I am a fan of anything David Bell writes, and this was right up there in my top three of his.
Family history always tends to make itself know even with the best attempts to keep it hidden. Will Avery and Anna Rogers fall victim to theirs?
Not going to give anything away. Well written and suspenseful!

Agreed! I love a good psychological thriller and this was pretty good! I definitely could relate more to Avery. Especially the trauma part of it all.

Try Not To Breathe

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

For David Bell’s newest thriller, I did a combination of listening to the audiobook and reading the ebook. Both are well done but with only having one narrator made the audiobook a bit confusing to follow.

The main characters are sister Anna and Avery. Anna is the protagonist and as she is only 20, parts of the thriller seemed very YA/New Adult. Her decisions felt very immature but I think would appeal to younger audiences.

The pacing of the novel is excellent and is what kept me engaged. To be honest, the story is pretty convoluted. We are following an ex-cop who is trying to find her half-sister who is anti cop at the request of her retired cop father. See what I mean?

The big “reveal” wasn’t too much of a bombshell, however the final review in the last chapter made my jaw drop. Kudos to the author to keeping the action going until the bitter end. To thriller readers who enjoy complex family dynamics- check out Try Not To Breathe!

David Bell returns following She's Gone and The Finalists with his latest novel, TRY NOT TO BREATHE —An ex-cop sets out to find her missing sister and discovers the shocking truth about her family in this action-packed domestic suspense thriller!

CHARACTERS:
Sisters:
Avery - Former cop. The oldest, Nine years older than Anna. Graduate student. Security guard. PTSD.
Anna - Age 21. Half-sister. In college. Roommate Kayla. Ran away for a protest—Russell's daughter.
Alisha - Eight years older than Anna. Married. Two children. Close with Avery—Anna's legal guardian.

Dad: Ex-cop (KSP) Russell Rogers. Domineering and Controlling. He cheated on Avery/Alisha's mom. Their marriage fell apart before the girls were teens.
Avery & Alisha's mom: Margaret (deceased)
Anna's mom: Jane

After a traumatic experience in the line of duty, Avery Rogers (30) leaves her position as a Kentucky State Police officer. Retreating to a college town, she works as a security guard while attending graduate school, trying to figure out her life.

Her father, a retired cop (controlling), after being shot— sends her an urgent message she needs to track down her half-sister, Anna.

Then something happens to Kala. Were they looking for Anna? Did it relate to something Russ did when he was a cop?

Anna, the younger half-sister, is done with her family (after a falling out with her dad). After a scare at college which she thinks is a stalker, she leaves to stay with Rachel in Louisville and attends a police brutality protest (Tanya Burns shooting).

Avery's dad had told her to stop in Louisville to see Charlie, a friend and retired Black cop who had worked with Russ, now a farmer. He goes along with Avery.

After seeing Avery at the protest, Anna receives a shocking text. Now she is running and pursued by her older sister and a stalker.

Avery discovers Anna's hiding place near a remote cave system; she risks everything to save her. There are dark hidden family secrets, and the sisters are unaware. Why does their family need protection?

Bell ratchets up the tension in this fast-paced suspense-action crime thriller with dark family secrets. This is his best yet! The author dives deep into the family dynamics, with well-developed characters, exploring emotionally charged topics. Thought-provoking, TRY NOT TO BREATHE is an ideal book club pick for further discussions. I enjoy Avery's character immensely.

Topics: Police brutality, aging parents, family drama, loss, PTSD, betrayal, dark family secrets. For fans of authors— Lisa Gardner, Wendy Walker, and Mary Kubica.

Thanks to Berkley for a gifted ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted at
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 27, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
June 2023 Must-Read Books

Try Not to Breath by David Bell is a fast-paced, heart-stopping, complex thriller to find a murderer and save Anna Rogers before it's too late.

