3 star read for me.

As mentioned, "Try Not To Breathe" is available now in the U.S.A. wherever you buy books.

Happy Reading!

Try Not To Breathe by David Bell @davidbellnovels

Out Today !!✨

Thank you to @berkleypub and netgalley for my #gifted copy!

Anna is struggling with her family. Her ex police captain dad hasn’t made that easy. She decides that she’s had enough and cuts contact while she trying to figure things out and from there things just spiral.

Gripping and compelling, I was just as curious as Anna to figure out what the heck was happening and why everyone was being so cagey. Little pieces start coming together as you go in the story. I love how flawed Anna and Avery both were, they were so relatable. This was a wild ride of a complicated thriller that I didn’t want to put down. I loved all the family drama mixed with high action that ensues

"Try Not To Breathe" was disappointing. I liked the plot outline, but the book itself seemed badly organized, not to mention overly long. The first third, involving a police shooting, turned out to be basically irrelevant to the actual plot, which eventually did pick up a little steam. But the sisters weren't believable (or likable), and the big reveal at the end was complicated to the point of silliness.

This book is filled with suspense and realistic details about family relationships. Avery is working as a campus policeman but not feeling too great about it when her father (an ex-cop) insists that she give up her job and go find her younger sister Anna. Their father is convinced that Anna is in danger and that only Avery can help her, so Avery does as he says. The book was interesting from the very beginning but ramped up its intensity and pace once Avery started looking for Anna. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the events in this book came at me fast and furiously…with a lot of twists and red herrings and unexpected occurrences. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters who were getting to know secrets about themselves and their lives. I also liked the hard-driving pace that did not ever let up, keeping me wrapped up in the plot and its topics of family, secrets, and danger in strange places. This is a commentary on police action and a thriller about consequences for past choices. The chapters are mostly short and quick to read and even though the book is long, my time with it just flew by. The book was hard to put down, drawing me to continue reading and find out what would happen to the two sisters and how their dilemmas were related to the past and the present. Absorbing, engrossing and totally captivating book!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

David Bell writes great thrillers and Try Not To Breathe is no exception. Avery isn't close to her family and she even moves away. She receives a phone call from her dad that her sister is missing. Even though Avery isn't close to Anna, Avery goes to find her. Besides danger, there is a massive family secret hot on their tails! I read this book in 2 days as I needed to know what would happen! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

The novel is mainly narrated via the POVs of two sisters, with occasional POVs of secondary characters. It's a fairly long novel at almost five hundred pages, but I read it in about three to four days, which nowadays is a record for me.

I thought the majority of the novel was a slow-burn, albeit an entertaining one, and the ending certainly made up for it. The last fourth of the book was so intense that I didn't go to sleep until 2:30 AM. It had a few twists, and I guessed almost all of them, except for one that's revealed at the very, very end.

I was on the fence about the inclusion of the social commentary. I think it's important to acknowledge social issues, but it didn't add anything to this storyline, and it felt gratuitous and/or exploitative. Also, I get frustrated with books that have several chapters that end in cliffhangers that don't get addressed until much later on.

Gripping, suspenseful, hard to put down and dripping with tension! David Bell has wowed me yet again with this riveting page turner that had me turning the pages not wanting to put this book down!

Avery Rogers was a police officer with the Kentucky State Police, but after frightening and traumatic experience in the line of duty, left her badge and job as a police officer behind. She is reluctant when her sister and father, a retired police officer, ask her to look for her younger sister, Anna, who is missing and in possible danger. Reluctantly she agrees....

Anna Rogers, a college student, decided to visit a friend and attend a protest police brutality. She knows her family does not approve and is not taking their calls. She has no idea why they are frantically trying to locate her.

When they see each other at the protest, neither Avery nor Anna realizes just how much both of their lives are about to change!

WOWZA!! This was a tense and gripping book that I did not want to put down. David Bell has crafted an interesting set of characters with intriguing back stories. Anna is a young adult; she has her own mind and does not want to be told what to do by her family. She clashes with her family and never felt accepted by her oldest sister Avery. Bell adeptly captures her feelings and emotions. Showing her trying to be her own person and stand on her own. Avery is suffering from PTSD and has always kept Anna at arm’s length, always making it known how she feels about Anna. Bell shows her inner turmoil, thoughts, and emotions. Their father is a retired police officer who was wounded in duty. He always stressed being safe and educating his children on the dangers in the world. I thought he did a fantastic job showing each character’s motivations, their secrets, and emotions.

The books went from tense to pulse pounding as the danger mounts. My heart was racing, and I was on the edge of my seat during the final chapters of the book. I could feel the characters’ anxiety and tension jumping off the pages. This book had a little bit of everything that I enjoy - family drama, family secrets, a mystery, an intriguing plot, suspense, and great characters.

As with Bell's other books, [book:Try Not to Breathe|62920207] is well written, well thought out and perfectly paced. He has created characters that I cared about and a captivating storyline that had me fully invested.

I can't wait to read what David Bell writes next!

Gripping, jaw dropping, pulse pounding, well written and perfectly paced!

David Bell's Try Not to Breathe has got it all -- little bit domestic thriller, a little bit police procedural, and a whole lot of suspense,

The Rogers family is your classic dysfunctional one with all kinds of tension and drama, but my favorite character was definitely Avery. Not only is she trying to live up to expectations that her father has set for her, but she's struggling to find her place in the world and her family. When she follows Anna into a dangerous situation, not only does she have to confront her issues with her sister, but she also has to battle her past demons. Everyone has difficult choices to make, and some of them will mean life and death.

Try Not to Breathe is classic David Bell. With a quick-moving plot line and characters you can't help but love, it's a must read!

3.5/5

I’m a longtime fan of the author and will read anything he writes but something about this one felt a little off for me. It wasn’t the writing, that was as strong as it always is so I guess maybe it was the plot and pacing. I was interested in the story but it was such a slow burn that I did start to lose interest at some points. I think it was a little drawn out and could have maybe been wrapped up a little sooner but the way it ended was satisfying even if the route to get there took a long time. Not my favorite from the author but still a decent read.

Thank you Berkley for the opportunity to participate in the blog tour for Try Not to Breathe by David Bell.

This story was everything I was anticipating.
Bell crafts such a captivating and incredibly entertaining story.
I enjoyed everything about Try Not to Breathe.
The gripping and speedy pace, the vivid characters, the skillful narration, the unwavering tension. It all adds up to one fantastic story that will leave you in high anticipation of what David Bell will come out with next!
Very well written, cleverly crafted and massively entertaining.
I love the author's writing and how he seems to set scenes and paint pictures so cleverly. The characters were vividly captured all well rounded and realistic.
I enjoyed his previous titles and his newest one was no different.
As you can tell, I highly recommend this incredible novel!

“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Berkley for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!