When Liam Noone falls to his death, it is officially declared an accident. However, his son, Sam, and daughter, Nora, have doubts. As they begin searching for details of his final months more questions arise. They realize this man that was so much to so many people was in fact very private. He kept everything and everyone compartmentalized. As Sam and Nora learn more about their father and his death, they also learn more about the meaning of family and what they really want for their future. Thoroughly enjoyable mystery and lives up to the author's previous works.

Laura Dave is a GENIUS for all of her twists. I LOVED this book just as much as I loved "The Last Thing He Told Me". In fact, this is now my favorite of her work. I went through 90% of the book convinced I had figured out the answers, but of course she comes in with a twist. I highly recommend this for any reader.

While I initially thought this was a thriller/mystery it reads more contemporary. We get death, secret lives, family drama and the works. We also have dual POVs and alternating timelines. The story was gripping and the relationships we see are all complicated. Overall this was a good book but again I would classify it as a family drama and not a mystery. You should definitely get a copy for yourself and read it. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

I’ve enjoyed previous books by Laura Dave such as The Last Thing He Told Me and Eight Hundred Grapes so I was excited to see another book from this author. I’d categorize this one somewhere between the two I mentioned — part mystery, part family-oriented drama.

Liam Noone’s death is ruled accidental, but his daughter Nora is skeptical. Her stepbrother Sam shows up, and soon Nora finds herself pulled into uncovering her father’s illusive past. The story narrates in and out from past to present as we learn about Liam’s past.

Sadly I wasn’t as into this story as I was with Laura Dave’s previous books. It was enjoyable, but I think my reading tastes have changed in the couple of years since I’ve last read her work. I would have liked this to lean more on the side of thriller rather than romance/drama. Either way, the story itself was enjoyable, just not what I’d expected.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Element for providing a free digital ARC of the book to read and review!

‘When the patriarch of a famed hotel empire dies under suspicious circumstances, his daughter and her estranged brother join forces to find out what happened, unraveling a larger mystery about who their father really was.’

With so many mixed reviews & ratings for The Night We Lost Him, I was hesitant to start reading. But thankfully, my wavering was all for naught, because I really enjoyed it.

It didn’t necessarily feel like a thriller, but that didn’t take away from the overall story for me.

Told from dual POV’s alternating timelines, estranged siblings come together in search of the truth about their father’s death. But what they discover is so much more.

Love flounders, secrets unfold, bonds tested, relationships mended, losses grieved with the pain ever present.

It’s all here & the narrative felt tangible, emotional & truly authentic. I found myself completely invested in Dave’s latest.

Big thanks to NetGalley & Simon Element/S&S/MarySue Rucci Books for this arc in exchange for a review.

Pub date: 9.17.24

A special thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element for the opportunity to preview The NIght We lost him, in exchange for my honest review. I was excited to be selected for this one since I have read a few other Laura Dave books and loved them. With that, I went into this book with high expectations for a great read! I enjoyed this one, it grabbed my interest and i quickly wanted to learn about what happened to Liam Noone. I felt like the beginning dragged a bit. Long descriptions of complex family relationships, which were necessary to the story line, but made the book feel more like a family drama than the thriller I had come to expect from this author. It does redeem itself by the end and is worth plugging through.

I don't know what to say about this book except that I loved, loved, loved it. I have read Laura Dave's previous books (Hello Sunshine, 800 Grapes, and especially The First Husband among others). I thought that The Last Thing He Told Me was a departure from her previous writings, but I liked it, even though it kept me at the edge of my seat. In a way The Night We Lost Him had the mystery element of "Last Thing" but the the gentleness (?) of her previous books. Even as you read about Nora's father's life, you can sense the lessons that he was trying to pass on to his daughter. The relationship between Nora and her brothers is all too real in many families , and a perfect resolution (unless you really loved Morgan...) And not to give anything away, but the ending was perfect--exactly what I wanted. My only complaint is that this book is not coming out until September--when can we expect another??

Thank you to netgalley and Simon element for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read another book by this author, and it was just ok for me.

This is a dual POV and a dual timeline that centers around their father’s potentially suspicious death. There’s a lot of complexities about family, love and pasts. I think it’s a good storyline but the build up to what unfolds left me wanting a little bit more.

I'm torn on this book as I really enjoyed the second half of it, but the first half seemed to drag on. The family drama combined with the suspense of multiple plot points made this a really interesting book. I like books where everything gets wrapped up nicely in the end, and this fit the bill. The one downside to the book was the amount of infidelity which made it hard to feel sorry for one of the characters.

Thank you Simon Element for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A beautiful, original and heartbreaking story about what it means to truly love and truly grieve. I applaud Dave’s writing and character development, I truly felt as if I was meeting the characters in person, trying to figure out what really happened that night on the cliff,

I really enjoyed it! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read.

