GENERAL INFO

One of Us Knows- a standalone

Year Pub/Re Pub: 4/16/24, Read 5/18/24

Format: eBook, 344 pages

Source: Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for this ARC💙 !  I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Setting: NY

Genre: mystery/suspense, psychological thriller

Tropes: Mental health, multiple POVs, haunted castle, myths of goblins and the Fae
 
HEA/HFN ending: HEA(maybe)

Epilogue Included: yes, not sure what it means but Ken and Solomon seem content

BOOK DESCRIPTION
Kenetria "Ken" Nash is hired to become the caretaker of a historic estate on Kavanaugh Island. The ferryman John and the grounds keeper Celeste tell her she has the job if she spends one night in the castle. Ken will have to face her past, and survive when a murderer is on the loose.

M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F, F/F

Representation: POC, LGBTQIIA+

Flashbacks: There are a lot because of the DID personalities. From Ken's childhood, teenage years, and adult life she has with her alters Della, Solomon, Empress, Keke, Mesmer, Lurk, and Rapunzel.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Ken: the main character and narrator but she's unreliable because of her dissociative identity disorder (DID) with eight known alters. She refers to her alters as "Groupthink" in the "system" within the inner world with head mates. Ken has been absent for several years, her memories are murky with plenty of missing pieces, and at times she has no clue where she is or what she's doing.

Solomon: One of Ken's alters who takes over a lot and seems to be the voice of reason.

Landon: Ken's ex boyfriend whose father Winslow Pearson is a descent of Simon Kavanaugh and part of the conservation trust. Ken attacked Landon's father but its a mystery as to why.

John: the ferry man with a sinister aura

Celeste: the groundskeeper who treats Ken badly when they first meet, but as things get dicey, she becomes a good ally.

Simon Kavanaugh and Grace Castle: they lived in the castle in early 1900s.

OW/OM/Exes: ex boyfriend Landon

AUTHOR OVERVIEW: Alyssa Cole-I've read An Extraordinary Union and gave it 4*

PERSONAL OVERVIEW
Overall Rating: 4/5

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: maybe

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

COMMENTS/NOTES: Even though I was confused I took the ride with Ken. I felt her despair, depression, and self hatred. The system she lives in reminds me of the movie "Glass" with James McAvoy playing a man with DID. The trauma Ken suffers having to piece together what is happening is an emotional rollercoaster. The themes of racism, misogyny, and SA make for a realistic depiction of the struggles of mental illness

I was excited about this one but it didn't really pick up until about 150 pages in which was a little rough. I think it was almost too clever of a concept?? I felt like there was a lot of time spent setting up all of the characters and what was going on that that plot was almost anticlimatic which is fine in some books but not what I expect from a mystery/thriller.. I felt like it failed with having each personality be interesting, some were not and I spent a lot of time just wishing their sections were over and none of them were that compelling.

I love Alyssa Cole's books generally, but this one didn't quite measure up for me. I appreciated the distinctiveness of the various personalities of the protagonist with DID. I liked the spooky setting. It just didn't quite come together for me, and I thought the antagonists were a little cartoonish in their evil. I will continue to read this author though!

What a great read! One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read! Fast paced and enthralling. Ken and her alters were so well written I was able to differentiate between them. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. A must read!

This book has my mind in a whirlwind! Trying to keep up with Ken and all her headmates was a wild ride mixed with mystery was top tier storytelling! I loved that all her headmates were black except for one. The twist and turns were everything I love in reading!

Alyssa Cole's latest novel, One of Us Knows, is a captivating thriller that blends suspense with a unique twist on the protagonist. Kenetria Nash, the main character, struggles with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and her alters play a significant role in the narrative.

The Story

Kenetria, or Ken as she prefers, is offered a seemingly perfect job: caretaker of a historic mansion on a secluded Hudson River island. This opportunity reignites her passion for historical preservation, a career derailed years ago by a breakdown. However, her newfound peace is shattered by a surprise visit and a brewing storm that traps her on the island with a group of strangers, including a face from her past. When a murder occurs, Ken finds herself the prime suspect.

Thrills and Internal Battles

Cole expertly weaves a web of secrets and danger, keeping the reader guessing about the killer's identity. The isolated setting adds to the tension, as Ken grapples not only with external threats but also with the internal struggles of her condition.

