The Night Before
A Novel
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Pub Date May 14 2019 | Archive Date Dec 31 2020
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Description
Twelve hours earlier, she was...
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she's gone.
Twelve hours earlier, she was...
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she's gone.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781250198679 |
| PRICE | $26.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 320 |
Average rating from 916 members
Featured Reviews
When I got the rare opportunity to do a super early read of Walker’s latest I was ecstatic! This one isn’t even out until next summer, no cover yet even and the blurb is still very short so I’m going to keep this brief so as pique your interest but not to spoil anything.
Really the only thing you can tell from the brief blurb is that a woman is missing, that’s Laura and then you also hear from her sister Rosie. This is not your run of the mill missing persons story, Walker puts her own unique spin on things and she wrong footed me more times than I can count. I had a new theory practically every single chapter and in the end none of mine were right. The pacing was awesome, it started out strong and steady, hooking me instantly and then the closer you get to the end the faster it gets. It all ends in a whirlwind of surprising revelations and it’s only then do you realize the depth of Walker’s plotting and keen ability to weave a dark tale. I loved this one and urge you to preorder it, must read!
Overall rating: 5/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
The Night Before in three words: Compulsive, Fast and Clever.
kATHLEEN G, Reviewer
Laura's gone out with a man she chose off a dating site and she hasn't come home to her sister Rosie's house so Rosie goes looking for her. This tale of a woman wrapped in by a man has several levels- Laura's high school date was killed, she's worked with a therapist to get through her trauma, and now, something isn't right about Jonathan, if that is his name. The chapters move back and forth in time and between narrators, although they are primarily Laura in the first person and Rosie in the third person. This one will have you guessing for quite some time. The first twist seemed gratuitous and I wasn't sure why it was relevant. The second twist- the big one- could have been better foreshadowed because it came pretty much out of nowhere. Nonetheless, this was a quick page turning read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Be careful who you date!
Have you ever read a book and thought "holy crap, I need to read every book this author has written, right away?" Well, that's me right now. I read it in almost one sitting, and got irritable when my husband interrupted me. "I'm at 98%, Lemme BE!" It's a good thing he is so forgiving.
Wendy Walker got my attention with this book. A protagonist who returns home to her sister and their group of life-long friends in small-town CT in order to heal from a bad breakup in NYC. The next step in the recovery plan: try dating again. One first date. Only, the next morning, she is missing. And in the shared past of the four friends is a murder...and the past has them second-guessing everything.
Well-developed story. Believable characters. Very good read. Suspenseful. Ending feels satisfying.
#TheNightBefore #NetGalley #Goodreads
debra m, Reviewer
I enjoyed reading Emma In The Night. So, when I got the request to read another book written by Wendy Walkers, I dropped what I was doing and started reading. I could not put this down until I finished reading it.
The description doesn’t give you much information. But that turned out to be part of the attraction to the book. I don’t think the technique would have worked if I had not already read and enjoyed one of Wendy’s books. So, take it from me you do not want to miss reading this book if you like psychological thrillers, suspense or mystery. This is a must read! After you have finished reading this book you will be a Wendy Walker fan reading her others.
I don’t want to give any spoilers and keep in line with the brief description. In addition to being one of the best psychological thrillers I have read, it was also a great family drama with enjoyable lifelong friendships. This was not a predictable storyline. There were plenty of twists and turns I did not see coming.
The author alternates from past to present and from different characters points of view. I felt this was an effective and enjoyable writing style for this particular book. I would love to see this book made into a movie.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley. A special thank you to Jordan at St. Martin’s Press and to Wendy Walker for choosing me to read the book prior to publishing in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If this review was helpful to you please click the link below.
4.5 stars
This book is a prime example of what a psychological suspense thriller should be! By far, it’s my favorite thriller read so far this year.
The publisher blurb:
"Twelve hours earlier, she was...
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she's gone."
Now that is a perfect blurb! It’s best to go into this read with as little information as possible.
