A really enjoyable read full of twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way through. Full of suspense and mystery I found myself unable to put it down and finished it in one sitting

OMG! What have I just read! This book is amazing!!! I loved the storyline, I loved the characters, the good ones & the bad ones. There's so many twists and turns, this book will have you staying up reading well into the night. I read this in one sitting. Definitely 5 stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A twisty tale of manipulation and murder is the perfect backdrop to the perfect family Nora tries to create after her husband is found to be a serial killer. After his conviction, she leans on his good friend Roger who is a model father to her son, Owen and they quickly move far away to make a new start. But Nora knows there are cracks in her new life, Owen is not like the other boys and Roger seems to friendly with the local ladies. Nora's world further begins to unravel when men who have caused Owen and Roger problems begin to disappear coupled with her ex-husband declaration that he is innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted. As Owen and Roger become more and more secretive, Nora's world crumbles around as the story heads to its unbelievable ending.

I love it when a book instantly pulls me in with its atmosphere, and The Good Son by Rowen Chambers did just that. From the first few chapters, it was giving me that moody, small-town thriller vibes. Yunno, that kind of community where everyone knows everyone, rumors are being spread and suspicion is always quietly brewing. It’s the kind of read that makes you feel like you’re standing on the edge of something, waiting for it to unravel and I was hooked.

The story follows Nora, a woman seemingly living an ideal life with her kind and devoted husband, Roger, and her teenage son, Owen. But the shadow of Nora’s past looms large. Her ex-husband is in prison for murder, and no one in town knows the full truth about what happened back then.

Owen is a quiet loner, often misunderstood and the subject of local whispers. As a series of mysterious disappearances rocks the town, Nora starts to notice chilling similarities between her son and his father. His eerie calmness, his belief that pain teaches lessons, leads her to question everything. Is Owen capable of the same horrors that once tore her life apart?

Even though some plot elements are quite familiar, I appreciated how the author handled the themes nature vs nuture and the ripple effects of trauma here, raising important questions about trauma, what truly shapes us and how people become who they are.

I breezed through this in one sitting. It’s a compelling, quick read that’s perfect for a weekend binge.

If you enjoy thrillers centered on family dynamics, small town secrets, and morally gray characters, then you should absolutely read this one. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for what Rowen Chambers writes next.

The Good Son was a very good book. It was pretty predictable if you read a lot of psychological thrillers, but still gripping enough to read the whole book and not want to put it down.

I LOVED this book! While I figured out "who did it" rather early on, the small twists and turns still had me second guessing myself. The book held my attention and thought it was a great read!

This book. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The twists the turns, honestly didn’t stop until the end

Always kept you guessing who the killer would be, I had my suspicions and they were correct although there was also so much more twisted then I expected!

The writing style , the plot , the characters I feel were well put together a great way of building suspense. I did feel like I knew who was responsible especially after that outburst that happened after she spoke to Maria .. she definitely was gaslit the whole way 😭 i definitely understand her worry for her son but i feel like it wasn’t needed but saying that feels so weird because of the twist at the end but then it makes you think what makes you become the way you are because the ending made me question why . How , the idea made sense early on what she was worried about but then the ending is like why .. I don’t want to spoil it😂 but it was an easy quick read , definitely Recommend!!!

The Good Son is a dark and twisty domestic suspense story jam packed with lies and secrets.

Nora remarries after her first husband is convicted of murder. Along with her new husband Roger, she and her son Owen move away from all the bad memories and start over. Roger is the principal of the high school Owen attends. Labeled a loner and a geek, Roger does his best to protect Owen from the bullies. When people start to go missing Nora worries Owen is more like his biological father than she thinks.

This is a very fast read, and while I could guess where it was going, I really liked it. Nora was a very weak character and it was hard to like her because she was just so gullible. This did not deter me from liking the story

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy

The Good Son
This twisted thriller was very captivating and a quick read.
Complex family dynamics and small town secrets culminate into a shocking conclusion!
4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.

I’ve come across a variety of reviews for this book, but let me tell you, it was nearly impossible to put down! From the very first page, the suspense gripped me and didn’t let go until the final word.

