I didn't enjoy this book and avoid sharing negative reviews so there are no links for this one attached.

An emotionally-compelling story, WHEN THE TIME COMES by Adele O'Neill will break your heart while making you question just how well you know those that you love?

A few years ago, Liam left his wife, Jennifer, and two teenage children to move in with his girlfriend. Jennifer is diagnosed with Motor Neuron's Disease and it isn't long before she needs more help and needs Liam to step up more and be there for their children who are struggling with what is happening and what is going to happen in the future. So Liam moves back in to be the parent that Jennifer knows he will have to be in the future. Their son thinks it's a bad idea, Jennifer's best friend Sarah thinks it's a bad idea, and Liam's girlfriend and her family think it's a bad idea, but Jennifer can see no other way. But when Jennifer is discovered dead just after he moves in, everything takes a sinister turn because as the days pass it is looking more and more like Jennifer was murdered ...

The characters are an unusual bunch in this book in that the only one I really felt anything for was Jennifer. My heart broke for this mother who was slipping away slowly each day and who knew she wouldn't be there to see her kids in their adult life. But I loved her strength and determination to be herself and fight for her rights with regards to assisted suicide which is still a contentious issue worldwide. The drama unfolds quickly and I wasn't sure what I thought - did Jennifer kill herself, did someone help her, or did someone murder her? but by the end, the answers are given but it wasn't exactly what I expected.
There are many sensitive topics dealt with in this story which I thought the author handled well.

WHEN THE TIME COMES by Adele O'Neill definitely falls into the genre of family drama but it is more than that and is sure to suit many fiction readers.

If your looking for a family drama then this is a good read.

Liam has left the family home to live with his girlfriend. When his wife Jennifer needs him as she’s got a terminal illness he moves back in to help her and their two kids. When Jennifer is found dead is it a suicide or murder?

A pretty easy enough read I read it pretty quickly. Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Emotive, intense, thought-provoking family drama, draws Detective Kennedy and Private Investigator Kelly into another dark investigation. Jenny, a terminally ill patient dies suddenly. Was it assisted suicide? Murder? Or suicide? How far is her estranged husband Liam, just returned to the family home, implicated?

Told from multi-points of view, in the past and present, the story unfolds, revealing clues and unexpected events. Sharing the emotional journey of the children, ex-husband, and others connected to Jenny. The emotional damage terminal illness causes to the family, friends and wider network is explored.

The sense of confusion is reiterated by the differing viewpoints and the dual time perspectives. The investigation is not the main focus of the story, but Kennedy and Kelly are intrinsic to the mystery’s resolution.

The ending is realistic, and the epilogue demonstrates human resilience and optimism.

I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was supposed to be a police procedural, but it was more of a family and legal drama. I enjoyed reading it as it explored the gray area of medicine and assisted suicide

Jennifer had motor neuron disease, wanted to die with dignity, and was fighting for euthanasia. She asked her ex-husband Liam to move back home for the sake of the kids so that they had a parent to go to once her time approached. But the next night, she was found dead by Liam with a needle puncture in her arm and a syringe by the side of the bed. Liam was arrested for murder.

My first book by author Adele O'Neill, the premise was fantastic. I loved the constant flipping of mind regarding the husband. He was not very likable in the entire book. The writing was choppy and the timelines haywire, but it was a complex situation which was depicted well. Though there was not much of investigation, the author showed the backstory of almost all the characters.

I didn't know it was book 3 in the series, for me, it worked well as a standalone as I got to listen to everyone's viewpoint. Some of them were quite emotional to read about. The characters were developed well, though I never warmed up to Liam and his girlfriend Alex, I felt the most for daughter Abbie. She was the best in the book, vulnerable and most intelligent. The book turned because of her.

The plot was guessable, the court scenes made it interesting. It became a whodunit from there on. Overall, a fun book.

This is book #3 in the Kelly & Kennedy series, but it can be read as a standalone book. This is the first book that I have read by this author but will definitely be making a note to go back and read the previous two books. However, the blurb did give the impression that this was a psychological thriller read, but to me it was more of a family drama type, focussing less on the crime and more on the relationships between the characters.