Laura goes on a date with a man she met on an online dating site and doesn’t return home. From there, the story alternates between the ‘night before’ chapters narrated by Laura, and chapters featuring her sister Rosie, who attempts to piece together the clues in an increasingly desperate attempt to locate her sister. Interspersed throughout the book are chapters detailing sessions between Laura and her therapist. I love how the author brings a psychological slant to all her books.
I picked this up early one morning to read and three hours later I was still in the same spot. If life had not intervened I would have read this cover to cover in one sitting. The pacing is perfect and the author reveals additional information at just the right times to keep the tension and suspense high. The ending had my pulse racing and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.
If you’ve given up on thrillers because many are less than thrilling my advice is to put this on your radar for the May 2019 publication date. It will restore your faith in the genre!
*thanks to St Martin's Press for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.
*Many thanks to the Traveling Sisters here on Goodreads, for the pleasure of reading and discussing this book as a group.
* review to publish on Amazon in May 2019
Twelve hours earlier, she was...Hopeful. Excited. Safe.
NOW SHE’S GONE
That was all the publisher said, so if they want to be vague, and have readers go in blind, I am not going to say much more.....but, I will give you a smidgen more....
Excerpt : (page 2)
“ Lipstick, cherry red.
I choose the color because it’s bright and cheerful. It’s optimism in a tube. And, that’s exactly what I need tonight.”
The guest bathroom at my sister’s house is impossibly small, with slanted ceilings and a tiny oval mirror. The lipstick hovers on the edge of a pedestal sink. I put it on first, so I won’t change my mind, rolling that optimism right across my lips.”
Is that not gorgeous writing?
I had the opportunity to read this through Netgalley super early, in exchange for candid feedback, as this book is not scheduled to be released till May 14th, 2019.
All I can say is that if you love thrillers with a twist...pre order now.
If you have a sister, you have always had to look out for...pre order now...
If you love stories told through two narratives, and a transcript, pre order now...
I will be making time to go back and read the author’s first two books, after reading this one..
I would like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wendy Walker for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Cheryl M, Reviewer
If you’ve read a book by Wendy Walker before then you know how she likes to play with red herrings and twist her plots like someone wringing out a wet sheet. Just when you think you have it all figured out, she throws you off the trail completely.
The story is about two sisters, one of them lives under a dark cloud of suspicion because of a tragic event in the past. Everything Laura does, especially when it comes to romantic relationships, is always brought back to what she may or may not have done in the past.
Subsequently the reader is never quite sure whether they are dealing with Laura the secret psychopath or Laura the insecure victim of odd circumstances. When she goes missing after arranging to meet up with a man on dating website, her sister Rosie goes into meltdown and believes the worst has happened. She rounds up the troops before time runs out for Laura.
Simultaneously the reader is privy to events between Laura and this mysterious man, and let me tell you Walker presents an excellent cat and mouse game between the two of them. You’re just never sure which one of them is the predator, which makes the read even more exhilarating.
Is Laura disturbed, are the rumours true? Has someone got a vendetta against her, is this simply a misunderstanding or is there something more sinister afoot? It’s an enthralling well plotted psychological thriller, which will keep you guessing until the very last pages. Walker doesn’t disappoint.
4.5 stars! UNPUTDOWNABLE!!
This was a fast-paced, tension-filled, edge-of-your-seat thrilling read! I couldn’t flip these pages fast enough! I absolutely love this author’s writing – it pulled me in from page one and kept me fully captivated and intrigued until the very end.
The blurb describing this novel doesn’t give much detail:
“Twelve hours earlier, she was...
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she's gone.”
Knowing the caliber of this author’s writing, I knew I would be in for an intense and gripping read, which is exactly what this was.
Once again, Wendy Walker, mastered the art of brilliant narration. One of my most favourite books is her debut, “All Is Not Forgotten” which had such unique and clever narration. Although that remains my favourite of her books, this comes in a VERY close second. I loved the characters – my suspicions were bouncing all over the place. The various perspectives flow perfectly, revealing new pieces of this addictive and twisty story that will have you changing your theory more than a few times throughout.
The gripping and speedy pace, the vivid characters, the skillful narration, the unwavering tension. It all adds up to one fantastic story that will leave you in high anticipation of what Wendy Walker will come out with next! As you can tell, I highly recommend this incredible novel!
