SYNOPSIS:
“Private detective Olivia Welles hasn't been to her hometown since childhood, not since the night she died. She has no memory of the world before the car crash, or of coming back to life in the morgue. But now, years later, when fellow survivor Bonnie Ray calls from a Kansas jail begging for help, Olivia feels the tug of a dark and unremembered past. Bonnie looks guilty of murdering her young son-the third child to die under suspicious circumstances. Intrigued and seeking closure, Olivia agrees to investigate. Back in the foreboding town where her heart stopped and started again, Olivia finds an unexpected ally in Will LaFever, a journalist with his own motives for uncovering the truth.

Together they unearth more than they expect about Bonnie, her traumatized family, and the crime. You're lucky you don't remember any of it, Olivia's father used to say. But Olivia's luck is running out.
This time, escaping Finney County with her life might be impossible.”

MY THOUGHTS:
This was such a great, page turning read! I loved the twists and turns and I was hooked from the first page. I didn’t want to put this book down because I was so intrigued by finding out what was going on.

I am a Kansas girl, born and raised here, so I love reading stories that are set in my state. I look forward to reading more from this author!

This book will be out October 24th!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I love me an awesome crime thriller! This author has a way of putting you right in the story as if you are apart of it. Gripping from the beginning, unputdownable! Excited to read other books by this author!

PUBLICATION DAY: October 24, 2023

Private investigator Olivia was in a serious car/train accident as a child - in fact she died and later came back to life in her father’s mortuary. She has no recollection of the event however. So when a person from her past reaches out, she is somewhat curious to return to the place it all began. But what will she find as she begins to delve into tragic deaths that have recently occurred? Will it bring up the past for her? And if so, what else will it uncover?

PROS and CONS:
This is a first for me with this author, but not the last. I enjoyed her (somewhat) casual writing style, and was invested in the plot. I liked the charming character of Will, and his useful role as sounding block for Olivia. It did give me a second book in a series kind of vibe (it’s not), but once I caught on to the writing style, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

READ IT?
If you’re looking for…a Midwest mystery with a few twists, then this one’s for you!

3.5 Stars

I will absolutely read every single book by Anne Frasier!!!
Absolutely another 5 star read! I'm so excited about this book, I'm afraid to such much because I'll spoiler it haha.

Love love love

An absolute speeding train of a book - fast-paced, compelling, absorbing - this is the kind of book that keeps you up all night because you just want to know what happens next. The characters are interesting, the setting is unique and the storyline is crazy but also somehow just realistic enough to keep the reader believing.
Loved it and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a page-turner.

Another fantastic story from Anne Frazier! I can honestly say, I would never want to visit this town. What a group of horrible people. But I did like the relationship that developed between Olivia and Will. It felt right. The story had so many twists and turns, I started to doubt who I thought was guilty. I was right about who I thought it was, but there was so much more to it. When they say it takes a village, they don’t just mean helping. They mean hurting too. Overall, I loved the story and I’ll definitely be reading the next one!

Huge thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

The Night I Died was an INCREDIBLE read. I’ve never read anything by Anne Frasier before, so I didn’t have any expectations going in. So imagine my surprise when this ended up being a five-star read! The main character, private detective Olivia Welles, has died quite a few times in her life, the most notable “death” being the car accident that killed her mother and her childhood best friend. After a string of mysterious child deaths occurs in her hometown, Olivia travels back to Kansas to uncover the truth behind the deaths. However, soon after her arrival, secrets about her past come to the surface. This book was a WILD ride with so many twists and turns! I legitimately could not put it down. I also very much enjoyed all the allusions to The Wizard of Oz. I think it’s safe to say I’ll have to read more from Anne Frasier!

I wanted to love this one so much but I really struggled being pulled into the story. I did finish it, so overall it wasnt to the point to stepping away from, but there was other directions I wish the story took.

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this book. I am a fan of Anne Frasier and this book did not disappoint. I admit I did figure out one plot point, but the others kept me guessing. I would recommend this book to my friends. The characters were very well thought out. I would have liked a little more of a back story on her parents, but that is really my only thing I would change or add.

"Death is nature's way of saying, 'Your table is waiting.' " (Robin Williams)

Private Detective Olivia Welles has grazed alongside of Death more times than one could even imagine. It started in childhood back in Kansas when she was involved in a car/train wreck and was pronounced dead in the morgue. Miracuously, she woke up from that one. And the hits keep on a comin'.

Olivia receives a call out of the blue from a childhood friend, Bonnie Ray Murphy, as an eerie memory all the way from Kansas. Bonnie was in that wreck with Olivia that night and she, too, survived. The call originates from Finney County Jail. Bonnie has been accused of murdering her three children.

Good sense would say to back away from this one, Olivia. But something inside Olivia feels the draw back to Kansas in the distance from her home in Venice Beach, California. Bonnie claims that she's innocent while sobbing on the phone. Olivia decides to check it out. It will be a fast trip. That's what you think, Olivia.