The story centres around Jenny Buckley’s right to die whilst suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, and the decision to end her life when she feels the time is right. Her estranged husband, Liam now lives with someone else but Jenny asks him to move back home as she is struggling to cope with looking after their children. However, on the day he moves back he finds her dead, and the police believe Liam has murdered her.

Told from different viewpoints and timeframes, this story does jump about a little bit. I didn’t find it difficult to follow though and settled down into the book by the time I got to know the characters. Told from past and present, you get to understand the characters emotions, particularly those of Jenny’s and Liam’s children, and it was really interesting to see how they both deal with everything. The Motor Neurone Disease storyline again was interesting, but it did leave me with a dilemma over how to feel about Jenny. Should I be sad that this condition has left her with no other choice but to take her own life, or should I be angry with her that she did it in a way that implicated others? It also threw up lots of other questions as I was reading such as did she mean to implicate Liam and was it all for revenge, and of course the big issue of suicide and assisted suicide.

All of these questions were answered as the book moves on. What actually happened to Jenny isn’t revealed until much later and the author does a great job of keeping it under wraps throughout the book. Whilst I wouldn’t necessarily call it a thriller, it is however a great drama read with lots of police procedural work to enjoy. It is filled with lots of powerful emotions and subjects, and has left me thinking about the story long after I have finished it. I will definitely look out for more books by this author!

Jenny is diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Her husband Liam, has moved out before her diagnosis and is living with lover, Alex. They have two teenage children who are still living with Jenny. In the first chapter we see Liam at the local police station wanting to speak to DS Louise Kennedy who happens to be Alex’s twin sister. We learn that he has temporarily left Alex and has moved back in with Jenny and the children as her illness has progressed quickly and she is struggling to cope. However, the day after he moves back in he finds Jenny dead. Did she commit suicide before she becomes totally incapacitated or wa she murdered and if so was Liam responsible? He denies it but someone must have assisted her . Liam is charged with murder and then we have the tension of the trial. The story unfolds well, with the timeline flipping backwards and forwards up to the moment when all is revealed. The book handles the topic of euthanasia in a caring way and completely keeps us in the dark as to what did actually happen the day Jenny died. I really warmed to the characters especially to the teenagers as to how they coped with their mum’s death. A highly recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Aria for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A complex story and not always an easy read and dealing with emotive issues. A challenging read and one that makes you think. Told from a lot of different viewpoints and at times confusing. Nevertheless, an enjoyable read.

Two years after leaving his family behind for another woman, Liam must decide the best course of action. His ex-wife is dying. She has requested he move back into the family home to care for their two teenage children. He agrees and puts his life on hold to make the children's lives better. The next morning, Liam finds his ex-wife dead and everyone pointing at him.
A good, strong story line that kept me wondering what was going to happen to Liam and his children. The ex-wife had made it very clear she did not intend to let dying consume her. She would pick the time and place herself. Is her death a suicide or did Liam take advantage of her intentions and help her along? Did someone else kill her? I enjoyed the book and will look for more by Adele O'Neill.

I literally LOVED Adele O'Neill's first book "Brothers and Sisters" and I couldn't wait for more of Kelly and Kennedy. But somehow I missed the second one so when I saw WHEN THE TIME COMES up for request I jumped on it.

Liam Buckley left his wife Jenny two years ago to move in with girlfriend Alex - who incidentally is Louise Kennedy's twin sister, the detective in this series. But then Jenny was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease and as the diseased progressed she told those closest to her that she will end her life when the time is right and before she is unable to do so. Her intentions were always made pretty clear. But for the moment, she needs her estranged husband to return home to care for their two teenage children Josh (17) and Abbie (15). Liam agrees. The next day Jenny is dead and Liam is charged with her murder.

