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travelthrubooks's review
4.0
What an incredible book! Well written and really enjoyed this story. I love the shock factor and this had it!
Norah was abducted by a serial killer 10 yrs prior and witnessed him murder her best friend, but for some reason, he lets Norah go. Over time she leaves home and starts a new life elsewhere. She now has to head back to her hometown when her father passes away. Now she has to relive her past, while dealing with her father's funeral.
When a friend ends up murdered, the police think it's a copy cat but can it be the serial killer from a decade ago?
Must read this book, to find out!
Norah was abducted by a serial killer 10 yrs prior and witnessed him murder her best friend, but for some reason, he lets Norah go. Over time she leaves home and starts a new life elsewhere. She now has to head back to her hometown when her father passes away. Now she has to relive her past, while dealing with her father's funeral.
When a friend ends up murdered, the police think it's a copy cat but can it be the serial killer from a decade ago?
Must read this book, to find out!
dkyrisch's review
4.0
Yay, serial killers!
This serial killer tale was written by author Jessica Payne. Ten years ago, at the high school prom, Norah and August were walking home when they got abducted by a serial killer. August was killed but Norah was able to trick the killer by flirting and making him believe there was real romantic interest to the point where he ended up letting her go. Smart!
Fast forward to the present and Norah finds out her father has died so she heads home and ends up once again in the crosshairs of a serial killer. (Jeez, can I catch a break here??) This time she is better equipped for it as instead of following her friends to college she becomes a MMA fighter and ultimately a MMA coach. Which is both very fascinating and terrifying for her love interest. My wife is a third grade elementary teacher which is almost the same. Fascinating and terrifying......
The good: Short chapters. The killer contacts Norah through her social media and they play a cat and mouse game through the last third of the book which is pretty exciting. This one is dubbed the breadcrumb killer by leaving breadcrumbs around his victims. Super badass female lead who can beat me up.
The bad: Holy predictable! The killer is so predictable that it is eyerolling. And the characters lacked a little depth.
But still entertaining book and I was engaged through out. You can leave the lights off for this one though. This one is published September 22, 2022.
Advance reader copy given free for honest review.
This serial killer tale was written by author Jessica Payne. Ten years ago, at the high school prom, Norah and August were walking home when they got abducted by a serial killer. August was killed but Norah was able to trick the killer by flirting and making him believe there was real romantic interest to the point where he ended up letting her go. Smart!
Fast forward to the present and Norah finds out her father has died so she heads home and ends up once again in the crosshairs of a serial killer. (Jeez, can I catch a break here??) This time she is better equipped for it as instead of following her friends to college she becomes a MMA fighter and ultimately a MMA coach. Which is both very fascinating and terrifying for her love interest. My wife is a third grade elementary teacher which is almost the same. Fascinating and terrifying......
The good: Short chapters. The killer contacts Norah through her social media and they play a cat and mouse game through the last third of the book which is pretty exciting. This one is dubbed the breadcrumb killer by leaving breadcrumbs around his victims. Super badass female lead who can beat me up.
The bad: Holy predictable! The killer is so predictable that it is eyerolling. And the characters lacked a little depth.
But still entertaining book and I was engaged through out. You can leave the lights off for this one though. This one is published September 22, 2022.
Advance reader copy given free for honest review.
recovering_my_sparkle's review
5.0
Genuinely one of the best thriller books I’ve read! The short chapters kept me more captivated and hooked than other books with longer chapters and the plot was incredible. I didn’t see the twist coming at the end and it just made an already brilliant book even better! Will definitely recommend this to absolutely everyone I know and will 100% read any other books by Jessica Payne. One of those books where I wish I could erase it from my memory and read it fresh from the start over and over again.
es_the_book_hoarder's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second novel from Jessica Payne. I haven't read the first, but if "The Lucky One" is anything to go by, I'll be remedying that quickly enough.
I was hooked from the prologue, and I fell into the writing style as if I'd been reading this author for years. From the outset, the atmosphere of this tale is palpable, and I could feel it as the words played out in the screen of my mind, all the way to the end of the book - and what a thrilling tale it is!
I'm going to try to avoid spoilers (although hopefully I'll be writing a spoiler filled review once I get my blog up and running) but I'll start by saying if you're a fan of strong plot, high-paced, strong female led novels; twists, turns, red herrings and ocassionally screaming at characters (as well as maybe, possibly shouting "no, no, no!" a lot) then it's more than likely that you'll love this book!
The first person-protagonist point of view is the reason this book works so well, given that the time frame switches between now and ten years ago, but it's the ease of flow between the two time frames that really highlights the talent of the author, as well as pacing and plot.
