Get your popcorn and snacks ready because you’re about to be glued to your seat, unable to put down this fast-paced and suspenseful read! 🍿📖

Carrie vowed to never return to her hometown. But when she finds out her father is ill, she knows she has to face her past. She left for LA after a tragic accident happened in her junior year and hasn’t looked back since.
Maybe this move back to Clear River could be a fresh start for Carrie and her husband, Luke. He’s just faced a tragedy of his own as an officer for the LAPD.
But this move isn’t starting out as positive as they imagined. While off duty, during a storm on his way home, Luke hits something or someone with his car. He gets out to inspect the area and calls out for someone, but can’t find a trace of anyone. Now paranoid, Luke constructs his own private investigation into who he could have possibly hit.
Meanwhile, Carrie is struggling with her past. Thirteen years ago, she went into the woods with two other classmates, and she was the only one to come out alive, just barely. She’s unable to remember anything that happened or why she was even in the woods. Slowly memories start to surface.
Was this move for the best? Will it open new and fresh wounds? Or give closure to everyone, so that they can move on and know the truth?

For Fans of:
✩ Multiple Suspects
✩ Whodunit Mysteries
✩ Small Towns
✩ Uncovering Memories

I really enjoyed this book. It’s easy to tell that the author was a reporter in the past; the way the story flows and was constructed really makes it feel like a true crime.

This thriller had all the exciting aspects I crave, but it was just a bit too slow for me to really get captivated in the story. When I read a thriller, I need a banger of a beginning that keeps me turning the pages and dying to know what happens.

Don’t get me wrong, this story did eventually get me excited about the prospect of figuring out what the heck was going on, but it took a bit.

I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, however, the history the FMC has is tragic. She experienced so much throughout her life, seems like all she needed was a break.

I will say her husband, Luke drove me absolutely nuts. He was very self absorbed and selfish throughout the book. He was too focused on his life and how his career would be affected when he should have been standing by his wife’s side.

Most of the characters were shady, keeping secrets from people. But I will say, the way I thought I had it figured out and was sorely mistaken was a happy surprise.

This was my first book by this author, and he really knows how to write a captivating plot twist. I look forward to more!

5 stars

"Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead." - Benjamin Franklin

Luke and Carrie Conway have recently moved back to Carrie's hometown to take care of her ailing father. But they are both seriously haunted by pieces from their past - Luke, by a tragic shooting at work back in California where he was a cop, and Carrie, by the terrible ordeal she went through 15 years prior when she ended up being the only survivor of an unsolved murder of two classmates. Carrie suffered complete memory loss after the incident, and even with massive amounts of therapy, still can't recall what happened to the three of them in the woods.

During a crazy rainstorm, Luke is driving home and thinks he hit a woman in the road. Although he spends a bunch of time running around looking, he can't find a body or any evidence of a woman after the fact. Not wanting to distress Carrie further as she's grappling with her own demons, Luke decides to keep secretly looking into this possible hit-and-run himself, rather than reporting any of it to his colleagues in law enforcement. Meanwhile, under the advice of her therapist, Carrie has started revisiting old hangouts to see if any forgotten memories will resurface. And so the story goes on....

I thought this was rather wonderfully written, and I was hooked from the very beginning when Luke has his accident. There are just soooo many secrets that people are holding close to the chest in this story, and my one frustration is that a LOT of problems in the plotline could have been solved or avoided altogether if people simply talked and confided with each other. But I know that would have made for a much less interesting story. All in all, a slick, taut thriller that kept me coming back for more!

Thanks to NetGalley, author Rick Mofina, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for giving me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

This book hooked me from the opening. Full of twists and turns and miscommunication and misguided actions, this one will keep you guessing until the final page.

If Two Are Dead grabbed me from the start with its eerie atmosphere and tense, unpredictable plot. Luke’s decision to drive away after hitting something in the rainstorm left me feeling on edge, and it only got more intense as his and Carrie’s search for answers intertwined with a long-unsolved crime. The pacing was great, keeping me hooked with each new twist, though I did find myself frustrated with some of the characters' decisions. Carrie’s trauma from her past added so much depth to her character, and I loved seeing how her and Luke’s relationship played into the mystery. It’s a chilling, emotional read that didn’t let up.

