The Final Episode by Lori Roy is a haunting and suspenseful story that skillfully blends past and present. Jennifer’s search for the truth about her father and the disappearance of Francie Farrow kept me gripped from start to finish. I enjoyed the tension, the rich atmosphere, and the emotional depth, and I rated it five stars.

OMG, this was so sloooooow. And booooring. And did I mention sloooow? The idea behind it was okay, but the execution was just not up to snuff. At. All. The multiple POVs were just gimmicky, you can basically skip every single chapter that had Beverley in it and not miss a single thing. Seriously. I'm not even exaggerating.
Also, feel free to skim your way through this interminable thing (I certainly skimmed the hell out of it), because it's repetitive AF as well. Everything gets said over and over and over again, and then there'll be another character saying it once more from *their* point of view, adding nothing at all, it's like the author was getting paid by the word. (Maybe she was? I don't know how those Amazon imprints work. I just know that quality-wise, Thomas & Mercer has yet to deliver a single decent read for me.)

Also, am I really supposed to believe that Grown-Up Jenny's narrative is this one super long letter to her imprisoned dad?!? Like, who writes letters like that? It's always chunks of general mystery-novel prose interspersed with some boo-hoo sentimental BS addressed to some jarring "you", to make things deep and poignant or whatever. Really got on my nerves.
"I hoped you were the man I thought you were" , "I still loved the man you were before and didn't know what to do with the man you were after"-- what kid thinks like that of their dad? What kid even sees their parent as a man or a woman?! But of course in this book the female children all think of themselves as "little girls", too. Oh please. Show me one kid that refers to herself that way.
And what was up with MC Jenny referring to every mother in this book as a "mama", even as a thirty-something lady?? I mean, what are you, a toddler? Ugh.
This novel isn't even exciting or scary or whatever, what tension there is always comes from grown-up Jenny invariably hearing nightly noises around her house and/or being alerted to movement in her backyard by her security camera. It's like the author knows of no other way to create tension. The novel even starts out with a scene like that. Is it relevant to the plot? Not really; it's just there to set the mood. Or rather, to fool you into believing this might be an action-packed read instead of a never-ending snooze fest. (On a related note, this book starts out with pages and pages and pages and pages of "Praise for Lori Roy" -- seriously, this stuff went on forever, it was like something out of Monty Python. Apparently every. Single. One of this lady's about 724 books is just a hands-down masterpiece for the ages that left reviewers and their dogs, neighbors and passing alien spaceships panting with ecstasy and ready to sacrifice their firstborn. Let us all praise Lori! Hallelujah!)

That whole bit with the TV show was little more than a gimmick as well, it never really played a role. It was just a device to add massive heaps of backstory to this thing. Like reading about a trio of ten-year-olds and their summer vacation? Cool, this is what you get! Just a bunch of girls running around, looking for orchids, hanging out at the pool, trying to impress the new girl on their godforsaken swamp road. Who is supposedly 12, but about as worldly and jaded as someone twice her age. Oh, and she has "curves". "Grown-up curves", to be exact. Or rather, she "is all curves". I have no clue why the author is so intent on sexualizing a tween, but apparently this twelve-year-old's body shape is something she felt she had to go into detail with. Might I also add: ewwww.
I never got a sense of when exactly that backstory is supposed to take place either; it is said that Francie disappeared twenty-plus years ago, but the parts set in the past never mention anything that would actually pin things down, time-wise -- no pop cultural details like the music those kids liked to listen to or what TV shows were popular, no quirks of fashion, nothing. So those parts pretty much fell flat for me. I mean, like the whole book really.

Never heard of Lori Roy before; will not read Lori Roy again. Oh well.

I think I'm bored with this kind of book. Maybe I'm just reading too many of the same kind of thing.

1.5 stars rounded up.

I guess another unpopular opinion from me, but this just was not it.

The author is new to me and unfortunately just not for me. I found the writing more on the YA side of things.

I love a good true crime tie in, and this one really delivered. The atmosphere is rich and eerie. The swampy setting gave everything a heavy, haunting vibe. It’s a slower build, but in a way that lets the tension burn and the characters settle in.
Jennifer is a really compelling lead. Her grief, guilt, and uncertainty felt so real. I kept turning pages wanting to know who was telling the truth and how everything would unfold. It’s part family drama, part murder mystery, with that slow unraveling I always enjoy.

