Filled with lots of emotions. Characters who just can't get out of their own way. I liked the characters, she wrote crazy very well. The small town and all the gossip was on point as well. An entertaining journey. I felt everything fall into place quite a bit before any reveals so the twists weren't here for me but reading it was still satisfying as the characters interactions kept it entertaining. 3.75

Twenty-Seven Minutes is a tale that follows several characters who's lives are changed after a tragic accident that occurs during their high school years. The first page absolutely gripped me, I absolutely needed to know what happened to Phoebe. Beloved Phoebe, forever immortalized by her town as she was a sweetheart, the perfect student but as the story unfolds, cracks begin to appear. As much as I was intrigued by the mystery of Phoebe's death, the unlikeable characters that remained to unravel the story frustrated me. Grant, the grieving brother, with his womanizing and booze and Becca with her obsessive nature and look at me attitude, it made it hard to sympathize with either of them. I preferred June with her own brand of grief and confusion over the state of her life. Too much back and forth, although the flashbacks continued to grip me, it all culminates in an explosive twist that if you are suspicious enough, you can see coming.

Twenty Seven Minutes is a literary suspense novel and a complex character study showing how grief affects the lives of several characters in a small town. It’s a moving story that will stay with you. And the ending packs a punch!

Don’t pick this up if you’re looking for a disposable thrill ride. Do read for sophisticated, thought-provoking storytelling.

I was excited to read this one when netgalley approved me. Unfortunately it is S L O W. I really had to slog through it and honestly the payoff was not worth it. None of the characters are particularly interesting and their stories weren't very compelling. I truly didn't care what happened to a couple of them. The story had potential, the execution was just poor.

Ashley Tate's debut, TWENTY-SEVEN MINUTES , is a captivating psychological/literary suspense of a tragedy affecting several families and the aftermath. One night. One mistake that leads to fear, loss, regret, and grief in this small town of dark secrets.

The novel opens with a car accident, and the victim is Phoebe Dean. The one who died in a tragic accident as it rained on a bridge over the river, even if the truth is a little more nuanced. But the ambulance was called too late—twenty-seven minutes too late.

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, a storm, or a ghost. IT WILL HUNT YOU DOWN.

Told in alternating timelines: Past and Present:
Ten Years Ago and Ten Years Later

From POVs:
June
Grant
Becca
Wyatt

Grant was the driver of the car the night Phoebe died. The community wonders why he waited twenty-seven minutes to dial 911. He had been a popular football player scouted by universities and could not wait to leave this small town. After the accident, he lost his sister and dreams of leaving due to an injury. He drowns his sorrows and guilt in booze and sex.

Becca is a troubled young woman who thinks Grant loves her and keeps his secrets. Phoebe and Grant were very close siblings, and they had dreams of leaving the small town together. Phoebe is unhappy with him for not keeping up grades and walking the right path.

June and Wyatt are siblings. June has never understood why Wyatt went missing ten years ago and never returned or contacted them. When her mother dies, June is all alone and always wonders about the rumors of Wyatt —if he was selling drugs.

The small claustrophobic town of West Wilmer has been struggling to understand one thing: Why did it take young Grant Dean 27 minutes to call for help on the fateful night of the car accident that took the life of his beloved sister, Phoebe? If he'd called sooner, she might still be alive.

As the 10th anniversary of her death approaches, Grant is consumed by the memories of that night on the bridge. He lost his sister and more. He is hiding a secret. Becca, his girlfriend, was in the back seat. She knows the truth. She is keeping his secret.

There was also another person who went missing that same night. June lost her brother, Wyatt, that night, who had been missing for ten years. Now June is alone with no family or friends. June and Wyatt both feel their family is invisible compared to the Deans.

Then someone appears at her door. Someone who knows the truth. Someone ready to TELL ALL.

TWENTY SEVEN MINUTES is a slow-burn mystery told over three days when that night's horrifying truth is finally revealed ten years earlier. The night that changed lives.

My first book by the author. While the novel was mysterious, and the author successfully depicted the small town, its dreams and fears —its families and dysfunction, and the urge to escape, it was rather slow. I felt the supernatural part did not add to the story.

TWENTY SEVEN MINUTES is a heartwrenching, cautionary tale and character study of how one event can change the trajectory of your life. No likable characters here with emotions of loss, grief, pain, sorrow, regrets, disappointment, tragedy, and dark secrets are a part of this gripping suspense.

I appreciated the author's note and conversation with the author. It would make for a great book club pick with discussion questions included.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read a digital review copy for my honest feedback.

