A small town divorce lawyer (“I know people’s secrets”) blames herself when a client’s teen daughter is brutally murdered. She investigates and finds herself the killer’s next target.
Grieving the loss of her NYPD detective husband, former defense attorney Mia Peale moves to Grand Cove, Connecticut, desperate for a sense of community and hoping to rebuild her life. Now, starting a family law … life. Now, starting a family law practice, she’s finally found friends and peace – until the teen daughter of one of her clients is brutally murdered, and the girl’s boyfriend stands accused.
Kelly Payne was an adored high school track star. Brian Hall is a poor boy in a rich town, and the community is outraged. But Mia has known Brian since her arrival and can’t believe he’s guilty, despite strong circumstantial evidence against him. As his defense turns lackluster, she asks Grand Cove police detective Jay Colter for help. Jay is also skeptical of the police and DA’s case and takes them on, especially when Mia’s friend from her former Manhattan law firm uncovers a frighteningly similar murder in the city. Secretly, Jay helps Mia investigate both murders, but his alarm grows as her life is threatened by a maniac hiding among them.
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I am a huge fan of books that focus on smart, brave, tenacious women. I am a sucker for plot lines that sharpen my reasoning, characters that are psychologically complex, and endings where the unimaginable is imagined.
This was my first J. A. Schneider novel. I was reading it during the beginning of the pandemic where many readers, like me, find the unfolding events create monkey mind and an inability to settle into a story. I’m delighted that in What You’ve Done, Schneider’s world building and dynamic writing kept me involved with her characters and rooting for justice until the last page.
Extremely well executed. Highly recommended.
What You’ve Done is the latest novel from J. A. Schneider, author of the Detective Kerri Blasco series, the Raney and Levine thrillers, among others. This book is apparently the first in a new series. In What You’ve Done, we have Mia Peale, a former criminal lawyer who has recently lost her husband, an NYPD detective, who was killed in a shootout. Bereaved, and burned out by her job, Mia moves to Grand Cove, Connecticut, an upper class, supposedly peaceful community to start a new life practicing family law. Mia is still on shaky emotional ground, but she’s making friends, and her law practice is going well, until Kelly Payne, the sixteen year old daughter of one of her clients is brutally murdered, and Mia gets sucked into the investigation.
At first, Mia comes across as repressed, a little inhibited and a bit unsure of herself. She quickly reveals that she’s an experienced, even brilliant criminal lawyer and investigator. Kelly’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hall, an excellent student but emotionally volatile and at least borderline alcoholic is the primary suspect. Mia doubts, however, that Brian, a sensitive and gentle boy, could be guilty. Aided by local detective Jay Colter, Mia is on the case.
The characters are complex and sympathetic. The plot makes sense. There are many suspects, most of whom have credible motives and a lot of red herrings are thrown in Mia’s path. In the end this is a competent mystery that moves steadily along to a highly satisfactory conclusion. I’ll be looking forward to the next.
I received an ARC from the author in return for an honest review.
As usual, Joyce has written a fantastic thriller full of great characters and rip-roaring suspense.
Mia Peale moves to Connecticut after her husband dies and gets involved in a sad case where her client’s daughter is killed and the boyfriend is accused of the murder. She sets out and investigates the murder on her own, seeking the truth.
But where does this lead? Well you’ll have to read it and find out. I loved the way the plot intertwined with Mia’s personal life. And the outcome who the killer was left me reeling at the end.
Another fascinating thriller from this wonderful author. 5 Stars from me.
Joyce A. Schneider’ stand-alone novel ‘What You’ve Done’ is a wonderful example of how an author can drop a hook in the first chapter, in this case from the point of view of the antagonist, apparently providing the reader with sufficient clues to confirm their own suspicions as the novel progresses, yet all the while she has been leading us on a delightful merry-go-round of red herrings. This is important to this crime thriller as the cast of characters, and therefore list of potential culprits, is vast. That is not to say that the reader has been swamped with personages without backstories; indeed, no – each and every one of the characters introduced, even those that turn out to be secondary or tertiary characters in relation to the main story, have a three-dimensional presence that fills the small Connecticut town with a credible life of its own. This paints a solid background against which the reader quickly forms their own opinions about which characters MUST be the bad guys, thus providing ample ammunition for unexpected twists throughout.