My Reading Experience:
I could not put this book down, and that's saying something, considering it's over 400 pages. I read this long into the night as I had to know the answers to all the questions that popped up as another piece of the puzzle was revealed. The twists, turns, secrets, and dangers make this story the ultimate thrill ride.

I also loved the family themes, which are so poignant and well-developed that my heart ached for the entire Rogers family. With health issues, miscommunications, and transition periods all descending on this family quickly, I wondered if there was enough love and fortitude to keep this family together, especially when they faced dangers that put them all at risk.

The story is well-written, tightly woven, and highly engaging from page one. The dialogue at the very beginning was strangely awkward, but afterward, it all flowed smoothly and authentically. Try Not to Breath is my ideal type of thriller in every regard – it has good character development, heart-wrenching family themes, a focused plot, and keeps my eyes on the page from beginning to end.

Characters:
Anna Rogers is the youngest daughter in the Rogers family. Her father is a retired chief of police (state police), and her mother is a homemaker and former legal professional. She also has two older sisters – Avery and Alicia – from her father's first marriage.
Anna is at that stage in life when she is driven by ideals and passionate about her beliefs. She is also trying to find her place in the adult world and is in a state of transition, not knowing which way to go – which path is for her.

Anna is not a very likable character, nor is her father. Still, the rest of the Rogers clan are highly relatable and either sympathetic or relatable. While I found Anna frustrating, I could sympathize with her older sister Avery who arguably holds the main character slot with Anna. She has been handed a bucketful of lemons in life, and all her responses to things are based on just trying to make sense of it all and to survive the best way she knows how.

Narration & Pacing:
The narration is 3rd person though I don't think I'd call it omniscient. The focus does jump around to different characters, and the reader is kept in the dark about many details until they are revealed as part of the plot. The narration lies somewhere between omniscient and limited because it is limited to quite a few characters (which technically would still be considered limited in any English classroom, but for purposes of my review, I'm trying to paint a more complete picture.)

The pacing is breakneck from beginning to end, even with all the story encompasses.

Setting:
The setting is Kentucky, and it works perfectly in this story. Different areas are utilized in just the right ways, from the city to a few small towns and even rural areas. The whole state plays a part in this story.

Read if you're in the mood for:
• A fast-paced thriller you won't be able to put down.
• A story that is adventurous, dark, emotional, mysterious, and tense
• Family themes that are heart-wrenching

I was so excited when the publisher invited me to read this , it sounding so much like something I would enjoy but sadly it wasn't, I just couldn't get into the story because of the 2 sisters and how it sometimes felt like it was repeating what was already talked about . And how one sister treated the other one.

I received a gifted galley of TRY NOT TO BREATHE by David Bell for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRHAudio, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

TRY NOT TO BREATHE follows a messy family situation. Avery is a former police officer who has had to reimagine her life after a traumatic event, working a boring but safe job as a security guard. When her father calls to tell her that her half-sister Anna is missing, Avery doesn’t imagine there’s really much wrong but she’s convinced to take up the search.

Anna is fed up with her father, a retired police officer. She’d much rather stand with those protesting against police brutality than side with her police supporting family. She’s never been close to Avery, so seeing her sister looking for her, she’s quick to head the other direction. Problem is that Anna’s on longer just rebelling, it seems someone is out to actually get her and she’s in actual danger.

I would personally classify this book a bit more as a family drama with thriller/mystery elements than a thriller. This worked out well for me as I needed a book about siblings for a reading challenge prompt! I thought that the relationship between Avery and Anna was well done in a messy and complicated way.

We get both sisters’ POVs and I liked the way we got very different storylines for each of them that slowly drew together. I think the author did well at slowly bringing out reveals and details. We’re also getting a bit of mental health rep as Avery is dealing with the trauma she has been through, though I did think there was a bit more room for discussion there.

Overall this is a book that kept me reading and wanting to find out more answers!