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Pub Date: Jan 30, 2024
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
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The opening scene of this book is SO good, it pulled me right in and I was excited to dive into the world of finding out what happened the night Phoebe died. Unfortunately it went downhill for me after the opening scene. I couldnt Keep the characters straight because none of them were developed enough for me to care who was who. Overall it was a run of the mill thriller, not bad but not memorable. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The book title caught my attention right off and after reading the synopsis I knew I had to read it. The prologue was very descriptive of a young girl’s thoughts right before she dies. Ten years later her mother is planning a long overdue memorial. The small town is talking about the girl and two of the main characters, Grant and Becca, are worried and scared of the truth coming out. Why did it take Grant Twenty-seven minutes to call for an ambulance?
The story jumps back and forth from ten years ago to present day. Gradually I learned the happenings of that night before the twenty-seven minutes. The event itself caused gradual mental trauma and to me downright craziness in some of the main characters. My biggest objective was the crude language sprinkled among the storyline. I had to jump over it as best as I could. I did not see the ending happening as it did, what a shocker!
If you can overlook the bad language and love truly surprising endings, this may be one you’ll want to invest some time in.
I received a complimentary ebook from the publisher through netgalley but was not required to write a review.

I thought the concept and plot of this book was very interesting and it had me wanting to keep reading to see what actually happened that night 10 years ago.

As someone who comes from a very small town I think the author did a great job of creating the world of the book. These characters felt like small town people and the town felt very real.

The main problem I had with this book and why I’m giving it only 2 stars is I didn’t care about the characters at all. They were all whiny, stuck in their lives, and making absolutely no attempt to fix anything. It was character after character who was depressed and stuck in the past and all they did was complain about the past. I understand that the book was about this incident that happened 10 years before and it shaped all these people’s lives, but it felt like there was literally nothing else going on except worrying over the past.

I also thought some of the character choices were very strange and didn’t feel realistic. And not in a suspend my disbelief because this is a book kind of way. I can’t really explain more than that because of spoilers.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.

A Lackluster Unveiling of Secrets

"Twenty-Seven Minutes" by Ashley Tate had the potential for a gripping narrative, centered around a tragic event that shaped the lives of the characters involved. However, the execution of the storyline fell short of expectations, resulting in a rather mediocre reading experience.

The prologue, narrated from Phoebe's perspective, offered a poignant glimpse into the tragic circumstances surrounding her death. This initial setup instilled a desire for justice for Phoebe, creating a powerful emotional hook. Unfortunately, the promise of a compelling plot diminished as the story unfolded.

One notable positive aspect was the multiple perspectives employed, allowing insights into the minds of characters like Grant, Becca, June, Wyatt, and Phoebe. Regrettably, the use of multiple viewpoints became a stumbling block, leading to unnecessary repetition. The recounting of events from different characters often felt redundant, adding little to the overall narrative and making the storytelling seem tiresome.

The lack of character depth was another drawback. With the exception of June, who elicited some sympathy due to her perceived sadness, the characters were portrayed as largely irredeemable. Grant's questionable actions and Becca's erratic behavior left little room for readers to connect or empathize with them. This lack of relatability hindered the potential for emotional engagement, leaving the reader detached from the characters' fates.

The story's pacing further hindered its impact. The majority of the book felt like a tedious build-up, with the real action and revelations confined to the prologue and the last 10% of the narrative. This led to a sense of disappointment, as the prolonged exposition failed to deliver a satisfying payoff for the reader's time investment.

Ultimately, the predictability of the ending further detracted from the overall appeal of the book. It not only rendered one of the perspectives seemingly pointless but also left a lingering sense of dissatisfaction, as the conclusion failed to provide a meaningful resolution to the questions raised throughout the narrative.

In conclusion, "Twenty-Seven Minutes" had a promising premise but faltered in its execution. Repetitive storytelling, lackluster character development, and a delayed payoff overshadowed the potential for a gripping tale. This book, unfortunately, falls short of delivering a satisfying reading experience.

I am saddened to say I did not really enjoy this book, the synopsis sounded like a good concept, but the characters fell flat for me, and honestly seemed very odd. And, the book itself really didn’t have much of a story, it was repetitive for 90%, not making any headway and repeating the same things over and over. The twist did shock me, but by that point I was so over the book and bored with it!

So engaging and exciting! Could not put it down! Absolutely fabulous! Recommend to all thriller lovers

TWENTY-SEVEN MINUTES captured me from the start. I enjoyed the past and present timelines and alternating points of view. I did find it to be slow at times, but I really didn't mind it. Overall, I thought this was a good story that I can recommend to customers.

I READ THIS BOOK IN A DAY! I loved it, and would highly recommend it to anyone who is into mysteries or suspense. It was a very bingeable book and is easy to fly through! *Spoiler free review*

This book is told through multiple view points with alternating character chapters. All of the characters live in the same small town and are connected in some way. I sometimes find it hard to follow along when there are so many characters and alternating viewpoints, but that was not the case for this book. All of the characters were so distinct and played a big role throughout the whole book. Each also had their own mystery to them that had me turning page after page.

When all of the pieces fell into place, I was in shock. I did not see the twists in this book coming!! It was so enjoyable. As soon as I was done, I just sat there thinking about it and tried to piece everything together in my head. (I love a book that leaves me thinking like this)

The only note is just a bit more background/world building of the town would have been nice since it is stated that they live in such a small town. But, this is just a small piece of the story and didn’t negatively impact my feelings towards the book as a whole.

Despite some of the mixed reviews, I genuinely would recommend this book to mystery lovers! I would give it a shot and pick it up for yourself!

