This was a thrilling roller coaster of a story. Susan lost her daughter, when she was kidnapped and murdered. Now twenty years later Susan is taking a road trip to witness the execution of the man convicted of the crime. As she makes her way there she stumbles across new evidence that changes everything she thought was true. Now she is in a race against time to find out the truth and maybe saving an innocent man from being executed. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Book Review Time

Thanks NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the advanced copy!

The Necklace by Matt Witten

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

20 years ago Amy lost her life. Now The Monster is on death row awaiting his execution. Amy’s mother Susan has been waiting 20 years for this moment. Will it be everything she wanted?

Pros:
-I loved the flashbacks to 20 years ago to learn how everything went down during the investigation.
-I loved that it had me almost playing detective the whole time with Susan.

Cons:
-The writing style just seemed a little off the first few chapters, I believe it was just getting the reader used to going from past to present, and then it ended up getting much better.
-I didn’t care for the epilogue in all honesty. I think one was needed, but this one actually threw me off. Obviously can’t go into details without spoilers, but I didn’t like it.

My thoughts:

So honestly the first few chapters were kind of boring. You meet Amy, then you know she dies by chapter 2 which you also know if you read the synopsis. Just nothing major really seemed to happen. It’s all just factual. Then the end of chapter 5 has me like. “Okay Matt Witten. Okay. You got me intrigued now!” And then it almost had ‘Girl On The Train’ vibes. I couldn’t tell who “the monster” was, and then I’d guess and be wrong. Then guessing who really did it or didn’t do it. Then I’m thinking Susan is the crazy one and she did it. And seriously going back and forth every few chapters on what I thought. And then the end you were like dropping your jaw on the ground! I will say if you are easily triggered my murders involving children, this isn’t for you. It deals with some heavy gruesome stuff. Overall it was a crazy rollarcoaster ride and a great thriller that by the half way point I couldn’t put down because I HAD TO KNOW!

The Necklace is and interesting crime story about the kidnap and murder of a little girl, based on true events. I found it hard to warm to the main character Susan, the mother, but love the character Kyra. With thanks to NetGalley for my digital copy.

The Necklace is a gripping murder mystery about a mother's love, deadly secrets, and the elusive truth. Susan Lentigo has been grappling with her daughter's violent death for twenty years and hopes to find relief at the execution of the man convicted of the crime. However, on her journey there, she discovers new evidence that throws everything into doubt. Susan must rely on her instincts, her strength, and unlikely allies to avenge her daughter's death by discovering the truth.

Witten crafts a tightly-wound novel that keeps the reader guessing and engaged until the final moments. Even when I was convinced I knew who the killer was, I had no idea how the protagonist and her friends would catch him. Susan, a working class waitress, is a relatable protagonist who is easy to empathize with. Whether she's searching her memory for clues or searching for a place to sleep on a cold night - her tenacity is admirable. Simply put, you want her to win.

Although the story is served well by such a likable protagonist, the supporting characters left something to be desired. The fast pace of the story meant that we didn't get to spend as much time with them and subsequently they felt more like footnotes than true allies. However, they served the narrative well and their relationships with Susan led to a satisfying epilogue of an ending.

Although I would recommend this thriller, I would do it with a note of caution due to the subject matter. Susan's daughter, Amy, is sexually assaulted before she is murdered. This fact is repeated throughout the novel in varying detail by multiple characters. At times, I didn't think rehashing the grisly details was necessary for the scene and although it was very uncomfortable to read- it didn't prevent me from enjoying the book overall. I think any potential reader should be fully aware of the subject matter before picking up this book, despite how well written it is.

CW: death, grief, murder, assault, sexual assault, pedophilia, prison

This was a really good read. I’ve enjoyed the rollercoaster ride. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating from me! Thank you Oceanview, Netgalley, and Matt Witten for this book in exchange for my honest review.

