This was ridiculous
It was a fun, quick beach read
The reporter was rude and the husband was a nimrod

This one was a fun, fast-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages way past my bedtime. I liked how the story jumps right in and doesn’t waste time—every chapter ends with something that makes you go, “Okay, just one more.” Mofina’s writing is sharp and easy to follow, even when the plot twists start coming in hot.

The characters felt real (flawed, curious, stubborn—all the good stuff), and the way the mystery unfolds kept me guessing. It’s not super heavy or dark, which I appreciated—it’s suspenseful without being too intense. A solid pick if you’re in the mood for a quick, engaging crime story that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

An enjoyable police procedural with the characters holding numerous explosive secrets.

What wasn't mentioned in other reviews was that early on the BODY of the woman wearing the pink blouse is found, but then it switches to the protagonist ardently attempting to locate her - uh, was that a dream sequence of did I miss something?

Also, why was it so shocking to a cop that he had to shoot someone in self defense, he isn't an office worker, he wears a gun for a reason. Did if not enter his head he might have to use it someday?

Narration was top notch!

If Two Are Dead hooked right from the beginning and kept me engaged until the very end. This fast-paced thriller was filled with twists and turns.

This was my first book by Rick Mofina and I look forward to reading some of his other books. Will Damron did a good job with the narration especially since the main character was a female.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Audio for letting me read this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the audiobook! This was another fun, fast-paced thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. It doesn’t dive deep into character development—which worked just fine for me. It’s one of those stories where you think you know what’s coming… but you don’t.

That said, the ending did feel a bit far-fetched and came out of nowhere. Still, I’d recommend it overall for anyone looking for a quick, engaging read.

One caveat: I’d suggest reading this one with your eyes rather than your ears. The audiobook is narrated by a man, and his portrayal of the female characters came off a little cheesy to me. But hey, maybe that’s just a personal thing!

I think this was a good audiobook narration (male narrator who voiced all the characters but did a good job with switching between male/female and neutral narrator) and so I would recommend this audiobook based on how enjoyable it was to listen to. The story had a lot of starts and stops with the action and some moments that seemed way too obvious which took out some of the mystery but overall it's a fast read and a mystery that was interesting ride to hop on. Will it be memorable, maybe not but it was fun in the moment and that's sometimes good enough.

"Things are seldom what they look like."

This fast paced popcorn thriller mystery centered around a murder investigation, was intriguing from the get go. I was definitely entertained and devoured it in one day. Although some parts felt a little far fetched, I was definitely entertained and devoured it in one day. It was a fun surprise to hear my home state being included as part of the setting.

The audio book made for a great immersive experience. The narrator, Will Damron, did a great job with giving each character their own voice. His tone and pacing were spot on and helped create a mysterious, suspenseful setting and plot.

If Two Are Dead by Rick Mofina was boring and annoyed me. Cops and teslas? Eff off tbh. I wish I could give zero stars. Probably will to give this author a second chance.

This one took me a while to get into. I was hoping to be captivated from the beginning but the narrator’s overdone southern accent was, as someone from the south, a bit of a turn off. The story was a fairly typical small town whodunnit that eventually built to make me want to know more, but I found it a bit predictable and overall, not very memorable.

Couldn't wrap my head around the narrator. It was a good book but I didn't like the voice of the narrator do I didn't enjoy it as much.. Thank you for the ARC.

Hang on tight, cause there’s a lot going on here, and I loved it!

Luke is an off duty cop, who thinks he may have hit someone with his vehicle, but it’s dark and rainy and there’s nobody there. Does he report it? Luke’s wife Carrie went into the woods with two other girls when she was a teen and only she came out alive. What happened in the woods? Carrie has fragments of memories, being chased, falling, and then waking up in the hospital. She still struggles with memory loss and trauma. They recently moved back to the small town they’re from to care for Carrie’s father who is dying and who might have secrets of his own...

The plot moves at the perfect pace for increasing tension and suspense. With multiple story lines intertwining and a cast of characters I was giving the side eye to, I wasn’t sure who to trust. Each person felt fully fleshed out, dealing with the complexities of their given situation and circumstances. I had a few theories going and was ultimately able to figure out who did what, but boy did I have fun with the drama of getting there!

Not gonna lie, I initially chose this one because I saw Will Damron was narrating and he’s a favorite of mine. Damron excels at unique voices for EVERY character and his performance is infused with emotion. He also knows just how to turn up the intensity with increases in his pitch and pace for those truly exciting moments, which this had several!

IF TWO ARE DEAD is perfect for those who enjoy a small town whodunnit, mixed with a police procedural and uncovering past secrets. This was my first book by Rick Mofina and it certainly won’t be the last. Do yourself a favor and get the audiobook along with the book, because you’ll want the complete immersive experience for this popcorn thriller!

3⭐️ this was one of those thrillers where i thought i knew what the OBVIOUS answer was, so i had a different theory, but then both turned out to be wrong and that was fun!

otherwise, this was kinda average. the small-town Texas vibes were great (i did the audio🎧 and the narrator’s southern twang was great) and it reminded me a lot of the real-life Slenderman case

but this book felt a little disjointed, like it took too long to bring so many disparate story threads together

no real shocking moments, even tho the twist surprised me it just didn’t *land*

While I love a thriller, I found If Two Are Dead to be somewhat lacking, though this may have had more to do with the narrator's choices than the text itself. The story was fast-paced and compelling, with a number of twists and turns that avoided being predictable. Still, any dialogue that involved female characters rang false, especially when two women were speaking with one another. Four stars for the plotline, but two for character development and depth.