In the course of this flight from LAX to the corn fields of Kansas, Olivia will meet up with Will LaFever, a journalist from California. Will has heard of the accusations against Bonnie and wishes to write another Capote's, In Cold Blood. Little do they know, but they'll be forced to join sides in this case. Anne Frasier brings in some humor alongside their first impressions of one another.

Frasier's character of Olivia Welles is one of curious amusement at times. Olivia is not your typical private detective in her manner or in her behavior. She keeps delaying her next inevitable surgery after so many. Olivia has a metal plate in her head. It's been compromised by her other near death experiences and injuries. She travels through life in a zigzag manner, but she gets the job done. This time it's personal to return to Finney where she was born. But there's something eerie in those corn fields. Just you wait and see.

Anne Frasier goes heavy with the descriptors in this one. The ending seemed to unroll in a lengthy manner with fine points explained and explained. A bit of fine-tuning and editing could be put to good use. But The Night I Died is quite the read. I was taken by the budding friendship between Olivia and Will. Hope that Frasier keeps this duo on the ready for the next one. I'd snatch that up in a heartbeat.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Anne Frasier for the opportunity.

This was a fast read that pulled me in, but I did have to suspend reality in many cases throughout the book because some of the actions by the characters were just too wild. I thought the twists were unexpected and I didn’t anticipate many of them, so it was definitely an entertaining read. I found the topic of infant/child death and harm to be tough to read about as well. I would definitely read another book by this author in the future.

"The Night I Died" by Anne Frasier will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. I didn’t guess every twist and turn because Frasier was so skilful at weaving all elements of the story together.

From the outset when I read the synopsis I felt like this wouldn’t be for me- it was just a bit too odd compared to what I usually read. But I’m so glad I kept an open mind because I was quickly captivated.

Frasier’s writing is superb, with excellent characterisation and a well developed town and creepy atmosphere.

Great read. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to provide an honest review

I really enjoyed this book! The pace could get a tad slow but there was great character development, so I guess that’s a good payoff. The story was original and surprising. The change of POV was a little hard to follow (on a kindle at least). Overall I’d give this book 4/5 stars.

This was a DNF for me. The writing felt very fragmented and not cohesive in many of the chapters. The story premise was very interesting but it just didn't flow the way I would have hoped.

Really enjoyed this "return to your weird small town to solve a mystery" book that has great characters and a compelling plot. Tense, dark, and a really fun read. Thanks NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I’m so glad I did! I was pulled in from the very beginning. There were just enough twists to keep me guessing and wanting to know more! I will definitely be recommending this book to friends!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for allowing me an advanced read of this book!

This is my first book from the author, Anne Frasier, and it did not disappoint! As an avid mystery and suspense thriller fan, I love how the story dives right in with the main character, Olivia Welles. It is in her POV that readers will learn more about the past and present events. Olivia’s character establishes the main plot of the book. Reading the first few pages got me interested in finding out more about the story. I appreciate the author giving the readers different POVs of vital characters. It gives readers a clear understanding of crucial events.

SO good, this was my first from this author and it hands down will not be my last. It was so easy to lose yourself in the pages of The Night I Died. I didn’t want to put the book down because I was so intrigued by finding out the truth of what was happening and getting to the bottom of it along with the characters. I'm big on plot twists and I didn't see more than half of what went on in this book coming and that pulls me in even more. Glad this was fully focused on the mystery and didn’t force the female lead into a romantic relationship to further the plot. I 100% recommend this one you will not regret it!

This was not exactly my kind of book. I thought it was kind of confusing, trying to keep the story line and characters straight. The twists near the ending were a surprise but added to my confusion. I can't say more or I'll give away spoilers .

"The Night I Died" by Anne Frazier is a gripping and haunting mystery that follows private detective Olivia Welles, who returns to her hometown after years of absence. The novel starts with an intriguing premise: Olivia has no memory of her life before a car crash, which she survived after coming back to life in the morgue. When fellow survivor Bonnie Ray, who is accused of murdering her young son, reaches out for help, Olivia feels compelled to investigate, delving into a dark and forgotten past.

The narrative effectively builds tension as Olivia and journalist Will LaFever work together to uncover the truth behind the suspicious deaths in Bonnie's family. Anne Frazier masterfully weaves the complexities of trauma and family dynamics, adding depth to the story. The setting of the foreboding town enhances the chilling atmosphere, drawing readers into a world filled with secrets and danger.

Throughout the novel, Olivia's character development is well-portrayed as she confronts her past and strives to solve the case. The interactions between Olivia and Will offer a captivating dynamic, enhancing the emotional resonance of the plot.

Anne Frazier's writing style is engaging, keeping readers hooked with each chapter. The author skillfully balances suspense, emotion, and intrigue, making "The Night I Died" a page-turner from start to finish.

Overall, "The Night I Died" is a compelling mystery novel that explores the complexities of memory, trauma, and the quest for truth. Anne Frazier delivers a captivating story that will leave readers eager for more of Olivia Welles' investigative adventures.