We are pulled into the life of Norah, her circle of friends and enemies, instantly, and they all feel real - Norah, Janie, August, Chloe, Esme (and yes, I did think "ooh cool, that's my name!" and yes, I know that's nerdy) Owen, Rob, Guy and Elaine , and even Detective Cron (who reminded me a lot of a horrible female prison guard from Cell Block H back in the day - if you know, you know) are all memorable - Payne totally nailed the characterisations by showing, not telling. And I loved every single one of them, even the ones I hated. Now, you may read that list and think that's a lot of characters, and it is, and I'm all too aware that sometimes a lot of characters can distract or overwhelm, but the plot is woven around and between them all so intricately that instead of spoiling the read, they enhance it.
And the plot! Oh the plot! Yes, a fair few readers will probably see what's coming - I didn't until way after I should have done - probably because I was swept along in the fierce pace and totally engrossed, but regardless, it was executed wonderfully and did not take away anything from the story or from the enjoyment of the story. For me that's a big nod to the author - even though I guessed, I was still on the edge of my seat, still living the events, still watching it play out and still loving every word. The ending was very satisfying too, which is also a bonus.
Overall (though I'm sure you noticed) I fully enjoyed this gem of a book - I read it in one sitting (around 5/6 hours) and it flew! As far as psychological thrillers go, "this," as they say, "is a doozy."
Star Rating: 5
CAWPILE Rating: 9.5/10
Characters: 10/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Intrigue: 9/10
Logic: 8/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Edited to add: The Lucky One is due to publish on the 14th September (which is my birthday!) and I will be buying a copy.
I was hooked from the prologue, and I fell into the writing style as if I'd been reading this author for years. From the outset, the atmosphere of this tale is palpable, and I could feel it as the words played out in the screen of my mind, all the way to the end of the book - and what a thrilling tale it is!
I'm going to try to avoid spoilers (although hopefully I'll be writing a spoiler filled review once I get my blog up and running) but I'll start by saying if you're a fan of strong plot, high-paced, strong female led novels; twists, turns, red herrings and ocassionally screaming at characters (as well as maybe, possibly shouting "no, no, no!" a lot) then it's more than likely that you'll love this book!
The first person-protagonist point of view is the reason this book works so well, given that the time frame switches between now and ten years ago, but it's the ease of flow between the two time frames that really highlights the talent of the author, as well as pacing and plot.
We are pulled into the life of Norah, her circle of friends and enemies, instantly, and they all feel real - Norah, Janie, August, Chloe, Esme (and yes, I did think "ooh cool, that's my name!" and yes, I know that's nerdy) Owen, Rob, Guy and Elaine , and even Detective Cron (who reminded me a lot of a horrible female prison guard from Cell Block H back in the day - if you know, you know) are all memorable - Payne totally nailed the characterisations by showing, not telling. And I loved every single one of them, even the ones I hated. Now, you may read that list and think that's a lot of characters, and it is, and I'm all too aware that sometimes a lot of characters can distract or overwhelm, but the plot is woven around and between them all so intricately that instead of spoiling the read, they enhance it.
And the plot! Oh the plot! Yes, a fair few readers will probably see what's coming - I didn't until way after I should have done - probably because I was swept along in the fierce pace and totally engrossed, but regardless, it was executed wonderfully and did not take away anything from the story or from the enjoyment of the story. For me that's a big nod to the author - even though I guessed, I was still on the edge of my seat, still living the events, still watching it play out and still loving every word. The ending was very satisfying too, which is also a bonus.
Overall (though I'm sure you noticed) I fully enjoyed this gem of a book - I read it in one sitting (around 5/6 hours) and it flew! As far as psychological thrillers go, "this," as they say, "is a doozy."
Star Rating: 5
CAWPILE Rating: 9.5/10
Characters: 10/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Intrigue: 9/10
Logic: 8/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Edited to add: The Lucky One is due to publish on the 14th September (which is my birthday!) and I will be buying a copy.
sevireene's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
mariasimson's review
3.0
I really thought I was going to love this but this was not what I expected.
crbrennan's review
4.0
The stories main character is an MMA fighter and coach, and you will not forget this since it's mentioned in every chapter in some way. Regardless of that over information the story is about a girl who escaped a serial killer after Prom, and now 10 years later going back childhood hometown. Someone dies and now is the serial killer back? Or is there a copy cat? Overall good story and nice few twists.
mellabella's review
2.0
I'm trying to process this.
Norah and her friend August are abducted by a serial killer after they leave prom. August is murdered. But Norah escapes with the promise that she'll come back for the killer.
She leaves her Kansas City town after being unable to escape all the reminders of Augusts murder (including Augusts twin sister Janie) and the fear that he's out there waiting for her.
She comes back to bury her estranged father (and also help Janie get ready for her wedding) and the killer comes back as well.
