An Apple Books Best of the Month Selection A Publishers Weekly Summer Reads 2020 Editors’ PickA Library Journal “12 Novels Featuring Protagonists on the Autism Spectrum” SelectionFrom #1 International Bestseller Charlie Donlea—A chilling murder in a prestigious prep school is at the heart of this riveting new suspense novel that’s perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.Forensic … suspense novel that’s perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.Forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore and her psychologist partner, Lane Phillips,must chase down the truth behind the ghastly killings featured on the hit true crime podcast sweeping the nation. Can they uncover the hidden secrets of the school and the psychology of a killer before the next episode airs?
Inside the walls of Indiana’s elite Westmont Preparatory High School, expectations run high and rules are strictly enforced. But in the woods beyond the manicured campus and playing fields sits an abandoned boarding house that is infamous among Westmont’s students as a late-night hangout. Here, only one rule applies: don’t let your candle go out—unless you want the Man in the Mirror to find you. . . .
One year ago, two students were killed there in a grisly slaughter. The case has since become the focus of a hit podcast, The Suicide House. Though a teacher was convicted of the murders, mysteries and questions remain. The most urgent among them is why so many students who survived that horrific night have returned to the boarding house—to kill themselves.
Rory, an expert in reconstructing cold cases, is working on The Suicide House podcast with Lane, recreating the night of the killings in order to find answers that have eluded the school, the town, and the police. But the more they learn about the troubled students, the chillingly stoic culprit, and a dangerous game gone tragically wrong, the more convinced they become that something sinister is still happening. Inside Westmont Prep, the game hasn’t ended. It thrives on secrecy and silence. And for its players, there may be no way to win—or to survive. . . .
“Multiple intertwining story lines keep the pacing brisk and the tension high throughout. But the book’s real strength is the idiosyncratic Rory, who suffers from OCD and is on the autism spectrum, a deeply developed character readers can’t help rooting for. Hopefully, she’ll be back soon.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
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A prep school full of secrets, a haunting year old double murder and a rash of suicides among those who survived.
What the what is going on??
Naturally a podcast is developed to answer this burning question. When Rory, an expert at reconstructing cold cases, gets involved suddenly there are more questions than answers.
I like stories that happen at elite schools and this one was held my interest from start to finish.
Thank you to Charlie Donlea, Kensington and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed The Suicide House even though I was a bit confused in the first 50 pages with all of the characters. I think if I’d have read the series in order, I’d have known some of the characters and that would have really helped. Despite the confusion (which didn’t last too long), I thought that this was an excellent well written book that kept me guessing while I read the hints that were provided.
The story is told in two timelines
2019 – Westmont Preparatory High School is an elite boarding school in Indiana. It’s tightly run and very strict. On the outer edge of the school property is an old decrepit house that is used by the students as a late night place to hang out. Here, only one rule applies: don’t let your candle go out–unless you want the Man in the Mirror to find you. . . .In 2019 two students were killed in a violent slaughter. One of the teachers was charged so it was an open and shut case. Or was it?
2020 – The case has become the focus of a hit podcast because there are so many unanswered questions – the main one being why several of the students who were at the hangout when the students were murdered have returned to the house to commit suicide. There are several people working on the podcast – the well known Mark Carter has stolen most of the story from investigative reporter Ryder. Despite the fact that the podcast becomes very popular and Mark is getting all of the credit, Ryder continues to investigate. The two main characters from book 1 also become a major part of the investigation. Lane is a psychiatrist and Rory helps to solve cold cases. Her mind works very different than normal and she has been very successful in helping the police solve cold cases. Tie all of these characters in with students and ex-students and it all got a bit confusing. It all worked out in the end and every one of the characters was a needed part of the overall story. The ending of the book was perfect and overall, I really enjoyed it. Based on the way the book ended, I expect that there will be future books staring Lane and Rory.
