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.

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.

2 Stars (Outliner)
One Liner: Ticks all items on the checklist

English professor Elizabeth looks forward to each semester to teach creative writing to college students. One of the students submits a chapter about a high school senior who has an affair with her teacher. Elizabeth is too familiar with this story and knows exactly what happened. After all, her best friend, Jocelyn, was that girl, and Elizabeth had killed the professor.
Looks like someone knows what she did two decades ago. But who? Elizabeth returns to her hometown, Louisiana, to dig deeper. Maybe it’s time she faced her past!
The story comes in Elizabeth’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
While I don’t mind predictable stuff in cozy mysteries and romance, I somehow can’t stand it in thrillers. Picky much, hell yeah! Still, since I enjoyed the author’s latest romance book, I thought I’d try this one too.
Let me be clear that this is decently good. It has all the elements you want from a thriller. In fact, it could be a great read if this is what you want.
The narration is fast-paced, which is a huge plus. It keeps the pages turning even if the plot doesn’t move (there isn’t enough plot to move anyway).
The first-person POV is spot-on. Despite my rating, I have to applaud the author for getting the tone right. It goes from borderline egoistical to frantic and messy very well.
In a way, the book could be a study of patterns. Not just the ones openly discussed, but others too. I think this could be a book club read. There is a lot to dissect if you want to!
However, the overall effect is underwhelming. That’s mainly because I’m no longer awed by such twists or characters. I wondered about a twist two to three chapters before it happened. This continued until the end.
Then the MC, by god! It’s mandatory for them to be idiots, so she is no exception. Living on coffee and alcohol- check; horny even when her life is crap- double check; pea-brained and idiotic- check. The list could go on…
The book is called a chilling and sexy thriller. It wasn’t chilling, but okay. It wasn’t sexy either. It was horny. I know it’s hard to get the erotic elements just right to add that extra bite to the thriller (I tried it in a short story). Here, it started well, but soon became a joke. While it does serve the purpose of making readers question the MC’s mental state, it doesn’t do anything else.
And that unwanted and most useless last chapter, which has become an annoying trend in this genre. I don’t know who started it, but I can’t wait for someone to end it. The last chapters of a thriller book don’t have to shock the reader and inadvertently make them question the whole plot. Honestly, there could have been a better last chapter, especially since there was a much better character suited for that role. That’s all I will say!
To summarize, Someone Knows has everything that would make a good thriller, but I couldn’t enjoy it. Those who love the genre might like it more. Do check the other reviews before you decide.
Don’t ignore the triggers!
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Usually I am able to figure out what’s going on but this one had me stumped for awhile and trying to figure out WHO DID IT! A very lovely and quick read and alot of plot twists what keeps you guessing!

This is the second thriller I've read by Vi Keeland and she hit it out of park with this one. It was fast paced and I was fully engaged. It was one of those books that I couldn't stop thinking about. It's rare to find books that are like this for me so that's why I've given it 5 stars. I can highly recommend giving this one a read. I bet you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

Many thanks to Atria Books for my gifted ARC. This book will be available on June 17th.

Well… this was INSANE-in the best way possible. Disturbing? Yes. Unputdownable? Also yes.

If you’re craving a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller with just a dash of “wait… what?!” then Someone Knows is your next obsession. The story follows Elizabeth, a New York City English professor whose carefully built life starts to unravel when a student submits a manuscript that feels eerily familiar-like, this-is-my-trauma familiar. What does this student know? And how? Cue a trip to Louisiana, where secrets buried in Elizabeth’s past start clawing their way back.

This book had me hooked from page one. The pacing was on point-not too fast, not too slow. It gave just enough tension to keep me flipping pages late into the night. Yes, there are a few plot elements that stretch believability, but nothing that pulls you out of the story.

Highly recommend if you love psychological thrillers with strong characters, buried secrets, and twists that keep you guessing. I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author.

OK. All I can say is WOW.

