Score 3 out of 5

This is one I struggled with and never felt it fully 'clicked' for me.

First, the positives. Laura Dave does write a simple story that keeps the momentum going the whole way through. There isn't much time given to events outside of the investigation (the story is told over two timelines; the siblings investigation and some from years before the death). While I never got overly excited about this, I was intrigued enough to follow it through to the end.

This is a mystery which places its emphasis on relationships rather than the overall mystery. I haven't read Dave's books previously, but it does seem the emphasis is given to family dynamics and this one does cover that motif. In some ways, this book is more about a brother and sister becoming closer.

Also, instead of making the Dad into a diabolical business who neglected his children and others, he is a compassionate and caring individual. This is a novel aspect where many other stories have gone down the "hate the rich" premise. He is not perfect, but he is a far way off the stereotypical business type.

Overall, this is a book for someone who likes a lighter murder mystery. It seems that for Dave fans this will undoubtedly scratch an itch that's wanted. For those who are murder mystery aficionada this is unlikely to excite in the same way and in particular, the dark murder mystery lovers will find this one severally lacking in the grit and threat.

Slight spoiler talk
Why did I not love this book? The main issue was with the lack of consequence. It's not an issue of danger and threat but the 'so what'. Nora and Sam's investigation is quickly introduced and, positively, doesn't drag things on unnecessarily but this speed leads to a lack of urgency in the why of the story. There isn't a true conspiracy to the proceedings, even though everyone acts strange for red herrings. Finding out their Dad has been murdered is unlikely to change anything. This lack of consequence does lead to a damp finish. We get an answer and then that's it. The story was just lacking a couple of key steps.

***updated with correct review. I predicted a 5 star and it really was a 5 star!***

I could not put this book down. It is a real page turner.

The story is told from the point of view of Nora whose father died in a tragic accident. Well this is what Nora believes until her estranged half-brother Sam tricks her into meeting him. They head off across the country to their father’s favourite home to see what they can dig up. There are also some short chapters told from the point of view of her father, starting with him as a young man all the way through to present day.

I loved how the story interweaved and we got some clues as to what has happened. I’ll be honest though, I knew a twist was coming but I never guessed the ending. It was so cleverly and beautifully written. It deals with grief so lovingly.

If you enjoyed The Last Thing He Told Me then you will absolutely love this. It’s a little different and no where near as easy to work out the twist!

Enjoyable read, untangling the web that potentially lies behind a tragic accident - or was it an accident?

Lots of going back and forth between today and the past, which was easy to follow. And provided the back story to relationships.

I enjoyed this, but probably not as much as 'The Last Thing He Told Me'

When Liam Noone, owner of a famed hotel empire, dies, his children, Nora and Sam, suspect foul play. Gradually, they bury past grievances as they join forces to investigate.

Like The Last Thing He Told Me, The Night We Lost Him is a story with a family relationship at its heart. It's moving, gripping and riveting.

I struggled to follow the book at the beginning, due to lots of characters being introduced. I had high hopes for it as a thriller/crime book but I can't say it felt like it belonged in that genre.

It was well written and easy to read once I got to grips with who the characters were but the story just fell a bit flat for me. It was okay but not great. I would be open to reading more work by the author though.

2.45 star rating

Like most people given the chance of reading an ARC I really struggled with this one. The characters are unforgettable, it's siblings who set out to find out who their father real was. I wish it was a page turner but it isn't but I am willing to give Laura's next book another go.

2.5 rounded up. I kind of struggled with this book a little. I would probably have liked it more if I wasn’t thinking of it being a murder mystery and more a story of relationships, family and growth.

Whenever there was a flashback, I couldn’t keep up with who was talking as it wasn’t very distinguishable and for me it was quite cryptic at times so I just really couldn’t connect to the characters despite me liking Liam from an emotional POV in current events. I also kept thinking of Cece as someone else which I’m not sure was purposely done by the author making you think that’s who it was or was just me drawing from familiarities.

Overall I just don’t think this book was for me and that’s okay.

Thank you to NetGalley and CornerStone for the arc.

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.