I always say that it's highly intelligent to include children in a thriller story. Since we all share the fear of destroying a child's innocence. This story depicted every mother's worst fear, the murder of her child, and Witten write it realistically. There is not one point in this book that you feel like Susan (the mother) is doing something irrational (considering the circumstance), which is always a blessing when an author fully understands the human psychology behind grieving.

One of the best things from this story is the back and forth timeline (days of the crime to 20 years later) which helped keep the reader intrigued the whole time. I also really appreciated that the author doesn't discuss more the crime than necessary (since some authors have the tendency to put more gore than necessary). The thing that surprised me the most about this story is the sense of community that I felt after reading since in many instances where Susan is struggling there is someone there to support her. An example is a fundraiser in the beginning.

In conclusion, the Necklace is one of the cleanest plot, tone, and dialogue wise mystery-thrillers that I have read in a while. It is making me crave more from Matt Witten. I will definitely keep an eye out for more of his works.

They say that losing a child is like walking around without a heart. This book proves that you can never stop an angry Mama Bear in her search for the truth.

The Necklace by Matt Witten is one of those books that leave the reader with what we call a “book hangover.” They can’t stop thinking about the world they set the book in. The story is over, but it remains with you for a long time.

Susan Lentigo lost her daughter, Amy, to a brutal murder and rape 20 years ago. The Necklace opens at a fundraiser being thrown for Susan so she can watch the execution of Amy’s killer in North Dakota. The reader learns that Susan, a server, and her mother, Lenora, live in Upstate New York. Susan’s friends and family have raised enough money to get her to the execution and back, but unfortunately, things don’t quite go as planned. Within one day of her leaving, her car has broken down and her money stolen. But being the strong woman she is, she moves forward, eating leftover food in diners and sleeping in bus stations. She doesn’t turn back.

Danny Lentigo, Susan’s ex-husband, now lives in Tamarack, NY—two hours from Lake Luzerne, where she lives. They separated a year after their daughter was killed and haven’t spoken since. The bus Susan has taken to North Dakota stops in Tamarack and she makes an impulsive decision to get off and see Danny. After the unpleasant visit, as she is leaving his office, she sees a picture of his daughter wearing the beaded necklace that was never found after Amy was killed. Susan leaves with the sense that maybe not all is as it seems, and they may execute the wrong person.

This book takes the reader on a wild ride and introduces a cast of characters who are all unforgettable in their own way. From Susan’s elderly mother, Lenora, to Kyra, the rebellious teenager who assists her in finding the truth, to the retired FBI agent who convicted the original suspect.

Matt Witten is a former writer for Law & Order and his knowledge of crime and the legal system is a true benefit. He keeps the reader guessing until the very last page. And with each high and low, readers will want to keep going. You can’t help but rally behind this mother seeking justice for her daughter and making sure the right man pays for the crime.

Great book that kept me up reading. The first real mystery page turner I have read in a while. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers.

Holy cow this was a wild ride and I was here for it!
What to say? This was such a great read. From Benito the very end I devoured every second of it!
The writing was spot on. The characters what????? Amazing!
I didn't want this story to end!!!! I wanted more.

A life-or-death thrill ride down a dark and twisty rabbit hole. Matt Witten is definitely a writer to watch. You won't be able to put this one down, and it keeps you guessing to the end.

The clock ticks down in a heart-pounding crusade for justice

Susan Lentigo is on a mission after the death of her daughter 20 years ago, she is finally going to witness the execution of the man accused and found guilty of murder. However, it seems there is more to the story. More information is found that seems to implicate a different man. Can Susan get the information she needs in time to stop the execution? There is another young lady who is also involved. This is a heart stopping thriller that at first seems to go a bit slow but picks up with a vengeance. While the plot may seem like something that you have read before, the author has made it his own with added personality.’ I read this in one sitting as I just could not put it down.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Necklace.

I love mysteries and I'm always on the lookout for a new author to read.

The Necklace was a formulaic story with a narrative I've read before; the main character realizes the murderer charged with the death of her child may be innocent and a race against time ensues.