When Liam Noone dies, it’s ruled an accident but two of his children aren’t convinced. Nora and Sam are estranged but decide to join forces to find out if their dad’s death really was accidental or something more sinister. Along the way they’ll realize just how many versions of their father there were and discover deep family secrets. Did Liam Noone have secrets worth dying for? I guess we’ll find out.

I really enjoyed Laura Dave’s other book so I was very excited when I received this one as an ARC! I was in a giant reading slump (2 under 2 life is exhausting 😅) so I just had to push myself to open the Kindle App and I’m so glad I finally did! This book is a lot more than a thriller with a love story told along the way that really adds more to the story. You really find yourself just itching to read one more chapter. The ending was beautifully written and tied up very nicely with no loose ends hanging. I will say there were points where the architectural descriptions were a bit much and maybe overly descriptive. Only other issue I had was the Nora relationship issue was aggravating and could’ve been solved with simple communication but it was a very minor story so overall I’m rating this a 4/5⭐️ and definitely worth checking out when it releases in September!

From the moment I started reading I was drawn right in. That was a big plus right there! The Night We Lost Him is different from The Last Thing He Told Me. The book is incredibly well written, and the characters personalities are brought to life. Nora's father died, fell from a cliff at his ocean view home that he has owned since he was a young man. Nora's half brother Sam, who she is not close with, comes to her because he does not believe their father fell by accident and enlists her (reluctant) help to find out what really happened.

Told in two timelines: present day from the perspective of Nora, and in the past from the perspective of her father. It kept me guessing right until the end.

While I enjoyed this book and it kept me reading, I don't think it will stick with me long term. If you are looking for a good, quick, easy read I recommend this.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Element for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked this one. Dave's previous book - The Last Thing He Told Me - was my first experience with her as an author, and I loved it, and was expecting great things in the follow up book. I was not disappointed. Dave does a really fabulous job capturing the difficulties of families and relationships, presenting them - warts and all - with an unflinching eye that isn't condescending or patronizing but simply showcases how people struggle to be themselves with others. The underlying mystery here - was he pushed or did he fall - permeates the novel, but the overarching story about who, exactly, Liam Noone was - to his children, his wives, his business partners, his great love, himself - was, for me, the more fascinating element of the tale. This was a great read and I'm already looking forward to Dave's next book!

I'm a little mixed because this was the first thriller l've been able to guess everything - like everything. However, I still liked the story! I liked the characters, especially Sam and Nora and how their relationship developed - I'm used to reading romantic relationships that change and develop in a story but I loved seeing these siblings change.
Of course, I'm always highly moved by the loss of a parent/ grief storyline and a few of the quotes were so so valid. Your mindset changes after that loss and being able to see others relate is sad but helpful.
I'm just a Laura Dave fan, so I'm gonna recommend you read this when it comes out in September!

I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I even love Liam, who at times is awful. The relationship between the half siblings that Liam leaves behind grew into something beautiful during the novel.

This was such a great mystery book with a twist I didn’t expect. I loved the main character and her journey through understanding her father’s death. I also really enjoyed the ending and how it wrapped everything up well.

This book read slower than I wanted but I’m glad I remained steadfast through to the end. While not a page turner the woven storylines between the characters and the mysterious “woman” whose identity is only revealed near the end kept me engaged. A solid mystery/family drama but not a thriller. Laura Dave as an author has the ability to vividly bring you to the scenes. I can picture the details in my head down to the wallpaper and the referenced cliff side. A solid read if you go in expecting a drama without thrill.

Thank you Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Propulsive and a super quick read.
I started this poolside and was absolutely riveted. The story immediately drew me in and I did not predict the twist. And now I really want a strawberry soffrito pie.

I thought this book was a great mystery and kept me wondering throughout! The ending surprised me, and I loved the dynamic between Nora and Sam. The only issue I had was that it was slow at some points, which made me loose interest for a short period of time, but other than that I loved it!

Laura Dave's "The Night We Lost Him" delivers a compelling blend of epic love story and gripping mystery, earning it a solid four-star rating. The narrative begins with the suspicious death of Liam Noone, a hotel magnate with a complex and secretive past. Dave's skillful storytelling shines as she intricately weaves the perspectives of Liam's children, Nora and Sam, who must confront their strained relationship to uncover the truth about their father's demise. The novel's rich character development and emotional depth are captivating, making it hard to put down as secrets unfold and family bonds are tested.

Dave masterfully balances suspense and drama, drawing readers into the enigmatic life of Liam Noone, whose multifaceted persona is revealed through the investigation. The California cliffside setting adds a haunting beauty to the story, while the unexpected twists keep the tension high. Although the resolution is heartbreakingly poignant, it feels earned and ties together the complex threads of love, betrayal, and redemption. "The Night We Lost Him" is a testament to Dave's talent for creating stories that are both thrilling and deeply human, leaving readers both satisfied and moved.