I’m a fan of The Walking Dead. One of my favorite quotes of the entire series is Carol’s reaction when she first encounters the Kingdom.
“I don’t know what the hell is going on in the most wonderful way!”
That pretty much sums up how I felt reading the latest release from Wendy Walker.
First, there are so many meanings to this title that it’s difficult to cover them all.
It could mean a night that occurred a decade prior to the story, where the main characters lives (Laura’s in particular) were changed forever. Or, it could mean the night of Laura’s date, when her sister worries if she is ready to get back in the dating pool. Or a few other “nights before.”
The author also does a fantastic job of giving the reader just enough information to feel comfortable in the direction that the story is headed, only to change abruptly with a thoroughly probable event that sends it in a different direction.
Laura was one of the most complex characters I have read in a long time. There was so much to her, but she remained an enigma, even to her own sister. It isn’t until the end that there is a revelation which neatly explains nearly all of her behaviors, as well as reasons for being the way she is in general.
As always, no plot points here, but I will tell you that there are some “Holy crap, I had no idea” and “No WAY!” moments scattered throughout. It makes for one helluva story that you won’t be able to put down!
The Night Before by Wendy WalkerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go. There were a lot of twists, a few red herrings, and a whole lot of guessing (and being wrong). The author did a phenomenal job of keeping the reader off-balance. Occurrences which sent the book in a different direction were plausible enough so that it didn’t feel forced. Everything felt like it could actually happen. I read this book in one day, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes. See my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews for a more in-depth review. Thank you to St.Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a pre-release digital ARC.
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