Did I want to find out what happened? Sure. Did I feel the need to get those answers immediately? No. It took me a while to finish reading this because I didn’t find myself invested in the characters or the mystery. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t hold my attention.

The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard is a wild ride of a thriller with a twisty ending. Sawyer Stannard knows that her sister Willa did not commit suicide, and she will not rest until she can solve what truly happened to her. Willa was working on a true crime book about a missing toddler in a small town, and Sawyer can't help but wonder if that lead to her death.

This book was such a good thriller that I think everyone who loves the genre should read. It is action packed from the very beginning. The ending was very satisfying and it all came together so well. I was able to listen to the audio and I really enjoyed it. The narrator really set the scene and mood.

I was able to put together some of what is going on, but not all of it. So if you are someone that likes to be completely thrown by the mystery then you may not like the story. I would check storygraph for trigger warnings as well.

Overall this was a really good thriller that I am happy to have read. I will be thinking about that ending for awhile, which is a huge compliment. I can't wait to see what else Kate Robards comes out with!

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Kate Robards for providing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is Ms Robards debut novel and she is an excellent storyteller. I look forward to more of her work. The narrator, Susannah Jones, is familiar to me and I knew even before opening the audiobook that it would be performed well and with emotion. I was not disappointed.

From the first sentence, I was hooked. Told from alternating points of view, flipping from the past by one sister and then to the present by the other sister. A mystery within a mystery. I wasn't sure who to trust. I kept wondering there's a liar here, maybe two... but who?

Grief is a complex beast. It's clear that the quest Sawyer assigned herself is a way to navigate through her feelings and get to a place of understanding. The ending was unexpected and heart-wrenching. This was a twisting tale of family, betrayal, and loss.

All that being said, however, I'm still not sure why/how the title became to be the title.

Part true crime, part family drama... all suspense!

It's never a great start to the story when our MC has a sibling that *may* have ended their life...

What follows is a wild portrayal of a sister doing her best to Nancy Drew a solution to a dark family secret.

Fair warning, I dont usually put trigger warnings in my reviews, but this has quite a few dealing with suicide, child endangerment and abuse.

That being said, it's a dark world we live in. Sometimes it's just the happy resolutions... even if just in a book... that we need.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Good read. Liked the back and forth between Willa and Sawyer's perspective. Liked how the story unfolded but stayed focused, didn't go off into random storylines or characters. I did feel like the character Sawyer thought was "bad" did not need to really be in there, it was too obvious a deflect. The ending was also predictable and there was a point it was obvious, but that's not a bad thing. I actually liked knowing and figuring out how the characters realized what was going on.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Entertaining, engaging, and well-narrated. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and suspense are popular.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. For the most part I enjoyed this book and the story, there were some parts that did get a little bizarre and confusing but overall it was a good read. Sawyer gets a phone call notifying her that her sister has passed away and that she has taken her own life. Sawyer cannot believe her sister would ever do something like that so she starts to did into her sister's life to try and find the answers. She discovers that her sister was in the process of writing a true crime book about an 18 month old girl who was kidnapped from her own crib 25 yrs ago and this case was never solved. Sawyer wonders if this investigation may be partly responsible for what happened to Willa. As Sawyer starts to investigate she discovers a lot more than she expected to and she does learn what her sister was feeling in the last days of her life.....the twist was a good one too. Enjoy!!!

I found this audiobook/novel to be very engaging and gripping & I ended up listening this book in one sitting. I had so many questions couldn’t put it down. I swore I knew the twists and turns this book could take and then just like that I was in shock. Not what I was expecting going into this book & I am pleasantly surprised. The narration and audio to this was clear & perfectly paced.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Robards, Sussanah Jones & Dreamscape Media for granting me access to this audiobook.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audio book in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Susannah Jones, who does a good job on the audio version.

Sawyer and her sister, Willa, have not spoken in a few years and are not close. Sawyer is notified that Willa has not only passed away, but that she killed herself. Unwilling to accept that her sister committed suicide, Sawyer digs into her alienated sister's life to figure out what really happened. She discovers that Willa was working on a story about a missing toddler and so she decides to talk to the child's family to see if there is any link.

I really struggled with this one and half way through I decided to stop listening to the book. I have a rule that I have to make it at least 50% through before I can stop and this one just did not hold my interest. I had a pretty good idea as to what had happened to the missing toddler and Willa but the story was just so slow and uneventful that I could not continue with it. There were several points that could have been more developed like Willa's on air panic attack but aside from it being mentioned several time, it did not go anywhere.

This fell flat for me and was more painful than thriller.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC (audiobook version)…in which I am to provide an honest review.