This was a Traveling Sister read that we all truly enjoyed!
A huge thank you to Jordan at St. Martin’s Press, Wendy Walker and Brenda and Norma for inviting me to be part of this Traveling Sister read!!
Lynne K, Educator
I have read two of Wendy Walker's previous books and they were just ok at best. But this one! Wow! She has hit her stride! She has all the elements of a great suspenseful twist-filled story. A woman with a trouble past goes on a date with a man from a dating website and never comes home. Her sister is left to untanlge the leads and find out what has happened. There was a lot of history and back story to process, there were a lot of shady characters who could have been involved. There was a lot to process and think about to try to guess the twists and figure out just what happened. Well done, Wendy Walker!
Tania R, Reviewer
I was so excited to get an advance copy of this book as I loved the authors previous novels. This one was just as gripping. Very twisty story line and I didn't have a clue what was going on. Loved the alternate chapters from the different points of view. Really good read!
The Night Before by Wendy Walker is not released until May 2019. I have read her previous books and loved them so when I was invited to read this new book super early I jumped at the chance. Going into a book hardly knowing anything about what is going to happen is a fun way to read. The publisher didn't give a lot away but enough to hook me in. I started reading this book at lunch time and finished it in the evening. It just kept calling me to finish it.
Not going to give too much away in terms of storyline, just to say if you like psychological thrillers then you need to read this book. The story is told from the point of view of 2 sisters - Laura who is the night before and Rosie who is the next day. We learn so much about this family from the 2 sisters who are remarkably different. It twists so many times that you will not figure it out until the very end.
Thank you so much to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for inviting me to read this book so early. Big Wendy Walker fan and this book is fantastic. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
This was such an addictive and gripping read that I could not put it down! I was glued to his book and read most of the book in one day. I just had to know what was going to happen next. Walker did not disappoint; the action was consistent and the twits and revelations came at the right intervals to keep me on the edge of my seat wanting more!
I love that the book blurb does not give a lot of information - just enough to pique the readers interest! This book is cleverly told through both Laura and her sister, Rosie's points of view using differing timelines which are clearly dated and labeled. This was a HUGE plus. I never felt lost and experience no confusion when the timelines jumped around. The book blurb teases the reader with the fact that a woman is missing. I will only tell you that Laura has gone on a date with a man she met on an internet dating site and Rosie, her husband, Joe and their childhood friend, Gabe, become worried when Laura does not show up the next day.
I loved that there is never any downtime in this book. The pacing is consistent and adds to the feeling of dread, suspense and mounting anxiety of the characters (and me while reading). I loved how the Author gives bits and pieces about the main character's past throughout the book. I loved that I never knew the entire story, so I was continuously guessing and creating theories. For most of the book, I kept wondering who was reliable, who was unreliable, what is real, what is the truth, is anyone lying, and where is Laura?
I love putting on my super sleuth hat while reading! I love when an Author can fool me. I found the storytelling to be clever, extremely well thought out, and riveting. By the time the book concluded, I had experienced so many feelings – anticipation, dread, anxiety, happiness, hope, shock, surprise and although my theories were wrong, the Author tidied everything up so nicely that I was not only happy I was wrong but was thrilled by it. Nothing really came out of left field, one does not really need to suspend disbelief while reading. What you do need to do is find a comfortable reading spot and dive in!
This was my first book by Walker, but it will not be my last.
Highly recommend!
Thank you to St. Marin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an hones review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
Just as she did with Emma in the Night, Wendy Walker explores the complex relationship between sisters.
Laura is the broken sister who moves back in with her sister and brother-in-law after a devastating break-up with her boyfriend. Laura accepts a date with a stranger via an online dating service and then disappears. The story peels back in layers in a way that keeps the reader on edge. Great character development and ongoing tension. Loved it!
Anne F, Educator
I love Wendy Walker's books so I was excited to read this one. Wow! Seriously, it hooks you from the beginning and doesn't let up for one minute. Each chapter I kept thinking, "Wait. Huh?? What just happened?" Secrets, lies, obsession, internet dating...what's not to like? Plot revolves around sisters, Laura and Rosie as Laura is attempting dating life again after being dumped. But of course it's a man she met on a dating website so he's a virtual stranger, and when she goes missing after the date...well, you may think you know where this is going but I assure you that you don't! Prepare to have your head spin!