I found Susan a relatable character; she was determined and focused on discovering her daughter's killer but I did not like her.

I'm not a fan of books where the mother or parental figure 'does not see' signs that her spouse was a predator.

I also felt Susan's antics in procuring the necklace almost comical, and I'm sure that's not what the author intended when he wrote the scene.

The way the retired federal agent believes Susan so quickly and the climatic scene at an execution (of all places) was a bit melodramatic.

I did like that Susan and Kyra's relationship grows from their brief interaction and Kyra shows up at the end of the book.

The Necklace wasn't a bad read but it wasn't as suspenseful as I had hoped.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ THE NECKLACE - Matt Witten

Wow!, What a thriller! Although when I first started this I was reading between 4 books, I got to a certain part and I was hooked. Read to the very last word, even the authors note...Hard to believe a male author has based a defiant teenage girl on himself, made me laugh nonetheless. Praise to the author where praise is due and it's not often I finish a book feeling satisfied with the ending but this truly was a great read.

Susan Lentingo is on a mission and rightly so. My heart went out to this lady and I felt every emotion with her as she hunted for the killer of her daughter. I loved the inner strength Susan summoned up and the help she got from a teenage girl and a retired cop to get justice.

Excellent read, would definitely recommend.

Review also published on Goodreads.

A Mother’s Worst Nightmare

Matt Witten took an old plot and made it believable and emotional in this novel. The seven-year-old daughter of Susan and Danny Lentigo had been murdered twenty years ago. Susan, now divorced, remained a devastated woman. She is planning to travel to North Dakota to witness the execution.

She has little money or worldly goods, but she has good friends. As a waitress in a diner in upstate New York, she earns a meager income and lives on the cusp. She has been divorced from Danny, who has now remarried.

Witten makes smart moves right from the beginning. He places the reader in the everyday life of Susan and Danny, before the death of her daughter. There were money pressures but Susan was not a nag. After too many miscarriages, she gave birth to her fun-loving daughter, Amy. Then her young daughter was murdered and her world was shattered. Witten forcefully, the author has Susan display high powered emotion during the days they are looking for her missing daughter and then her bottomless depression. One can feel her stress, breaking heart and a realistic loss of hope. She never recaptured her old life or tried to make a new one. She lived from day to day in heartbreak.

With the monetary help of her friends, Susan is able to plan a trip to North Dakota for the execution. Nothing is easy for Susan, her old car breaks down, money is stolen from her, she has nowhere to sleep and no food. For a few days, she becomes a scavenger, it is quite sad, but Susan never feels sorry for herself. She is a highly emotional woman whose existence is plagued by the death of Amy. She never went to college or had a career. Sometimes her sentences were filled with profanities aimed at another person or group.

The other primary character, Danny, is carefully crafted. Every sentence about him tells us something. Lorna, Susan’s mother, is a nice woman, who wants the best of her daughter but there is a chasm between them. Then there is Kyra, who is the most interesting character. You’ve seen or met Kyra’s, they look different,, maybe with tattoos or ear piercing, but they are really street-smart and have good souls. Each character serves a purpose in this novel, including the members of the FBI.

Susan’s obsession to witness the execution is understandable but nothing will replace the loss of her child. She never could repair her life or experience closure. The author takes us on a long and arduous trip of desperation to North Dakota. Something is always happening, it is not dull.

Combining Susan’s loss and mania, Witten adds punch and fascination to a stereotyped plot.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for this pre=published book for an honest review.

A good thriller is a page turner and this book did not disappoint! The Necklace offered all the necessities of a thriller with the added bonus of relatable characters, humanity, and humor. The grit shown by Susan Lentigo made me cheer as I turned each page, rooting for her to find the clues needed to find justice for her daughter Amy. As the story line unfolded the twists and turns made me read faster and faster! And finally, JUSTICE!!

A good, but not great, thriller that was hurt by gratuitous language that seems to have been added for its future screenplay. The story was fast-paced, but the characters just didn’t “click” for me.