I have a really bad habit of not reading what a book is about and just diving in. Which i love because then nothing is given away and its all a shock, but this was 100% a shock. I immediately signed up for this ARC when i see Vi Keeland's name, loving all her books and the ones with Penelope, i couldnt say no.

I dove into this expecting a romance (because i have only read her romance books lol) and got a psychological thriller. This book held my attention from the time i started it to the time i put it down, unwillingly (darn bedtime lol).

I normally do not do thrillers or mysteries, i normally stick to my romance and fantasy books, but this hooked me. I needed to know what happened next and who did what and why. My only complaint will be ... if there ends up not being a book 2 for me to get answers, i might die.

I will not give away anymore information. I want you to dive into this not knowing any details or what to expect, i think that truly helps a story every time.

I hope you all enjoy this book as much as i did!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own.

Someone Knows will have you questioning everything. Five stars for Keeland. I didn’t want to put this book down. A psychological thriller will have you flipping the pages.

Someone knows about Elizabeth’s horrible past. An English professor who ends up getting a story from a student that is exactly what happened while she was in high school. She needed to find out who was sending the story. Knowing she killed her horrible teacher 20 years ago. We follow along as Elizabeth tries to find out the truth. It’s full of twists and turns and the ending will blow your mind.

I’ve always been a fan of Keeland but this new genre from her is just so good. She never misses. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are those of my own.

J'ai l'habitude de lire Vi Keeland dans ses romances mais alors là en thriller, j'ai également été conquise. Nous avons une récit qui va nous prendre aux tripes, nous laisser dans l'attente et nous donner d'en savoir plus. Mon avis sera plus court que d'habitude car je ne peux rien dévoiler. Il faut vivre ce récit jusqu'à la dernière page.

Une professeur dans son cours d'écriture va lire le premier chapitre d'un récit glaçant car il fera écho à son vécu personnel. Quand elle n'était qu'étudiante, elle a tué son professeur qui avait malmené son amie. Elles ont fui mais apparemment le passé n'est jamais loin. Le rythme est vraiment parfait pour nous tenir en haleine et l'éciture saura préserver les tensions au fil de notre lecture. Comme bien souvent, j'ai tenté de déviner certaines choses et j'étais souvent à côté de la plaque. On va retenir son souffle au fil des révélations et j'ai été surprise par les rebondissements. Le premier vous cloue au sol et les suivants, ce n'est guère mieux.

Le poids des secrets va s'entremêler avec celui de la culpabilité. Le retour aux sources ne sera pas simple car revenir en Louisane, c'est se prendre de plein fouet les reminicences du passé. Il sera difficile de s'attacher à notre héroïne car elle semble détachée de tout. Mettre de la distance entre elle et les autres est un moyen de se préserver aussi.

Bref, je n'en dirai pas plus car je ne peux pas le faire sans dévoiler les événements et je vais laisser le mystère planer comme l'a fait l'autrice. Ce n'est pas son premier coup d'essai dans ce genre et c'est complètement réussi.

Just finished Someone Knows by Vi Keeland and WOW. She always delivers, but this one hit different. Emotional, twisty, and totally unputdownable. I was hooked from page one — the characters felt real, the tension was perfect, and the story had just the right mix of heat + heart. If you’re into slow burns with depth, secrets, and that signature Vi Keeland magic… this one’s a must.

Someone Knows is a chilling psychological thriller. The story follows an English Professor named Elizabeth Davis, who teaches an online Creative Writing course. Students submit their writings via email format. One day she receives a submission from a new student named Hannah Greer. The essay is titled chapter one , “The Reckoning” and she is horrified to read in this mysterious student’s writing, the dark secrets haunting her past. The chapters continue coming, each containing the sordid and damaging secrets she never told anyone!

Someone Knows is fast-paced, and a quick read in a sitting or two because when you get to a cliff hangers at the end of each chapter, you want more then more,….

The characters are all pretty unlikeable with a big mess in their lives,

I did not foresee how the story would wrap up and was quite satisfied and surprised.