The book was a slow, mystery thriller...thankfully everything picks up about half way and then hello plot twists! Everything kicks off with the suspicious death of Willa Standard…an investigative journalist, who loved her privacy and was keen on particulars within her life. We learn that she was investigating the abduction/disappearance of a toddler. After Willa’s death, her sister (Sawyer) isn’t convinced and starts her own investigation. Oh goodness…Sawyer is hella naive and way too trusting. Like, “please use your head for something other than a hat rack.” She discovers things about her sister and starts to question her own life. The narrator for the book did a fantastic job! 👏👏👏 Would definitely recommend the audiobook version.

The perks:
-Loved the various POVs
-Characters were well written…especially the mother, who was a hot mess
-The ending was GREAT!

The so-so’s:
-Slow beginning
-How/why does no one keep a charged cellphone these days 🤦‍♀️

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sawyer Stannard is shocked to her of her sister's death; even more so when she is told it was a suicide and the note was written to her. Willa and Sawyer are not close as they have very different personalities, yet Sawyer refuses to accept the death as anything other than foul play. As Sawyer dihs into Willas final few months she is even less convinced of the suicide and knows that her sister was killed. Can Sawyer solve the crime before something happens to her?

The book is so fast paced I literally read it in a day as I was fascinated by the well developed plot and complex relationships that exist between many of the characters. The narrative shifts between Willa and Sawyer, giving the reader an opportunity to see the motivation of both. Lots of small town drama and hidden secrets!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advance copy of this book

After Sawyer's estranged sister, Willa, dies by suicide, Sawyer's determined to prove that someone killed her instead. Willa was a journalist and was investigating/writing a book about a cold case of a girl in a small town who went missing a couple of decades ago.

I guessed the main twist fairly early on, but I still enjoyed reading The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard, and that's largely due to the way Robards crafts Sawyer's emotional journey, which I found myself thoroughly invested in. It's so much more than just the plot or the main twist. I also enjoyed the complicated relationship between Sawyer and Willa.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy. All thoughts are my own.

This was an interesting investigative-ish story, even if it is REALLY predictable.

We follow Sawyer, whose sister has recently been found dead in her bathtub of apparent suicide. Sawyer isn’t buying it and is determined to find her sisters killer. Since her sister, a writer, was actively writing a book on a true crime case, Sawyer decides that Willa must have discovered something that got her killed and sets out to figure everything out on her own.

I figured out where this was going really really early. Almost the second it was brought up I called it. However, there were bits I didn’t figure out, but I’d honestly stopped really thinking about it and was just along for the ride by the time the ending rolled around. I enjoyed the narration for this one, it gave us the feeling of being along for the ride with our main character and it was good.

I think anyone that enjoys books involving unlikely detectives will enjoy this one. It follows that usual line, with the addition of uncovering all kinds of secrets along the way. Worth the read I think.

Oh WOW! This is what I can say once the last sentence is finished!
The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard by Kate Robards and Narrated by Susannah Jones was an unbelievably crazy (good, good crazy) psychological thriller! Susannah Jones did an incredible job! This audiobook was just perfect from all possible angles! Sometimes it takes a little to click with the book but with The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard, I clicked from the first chapter. Even though I didn't expect this book will such a wild story that makes your heart skip a beat, hold your breath (with or without realizing it), and gasp when the new twist comes in, from the very first chapter I was hooked!
It started as an ordinary story where Sawyer receives devastating news about her sister Willa, an investigative journalist and TV presenter who took her own life. Sawyer thought she knew her sister and that whatever she would do, she would never end her life. Trying to understand the last months of Willa's life Sawyer discovers that Willa was writing a book about an old, missing toddler case. Trying to understand why Willa is interested in the 26-year-old cold case Sawyer goes to the town to talk to the missing girls' parents. Sawyer doesn't have any idea why and how this case was so interesting to her sister even more she doesn't have any idea what trouble she is getting into.
Twist after twist, turn after turn and the end just left me with an open mouth!
I will definitely be looking out for more of this author's work as I enjoyed this book so much!
Thank you, NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Kate Robards, and Susannah Jones for a fantastic opportunity to listen to this audiobook!
#TheThreeDeathsofWillaStannard #NetGalley

I was completely blown away by The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard by Emily Shiner. This gripping audiobook takes you on a thrilling journey alongside Sawyer, who refuses to accept her sister Willa's supposed suicide. As Sawyer delves into the secrets of their small town and uncovers the dark truth behind Willa's research on a decades-old disappearance, the tension escalates to a heart-pounding crescendo.