Wow! This is what suspense is supposed to be like! I could not put this book down. It is a book best gone into with no information. To talk about the plot at all would give away hints and spoilers and I’m not going to do that. I’ll keep everything very vague for that reason.
For most of the book I had no idea what actually happened the night before. I’d think I had it figured out but it kept surprising me. The final twist completely shocked me and I would not have guessed what had happened. The last 20% or so was when things started to become clear and it was an absolute nail-biter of an ending.
This story features a classic unreliable narrator. No one trusts her completely and she even has serious doubts about herself and her own possible capacity for violence. My opinion of her changed several times throughout the story and I really didn’t know what to make of her until the end. The supporting cast is also quite interesting and I really enjoyed all the reveals through these secondary characters. You never know who to trust and pretty well everyone is suspect in some way.
So without any spoilers and without giving away anything I can tell you to pick this one up when it comes out. It’s a long wait but it is worth putting on your “To Be Read” list now. In my opinion it is the most exciting, suspenseful and clever thriller I’ve read this year, maybe even one of the best of all time. It’s super surprising, very smart and one you don’t want to miss!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.
Sharon C, Reviewer
Review by 2shay..........
This is a very strange and gripping story, a story that is a little painful to read and impossible to put down. It took me the better part of the book to like Laura. I didn’t understand her issues at first. As the story unfolded, with segments told in parts, some before and some during the events, it became clear that someone, possibly Laura herself, is crazy. Homicidal, in fact.
Laura was raised in a great neighborhood with lots of kids having kid adventures and a lot of fun. Rosie and Laura were best friends with Joe and Gabe. They went everywhere together and were tightly bonded from a young age. The bond was so tight, that eventually Rosie and Joe were married. Rosie and Joe were perfect together while Laura and Gabe went away to college. While still in high school, Laura had been present at the death of a young man she had a crush on. Even though the killer was caught and brought to justice, there were some who never believed that Laura wasn’t responsible.
There are many long held secrets revealed as the story progresses. No matter how well you think you know your neighbors, no one really knows what goes on in other lives. Some of those secrets impacted Laura in ways she never understood until recently. It broke my heart.
Ms. Walker has written an especially touching story. Tightly plotted, one segment leading seamlessly into the next, she has displayed all the style you expect in a great read. It’s a complex story. Life is complex, with no easy answers to why some get thrown so many curves, like Laura, while others, like Rosie, have a smoother path. And, like Rosie and Laura, the love of family has few boundaries.
Grab a copy and.....
Enjoy! ARC graciously provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
Oooohhh my! If you’re like me and loved Wendy Walker’s novels, than The Night Before is an absolute MUST READ!
This twisty, turny novel will hook you immediately and I promise you won’t be able to function until you finish! I couldn’t get this book off my mind- whether I was washing dishes, food shopping or even watching television (I knew I had to put life on hold and finish when I was daydreaming about this book while watching This Is Us lol)! In true Wendy Walker fashion, the storyline was cleverly written to create the maxium amount of suspense that keeps you turning pages until waaaaay past your bedtime! It’s official, The Night Before is a 2019 favorite for me and a total 5 star read! Wendy Walker is an definitely automatic 1-click author, but even she outdid herself with this gem!
Johnna W, Reviewer
5 plus stars. Unputdownable. While I was trying to figure out what was going on, I admit I hadn't completely had the picture solved and that's not a common thing to happen for me, when I read thrillers. I thought it was intense, loved having multiple points of views, timelines, to hear more of the backstory. It's definitely a puzzle that will keep thriller lovers working their brain into a pile of mush. You don't know whose who and whose the good or bad characters and likely will not until the author gives you the answer the way she wants. A must read. Chilling in many ways!
Will let Chapter Chatter Pub know all about it, when it's ready to be promoted to them!
