Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an eARC of Someone Knows in exchange for my honest review!

After 2024 had wrapped up, The Unraveling by Vi Keeland ended up being a favorite book of mine from that year thanks to the psychosexual atmosphere and the twisty tale. So I'm happy to say that Someone Knows is a riveting mystery-thriller, too, plunging me into the mission that college English professor Elizabeth embarks on to uncover the truth behind these manuscript chapters that someone keeps sending her way. It's a mission that Keeland lays out well, maintaining a consistent pace and dishing out the tension as this narrative pushes Elizabeth to reckon with the past. While we spend quite a bit of time in the present day, we do essentially get some flashbacks to the past in the form of the chapters that Elizabeth has to read through, and they're segments that the book smoothly slots in against the rest of the present-day timeline.

If I recall correctly, it's around the halfway point in the plot where we learn something important, and I enjoy how that further drives things forward and allows the traumatic events of the past to hit the audience even harder. Then we keep building up the mystery and marching onward into a third act where, I must admit, I did predict a certain element. But then I didn't predict something else for this satisfying ending, and let me tell you, when that landed on the page, I had to sit back and take a minute to let all the pieces gradually click together in my head. It's interesting how this is evocative of The Unraveling, which had its own ending that effectively subverted my expectations, and now we've got Someone Knows pulling the same trick of leaving me having to view its tale through a whole new light after I've finished it.

Overall, I'm officially rating Someone Knows four out of five stars. I'm keen to commit myself to more of Keeland's writing, considering she's clearly proven herself to be excellent at guiding us down roads of suspense. I'm curious to check out her romance books someday, since that's a genre she had been focusing on before transitioning over into thrillers.

I have always loved Vi Keeland as a romance author. Her books always are full of beautiful stories often with a plot twist I didn’t see coming. So Vi being amazing as an author of a thriller is not a surprise. Someone Knows is her second thriller novel and was, to say the least, a wild ride. Throughout this story nothing is ever quite as it seems.

Elizabeth Davis is a 37 year old English professor living in New York. She lives a quiet life, prefers to be unattached, and is fiercely independent. She left her hometown and the events of the past 20 years ago and never looked back. Until now, when she discovers someone knows a secret that, if exposed, would threaten the life she has built for herself. The question is, who knows? You’re going to need to read it in order to find out, trust me, you don’t want any spoilers!

As always, Vi Keeland takes great care in developing her characters ensuring the reader is fully submersed in their life and in their journey. Elizabeth Davis is a tough character. She’s not what you would describe as endearing but she has been through a trauma and you can definitely empathize with her and what has made her the woman she is. Vi takes you on a roller coaster ride through Elizabeth’s past and present and each new revelation keeps you turning the page. While there were a couple of plot points I guessed, nothing was ever obvious or predictable.

If you are a fan of suspense/thriller novels, I highly recommend you read Someone Knows.

This one of the best thrillers I have ever read. There were so many twists and turns and surprises I never expected. I felt sorry for Elizabeth at times, and other times she confused me. Just when I thought I might be figuring out a small piece, something changed. It was crazy that someone knew what had happened the last year of Elizabeth’s high school, but she couldn’t figure out who could know. Elizabeth’s paranoia gets worse when she goes back to Louisiana where she grew up and where her mother still lives. It was crazy the two different sides of Elizabeth’s mother. I can’t imagine how torn Elizabeth was when she found out her mother was sick since the two never got along. You will not want to put the book down once you start reading. I strongly encourage you to read it. I hope there is a part two!

This book was amazing! Completely different than what I am used to from this author! I hope this book does well because it is amazing!

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

Elizabeth is a professor teaching a summer class about writing, her dark past seems to catch up with her when a student sends her a story that’s weirdly familiar. Twenty years ago a teacher was abusing her best friend and she killed him, seems like the mysterious student knows her secret.

