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⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.5/5)

“So who are we serving this phlegm cocktail to?”

“Open your eyes.”

Saw this one coming as it was playing out (in a good way, at least at first)! It’s like this story is barreling toward you like a car crash and you don’t wanna look away yet you’re screaming noooooooo Freida you’re a savage.😂

This book is def giving nightmare fuel for sure!

I absolutely loved it….until the ending. Here’s the thing she packed so much content into >100 pages (👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻) but I think the twists were doing a bit too much and the ending was so lame (for me personally, it’s a me thing). It went from a 5 star read to a 3.50 mostly because of the ending. While I was reading it I was wondering why the rating was so low…and now I know (at the time of this review GR had it as a 3.69 - which makes sense and while not terrible that isn’t a rating on a book that would make me excited to read). It’s a shame because it really started off so well.

Also this book says if you’re on death row you get unlimited appeals. Nope, I’ve never heard of that but if you know then clue me in. Do you really get unlimited APPEALS on death row? Enlighten me.

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I absolutely adore Freida McFadden but I feel like this book was a bit underwhelming. I understand it was a short book but still felt a bit rushed. The story was a bit confusing after the plot twist. At first I was hooked but once the plot twist happened, I was like what? It started as one thing and switched to something else. This had potential but I feel like she could’ve given us a bit more. However, because it is such a short read, I still recommend it!

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Wtf did I just read lol that was insanely twisted for a Novella length book! Loved the narrator, the huge plot twists, and anything this author writes, I'll read!

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A suspenseful thriller which is quick to digest, but leaves an impact wondering what is actually happening.

McFadden excels at creating a storyline where the story isn't always as it seems. In Death Row, our story is told through alternating timelines, the before and the after of a tragic event. We spend the whole novella deciphering what is the truth and attempting to discover where we are headed.

Incredibly fast paced and an easy listen, great for those trying to get out of a slump who need something quick!

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"I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. I will always be faithful to you.”
“You swear?”
“On my life...And you know it’s true, because if I ever did cheat on you, you’d probably kill me.”

The lies we tell ourselves to justify our actions is one of the many lessons in the short story thriller, Death Row, by the queen of twists, author Freida McFadden.

We meet Talia on death row. She's scheduled to die by lethal injection. She swears she didn't kill her husband. She has an air tight alibi but the police, and jury, believe she orchestrated his death. Then she sees the prison chaplain. It's her husband, she's sure of it...but he's dead... isn't he?

As voice actress Lauryn Allman perfectly lulls us into Talia's memory of what really happened that faithful night, and why it happened, it slowly reveals a not so innocent Talia...but maybe a not so dead husband. Then why is she on death row...and what is that constant beeping noise in her cell?!

In less than 2 hours, this writer creates such an intense edge of your seat thriller. So many questions. Is Talia an unreliable narrator? Is she insane? Is she a cold blooded killer playing everyone? And what is that incessant beeping she keeps hearing?

My thriller heart had so much fun listening to Talia profess her innocence while starting to doubt her own beliefs; but it's the WTF shocking reveals in Death Row that killed me. Short or long story, this author entertains every time.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Brilliance Publishing via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Set at under 2 hours on audio, this was a very quick and entertaining short story. Due to the conciseness of the story, I didn’t get a chance to connect to the characters, but I liked the plot and the twists it took along the way. I probably won’t be continuing with the rest of this short story series, as it doesn’t seem like the stories have a strong connection between characters and storylines.

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A woman on death row swears she didn’t kill her husband - and then sees him alive, which had me hooked... until the ending totally lost me. I was into it for about 80%, but the last chunk and the epilogue made me roll my eyes so hard. I usually like Freida’s books, so I’m chalking this one up as a one-off.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC 😩🪦

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This story started off very strong but I ended up being very confused by the end and unsure what I should have made of it. Thank you to Freida, Brilliance Publishing, and NetGalley for the audiobook!

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‘Death Row’ by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller that grips readers tightly from start to finish. The story delves deep into the mind of Talia Kemper, a woman on death row for the murder of her husband. With her execution looming and her appeals exhausted, the narrative takes an unsettling turn when Talia spots a man who looks eerily like her supposedly deceased husband. This discovery throws her world into chaos, blurring the lines between reality and delusion. Is she losing her sanity, or has the justice system made a fatal mistake?
Freida McFadden skilfully crafts the tension through Talia’s chilling first-person perspective, making the reader feel the suffocating weight of her prison cell, the relentless ticking of her final days, and the gnawing uncertainty surrounding her memories. The story is as much about Talia’s pursuit of truth as it is about the reader’s descent into doubt. The twists are brilliantly timed, keeping the suspense taut and the reader guessing until the very end. When you think you have pieced it all together, McFadden delivers a twist that turns the entire narrative on its head.
While the final twist is undeniably jaw-dropping, the epilogue introduces a tonal shift that feels slightly out of place. Rather than offering a satisfying conclusion, it leaves an unsettling ambiguity, not necessarily in the profound sense, but more in an “I’m not sure what just happened” way. Despite this minor flaw, the overall impact of the story remains compelling.
‘Death Row’ is an unforgettable, mind-bending thriller that will leave you questioning everything you think you know. If you love thrillers that mess with your head and keep you guessing until the very end, this one’s a must-read.