David Bell brings plenty of suspense and trepidation to his latest novel, Try Not to Breathe . Avery Rogers had a traumatic experience in the line of duty as a Kentucky State Police officer. She resigned her position and left her relationship with Hank. She’s now working as a college campus security officer to pay for graduate school. Her father Russell Rogers, a retired police captain injured in the line of duty, calls Avery saying her half-sister is missing and in danger. Anna is fed up with her family and decided to attend a police brutality protest, but danger is not far away from her. Avery thinks Anna is just out with friends, but eventually agrees to search for her.

The author clearly differentiates the personality traits of the two sisters as well as their middle sister, Alisha. They came to life and readers can easily intuit even their hidden, unspoken feelings. Anna is partying too much, staying out late, and failing in school. She is also fed up with half-sister Avery who resents her and their domineering father. What has thrown Anna into a downward spiral? Avery suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is somewhat estranged from her family. She’s a strong, but vulnerable protagonist. Why has she seemingly abandoned her family? Besides the two sisters’ points of view, readers also get insight into the antagonists through one of their viewpoints. There’s more going on than is initially obvious.

The characterization, world building, and pacing were well-done in this novel. Set mainly in and around fictional Rydell, Kentucky, this riveting thriller has a deeply involved plot, some twists and turns, and an action-packed ending. However, I felt the beginning was a little slow and there was a need for some additional clarification on the ending. A few things were left unresolved.

The author brings suspense, action, and intense moments to this fast-paced novel that is full of a sense of urgency and prose that flows well. It’s thought-provoking as family relationships, aging parents, friendships, bullying, crimes, and more are explored.

Overall, this novel was engrossing and kept me on the edge of my seat. While this is only the second book that I have read by this author, I am looking forward to reading more of his thrillers. Those who enjoy crime thrillers with great world-building and flawed main characters dealing with timely contemporary issues will likely find this novel a winner.

Berkley Publishing Group and David Bell provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be June 27, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Thank you to PRHAudio/Berkeley for the ALC/ARC!

Anna is upset with her parents and not answering their calls. Her father, Russell, is a retired police captain in Kentucky and tries to use his influence to at least find out if she is okay. He’s afraid someone from his past is out for revenge. Anna’s older sister Avery is also a former police officer and she decides to try to find Anna herself. When she finally locates her sister, the two of them set out to find the truth even if it destroys the family they’ve know.

This was a very action-packed, character driven story. Told from multiple points of view, readers get to see the perspectives of Anna and her sister Avery, who doesn’t understand Anna but yet still risks everything to help her. That being said, it read to me two different books, and the shift between the two parts was a bit abrupt. I did enjoy the second part much more than the first, and I suppose part of that can be because I found it hard to relate to Anna in the first part. I thought she behaved selfishly without regard to anyone else in her life who loved her. But I did appreciate seeing her growth as a character and her relationship with her sister. I would love to read more by this author.

This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Fast Moving and Unrelenting Tension

SUMMARY
Anna Rogers is a drunk spiraling college student arriving home at two in the morning after a night partying. A man she doesn’t know and can barely see approaches her outside her door. She makes it inside just in time, but she is petrified because the man seems to know her name. Kayla, her roommate wants to call the police, particularly after receiving a text from Anna’s father, a retired chief of police, who is worried about his daughter not being in touch. Anna despises her parents and her two step-sisters and wants nothing more than to get away from them all.

Ana hits the road to crash with friends and attend a protest against police brutality. Little does she know that two people are pursuing her. One is indeed the stalker that had approached her the other night, and the other is her step-sister Avery who had been dispatched by their father to find her and bring her home safely.

Avery had also been in law enforcement at one time but stopped to go back to school after a traumatic near-drowning incident in the line of duty. She has no desire to go tracking down Anna, but after being coerced by their other sister, she acquiesces. Avery spots Anna at the protest which has gone violent, but is unable to get ahold of her. Anna takes off again after receiving some shocking news, and Avery soon tracks her down to a closely guarded compound in the middle of nowhere with lots of secrets inside. Avery wants nothing more than to leave Anna at the compound, but she also has begun to worry about Anna’s safety.