Amanda P, Educator
Brilliantly tense thriller. So many secrets need to be uncovered before the finale and how tightly plotted they are. Read it in one hit, totally unputdownable.
Jill H, Reviewer
Something happened ten years ago that caused Laura to leave her hometown and not return except for an occasional day trip on a holiday. Now after suffering a broken heart she returns to stay with her sister and her sister's family for a while. She finds a date on a dating website and heads out for the evening, but never returns...
This book is told through three different points of view - Laura's, her sister Rosie's as she searches for where Laura is, and sessions Laura has with a therapist. All three points of view are at different points in time, but they work really well together. Wendy Walker has done a great job of keeping the different narrators separated, but keeping the story together. This story has lots of twists and turns and leads you in many different directions. The ending was amazing and as you read it, you can think back and see how the story was pointing to it in an indirect sort of way. I did not guess what was going to happen, but I really liked the fact that it wasn't just out of the blue, there were clues I just did not pick up on.
Laura is an unreliable narrator, which has been done a lot recently, but The Night Before was different than other books. In only took me a few pages to get sucked in and realize that it wasn't the same old story line again. I highly recommend this page turner!
Ellen B, Reviewer
I received this book "The Night Before" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. "I don't know....She was just born that way. Born with fists for hands. It's hard to love a girl like that." Laura has felt unloved her whole life and this is her story.
This book has to be the best book I have read this year! I loved this book!!! Suspenseful, page turner, did not want to put this book down, words flow smoothly, must read, will keep you guessing, highly recommend!
Lisa H, Reviewer
What a rollercoaster! This book had me on the edge of my seat for most of the read. I was thoroughly satisfied with how the book turned out and how it ended. A well written, suspenseful psychological thriller.
Kirsten G, Librarian
I received an early ARC - reading the premise had me curiously interested.
I enjoyed her two previous books, but this one blew me away! WOW!!
I highly recommend this book!!!
She was hard to love as a child and was told so.
So she rejects anything remotely feminine- the color pink, dresses, smiles, ...willing away
all "girly" things and her good looks
Now, escaping a previous boyfriend
who was a manly man, who made it safe to lay down her sword and shield.
She had a starving inner child who was hungry for love, for some compassion and understanding
I could completely relate to character!!
I highly recommend this book!!
This book moves at the speed of lightening. It grabs the reader from the start and the intensity does not let up. Laura is looking for love and turns to online dating, and finds a match in a fortyish year old man who describes himself as being in finance, recently divorced, and who drives an impressive BMW. Laura reaches out to Jonathan and quickly arranges a date. Laura and Jonathan meet, and not all of the things in Jonathan's online dating profile are what he projected in his online profile.The lies begin.....and start to pile on....and then Laura doesn't return home that evening from her date and her sister and brother-in-law begin to worry that Laura's past history of poor decisions is repeating. Will they be able to save her this time...will they be able to find her...what happened to Laura???
The reader is taken on a fast paced ride, with many twists and turns, and just when you think you have this figured out....the ending comes in to pack its final punch!
Hands-down, one of the most suspenseful, heart-racing, and stressful books I’ve read this year. The red herrings had me guessing after every chapter. Most of this book is set over the course of 24 hours, with a conversation between two adults. I found that the author provided just enough, to really keep you guessing. I am a huge fan of Wendy Walker and loved both her previous books. I didn’t see the ending coming!
http://posting on social media this week: instagram.com/deebibliophilia
Reviewer 495865
Laura has gone missing after a date with someone she met online. The chapters switch from past to present to help set the tone of the characters and the history involved. The people who care for Laura try to fit the pieces of the puzzle together and figure out what has happened to her. By far, this is the best thriller I have read this year. I have never read anything by the author, Wendy Walker, but I enjoyed the twist and turns of this book. Just when you think you have it figured out, Ms. Walker blows your mind. I was excited to receive an early copy of The Night Before from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewer 478348
I was given the chance to read this book and give it an honest review. Thank You NetGalley for this opportunity.
This book kept me interested right from the start. I had a really hard time putting it down when I was supposed to be going to sleep, and finished it as soon as possible the following day. It’s full of suspense and intrigue, and I absolutely love it!!!
