Member Reviews

"What Is Mine" by Lyn Liao Butler is my first read by this author, and I was introduced to her work through NetGalley. The novel is a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The complexity of the story, with its intricate plot twists and well-developed characters, made it a compelling read. I particularly enjoyed the suspenseful narrative and the emotional depth of the characters' struggles. Lyn Liao Butler's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the story. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. #netgalley #whatismine

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What Is Mine
Author Lyn Liao Butler
Available now!

Thank you, @getredpr #thomasandmercer and @lynliaobutler, for my #gifted e0 arc!

I really enjoyed this fast- paced suspenseful novel filled with curveballs, realistic characters, and a compelling plot. Although I was able to predict a major part of the story, I was pleased with the ending and how gripping the story was written. A few major highlights are a love for dogs, a young nephew adopted by his aunt and uncle, a kidnapping, redemption, and second chances. A must- read thriller to add to your tbr this summer!

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This was a suspenseful psychological thriller with some unexpected twists. We chose this as our bookclub pick for April and had a great time discussing the inspiration and plot with the author.

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I like the synopsis of this book, and since I read a different book by Butler that I enjoyed I thought I would request this from Netgalley.
This book was just an alright read for me. I thought at times it dragged on and lots of repetitive thoughts from one of the main characters made it feel like the longest book ever. The ending was good closure and I liked it. Overall, just a decent read for me.

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This wasn't exactly a thriller because there weren't as meany peaks as I'd expected. It's more of an engaging drama that begins with a child gone missing and a woman's guilt-stricken panic leading to surprising revelations triggered by another grief-stricken woman. The characterisation is worth appreciating because everyone leaves a mark with their personalities and motivations. Not very suspenseful, but it's a mystery that does satisfy by the end.

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This is a thriller, it was a really good read. His mother is dead, this little boy now lives with his aunt and he goes missing with the dog. there's a lot of twists and turns in this story. I highly recommend reading it.

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Exciting domestic thriller with plenty of twists. Well-written and absorbing page-turner! I will read more from this author.

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Lyn Liao Butler's novels, whether they fall into the realm of literary fiction or slow-burn suspense thrillers, never fail to captivate me. "What Is Mine" presents a compelling narrative that kept me on the on edge of my seat with its emotional depth and surprising turns. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping read with a truly unexpected conclusion!

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In her gripping thriller, "What Is Mine," Lyn Liao Butler delves into the intricate dynamics of motherhood across generations.

Sisters Hope and Cassidy Chen grew up under the shadow of emotionally distant parents. Despite their upbringing, Cassidy strives to be a nurturing mother to her son, Luca. When Cassidy tragically passes away, Hope and her husband, Shaun, open their hearts and home to Luca, determined to provide him with love and security. However, their world is shattered when Luca mysteriously disappears just two months after joining their family. As Hope and Shaun frantically search for him, the narrative unfolds in a heart-pounding sequence of events.

The story oscillates between Hope's anguish and the cryptic revelations of an enigmatic narrator, shedding light on the harrowing journey of loss and resilience. Butler skillfully navigates themes of family bonds, loss, and the lengths individuals will go to protect their loved ones. Through Hope's poignant perspective and the intricate web of narratives, this novel delves into the complexities of motherhood, transcending biological ties and exploring the fierce instinct to safeguard those we hold dear.

Not solely a mystery, "What Is Mine" is a compelling exploration of societal challenges, from addiction and mental health struggles to the plight of single mothers. Butler's writing is enriched by personal parallels, infusing the narrative with authenticity and emotional depth. With its relentless pacing and clever twists, this story will keep readers eagerly flipping pages, and the masterful storytelling will captivate until the final page.

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This book was a pretty easy read, I finished it in a few hours and the plot moved at a good speed.

I loved how the author switched off between the main characters showing the different ways of dealing with grief. There were a few questions I would have liked answered that we never got full resolution to.

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We loved having this one as our bookclub pick! Excellent read and such a fun author! Lots of twists and turns and gasping moments. A real page turner!

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Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was fantastic! It gripped.me from the start and kept me reading way past my bedtime. The story and characters were well done and I am looking forward to more from this author. Highly recommend

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A mother and son struggling to survive on their own, when choices were not the best ones.

The story is engaging and keeps you hooked, is involving and gripping, very suspenseful, and twisty.

I definitely recommend.

Thank you so much to @bonechillingbooks and @lynliaobutler for this book that I won on a giveaway. I was so excited to read this!

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The writing and characters were mostly engaging and the mystery kept me intrigued. However, the pacing was slower than I anticipated which dragged the story down a bit.

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I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

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3.5/5 stars - A good thriller/suspense novel is full of secrets, lies, backstabbing, and bonus points for obsessions. This book has all of those and keeps guessing until the very end. I don’t normally mention many trigger warnings, but I know how difficult mental health representation can be in this genre, so proceed with caution if that is something that could affect your reading experience. I also want to mention that this falls more so under the umbrella of domestic suspense/drama and not a thriller. The pacing is slower moving than you would expect or want from a thriller. I think that any book having to do with the disappearance of a child immediately has a tone of anxiety and dread. You feel the desperation radiating off the characters as they try to find nine year old Luca. This book was told in three parts and each one was crucial in setting up the characters and progress the search. I think the only drawback for me was the fact that the pacing was a little slower, however, I actually wasn’t able to predict the ending! That’s always a win for me in this genre as many books can feel predictable at times. I’ll now need to look for more from Lyn Liao Butler.

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I enjoyed this! I enjoyed the ending and I really like the writing style. This wasn't an edge of my seat thriller for me but I was invested in the characters and wanted to know how it was going to end. If you enjoy mysteries or family drama stories, I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Thomas & Mercer, Lyn Liao Butler and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

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I liked this book. It was a little long. I felt like a lot of stuff was repeated. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. I would like to read some of the authors other books.

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I am quickly becoming a fan of this author, as this is the second book I have read that I really enjoyed.

I loved the story itself and the POV. You could really feel all the stress coming through with Hope's character.

This was a slower paced book, but the writing style made for a good ride.

I did have a little bit of a struggle keeping up with the timeline, but in the end, it all worked out.

I would say that this one is a solid, reliable thriller.

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A unsettling story about a woman determined to keep her family together and safe. It leaves you emotionally drained.

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