One in Four by Lucinda Berry is a new mystery/thriller following five college students who have finished their first year of college. Their parents, from all walks of life, arrive on campus for parents weekend to celebrate with their children. However, all five students end up missing and we follow the investigtor assigned to their case to investigate. I enjoyed all of hte different story lines for the families. They were all so different. I think the twist at the end was a little predictable, but I didn't mind it. I enjoyed this and think that it is worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Allthoughts are my own.

This was my second Lucinda Berry book, and probably will be my last. I found that I am not the target audience for this author. Whew, settle in because I have a lot of thoughts about this one. Truly, this was maybe the worst group of characters I’ve ever seen in my life. I can get down with an unreliable narrator or people doing bad things, but I did not get the point of every single character being absolute trash. The writing was not very good either. I found the story to be completely telling without showing, we are giving ridiculous plot lines to follow and the writing was so incredibly elementary. It did not flow and felt like we were in a completely different book from the beginning to the end. It was a short book, but it didn’t keep me interested. I couldn't care less what happened to all the characters, and I found the ending to leave me wanting to throw my Kindle across the room. I’m usually not so negative in reviews, but this one left me wishing I DNFed, and I never DNF. It felt very Frieda McFadden…..and NOT in a good way.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

𝖶𝗁𝗈𝖺! 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝗍 𝗉𝖺𝖼𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝖼𝗄 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗍𝗏 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝖼𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗆𝖾𝗋 𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖽 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝖺𝖽𝖽𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌. 𝖨𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗆𝗌 24/7 ( 𝖡𝗂𝗀 𝖡𝗋𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗍𝗒𝗅𝖾 )

𝖧𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝖢𝗋𝗒𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗅 𝖬𝖾𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗌, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗉𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝖣𝗋. 𝖫𝖺𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗅 𝖧𝖺𝗋𝗅𝗈𝗐, 𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗀𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗂𝗇𝗉𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍. 𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗌𝗍, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝖽𝗂𝖾𝗌, 𝗂𝗇 𝖺 𝗌𝗎𝗌𝗉𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝗎𝗍 𝖽𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖫𝖺𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗅 𝗂𝗌 𝗊𝗎𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗈𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖾.

𝖨'𝗆 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗇 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄. 𝖮𝗇 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗆𝗂𝗌𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗌𝗒𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝖫𝗎𝖼𝗂𝗇𝖽𝖺'𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝖼𝖺𝗅 𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗍 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝖾, 𝗇𝗈𝗋 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗏 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 50% 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄.

𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗍 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝖺 180 𝗁𝖺𝗅𝖿 𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗍 𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗆𝖾 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝗍𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄. 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗐𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗒 𝖺 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝖼𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗈𝗐 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗈𝗋, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀?! 𝖨 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝗂𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗎sed a co𝗎𝗉𝗅𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌.

𝖨𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗐𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗒 𝖻𝖾 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝗂𝖼𝗄 𝗎𝗉 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄.
𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗇𝖾𝗍𝗀𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗉𝗎𝖻𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗉𝗅𝗂𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗒 𝖾𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄. 𝖠𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗆𝗒 𝗈𝗐𝗇.

I wanted to love this book, unfortunately, it went off the rails and just wasn't for me. This is my first book by Lucinda Berry and to say I was excited for the opportunity to read this arc is an understatement! I've heard that her books tend to be on the darker side, so I was prepared for that even though I prefer non-horror-ish stories. That wasn't the issue for me in this book.

The premise starts off about a live, 24-7, cameras everywhere, reality tv show where ex-child stars are staying under the same roof to rehab them from whatever drug of choice they've become addicted to. Typical hollywood gone wrong story, only this one was taking place on live tv. Enticing, right? Well that's where that part of the story pretty much ends. Someone in the house ends up dead and the main suspect ends up being the therapist who treated all the ex-starlit's during their stay. But is she truly guilty or is she being framed? Laurel also has a dark past, but she escaped from it 13 years ago, turned her life around and devoted her career to helping others who found themselves in trouble with alcohol and drugs like she did. How could someone who's worked so hard to help people, end up kiilling someone?