It’s impossible for me to tell you my favourite parts of the book without spoiling it (and you need to go in blind to really enjoy it), I can say that there are a few things that the author always does that I love : really complicated fucked up women, and ending that are so not satisfying but also kind of are in a way? Like you think everything is nicely wrapped up and you’re safe and then booom, you’re not. The grooming scenes were also really well written, I was insanely uncomfortable reading them and that was the point, nothing sexy about it at all.

This is a story about family and trauma and about how some people could really use therapy instead of getting revenge over and over like it’s going to fix the past. It’s also about how love is sometimes fucked up including between family, but it doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read “someone knows” in exchange for an honest review.

5 ✨

Wow! I have loved both books I have read by Vi Keeland. This one started a bit slower, but by 30-40% your mind was whirling at the nature of the story. It is a story that will stick with you and that possibly you find a piece of yourself in, at least for me, that’s my experience.

Elizabeth begins her story as a professor in New York. She’s independent and enjoys men just for a night or two, but she does have one friend, Sam, who happens to work in law enforcement who she has managed to keep around for a few months. He’s a good guy, but after she realizes that after they began their “relationship” he checked into her background, she becomes concerned because someone has been sending her emails about her past, but it’s a past she hasn’t shared with anyone. At first, she suspects Sam, but quickly realizes she can rule him out.

She starts contacting people she remembers from her time in Louisiana, her friend, Jocelyn is one of the top on her list, but she can’t find a record of her anywhere. She even engages sam to check his data base, to no avail.

Elizabeth’s mom is very ill and she decides to go visit her while also continuing her research to figure out who knows about her past, a past which is entangled in a murder due to sexual abuse from a teacher.

I won’t give away the details, but let’s just say… mind floofed.

There are remnants of sexual abuse from a teacher, psychological issues due to trauma, trauma bonding, and just when you think you have it all figured out… that last chapter will leave you with your mouth ajar.

I love this author and I think you will too!

A captivating page-turner! Vi Keeland has an accessible and addictive writing style. I flew through the pages. A salacious and scary story that is filled with suspense and delivers a twisty plot and a tight ending. A very unique and distinctive voice in suspense fiction. I'm definitely looking forward to more books by this author!

I really wanted to like this one, but I found the twists weren't great and were pretty predictable. I also don't love how the author set up a second book.

Out of the park again Ms Keeland, please keep 'em coming!!!

When an English professor starts receiving chapters of her teenage crime; she's committed to finding out who the sender is. In light of the estrangement from her mother, the unexpected hookup that's now in the picture and the best friend that helped cover up the crime; who could it be!!! Also could it be that her mind has resorted to playing games with her. You will never see that end coming!!

Solid 4.5 stars!!!!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!!! Beyond humbled 🙏🏾t

SOMEONE KNOWS out June 17th 2005!!

Beautifully written. So many twist and turns. That ending. Chefs kiss. I would recommend this story.

Ohhh boy was this book good! Just when you think you know what’s gonna happen next, a big twist comes to play. I enjoyed the characters in this story! I am new to Vi Keeland’s books and I read a few of her rom-coms so far. I was super surprised by this book and how Vi can write a great rom-com but then also turn around and write an amazing thriller!

Thank you Net Galley, Vi Keeland, and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for an EARC of this book! I enjoyed it so much!!

Someone Knows by Vi Keeland pulled me in right from the start. It mixes romance and suspense in a way that really works—I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The main character, Nora, has a rough past, and just when she thinks she’s getting her life back on track, Bennett shows up and everything changes. There are secrets, twists, and emotional moments that hit hard. I liked how the story kept me guessing but also had real heart. If you’re into romance with a bit of mystery and a lot of feels, this one’s definitely worth reading.

This book had me in a chokehold, it gripped me right from the start and every time I thought I knew where it was going I was right hooked in the face.,

Wow this book was insane. Just when id think id figured it out it would completely change and leave me reeling. I really loved how it ended up and the extra twist at the end was crazy good.

