You Know What You Did by K.T. Nguyen is a debut mystery novel about Annie, a woman mired down by her identities as a mother, wife, and daughter. Annie has been managing her OCD until the book begins with her elderly mother's death. Her grief launches her into a quagmire of intrusive thoughts and self doubt. When an older patron who has hired her for many artistic projects disappears, Annie is at a loss and under suspicion.

The synopsis of this book gave me high hopes, but what it delivered was uneven pacing and a first half that was very repetitive, slow, and hard to get through. However around the half way mark, the pacing picked up and I really enjoyed most of the back end of this story. Annie's OCD is based largely on the author's own experience and her character development was promising. I didn't feel the same about the development of her husband and daughter's characters. As for the ending, I thought it was really fun and unsettling until the final pages of the epilogue put on a too tidy bow.

I will look forward to reading Nguyen's next novel and seeing how she improves and builds upon this start.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was a great debut novel from Nguyen! I really enjoyed reading this book and Nguyen’s incredible storytelling and the way she pulls the reader in. I would say that this is a slow burn, but I had a lot of fun with it. The book deals with some heavy and real life topics, but I think that is what makes this book so incredible and brings it to life. I really liked the main character, Annie, and my heart ached for her and all that she was dealing with. I would say this is a definite character driven book, and it is pretty graphic and heavy at times, so it may be tough for some readers to get through. Overall, a fantastic and strong debut and I am definitely looking forward to reading future books from Nguyen!


⚠️TW: Death & mental health


𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦A solid debut
✦A good slow burn
✦Character driven books
✦Heavy topics and subject matter
✦Short chapters



𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5

This novel is billed as a psychological thriller, but it’s much heavier on the psychological than the thriller. The protagonist suffers from OCD and that representation was well done, but also made being in her head difficult. It took me a long time to get into the story and when the thriller portion really kicked it, it was a little too obvious.

Another intense / suspenseful thriller that gripped me from the beginning. Meet Annie, an artist who's married to a perfect husband who saves her every time and a troubling teenager. I had unreliable narrator vibes throughout and was trying to figure everything out, but I didn't get it right. It was definitely entertaining. Annie's life begins to spiral out of control but it's a wild ride as we go along with her to figure out who dun it. Overall a great book, definitely entertaining.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the free e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Annie, despite growing up in poverty, has a wonderful husband and daughter, a stunning home and a fabulous career. However, when her mother, a Vietnam War refugee, dies suddenly one night, Annie's life unravels.

It took me a moment to put my thoughts together for this one. I am ok with slight horror and perhaps for me, this was more horror than I like to read. I say this to note my personal preference and this is not reflected in my rating. I really liked that the story touched on generational trauma, mother/daughter relationships, and mental illness. Annie's OCD was really well covered throughout the story. Also, the background on Annie's childhood was well done and really helped develop her character.

The pacing, multifaceted plot, and short chapters did not add to the overall story. I think there was almost too much going on with the trauma, mental illness, murder, and immigrant issues.

Overall, if you are ok with the trigger warnings, I do recommend this as a different sort of psychological thriller. Take my recommendation as what it is, my opinion. You will know if you should read this and if you find yourself on the fence, jump into it!

3.75 rounded to 4 stars

Rating: 2.5

It took way too long for anything to happen. And when things finally started happening, I didn't care. I didn't like the main character at all, or any of the characters.

This is marketed as a psychological thriller but it’s really more of a character study on a woman’s descent into madness after continued gaslighting by those around her. I really appreciated the OCD rep here, that isn’t something I see much of in books. It was a difficult read at times being inside her head, and had a bit of a slow start for me but overall I enjoyed it.

4 ⭐ This book will have you guessing who dunnit until the end, while all the while giving you the can I trust the main character trope due to mental health issues. This book does a great job at showcasing what it's like to have contamination OCD while also dealing with grief, loss, trauma, abuse, overbearing parents, hoarding, and being a woman as well as Asian living in America.
This book follows Annie, as she navigates the death of her mother, the trauma surrounding that relationship. the issues she has with her husband and teenage daughter, along with having OCD.
This book also delivers in the murder department and what its like to not fully trust yourself or your thoughts and how obtrusive thoughts can have a major impact on one's life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the eARC of this novel in turn for my honest review.

3.5 stars - This was a good debut from K.T. Nguyen. I liked the mystery and wanted to know what was happening with Annie. But her OCD and her relationship with her mother made me so uncomfortable - she was such an unreliable narrator. It was a little slow at times and wrapped up a little too neatly. But overall it was well written and I look forward to reading more from the author. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

You Know What You Did
by K. T. Nguyen
Publication date 4/16/2924
This one was a slow burn for me but once it really started lighting up I could not put it down. Many twists and turns and had me guessing till the end. Great read but a new author for me. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one early with the opportunity to leave a fair and honest review! Be on the lookout for this you will not be disappointed !!