When Liam fronts up to the Garda station, he is sure someone is trying to frame him for Jenny's death although he is certain she committed suicide. DS Louise Kennedy questions Liam thoroughly but he denies any involvement. And yet Louise is convinced someone assisted Jenny in ending her life...after all, that's what Jenny always intended. So what really happened?

Determined to restore his good name, Liam hires retired detective Kelly to delve into the family's secrets and prove his innocence. But with Jenny's best friend, Sarah, conducting her own campaign against him, exposing him as a liar and a cheat, it proves to be no easy task. But secrets begin to surface and the web of complexities that is the Buckley's family life is put under the microscope.

And then there is Alex, Liam's girlfriend and lover, cast aside as he returns to the family home. How does she fit into this new way of life? He left his wife for her and now he left her for his family. He doesn't appear to have any plans for the future which leaves Alex somewhere in limbo. And the fact that she is Louise's sister should have been reason enough for Louise to have to recuse herself from the investigation. It just all becomes one big messy tangled web of complexities.

The story is told from many different viewpoints - Liam, Louise, Sarah, Jenny, Abbie, Josh - which is not necessarily a bad thing, but in this case it was a little confusing. I don't know whether it was just me because I normally love split narratives but I just couldn't seem to get my head around what the actual point they were making was. For half of the book I under the impression Sarah was Jenny's sister the way she referred to their life before Liam. At one point she was even called Sarah Buckley which threw me as I thought her name was Sarah Barry. In Sarah's third person narrative, I remember being thoroughly confused as to whose narrative it was as it seemed to switch between Sarah's thoughts and Abbie's. I was thoroughly confused.

The story is incredibly dysfunctional with everyone somehow displaced with a timeline all over the place. What I also found disappointing was this was more of a family drama than a mystery thriller or police procedural. But even so, I found each of the characters irritating which disappointed me given how much I absolutely LOVED "Brothers and Sisters".

In all, what I expected was not what was delivered and the central storyline is buried somewhere under all the other incidental elements in the web of family drama.

The premise for the book was intriguing - did Jenny Buckley commit suicide or was she murdered? Given that the topic of assisted suicide and euthanasia is a controversial issue the idea of it being interwoven with a mystery thriller was a fascinating concept. But it failed to, not only address the issue, but also keep me as a reader enthralled with a captivating storyline. The fact that it is titled WHEN THE TIME COMES alone suggests that assisted suicide is the underlying theme. But what was really dished up was a main course of family drama with a side of investigation. Given that "Brothers and Sisters" was worthy of 10 stars, I sadly felt this one could only rate 1 or 2.

Maybe I missed the plot with this one but sadly WHEN THE TIME COMES wasn't as captivating as it promised. But I won't give up. Adele O'Neill's first one, as I keep saying, was so brilliant I still have high hopes for future releases. Just not this one.

I would like to thank #AdeleONeill, #NetGalley and #Aria for an ARC of #WhenTheTimeComes in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Adele O Neill and wish to thank Aria for the opportunity to read and review it. A suspense crime thriller When the Time Comes will keep you engaged and guessing till the last page. Based around a family whose mother is suffering Motor Neuron Disease and whose father had walked out just before the devastating diagnoses. Liam moves back in to the family home to help out with the children when his wife Jenny's illness progresses to the point that she is struggling to care for them. The next day Jenny dies, and it appears that her death is not the result if her illness. All fingers point at Liam. The book reprises the detective Louise Kennedy again. Simply brilliant . Another hit for O Neill.

When the Time Comes is not a thriller,but a family drama of a woman dying of a disease who wants to die. The timeline shifting in this book could drive some readers crazy and the book has some dry courtroom testimony. A decent read, but nothing breathtaking.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I thought the description of the book was just the sort of book I’d like to read. I’m afraid, for me this was an ok, average read at best. I wouldn’t have called it a thriller, I felt like I was reading a book more about family drama and family relationships. I didn’t really warm to the characters in it, and felt the writing style, going from past to present was off putting and made the story very jumbled. It got a little better with the court/trial parts and this covered a fair bit of the story. Overall, just not for me sadly.
3 stars.

