Alison Gaylin | NEVER LOOK BACK

Plot (via Goodreads):

When website columnist Robin Diamond is contacted by true crime podcast producer Quentin Garrison, she assumes it's a business matter. It's not. Quentin's podcast, Closure, focuses on a series of murders in the 1970s, committed by teen couple April Cooper and Gabriel LeRoy. It seems that Quentin has reason to believe Robin's own mother may be intimately connected with the killings.

Robin thinks Quentin’s claim is absolutely absurd. But is it? The more she researches the Cooper/LeRoy murders herself, the more disturbed she becomes by what she finds. Living just a few blocks from her, Robin’s beloved parents are the one absolute she’s always been able to rely upon, especially now amid rising doubts about her husband and frequent threats from internet trolls. She knows her mother better than anyone—or so she believes. But all that changes when, in an apparent home invasion, Robin's father is killed and her mother's life hangs in the balance.

Review:

Alison Gaylin is someone who needs to be a household name. Like many, I am obsessed with podcasts (especially true crime ones) and fascinated with how popular they are becoming. Right now, I can't stop listening to My Favorite Murder, but I am excited to dive into the other more popular true crime podcasts - which leads me to why this one was so intriguing to me. Quentin Garrison is easily one of my favorite characters in this novel and his story just really blew me away. A rough upbringing caused by a couple of teenage lovebirds who went on a murder spree in the 1970s?! Does it get any better than that? No, it doesn't. This novel is the perfect blend of investigative journalism, diary entries from a terrified teenager, and a storyline that will blow you away.

I love a multiple-perspective story and this one blended together two of our main characters in present time, diary entries from the female killer during the time of the crimes, and a few secondary characters towards the end. Right from the moment I began this one, I was kicking myself for starting it during the week. This is definitely a weekend read because it is nearly impossible to put down. The only upside to this was that I was able to think about and theorize the novel when I wasn't able to read it and I definitely spread the word about it as I progressed. The characters were so vivid and the storyline was definitely far from cookie cutter. I had no idea where this one was going, but I was determined to find out. Without giving too much away, I loved how Gaylin progressed in this story and didn't save all of the "OMG moments" for the finale of the novel. Granted, there were a ton of revelations presented throughout, but Gaylin kept me engrossed and constantly wanting more answers. I never saw the ending coming and I was shocked and chilled at the final chapter.

I'm not sure what is in store for Gaylin with her next novel, but if she has any other tricks up her sleeve for another story like this one, I know I'll be first in line to get a copy.

Special thanks to William Morrow for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 5/5