‘What You’ve Done’ is an enjoyable thriller that lovers of crime fiction will delight in trying to stay one step ahead of the protagonist in identifying the elusive killer – personally, I changed my mind several times, realizing my judgement was being swayed through the author’s skill in introducing said strong-smelling smoked fish at just the right moments to throw my train of deductions well off the track. And, yes, I was wrong in my final deduction regarding the identity of the murderer. Kudos to the author for a brilliant plot and satisfying outcome.
I am a fan of J.A. Schneider and have been for some time. She is an excellent writer of psychological suspense. What You’ve Done is another outstanding read about a young woman, a member on the track team, who was brutally murdered. Mia, a small-town lawyer, finds herself heavily involved in the investigation of the young woman’s death and the investigation hits very close to home. Schneider’s novel is well-plotted and convoluted with twists the reader doesn’t expect. The writing is clear and crisp, and the description is memorable. The emotions evoked in this book are phenomenal. It was a real spine tingling read that kept me up almost the entire night. An amazing read. Highly recommended
This is my first J.A. Schneider book but it won’t be my last. Mia is a young lawyer who, after the loss of her spouse, moves to a small town from Manhattan and a big law firm. She gets involved in the community coaching the high school girls’ track team. She finds herself in the middle of an investigation when one of the troubled girls on the team is murdered .
Her involvement with the high profile case in a small town puts her in a vulnerable position and she receives threats to back off. Mia and the lead detective, Jay Coulter, believe the young man accused is being railroaded. They team up to find the truth and discover hidden problems in the community along with an attraction for each other. This is a real page turner. Right when you think you have it figured out, more clues appear and point the reader in another direction. You will keep guessing until the end.
Ms. Schneider weaves a great plot with characters you keep thinking about long after the last page is read. If you love psychological who-done-it thrillers, read WHAT YOU’VE DONE now. You won’t be able to put it down.
WHAT YOU’VE DONE is the first book I’ve read by J. A. Schneider, and I’m certain it won’t be the last. She weaves a tale through the eyes of her characters, allowing the reader to see, hear, and feel the scenes.
The storyline grabbed me on page one and held me spellbound all the way to the end. With richly drawn characters and gripping intrigue, this psychological thriller will keep you biting your nails to the last page. And what an ending!
When Kelly Payne is murdered, the police, district attorney, and mayor are convinced the killer is her ex-boyfriend, Brian Hall. But circumstantial evidence is not enough for Mia Peale. The divorce lawyer heroine’s hella-investigative skills follow leads that spin her into the crosshairs of the killer.
If you love psychological who-done-it thrillers, put WHAT YOU’VE DONE at the top of your to-read list. You won’t be disappointed. Five golden stars for J. A. Schneider. Well done.
“What You’ve Done” was recommended to me by a friend and I loved this mystery! J.A. Schneider’s tale of a pretty star high school athlete who is brutally murdered in a quiet upscale suburb kept me guessing to the very end. J.A. skillfully develops a string of suspects, all plausible, none too transparent, and adds tension to each chapter as whoever the killer is goes after the divorce lawyer who had sworn to keep the young girl safe. The romantic attraction that grows between the attorney and the detective investigating the murder touched me as authentic, without the hormone-charged tumble-into-bed that makes a lot of mystery/romances seem out of character with the crisis at hand. The writing is crisp, the plot engaging, and I will definitely be returning to J.A. Schneider’s mysteries with great anticipation. Five stars in my book!
When I was offered the chance to read an advance copy of this novel, I jumped at the chance, having previously enjoyed the author’s last book, Girl Watching You.
When 16-year old Kelly is found brutally murdered, local lawyer and friend, Mia Peale feels responsible. Could she have stopped Kelly’s reunion with Brian, who’s now the main suspect? With the help of Jay Colter from the police, and a friend in New York, who finds links to a similar murder, Mia sets out to prove Brian’s innocence.
It’s a move that antagonises the killer and puts her life in danger.