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This was my first time reading something from Frieda McFadden! This short story is part of the short story collection, The Allibis! The story started out strong, but then became confusing and not fully flushed out. I’m still not exactly sure what was truly happening at the end. I definitely found the story suspenseful. I just wish it had made a bit more sense at the end. It also felt very similar to Grotesquerie and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

I thought the narration was great and would recommend the audiobook if you decide to pick this one up.

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If the ending wasn’t so quick and rushed i probably would have rated it higher. Now I did sit with it after I read and was like what was real and what was “imagined” i think overall it wasn’t bad because it was a short story.

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Freida McFadden has done it again! "Death Row" is a masterclass in short-form suspense, packing more twists and turns into its pages than novels twice its length. From the moment we meet Talia Kemper, a condemned woman on death row for the murder of her husband, the tension is palpable. McFadden expertly crafts a sense of desperate urgency as Talia's appeals dwindle and the clock ticks relentlessly towards her execution.
What makes this story truly shine is the ingenious premise. Talia has always maintained her innocence, despite a lack of motive and a seemingly solid alibi. But when a chance encounter in the visiting room reveals a shocking possibility – the man she was convicted of killing might still be alive – the narrative explodes with a desperate hope and an almost unbearable sense of injustice.
McFadden's writing is sharp, precise, and utterly gripping. She manages to convey Talia's despair, her fleeting hope, and the monumental task of convincing a system that has already condemned her. The race against time feels incredibly real, and you'll find yourself frantically turning pages, desperate for Talia to be believed before it's too late.
"Death Row" is a brilliant, concise thriller that will leave you breathless. It's a testament to McFadden's storytelling prowess that she can create such a compelling and emotionally charged experience in a short story format. If you're a fan of psychological suspense and a relentless pace, do yourself a favor and pick up "Death Row." It's a five-star triumph that will haunt you long after you've finished reading.

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Thanks Brilliance Audio for the gifted audiobook!

A short review for a super short audiobook- just under two hours, so the perfect slump buster or palette cleanser!

Honestly, for a novella, this one packed some serious punch! I would love to read this as an add-on to a bookclub pick because the ending NEEDS to be discussed !

Go in blind and enjoy the ride- you won't be bored!

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Freida McFadden has done it again. Death Row had me questioning everything—and I loved every second of it. The story follows Talia, a woman sitting on death row for the murder of her husband, but something about her situation feels… off. From the start, you’re thrown into a disorienting, claustrophobic world, and as more strange details surface, the tension builds in a way that only McFadden can pull off.

The pacing is brilliant, and just when you think you’ve figured it out—boom, another twist hits. I especially loved how the story balances psychological suspense with the creeping dread that something isn’t quite what it seems. And when the final twist is revealed? My jaw actually dropped. It’s one of those endings that makes you want to go back and re-listen to catch all the subtle clues you missed.

The audiobook narration was excellent—engaging, well-paced, and it captured the eerie, unsettling tone perfectly. It made the experience even more immersive.

If you’re a fan of twisty psychological thrillers that keep you guessing (and second-guessing) until the very last line, Death Row is a must-listen. Definitely a 5-star listen for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this audiobook ☺️

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A Gripping, Fast-Paced Thriller That Feels Like a Full Novel in Just One Sitting

As a longtime Freida McFadden fan, I was thrilled to stumble upon Death Row—and true to form, I devoured it in one sitting. Despite its brevity, this novella packs the same psychological punch and mind-bending twists that McFadden fans have come to expect. Told through alternating timelines, the story masterfully builds suspense, constantly blurring the line between reality and illusion. You’re never quite sure what’s true until the very end—and when that moment comes, it’s less of a shocking twist and more of a gut-wrenching revelation that lingers. The pacing, emotional highs and lows, and tight storytelling make this novella feel like a full-length novel compressed into an hour. Death Row is a testament to McFadden’s talent for keeping readers on edge, even in the shortest formats.

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Death Row by Freida McFadden starts off strong with an intriguing premise—a woman on death row sees the man she supposedly murdered. Cue the suspense, the confusion, and the ticking clock. I was hooked, wondering how this twisty setup would unfold in McFadden’s signature style.

But by the end? Déjà vu.

If you’ve ever read An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce, then you’ve basically read Death Row—just updated and placed in a more modern setting. While the story was short and gripping enough to hold my attention, I couldn't shake the feeling that I’d been here before. I went in expecting something more original, more Freida, and was disappointed when the twist didn’t feel fresh.

Still, it’s worth a quick read if you haven’t come across this type of ending before. Just don’t expect the kind of jaw-dropping, mind-bending finale McFadden usually delivers.

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Great short story. Freida McFadden has done it again! I would highly recommend this quick story on a death row inmate.

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Where is the eye roll emoji? Sigh. This author is a hit or miss for me and this was a miss. Boring. Maybe if it was fleshed out to a full length.

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Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband, except she didn’t do it. She has an alibi. No one believes her. But then she sees a man in the visiting room who looks exactly like her supposedly dead husband...
The setup of this short story was very intriguing. But the execution was a letdown.
With only 73 pages, this novella is a whirlwind of confusion, weird character choices (Pat the Rat?), and a plot that races ahead without giving us time to breathe. Talia’s insecurity is loud, the pacing is frantic, and the ending a total mess. The epilogue left me staring at the wall.

It’s not unreadable. Freida’s signature style is easy and quick, but it felt rushed and forgettable.

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Thank you for this digital review copy. I was excited to dive into another Freida McFadden release! This was a fast-paced and engaging short story with a satisfying twist that left me wanting more. I’d love to see this expanded into a full-length novel with multiple perspectives.

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