I literally couldn’t guess what was going to happen next.... this was such a fantastic thriller!I have been a fan of this author for years. He has some really good thrillers. I have never listened to one so I was excited to get this on audio. The narrator, Will Damron, did a wonderful job with all the intensity and anticipation!

Need a good thriller, with a twist… THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

A slow-burn crime based suspense that features a couple returning to their home town and having to confront their pasts. Luke, a police officer involved in what he thought might have been a hit and run years ago, is married to Carrie, who cannot recall why she ran from the woods whereas her two friends never did. Could their pasts be connected without their knowledge? This suspense had great pacing with an engaging story, the characters lives woven more and more together as the pages are turned. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending which checks the box for a good thriller to me.
I had the pleasure to tandem read an electronic copy with the audio. The male narrator’s voice, Will Damron, proved to be an asset to the atmospheric, chilling and intriguing vibe of the story.

Thank you @harlequinbooks @htp_hive
@htpbooks_audio @readmirabooks for the #gifted ebook and ALC and this is my honest review.

"Three girls go into the woods but only one comes out."

I enjoyed listening to IF TWO ARE DEAD. It is a twisty thriller and I liked trying to unravel the mystery.

There are actually two intertwined mysteries in this story. Luke driving on a rain soaked road thinks he hit something. He has a past problem with the LAPD and does not want it to affect his new job in Texas. What or who did he hit? Carrie is dealing with a haunted past. In high school she went into the woods with two other girls but only Carrie was found alive. Was she the killer?

In the beginning it felt a little repetitive when Luke was trying to figure out what he hit but the suspense soon started to build.

The narration by Will Damon was well done. He helped keep up the suspense. I find it hard for male narrators to do a female voice and a female narrator would have been better for the female characters.

This was a good book. I loved how this unraveled and everything came together. This kept my attention and had a great twist in the end!

Rick Mofina’s latest is a nail biter that takes readers on a wild ride of suspense. A woman moves back to the town where a terribly tragic event occurred in the woods involving her and two friends. She is the only one of the three that makes it out alive. Unfortunately she suffers from amnesia and struggles to make sense of what happened, even, at times, blaming herself. Meanwhile her husband, a police officer, is working through his own past demons and must come to grips with what might have occurred when he was driving solo on a dark and stormy night. Will Damron does a fabulous job portraying the entire cast of characters. Mofina’s words are gripping, the plot is intense and the cast of characters will keep readers guessing. For fans of Heather Gudenkauf and Brad Parks.

Close your eyes and listen closely. Rick Mofina’s "If Two Are Dead" isn’t just an audiobook; it’s an immersive descent into a world where shadows whisper secrets and every sound could be the harbinger of danger. The narrator’s voice pulls you in, painting a vivid picture of a chilling mystery where nothing is as it seems.

We are thrust into a whirlwind of suspense, where a seemingly straightforward investigation unravels into a labyrinth of hidden motives and buried truths. Each chapter unfolds like a carefully crafted puzzle piece, drawing you deeper into a narrative that pulses with tension. You’ll find yourself holding your breath, waiting for the next twist, the next revelation that will leave you stunned.

Mofina expertly weaves a web of intrigue, where the line between victim and perpetrator blurs, and the past refuses to stay buried. The characters are complex, haunted by their own demons and secrets, and their voices echo in your mind long after the audiobook ends. There’s a relentless sense of urgency, a ticking clock that drives the narrative forward, making it impossible to pause.

"If Two Are Dead" is more than just a story; it’s an experience. A masterfully crafted thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. So, plug in your headphones, dim the lights, and prepare to be transported to a world where danger lurks around every corner, and the truth is the most elusive prize of all. Prepare to be captivated.

Some thrillers shout, but this one hums—quietly unsettling until it suddenly roars. It starts with a slow burn but ends with a bang. This one felt just barely police-y for it not to feel like a procedural (not usually my wheelhouse), and more like a character-driven mystery with a dash of small-town drama and a whole lot of eerie atmosphere. If you’re thriller-curious but not sure where to start, this is an accessible, not-too-intense entry point. Plus the narrator was an added bonus - immersive and kept me engaged with the story.

The setup is simple: three girls went into the woods, only one came out. Now, years later, the lone survivor Carrie and her husband Luke, a struggling cop, return to Clear River to help her dad. One rainy night, Luke hits… something. But there’s no body, no proof—just questions. And from there, the slow unraveling begins.

I loved that the main characters are older and already parents—it felt refreshingly relatable. The mystery builds gradually, and though you’ll need to suspend belief a few times, that’s part of the fun. This isn’t a true-crime-style procedural; it’s a twisty tale where the secrets are deep and the past never stays buried. The pacing isn’t fast, but it moves steadily, and the narrator absolutely nails the tone—warm, chilling, and immersive.

And that twist? Totally unexpected. The kind that drops in from left field in a satisfying way, not one you could’ve guessed with clues but one that works because it blindsides you—in a good way.

Perfect for a listen on chilly night with a blanket or a breezy beach day where you want to be creeped out just enough. Nothing too heavy, but still tense and eerie. If you like stories about secrets, survival, and how the past claws its way back, you’ll want to give this one a try.