4 stars! I really enjoyed this one and although I guessed the bigger twist at the end the character development and story still made this thriller worth reading and I didn’t guess all the smaller twists that got us there. The only part/character I didn’t love was Mrs. Farrow. I thought her reactions Jenny were well beyond what is “normal” and Jenny’s non reactions to her weren’t normal either. It felt a bit like these extremes were leading readers towards what to expect in the twist and I was right. Thank you so much to both Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This book started off a bit slow, but once it found its momentum, I was hooked. The dual timelines were well done and added depth to the mystery, and I really enjoyed the true crime episode element. It gave the story a unique structure that kept me turning pages.

Jennifer’s journey as she confronts her past and uncovers buried truths was emotional and suspenseful. The setting added an eerie atmosphere that worked well with the story’s tone. The twists weren’t overly shocking, but they were satisfying and kept me guessing! Definitely recommend for thriller readers that enjoy the true crime element in their reads!

Thanks NetGalley & Thomas and Mercer for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, The Final Episode was an engaging and atmospheric read with a compelling storyline, even if it leaned a bit on the predictable side. I especially enjoyed the dual narrative, alternating between the present day and episodes from a true crime series. This structure added depth and intrigue, though I personally prefer shorter chapters, and found the crime episode segments a bit too long at times.
The novel follows Jennifer Jones, who, at age 11, is anticipating the arrival of her ‘second sight,’ a gift passed down through the women in her family. But instead of discovering her inherited ability, she becomes wrapped up in the disappearance of, Frannie Farrow. Fast forward twenty years, and Jenny’s quiet life is disrupted once again when a popular true crime series—Inspired by True Events—reopens the case, stirring up secrets and casting suspicion on her own family. Was her father truly responsible for what happened that summer?
The book does a great job of layering small but significant moments that slowly build toward the larger picture, and while some plot points felt predictable, there were a few well-placed surprises that kept me invested.
One element that didn’t quite work for me was the storyline around Jenny’s ‘second sight.’ It felt underdeveloped and disconnected from the main plot. I kept expecting it to play a more pivotal role, but it ultimately fell flat and didn’t add much to the overall narrative.
Despite that, this was an enjoyable, suspenseful read with a strong sense of setting and character. Fans of true crime-inspired fiction and atmospheric mysteries will likely find this one worth picking up.

This is not an ending I was expecting...or was I?

Told from two timelines, the past and the present, offers another look at the crime, those involved, and what might have really happened to Francie Farrow.

The past is told from the viewpoint of each episode of the show, Inspired by True Events. They look at unsolved crimes to see if they can uncover what might have happened, or with new technology, does it change how evidence is viewed? The past and present are interwoven, and I felt for several characters. There are others who are unlikable, which adds to the story's tension.

The story is told primarily from Jennifer's point of view, from how she handled events as a child—she was only eleven—to how things are going for her as an adult. While some characters might make you suspicious, the truth surprised me in the end.

I thought the author did a great job with the imagery of the swamp. I could picture the murky water, the wildlife, and the hopes that Jennifer left there.

There were times when the book felt a little slower than others, and sometimes, I got confused with the names because they would be called Mr or Mrs in the book, but sometimes by their first name. So keeping those straight took a little effort. However, I understand the why for Mr and Mrs because that is how children were raised to respect their elders.

This was a highly enjoyable book; we give it 4 1/2 paws.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book! I really enjoyed it! Definitely got me hooked. While the pacing was a bit slow at times, the story still delivered and kept me interested throughout. A solid read overall!

📚 The Final Episode by Lori Roy
🍷 Peltzer Cabernet Sauvignon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pairing:
This has become one of my favorite wines! I tasted it for the first time when we were looking for wedding venues, and I was obsessed! It’s a bold, fruit-forward red with rich notes of blackberry, black cherry, and cassis, balanced by hints of vanilla, oak, and spice. Full-bodied with smooth tannins and a lingering finish, everyone needs to try it!

What worked for me:
I got this on NetGalley, and I’m surprised how much I enjoyed it. As you already know, multi-timeline is one of my favorite types of writing, and this one didn’t disappoint! The best part? The “before” timeline was told as a present-day true crime show, which I absolutely loved!