This book definitely kept me engaged throughout. The pace is fast and intriguing. I found myself cringing at much of the crass dialogue. Was this integral to the story and/or the protagonists? I thought the book could have been just as interesting and fast moving with less base language. Thank you NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for this opportunity.

the publisher kindly provided me with an arc through netgalley

This was such an amazing read and a page turner, I couldn't stop reading because I just wanted to know what happened. The story is about Susan a woman who's daughter was raped and murdered, so a huge trigger warning for those. The execution of the murderer is coming up and she's planning on attending to get some peace. But during her trip, several things happen which makes her doubt if the convicted man really killed her daughter or if it was maybe her now ex husband..

I love love Susan and she's such a strong and amazing woman. It all felt very real and I just could imagine her feelings through and through. The book took turns and there were points I didn't even know who did what anymore. I started to think everyone could have done it and that's when I know a book got to me. A fantastic read and I'll definitely keep an eye out for what the author releases next.

Wow!! Get ready for this book!! It was intense, thought provoking, and then some.
Although it has some heavy themes, it was really well written and it made me feel for the main character of this book. It was a great weekend read!!

I thought this was an amazing book and read it in less than 2 days! Kept me interested and on my toes until the end. Would definitely recommend.

Very good read. Kept me interested throughout. This is my first read of this author but will be on the lookout for more.

I read this in two days! I was always engaged and definitely wasnt hard to stay interested. I wish there was more to read.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley.
When Susan's daughter Amy is murdered as child. Her life and marriage end.
But at least the man who did it is behind bars and facing execution.
Or is the right man behind bars?
The book alternates between the time period around when Amy was murdered to the present as Susan prepares to watch her daughters killer get executed. Susan is the only POV. She faces hardship after hardship during her trek and still keeps going. She's a likable protagonist. Human and realistic.
Her search for the truth is a ride. Not such a wild one. But a adventure.
The last few chapters had me tearing through the pages. Was the person she thought it was REALLY the murderer?
Looking forward to reading whatever this author writes next.

Amy is going n a trip to North Dakota. Specifically, to the prison. There, to witness the murderer of her child (Amy) be put to death. Susan relates this to the bar patrons who are funding her trip. She says that this will put Amy's soul to rest...

Anything more would be a spoiler !

Do not miss this read!

SUPERB!

Many Thanks to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for an amazing story.

A missing child, a parents worst nightmare. The search for truth and the heartbreak that follows.

This is such a gripping novel. It puts you right in the shoes of the mother. The pain, the unanswered questions.

This was by far the best thriller I have read in a long time. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Such a well written story.

4.5 stars. The Necklace is a fast-paced thriller that you won’t be able to put down! Alternating between the details of the crime 20 years ago and then present day as we follow Susan Lentigo as she plans to travel from New York to North Dakota to attend the execution of the man found guilty of the rape and murder of her daughter 20 years ago.

This book was everything you want a thriller to be - gripping, suspenseful, and satisfying. It was a one day read for me, as I just had to know what happened! I recommend this book for thriller fans and I will definitely look for more Matt Witten books in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley, Oceanview Publishing, and Matt Witten for the chance to read and review this advanced reader copy.

I'm a bit conflicted about this book.

The premise is original and it's very easy to get affected by the tragedy Susan lived.
The story is told by a Now & Then point of view which offer the reader an insight in the weeks and months that followed Amy's murder.

However there's some flashbacks that are told in present tense during the now perspective and it's sounded a bit strange to me. Also it felt all of sudden quite impersonal and detached, at odds with the rest of it.

The ending, while expected, in my opinion was a bit anticlimactic.
There's no real explanation of HIS motives (except the obvious); all we get are the strange feelings Susan had, feelings she wasn't sure she believed herself.
Also, was Amy HIS first and only crime? 'Cause it was implied otherwise but we don't get any follow-up info about it.

I admit this annoyed me quite a bit and it's mostly why I didn't rate this book as a full 4 stars.