Enjoyed it, but it was probably my least favorite book by the author and I read a ton of his books. It was completely different than most of the previous books. There wasn't the usual kidnapping in the beginning. Was it healthy for Carrie to move back home where some people still blamed her for the deaths of Abby and Erin? The whole reason behind the girls meeting in the woods made no sense, Carrie wasn't even friends with them. There were so many secrets surrounding what happened in the woods. I had no idea who could have been involved. Luke's no help to his wife. He's oblivious to everything Carrie is going through. He's more concerned about who he might have hit and possibly killed in the storm. Luke can't get over the events that happened in California. He believes he's ultimately responsible for the woman's death and her children being orphans. This is the same woman who just killed two people and was brandishing a semiautomatic at police and firing. There seemed like so much was happening and also nothing at the same time. There were the usual twists and turns. I had no idea who was behind everything until the truth was finally revealed. There was all this build up about the murders and then it seems like Luke figures everything out. Would they really have survived in the end? It didn't seem possible. Nothing was broken and not a single scratch. What was with Opal and her fascination with the Benjamin Franklin project?

Definitely recommend the book. It was a good mystery/thriller and kept me entertained and guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the story and writing style. I look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A woman and her husband return to their hometown to take care of her dying father, but there are still ghosts haunting her from her past. The title of this book really caught my eye; however I feel as if the overall book did not really tie into the title. The plot itself wasn’t bad, but I did feel as if it was very slow. Solid start and a twisty end, but the bulk of middle was very much a slow burn.

Thank you to Rick Mofina, Harlequin Trade Publishing, & Netgalley for the arc copy of If Two Are Dead. This is a fast paced thriller with twists and short chapters. A cold case with buried secrets! Suspenseful and a wild ride makes you want to continue reading to figure out the ending! This book publishes on 4/29/25!

My Review:
Rick Mofina’s book “If Two are Dead”
Mentions a quote by Benjamin Franklin.
"Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead,"
And so we enter the woods with three girls, and only Carrie was able to come back. She woke up in the hospital finding her dad, Vern, looking at her worriedly.
How was Carrie able to escape the murderous events in the woods. She cannot remember. Even with the help of her doctor and therapy sessions won’t bring the events into Carrie’s mind.
Carrie and her husband Luke, and baby girl Emilia were living in California. However, Vern, the dad, had terminal illness therefore California family moved back to their hometown in Texas.
Luke had his own troubling issues, and he had some difficulties helping Carrie, who tried to cope with her trauma.
Investigation to the two girls’ murder started getting new leads. One journalist, Deese, was interviewing Carrie and started digging around to a point that she had published exclusive articles that caused Carrie even more anxiety, and deep self blaming thoughts.
Her world was in turmoil, as was Luke’s, too.
In my opinion, the role of Deese’s made me very angry and I was discussing with her how her poking around and should not be published too quickly, as most of it was speculation and made readers accuse Carrie.
This book kept me in it, I was living with them, I was telling how I could help Carrie and Luke, the way Mr. Mofina had told the fictional story caused me to feel emotions with characters. And I didn’t like Deese, sorry. Her character was so well written that she made my dislike open.
I will not touch the ending areas. I had my suspects and as always, well off the grid.
I will recommend this book with all my heart. Thank you, @Harper Collins, for giving me this opportunity to read a great book. @Rick Mofina, your next book will be in my hands, I can wait. Thank you for keeping me glued to your amazing writing of this story.

A girl goes into the woods with 2 other high school girls and she is the only one that makes it out alive. Why did she survive? Was she the one that killed them? No one truly knows because she lost all her memory of the incident due to a head injury. Years later, she returns to her hometown and starts remembering what happened.

This was a good, fast paced read. Her husband also was going through his own little mystery and everything does come together in the end. I wasn’t 100% sold on the ending as it was a little far fetched to me, but I still enjoyed the ride and all the build up.

Overall, this is a good read that creates good suspense.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
This was another awesome read by Mofina!
Years ago in high school three girls enter the woods but only one returns running and beat up. What happened in the woods? Carrie the girl who made it out of the woods was injured and can’t remember what happened. After years a reporter begins digging into the story of the three girls. Will she find the answers. Can she help Cassie remember?

First, thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. I'm always grateful to receive an ARC in exchange for my review.

This one left me unable to stop reading and I stayed up much too late for a Sunday before work. With a couple of mysteries all wrapped up in one novel, it's a gripping, page turning read from beginning to end. While you think you've got one figured out, the others leave you dumbfounded or flabbergasted. The end? Man, it sure was tied up nicely. Looking back, there were some subtle clues, but hidden enough that you didn't realize they were clues until the end. That's how an incredible thriller is done! 10/10 highly recommend this one. Now, excuse me while I read everything else by Rick Mofina!

