Thank you for the to preview Twenty Seven Minutes.
A young woman is in an accident and questions remain ten years after on why it took so long to get her help. Why did it take Twenty Seven Minutes?
Told in alternate voices the characters tell their stories and secrets. 3.5 stars

The small town of West Wilmer grapples with the tragic loss of a young girl, Phoebe Dean. The heart of the mystery revolves around the haunting question of why Phoebe's brother, Grant, took twenty-seven minutes to call for help on the night of a fatal car accident. The narrative unfolds with an exploration of grief, guilt, and the dark secrets that bind the town's residents.

Grant, burdened by memories of that fateful night and the weight of a hidden secret, faces the approaching anniversary of Phoebe's death. The town, still haunted by unanswered questions, becomes a stifling backdrop for the characters wrestling with their demons. Grant's struggle intensifies as he grapples with the impact of the accident on his future, reputation, and the loss of his sister. The narrative takes a compelling turn as Becca, a witness to the events on the bridge that night, emerges as a key player in protecting Grant's secret. The tension builds as the characters confront their pasts, and the anniversary becomes a catalyst for the unravelling of long-held mysteries.

June, another character in the story, carries her burden—the disappearance of her brother Wyatt, who has been missing for ten years. A mysterious visitor brings hope and the possibility of uncovering the truth about Wyatt and the events on the bridge. The narrative converges over three days, culminating in a shocking twist that promises to leave readers breathless. It is a gripping tale that delves into the depths of grief, the consequences of secrets, and the pursuit of truth. With elements of mystery and suspense, the novel explores the complexities of human relationships and the enduring impact of tragedy on a tight-knit community.

It is a riveting debut that masterfully weaves together the threads of grief, guilt, and hidden secrets in the aftermath of a tragic event. The author skillfully explores the impact of loss on individuals and a community, creating a narrative that is both poignant and suspenseful. The central mystery of why it took Grant Dean twenty-seven minutes to call for help sets the stage for a compelling exploration of the character's emotions and the consequences of keeping secrets. Tate's storytelling unfolds with a sense of urgency, capturing the reader's attention from the first page and maintaining the suspense throughout.

The characters, particularly Grant, Becca, and June, are intricately developed, each carrying their burdens and facing the repercussions of the past. The author excels in portraying the complexities of human relationships and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect the ones they love. The pacing of the narrative is well-executed, building tension as the anniversary of Phoebe's death approaches and the characters confront their demons. The shocking twist in the climax adds a layer of unpredictability, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The book delivers a gripping and emotionally charged story. Ashley Tate's debut establishes her as a promising voice in the literary suspense genre, offering readers a thought-provoking and immersive experience.

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is a suspenseful drama that unfolds at an unhurried pace and is told in a non-linear structure from the perspective of multiple characters. It is a satisfying narrative that delves into the possibilities of a truth that lies buried under perspectives skewed due to intense self-centric behaviours.

Twenty-Seven Minutes, what I would classify as a slow-burn Literary Suspense novel, is a debut for author, Ashley Tate. In this story, we settle into the small town of West Wilmer, where 10-years ago, their local It-Girl, Phoebe Dean was killed in a car accident on the way home from a party. Her brother, Grant, was the driver that night and for unknown reasons, he waited 27-minutes after the crash before he called 9-1-1.

Yeah, it's suspicious and rumors have swirled for years that the reason he waited so long was that he needed to sober up. For a multitude of reasons, this tragedy hit the town especially hard. As the 10th-anniversary approaches, a memorial is planned for Phoebe and the town is abuzz again with theories and speculation about that night. As you can imagine, this causes stress for those closest to the incident. It's like they have to keep repeating the worst night of their life over and over again. Why won't people just let them forget?

This story is told via multiple POVs and a dual timeline, as we follow those most effected by the events of that night. Basically, if Phoebe's death were a pebble dropped in a pond, we'd be following the ripples closest to impact. And honestly, that's how I thought of this set-up. It worked.

As past and present begin to merge, the truth about that night is finally made clear for the Reader. It's an emotional and angst-filled journey that doesn't rush anything along. I enjoyed this one. I found it to be well-written and the mystery behind that night, the pace at which all is revealed, I thought was really well done.

I think it is important to keep in mind though, this is a slow burn. If you are looking for a fast-paced Thriller, there may be better options. You have to be comfortable just sitting with characters and getting to know them through their thoughts and reflections.