What made this book truly exceptional was its fast-paced nature and the way it kept me hooked from start to finish. I devoured it in just 9 hours, unable to tear myself away. Shiner's writing style, incorporating multiple points of view, police investigation transcripts, and excerpts from Willa's book, added a layer of depth and intrigue that had me captivated throughout.

With each twist and turn, I found myself increasingly engrossed in the intricate plot. The unpredictability of the story kept me guessing, and the spine-chilling ending had me gripping the edge of my seat. Shiner's ability to evoke a sense of fear and immerse readers in the narrative is truly commendable.

I must say, this is one of the most outstanding mysteries I've ever come across. Its uniqueness and attention to detail make it a standout in the genre. If you're looking for an enthralling and masterfully crafted thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, I wholeheartedly recommend The Three Deaths of Willa Stannard.

TW: Child Abuse, Murder, Suicide, Kidnapping, Untreated Mental Health Condition

<b>Actual Rating 2.5</b>

Sawyer and her sister Willa haven’t spoken in almost a year, so Sawyer is dumbfounded when she learns that Willa has been found dead in her apartment, apparently having committed suicide. Unwilling to accept this, Sawyer begins to comb through Willa’s recent past and stumbles across a secret project she was working on. As she dives deeper into the mystery project, Sawyer becomes even more convinced that Willa discovered the secret behind a decades old cold case and that the murderer wanted to stop the truth from coming out. Will Sawyer be able to find her sister’s killer? And what dark secrets did Willa uncover during her last months alive?

I enjoyed that this story was told from both Willa’s and Sawyer’s POVs for the first portion of the book. This allowed us to see both characters more accurately than if it had just been from one POV, with insights into how they saw themselves and how they saw each other. This rounded out their characters well.

That being said, I wanted more from the characters. Willa was the best developed and the best written, but as she’s not alive, we don’t get much from her POV. Her POV gets dropped before the halfway point of the book, which was sad – she had several interesting aspects (psychological tics, etc.) that made her intriguing. Sawyer left me wanting more. She’s described a certain way, but acts completely differently, much more how Willa was described. There’s no good reason given for this (e.g., trying to honor Willa or be more like her), it just happens. Then she’d say or do things completely out of left field with no explanation for her motivations. And she’s really not all that interesting. I believe the author tried to paint her as naïve, but it mostly came across as her simply being stupid – but still smarter and more dedicated than police, apparently! The author also relied too much on telling the reader things, especially relating to what the characters were thinking/feeling, leaving the characters feeling wooden overall.

There also wasn’t really any tension or suspense in this work. There were some very cliché thriller moments added in that were supposed to boost the tension, but really didn’t add anything to the atmosphere, plot, or suspense. If you’re interested in the premise, there are many reviewers who rated this much higher than me, so check those out. But for me, this was a miss. My thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was an interesting book. It has the perspective of Willa and her sister Sawyer.

After Willa passes away Sawyer tries to find out what happened as she doesn’t believe her sister could have done it to herself. She suspects foul play but she finds out so much more along the way as she realizes what her sister has been doing.

Interesting concept for a mystery/thriller and overall I enjoyed it. The narrator did a good job with all the characters and gave them life. I would read another book by this author as well as she kept my attention and I wanted to know what happened in the end.

Added to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5604466158

When Willa Stannard is found dead, her younger sister Sawyer is shocked and completely believes there was foul play involved. Willa was a well known Chicago news anchor about to publish a book - she had everything to live for. As Sawyer begins to dig deeper into Willa's life she finds layers upon layers of secrets that threaten everything she believed about her sister.

Perfectly plotted and mysteriously captivating - this is a great thriller-- especially for anyone who has a roller coaster relationship with their sibling
#DreamscapeMedia #KateRobards #TheThreeDeathsOfWIllaStannard

I really liked this one! The writing was engaging and the plot was twisty and convoluted but never to the point that it felt difficult to follow or unnecessarily red herring-filled as seems to be the case with so many domestic thrillers/mysteries I come across lately. The narrator did a very nice job differentiating the characters, giving each a unique voice that matched their personality without ever feeling forced or unnatural. I liked the twist - even though I figured it out before it was revealed, it was delivered well and really maintained the suspense in a way that held my attention throughout. Some of the wrap-up details were a little over the top but never in a way that felt inauthentic to the story. This was a well-managed tale that really held my interest and I'll look for the author again.

This was such a fun book! I find that some of the best mystery/thrillers may need a little time to develop, and this one was similar. It started with a nice simmer and then really took you on a roller coaster as the story unfolded. The story's twisty ending was absolutely perfect - it pulled all of the elements together in a fluid, "ohmygoodness!" way that made it a truly worthwhile read!