What You’ve Done is an expertly crafted suspense thriller with strong, believable characters and a good pace that leads to a thrilling climax and resolution. The shock waves from Kelly’s death and its effect on the family and local community are particularly well portrayed, allowing the reader to share their grief and confusion.
Mia’s a bright, clever and creative lead whose determination and desire for justice drive the story along. Her feelings of guilt reveal the compassionate and vulnerable character beneath as she faces her fears to get the job done.
Gripping from the first page to the last, with chapters from the killer to raise the stakes and tension, this is an accomplished and involving mystery as well as a thriller. No one is quite who they appear to be, providing plenty of suspects and motives to keep the reader guessing.
Highly recommended.
WHAT YOU’VE DONE is an edge-of-your-seat thriller with harrowing twists and turns. But that is just part of the reason why I love the writing. The other part is the main character, former defense attorney Mia Peale who starts a family law practice in Grand Cove, Connecticut. Her voice carries great parts of the story. “I never relax till things end with a jury and solid conviction. New suspects come and go, especially in a case like this.” Vulnerable, soft-hearted and strong-willed, Mia truly about the tragic death of her client’s daughter, Kelly Paine, and about finding her true killer.
The brave way she is willing overcome fear and pursue the truth, even at the expense of her own safety, makes you care deeply about her. “My hands shake but I feel weirdly calm, as if knowing this moment was inevitable. “ You want to wrap your arms around her protect her from harm. At the same time, you want her to drive the mystery to its conclusion and identify the culprit. It is that conflicting feeling that makes the writing so palpable.
The scenery, too, is described with palpable detail, and works together with the dynamic action to heighten the drama.“Raging, dragging me again in a chokehold across flagstones, down dark, stone steps, through branches that scrape, thorns that claw. I can’t breathe, can’t cry out.”
Highly recommended. Five Stars.
I am a fan of J.A. Schneider and have been for some time. She is an excellent writer of psychological suspense. What You’ve Done is another outstanding read about a young woman, a member on the track team, who was brutally murdered. Mia, a small-town lawyer, finds herself heavily involved in the investigation of the young woman’s death and we the investigation hits very close to home. Schneider’s novel is well-plotted and convoluted with twists the reader doesn’t expect. The writing is clear and crisp, and the description is memorable. The emotions evoked in this book are phenomenal. It was a real spine tingling read that kept me up almost the entire night. An amazing read. Highly recommended
I’m becoming a real fan of JA Schneider. Every book I’ve read so far has been excellent and What You’ve Done is no exception. It’s always difficult to review a really good book without giving away spoilers, but I’ll do my best.
Mia Peale, our main character, becomes a favorite almost immediately. A small town family lawyer, she has a big heart and goes above and beyond to help out in the community. When a client’s daughter goes missing, Mia takes it upon herself to investigate. Did Kelly run off with her boyfriend Brian? And if so, where did they go? Was Kelly having an affair with an older man?
The twists and turns in this book will keep you turning pages all the way to the end. When Kelly’s body is discovered her boyfriend, Brian, is arrested. Mia believes he’s innocent and enlists the help of Detective Jay Coulter to prove it. Detective Coulter is suspicious of the evidence too, and attracted to Mia.
I could use so many adjectives to describe this book. It’s definitely gripping with an amazing story line and convincing characters. Ms. Schneider has a knack for drawing her characters with words that make you feel you know them. Although tagged a romantic suspense, I could easily tag this as a crime thriller, murder mystery or psychological thriller. It’s an intriguing read that I have no problem giving five stars and highly recommending.
Fast-paced and well-written. I did not have the villain picked out correctly and there were several people I suspected. The romance is just the right amount sprinkled through the action. Highly recommended!
I must say thank you to the author for allowing me to read the ARC of her latest book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is amazing, with fascinating characters that really define and develop the story. I loved the chapters told from the killers point of view, giving an insight, but no clues as to who they are. (Unless I missed them!). Loved the pace of this book, helped a little by relatively short chapters. I was hooked from page one all the way through to the amazing ending.
There are a lot of twists and turns, red herrings galore, all believable but which one is the truth? A few times I thought that I had worked out who the killer was, but I was so wrong.
