Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
There Should Have Been Eight by Nalini Singh Published by Berkley on November 21, 2023
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Seven friends.
One last weekend.
A mansion half in ruins.
No room for lies.
Someone is going to confess.
Because there should have been eight...They met when they were teenagers. Now they're adults, and time has been kind to some and unkind to others. None more so than Bea-the one they lost nine long years ago.
They've gathered to reminisce at Bea's family's estate, a once glorious mansion straight out of a gothic novel. Best friends, old flames, secret enemies, and new lovers are all under one roof. But when the weather turns and they're snowed in at the edge of eternity, there's nowhere left to hide from their shared history.
I really enjoy this author and the different series and now standalone books she writes. Nalini Singh brings a lot of diversity and highlights settings in a part of the world I don’t know. There are slight cultural aspects which are not in my region. I would call this a psychological thriller having read it and my success with them is mixed.
A group of friends who haven’t spent much time together in the past 10 years but were very close in college get together for a reunion on a remote estate. We get the point of view of Luna, a photographer, who is not part of a couple. Luna is struggling with a medical diagnosis and hasn’t told even the closest friends. She is also still grieving for Bea since they never really got closure with a funeral or anything. yes, they start dropping one by one with illness, injury or death.
Luna struggles to document everything for the authorities to determine if things were accidents or criminal in nature. But as more of the group is affected, it seems obvious it’s intentional. The mansion is huge with multiple wings, secret rooms and hidden passageways. The suspense builds as Luna tries to find and protect and treat everyone. Eventually, even with the abysmal weather conditions, she has to go for help. Surviving the conditions is another trial.
I enjoyed learning about the characters and the slow reveal of what had happened to Bea. I cared about Luna and some of her friends. The pace was engaging and there was a good mix of Luna’s reflections and the action of events. I would have appreciated a bit more at the end as far as the outcomes, particularly for those who survived.
About Nalini Singh
I’ve been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There’s no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
This one reminded me of those older gothic suspenses I used to devour when I was a teen. I love that she’s getting into writing thrillers.
I’ve loved her other thrillers. This one just didn’t hit me quite as well. I like a really conclusive conclusion which this mostly was but I would have liked a bit more?
I’ve heard Singh’s thrillers are good, but since I don’t generally care for the genre, I’ve skipped them. Glad she continues to have success with the books.
I’ve mostly loved them. This is my least favorite and it’s still good.
I’m currently reading this one and it’s been slow to get into. I hope it picks up and I enjoy it more. We’ll see.
I hope you enjoy it. I’ve loved her thrillers but this one a bit less.
I really want to read this author but I think that I will start with the paranormal books first.
I think most of her books are paranormal. Well maybe not these thrillers. But the thrillers are stand-alone. I love the Psy-Changeling books.
Okay. Count me in. This sounds really good.
If you like ghosts and a mystery you will probably like it.
This one is on my list for sure.
I hope you really like it.