More Than Just a Thriller

One of Us Knows goes beyond the typical whodunit. It delves into the complexities of trauma and mental health. Witnessing Ken navigate her alters and their unique personalities adds depth to the story. The book has also been praised for its exploration of social issues and its portrayal of a strong, complex female protagonist.

A Few Caveats

The story and plot overall had a few points that weren't believable and it pulled me out of the story. Additionally, the romance element, a hallmark of Cole's previous works, is more subtle here.

Overall

One of Us Knows is a gripping thriller with a refreshing perspective. If you're looking for a suspenseful read with a strong female lead and a touch of psychological intrigue, this is a book you won't want to miss.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. A woman with Dissociative Identity Disorder ends up with a caretaking job on an island. The job goes wrong. It was kind of hard to follow at times with the different people who were fronting in the body. Interesting concept for a book.

Admittedly, I was confused at the opening of One of Us Knows, a new thriller from Alyssa Cole. I had not read much of the publisher's note and had no idea that the novel used disassociate identity disorder (DID) as a central motif. I really do not know much about DID, which caused some problems initially, but I do know much more now, thanks to Cole's novel. One of Us Knows is creative and sometimes confusing. The title serves as a thesis for the story. One of Kenetria's (Ken's) alter personalities takes a job as a caretaker at a castle. When that personality steps back, and Ken is once again at the front, she is understandably confused. Why is she becoming a caretaker and why do so many of her mind mates seem to have been there before? The answer to so many decisions and occurrences lie within that title--One of Us Knows.

One of Us Knows is sometimes confusing for Ken (and me), sometimes violent, sometimes seems to merge past and present without separation, and oftentimes dangerous. I was not sure if I liked this novel until I got about half way through it, when finally the DID and the action seemed to make a connection for me. It did take me a while to understand that so many of Ken's mind mates are remembering past events, rather than experiencing them anew. In the end, readers finally understand the damage that caused so many of these personalities to fuse in Ken's mind, or Della's mind, or Solomon's mind, or Kiki's mind, etc.

I do recommend One of Us Knows. I finally took some notes to try and keep things straight. Thank you to Cole, publisher William Morrow, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am glad I completed One of Us Knows, since I learned a lot about DID.

I couldn’t get into this book I don’t know if I’m the target audience or if it just had too many characters for me to keep up with.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. Wow! This was a crazy read and I loved it! The author did a fantastic job portraying our main character who has multiple personalities. The atmosphere in this story was a character in itself. Very suspenseful and a quick read.

QUICK TAKE: A really unique concept (a person with multiple personalities is hired to be the caretaker of a derelict estate with a mysterious past that she may have connections to), though the execution is a bit familiar (the “hunting party” in the back half of the book is something I’ve seen a lot recently). Ultimately, I had fun with this one, though there were a LOT of characters/identities to keep track of, and I will say, Cole does a nice job introducing readers to a complicated character(s) and juggling a lot of moving pieces. Definitely an author who I will continue to keep an eye on, as I’ll take a big swing for the fences over a down-the-middle-the-husband-did-it thriller any day of the week!

When this book begins, Kenetria Nash comes to after six years of absence from her consciousness. While she's been MIA, her headmates Della, Solomon, Keke, Empress, Mesmer, and Lurk have been running their collective body, dealing with the pandemic and losing their job and home. When Ken comes back, however, she's heading toward a new job as caretaker of a historic castle on a remote island. It's a strange job to be sure, even more so when Ken arrives and discovers that the castle is exactly like the building she and her headmates share in their shared consciousness. Something is definitely wrong here, and Ken has no idea how to even begin figuring it out.

I'm always wary about books that use disassociative identity disorder (multiple personalities) as a primary plot device, as there's a long history of the disorder being sensationalized and it's tricky to get right in fiction. That wariness holds true with this one, as it's confusing (intentionally) and the diagnosis is what leads Ken and her headmates to be imperiled in the book. There are some who would find this fascinating, I'm sure, but I can't say this is one I'll be recommending widely.

