Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead

by Jenny Hollander

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead is a standalone thriller mystery from Jenny Hollander. Released 6th Feb 2024 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

This is a lost memory/possibly undependable narrator/trauma trope with a MC who was witness to a brutal event and is trying to piece her recollections together in order to get some closure and progress with her therapy and get on a stronger footing in her relationship with her fiance. The author cleverly uses the therapy sessions as a mechanism to introduce backstory, and does so quite seamlessly. 

The writing is strong overall, witty and well done without being overwrought or clunky. Unfortunately the pacing is very uneven and it's not before about 30% into the book when it really seems to get its feet. There are twists and turns aplenty, but some are bewilderingly unnecessary as motivation (for crime). 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours and 32 minutes and is read by Marisa Callin. She has an odd hybrid American/British RP accent which is difficult to define. She reads precisely and enunciates clearly, but some of the character accents are uneven and, frankly, odd. Sound and production quality are very high throughout. 

Three and a half stars. Uneven and patchy in plot and character development. Generally well written and twisty. It will likely be optioned into a movie soon (if it's not already). One can hope the "Hollywood transformation" will even out the bumps. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.