If Two Are Dead by Rick Mofina is a chilling and suspenseful thriller that weaves together past and present tragedies in the small town of Clear River. The story begins with a tense and haunting scenario: Luke Conway, an off-duty cop, accidentally strikes something in a rainstorm while driving. Confused and scared, Luke finds no body and no witnesses, and instead of reporting the incident, he decides to investigate on his own. This decision sets in motion a terrifying series of events that brings him face-to-face with a dark secret tied to his wife, Carrie, and the unsolved murder of two teenage girls in the area.

The tension in If Two Are Dead builds as Luke’s search for answers leads to a shocking discovery. The book deftly explores themes of guilt, fear, and the lengths people will go to when hiding the truth. Carrie’s haunting memories of being the sole survivor of a horrific crime years ago add a layer of emotional depth to the story, making the stakes feel even higher.

Rick Mofina’s writing is tight, creating a constant sense of dread and urgency. The twists and turns in the plot keep readers on edge, and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters make them relatable, even as their actions become increasingly desperate. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with a strong, emotionally complex narrative, If Two Are Dead will leave you hooked until the very last page.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview If Two Are Dead.
This is a good plot that begins with a young married couple that are returning to their home in Texas. Carrie and Luke and their child are living in California but due to Carrie’s dad being sick they are moving back. Luke had a good job as a police officer had lost his job due to an incident that occurred.
But moving back to Texas impacts Carrie as she will have to deal with her own problems. When she was a teenager she had a terrible experience. But Carrie has no memory of what happened. She went into the woods with two young women. They were killed and she survived.
It’s been thirteen years and moving home will open up old wounds.
Lots of people think she is a murderer but Carrie has never been convicted.
The murder of the girls remain unsolved but returning home will be harder than she thought. And Carrie is the only person who can solve this crime. But she has no idea how she survived and will have to live with the consequences.
But if she didn’t kill them there is a murderer who is guilty and has gotten away with murder. Or is she a murderer.
Lots of characters and subplots. A bit wordy but overall good read 3.5 sty

This guy is a longtime must-read for me! Rick Mofina never disappoints. Are some better than others? Sure, seeing as he has written a LOT of books. I do know though, that I will always get an entertaining read, and this book is no different. Luke and Carrie move from LA back to Clear River, Texas to help Carrie's sick father. Carrie swore she would never return due to past trauma. years ago. Three girls went into the woods and only Carrie came out. She has no memory of what happened. Luke is already wanting to leave LAPD, so he is ready to go. He becomes a Deputy in Clear River. Luke is off-duty and driving one night, thinks he hits something, can't find a body so he drives on, planning to investigate on his own. As it turns out, Luke has his own demons, and everything all comes back to haunt both Carrie and Luke. This is a slower burn at first than most of Rick Mofina's books and then it's all on and hold onto your hat! Very suspenseful and a great twist from the whodunnit aspect! This is a really good standalone and I highly recommend it. I also still look forward to this author's new books!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Rick Mofina and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Facebook and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of April 29, 2025.

An edge of your seat book, kept me guessing all the way through. I’ve just started reading books from this author and I have not been disappointed. A police officer, with his own troubling career, tries to help his wife who is dealing with mysterious deaths from years before. Thank you for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and HTP Books/Mira for the advanced copy of

This was my first Rick Mofina book. This is a standalone book, a great suspense thriller that kept me at the edge of my seat.

When you read the book, make sure to read the acknowledgements, how this story inspired the author from his time as a journalist.

Thank you again for the arc!

If Two are Dead is more of a police procedural than a thriller. We are slowly given clues to two events – the murder of two young Clear River girls years earlier and the possible hit and run committed by a newly arrived Clear River Deputy. And then, it is suddenly no longer a slow burn but a fast paced, page turner you won’t be able to stop reading.

This is a fast read. I was surprised by the twist and how the stories all tied together in the end. I did not feel a connection with any of the characters, especially the husband. However, the mystery in itself, is what keeps you wanting to read more.

This was okay. I like the author which is the main reason I picked this up. I do however like his other work I have read from him better than this one.

The last 30 percent was fast paced and fun. The first 70 percent was too slow for me to give it a better rating. If the first portion of the storyline read like the last I would have been able to rate it higher.

I liked how there was so many ways this could have went when Carrie was trying to figure out who the “bad guy” was. I kept on changing my guesses throughout which I enjoyed.

I would recommend it if you are looking for a police style who done it case. But I would skip this one if you are a Rick Mofina fan as it’s not as good as his other work ( in my opinion)

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC In exchange for an honest review.