This is a must read thriller that will keep you guessing way past your bedtime! It’s a must read and you won’t be able to put it down!

Great story of a mother that will stop at nothing to protect her daughter. Quite a good read, lots of action.

If you want a book that will have you questioning everything, you know this is the book for you. I feel so bad for Annie. To have obsessive compulsive disorder and then have people doing things around you that have you doubt everything you know would be the worst. The fact that people try to tie Annie to three different crimes would just be a nightmare. I don’t blame Annie for any of the thoughts that she dealt with on this crazy ride. I would be doubting myself too if I was in her position. This book is a whirlwind, but one worth reading.
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

Nguyen’s novel is a horror and thriller. It’ twisty.

When Annie’s mother passes away her life goes downhill. Her ocd tendencies return, her daughter doesn’t want to spend time with her. Seeing her OCD in such details is intense. She starts losing bits of her memory leading herself into a murder investigation. Did she does this? With Annie being an unreliable narrator due to the memory loss you learn things throughout the book with her.

I liked this book, but did not love it.

Annie Shaw has turned her life around after growing up in a poor household with a toxic relationship with her mother. However, when her mother suddenly passes, Annie’s OCD (previously thought to be reined in) comes roaring back in full force, and her illusions start blending with reality. She soon finds herself in the middle of several police investigations and no longer knows what to believe.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID by K. T. Nguyen was such a unique book!

This is the first thriller/horror I’ve read that utilizes (contamination) OCD to drive home the body horror and lend itself to an unreliable narrator, and I thought it was really well done!

Nguyen builds on this uneasiness and untrustworthiness to deliver a great twist at the end as well.

There were some moments that I wish were fleshed out a bit more, but overall a really great debut!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: April 16

You Know What You Did by K. T. Nguyen follows Annie “Anh Le” Shaw, a first-generation Vietnamese American artist as she falls into a downward spiral of OCD and compulsive behavior after her mother dies and other deaths follow. It is a recommended mystery/thriller for the right readers.

Annie’s mother, a Vietnam War refugee, made Annie's childhood one of control and emotional abuse that left Annie with lifelong trauma. Annie escaped to college where she met and married Duncan, a wealthy journalist. The two now have a fifteen-year-old daughter, Tabitha (Tabby) and are living a comfortable life. When Annie's mother, now a hoarder who was living in their carriage house, dies suddenly, Annie’s life begins to fall apart and she reverts to some of her previous behavior, including OCD, memory problems, and self-doubt. She begins to distance herself from people, including Duncan and Tabby. When her beloved dog dies quickly after her mother and another death happens. Annie can't tell what is going on around her.

Annie is an incredibly unreliable narrator and the sharing of her thoughts during her downward spiral is a slow-paced nightmarish jumble of confusion, memory loss, paranoia, and compulsion. Annie can't tell what is going on around her. The slow pace continues for a greater portion of the novel and, since it is being seen through the eyes of an untrustworthy and perhaps unstable narrator, staying with the plot does require some conscious effort.

To be honest there was not one character in the novel that I liked, trusted, or connected with. There were also several things that occurred that will be difficult for some readers. Twists happen toward the end but careful readers may predict the direction this one is going.

The quality of the writing is actually very good. Nguyen did an excellent job depicting a fifteen-year-old teen girl, which gives her major writing points. 3.5 rounded down for me but could easily go up for the right reader. Thanks to Dutton 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 Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Do not start this book late at night, as it will keep you up!
It’s one of those “just another chapter book”!
Great character development and awesome twists and turns.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my customers

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it!

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID
K. T. Nguyen

Do you have ghosts dead or living that haunt you in your waking hours? I have a new thriller for you.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID stars Annie, known to some intimately as Anh. Annie’s mother died recently, and Annie is having trouble moving on. She and her mom had a complicated relationship, and some issues may never be resolved.

Annie suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder and her days are spent managing her condition to varying degrees. Unfortunately, Annie spends a lot of her time trying to control things that are out of her control. Like how other people feel, behave, and respond to her. Sometimes her condition is manageable with medication and therapy and lots of patience and understanding. Some days her condition consumes her entirely.

One day, Annie finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. We follow along as Annie goes through a difficult time with her condition in her grief and becomes a suspect in a murder case.

Will Annie find the resolve to keep her and her family safe or will everything she’s worked so hard for slip through her fingers?

We find out in K. T. Nguyen’s YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID.

Nguyen’s portrayal of obsessive-compulsive disorder and grief had a layer of truth running through it. I appreciated Annie as a character and the situation she found herself in. Annie’s condition is devastating and within the context of the book has real devastating consequences.

The writing is sharp and focused. The suspense was balanced, and the intrigue stayed high. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID is the first in a lineup of great early summer thrillers. Make sure you grab a copy the next time you’re in the bookstore and request it from your local library.

Thanks to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and Dutton for the advanced copy! It was a pleasure!!

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID…⭐⭐⭐⭐