At last, I'd like to thank the author for the chance to read his book through NetGalley and I hope he appreciates my honest review.

I read The Necklace in two days. It was fast paced and even though it went back and forth in time I stuck with it.
Susan is about to attend the execution of the man who murdered her daughter 20 years ago. Her travels there are as twisty and turning as the plot.

Just a side note: A lot of f-bombs are dropped (which I don't usually mind) but it made Susan's character less likable for me.

I look forward to more Matt Witten's books and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Necklace was a really interesting read. I raced through the book in two nights. The characters were likable and relatable, and I wasn't surprised when the author revealed at the end of the book that he had based many of them on real life acquaintances. The story begins in a bar where the patrons take up money to send Susan Lentigo to the execution of the killer of her 7 year old daughter Amy, a terrible crime that had taken place 20 years earlier. The book alternates between the past and the present as Susan seeks closure and justice on the long road trip to the North Dakota prison.

This one is dark, gritty and a rough topic dealing with rape and murder of a child. You have to compartmentalize a lot of emotions to get through it

Thank you, NetGalley and author Matt Witten, for the opportunity to read an early electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I had difficulty at first relating to the characters, but I am glad I kept reading. I understood Susan's anger and anguish on an intellectual level. She appears to be in continuous turmoil due to the horrific, vile rape and murder of her 7-year-old daughter, Amy, twenty years earlier. Her ever-simmering rage has prevented her from moving along in life. However, I regret I failed to engage emotionally with her well-deserved feelings until close to the conclusion. Frequent outbursts of swearing and vile language were a distraction. It seemed much of the bad language was for effect, to emphasize her rage at the condemned man she calls "The Monster."

The time has come for her to witness the execution of "The Monster" almost 1,500 miles distant. She hopes to finally get some sense of closure and revenge. The man on death row was sentenced to die by lethal injection, demanded by Susan at his trial 20 years ago. He confessed to the crime after intense interrogation but then recanted. This was his first charge as a pedophile. He stated that he was attracted to Amy when seeing her at a distance wearing a cheap homemade necklace. This attraction and motive seemed preposterous, even from a psychopathic pedophile. Susan and Amy crafted the necklace with coloured animal-shaped beads shortly before her murder. This necklace was believed to be taken as a trophy and hidden by her killer after the murder. It was never found.

Susan's husband left her shortly after the tragedy, saying he could no longer cope with her profound depression. He now has a new wife and family.

Susan must travel cross-country on buses with many stops and transfers along the way. She has little financial means, and friends staged fundraising to help her on the long journey to the execution. She displayed a tendency to be rude to people when things did not go her way. She also makes snap judgements about people and lay blame where it may not be deserved.
She had already accused one of her mother's boyfriends of being a pedophile and the murderer, but then the man soon to receive the death penalty was caught and charged with the crime.

As she travels, Susan begins to show an inner reserve of strength, resourcefulness, and resilience. Her cash is lost or stolen, causing her to be tired and hungry for most of her journey. She receives many acts of kindness and helpfulness along the way and meets some interesting and supportive people.

She obtains a clue that makes her doubt the guilt of the man soon to be executed. She is in shock that she may have played a part in sending an innocent man to prison for 20 years, and now his death is imminent. Also, she is shattered by the identity of the person she believes is truly guilty.

Susan contacts a retired FBI agent who was sympathetic to her tragedy when Amy was murdered. He is also travelling to attend the execution of the man he helped send to prison years before. Amy's clue makes him doubt the conviction. The ex-FBI agent sends it for DNA analysis, but the testing is unsuccessful.

When they arrive at the prison to view the execution, the pace and suspense had me emotional and riveted to the page. The conclusion was gripping and satisfying.

The Necklace is a compelling story about a woman who plans to travel from upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the execution of the man found guilty of killing her daughter, Amy, 20 years previously. She encounters some very bad luck during her journey and comes to a shocking realization about what she has believed for all those years. The book consisted of flashbacks to the time of Amy's death until we had the entire story as well as chronicling Susan's journey. Although I found some incidents outside the realm of possibility, it was a pleasure to witness Susan's resilience in the face of all the roadblocks. There were many likeable and some not-so-likeable characters in the book and it was a well-paced read. I recommend the book but readers should be aware that there is reference to sexual assault of a child.