Wow, talk about a page turner?? I could not put this book down!! 4.5 twisty stars!
This is my third book by this talented author and my favorite so far!
Laura goes out on a date, excited and hopeful and then never returns....... “Twelve hours earlier, she was...Hopeful. Excited. Safe. Now she's gone.” Laura was a complicated character and I loved the psychological aspects about her past..
This book was quite suspenseful and had me glued to the pages, very fast paced and well written! I highly recommend to all fans of psychological thrillers and suspense! I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next! #fan
A huge thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity of an advanced readers copy!
Patty P, Reviewer
Loved the good pace, and twists - oh my! This story is narrated by two sisters where you learn their thoughts about what's happening. Once you know the ending, many pieces fall into place at the same time the characters figure it out and it’s nicely done. I love how not much is given away by the book’s write-up. Once you start reading, you think hmm... and the pages begin to turn quickly. Solid read!
Jane A, Media/Journalist
A chilling thriller full of unexpected plot twists and turns readers won't see coming, this is a strong contender for spring best seller lists . I couldn't put it down until I'd figured it out, and that didn't happen until the last Page was turned . Strongly recommend!
Robin L, Reviewer
I am so impressed with Wendy Walker yet again! I really enjoy the twists and turns she takes as she builds the story. You are going to be guessing pieces through to the end.
Highly recommend!
Do not start this book unless you have the time to devote to devouring it! And devouring it, was exactly what I did. I was hooked from the very beginning of the first chapter. I voraciously kept reading, delaying other responsibilities “calling my name,” vis a vis, life at hand! I do not want this review to contain any spoilers nor will I write about the plot, as one can glean a synopsis from the book flap or a review online. Wendy Walker is an author now on my radar. Her characters are well developed. The format is interesting and she never lost me. The plot is intriguing and mysterious.
Thank you Nethalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this terrific novel.
Wow! What a fast paced novel!
"This is why no one loves you. You are damaged and broken and no one ever will.." This is what Laura believes and has thought since she was a young girl. Always angry, always ready for a fight, and not understanding why she felt this way. She always chose the "wrong" people to love, because she felt she was not "worthy" of having anyone who would adore her.
BUT... there is a reason for these feelings.
This book had me turning the pages at all hours of the day and night to see how it would end and it is just amazing!
It's a psychological thriller, mystery, and family story all rolled in to one!
The Night Before by Wendy Walker is a book not to be missed! Laura and Rosie are sisters. Rosie is happily married to Joe, one of their childhood friends. and they have a young son, Laura has struggled most of her life with bad relationships. She has recently ended a relationship, quit a good job because of it, and moved in with Rosie and Joe. Laura decides to go on a date with a man she met online. When she doesn't return, Rosie is sick with worry. Told in alternating chapters from Rosie's viewpoint of the day after and Laura's viewpoint of the night before, details of their past and what happened to Laura are slowly revealed. I love when author's use this technique because it makes for a fast, unputdownable read. I couldn't stop because I had to read just one more chapter...over and over again. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. DO NOT pass this book by!!
OMG this story was sooooo good!! I loved the flashbacks, the back and forth between the sisters, the twist and turns.
Great beginning and even greater ending.
Highly recommend!!
Reviewer 363501
Ingenious, enthralling, & brisk!
When Brenda and I got the opportunity to do an early group read for Wendy Walker’s new book with our Traveling Sisters we were absolutely thrilled. Wendy Walker has quite a few fans in our Traveling Sisters group including myself.
If I were to give you one piece of advice while reading this book would be to put all your other books aside so you can totally be immersed in this tale. This book needs to be read without any interruptions and quickly because the intensity level is all in the execution here and to even let it go for a few hours loses that appeal of needing to know what the heck is going on. Now I wouldn’t necessarily say that you actually need to do that but boy do I ever wish that life didn’t get in the way of this book!
THE NIGHT BEFORE by WENDY WALKER is an intense, thrilling, suspenseful and compulsive psychological thriller novel that was quite the entertaining and enjoyable read for me. I was actually quite stunned and very impressed in the end with how well a seemingly straightforward story turned into something that was so much more complex and felt nothing but new and original.
