Mystery

[b:The Night Before|40867676|The Night Before|Wendy Walker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540231049l/40867676._SY75_.jpg|63662941]
I am so behind on reviewing books for Netgalley and amazing authors like Wendy Walker that it’s sad. I finished this in one day and look forward to reading more from Ms. Walker. Here is a bit about the story. Laura and her sister, Rosie, along with Joe and Gabe, all grew up in the same neighborhood, tight friends from early childhood. Rosie and Joe are now married with a toddler, and Gabe has married. After her most recent relationship ends badly, Laura moves into her sister's home to recover. It isn't long before she connects with "Jonathan," a man from an online site and agrees to a date. When she doesn't return home the next morning, Rosie fears the worst. What sets this book apart for me is that Laura isn’t just concerned for her sister but for “Johnathon” as well. I love a book that has two points and gives you the complete twisty picture. With this book you get the added sessions with her physiatrist. I don’t want to give too much of the story away. I will say The Night Before is unique and worth the time to read. ( )

Contemporary fiction psychological thriller about a woman that disappears after an online date. Her sister, brother-in-law, and childhood friend attempt to uncover clues as to what happened. The protagonist has a troubled past and is seeing a therapist. She has recently experienced a break-up and is trying to recover. She is the prototypical unreliable narrator, and we are privy to her inner thoughts.

I thought the plot was cleverly constructed, alternating a first-person account from the missing woman with her sister’s account of the search for her. It was filled with twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing. It reminded me a bit of Gone Girl, though I enjoyed this book a bit more. I found it a compelling page-turner with a satisfying resolution. Recommended to fans of psychological thrillers or mysteries with a suspense component.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley in return for a candid review. This book is scheduled to be released on May 14, 2019.
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I liked the storyline, and I always like timelines jumping around, so that was okay, but there was something about this book that didn't grab me until way late in the game. Maybe it was the characters; I didn't really care about any of them. Even Laura's tragic backstory was so hazy that it was unclear if you should like her or not -- heroine or villainess? It all wrapped up okay, but it was a stretch to give it 4 stars. ( )

Thank you to Goodreads. I won this in a giveaway. It was actually a while ago, but during a move the book was misplaced. I know this goes against a lot of the reviews that I’m reading lately, but I actually really enjoyed this book.
This was my second book by Wendy Walker, the first being “Emma in the Night”, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was awed as the ending drew close and all the crazy pieces fell into place ... a place I wasn’t expecting.
The book keeps you guessing as to exactly what is wrong with Laura. Or maybe sister Rosie is just too overprotective? I found it quick paced and it kept me guessing. ( )