Westmont Preparatory School. A place with very high expectations and rules that are strictly enforced. On the edge of the grounds sits an old abandoned house that the students use as a hangout. Until one day when two students are killed. The surviving students from that night are harboring a secret. Will they ever reveal the truth? What will Rory Moore, a forensic reconstructionist, and her partner find when they investigate? What is the long held secret? Why are students willing to die to keep that secret? Well written characters and a story that had me turning the pages. Definitely recommend!
The Suicide House was my first Charlie Donlea book but it definitely won’t be my last! This was such a compelling thriller and I could not stop reading. I first read an excerpt of this on BookishFirst and I was hooked. Thriller writers have to walk that fine balance of giving us the right amount of information to keep us interested and guessing but withhold enough to have us surprised and shocked. Charlie Donlea does that really well here. I had several evolving theories throughout the book and, while I correctly guessed parts of it at certain times, there were so many surprises and I was definitely left in shock. I absolutely loved the twists and turns and how everything tied together. This is a book I would gladly recommend to add to your TBR!
In this next book of the series Lane is asked to be a part of a podcast that talks about the deaths of several students who attended the elite Westmont Preparatory High School. You see a year ago two students were killed in a gruesome way. The survivors of that night have very little to tell and a teacher is convicted of said murders in the end. When several of the survivors commit suicide the story is brought back to the forefront in the media. Lane asks Rory if she would help recreate that night in hopes of finding some answers to all the many questions that still remain. Trouble soon finds the pair leaving Rory to investigate at a faster pace than normal. Will she be able to figure out just what happened that night before something even worse happens or will the truth be lost in the end?
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. When I looked at the book, I noticed that this was a 2nd book so I read the 1st book before opening this one. This is a new author for me and Charlie Donlea has quickly become one of my favorites. I couldn’t put the book down. The story was well written and had many twists and turns. I love reading about Rory and Lanes relationship and their quirks. All the characters were well developed. I am hoping there will be more books written with Rory and Lane. I will be recommending this book to all my friends who love thrillers.
Even though I didn’t read the other book in this series (I didn’t even know another book existed in this series), I still really enjoyed this one. I didn’t really feel like I was missing anything although I’m sure reading the other book can make this one more enjoyable.
Something I loved about this book was the many twists and turns the book took. I was so sure I had this one figured out and then I was surprised by the ending. Donlea takes the reader on a crazy ride and never slows down. It’s action-packed and exciting and shocking.
I especially loved the podcast aspect of this book. It added a little bit of intrigue and mystery (on top of the obvious mystery) to the plot. As well, the relationship between Rory and Lane and the case and the podcast felt parallel. It all weaved together so well and contributed to making the story what it was.
Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery especially because it kept me guessing so much. I can’t wait to read the book that came before this!
Won this from a goodreads giveaway (yay!!!!!!) and was pleasantly surprised. I was a little apprehensive because ‘crime’ books I’ve read recently have been disappointing for me but I got sucked in pretty quick with The Suicide House and actually enjoyed reading it. It was interesting and engaging – and dare I even say *fun* trying to brainstorm what happened. My dad would love this one.
Creepy good mystery thriller. Kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing what would happen
Very well written.
The characters were ok, just a lot of them and the two main female characters names started with the same letter so I was a little confused at first (I’m a speed reader, so tiny details get missed sometimes) I was completely blown away by the ending!
Book gets a 4 star rating. Would be a great fall/Halloween book to read!
Let’s read!
Oh Charlie Donlea you have gone and done it again!! I absolutely LOVED Some Choose Darkness and I was very excited to see Donlea was bringing Rory and Lane back in The Suicide House. I love Rory’s character and she really kicked some butt in this book as well. She is just so smart and reading from her perspective is like a dream come true. I thought the pacing was super steady throughout the entire book and once I got into it I could not stop. I started the physical book but due to how slow I’ve been reading lately I decided to switch to the audio, and I do not regret that one bit. The narrator is Vivienne Leheny and I thought she did such an amazing job with it. Plus, I think it does start out a bit on the slower side so the audio helped keep me engaged the entire time.
