Whoa, this book was trippy. I really enjoyed the narrative and the author is an incredible story teller. I felt that it dragged in some areas, but all in all it wrapped up well.

This is the first book I have read from this author and I am very impressed. Definitely interested in reading more from this author.

The storyline surrounds Tori a Tampa newscaster learning about the suicide of a childhood friend. Heading home to the funeral she realizes that besides the cryptic messages left by Brook that there are many more suspects than she realized were possible.

As she finds out Brooke did not commit suicide as originally thought, she was murdered. Lots of twists and turn. Great read.

When an old school friend commits suicide Tori feels like there is something odd about the whole situation, especially when she finds out that the suicide note is not written in Brooke's handwriting.

Being a journalist she is already a bit nosy so she sets off on a mission to uncover the real story and who is behind it.

Cryptic text messages, fast paced writing and a plot that sucks you in from the start. This book is unputdownable and one hell of a ride.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for my honest opinion.

This book was sent to me via NetGalley because I have read other books with similar synopses.

Tori is a reporter in Tampa. She left her small town life behind, but when her childhood friend Brooke is found to have committed suicide, Tori goes home for the funeral. After getting text messages from Brooke’s phone, Tori suspects that the suicide was actually a staged murder. She sets out to discover what really happened to Brooke.

The book had promise. The storyline was interesting, and I’m all about “whodunnit” books. But the author in this tried too hard to misdirect the reader, throwing in unnecessarily confusing clues to try to get the reader off the trail. The ending didn’t feel very climactic to me because of how many false starts we’d had to solve the mystery before. I think there was potential, but I didn’t feel like the book was executed well. I wouldn’t read it again.

The past and present collide in this story of murder. The story is fast paced with characters that might seem familiar if you think back to high school. The main character, Tori, has tried to avoid her past but as she finds out it always has a way of catching up with you especially when you can't let go. I look forward to reading more books by JC Gatlin.

JCGatlin is utterly Fantastic!!!!!... The whole book I was on edge… leaving you wanting to read just one more chapter… this was a book I could not put down and I didn’t want to either...

Brilliant, fast paced read with clues along the way that keep you guessing. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. Interesting main characters plus some gems on the side. Would definitely recoment this book and look out for this reader again

I found the chapter headings interesting and unusual. The plot was OK, and I did want to know the answer.

A run of the mill mystery. Nothing really heartstopping. There was a lot of suspects though and I must admit I guessed the wrong one had done the deed.

Hells bells! H_MNGM_N is a superb, fast-paced, nail biting thriller.
When the news of Brooke Martin's apparent suicide reaches Tori Younger, her childhood friend, she's torn between going back to their hometown to pay her last respects or sending her condolences to her family. Five years ago Tori left town for good, after suffering a heartbreak and has good reason to keep away. But a gnawing thought that Brooke wouldn't just kill herself leaving behind a five year old takes hold and Tori cannot resist solving the mystery as to why Brooke killed herself or was she really killed!
And when Tori begins to receive texts from Brooke's number she's determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.
I loved the characters, plot, dialogs everything! The playful banter between RJ and Tori was a treat! There were a lot of surprising twists, nail-biting suspense and spooky moments. A page-turner that will will have you reading well into the morning(with your lights on). I really liked how the story shaped out and am all praises for J. C. Gatlin!
Thank you Netgalley, J. C. Gatlin & Sunbury Press Inc. /Milford House Press for an arc!

I have to say that this book frustrated me a little. It had a good start, great characters and a story that made you want to know more about what really happened.
It had some funny moments, some intense scenes and even some thrilling moments.

What had me so frustrated were the last chapters. First, there was a rather out-of-the-blue scene with a side-character that involves a dark place of the book and literally every character involved that just complicated things instead of moving the plot forward. And then at the end, there was the big reveal.
Which was rather a let-down, at least for me. Everything in the book had a great built-up until that point.

