This book began with a bang, great characters, interesting setting and a genuinely intriguing plot and I looked forward to returning to it each evening. However I found it lost momentum over the course of the novel, and bait and switch wasn't strong enough to keep me reading. Lovely writing, but needed to be a bit stronger overall for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Had the pleasure of receiving this ARC from @netgalley and it did not disappoint! This book while technically is somewhat of a murder mystery has incredible aspects of family dynamics and working through grief. It focuses on the secrets we keep as humans, even from those we love most and how these secrets can alter the course of life. I could not stop reading. This new book by Laura Dave comes out Sept 17, 2024, be sure to check it out.

This book was put down as a thriller and mystery hence my request for it but I didn’t find it to be them two genres at all and that let me down sadly. I unfollowed didn’t like this book: It didn’t work that well together, the story felt very long and drawn out and sadly the suspense just didn’t build the way i really hoped it would. I would like to give this author a second chance in the future. Thank you net gallery for the ARC and chance to review this book. Xxx

This book was put down as a thriller/mystery hence my request for it but I didn’t find it to be that. It was much more beautiful about loss and grief of a family member.

The estranged son and daughter got together and wanted to understand the suspicious circumstances around their father’s death.

I found this book as a page turner, different to what I read but thoroughly enjoyed it

Thank you to Netgalley

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: 4 July 2024

Following the suspicious demise of the patriarch of a renowned hotel empire, his daughter and estranged son unite to uncover the truth, unveiling a deeper mystery surrounding their father's identity.

Liam Noone embodied various personas. To the public eye, he was a meticulous, self-made tycoon, concealing a murky past. His ex-wives perceived him as a caring yet distant figure, adept at maintaining financial stability while keeping his families discreetly apart. For Nora, he was a distant father, his affections primarily expressed from a cliffside cottage overlooking the California coast—the very site of his fatal fall.

While authorities chalk the incident up to an accident, Nora's brother Sam suspects foul play. Sam, a relative she barely knows, becomes an unlikely ally as they delve into their father's enigmatic past. As they piece together his history, they stumble upon revelations that could reshape their own destinies.


This captivating blend of heart-wrenching romance, family drama, and mystery held me spellbound from start to finish. It's a page-turner that effortlessly evokes tears and leaves a lasting impact. With each storyline reaching a satisfying conclusion, it's a deeply satisfying read.

I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of historical fiction seeking a poignant tale filled with romance and intrigue.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Random House Uk, Cornerstone | Century, and the author, Laura Dave, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Didn’t love this unfortunately. It didn’t mesh well together, the story felt very drawn out and suspense just didn’t build the way it usually does with Laura. A huge thank you for the ARC and chance to honestly review.

Talk about confusing! Nothing like making the reader wait for the story 'proper' to begin, thus completely going against the popular advice given to writers to 'hook the reader' right from the opening sentence. There are far too many characters and long-winded explanations about how they're related – professionally or familial – their likes and dislikes. In fact, these take up the majority of the narrative.

Ultimately, there is no real story or plot. The Night We Lost Him reads more like the memoir of someone who is estranged from most of her family and grieving for her mother (the person she felt closest to) than a crime novel.

This is, sadly, yet another book that just doesn't do it for me – sorry. I no longer know if it's me or whether the publishing industry has changed so much in recent years that I'm no longer able to find any fiction I actually enjoy.

To be honest, I have no idea what to make of this book or how to rate it. My thanks, however, to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this novel. It felt a bit slow at times and not enough of a mystery to really to sink my teeth into but I thought the writing was compelling enough for me to want to finish it.

3.5 rounded up

When Liam Noone, owner of the Noone Property Empire, dies in circumstances that might be suspicious, his children, estranged half siblings Sam and Nora join forces to try to seek out the truth. They fly from New York to California as he dies at a property he owns there and their discussions with Detective O’Brien raises more questions than answers. What has Liam been up to? Did it cost him his life? Nora tried to figure out The Night We Lost Him.

First of all, this isn’t a classic mystery thriller novel although there are plenty of perplexing questions about Liam’s death and trying to figure out his end moves, it’s much more about complicated and complex family dynamics. You definitely feel Liam’s presence in the present day and learn his backstory via flashbacks and he’s certainly interesting as are his relationships. I like the sparks that fly between Nora and Sam, there’s no love lost principally because they don’t really know each other but I like how that changes. Sam has a very abrasive personality at the start but he grows on me, as does Nora who is likeable. Their relationship does feel authentic and there’s good dialogue between them.

Parts of the storytelling are powerful and it’s undoubtedly well written. There are some suspenseful moments and tension especially between characters. It becomes clear that secrets are being harboured and trying to work out what game is afoot is entertaining. Is there someone manipulating situations? Is there betrayal? Is there someone to blame and accept responsibility? The mist begins to lift and things start to interconnect as the truth becomes apparent and that is a surprise.