For me, this was truly a story about surviving grief and trauma. Each journey through that space is going to look different. People deal with such events using the resources available to them, and some fare better than others.
I loved the small town atmosphere; she ran deep. I feel like anyone who grew up in a small town could relate with a lot of the vibes Tate created here.

I also enjoyed all the messy, damaged relationships and characters. I found them interesting and frankly, I don't trust characters who are too perfect. I thought Tate did a great job of blending all of their stories together and pulling off a solid conclusion.

Overall, I think for Readers who really love to sink their teeth into fabulous character work, and they don't need to like those characters, this will be a great read. As far as this being a debut, I'm impressed. I think Tate brought everything she needed and more to this story. I am really looking forward to getting more from her!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. While this wasn't exactly what I expected it to be, I am very pleased with what I got!

"Twenty-Seven Minutes" by Ashley Tate is a gripping and thought-provoking read. Tate masterfully crafts a narrative that explores the complexities of human relationships and the impact of time on our lives. The unique concept of the story, revolving around a critical period of just twenty-seven minutes, adds an intriguing layer to the plot. The characters are well-developed, and their emotions are portrayed with authenticity. While the pacing is generally strong, there were moments when the narrative felt a bit rushed. Despite this, the novel delivers a compelling exploration of time's influence on our choices and relationships, earning it a solid four stars.

I so hate to be such a "Debbie Downer" on a debut novel, but "Twenty-Seven Minutes" just didn't do it for me. I found the "mystery" of what happened in that timespan before the authorities were notified about a crash over ten years ago just kind of blah & uninteresting. The twists just couldn't redeem this one, the writing was rather off & most characters very unlikable and I had a really hard time sustaining any interest. Oh well, better luck next time! My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the complimentary DRC, happy to provide a candid review.

This book had a very interesting synopsis and i was excited to read. Why did Grant take 27 minutes to call? It was very intriguing and it was fun to read however i think the pacing was a little slow so the middle took a while to get through. The writing was brilliant though and i would recommend to anyone looking for a suspenseful story.

This was a little lackluster for me. It starts out strong with Phoebe's death, and I wanted to know what happened to her. But then, we jump ahead ten years and the pace slowed down. I would not consider this to be a thriller. It is a relationship drama. It's about secrets and grief and how to move on from that. One character is suffering from mental illness and another is grieving deeply. How they were handling the anniversary of Phoebe's death was more of a focus than the actual mystery.

Readers who love dark, character-driven stories will love this, However, this should not be described as a thriller. It is not a thriller, and readers who are expecting a thriller will be disappointed. There is a twist at the end, but I believe readers who frequently read thrillers will see it coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

It’s been ten years since the accident on the old bridge that left Phoebe Dean dead. As the anniversary approaches, everyone’s secrets come out, including why it took Phoebe’s brother, Grant, twenty seven minutes to call for an ambulance. Fast paced and told from different perspectives. Highly recommend.

Twenty-seven minutes can feel like forever. They can change your whole life.

In a nondescript small town, a tragic accident claims the life of Phoebe Dean. This story slowly reveals how her death affected her family, her friends. The entire town. And reveals just what happened in the twenty-seven minutes that lapsed before the police were called.

As Phoebe Dean’s 10 year memorial approaches, Grant and Becca desperately try to avoid public speculation on what happened that fateful night. Grant, Phoebe’s adored brother, acts increasingly erratic, as the community continues to speculate why it took him so long to call an ambulance...A delay which caused Phoebe her life.

Meanwhile, June seeks answers for the disappearance of her brother Wyatt on the same day, ten years ago…

Multiple POV, suspense, dual timelines and a twist you won’t see coming! I loved how each character’s link to one another was gradually developed. Highly recommend!

The premise of Twenty-Seven Minutes immediately intrigued me. Why did Grant Dean wait twenty-seven minutes to call an ambulance after a car accident when his sister, Phoebe, needed immediate assistance? Throughout the novel, there are multiple POVS, and each is important to the accident. While I desperately wanted to know about the truth of the accident, I felt like the book dragged on a bit. The writing was okay, but it seemed a little too immature and cliché. I did not see the ending coming and was pleased by the twist! However, the writing for the reveal/the reveal scene was a bit sloppy. It was hard to follow, as it wasn’t very linear or organized. Overall, this book had an interesting hook, but I felt a little let down by the story development.

interesting synopsis but after the first few chapters it was really a slog to get through and the climax of the story wasn’t worth it. ended up being just a generic, forgettable thriller unfortunately.