Deciding to indulge my loves of family drama and mystery once again, I chose to read When The Time Comes by Adele O'Neill. I had no expectations going into this and it was a lovely surprise and such a pleasure that I enjoyed this story so much.

Jenny Buckley has a terminal illness and she needs her estranged husband, Liam, to move back into the family home for their two teenage children, daughter Abbie (15) and son Josh (17). The very next day Jenny is found dead. The police, led by DS Louise Kennedy of Blackrock Garda, are convinced it's murder. Louise Kennedy interviews Liam who denies any involvement, but someone assisted Jenny in ending her life, though who? Liam thinks Jenny took her own life, yet Louise remains convinced it was murder, so what really happened?

Told from different viewpoints, this was a very good read. I enjoy a split narrative and there were a fair few narrators in When the Time Comes - Jenny, Liam, Josh, Abbie, Josh, and Louise - though not enough time was spent with any one of them, so it was a challenge to become totally invested. For me, the book's main strength was Adele O'Neill's excellent portrayal of each characters' emotions, and the consequences of Jenny's advancing and untreatable disease on her family. The impact on Jenny and Liam’s son and daughter was especially well-told as their psyches were so different. They had a lovely bond which came across extremely well.

The story unfolds well though the novel is much more of a family drama than a police investigation.
All in all, I enjoyed the author's writing style and the story was meaningful, thought-provoking and totally absorbing. When the Time Comes served as an amuse-bouche, as well as serving as a springboard from which I am looking to read Adele O'Neill's future work. Highly recommended to those who enjoy a great family drama with a good sprinkling of mystery.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Aria via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

EXCERPT: 'I think...' The ball at the back of my throat nearly chokes me as I try to speak - whether it's because Jenny is gone, or because Abbie and Josh are now motherless, or because I am going to be blamed for her death, I don't know. I inhale and lengthen my back with a subtle stretch and rub my eyes. They're red and raw from a combination of no sleep and lots of crying. She leans forward in response. I pause and inhale again, nerves making the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't. There is no other option but to say what I am about to say. At my momentary hesitation, she widens her eyes in expectation across the table. 'I think Jenny was murdered and I think someone is framing me for her death.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Liam Buckley was a married man with two teenage children when he moved out of the family home to start a new life with his lover. His wife Jennifer never forgave him, but now she needs him to come back: she's been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and the kids can't cope alone.

One day after Liam moves home, Jennifer is found dead. Liam thinks it's suicide. But the police, led by DS Louise Kennedy, are convinced it's murder.

Liam hires a retired detective to help prove his innocence, but it's no easy task. The children are distraught, and Jennifer's best friend, Sarah, is waging a campaign against Liam, determined to expose him for a liar and a cheat.

As secrets surface from the complex web of Buckley family life, DS Kennedy must decide. Did Jennifer Buckley end her own life, or did Liam take it from her? The answer, when it comes, will shock them all...

MY THOUGHTS: I have had to think about When the Time Comes for a couple of days before writing my review. There are complex issues in this book - the right to decide how and when a person with a terminal illness is able to die, infidelity, blending families, teenage hormones....and the list goes on.

I enjoyed the read in varying degrees as the book progressed. It is not always an easy read. But it is, I think, a very realistic portrayal of a complicated situation.

It made me wonder how I would feel if I were in Alex's shoes; my lover, my partner returning to his family to care for his children, with no plans in place for the future.

I wondered, if I was Jenny, would I be able to ask my ex to move back in to take care of the children? Although not little at almost eighteen and fifteen years old, they are still vulnerable.

I wondered, if I were Liam, would I be able to put my new life on hold while I move back into the old one?

Everyone in this story is somehow displaced, with futures up in the air, lives hanging in the balance. The uncertainty of everything is major influence in the storyline. Did Liam kill Jenny? There certainly seem to be strong motives for having done so. But would he take the risk of leaving his children without a parent? And if it wasn't Liam that killed her, then who did?

All the time I was reading, I had questions which were, thankfully, answered by the end.