I have read every book by Donlea except for Summit Lake, and he never ceases to impress me with his writing ability. There are a lot of moving parts in this mystery novel and I think he tied them together so perfectly. I did have a slight inkling towards the end where it was going, but other than that I didn’t guess what would happen and one thing specifically really surprised me. There is also a nice creepy vibe to the book thanks to the Man in the Mirror and the empty boarding house on the grounds of Westmont Preparatory High School.
I know some readers were disappointed in The Suicide House, but luckily for me that was not the case at all. I would definitely recommend reading it if you are a fan of Donlea’s writing, and even if you haven’t read book one of this series it is fine as a standalone. I am really hoping to see more of Rory in upcoming books, and I would highly recommend doing the audio of this one if you like audiobooks. The chapters are all really short and there are quite a few different viewpoints, but I loved the experience that provided me, and it made the book feel like it was flying. Thank you Charlie Donlea for another amazing book!
Very interesting book with great characters and an intriguing storyline. It grabbed my attention and held it throughout the whole book.
I definitely recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.
I loved Some Choose Darkness so I was very happy to be back with Rory and Lane in Suicide House. This book was nice and creepy with the Man in the Mirror game and a secret prep school society. What appears to be a clean cut murder case and a bunch of suicides turns out to be anything but. I did figure a main person out pretty early in the book but it was still a fantastic read.
I was warned that this is a very scary thriller, and my friend was not wrong. I received this book as an early review copy. The story centers around a secret society at a prep school who each year on the Summer Solstice have secret initiation. The year is 2019, but this year things go horribly wrong. Two of the students are murdered in extremely grisly ways. Two people Lane Phillips a Forensic Pyschologist and Rory Moore a “forensic reconstructionist” the term she prefers to Cold Case Investigator are brought i.n to try catch the killer. These two characters were my favorites. In some ways Rory Moore with her quirkiness reminds me of Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, who is the main reason I enjoy that show so much. If he were not on it, I wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much. I like the way Donlea uses several POVs to relate the story. I learned after reading the book that this is not his first book, but that it can be read as a stand alone. I’m glad I read this book first, but will I go back and read the other ones? Yes, I definitely I will! I highly recommend this as an edge of your seat thriller!
Wow! This is the first book I have read by Charlie Donlea so did not know what to expect. I am happy to report that the book, a psychological thriller, was amazing! What a wild ride! I was immediately drawn into this story. The pieces of the puzzle would fall into place but always one critical piece withheld. I finally came close to believing I knew whodunnit, but I was wrong. The ending was believable and spectacular.
There was never a boring moment in this book; something always happening. I loved the layout of the story with portions of the killer’s journal intermingled with the narratives. The alternating timeline was also well structured, the current investigation alternating with one year ago when the tragedy at the prestigious academy, Westmont Preparatory High School, occurred. The characters of Lane, Rory, and Gus were really interesting. (Rory reminds me of Spencer on the TV show “Criminal Minds”.) Apparently, these are characters that “star” in a couple of Donlea’s different series. The chapters are short, making it easy to fit into the reader’s busy schedule.
Highly recommend!
Thank you to Kensington Books for the advance copy to read. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Absolutely fantastic opening chapter that pulled me in completely. I enjoyed the multiple points of view, particularly as we also get chapters from the killer’s perspective. The plot set-up was great, with the initial horrific event followed by more and more, and all seemingly connected to the initial event.
Content Warnings (SPOILERS) below:
Uncontested internalized ableism (Term “affliction” used repeatedly to describe characters’ autism diagnosis, and her obsessive compulsion and autism are called shortcomings. She further describes herself as “broken and could never be fully repaired” apparently due to those conditions); Unconsented to video of someone having sex which was then posted online; Hazing, harassment, abuse of teacher and students
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.
I requested an ARC of this book, and all opinions are my own.
This is a new to me author, and after reading this book, I find myself desperate to go back and read the rest of his work.
At first, the jumping between time & points of view was confusing – not to mention the incredible number of characters – but after a few chapters, I got used to the rhythm and this became a must-finish-cannot-put-down book for me. The main characters were a mix of the usual mystery trope – grizzled old detectives, prep-school kids with too much time on their hands, the red herring that turned out to be anything but – and new, exciting ones like the a-typical forensic reconstructionist who moonlights as an antique doll restorer, and the former FBI profiler turned best-selling true crime author & creator of a website devoted to finding links between cases.