So, sadly I have to say that this book was rather disappointing in the end. It felt a bit rushed in the last chapters and the reveal of the big bad felt weird, as though there was something missing.

Still, thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this e-book.

Wowza! An intense murder mystery that will keep you up all night reading! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! Cryptic! Tori’s a well known newscastor and her childhood friend Brooke recently hung herself which sends Tori back home to face her own demons and help figure out what happened to Brooke! This is a page turner and it’s written so incredibly well. I love a good thriller that keeps me guessing and interested until the very last page and that is exactly what I got here!

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

When well-known newscaster Tori Younger learns of the suicide death of a childhood friend, she faces a touch decision. Go back home and pay her respects or send flowers and stay home. She was humiliated by a man who proposed marriage and then didn't bother to show up for the wedding. Mortified, she packed her bags and never looked back ... until now.

The funeral behind her, she starts receiving text messages from her deceased friend' s phone ... but how can that be? No one admits to having the phone or sending messages... and she know she isn't crazy.

She doesn't believe that her friend hung herself ... the note she left is not in her handwriting and she would never have left her young daughter alone.

So .. is someone trying to chase her away? To keep the truth hidden? Tori might find the answers she wants ... but at what cost?

This is a well-paced, fast-moving mystery with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing at what the stupendous ending will reveal.

Many thanks to the author / Sunbury Press, Inc. / Milford House Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

A_a_i_g!!!! What a wickedly gripping and original book! I absolutely adored it , from the chapter titles to the nuanced characters, this novel really is one of a kind . I thought I knew where the story was going but like any good magic illusion the trick is not what you think... I can only recommend and truly say that if you love thrillers as much as I do, this is the one you don’t want to miss!

Description
Every murder has a story.

Every story begins at home.

Tampa newscaster Tori Younger is saddened to learn her childhood friend, Brooke Martin, hung herself from the old water tower in their hometown. Tori hasn’t spoken to Brooke in years and doesn’t feel comfortable returning to attend the services. Then cryptic text messages from Brooke’s cellphone change her mind.

Attending the funeral, Tori confronts a past that still haunts her and questions the text messages haunting her now. Her investigation leads to a fact she suspected all along: her old friend didn’t commit suicide but was murdered. There’s no shortage of suspects either: Brooke’s angry husband who instigated a fight the night she died; Brooke’s high school principal who denies rumors they were having an affair; and a town sheriff who shares a stormy past with Tori and is blocking her investigation at every turn. The only witness appears to be Brooke’s five-year-old daughter who hasn’t spoken since the tragedy and continually draws the same graphic picture of the night her mother’s body was discovered hanging from that old water tower.

Tori knows one of them has Brooke’s cellphone and is texting her from it. Others are convinced it’s Brooke reaching out from the Great Beyond. Either way, someone from her past is playing a deadly game of Hangman.

This book was just kind of a mess for me. It was changing from one chapter the characters too much, It was ok.

Thanks, NetGalley for the advance copy for early review.

A well written mystery with a multitude of hints and clues to keep you guessing. Very entertaining, even though it can be a little too much here and there.

I enjoyed this book a lot, it was really gripping in places, fast moving and a great storyline with an unexpected twist. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Clearly a lot of work has gone into writing this book, like any book. I enjoyed some of the colourful turns of phrase and the humour. And I did want to find out what had happened.

Nevertheless, I found this a frustrating read. It contains the bones of a good story but the execution leaves something to be desired. The writing is choppy and in need of another edit – not just minor typos, which I'd expect in an ARC, but repeated information, inconsistencies, and character actions that don't have anything to do with what the character is saying. I never really connected with any of the characters; they never lived and breathed for me, not even Tori who as the protagonist and primary POV should have been a fully rounded and real individual. Though I reached the end of the book, I felt very little at the revelation of who was behind Brooke's death because I hadn't ever engaged enough to feel tension or suspense.

Overall, not for me, though others may enjoy it.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley.

Fast paced, easy to read and follow. would definitely would read other books by this author.