This was my second read courtesy of NetGalley and my first courtesy of Oceanview Publishing for which I'm extremely grateful.

The Necklace was soo good! Susan's daughter has been dead for 20 years, and soon her murderer will face the death penalty. Susan has been planning for years to attend the execution, but when she starts her trip from the Adirondacks all the way to Hodge Hills, North Dakota, she starts to believe that someone has made a big mistake.

The necklace her daughter Amy was wearing when she went missing was never found with her body. But these kinds of things don't always stay hidden, and the necklace could go a long way in figuring out who's innocent and who's guilty.

Wow - this book is the first in a long time to really have an impact on me. The ending was so intense that I had to physically get up to finish reading it and pace around the room a little bit....

It did start off a little slow, but the flashbacks to the past really helped keep me interested and once things started picking up they really picked up. I was extremely pleased to have a strong female in the centre of the book, and one who was the mother. Most books of this kind, have been from the perspective of the Detective in charge of the case and not someone so deeply emotionally involved.

I loved the small glimpses of the side characters, the owner of the Diner where Susan worked, the sister of the man soon to be executed , Kyra the teenager Susan befriends , among others - who all helped to keep the pace of the book and create interest, with none being too over the top or unbelievable.

I thought the book did a great job at highlighting some of the issues and unfairness in the Justice system, without being too intense or overbearing and boy did it tug at my heart strings. In fact there were tears.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book, I will be telling all my friends about it.

I enjoyed the format I'm a sucker for past and present timelines. Over all it was fast paced and had disturbing content which I love. I felt engrossed and had to keep turning the page I didn't like the main character not usually a problem for me but I know it can be for others. Some things fell flat, like the conversations and inner dialogue so be warned of that too.

If you're in mood for a good rollercoaster murder mystery book, definitely try this one. Over all, a good page turner that you'll think about for awhile after you're done reading

I enjoyed the format of the book. The chapters sporadically switched between past and present day. I also liked how the reader was privy to what the protagonist, Susan, was thinking in most situations. But, the lack of plot complexity and one-note characters left me wanting more, especially when dealing with such a heavy subject. Also there were some unrealistic events that didn’t sit well with me. All in all, the lack of dimension made this just an okay read for me. That being said, if you are looking for a quick simple thriller - it would be a solid choice.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC before it’s September release.

Told in the past and the present, Susan Lentigo is the main character and she has suffered a tragic loss. Twenty years ago, her daughter Amy was abducted, assaulted, and killed. It led to the end of her marriage, and if it wasn't for her close-knit community, she might have just curled up and died. Even though she has just been surviving, not living, one thing has kept her going. The man responsible has been sentenced to die, and Susan is determined to be there, to look him in the eye when it happens, and perhaps finally feel like Amy has gotten some justice.
Susan won't have an easy time getting to North Dakota and the execution though. Money and car trouble might slow her down, but it is a visit with her ex-husband Danny that leaves her questioning everything she believes about Amy's death. What if an innocent man is about to be executed? Can Susan discover the truth with the clock ticking and so many years gone by after this heinous crime?
A heartbreaking story about loss, grief, and never really knowing the people around you. There were a few scenes that had me rolling my eyes, but otherwise, I had to know who killed Amy.

This book subject is disturbing and may not be for every reader. The author, Matt Witten, has carefully created intriguing and memorable characters. The story flows easily; moving from past to present. Each chapter’s timeline is clearly identified.. The Necklace is a thought provoking read. Although I might not describe this book as an enjoyable read, due to the subject matter of the storyline, it is a worthwhile read!
I am glad to have had the opportunity to read and review this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC.
*the swipe up to advance the pages is very sensitive.