What happened in those twenty seven minutes after the crash until Grant called the police? This book opens with so many questions. The book then starts introducing the various characters. Each character is complex and mysterious with their own secrets to tell. The way the story is written you slowly begin to understand their complexities. The story is told in a dual timeline current time and then 10 years ago, the year of the crash. The flash backs really help with building the story of what really happened the night of the tragic accident. A great debut novel and I hope to read more of her stories in the future. Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Twenty-Seven Minutes is Ashley Tate's debut novel.

From the prologue: "...if an ambulance had been called right away she would have survived...but the ambulance was called too late - twenty-seven minutes too late."

Between the cover picture and that bit from the prologue above I was expecting a suspense/mystery book. There are a number of questions and actions that need to be discovered and addressed. That somewhat filled the mystery expectation.

But, the delivery of the book is much slower than I had imagined it to be. The past and present is viewed and seen through the eyes of the four main characters. Everyone of them is hiding something. I had thought I would have empathy for at least one of them, but I didn't.

The small town they all live in is gray, wounded and ugly. That goes for the supporting characters as well. Mean spirited, insular and stuck in the path they've chosen.

This book was a very slow burn for me. I found that that the plotting was far too slow and repetitive for me. Some of the issues from the opening pages have yet to be resolved by the last chapters. Unfortunately I'd lost interest by the time I turned the last page.

Others quite liked this book so I encourage you to check out the reviews on Goodreads.

Phoebe Dean has been dead for ten years. The opening chapter is a brilliant death scene, alone and feeling her body shut down, Phoebe explains the pain and her feelings to the reader from her point of view. It's a decade later and the anniversary of her death is laid bare among the other main characters. Grant, her brother, who has been "bossed" around' by Phoebe, can hardly function. The author, Ashley Tate, gets inside of Grant's head allowing the reader to question his behavior and sanity.

Some of the secondary characters are annoying and the reader can become confused. However, the climax and denouement is a firecracker making the book worth-reading.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Twenty Seven Minutes by Ashely Tate is a small town, mystery, psychology thriller. The story is told from 4 different POV’s, that goes between the past and the future.
Ten years ago there was an accident where Phoebe lost her life, Becca was severely hurt and lost her memory of what happened, and Grant who was driving the car took 27 minutes to call the cops. The story picks up 10 years later and in 3 days they are having a memorial for Phoebe. Wyatt was the town bad boy, with a bad reputation and went missing. June is Wyatt’s sister who is dealing with her mom’s death and trying to figure out what happened to her brother when he shows up 3 days before the memorial. Becca was really affected by the wreck and her parents are worried that she isn’t mentally stable. Grant has become an alcoholic since losing his sister Phoebe.
So much went on in the book and at one point I believe I pointed the finger at everyone including Grants mom. The ending got me and was so sad. This book deals with the aftermath of loss and tragedy. I enjoyed this mystery thriller and what an amazing debut for Ashley Tate. Thank you to Ashely Tate, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for giving me this ARC for my honest thoughts and opinions.

This book was exactly what I expected in the sense that I was intrigued from page one and could not put it down!
Great book characters were intriguing ! Highly recommend

Twenty-Seven Minutes will snatch you up and have you plastered to your seat with your cup of tea or coffee. You will be held captive from the intriguing prologue till the very last page. None of the characters are characters are trustworthy, and some of them are barely like able. Some of the characters come off at bat s*** crazy and all over the place. Just when you thought you had the ending figured out BAM BAM BAM. I DID NOT SEE THIS ENDING COMING. I thought I had it all figured out and then Mrs Ashley Tate humbled me and I took a step lol. This book is told in a four person MPOV, it is told in dual time lines moder.n time and a decade prior. Each chapter focuses on an individual character and it very easy to follow. Will target bring a town and people together or will it tear them all apart? Is there more to the story? Who’s hiding and what is the real truth? I guess you have to go buy this book to find out. This is a debut book for this author and I can not wait for more. This book was amazing. I can not recommend enough.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Mystery, suspense, past flash backs, a final twist...but somehow this book just didn't work for me. There were multiple POV, but the characters were not fully fleshed out and all of them were kind of odd. I honestly didn't care for any of them so I couldn't get invested in the outcome. The ending did have a surprise twist, but still...

2.5 stars