Nora, after escaping an abusive marriage, finds happiness with her new husband, Roger, and feels secure with her teen son, Owen. However, the town views Owen as odd and potentially dangerous, a shadow cast by the dark history of his father, Nora’s ex-husband, whom she keeps hidden. As Nora notices unsettling similarities between Owen and his father, her anxiety grows, especially after discovering a blood-stained shovel in their shed. Despite Roger's reassurances about Owen's innocence, Nora fears the past is resurfacing. When the truth finally comes to light, it reveals a far deeper and darker secret than she anticipated.

The protagonist, Nora, has endured an experience that most of us can hardly fathom. Her newly reconstructed life appears almost idyllic—until it isn’t. As the plot thickens, I found myself questioning everyone around her. One moment I was suspicious of her son, the next, her husband—talk about a rollercoaster of mistrust! Sure, some twists were predictable, but I was on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating how everything would unfold.

The subtle hints sprinkled throughout the narrative were just as I expected, yet the book remained a captivating page-turner. I relished the air of mystery that enveloped every detail, making each turn of the page a revelation. It’s the perfect summer read for anyone who loves a good murder mystery.

If you enjoy a story filled with intrigue, a complicated past, and an uncertain future, this binge-worthy novel will keep you hooked. I didn’t see the ending coming, and while I had an inkling about the main twist, the conclusion? Well, let’s just say it’s a reminder that you never truly know someone. And let me tell you, don’t mess with a mama bear protecting her cub—trust me, that’s a game you won’t win. This book is a quick, suspenseful delight that you won’t want to miss!

Thank you, NetGalley and author, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Good Son by Rowen Chambers is a fast paced thriller that takes a look into the complexities of family and the secrets they often hide.

Nora is living a good life with her husband Roger, a kind, loving man and absolutely devoted step dad to Nora's teenage son Owen. Nora's ex husband and Owen's father is in jail accused of murder. But no one in their small town knows the truth about Owen's father. The people there already think Owen is weird, an outsider and dangerous. When Nora starts to see some disturbing signs that Owen is turning out to be like his father, she is terrified that the past is repeating itself, this time with her own son. When a spate of disappearances begin, Nora is reminded of her ex husband's crimes. Is Owen capable of the horrible things that are happening? And how far will Nora go to protect her son?

This was a quick read that while a bit predictable, still held my interest throughout. It has a lot of the familiar elements in thrillers such as a mother's intense and absolute love for her child, and the "are they born bad or made bad?" elements. Bullying is a sensitive topic that gets explored in this book so just be aware. Overall, I thought this was a good, quick read and I am definitely interested in seeing more from this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Rowan Chambers for this ARC!! Publication date is May 19th 2025.

If you’re in the mood for a fast paced thriller with small town secrets that explores the complexities of family dynamics, The Good Son by Rowen Chambers (published 5/19/25) could be just what you are looking for.

Nora has a great life – or so it seems. She has a handsome, caring, attentive husband named Roger and her teenage son, Owen, is well behaved, though a bit of a quiet outcast. The peace they have in their quiet little town begins to unravel when men start mysteriously disappearing.

The nature of the disappearances remind Nora of the killings committed years ago by her ex husband. As suspicion grows, it seems like the town starts to point their fingers at Owen, whose resemblances – both in demeanor and dark tendencies – to his father become harder for Nora to ignore. Is it possible that Owen is capable of the same horrors as his father?

One recurring theme in the book is bullying. Owen endured a lot, even more when he lost his one friend. He often expresses the belief that people only learn through pain, implying violence is the answer. While some can find that to be a disturbing point of view, it does bring up an important conversation:

How far should someone go to defend himself?

I agree with his point of view to some extent. It is important to stand up for yourself. Not one person is better than the other.

In terms of characters, none stood out as especially likable to me. Nora frustrated me – she allowed herself to be gaslit, tolerated gossip about her son and even stayed quiet while other women threw themselves at her husband. Maybe that makes her stronger than me, but it felt unrealistic. Roger was irritating in his own right, entertaining the attention of other women instead of shutting it down right away. I found myself feeling bad for Owen, who always seemed to be pushed to the side or misunderstood.

I finished this book in one sitting. It was a quick, engaging read. Although I did find it to be predictable. There were no real twists to catch me off guard, no major “ I did not see that coming!” moments.

