I think I’m an outlier with this one but I really enjoyed it. While it wasn’t a thriller, it was engrossing and hard to put down. I’d say this is a study in grief and mourning and how people handle it differently. It also had the most number of unreliable characters I’ve read in recent times and I was going back and forth on what the heck was actually going on, who was losing it, who was not actually even there, etc.

For a debut, I thought this was really good and I’d definitely recommend it!

This debut novel centers around a horrific accident that happened ten years ago. Though told through the voices of quite a few characters and flipping back and forth between that night and the present, it wasn't too hard to keep track of everyone. Most of the characters were not the most likable, and many questions arise as the story progresses. Was Phoebe really the perfect person everyone remembers, and why did her brother wait 27 minutes to call for help? All will be revealed bit by bit, perhaps leaving the reader stunned at the conclusion. Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

Twenty-seven minutes. That is the difference between life and death in this debut thriller from Ashley Tate. We are dropped into a small town that is about the experience the decennial of a young girl dying tragically on an old bridge, and to make matters worse, an elderly woman has also found her end on that same bridge, opening old wounds and bringing the entire town swirling back into ten year old rumours.

We have dual timelines happening, as well as multiple points of view from several characters who were either directly involved in the accident or deeply affected by it. Becca is the forgot victim, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Grant was driving the vehicle that crashed and killed his younger sister. June's brother ran away that same night after a fight with their volatile father. Wyatt has finally decided to return to his hometown to set things right.

What a brilliant way to unfold this story through the eyes of several people who only know parts of the truth. The reveal at the end was awesome.

The writing in this book is really gorgeous in such a visual way. They way that June tries to grasp at cotton ball words coming out of her brother's mouth to the way that Becca is handling her mental illness and spiralling in her own mind.

I highly suggest this book if you like a fast paced small town thriller where secrets are finally uncovered.

I was so excited for this one, but unfortunately I could not get into it. The premise was intriguing and the writing was good, but for whatever reason I was not motivated to read it. I honestly feel bad, because it’s not the author’s fault at all. I might try it again sometime down the road but we’ll see.

You definitely will want to read this book in one weekend. The plot pulls in and make you want to know more. Each chapter gives you a different perspective, which in my opinion is the best way to tell this type of story.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is about the small town of West Wilmer and the tragic accident that happened 10 years prior. Now they are holding a long overdue memorial but it is bringing up the accident again. Questions are being asked and secrets arise.
This thriller was incredible! I can not believe that this is from a debut author. I am an avid thriller reader and this was a great suspense drama!
The unreliable narrators were unexpected and added just that much more to the story! The connection point of all the characters was interesting with the small town feel. We learn snippets of the past while seeing different perspectives of those involved in the present. However you will never guess how they connect in the end.
I would recommend this great thriller to anyone who loves a good mystery and can not wait to see what else this author produces in the future!

Finished another ARC from Netgalley, Twenty Seven Minutes, a debut novel by Ashley Tate.

This is a slow ascending suspense? thriller? set in a small town. With multiple POVs in dual timelines, there are lots of dark secrets, inner struggles and demons.

I was intrigued with the story right away. I liked the descriptive writing and the premise but found myself looking at how far I was into the book quite often. It seemed to be a bit too slow of an ascent and very repetitive.

I think this was more of human drama than a suspense or thriller, so this might help going into the book.

The surprise ending definitely made up for the long drag of the book. I gave this 3⭐️ on Goodreads.

Thank you to @netgalley, @poisenedpenpress and Ashley Tate for the ARC e-copy in exchange for my honest review

A really great read with each chapter told by a different perspective (which I happen to love). Dar secrets, a town still in mourning and some great twists and turns along the way! I loved it!

Unfolding across a three-day timeframe and concluding with a startling revelation that will leave readers breathless, "Twenty-Seven Minutes" is a compelling narrative exploring the consequences of overwhelming grief, the revelation of dark secrets, and the chilling unveiling of a horrifying truth.

Before writing my review, I want to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Tate, and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me the ARC of this book! I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!! It was a privilege to read TWENTY SEVEN MINUTES before its release!

Without a doubt, this title caught my eye immediately and the synopsis was so incredibly intriguing! A great prologue pulls you right into the story, leaving you needing answers desperately! The writing is very good, with wonderful descriptions and vivid imagery. And the dialogue is realistic and natural, not stilted at all. The character development comes through in the words and actions of the characters without the author blatantly telling us who they are.

There are many different POVs throughout the book, which sometimes made it a bit hard to keep characters and relationships straight. But once I got more into the book, that became easier.

And as I learned more about the families in this small town, I grew disgusted by the horrible parents depicted in the book for many of these young people. Either a parent had just up and left, or was abusive, or just didn’t care. As a parent myself, it was hard to read at times. It’s no wonder several of these characters were incredibly damaged and had such a hard time growing up and maturing.

There were definitely characters you wanted so badly to sympathize with, but it was hard to do so because they seemed very selfish and self-absorbed. And I have to admit that the book was rife with despair and sadness, making it a very emotionally draining read, at least for me.

I have to admit there is a fabulous twist near the end for readers, even if I did suspect it earlier on. But the very very slow build of tension up to that point made the book hard to get through. I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to people who don’t mind a slow-burning mystery.