The necklace is a fast paced mystery that draws the reader in quickly and doesn’t let them go until the finale. The ending is fairly predictable but satisfying nonetheless. The book could easily be made into a movie with minor changes.

The first half of the book alternates between the past and present day, a great way to see how characters and their story develop. I really enjoyed this part of the book, the glimpses of the past and seeing it unfold really drew me in. This was definitely the slower/less action part of the book but it begins to pick up as connections are made and the reader begins to ask questions along with the main character, Susan.

The second half, the action, is very quick and rather predictable but it does leave you content. The epilogue added the (possibly too) perfect ending but it did provoke some emotions.

This would be a perfect book to bring to a beach or read at home. It’s not too deep, meaning that, other than the main character, you just meet the surface of others. Yes it’s a mystery, but you aren’t weighed down with many fine details about the case, people, etc.

I would probably rate this a 3.5/5, rounding up to a 4 for this rating system because taking it for what it is, a quick read mystery, it was pretty good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy of the book to review. This review is my own opinion.

I’m calling it now, “The Necklace” will have the hype of “Gone Girl” this year. I couldn’t put this one down and haven’t read something this engrossing for a while! I thought the novel moved well from the past to current day. This novel does contain sensitive content (pedophilia, childhood abuse) and was at times hard to get through, but I believe it tells an important story that author Matt Witten mentioned in his Author’s Note was inspired by true events.
I’ve read that The Necklace is being optioned for film, I think it could be carried well onto the screen.

Thank you NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC. Much appreciated and enjoyed!
4.5/5

I didn't even need to read a synopsis to know this book would be good. The cover itself drew me in and boy did the story live up to my expectations. Within the first few pages, I was drawn to Susan. There wasn't much description of her and I don't have a specific reason for why I feel this way, but I just had a gut feeling.. Matt Witten really knows how to write a character. Each person was described in a way where I felt like I was watching a movie play out in my head. The plot was slightly predictable but the twists and turns are enough to really keep you engaged. It was an enjoyable quick read that I would definitely recommend to anyone who is a fan of thrillers!

It’s not very often I can finish a book within 24 hours, but this book captivated me the whole time. I HAD to know what was going to happen. I loved the way the book went from 20 years ago to present day. I felt the pain of Susan’s character throughout this book.

Susan Lentigo's daughter was murdered 20 years ago and now the time has come for Susan to travel to the execution of the murderer. Susan is broke and so friends and family host a fundraiser for Susan to be able to afford the trip. Her husband left her shortly after the murderer was caught, but she feels compelled to let him know about the execution. Susan decides to take the trip by bus and gives herself plenty of time to get there.

During the trip she has many misadventures, including the stop to inform her husband about the execution. She meets many interesting people as well.. Sometime during her trip she comes across something that makes her have serious doubts that the man whose execution she is attending. She starts to suspect someone else. She has to prove it before an innocent man is executed. But how? She is not sure where to start, but Susan is a smart and resourceful woman.

This was an awesome book, and even though you know pretty early on who the suspect is, the suspense in proving it keeps you reading long in to the night! Highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of The Necklace by Matt Witten in exchange for my honest review.

Amy was brutally murdered and a man convicted and sentenced to die. Amys' mother Susan on her way to witness the execution and get justice for her child. Except, Susan isn't certain the correct person has been convicted.
When the case won't be reopened Susan decides to take matters into her own hand and find out the truth and get the justice for Amy.

This book kept me on the hook to see how it was going to end and who the killer was. Written at a fast pace and left many possibilities open as to which way the story would go.

Enjoyed the ride and would read more by this author

The Necklace by Matt Witten read like a movie script. There were a lot of visual descriptions that made you feel like you were there with Susan Lentigo. Susan is on a voyage to attend the execution of the man that raped and killed her daughter Amy 20 years ago. The story has you on the ride with Susan from upstate NY to North Dakota. On the way, she suffers a lot of misfortune. However, this journey has Susan reliving the whole ordeal and has her second guessing if the man that was accused is actually the man who did this horrendous crime.
I enjoyed the book. In the beginning it was pretty slow. Susan was put into a lot of unrealistic scenarios but strangely enough it works and reads like a movie i.e it would never happen in real life. I don't want to spoil the plot! Read it!

