A Today Show and New York Post Summer Reads Selection! First dates can be murder. “Ferociously smart.” –AJ Finn “Riveting.” –Riley Sager “Addictive.” –Liv Constantine “Wonderfully tense.” –Aimee Molloy “Irresistible.” –Mary Kubica “Impossible to put down.” –Megan Miranda Riveting and compulsive, national bestselling author Wendy Walker’s The Night Before “takes you to deep, dark places … national bestselling author Wendy Walker’s The Night Before “takes you to deep, dark places few thrillers dare to go” as two sisters uncover long-buried secrets when an internet date spirals out of control.
Laura Lochner has never been lucky in love. She falls too hard and too fast, always choosing the wrong men. Devastated by the end of her last relationship, she fled her Wall Street job and New York City apartment for her sister’s home in the Connecticut suburb where they both grew up. Though still haunted by the tragedy that’s defined her entire life, Laura is determined to take one more chance on love with a man she’s met on an Internet dating site.
Rosie Ferro has spent most of her life worrying about her troubled sister. Fearless but fragile, Laura has always walked an emotional tightrope, and Rosie has always been there to catch her. Laura’s return, under mysterious circumstances, has cast a shadow over Rosie’s peaceful life with her husband and young son – a shadow that grows darker as Laura leaves the house for her blind date.
When Laura does not return home the following morning, Rosie fears the worst. She’s not responding to calls or texts, and she’s left no information about the man she planned to meet. As Rosie begins a desperate search to find her sister, she is not just worried about what this man might have done to Laura. She’s worried about what Laura may have done to him…
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I loved this book. It is the epitome of the dysfunctional family of the world today. Most people don’t usually think their family is dysfunctional. However, I truly believe that most families are at least somewhat dysfunctional. Every family has the hate/love thin line within it. Our lives today reflect way too much information whether from the entertainment, internet or just the people around us in and out of our daily lives. We can’t always know whether we fit the mold for dysfunctional.
In this story two sisters and two young men grew up together yet at the end of the story their lives are worlds apart. I believe everyone should read this story. The story is awesome and the characters are wonderful.
This was a weird one, and ultimately a disappointment for it. I had high hopes based on the extremely provocative blurb, and the opening bits. The writing was good, the mysteries and suspense thick on the ground, and the characters seemed promisingly dark and uncertain. Unfortunately, it turned scattered all too quickly and I found myself rolling my eyes at the choices the characters made right up to the Big Reveal – and then I just sighed. I kept reading – Walker’s writing style is engaging, and I’ll admit I was still curious to see how on earth she’d close all the gaps, but things just felt like they were trying too hard to be mind-blastingly original in a genre that I’m starting to think needs to slow down a bit, publication-wise…
It must be exceptionally tough to write psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators these days – there are SO MANY, and the options for suspenseful yet believable twists are not infinite, particularly given that every reader KNOWS they’re coming. Maybe I am just burned out on the genre/concept. If I hadn’t read so many, I might have found this one less eye-rolling- and sigh-worthy. As I said, the writing wasn’t the issue, the plot was. But as it is, I have to admit that this was not one of my favorites…
Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy.
Laura Lochner was left emotionally depleted by her last relationship. The breakup left her devastated and lacking closure after it ended abruptly. In an effort to move forward she decides to move back to Connecticut where she will live with her sister’s family. Rosie has always been there to support Laura and she was instrumental in guiding her through a tough adolescence.
Laura goes out one evening to meet a man she connected with on a dating site. When she doesn’t return, her sister and brother-in-law fear for the worst. Together they begin to dissect Laura’s life for clues about her disappearance.
“The Night Before” is narrated from both sister’s voices and the plot twists will keep you wondering about the outcome. The pace of this book is fast and will keep you focused while you try to predict the conclusion. This intense thriller by Wendy Walker is a must read for 2019!
Thanks so much @NetGalley for letting me read and review this book. This was my favorite so far by Wendy Walker! I could not put it down. Its a great thriller, that will keep you on your toes!!
Laura Lochner returns to her hometown after a bad breakup. She had fled after the murder of a love interest, Mitch, when she was a teen. She moves in with her sister, Rosie, her husband Joe, and of course, another childhood friend, Gabe, is married and lives apart from them, but he is still in the picture, as they were all close since they were kids.
But returning home, has stirred up a lot of emotions in everyone, and so many secrets that they all have kept and wondered about for so many years.
Laura is a messed up Woman, and so desperate for love. She goes on a date after meeting someone on a dating site. The date turns into Laura spilling so many secrets to this man she hardly knows, and she never returns from her date.
Her sister, always the Mother figure for Laura is scared to death, wondering if her sister is dead, or did something go wrong, and Laura herself commit a crime, after all, the group of tight friends have always wondered about the murder of Laura’s boyfriend when she was a teen.
During this time, so many shocking secrets are revealed and of course where is Laura? The book is a like a roller coaster of suspense!!
I will do a more detailed review later, as the book is not released until May 2019, and will do a more in depth review. But the book was great, and I could not put it down!!! I have read all of Wendy Walker’s books, and loved them all, this one probably being my favorite. Its an awesome thriller written with the present and past in each chapter. Thanks @Netgalley for letting me read this book!!!!!
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!