I would definitely be interested to read more about the characters in Grand Cove, Connecticut.
This could be the best Ms Schneider has written, and she has written some amazing books in the past. Strongly recommend you check out all her books.
What You’ve Done, by J.A. Schneider is an attention-grabbing novel. This is the first book I have read by the author and it won’t be the last. The writing was crisp and thoroughly engaging. I have a tendency to put books aside when the pace of a story starts to slow. That did not happen with What You’ve Done. The tension builds progressively throughout the story and kept me to each page until the end.
While I realize this is a stand-alone book, I think the author could turn this into a series and be very successful with it. I highly recommend this offering by J.A. Schneider.
What You’ve Done, by J.A. Schneider is an attention-grabbing novel. This is the first book I have read by the author and it won’t be the last. The writing was crisp and thoroughly engaging. I have a tendency to put books aside when the pace of a story starts to slow. That did not happen with What You’ve Done. The tension builds progressively throughout the story and kept me to each page until the end.
While I realize this is a stand-alone book, I think the author could turn this into a series and be very successful with it. I highly recommend this offering by J.A. Schneider.
J. A. Schneider is a master at writing psycho killers simply because she puts you in their head and lets you hear them rant. Like the books that have come before, WHAT YOU’VE DONE is a character driven psychological thriller with a strong female protagonist. The action starts on page one and keeps you on the ragged edge until the very end.
Kelly Payne is murdered. Brian Hall is arrested, and, as is so often the case, the police, the district attorney, and the mayor spend too much time patting themselves on the back for solving the case so quickly. All of their ‘evidence’ is circumstantial, but if they dig too deep the carefully constructed story will fall apart. We see this sort of preconceived scenario in the real world all too often.
If you enjoy a good whodunit page turner, WHAT YOU’VE DONE should be your next read.
Edge of your seat suspense!
J A Schneider is one of my favourite authors and this new release, “What You’ve Done”, definitely keeps her way up there on my list. The story opens with a very creepy glimpse into the thoughts of the killer and proceeds to race along at breakneck speed. Mia,the main character is the authentic, perceptive and resourceful kind of person we would all like to have rooting for us! The other characters are similarly finely drawn with a depth and detail that make them entirely believable. Full of potential suspects with possible motives, the ending blindsided me completely. If you enjoy suspenseful thrillers, mystery and romance make this one your next read.
This book had me tied up in knots! Mia, a small-town divorce lawyer, finds herself embroiled in the murder investigation of a member of the girls track team. When her search for the truth hits too close to home, the threats to back off becomes personal. Jay Coulter, a detective on the local police force, has found himself in a tight spot with the higher ups. He believes the case is just a little too neat and tidy, but no one has his back. Until Mia. Once he and Mia decide to work the investigation together, they find themselves drawn deeper than anticipated – into the turmoil surrounding the case, and in their unwanted attraction to one another. A real spine-tingler, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat. Who did it? The clues are piling up but don’t point in one single direction. Until the end, when it suddenly makes sense. And what a surprise that is! J.A. Schneider’s ability to draw you in and keep you fully engaged in the outcome is truly uncanny. Another wonderful read by this talented author.
Mia Peale, divorce lawyer, has relocated to a small town after her NYPD husband was killed. She’s a former defense attorney who has worked both sides of the law … and now she’s just looking for a sense of community and peace.
When the teen daughter of one of her clients is murdered, the first suspect is her boyfriend, Brian. Circumstantial evidence gets him locked up and charged. But Mia doesn’t think that he’s guilty. When the cops seem determined to put this to rest, she turns to Detective Jay Colter for help in proving the boy’s innocence.
When Mia learns of a previous murder of another teen girl, she’s more determined than ever to take on the search for a killer.
But the killer she seeks may be a lot closer than she thinks … and she may be the next target.
I was expecting a well written crime fiction, with skillfully drawn characters, and a riveting plot. I was not disappointed! Mia and Jay are showcased and I enjoyed how they related to each other, even as a romance develops in the midst of a highly tragic murder. There are several suspects to watch and they all seem to have secrets. This is a real page turner leading to an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this romantic suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.