This is where Lucinda just lost me. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll just say that the middle became repetative the way the MC talked, and the plot twists were just so unbeliveable that I almost couldn't get through the last half of the book. And the "reasons" behind it all, (iykyk), didn't work for me. Honestly, I wanted more of the child stars, their individual backgrounds, what got them to this point, what crazy things have they all done, and let's see how they recover (or don't) while on the reality tv show. But that's not what this story ended up being about. That last 30% was so graphic, that I know I was squinting my eyes. Which seemed unnessesary to me. But that's just me, to each their own when it comes to gore. It felt severly over the top and the ending wasn't satisfying, at all. Not one bit. In fact, i think it was the worst ending of a thriller I've ever read. I'm sorry to be so blunt here, but you will be saying, WHAT JUST HAPPENED??? And NOT in a good way.

Unfortunately, this doesn't leave me wanting to jump into any other LB books at the moment. I may wait a while and give another of her books a try, but it will take me a while to get over this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the chance to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I'm rating this 1.5 stars, rounded up to 2.

Let me start by saying I was really enjoying the first part of this book, it hooked me instantly. However, I think then the book took a turn and it changed the direction it started with and it kind of lost me on the way as well. Also, I felt the ending was a bit rushed and I wished as a reader I got more closure.

This book had very dark themes, I advise for people to read the TW as there is mentioned of sexual assault, addiction and suicide. I thought the author did a great job writing these heavy themes and connecting them to the story, and also writing such deep and complex characters.

Overall it was a quick read but with some dark themes, so not a light read.

I give this book 3.5 stars, rounded as there are no half stars here.

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

I was a little nervous because the beginning seemed slow but Lucinda Berry came through with her dark and twisty brain. This was so good and the ending was disturbing and unexpected. Loved it!
Posted on Goodreads as well.

I lived her previous books but for some reason i can’t find myself finishing this one. I think the subject matter is a bit too hard on me and puts me off for the moment. I might go back and finish it later on but i honestly doubt i can. That doesn’t mean i wont be reading more of her books in future, i will try them all because i know how talented she is. Hope everyone loves it but it wasn’t a hit for me.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

really good mystery. Kept me on my toes and loved all of the characters and what they went through on this journey. Loved that they a happy ending happened.

Lucinda Berry delivers again with this gripping psychological thriller. The pacing was tense and compelling, I was pulled into the plot from the start.,
A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed., and wow what can I say about the ending!! Highly recommended for fans of dark, thought-provoking thrillers.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. This contained a lot of sexual assault content that I found too difficult to continue reading about.

Lucinda Berry has this incredible way of weaving dark, impactful topics into suspenseful, psychological thrillers. "One in Four" is another example of her expert writing. This novel is less than 250 pages, but be warned, it is dark. If you are not used to Lucinda's writing, be sure to check the content warnings on this one! These include: narcissism, addiction, murder, trauma, self-harm/suicide, sexual assault, bullying, kidnapping and many more! This is not for the faint of heart--4 stars! **I received a complimentary ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

" How many people are walking around in the world with their lights turned off? The switch inside them faded to black? People just like her. Still wearing huge smiles on their faces. Filling rooms with their infectious laughs and bubbly personalities. Still pretty. Still sparkling. Still saying all the same lines. But gone."

One in Four by Lucinda Berry is an unputdownable, twisted, and dark psychological thriller that in true Lucinda Berry fashion will have you hooked from the first page! This book does deal with some very dark topics including: drug and alcohol addiction, SA, self-harm, bullying, kidnapping, violence, and suicide.

Dr. Laurel Harlow is a recovering addict and has made her career as a chemical dependant counselor. Agreeing to be a part of a reality t.v. show about several former child actors facing addiction and recovery, she is in charge of assessing the well being of the clients and helping them on their road to (hopefully) recovery. But when one of the most beloved and youngest star dies, an investigation could expose a lot more than just how the victim died.

At just under 250 pages, One in Four had me in a chokehold and did not let go!! I love all of Lucinda Berry's other books and this one does not disappoint! In true Lucinda style this book is deep and dark psychologically and also wholly relevant. Berry shines a light on the underlining message of how trauma manifests differently in everyone. As a former psychologist, Berry uses her knowledge and expertise to craft a gut punch of a novel and shows that she isn't afraid to talk about the tough subjects. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves deep, dark and thought provoking reads!!