The central mystery surrounding the death of Phoebe Dean and the seemingly suspicious actions of her brother Grant, combined with the ten-year anniversary approaching, sets the stage for a story brimming with suspense and hidden motives.

Multiple Perspectives: The inclusion of various character perspectives, including the caretaker, the secret girlfriend, the missing bad boy, and the former football star, promises a nuanced exploration of the event's impact on different individuals.

Comparisons to Literary Suspense: fans of Jane Harper and Celeste Ng will see a focus on character development, psychological elements, and a slow-burn approach to uncovering the truth, rather than an action-packed thriller.

Potential Pitfalls: The synopsis hints at a small-town setting and gossip-driven atmosphere, which could resonate with fans of certain genres but might feel repetitive or overly dramatic to others. The emphasis on character complexity might come at the expense of a fast-paced plot for some readers.

This will be great for fans of literary suspense.

"In this stunning and propulsive debut, a town grieves the loss of a young girl - but some fight to keep the truth about her death a secret. For fans of Jane Harper, Ashley Flowers, and Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng.

The question
For the last ten years, the small, claustrophobic town of West Wilmer has been struggling to understand one thing: Why did it take young Grant Dean twenty-seven minutes to call for help on the fateful night of the car accident that took the life of his beloved sister, Phoebe? If he'd called sooner, she might still be alive.

The secret
As the anniversary of Phoebe's death approaches, Grant is consumed by memories of that night on the bridge and everything he lost: his future, his reputation, his little sister. And the secret he's been keeping all these years is suffocating him. But he and Phoebe weren't the only ones in the car that night. Becca was there. She knows what happened - and she will do anything to help Grant keep his secret.

The truth
Everyone in West Wilmer remembers Phoebe, but only June remembers that another person was lost that night. Her brother Wyatt has been missing for ten years and now June is alone - no family, no friends. Until someone appears at her door. Someone who may know where Wyatt went all those years ago. Someone who knows what really happened on the bridge that night. Someone who is ready to tell the truth.

Taking place over three days and culminating in a shocking twist that will leave you breathless, Twenty-Seven Minutes is a gripping story about what happens when grief becomes unbearable, dark secrets are unearthed, and the horrifying truth is revealed."

I'm all about the gaps in the timelines of crime.

Twenty-Seven Minutes is a highly-promising debut novel from new author, Ashley Tate. Fast-paced and twisty, this thriller is bound to carve a path for further novels from the author.

The novel hangs its plot on themes of grief, regret, reputation and reality vs belief. The grief in Twenty-Seven Minutes is particularly well explored, with it shown to be both dark and transforming in equal measures.

The characters are well-penned and padded out, however there are a lot of main characters which are all the same age and have a lot in common which, coupled with the multiple point of view narration, did make the novel more confusing than it perhaps needed to be. A series of family trees at the start of the novel would have been appreciated.

I loved the fact that the small-town rumour mill became a character in its own right - an intentional feature according to the author’s note, and one which marks Ashley Tate as an author to watch in the future.

There is a fabulous final twist right at the end of the novel, but the ending still left me wanting a really clear outline of exactly what had happened in the twenty-seven minutes ten years ago. After all of the detailed backstories, for each individual character, in the story’s development, the novel’s denouement seemed somewhat rushed.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this novel. It is far from perfect, but if this is the author’s first attempt at penning a novel, I will be looking out for her subsequent titles.

3.5 ⭐️
This thriller was told by different POVs and told from the past and present which l enjoyed. The beginning was very captivating and kept me engaged, but then the story slows down. I didn’t like any of the characters and felt zero connection to them. I wasn’t a big fan of the ending, I found it very anticlimactic, but if you prefer a slow-burn book then this is for you.

This book started out like it was going to be a great read but it soon fell short for me. It was told from multiple points of view from very unlikeable characters. I found the storyline very confusing at times especially with the flashbacks to 10 years ago and somewhat repetitive. I was glad to finally make it to the ending which left me even more confused.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book.

This is more of a character study of trauma than a mystery, but it is very good at getting into the characters' emotions. Unfortunately, those characters are unlikable and by the time the mystery of the 27 minutes was revealed, it didn't have impact. I just didn't care.

Ultimately, this book is about trauma. A small town had a tragedy 10 years before, when a popular teen was killed in a car accident. Her brother was driving and didn't get help for 27 minutes. Why? And now that another accident has happened at the same bridge, the townspeople want to vote to take it down. And when the bridge is dismantled, will the town finally have an answer?

I know a lot of people have LOVED this book, but it just wasn't good for me. A lot less repetition of people's trauma would have gone a long way. It could have been a shorter tighter book,

My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty-Seven minutes can be the difference between life an death. For Phoebe, this was the case. Her brother Grant waited 27 minutes to call an ambulance and by the time they arrived, Phoebe was dead. Now, ten years later, the question remains: why did Grant wait those 27 minutes? Who else was on that bridge and what kind of secrets where they hiding?

Ashley Tate’s thriller leaves you guessing until the last minute. All of the characters are intertwined in their own twisted way and when you thought you had it all figured out, Tate throws you a monkey wrench and makes you look at everything from a new angle.
Twenty-Seven Minutes is a must-read!