WENDY WALKER delivers an intriguing, clever and engaging read here with quite a few surprising twists and turns. The story is told in multiple timelines with alternating points of view between two sisters, Laura and Rosie and therapy sessions between Laura and her therapist. The intensity level of the story increases slowly as the story progresses and had me guessing and questioning almost everything that was happening in this book. I absolutely love that feeling of not knowing where a story is headed and when the reveal brings everything together in the end it is just so satisfying to me.
What really made this novel for me was Laura’s character and the ending. She was a complicated, relatable, believable and realistic character. I did have a suspicion early on about one of the reveals, but having guessed that did not take away any of the shocking reveals in the end. I was genuinely impressed with how emotionally attached I got to Laura’s character and the ending for me was absolutely beautiful and very touching.
Expected Publication Date: May 14th, 2019
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: I just noticed the cover for this book and it immediately grabbed my attention! My first thought was WOW what an absolutely gorgeous and striking cover, very eye-catching and an impactful design! What a GREAT cover!
Title: Intriguing, suspenseful, and a simple, but yet an impactful title which represented the story very well.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, mysterious, gripping, stirring and effective.
Plot: Complex, suspenseful, twisty, action-packed, compelling, fast-paced, held my attention and entertaining.
Ending: Shocking, pleasing, impressive, and I was completely satisfied.
Overall: Even though I lost a little of the momentum to the story with having to put it aside it definitely did not take away how appealing and brilliant this story was. I devoured every single word! Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Wendy Walker and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for a review.
Craig A, Reviewer
Besides the great characters, for me, this worked so well because of the pacing of the book. I was absolutely hooked until the end. It kept me guessing and interested and had believable dialogue. Loved the ending! :)
Maria K, Reviewer
The Night Before by Wendy Walker was a really fun suspense novel. I did something I don’t normally do and kind of went in blind for this one. I knew the genre, but nothing more. The beginning of the book caught my attention right away, but I found myself hoping for more around the middle point. I thought this to be like so many books I’ve read before. While I was enjoying it, in my head, I’d already figured out the ending. I kept reading anyway and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was wrong. So very wrong! There was a twist or two that I didn’t see coming and it made the book so much more exciting for me!
I really enjoyed that this book was broken down into two time frames: The night before and present day. This made it really easy to follow and made for a fun, fast-paced read. It wasn’t confusing and flowed so nicely.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This book! Wendy Walker has definitely made her mark with this thriller. This is the third thriller I've read by Walker, and it wasn't until this novel that I can say I am a definite fan of hers. Wow.
Split between the night before and the day after, between Laura and her sister Rosie. This story doesn't only twist and turn, but causes a reader to question what they thought they knew. I found myself flipping back and forth in who I thought was to blame and even when I thought I had it figured out, another twist threw me.
For fans of suspense, this is a must.
Jenn C, Reviewer
Ooh, this was good! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I wanted the book to just end already because I couldn't stand not knowing what happened to Laura. This is told from Laura's point of view and also from Rosie's point of view while she's worrying and looking for her sister. Both sisters' stories are weaved together so well that you don't miss a beat. This book is full of suspense and twists and ugh, did I mention how good it was?! I was pleasantly surprised at a few things.. I thought I had it all figured out but I was wrong. Loved the characters and the depth of this whole book.
lauren m, Reviewer
Read this book in a day. Fast paced, great story and twists the actually surprised me! I feel like I can guess almost all the twists these days. Characters were interesting and it again made Wendy Walker a favorite in this genre.
The Night Before is a book you won't put down. There are twists and turns you may not see coming. This is a thriller that everyone should read. Wendy Walker is a fabulous author.
Educator 479061
This book is about the complications between sisters and how far we will go for the ones we love. There are many times throughout when I thought I had everything all figured out. To my delight, I was wrong. I don't want to ruin this for anyone. I would advise going into this book blind and trusting that Wendy Walker knows what she's doing. An actual thriller that is well written and well characterized. I enjoyed the style of telling the book from the night of and also the night before.
Twelve hours earlier, she was...
Hopeful.