It was truly a tangled web, with plenty of twists that kept me guessing ‘whodunit’ right up to the very end. I thought it was very well plotted, and hugely satisfying in the end. Definitely a must read for fans of TV shows like CSI or Criminal Minds.
I absolutely loved this book! It can be read as a stand-alone book but is the 2nd one technically. We follow Rory and her other half, Lane as they try to put together the pieces of a cold case. Two students murdered a year previously and now the survivors one by one go back to that location to commit suicide. Thus the suicide house. As we learn the bits and pieces along with Rory and Lane we start to try and solve the mystery of that night because something about it is not right. I started to think I knew who was the real culprit was but boy was I way off! I was totally shocked by who the killer actually was and why the survivors where going back to the scene to end their lives. I highly recommend this read!
I was lucky enough to receive The Suicide House from NetGalley, and after that I was blessed to received a actual print copy in a BookishFirst giveaway. I had previously read two books written by Charlie Donlea, so I was familiar with several of the characters in this book. The book can be read as a stand alone, but I feel that it helps to have read the others just for a little background on several of the characters in the storyline. It took me a little while to get into this book, only because I have never been crazy over a book moving back and forward in time. Once I did get involved in the book it was hard to put down. So much was happening in this book, and wasn’t exactly sure where it was taking me especially towards the end when the way I thought it was taking proved to be wrong. I would certainly recommend this book to those that enjoy this genre. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
In Peppermill, Indiana, there is a private boarding school. Behind the walls of this school there are secrets. One year ago, two students were murdered at an abandoned house in the woods surrounding the school. The killed was captured, only after trying to kill himself by stepping in front of a moving train outside the house. But then, one by one, the survivors of that massacre return to the house, to kill themselves. This draws the attention from the host of a podcast, Mack Carter, and reporter Ryder Hillier. And eventually, Rory Moore, an expert at solving cold cases and her partner, Lane Phillips, a renowned criminal profiler and psychologist. As they search for answers, they discover many secrets about that night, and that house.
This book had me drawn in from the beginning. The first few pages captures your interest, and holds it. From one page to the next, you don’t know what is going to happen. I fell in love with these characters, they were so well written and even their quarks, made you like them. With a lot of books, I can clearly tell what is going on and what is going to happen. That wasn’t the case with this book. It had be guessing until the end. This is the first book my this author that I’ve read and it won’t be my last. I will say that with some of the things in the book I had trouble following, but had I read the first book in this series, I would have followed better. It’s definitely worth a read. You won’t regret it.
I didn’t know this was a book 2 when I requested it and I hadn’t read book 1, Some Choose Darkness. I found you need not have read it to follow along, but I loved this one so much that I will go back and read it now. This book was simply amazing, yet there was nothing simple about it. Normally I would sum up the book in my own words, but I will skip that and just get straight to gushing.
You know when you’re watching crime movies, and the detectives have these walls of information on all the suspects with their pictures and details? I imagine such a wall in Donlea’s house, but with plotlines and characters. There are multiple perspectives in this book, multiple writing styles, and alternating timelines which seem like it would be utterly impossible to keep track of. The result is a fantastically layered book that comes together in the way of a puzzle.
Let’s talk about the various writing styles. You get the brilliance that is Rory’s mind, a podcast in written form, a journal entry, and the storyline. Add in the multiple points of view, and alternating timelines, then you can see why I picture Donlea’s wall as I described. I think where others are complaining there are too many points of view, I see only the brilliance of how well executed it is.
So I was reading this and going: “hey, I can have more of Rory and Lane in book 1.” But then I got to the Author’s Note at the end and learned that some of these characters crop up in other works of Donlea, and he’s just hooked a reader for life. This was such a super fun read. I loved the multiple mysteries that arise, and I loved the characters and how each of them goes about solving them (or creating them). So well done! Thank you, Kensington Books for sending this along!