Overall though, this is much more about heartache and heartbreak, loss and grief than a thriller. The pace rises and falls and although I do enjoy the novel it doesn’t grant me in the blame way as The Last Thing He Told Me does. It’s a quick read and the writing does flow well.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

When the patriarch of a famed hotel empire dies under suspicious circumstances, his daughter and her estranged step brother join forces to find out what really happened.

Liam Noone was a hotel magnate and his family are shocked when he has an accident and falls to his death at his Windgate property, perched on the Californian coast. He knew those cliffs like the back of his hand and they realise something is amiss. But as Nora and Sam begin to investigate, they begin to question how well their really knew their father, as long held family secrets come to light.

This was part family saga, part mystery and part love story all wrapped into one, in the author's signature style. It was so incredibly moving, particularly as we begin to get a glimpse into the characters past. Full of complex relationships and thought provoking writing, this will absolutely be one of my favourite novels this year.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! I look forward to reading other books by this author. There were so many twists in this book I didn’t see coming. But then again I rarely can figure books out. I would definitely recommend this book!

This was my first book by Laura Dave. And honestly I struggled, it just was not my kind of book as I don't think I would say this was a 'thriller' more of a literary read that was beautifully written but just not my cup of tea.

I assumed this would be a who did it thriller mystery but it was more complex than that. There was complex relationships, emotions, loss and grief. I enjoyed the change of timelines the book had as that helped you understand and get insights on the characters.

Overall the book flowed and the twists kept coming with an unexpected ending!

Thank you for allowing me to read and review 💓

'The Night We Lost Him' has many of the same positives as Laura Dave's wildly successful 'The Last Thing He Told Me'. The story follows Nora and Sam as they try to unravel the events of the night of their father’s death. They go on a journey across the country, talking to friends, relatives and business associates to get to the bottom of it, each while juggling their interpersonal relationships.

The POV swaps between present day and the past, following father Liam for the story of meeting his first love and all the encounters they have into present day, which were definitely my favourite parts. ‘The Night We Lost Him’ somehow balances being frenetic and gently paced, with little twists along the way to keep readers hooked.

Thank you to Random House UK/Cornerstone and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Synopsis: When the patriarch of a famed hotel empire dies under suspicious circumstances, his daughter and her estranged brother join forces to find out what happened, unraveling a larger mystery about who their father really was.

Review: ☆☆☆☆
I was thrilled to get this book, having loved 'The Last Thing He Told Me' last year. It was a five-star read for me. The mystery immediately pulled me in, and I found myself immersed in the family's world. I particularly liked the dual timeline, following Cory and Liam's romance as it evolved over the years. Watching the siblings unite to confront their parents' deaths by investigating the murder was also intriguing. The book was a fast-paced, gripping read with numerous twists and an unexpected conclusion. Laura Dave has definitely earned a spot on my must-read list for her next book.

I enjoyed both the book and the film “ The last thing he told me” so was really pleased to be able to get my hands on an advanced copy of her new novel . The Night We Lost Him is a moving story about a wealthy man's mysterious death and how it affects his family. It's not just a mystery but also explores deep emotions and family relationships. A gripping read with well-written characters.
Another book destined for the big screen!

Complicated family drama with some very interesting characters and a mystery to be solved.Lots of twists.

This isn't your typical whodunit. Sure, a wealthy hotelier's death sparks an investigation, but the real intrigue lies in the fractured family forced back together. Estranged siblings navigate grief and long-held resentments, all while piecing together the truth. A touching exploration of family dynamics with a hint of mystery, this is a must-read for anyone who's ever grappled with complicated sibling bonds.

Following the mysterious death of her father, the wealthy man's life-adrift daughter is tasked with solving his murder. It's a simple premise bolstered by evocative, coastal settings, and Laura Dave's strong writing and potential focus on the ties that bind, both romantically and platonically.

While the dual timeline will be down to personal preference, Dave imbues her cast of characters with empathy and pathos, even if the inevitable TV adaptation will flatten all that out. The Night We Lost Him is an enjoyable mystery that sacrifices some of its whodunnit potential but works best as a sympathetic portrayal of a sprawling American family.

Thank you to Random House UK/Cornerstone and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This is my first book that I have read by Laura Dave and it won’t be my last. Her writing style was beautiful and it really made the book a fast and enjoyable read. While this book is listed as a thriller/mystery I would classify it more as literary with a mysterious death. This is a complex story of grief and loss and learning secrets and the truth of someone you knew. The sibling relationship in this is beautifully done. I look forward reading more books by Laura Dave!

This follows 2 sibling that go and investigate how their father died, was it truly an accident.?.

The story reflects how siblings come together in times of need. There was once I thought I had the plot figured out, bit how wrong was I!.