Twenty Years Later: A Riveting New Thriller

Absolutely loved this one. It’s layered, messy, twisty, and full of POV juggling that actually pays off. the audiobook is excellent. Every thread snaps together at the end. 😘 This book is packed with secrets, lies, and “wait… WHAT?!” moments — the kind where you pause, stare at the wall, and then immediately keep reading. The characters are flawed in all the right ways, the reveals are wild, and I genuinely didn’t see the ending. 🤯 If you like thrillers that make you work a little and reward you big, this one is a ride. Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ Messy, layered, secretive — and I loved piecing every one of them together. Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Twists inside twists inside twists. Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fast, sharp, and addictive. I blinked and 200 pages disappeared. World Building / Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ New York, 9/11 threads, forensic labs, rum bars, secret cabins — the vibe was immaculate. Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Never slowed. Not once. Constant motion like a thriller treadmill I willingly ran on. Structure: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ Multiple POVs, multiple timelines, and somehow it all clicked exactly when it needed to. Resolution: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jaw dropped. Mind blown. I thought I was ready…I was not. Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fully loaded thriller with layers you actually have to pay attention to — and it pays off. One-Word Summary: Layered

Easy read. Good story. Unexpected twist and turns. Overall enjoyable mystery. I will check out other books by this author as a result. I do recommend for those who like this genre.

.Charlie Donlea is my go to author now! I cannot put these books down. He draws you in and does not let go!! This book in particular is my favorite. It brings in some mystery, romance, and a twist at the end that I never saw coming!!!! MUST READ!

This was my first book by the author, and it was enjoyable. Chapters were short and easy to follow. Although the storyline was predictable, it did not detract from the overall story, which was about two women with interesting pasts seeking vindication, or at least one of them. Two different storylines that connect the women kept me interested throughout the book. Steady pacing, nothing “jaw-dropping” until about Chapter 73, which was a great twist. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Overall, I liked this short novel but I could've done with another 50 pages or so to tidy up a few plot points more neatly. The plot was pretty solid all together though, and it was an interesting ride to get to the end of the story to find out all of the details. This is my first read by Donlea, and I do like his writing style. With one exception - there were a couple of times when he repeats the MCs objective on her trip out of town with the exact same details, like the book just came back from commercial break. That sort of unnecessary repetition annoys me in literature if it's not specifically being used as a narrative device to convey a character obsessing or worrying to themselves through their internal monologue.

This was an enjoyable book that had some writers quirks that bothered me. The writer jumped between characters (which I like) but would spend two or three paragraphs repeating what had just happened in the characters prior chapters. It was a little annoying as I was actively reading the book and was well aware of the actions of the book. It is a new twist on the 9/11 tragedy, without going into the tragedy greatly however I think inserting a fictional character into this mass event can be off putting for some people. As a person who is fairly removed from the tragedy, I can enjoy the piece of fiction but I can see where it would be insensitive to others who experienced the tragedy more directly. There is some large scale name dropping (such as the OJ Simpson trial) that can be easily researched and proved that these characters aren’t real. That would be a large sticking point to consumers of true crime who know all the details to see a fictional character be tangentially related to cultural changing events with no ability to verify it. An enjoyable read for me but I can see where this piece of work would not be suitable for all readers and could become a polarizing piece of work

Charlie Donlea is my new favorite author! Right from the beginning, he captivated my attention. There are never dull moments and I don't know how he does it! You MUST read this book!

‘21 - READ ‘25 APR - 5 STARS DESCRIPTION : Avery Mason, host of American Events, knows the subjects that grab a TV audience’s attention. Her latest story—a murder mystery laced with kinky sex, tragedy, and betrayal—is guaranteed to be ratings gold. New DNA technology has allowed the New York medical examiner’s office to make its first successful identification of a 9/11 victim in years. The twist: the victim, Victoria Ford, had been accused of the gruesome murder of her married lover. In a chilling last phone call to her sister, Victoria begged her to prove her innocence. Emma Kind has waited twenty years to put her sister to rest, but closure won’t be complete until she can clear Victoria’s name. Alone she’s had no luck, but she’s convinced that Avery’s connections and fame will help. Avery, hoping to negotiate a more lucrative network contract, goes into investigative overdrive. REVIEW : First book by this author for me was Don’t Believe It (‘19 - Read ‘23 - 4 Stars). Sale$1.99; reg 8.21 Lots of recommendations on Facebook’s Psychological Thriller Readers Group. BRAVO MR. DONLEA !!! What a read ! So many good characters that I’ll remember for a long time. A few original story lines that all connect and come together in a dramatic way. I was 100% invested in this story right from the beginning and I felt I was right next to these characters in every scene.

Loved this! Amazing story! Twists I did not see coming. That is all I’m saying. Read this book!

Ainda estou lendo e gostando.

I really enjoyed this book. Initially I thought it was not going to be to my liking when it set the scene. However, it got me in and throughout the book I kept thinking about the different scenarios and what really happened. Of course, there was a twist and great twist. First time I have by Charlie Donlea and I will certainly look forward to reading other books written by him.

Really good book

This was my first ever read of a Charlie Donlea book, and it sure won’t be my last! With unexpected plot twists and turns, it was impossible to put down until knowing how the whole mystery and story ended, aided by a great but flawed heroine with a mysterious past and a brooding but hot-as-Hades former detective. All the ingredients were there for an absolutely brilliant and compelling read.