Thank you to Netgalley/Brilliance Publishing for the ALC and to Booksparks for the finished copy of One in Four in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was my first book by this author and it didn’t disappoint! I will definitely be checking out her backlist.

This is an intense read and having just seen the author at Hamptons Whodunit, I could see where her background as a psychologist comes in. This is a very dark, very twisted story that plays around with addiction and grief. There are a lot of twists, many I did not see coming but I love it that way! There are times you need to suspend disbelief, but I was ok with that. The ending totally blew my mind and it makes me even more excited to pick up her other books – are they all like that? I can’t wait to find out!


Audio thoughts: This is narrated by some of my favorites – Saskia Maarleveld, Tessa Albertson and Brittany Pressley – and they all do an amazing job with their parts, all infusing just the right emotion and tension into their voices as needed.

This book felt like a whirlwind. There is a lot of moving parts and I felt like we strayed from the initial conflict of the story to add in this backstory element and it took ahold of the entire story. I wanted more from the present story. I felt like everything was just thrown into the story over and over that there was not a shock value, it was just twist after twist that was trying to come to light. I really liked our main character and I enjoyed the alternative POV of the mysterious character as well. I just wish we got more of the present and why that was necessary to add. I enjoyed the epilogue as well it added another level to the story. There were also a lot of pop culture references in the book that took me out of the reading experience, but overall I had a good time and enjoyed reading.

I can’t hate a Lucinda Berry thriller! They’re always dark examinations of human nature.

I loved this, but I will say that I was left with a lot of unanswered questions.

Whoa. Lucinda my queen, as always you are unhinged and unwell!

This audiobook was fantastic and kept me on the edge of my seat.

One thing I love about Lucinda’s books is that they aren’t just fluffy popcorn thrillers. They always include deep layers of pain, insight into the human heart, and commentary on social and societal injustices.

Please heed the trigger warnings on this one. It’s dark and tough to listen to in spots.

Not sure how to sum this one up neatly—I loved the writing, first of all. That part really worked for me. The tension was built just right, and the twists landed well. There was a confidence in how it all unfolded, and I appreciated that.

But if I’m being honest, I did find myself wanting something a bit more complex. The story was solid, but parts of it felt predictable. I read it with my buddy, and Marie loved to chat about it—we had a lot of fun going over what was happening. That added a lot to the experience.

The only real downside for me was the last half. It didn’t fall apart or anything, it just kind of… kept going. Like the story had already hit its peak, and we were just slowly being walked to the end.

Still, despite that, we’re both really looking forward to whatever the author writes next. There’s something about their style that makes me want to keep reading.

Love this author. However, this book just didn’t hit home for me like all the others. I’m not quite sure what it was, but I just didn’t connect with the story or the characters as much as I had hoped.

This was my first book by Lucinda Berry so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I can certainly tell you it wasn’t THAT… I found the story to be very entertaining and I thought the narrator did a fantastic job. However, I am still processing my feelings on that ending and probably will be for quite some time. 🤯

This is Lucinda Berry at her best! A reality show of recovering addicts turns deadly. My mind was racing the whole story to piece everything together and I couldn’t guess a single twist. The twists as always left me reeling!! Be prepared to be destroyed in an insane kind of way!!

I listened to this one on audio. . . The narration was fine. The story started off very interesting, but I was a bit confused halfway through. The ending shocked me but also had some loose ends. Overall a solid read, just check your trigger warnings before reading.
Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the ALC!

I was chosen to preview the audiobook for this title – I really enjoyed the book – the storyline is dark and it can be triggering into abusive and horrifying events in ones life. With all the happening events in the storyline, it really makes you think. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #LucindaBerry #OneInFour #NetGalley

I have been trying to figure out how to describe this book and my feelings about it, but I don't want to be rude because the author is a good person. But this is business, not personal.

So,here are my views:
1. The storyline that sold me on this book began, then took an entirely different direction. The reality show of recovering addict child stars was short-lived, and I was really looking forward to its possibilities.
2. The book felt like a psychology text or health clinic pamphlet at times, stating many real statistics of addicts and those abused. While in real life, these are important facts, in a fictional book, it felt like a whole lotta filler.
3. Not one character was likable. Not. One.
4. A foggy headed idiot like myself figured out whodunnit before it was halfway through. I will say I didn't know the motive, though. But the motive was hard to believe and took me out of the story.
5. The ending felt like it was overly disturbing for the sake of being disturbing.

I think this story just got lost along the way. It almost felt like 2 or 3 storylines mushed together. Perhaps a writing deadline needed to be met, and stress made this lose its way. Still, although this one wasn't for me, it will in no way stop me from reading Lucinda Berry's other work.

I gave this 2.5 stars rounded up to 3⭐️ cause it hurt my heart to only give it 2. AND the narrator of this audiobook was very good, so the rating is higher for her work,too.

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I tend to enjoy Berry's books immensely, but her latest offering, "One in Four," wasn't my favorite. There is plenty of suspense, but the plot quickly gets convulated and ends in a way that is less than satisfying - for lack of a better word, it just feels incomplete. Berry addresses several incredibly difficult topics, including sexual assault, substance abuse + addiction, cyber-bullying, self-harm, and suicide. It's an intense read with no real redemption or follow-through. The book does, however, still embody many elements of Berry's classic page-turner style.