A thought provoking read and one that had me in tears more than once.

I didn't realise until now that this is book 3 of the Kelly and Kennedy series. These characters actually paid quite a minor role in this book. But I am intrigued enough to want to read the others in this series.

🤔🤨😥😍

#WhenTheTimeComes #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Having lived and worked in the UK and Dublin since college, Adele now lives in her home town in Co. Wicklow with her husband and two teenage daughters. She writes overlooking the Irish Sea and is an active member of the Wexford Literary Festival committee.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Aria Books, via Netgalley, for providing a digital ARC of When the Time Comes by Adele O'Neill for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

This one missed the mark for me. More of a family drama than a mystery or thriller. The subject of assisted suicide is handled thoughtfully and well written. The characters were lacking in depth. A lot of the courtroom drama was dry and unnecessary and I found myself skipping through many parts of the book. I was only mildly surprised by the reveal. I found the ending itself during Abbie's speech to be one of the best parts of the book. I never would have guessed there was a previous book as I didn't feel like this one was focused much on Kelly and Louisa as ongoing characters in a series.

When the Time Comes...Adele O’Neill

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy! Although it was published November 21st.....I just finished today!

Liam left his wife Jennifer....who was diagnosed shortly after with a terminal illness....for Alex.....after Jennifer’s illness progresses Liam decides to move back into the family home to be with his two teenage children. Two days after he moves back in Jennifer is found dead of an apparent suicide. Liam is charged with her murder.

I loved the thought of this book. The plot, the suspense....and possibly since I have not read the first 2 books is maybe why this book didn’t do it for me. I didn’t really feel anything for any of the characters and I felt that some things dragged on and then boom....we are in the middle of the trial and it went way to quick . I didn’t enjoy how there would be a line of questioning during the trial and then paragraphs on whoever the narrative was in that certain chapter....their interpretation. I felt this was more of a family drama book than a psychological thriller.

Overall though I am giving this 🌟🌟🌟/5 stars because I did enjoy it....just not a fan on the style of writing.

A tense chilling debut a true page turner an author I will be following. A husband abandons his ailing wife to start a new lifeWhen she turns up dead he insists it was suicide but others don’t feel the same they think she was murdered .A story full of twists and turns kept me reading late into the night.#netgalley#ariabooks

Who is telling the truth? Liam has made many mistakes in his life, he left his family to be with another woman and his ex is dying. He has to make some really had choices and no matter what he decides more people are going to be hurt. So when Jenny dies suddenly and Liam goes to the police everything changes. Did Jenny commit suicide or did Liam have something to do with her death? Can Liam prove his innocence or is he guilty of trying to find a way out? DC Louise Kennedy knows that she needs to find out the truth especially seeing that Liam is involved with her sister Alex and she will do whatever she can to protect her from Liam hurting her. But can prove that he did it?
Can Liam put his family back together or will his children believe that he killed their mother? Who wanted to help Jenny end her life? Who is hiding secrets?
A great read. I was lucky enough to receive a copy in exchange for my honest review via Netgalley & the publishing house.

I was disappointed in this one. According to the blurb I was reading a crime thriller, but this was more of a family drama and I struggled to get through it.

Jennifer Buckley had a terminal illness and it was no surprise to anyone that she intended to take her own life when things became too rough for her - she made no secret of that. Her husband, Liam, had moved out of the family home to be with his girlfriend but as her disease progressed he returned solely to take care of his dying wife and look after their son and daughter. However, less than two days later he finds Jennifer's body, despite the fact that she would have needed assistance to end her life so soon; help that Liam denies giving her. So what happened?

Unfortunately, that's not the burning question throughout this novel. From the off, I was uncomfortable with how things were progressing and found it hard to believe that things would unfold in such a way. Easy to read, but not suspenseful or gripping in any way; more of a 'nice' read with no surprises. It really doesn't read like the thriller I expected and although I stuck with it, I really can't give it any more than three stars.

My thanks to publisher Aria for my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.