" I used to be one of them, and nobody knows how hard it is to get sober than someone who's had to do it themselves. Or the trauma that's there to meet you when you do. Becoming conscious is so painful."

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucinda Berry, and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!! Publication date is May 13th 2025.

An inpatient treatment facility for addiction being filmed for the world to see was a story I had to read. Starting off with a suspicious death, this had me in its throes immediately. The characters were compelling yet extremely unlikable, including the protagonist who was supposed to be a professional, but her actions proved her to be anything but. I enjoyed the story for the most part until about halfway through, and then I was just left feeling like it was another read done amongst the hundreds I go through. As a fan of this author, I will be reading her next book and each and every one after that. This, however, just wasn't it for me. Three stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas, and Mercer for this ARC.

This book has such a great beginning story, a reality show for recovering child actors that suddenly goes wrong. I knew there would be a twist to this story but that’s where it lost me. Once the twist is revealed the book continues on a dark and disturbing level in great detail. The ending was rushed and there were a lot of storylines that were started yet never finished. The main character Laurel was given an unjust ending. What happened to the remaining housemates? Maybe there will be a sequel.

I love the mixture of reality show meets murder and danger. It definitely added a level of excitement and intensity for me.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

One In Four By Lucinda Berry
Publication Date: May 13, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer| Amazon Publishing

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing, and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

I am on a roll lately with a string of unhinged thrillers, and One In Four just made the other recent unhinged reads look like a Sunday afternoon in the park. If you're looking for a completely unhinged and tension-filled fast read, this should definitely be your next book!

Laurel is the clinical therapist working with seven former child stars trying to overcome their addictions in a Big-Brother style reality show rehab, blasted 24/7 online. When one of the stars dies in the middle of the night during filming, Laurel is as devastated as everyone else. But suddenly, police seem to think this young star was murdered, and they seem to be looking at Laurel -- though she has no idea why. She begins trying to solve the mystery of the star's death on her own, and I'm doing so, she just might uncover some long-hidden secrets from her own past. Who can be trusted and who's telling the truth? Can Laurel figure it out before she becomes the next victim?

This book hooked me immediately with a tension-inducing chapter one, and from there, it only became even more unputdownable. The first half of the book was an unhinged murder mystery with oodles of suspense and tension. And then came a twist that had me shook, and this story went from unhinged to UN-HINGED. Told from dual perspectives and in two timelines, I didn't know whose story from the past was being shared until the book was nearly finished. And no spoilers from me, but this one left with me scratching my head a little bit.

This was my first read by Lucinda Berry, and now I'm wondering if all of her books are this crazily unhinged?! I'm definitely going to dig into her backlist and find out! Whether you've read Berry's previous books or not, this is a fantastic read if you're a fan of unhinged main characters, tension-filled mystery, and fast reads that will keep you riveted from start to finish. One In Four is available May 13th!

#OneInFour #LucindaBerry #ThomasAndMercer #amazonpublishing #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARCs #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #psychologicalthriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

This book drew me in immediately and kept me guessing. I loved the characters and how there are several unreliable ones. I figured some of it out about 3/4 through but I still had to read it all to get to the bottom of it. I feel like the "villan" of it all was way to reactive but hey we all can be. I love how a spotlight is shown on addiction, and mental illness in general by this author as well as in this book. That ending was twisted!

I usually enjoy Berry’s books and this premise was so strong but I ended up being pretty bored - we don’t get enough from the characters to really care about what was happening. The victim dies at the beginning of the book and I found it made it difficult to care because we don’t know much about her character.

If you are looking for a lighthearted read, this is not it. This is an interesting premise for a domestic thriller, but the events are so horrific that I’m not sure how I even feel about it. If you have any triggers, this story may touch on them. Again…just not sure about this one!

A reality show about addicted celebrities goes horribly awry when someone dies. I liked the beginning of this book and really cared about Laurel and Maddie. The ending was unexpected and tragic, but the events leading up to it were dragged out a little too long.