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.

the setup…
Dr. Laurel Harlow has signed on as the therapist for a reality TV show where all the participants are former child stars. They’ve struggled with addiction and Laurel’s experience as a chemical dependency counselor is a great fit. But when one the participants suspiciously dies on camera, she soon becomes the focus of the police investigation.

the heart of the story…
Laurel’s approach to substance dependency is a bit different as she doesn’t agree with some of the AA approaches. She also had an alcohol dependency herself and has lived their reality. At the beginning, I felt like I was dropped in the middle of the story and struggled to find my way until things evened out. It soon becomes clear that she’s being set up as the fall guy for the death and when this takes a turn, it gets a bit diabolical.

the narration…
Saskia Maarleveld and Brittany Pressley are two favorites and were great here. Tessa Albertson is a new voice for me and made her character sympathetic and believable. I enjoyed the collective performances.

the bottom line…
There’s a then/now timeline with the narrator of “then” unidentified until nearly the end, which added some mystery and intrigue. That twisty turn had me in knots through the end. All I have to say is I want/need a sequel!!! Yes, I can use my imagination but it don’t want to.

"One in Four" by Lucinda Berry is hands-down one of my top reads this year. I’m a sucker for psychological thrillers, and this one nails the genre: twisty, tense, and packed with emotional gut punches. What starts as a whodunnit morphs into a layered exploration of trauma, told through dual timelines, and peppered with cliffhangers that practically dare you to stop reading. The addition of a cryptic “her” adds a deliciously eerie vibe throughout. As always, Lucinda Berry dives headfirst into dark, complex themes, so do check trigger warnings. I was leaning toward four stars, but the final chapters hit harder than expected, and the subtext? Chef’s kiss. Five stars, no doubt. Read it—but more importantly, read into it. This one's deeper than it looks.

Special thanks to Thomas and Mercer, Brilliance Publishing and Brilliance Audio for gifting me this ALC via #Netgalley

The narrators Saskia Maarleveld, Tessa Albertson, and Brittany Pressley were phenomenal.

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

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter—no exaggeration. The story takes place on a twisted reality show designed to help seven former child stars recover from serious, often life-threatening addictions. But things take a dark turn when one of the contestants is found dead... and suddenly, the in-house counselor, Dr. Laurel Harlow, becomes the main suspect.

Laurel’s character is fascinating—on the surface she’s calm and collected, but underneath she’s carrying some serious baggage. As the investigation ramps up, so does the pressure, and you start to realize everyone in that house has something to hide. The whole setup is intense and super claustrophobic in the best way. You feel like you’re trapped right there in the house with them, watching everything unravel.

Lucinda Berry knows how to write a dark, twisty psychological thriller, and this one had me second-guessing everyone right up until the end. The suspense is relentless, and the story moves fast—but still manages to dig deep into each character’s trauma and secrets.

Now, major heads-up: this book gets very heavy at times. There are some disturbing scenes and tough subject matter throughout, so please check the trigger warnings before diving in. But if you can handle the intensity, it’s worth it. The emotional depth and raw honesty give the story real weight—it’s not just shock value.

Also—shoutout to the audiobook narrators Saskia Maarleveld; Tessa Albertson; Brittany Pressley . Their performance was phenomenal. The narration added so much tension and personality to the story. Every voice felt distinct and emotionally grounded, which made it even easier to get pulled into the drama and keep track of all the characters. It was one of those listening experiences where you forget you’re hearing a book—it just feels real.

One in Four is dark, gripping, and totally addictive. If you’re into psychological thrillers that dig into trauma, secrets, and survival—with a solid whodunit twist—you need this on your listen list.
4.25 Stars!

Lucinda Berry's "One in Four" was a real page-turner for me, a total psychological thriller that just kept me wanting more! The story centers around Laurel, an addiction therapist who agrees to be part of a reality show with former child stars struggling with addiction. The cameras are always on, and then suddenly, one of the stars is found dead while they're filming.
When Laurel hears about it, she becomes determined to uncover the truth. This forces her to face not only the secrets her patients are hiding but also her own dark past, which starts to resurface.
The book switches between the present, told from Laurel's perspective, and the past, where it's not clear who's talking until the very end, which I thought was a cool way to build suspense. What I really loved was how fast-paced it was, making it a super quick and easy read. I would definitely recommend looking up the trigger warnings for this one before diving in, though.
Overall, I thought the book was fantastic, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a really good thriller!

I would strongly encourage readers to look up content warnings before diving in. This one deals with emotionally heavy topics and can be triggering to some.

When reality tv becomes deadly. This one was unique and honestly, I’m left speechless. The epilogue just blew me away. I couldn’t believe that twist. I have so many questions!!
The narrator, Saskia Maarleveld does a wonderful job portraying the characters in the story. I was able to distinguish several of the FMC in the story. Saskia kept me hooked till the very bloody end!

A very special thanks to Brilliance Publishing + Netgalley + and BookSparks for the complimentary copy.

The premise had so much promise—a reality show about former child stars in recovery that spirals into murder? I was in. But instead of diving deep into the dynamics of the show and its dramatic cast, the focus shifted more toward Dr. Laurel Hargrow and her own buried past. While the story had a solid twist and kept me curious enough to finish, it felt disjointed overall. The character development was scattered, and the plot didn’t quite flow smoothly—it came off a bit clunky. That said, the narrator did a great job. Her voice was strong and engaging, and she’s a big part of what kept me listening through the bumps in the story.

This was a dark, compulsively readable psychological suspense. Though it leans into a slow-burn pace at times, I’m always instantly intrigued by a reality TV backdrop—especially when you throw in a therapist and a revenge plot? Consider me hooked.

Told through dual timelines and the added perspective of a cryptic “her,” the narrative maintained a steady level of intrigue. The blend of entertainment, emotional tension, and drama made for an engaging murder mystery. That said, this one tackles some heavy themes—addiction, trauma, violence, abuse, assault, and harassment—so proceed with caution.

I’m a longtime fan of Berry’s work. While this isn’t my personal favorite, it had me invested from the start. The ambiguous ending may leave some readers puzzled, but I admired the unhinged energy it delivered in the end.