Overall, The Good Son offers a compelling narrative that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Some plot elements may feel familiar – the exploration of nature vs nurture and the portrayal of a mother’s unwavering love. It’s a quick read that would be perfect for a weekend getaway or a day by the lake. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that examine the darker aspects of human nature, this book is worth adding to your reading list.

⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you NetGalley & Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC and good read.

He’s not like his father… but what if he is? After divorcing her deranged ex-husband, Nora found marital bliss with Roger, a loving spouse and devoted stepfather to Owen, Nora’s teenage son. People in town think Owen is strange and a loner. Some say he’s dangerous. They’d say even worse if they knew about Owen’s father… which is why they never will. Nora’s hidden that part of her past. It’s why she avoids talking about her first husband, and why she made Owen promise to never tell anyone about him. But now, Nora’s worst fears are coming true. She’s seeing signs that her son is becoming eerily similar to his father?! Wow! Some wild and shocking twists! It also had suspense, murder, mystery, great characters and a very interesting storyline! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Nora’s ex husband Dale was a serial killer and is in prison. Their son Owen begins saying and doing things very similar to what Dale would do and his coach goes missing after an altercation with Nora’s husband aka his adoptive father. Everyone except Nora and her husband Roger believe Owen is evil. Nora begins to fear that her son could be taking the same path as Dale.

Throughout the story Nora makes comparisons of Dale and Owen. At times she suspects he could be capable of hurting someone just like his father had, but at other times she denies he could have any ounce of evil in him even with evidence she finds. She infantilized him and refused to see the truth that was right in front of her. The story is very repetitive with Nora going back and forth of not knowing what to think of her son and being oblivious to what everyone else already knows about not only her son but also the truth of the missing men in their town. It’s very easy to figure out how this would end from the beginning of the story and the involvement of each character of this story.

Even though it was a very predictable story I still enjoyed it. There was no shocking moments and no surprise twist thrown in. This story makes me question how many other families are willing to overlook the malicious behavior of their loved ones just to protect them.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Rowen Chambers.

This book follows a journey Nora takes after divorcing her ex-husband who is in prison for murder. She moves on and marries Roger, who's the best husband and dad ever. At least, according to Nora. Others question this due to alleged rumors.

Owen is their son and is awkward and socially inept. The people in town and at his school bully him and think he's weird and dangerous. Is he though?

Nora tells the story and while it's kind of predictable and Nora is kind of blind to things, it's a solid read with a couple of twists at the end. Is Nora blind to what's really going on with Owen? Was her ex falsely accused?

It was a quick easy read thriller. If you like Frieda McFadden this is the book for you. I figured it out about halfway through, but there were things that made me doubt I had it figured it. It wasn’t very complex and I did think the ending was rather satisfying and intriguing. I would definitely like to read this authors back list and will keep an eye out for new releases.
Thank you to Netgalley, Waltham Publishing and Rowen Chambers for providing the early copy!

i think the sign of a good book is when even if you think you might know where something goes or have suspicions of someone or something, that even if proved right, the getting there makes it an even better or just as good experience. the tension and build can be just as good as if you dont have a clue or are shocked by a twist. and for me this is it. i was anxious to know if i was right or my fears warranted. and Rowen does feelings and emotional charge brilliantly. i was falling over the pages to see just what was going to come. the way the book is paced and laid out allowed me to do just that, read and read and read.
i felt up in the air at time. wanting to shake Nora. but also can see how her own experience made her all out of sorts and easily vulnerable herself.
this is a corker of a thriller and i feel ever so lucky to have gotten the chance to read it. when done well, reading these types of books can bring pure joy to a day. and Rowan is getting a good knack of kicking out these types of books that grip, hook and send emotions all over the place.

OK, I saw the end from the beginning, but was still an entertaining read! Solid mystery, twists and turns, and if you read a lot of this trope you may see it coming, but it is well written, tight, and is fast moving. Like watching Halloween for the umpteenth time, you know what's what, but worth the time and you enjoy it all the way. Have to say nobody in that town would really be missed, not exactly a nice community!

THE GOOD SON BY ROWEN CHAMBERS.
Release date set for the 19th of May 2025.
It took me a minute or so to get in to this book but when i did i enjoyed this story.
I Found it to be a quick fast paced book that I got through fairly quickly.
This is my 2nd book by Rowen Chambers and the rest of there books are on my TBR pile.