I really liked this book. Not a conventional murder story but one bound up in family relationships. I enjoyed the story, the disclosures and the unpicking of the different relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I found this book to be a really well written story focusing on grief, loss and difficult family dynamics. There was an element of mystery which pulled me in and left me eager to find out what really happened. I particularly liked Nora and Sam’s relationship and enjoyed watching it develop into something really rather special. An interesting read that I would definitely recommend. 4 stars.

Not a thriller in the traditional sense, this is a story of grief and heartbreak and trying to get to the bottom of a mystery that seems like it might never reveal its answers. It's a nicely put together story, and has you thinking you know exactly what's going on - until you don't! A very enjoyable soft read.

3.5/5 rounded down to 3.

After successfully reading this whole book (it was a task and it took a while) I really have no clue what to truly say about it.

This was definitely not a thriller, barely a mystery.
More like "dysfunctional relationship vibes", family drama, grief management anonymous and a few dead people.
Which still doesn’t sound bad to me at all but when the whole thing could simply be resolved by someone just being truthful about the whole situation a couple chapters in but we have to read the whole book to find out for some reason, I’m AT THE VERY LEAST irritated.
3 people knew the whole situation and decided that naaah, let those fuckers find out on their own if they care that much otherwise I’m not gonna air out the laundry of the dead.
Just look me straight in the eye and tell me that’s not lazy writing… there’s no excuse to slow pace us this hard for no freaking reason!

That being said.
The dysfunctional relationship.
I stayed for that because I related to a spiritual level.
For the first time in my life someone was perfectly describing what a dysfunctional situationship with a soulmate that you just can’t let go is, feels and looks like and I just couldn’t look away from that train wreck.
Granted I never took it 50 years too far it was too painful to keep it up that long but MY GOD why did Laura Dave had to call me out so hard for??
It was hard and heartbreaking to read about but I also couldn’t stop!

I don’t think most people would even begin to understand that type of thing let alone not find it ridiculous and since it’s so easy to judge the book by its obvious shortcomings I think they’re not gonna look past anything else.
I tried and still couldn’t decide between a 3 or 4 star rating so I’m giving it 3.5 right in the middle.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for the digital ARC!

A story about love and loss, family’s reconnecting. A fall/push/jump from a cliff in the grounds of a secluded cottage start an investigation by family into what happened. A brother and sister reconnecting while investigating and sharing insights into their respective lives. A few twists and turns along the way. A good thriller and also a quick read.

I struggled with rating this one. It's more of a 3.5 but not enough to be a 4. I did enjoy the story and the relationship between Nora and Sam but some of the stories from the past were rather confusing. The details about architecture were a bit unnecessary. Overall it is definitely more of a mystery than a thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

I really liked this book. I thought the story was very original and well put together. Nora and Sam are great characters. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for letting me read The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave. What can I say except what a great read. Captured from the first to last page and even shed a tear. I haven't come across Laura Dave before but will definitely be reading more of her books

#TheNightWeLostHim #NetGalley
Liam Noone is a wealthy man running bespoke hotels. Nora is his daughter from his first marriage and he also has twin boys from his second. The relationship between father and children is broken, he struggles with a work life balance. Liam has a bolthole called Windbreak House in California and this is where he is happiest. The question is why and this becomes very clear as the story continues. Liam is newly separated and decides to go to Windbreak House. A drama happens. Liam has an accident (or was it) and passes away. The police investigate and rule it as an accident but two of his children feel that this is not the case and feel he was pushed. He knew the perils of being on a cliff by the sea and would not have taken any chances. They begin to investigate and they open a can of worms along the way which makes the book flow. Nora feels she needs to get to the truth as her life is in turmoil and she does not feel this can be left. She is separated from her fiancé and struggling with this. Sam, one of her stepbrothers, appears on the scene and talks her into trying to uncover the truth. His life is also a mess and he feels he needs closure before he can advance. What they learn along the way is a revelation and talking to Liam’s partners etc makes them realise they have missed out on a good and true relationship with their father. Eventually the book twists and turns to a good ending and I really enjoyed reading this even though, as I have said already, it is both happy and sad. I really like Nora and Sam’s characters and found myself warming particularly to Sam as the story continued.. what happened next? Go read it.
I loved it. I think it's the best book I've read in 2024.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Cornerstone Century for giving me an advance copy.

"The Night We Lost Him" by Laura Dave is a compelling read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story centers around Emma, who is trying to uncover the truth behind her husband Sam's mysterious disappearance. As she digs deeper, secrets from Sam's past begin to surface, turning her world upside down.

