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!.

The premise for this book sounded right up my street, and I was sad not to love it as much as I’d hoped I would. Suddenly I found myself 71% through with little invested in any of the characters or what had gone on. Sometimes it’s a good sign if you’ve whizzed through a book at speed, but to not feel wrapped up in the characters’ lives tells me that this story was missing something that I can’t quite put my finger on. For what it’s worth, I’d definitely give it a re-read! Maybe then, like Nora, I’ll be able to solve the mystery.

This beautiful book explores family dynamics, and complicated sibling relationships in particular.

After a hotel owner property mogul dies under strange circumstances, his estranged children team up to investigate the truth behind his passing, gradually repairing their rift and developing a closer relationship in the process.

This book is less a thriller than it is a complex family drama with thriller elements. So perhaps one should say that it is not *just* a thriller. But it is an engaging read, and delivers on both these aspects of its identity.

Dave writes movingly about the relationships and emotions that we have all experienced in one form or another. Worth a read.

The children are protected but a man falls… but was it an accident? As the story unfolds the complexities of family relationships and secrets are bought to the surface.

Perfect read for those who enjoy:
- Stories that evoke emotion
- Grief
- Family dynamics
- Dual timelines
& Mystery

I’m excited to read more books by the same author.

With thanks to Random House UK, Conerstone and NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Giving this 5 stars because even though there is a little something that I didn’t like (that I won’t mention because it’s a bit of a spoiler) the book was so beautifully written I loved it. It was so sad, so emotional, so beautifully written. The story so well crafted, alternating between two timelines, and the ending perfectly in keeping with the rhythm of the whole book.
I loved Nora’s chatacter, and the relationship between Nora and her brother, very slowly blossoming made this book a thousand times better for me. The little jokes and digs at each other, never too mean, made me laugh out loud.
This was my first book by Laura Dave and I’m very much looking forward to reading her other ones.

This was not what I was expecting it was much much more!

This book explores family, loss, grief and the delicate relationship of siblings.

I wish there was another genre for books like this, it has thrills but it also has some of the most compelling character study I’ve ever read.

I recommend this to anyone, absolutely anyone, you will get something from this.

I did really like this book and loved the mystery that is woven throughout. However, I finished the book feeling slightly disappointed and I can’t really explain why; mysteries were revealed and the characters pretty much ended up where I wanted them to, but I felt the ending was just a bit flat after such a fast paced story.

when a man, who constantly protects his children from the cliff edge, is suddenly pushed over. who is responsible ?

the prologue gets into the plot from the get go. and makes you want to find out the rest of the story instantly.

the story follows the siblings, as their mourn their fathers death and work out if it was truly an accident or not …. the chapter names in each section are both witty and relevant to a family mystery.

the writing is powerful and reflects how siblings come together in times of and need. the author describes grief and loss of a parent perfectly.

the flashbacks fit in the with the story perfectly and never felt too jarring. they really showed the complexity of the relationships between each person.

by the end, this isn’t your typical murder-mystery book, it’s siblings dealing with their fathers death and about the past. it’s powerful and exhibits how people can show their grief and endless love for people in a beautiful way.

Thank you to Random House UK/Cornerstone, NetGalley and of course Laura Dave for this ARC and the opportunity to read and review ‘The Night We Lost Him’

This isn’t my first book that I’ve read by Laura Dave but I think it’s definitely my favourite. I went into my first session of this book expecting the usual ‘who done-it’ murder mystery and physiological thriller sort of story but I got so much more. This is a complex story about loss and grief, about learning secrets and the truth about someone you thought you knew. It has interesting family dynamics and the switch between timeline works well in here. I really enjoyed Laura’s writing style and found that the pages just flew by and before I knew it I was halfway done. I think if people expect another throw away murder tale they will be disappointed but stay with it because it’s so much better than that!