Vi Keeland has done it again! This is the second book of hers that I've read, and I was hooked from the start. The story had me on the edge of my seat with some truly shocking moments. While I enjoyed the epilogue, I wanted more details. I'm eagerly anticipating her next thriller because she consistently delivers thrilling and suspenseful stories. Although some plot points were easy to anticipate, the book was still a real page-turner.

Someone Knows is a fast-paced psychological thriller that’s easy to get hooked on. From the start, the story is addictive, packed with suspense and morally complex characters that keep the pages turning. The romantic subplot, especially her dynamic with Noah, walks a fine line between steamy and unsettling. The book leans more toward romantic suspense than a traditional mystery thriller, with several male characters competing for Elizabeth's attention and even touches of a spicy thriller in its darker moments.

Despite a few predictable turns, the final twist is cleverly executed and satisfying.
Overall, Someone Knows is a binge-worthy read that’s perfect for fans of compulsive thrillers with a romantic edge. If you're in the mood for something tense, twisty, and a little steamy, this one is worth a look.

In this twisted and disturbing thriller, Elizabeth is a professor who receives a writing assignment that disturbs her immensely. The novel perfectly describes an underage student’s illicit affair with her teacher, who Elizabeth knows to be dead… because she’s the one who killed him, and the student was her best friend Jocelyn. Elizabeth must find who knows the truth about her past before it comes back to haunt her.

This is the second thriller I’ve read by Vi Keeland, and the second one that I’ve absolutely devoured and loved! This one is dark and contains themes regarding sexual assault of an underage girl, so I’d encourage those who are sensitive to these storylines to approach with caution. The twists are so good, and definitely ones that I didn’t predict. There were several throughout the book that made my jaw drop. I loved the epilogue and only wished it was a bit longer to offer more explanation. I will be picking up the author’s next thriller for sure, as she has proven to write unputdownable, chilling reads!

Thank you to Vi Keeland and Atria books for the arc and opportunity to be an early reader and reviewer.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!! I really enjoyed this one! It’s part romance, part mystery, and the story pulled me in right away. I liked the mix of past and present and how the truth slowly came out. Elizabeth was a strong main character, and her connection with Noah had great chemistry. Some twists were easy to guess, but overall it was a gripping and emotional read. I’ll have to read more of Keeland’s books!

Wow! Someone Knows is a nail biting suspense that will have you turning the pages wondering what on earth is going on, just as I did!
This book gave me a thrill. With all the questions about what is happening. Who is who and what happened all those years ago??
This story was entirely unexpected but riveting to the point my heart was hammering in my chest as I read!
The book went in a direction that confused me, it irritated me and made me think alot too!
Ms Keeland has written an intense thriller and I applaud her brilliance at keeping the reader, aka me, hooked to the point that you have to read it to the end to find out what the conclusion actually is, not what you may think it is! Well played Ms Keeland, well played!!

This one fell flat for me. I found my mind wandering while I was reading and I didn't really feel connected to the main character. The pace felt slower than I was expecting for a thriller with this type of plot. I was using adaptive reading with this novel so that might have been the issue vs. the writing of the ARC. For me I guessed the ending early on and it was just a long drawn out story to get there 🤦‍♀️

Big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Someone Knows by Vi Keeland releases on June 17th.

This book had me hooked from the start! I thought the storyline was super well done. The FMC is an English teacher who starts receiving chapters from a student—except the chapters describe a traumatic event that happened during her high school years. The mystery of who is sending them and why keeps you turning the pages. I also really liked the creepy, religious small-town vibes.

Parts of this book were heartbreaking. There are scenes in which a teacher physically and sexually abuses his student (who is also a minor), and they are very hard to read. Definitely a major trigger warning if you’re considering diving into this book!

Overall, this was a very good thriller. I didn’t love the ending, but I understand why the author chose to end the book that way.

I recommend this if you’re into fast-paced thrillers with good twists!