Laura Dave does a fantastic job of building suspense and crafting a narrative that balances emotional depth with thrilling twists. The characters are well-developed, especially Emma, whose journey of self-discovery and resilience is both relatable and inspiring. The plot twists are well-executed and keep you guessing without feeling contrived.

Overall, "The Night We Lost Him" is a well-written, engaging novel that combines elements of mystery and emotional drama. It's a great pick for anyone looking for a story that is both gripping and heartfelt. A solid four-star read!

I'm honestly not sure how I would rate this one. It's more than an "ok" 3 but not enough to round it up to a 4. I did enjoy the overall story & the relationship between Nora & Sam building up & reading the characters from the past. The points that brought my rating down was the repetitiveness of certain information & I did feel some of the narrative jumped about a bit & I had to reread to work out what was happening.

Even though I didn't love the book, I would still recommend it if you are after a story of a family coming together after tragedy.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this , at times a little slow and predictable however it was good .

Character building was strong but I found myself comparing it to your last book the last thing he told me and it just fell short of the same punchiness:

That being said I would give this 4 stars x

Since this book seemed to have some mixed reviews, I went into it wondering if it would deliver. It did, dear reader. I liked it a lot. There's a lot of unraveling family secrets and drama here. Some people may expect more thriller-esque action, and you won't find that. Also, the mystery did get wrapped up a little too nicely, but I still enjoyed the ride. It's okay, though! It's still worth your time!

I went into this one thinking it would be a fast paced thriller. It was more about family, relationships, love, loss and grief. There was a mystery element but it was the family dynamics and intrigue surrounding the mystery woman that held my interest. The ending was underwhelming but it was always more about closure about their father's death for siblings Nora and Sam.

I enjoyed this and read it so fast, it was a family orientated thriller that makes you remember to do what you want and don’t waste your time.

Good quick read the pace was great

Great story, I wouldn’t say it’s a thriller though. More of a family/love story. Quite enjoyable and a good read overall

The synopsis of this book suggests a murder mystery involving a successful family based across New York and LA. Though this is an accurate description, the book offered so much more in terms of romantic and familial relationships.

The book delves into the matter of grief, not only in how loss directly impacts the family, but it acknowledges the impacts on other relationships. This topic is covered in a very realistic way, allowing a reader to relate to the characters.

I found the mystery side of the book to be incredibly well written, with red herrings and clues dotted throughout without spoiling anything. I really enjoyed how the chapters swapped between the past and present with the perspective shifting from Nora to her father.

The pacing of the story meant I was hooked from the start, and the shortening of chapters towards the end really added to the speed and climax of the reveal.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and found the author managed to create complex and thoughtful characters who appeared to go through realistic and somewhat relatable difficulties. I will definitely look to read more from this author in the future.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave delves into the aftermath of Liam's tragic death, as Nora and Sam, his estranged children, grapple with the belief that his fall from his beloved cliff wasn't accidental—it was murder. As they delve deeper into Liam's life, they uncover hidden secrets he had kept closely guarded. Now faced with the choice of whether to expose these revelations or keep them buried, Nora and Sam navigate a web of deception and intrigue that challenges their understanding of their father and their family dynamics.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this book.
Didn't quite know what to expect from this book and still not sure. The storyline was quite interesting and it seemed to flow quite nicely. The characters were very well rounded but what led them on the trail of looking for someone who pushed their father off the edge is somewhat questionable.
Still enjoyed the read and will certainly be looking for any further books by this author.

Enjoyed this book, happy and sad in equal measure. Liam Noone is a wealthy man running bespoke hotels. Nora is his daughter from his first marriage and he also has twin boys from his second. The relationship between father and children is broken, he struggles with a work life balance. Liam has a bolthole called Windbreak House in California and this is where he is happiest. The question is why and this becomes very clear as the story continues. Liam is newly separated and decides to go to Windbreak House. A drama happens. Liam has an accident (or was it) and passes away. The police investigate and rule it as an accident but two of his children feel that this is not the case and feel he was pushed. He knew the perils of being on a cliff by the sea and would not have taken any chances. They begin to investigate and they open a can of worms along the way which makes the book flow. Nora feels she needs to get to the truth as her life is in turmoil and she does not feel this can be left. She is separated from her fiancé and struggling with this. Sam, one of her stepbrothers, appears on the scene and talks her into trying to uncover the truth. His life is also a mess and he feels he needs closure before he can advance. What they learn along the way is a revelation and talking to Liam’s partners etc makes them realise they have missed out on a good and true relationship with their father. Eventually the book twists and turns to a good ending and I really enjoyed reading this even though, as I have said already, it is both happy and sad. I really like Nora and Sam’s characters and found myself warming particularly to Sam as the story continued.