Thank you #Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read #thenecklace by #MattWitten

What a heartbreaking story of a young girls murder and her mother’s quest for justice. A necklace that was never found and and a convicted killers recanted confession. This mystery novel pulled out all the stops, kept me guessing until the final pages. So entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley for this highly entertaining arc

This is a good story, with a very strong female lead character, is well written and has great pace. There are a few weak areas in the plot – else it would have been just great.

Susan plans to attend the execution of the man convicted of assaulting & murdering her seven-year-old daughter Amy, 20 years back. She just about makes ends meet as a waitress but is helped by friends who raise funds for her travel to North Dakota & expenses. Amy was Susan & Danny’s only daughter, and the loss is devastating. Susan tries counselling, and yet struggles to move on. This takes a toll on their marriage as well, as also straining Susan’s relationship with her mom for a time.

Susan leaves for North Dakota, but her car breaks down in the early part of her trip. She has to later take several buses to make the trip, and most of the money she had is stolen. At one of the stops, Susan chances upon some material which makes her think that just maybe the man convicted of her daughter’s murder may not be the real culprit. She receives help from a young girl in school - Kyra (a character who features briefly but adds strength to the story) who supports her in pursuing her hunch. As she reaches North Dakota, Susan speaks to the FBI agent (now retired) who oversaw the investigation many years back and who has also come over for the execution, which is just hours away.

This is a very interesting story and keeps you hooked. Susan’s determination despite all odds makes for powerful reading. The author mentions in a note at the end of the book of two real stories which form the primary themes of the book – a woman short of money set to make a trip to see the execution of the person who murdered her daughter, and another story of a women’s pursuit to find the real culprit. This story also brings alive the issues which exist in the law enforcement and justice systems the world over, and the crying need for reform. The main issue is a weakness in the plot – what arouses Susan’s suspicion and the events in the last few pages. Nevertheless, a book I very much recommend – it is a very engrossing read.

The Necklace by Matt Witten. Oceanview Publishing, 2021

The Necklace tells the story of every mother’s worst nightmare. Susan, working an extra shift, learns that her seven-year-old daughter Amy has been missing for four hours; no one picked Amy up after school. The story begins with a very short chapter 1, Susan and Amy selecting beads for a necklace, then in the next chapter, shifts ahead twenty years to a fundraiser to cover Susan’s expenses to drive across country to the convicted killer’s execution, then continues to flash back and forth. The book had me hooked from page 1.

The writing is excellent, the plot suspenseful, the characters credible. I don’t know anyone like Susan, who in her mid fifties had barely left her hometown in nearly thirty years, then sets out across country with a maxed-out credit card in an old car puffing black exhaust. At several points I wondered if the story really needed her journey to be so incredibly difficult, and wished her life not so bleak and hopeless. This wasn’t a distraction from my enjoyment and engagement though. I read the book in over several hours, I literally could not put it down.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Necklace free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheNecklace #NetGalley

This was a bit of a miss for me. The storyline wasn't bad, but the dialogue and the main character's inner monologue were just hard to believe. A lot of the conversations and her own thoughts felt generic and definitely didn't sound like the words of a woman. Also, the big reveal at the end was sort of revealed halfway through the book, so it wasn't really that exciting or satisfying. I think it could be improved and be a really good story, but as is, it wasn't quite what I expect from a good thriller.

Wow, I found this book incredible. It was an easy read with well thought out characters. It also dove deep into depravity. I was horrified and had to keep reading to find out how it ended. I was shocked at some of the brutal details in this book but it definitely gave it an edge. Horrifying, suspenseful, twist and turny with an ending that will shock you.
As a parent this book put my worst fears into actual words, it was crazy to read a story about the deepest darkest worries parents have.