Excited.
Safe.
Now she's gone.
We've all heard the saying, "don't judge a book by it's cover", this is one book that is a prime example of this saying! Very exciting and thrilling book with alternating points of view, which I liked. The writing is excellent. Wendy Walker uses such beautifully descriptive words that just pulls you in to the story. An absolute must read!
Thank you # NetGalley for this ARC of #TheNightBefore by Wendy Walker!
Pub Date: 14 May 2019
An outstanding book! It hooked me within the first few pages! I continued my quest for answers, right alongside the other characters. Right up until the last pages I was kept guessing!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this advanced copy!
Kathleen C, Reviewer
Wow, this was really a page turner! Everyone seems to be telling the truth, then everyone seems to lying. Just what was going on??? So much fun to have my predictions proved false over and over again. Seriously - very, very enjoyable!
Jonathan V, Reviewer
WOW!
Ok so this book deff has a "The Girl On The Train" feel to it and that drew me in. I will admit I got very frustrated with Laura and Rosie at some pointes, but overall I loved it.
This book is in two diff POV's Laura and one that is narrated, by who, we don't know. The writing is done wonderfully. The book is slow paced at first and towards the end, it likes you can't read it fast enough. Because it gets that good! Its filled with twists and turns and just when you think you have it all figured out, BOOM plot twists. I would deff recommend this book to a friend or family member because its that good!
Holly M, Reviewer
I liked this one a lot better than I did Walker's Emma in the Night. Here we follow two sisters as they tell us what happened the night before. All we know is that years ago something happened in the woods that left a boy dead. Some think that Laura had something to do with that even though someone else was accused of the crime. In the present, Laura is trying to move on with her life after a bad break-up. So she meets someone online and decides to go on a date. When she doesn't come home, her sister Rosie is concerned. Rosie sets out to find out what happened to her sister. As we follow Rosie's progress, we get snippets of what went on that night with Laura. There are secrets, always! Those will start coming to the surface because lies and deceit can never be buried too long. I enjoyed this, it was highly addictive and I almost had it finished in one sitting. I never knew what was going to happen and who was actually telling the truth. It was very well-written and I highly recommend:)
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Laura Lochner moves back to town after a devastating break up with her boyfriend. This is one of many failed relationships for Laura. Moving back to Deer Hill Lane stirs up plenty of emotions in Laura. You see, her boyfriend Mitch was murdered there and she was at the scene.
Laura moves in with her sister Rose and her husband Joe. They have the perfect marriage, or do they? It seems like Laura and Joe are pretty tight. Staying up late into the night after Rose goes to bed. Friends since childhood, is Joe just being a shoulder to cry on?
Laura signs up for a dating service findlove.com. She meets up one night with a charming older guy Jonathan Fields. Laura seems to be drawn into self destructive relationships that never work out. Is that why she is attracted to Jonathan? Is it because his story seems riddled with untruths?
Laura never comes home from the date....the end...just kidding but that is the end of my summary. You will have to read the rest for yourself!
I read this book with a group of my Traveling Sisters. The general consensus was that we loved it! I have never read a Wendy Walker book before and I loved her writing style. I flew through this book in less than a day. The unique and interesting thing about this book is the way the author leads you on. I literally had no clue as to how this would pan out. All my predictions at the half way point of this book were 100% wrong! If you want a book that will hold your interest, make you change your mind half a dozen times and still be wrong- this is the book for you!
Thank you so much to Wendy Walker, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this fantastic ARC.
6 likes
Jennifer S, Reviewer
This book had me at page 1. Laura is getting ready for a blind date. She lives with her sister, her brother-in-law and nephew, moving in there recently after a bad break up. Laura has had a hard time. When she was younger she was involved in mysterious incident where here boyfriend ended up dead and a homeless man charged with his murder. Never was it clear what actually happened. The current story picks up fast with Laura not returning from her date, her sister Rosie worrying and trying to track her down with the help of her husband Ben and their best friend Gabe. The story moves quickly and there are many plot twists that kept me completely intrigued. The less said the better but the story is suspenseful & exciting and the twists surprising. Definitely worth reading!
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