This book made me mad. A quarter way through, I was all in, but then it very quickly went downhill. I was already feeling a bit uncomfortable with part of the storyline, and it just kept getting worse. The way everything wrapped up before the epilogue made zero sense then the actual epilogue had me so angry. I will never read from this author again.

Fast paced, edge of your seat, grab you by the neck-line not let go! There were twist and turns the entire time. Pain, trauma, and dark. This is a thriller that deserves all the stars!

Book Title: Someone Knows
Author: Vi Keeland
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Atra/Emily Bestler Books
Pub Date: June 17, 2025
My Rating: 3.5
Pages: 288

College Creative Writing professor, Elizabeth always looks forward to the start of each new semester. This semester she is thrown off when she reads chapter one of story entitled “The Reckoning. It is about a high school senior who has an affair with her teacher.
Elizabeth recognizes this as something that actually happened two decades ago to her best friend Jocelyn. She knows how the story will end—the teacher was abusive and killed.
Jocelyn has been missing ever since.
Elizabeth knows she needs to return to her hometown. She meets Noah and figures out he knows more about her secret.

Story kept me curious however it is very sad and not enjoyable ~ having said that it is strange that somehow I still found it good.

About the author ~ Vi Keeland has written 113 books!!! Yikes I have only read a few. I liked [book: The Unraveling] Pub date was summer 2024 I enjoyed it and knew I wanted to read another story she wrote. SO here I am!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Atra/Emily Bestler Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled: June 17, 2025.

I was immediately hooked by the premise of Someone Knows, and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint. This was exactly my kind of psychological thriller—dark, fast-paced, and emotionally layered. It’s gritty, fast-paced, and dives deep into trauma, survival, and the wild, protective ways our brains sometimes rewrite the truth to help us cope. There’s a raw look at trauma bonding too—how people can get stuck in pain because it’s familiar.

I found Elizabeth hard to connect with at first, but I gradually came to understand her, and by the end, I appreciated the depth of her character. The story unfolds at a steady pace, and even when I guessed a few twists, the suspense and emotional stakes kept me turning pages. There were moments that made me second-guess myself, which is something I love in a good thriller.

Although I was hoping for a bit more impact from the “big reveal,” it was still satisfying—and the final twist left me absolutely shook. I didn’t see it coming at all, and it elevated the ending in the best way, though now I’m left with more questions but that is what makes a good thriller in my opinion.

There’s a bit of spice, but I wouldn’t call it a romance. It’s more about what happens after the damage is done and how people carry and cope with their pain—even when they aren’t aware of it.

Someone Knows delivers plenty of twists and turns. It explores trauma, memory, and healing with gritty honesty. I’ve always associated Vi Keeland’s name with romance, so I was pleasantly surprised by how well she handled the darker, more psychological elements here.

Highly recommend for fans of fast-paced thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC via NetGalley.

Someone Knows follow English professor, Elizabeth, as she receives eerily accurate submissions from her creative writing class regarding something that no one should know happened. Elizabeth and her friends have been keeping a secret since high school and it’s all about to come to light. So, Elizabeth returns home in order to discover the truth of what’s been happening.

Keeland’s writing establishes an unsettling and eerie atmosphere beginning in the first couple chapters and is relentless until the final page. Every person Elizabeth interacted with has her questioning not only them, but herself as well.

Someone Knows is fast paced as Elizabeth investigates who is sending her chapters regarding the secret. This investigation in her hometown leads to some steamy/spicy scenes. I wouldn’t label Someone Knows as an erotic thriller, but if you’re familiar with Keeland’s romance novels, you would know that she’s capable of writing fire hot scenes.

There are so many twists and turns that will keep readers guessing. I will say that I guessed one of the twists near the beginning of the novel, but it was more of an offhanded thought than an actual guess.

Overall, Someone Knows is fast paced, sexy, and riveting as readers try to discern fact from fiction alongside the FMC.