What didn’t work:
Despite everything working for it, it took me FOREVER to finish. Granted, I have a lot on my plate right now, but for some reason, it just wasn’t drawing me in as much as I would have liked (thus the reason for only four stars).

Straight to the point:
If you’re looking for a twisty, missing girl tale told in a true-crime reveal, then this is for you!

This is an excellent Florida thriller set in and around the Big Cypress Swamp. Frances goes missing from her home one night during a sleepover with another girl on the island, Nora. Jennifer, and twins Tia and Mandy, along with the parents are questioned about their involvement. Years later, an unsolved mystery show delves into Frances's disappearance, as Jenny's dad remains in jail for the crime. This novel is a great true crime mystery, highly recommended for readers who enjoy Florida fiction.

I had such high hopes for this book!! The premise of episodes of a true-crime show acting as the “past timeline” versus the present timeline sounded so interesting. That part, at least, did hold up for me! Unfortunately the story itself was a little confusing (so many characters, so many of them female), a little slow, and a bit too long. I would call it more mystery than thriller- it honestly wasn’t thrilling until about the 80% mark. There were some well done twists and an unexpected ending, I just really wanted more drama.

I couldn’t put this down despite some extra suspension of belief required and several plot lines that felt unnecessary. Read in a few hours on the beach.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Most authors have a specialty of sorts, and for Florida-based writer Lori Roy, that specialty seems to be haunted southern women with complicated families in evocative settings. Originally from Kansas, Roy worked as an accountant for Hallmark before moving to Florida in the late 1990s and starting her writing career. Now living in St. Petersburg, Roy is married with two adult sons and spends her free time renovating her home, playing tennis and pickleball, kayaking, traipsing through swamps, and taking her dog to the dog park.

Roy’s first book, Bent Road, won the Edgar Award for best debut novel in 2013; her third book, Let Me Die in His Footsteps, won the Edgar for best novel in 2016. Her work straddles the line between commercial and literary, with stunning prose and haunting description.

Roy’s latest novel, The Final Episode, is her most commercial to date. Twenty years ago, nine-year-old Francie Farrow was snatched from her bed, and Paul Jones went to jail. Now the TV show Inspired by True Events is recreating the days that led up to Paul’s arrest, forcing his daughter Jenny to relive them as well. Will the show reveal what really happened to Francie? And is Jenny in danger as the truth comes out?

The book alternates between Jenny’s current adult life and detailed descriptions of the TV episodes. Jenny, on the cusp of turning 11 in the TV show, is haunted by Francie’s kidnapping. When 13-year-old Nora moves in nearby, Jenny and her friends Mandy and Tia become mesmerized by the older girl, especially when they learn that Nora was in the room when Francie was snatched. As the show unfolds, adult Jenny deals with the ramifications: Losing clients. An attempted break-in. Tension in her relationship with her boyfriend. She moves back in with her grandmother to the Big Cypress swamp where the events took place. As past and present converge, the tension builds to a surprising climax.

This is a well paced mystery with a true crime sensibility that works well. A good balance of breadcrumbed clues and twists, and the swamp setting makes for great atmosphere.

This is a tough review to write because I was so excited for this one and loved the opening. I found myself getting distracted by the many characters and timelines and it ruined the reading experience for me. I do usually prefer not too much hand-holding when it comes to a read but this structure just didn't work--at the very least have different timelines in different chapters for clarity. The ending was a good pay-off but the road to get there was just too hard.

Loved the alternating timelines that showed a steady progression to the end! It was an edge of your seat story. Well told, well thought out. Not a sentence was wasted. I especially appreciated all of the chapters after the final episode explaining what happened.

The Final Episode by Lori Roy was SUCH a good book! I was sucked into this book so fast and when I wasn't reading it, all I was doing was.. thinking about reading it. If you like thrillers, this is FOR YOU.

A twist on the current outcrop of true crime podcast stories revisiting a cold case. This time a tru crime television show. But Lori Roy does it well.
Jennifer’s father is in prison for the disappearance of a child from Jennifer’s childhood. Now that Jennifer is older, a true crime tv show comes to town and makes Jennifer rethink everything she thought she knew.