REVIEW
The writing in Try Not To Breathe is gut-wrenching and transports us into a harrowing chase to find Anna and get her back home safely. The story is fast-moving and filled with unrelenting tension and high drama. Author David Bell carefully peels away layer after layer to reveal an extraordinary ending that explores the shocking depths people will go to survive.

Author David Bell creates a robust cast of characters that include the family, Anna’s roommate and friends, Avery’s friends, police detectives, and a host of bad guys. Each character adds drama and suspense to the story, making for a skillfully executed plot.

Author David Bell is an Award winning suspense novelist, his most recent thriller is Kill All Your Darlings. He is currently a professor of English and Western Kentucky University.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Berkley
Published June 27, 2023
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Try Not to Breath by David Bell is a standalone exciting thriller. Avery Rogers, our heroine, is a former cop, who came close to getting herself killed, and decides to walk away from her job. She gets a job to work at a college, as a security guard, which she felt was safer; her father, a former cop, constantly taunts her for leaving her job as a police officer. Avery remains distant from her parents, as well as her two sisters. She then gets a call from her father, that her sister, Anna, disappears from campus, and is missing.

We meet Anna Rogers, who is also distant from her family, as she is fed up with her father, as well as her sister, Avery. Anna lives with a roommate at school, and she leaves school to attend a protest against police brutality, unaware that someone is following her.

Avery agrees to find Anna, especially now that her roommate was murdered, something Anna is not aware of. At the protest, Avery spots Anna, and tries to get her out of harm’s way; but with help from a former cop, everything falls apart, as the danger escalates, and people are injured.

Anna receives a message that changes everything, and she goes to meet someone to learn the truth about her life, with secrets and lies endangering both Anna and Avery. Avery managed to find Anna, but when some secrets are exposed, can she save her, and will she survive?

What follows is a wild last half of the book, that will keep you unable to put the book down, with so much going on throughout. Desperately trying to convince Anna to leave with her, Avery puts her own life in danger. Avery manages to step up, using her strength to fight, and at the same time overcome her fears. There are a lot of things going on in this story, such as family drama, parents, sisters, as well as family secrets that need to be revealed.

Try Not to Breath was very well written by David Bell, as it was intense and exciting. As we reach close to the end, the sisters will bond, and discover the explosive family secrets that are catching up with them. I suggest you read this book, as it will keep you engrossed throughout.

I flew through this book! His chapters are short and makes the reading seem faster, but there was a lot going on in this book. I didn't care for the character names (all starting with A), which makes it hard to keep them separate. I love this author and will pick up anything he writes knowing I'm in store for a great thriller.

Anna is upset with her parents and wants nothing to do with them. Her dad, Russell, is a retired police captain in Kentucky and is pretty well-known. When Anna stops answering messages from her parents, her older step-sister, Avery, who is an ex-cop is asked by her father to look for Anna. He's afraid someone from his past police days may have taken her as some sort of revenge. As Avery sets out to find Anna, she finds out more than she knew about Anna and her family all together.

I've been reading David Bell's books for a very long time and this story is very engrossing. I was interested to see why Anna was so upset with her family at the time. She was not very nice to Avery, but she wouldn't give up on Anna and helped her through the entire story. I definitely didn't see the twist coming, so that was a nice surprise. If you like books filled with action, family drama and police, I am sure you would enjoy TRY NOT TO BREATHE. I do think this book would make an incredible movie.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break. book. reviews) in the near future.

I am very thankful to Berkley Publishing Group, NetGalley, and PRH Audio, but this one just wasn’t for me. Trying Not to Breathe hits shelves on June 27, 2023, and maybe it’ll be for someone else.