A few questions here. Are serial killers so easily swayed? I have heard of people relating to their abductors, gaining their trust, and being let go. But, Norah didn't sound like she was doing a persuasive job.
How could she not recognize his voice? How could August not recognize it the night they were abducted?
People were being snatched, the police officer assigned to the case (the same one from a decade prior) didn't seem too concerned...
It's an OK read. I wasn't racing through the pages. But, it held my attention.
Norah and her friend August are abducted by a serial killer after they leave prom. August is murdered. But Norah escapes with the promise that she'll come back for the killer.
She leaves her Kansas City town after being unable to escape all the reminders of Augusts murder (including Augusts twin sister Janie) and the fear that he's out there waiting for her.
She comes back to bury her estranged father (and also help Janie get ready for her wedding) and the killer comes back as well.
A few questions here. Are serial killers so easily swayed? I have heard of people relating to their abductors, gaining their trust, and being let go. But, Norah didn't sound like she was doing a persuasive job.
How could she not recognize his voice? How could August not recognize it the night they were abducted?
People were being snatched, the police officer assigned to the case (the same one from a decade prior) didn't seem too concerned...
It's an OK read. I wasn't racing through the pages. But, it held my attention.
hmbb99's review against another edition
4.0
The chance of being a victim of a serial killer is slim. Being a victim of a serial killer twice is nearly impossible but Norah is still living like it could happen. Norah has escaped from the serial killer who killer her best friend and made a life for herself as a MMA fighter and coach. When her dad dies, she has to go back to her hometown to bury her dad and confront her past, putting herself in danger once again.
The Lucky Ones is a thrilling action packed twisty story. The plot keeps you guessing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read this book in less than a day because I had to know who the killer was. I recommend this book if you like serial killer novels or stories about characters overcoming adversity.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
The Lucky Ones is a thrilling action packed twisty story. The plot keeps you guessing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read this book in less than a day because I had to know who the killer was. I recommend this book if you like serial killer novels or stories about characters overcoming adversity.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
emily_loves_2_read's review against another edition
4.0
The Lucky One
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/14/22
Author: Jessica Payne
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 376
Goodreads Rating: 4.29
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Ten years ago: We laughed together on the dance floor that night during prom. One final night of fun before the rest of our lives. We couldn’t have known that for one of us, it would be our last… Now: They say that I’m the lucky one, the survivor. But no one knows the truth. I can’t shake the feeling that I am being followed, the shadow of a reflection in the glass storefronts, the murmur of footsteps before I turn to look. But no one’s ever there, and I tell myself it’s all in my head. Then the anonymous messages land in my inbox, overly familiar and insistent: I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for you.
My Thoughts: I read Payne’s first novel, Make Me Disappear, and loved it. I knew I had to get a hold of this one. I was fortunate enough to get an arc. Payne does it again with this gripping, addictive, psychological thriller! The chapters were short, which I love. The story is narrated in an alternating timeline from 10 years ago and the present. The book opens up with a bang and hooks you from page 1. I love how Payne cultivates her chapters with ending in a cliffhanger or a more to be revealed spot, it makes you want to keep turning the pages. The characters are well developed with depth, mystery, tension, and creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, intriguing, and kept me engaged. I love that Payne was inspired by an actual life event for the plot of this story. I am a fan of Payne and will always put her books on my TBR! I highly recommend you preorder this gem that hits the shelves next week!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/14/22
Author: Jessica Payne
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 376
Goodreads Rating: 4.29
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Ten years ago: We laughed together on the dance floor that night during prom. One final night of fun before the rest of our lives. We couldn’t have known that for one of us, it would be our last… Now: They say that I’m the lucky one, the survivor. But no one knows the truth. I can’t shake the feeling that I am being followed, the shadow of a reflection in the glass storefronts, the murmur of footsteps before I turn to look. But no one’s ever there, and I tell myself it’s all in my head. Then the anonymous messages land in my inbox, overly familiar and insistent: I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for you.
My Thoughts: I read Payne’s first novel, Make Me Disappear, and loved it. I knew I had to get a hold of this one. I was fortunate enough to get an arc. Payne does it again with this gripping, addictive, psychological thriller! The chapters were short, which I love. The story is narrated in an alternating timeline from 10 years ago and the present. The book opens up with a bang and hooks you from page 1. I love how Payne cultivates her chapters with ending in a cliffhanger or a more to be revealed spot, it makes you want to keep turning the pages. The characters are well developed with depth, mystery, tension, and creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, intriguing, and kept me engaged. I love that Payne was inspired by an actual life event for the plot of this story. I am a fan of Payne and will always put her books on my TBR! I highly recommend you preorder this gem that hits the shelves next week!!