If you enjoy a rollercoaster ride of a who’s done it coupled with suspense & a dash of psychology…trust me when I say this is the read for you. This book had me completely enamored from the very beginning. It will grab you & you’ll find yourself holding on tightly until the last word. This is a book that would make a great book club read because you will want to discuss it with everyone!
#oneofusknows #alyssacolelit

This book had a very slow start for me and there was a lot going on. It was a highly
anticipated book for me. This was
a very unique thriller in my opinion
with the disorder. The one thing that was confusing was the way that the personalities interacted. It went from italics to parentheses and some regular. Then
the constant switch from the regular world
to being in the inner world and it was a lot to keep up with Great storyl execution
could’ve been a bit better to hold the audience attention. Most of the characters didn’t have any substance to want to keep up with them

I started One of Us Knows fully confused. Once I realized the main character, Kenetria Nash, suffers from disassociate identity disorder, things became a little clearer. I obviously forgot what the book was about once I actually started it. Alyssa Cole does a good job intertwining the multiple persons within Kenetria's mind while also giving us gothic horror vibes with the backdrop of a creepy isolated mansion.
I enjoyed the unique and creative plot. It was a slow burn while we got acquainted with everyone; paying attention to the chapter header is a must to keep everyone straight. Once the pieces started falling in place, the story took off at lightning speed. Overall, it was a fun, creepy, and well put together thriller.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.

Kenetria has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder and after being dormant for 6 years she wakes up to find one of her alters accepted a job at a castle on an isolated Hudson River Island. Not wanting to ruin anything she moves forward with the job but upon arrival to the island she quickly finds out the job isn’t what they were expecting.

I honestly had no idea what to expect from this book, I just knew I wanted to give a thriller a try but was low key scared at the same time because I hate thriller and horror movies especially with ghosts. But I then thought it won’t be that bad reading it. Well, I walked around jumpy for a few days and endured my husband making fun of me for it just to make it through this book, but it did not disappoint.

I listened to the audiobook while working and quickly determined this book needed my full attention because there was so much going on between Ken’s alters and the creepy remote castle on the island. When Celeste told Ken she needed to leave the island I found myself yelling at the book like I do any black person on a thriller movie…like get your black self back on that boat sis. I would of swam off that Island if I had to. But anyway, I enjoyed how the story unfolded and could not seem to stop listening despite how scared I was the entire time.

I have been putting off reading When No One Is Watching but quickly went to request the audiobook when I finished this one because Alyssa Cole has me hooked now. If you are in the mood for something a little different, I highly recommend this book. You will have to allow yourself to get lost in this book because it can get a little confusing with all of Ken’s alters. I quickly got used to all the characters and found myself being entertained while on edge trying to wait for the story to unfold.

Hmm, this one didn’t work for me, and I DNFd at 50% because I still had no idea what the main plot was. It all still felt like set up and really repeated things a lot. The vibes of the island were scary and interesting though. I’m not sure I could confidently recommend this one to most readers.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

Woah! The second novel by Alyssa Cole, One of Knows, is unlike any thriller I have ever read. A highly addictive, twisty, psychological thriller set in a castle, told from multiple POV's, this book will have you overwhelmed in the best way. Imagine not knowing what has happened for the past six years, to reemerge in a job as the caretaker for a historic site on an island. That is what our main character Ken is dealing with. However, it is her other personalities, or headmates as she calls them, that have gotten her to this place. Ken has DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and is not only working out the mysteries of this island but also the mysteries within herself to survive? This was quite the wild ride! If you are looking for a unique, locked room, thriller with an eerie mystery within a mystery, then this one is for you! If you are familiar with Cole's first novel, When No One is Watching, you will thoroughly enjoy the writing style and mysterious feel!

Hmm… I don’t really know how to explain what I just read.
I feel like this book had so much potential and just fell flat for me. It was also hella difficult to keep track of the different personalities in her mind.
The story took a while to get moving and once it did I felt like I was in this chaos of a story.
Not my favorite read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Years after being diagnosed with Disassociative Identity Disorder, Kenetria Nash and her “alters” are given a second chance at the historical preservation list career she always wanted. Being the caretaker and sole resident of an old historic home sounds perfect to Ken. But when the man who caused her breakdown years ago resurfaces, Ken understandably has a setback. Then that man winds up dead, and Ken is the prime suspect. Ken and her alters must work together to prove their innocence.

Mental health representation is always important to me in books. I felt like this author did a great job at showing that, but for me, this story was hard to follow and I was very confused through out most of it. I think it just was not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC! This book is out now.