Given the difficult subject matter and complicated characters, this is a great debut novel. An author to watch for sure!

Ashley Tate’s debut novel opens with the dark and questionable death of Phoebe, a promising young teenager. The rest of the novel spends time diving between characters perspectives and time jumps to 10 years in the future - all to answer the question: what really happened on that bridge and why did her brother wait 27 minutes to call for help?

I found myself confused and hungry for answers - which marks a good thriller! Honestly, most of the characters were unlikeable and it was hard to link them together for most of the book. Great idea for a story, so I enjoyed it! There’s clearly some unreliable narration happening, and floating between what’s real and what isn’t.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an advanced copy through Netgalley.

But the truth, it will come out. Nothing can keep the truth buried; it will always unfurl itself, lay itself bare. It is unstoppable - like the tide, or a storm, or a ghost. It will hunt you down.

Twenty-Seven Minutes
By Ashley Tate

Quick Summary
Ten years after a horrific accident claiming the life a beloved teen the anniversary is fast approaching. People are consumed by memories, and secrets kept hidden for ten years. Can these secrets stay hidden or will they find their way out?

Final Thoughts
Thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for this electronic copy of #TwentySevenMinutes ..
The idea of this story is great, and I think I would have enjoyed it more except... I hated every one of the characters, not a single redeemable characteristic to be seen.
We all know twists are coming with Thrillers, but we don't want to SEE them coming, which I unfortunately did so that was another let down.
Do I think this book will be enjoyable to some thriller lovers? Yes.
Was it for me? No.

Wow! I did not see the ending to this one coming. It's a very dark and twisty thriller that will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

The blurb sounded interesting but I just couldn't get into this book. It was very dark. A girl dies on a bridge under less than clear circumstances. The 10 year anniversary of her death is coming up. The story is told from two different time periods and through the eyes and memories of multiple people. There were so many lies told, some believed, and still secrets and lies are still being dealt with.

I found that I could not get interested in the characters, nor their stories. It was a challenge to complete the book.

I read this book in one sitting! I could not put it down! The twists were so unexpected and had me on the edge of my seat. I would definitely recommend this book!!!!

This book is awful. None of the characters were worth reading about and I really didn’t care about any of it so I gave up. I love mysteries but this one is a bore of pathetic characters so I gave up.

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is a recommended novel of psychological suspense.

Ten years ago an accident resulted in the death of Phoebe Dean. Her brother, Grant, was driving at the time and classmate Becca was a passenger. They were both injured but survived. For the past ten years, residents in the small town have been obsessed with the tragedy and continually question why Grant waited 27 minutes before calling 911. The official story is that he hit a deer, was knocked unconscious, and injured Becca was unable to help. The town thinks he waited to sober up before calling.

June has just buried her mother. Ten years ago on the same night of the accident, her brother Wyatt and her father disappeared. No one in the town attended her mother's service or have shown any concern about her brother's disappearance. She has always wondered why Wyatt never contacted them or returned for a visit. Now on the unfortunate anniversary of that night, a memorial service is being held in Phoebe's honor and the truth about that night might finally be revealed.

The narrative is told through the points-of-view of Becca, Grant, June and Wyatt, predominately from the present day with occasional chapters from ten years ago. Chapters are clearly marked indicating which character's POV is presented and flashbacks are italicized in these chapters. The tension and suspense is slowly created through the secrets being held and the anticipation that the truth will be revealed. There is also a supernatural element.

Having a town obsess over an accident from ten years ago while canonizing a teenage girl requires setting aside a good dose of disbelief. Once this is accomplished readers can expect a drawn-out, very slow moving story. I was hopeful that the character development would redeem the glacial pace but this doesn't happen because all the characters are unlikable and stuck in the past. There are a few glimmers of hope at the beginning and along the way that the plot may take a less predictable turn, but, alas, it was not the case. 2.5 rounded up.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

August 15, 2023
Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is a suspenseful tale of events that happen after the tragic death of Grants sister Phoebe which happened ten years prior. The story follows three characters: Grant, June, and Becca.

The written style of Tates is good. Her style keeps you interested the entire time. She starts the story off with a gruesome hook that draws you in right away. It’s pretty evident who killed phoebe from the start. But it’s an interesting point of view from Grant, June, and Becca ten years after the event.

The twist at the end of the book is what caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting it and I really liked it. Overall I found the book was okay. It seemed drawn out in some parts. I also don’t love multiple POV books. I find the stories slightly hard to follow.

Thank you NetGalley and Ashley Tate for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book is better suited for a beach read or for someone who doesn't read as prolifically as myself. It not a bad book, but its not memorable. The story needs to be refined more and there be less repetition and twists. Maybe it would be better suited as a novella.

Sometimes the lies are so big that they might resemble the truth but one day they'll break open and although they'll deeply hurt the ones involved they'll also set them free. Twenty-Seven Minutes is a story of lies, deception, death, and guilt involving a small town and its inhabitants that cannot seem to get over with one accident resulting on a girl's demise on a bridge. The story is full of angst and it grows slowly till it reaches a liberating ending.
I thank Ms. Tate, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.