I typically really enjoy books with a reference to serial killers and missing persons cases, but this one hit too close to home, especially seeing as this felt very similar to the events that surrounded the Breonna Taylor case. This book also takes place in Kentucky, my home state and follows police officers who are facing backlash after the corrupt brutality that they enforced.
In the book, you hear from two parties of different opinions, a liberal, rebellious daughter who attends several activist marches and protests and then her older sister and father who both share similar roles in law enforcement and feel ill towards the victims of police brutality.

It just felt like too much, and I’m not sure if the author shares the same feelings as the police MCs of this novel, but I just can’t relate to that hate.

Avery left the police after a traumatic event and works as a security guard at a local
college in Kentucky . She’s estranged from her family but when her step sister disappears from campus, Avery has no choice but to try and track her down.

Try Not to Breathe by David Bell is an interesting psychological thriller. A fast paced story with short chapters made it an entertaining read .

I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Oh David Bell, you have done it again!

David Bell is an auto-buy author for me. There has not been one book published that I have not read and obsessed over. Bell has wrote some of my all time favorite books, including, She's Gone and now, Try Not to Breathe.

This book is insane!!!!!

I thought I was heading into Memorial Day Weekend with some relaxing reading and beachy reads but my pulse was racing and my heart was pounding the minute I picked this one up.

I raced through this book and could not flip the pages fast enough. David Bell is a literary genius and nothing compares to his writing style.

5 stars, 5 stars, 5 stars

Teaser :

An ex-cop sets out to find her missing sister and discovers the shocking truth about her family...

A traumatic experience in the line of duty forces thirty-year-old Avery Rogers to abandon both her relationship and her position as a Kentucky State Police officer. She retreats to a college town where she works an unfulfilling job as a security guard, breaking up fights between drunken frat boys.

But a frantic phone call turns Avery’s life upside down. Her father—a retired cop who never fails to convey his disappointment in Avery—says her half sister is missing and in danger. Avery is sure Anna’s just crashing with friends, but her father strong-arms her into searching for the sister she barely knows.

Anna Rogers is fed up with her family—a half sister who resents her existence and a domineering father who thinks it’s okay for cops to shoot unarmed civilians. She hits the road to attend a protest against police brutality, unaware of the danger that awaits her there.

Just after catching a glimpse of Avery at the protest, Anna receives a shocking text. Now she’s no longer road-tripping; she’s running, pursued by an older sister she doesn’t trust and a violent stranger who has been stalking her for weeks.

When Avery discovers Anna’s hiding place near a remote cave system, she risks everything to save her. Little do the sisters know that a secret is catching up to them—a secret at the very heart of their family history.

Read if you like:
🔪 Thrillers
🚔 Cops
🧠 PTSD Rep

This was such a smart and well written thriller and I am so glad I had a chance to read it!

I truly think this one is one that you should go I blind for as much as possible as I think going in blind will definitely increase the suspense.

The writing of this one is so well done and truly I highly recommend it as a thriller when the mood strikes!

I also loved the family dynamics in this one as I thought they were so well written and truly added to the suspense along the way!

Thank you Berkley for my ARC in exchange for my review!

At first, it just seems like a spoiled kid, throwing a tantrum, evading, her parents’ phone calls, and then you realize there is so much more to the story than just that. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I didn’t see the twist coming. But I also felt like David Bell left the story a little bit unfinished with not sharing how everything turned out. Perhaps there will be a part two? This book was an easy read, good storyline, and a good way to spend the afternoon. There was a twist at the end that is unexpected, but it did not take away from the story. Character development and writing were good

Thank you for the ARC of this title via NetGalley from Berkley! I look forward to reading and providing a thoughtful review of this work by David Bell.

I found the premise of Try Not To Breathe intriguing but unfortunately I struggled to finish the book. I didn't connect with the characters and the first 2/3 of the book are pretty slow. Things pick up in the last 1/3 when a major twist is revealed, but at that point it's pretty easy to figure out how things will play out. While this book was not a favorite for me, I do look forward to the author's future releases.