DI Maud O’Connor #3

What happened that night ….
That leads to Tyler Green serving nearly thirty years in prison for the murder of his friend Leo Bauer? On his release Tyler wants all of THEM together. Rudi. Will. Marco. Clare. Jay. Ellen and Beatrice McMillan KC at whose home they will meet. A reunion of sorts. Wine, stilted conversations, nerves, accusations, anger, chaos and murder. The past clashing ominously and tragically with the present. DI Maud O’Connor is called in to investigate.

Reading this latest and fantastic novel from outstanding writing duo feels like sitting on top of a volcano anticipating the eruption. There’s tension then there’s this. Leo is like the ghost of Banquo haunting all those assembled, but what’s the truth about him as opinions clearly vary? Marco‘s young girlfriend Kristen who comes along out of morbid curiosity is a very good catalyst for dissembling the truth but how will it emerge and what will the consequences be? The escalating anguish, the lives lost, the divisions, the mess of it all and the sense of menace are positively palpable. There are peaks and troughs both getting higher and deeper as the disastrous evening progresses.

I love the way it switches in part 2 to Maud holding back the way the evening ends and heightening the tension if that’s possible. Who, how and why as the volcano has now erupted as we knew that it would.

DI Maud O’Connor is one of the best characters that Nicci French has created in my opinion. I cheer her maverick ways on being a bit of one myself. Equally likeable is DS Carrie Kessler, who is introduced in Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter. This great pair are two strong women who know their own minds and get a huge thumbs up from me. No one pushes them around although they might try. That’s certainly true of Maud’s boss and Beatrice McMillan‘s husband who just so happens to be a cabinet minister. The political connection certainly adds an extra complication to the already complicated inquiry. They may try to exert power and control over Maud but they don’t know who they’re dealing with. And I love it.

This is a story of betrayal, of shame, of surviving or not as after Leo‘s murder. Their lives are never the same. It’s a real buckle up rollercoaster read, as twisted as, it’s fast paced with some truly awful characters with Maud trying to bring order and justice out of chaos. It’s dark in places as I hold my breath hoping that the worst will not happen.

I’ve read most of Nicci French books over the years but I think their novels just get better and better. They’re more complex, emotional, and multilayered which this series clearly demonstrates. Highly recommended

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

This is a brilliant crime read which is told in two parts. The first really sets the scene with a good background on each of the characters as well as establishing the dynamics of the friendships group both present day and 29 years ago back when they were students. It was fascinating to see how the reunion descended into chaos as the evening progressed, they got increasingly drunk and their true feelings started to show. The second part features Maud, the detective inspector tasked with solving the murder of one of the partygoers or as most others felt finding the evidence to put the man who had been convicted of murder 29 years ago back behind bars. It was good to read Maud’s approach and her determination to be thorough and not just jump to conclusions whilst bearing in mind the convicted murder could well have been the perpetrator for many reasons. There are some examples of lack of care from services in this which added to the whole situation which had so many victims in the end. I loved how Maud handled the case and the outcome was surprising but good.

Well I finished it in a day so that should tell your everything. The characters are brought to life so vividly that they jump out the page, the twists and turns are never ending and just keep coming. The plot itsself is well constructed and has various other little plot lines running through it. Its everything you could want from a domestic noir

Wow! What a fabulous nail biting book from Nicci French. This author's books just get better and better. What Happened that Night is a second outing for detective duo Maud O'Connor and Carrie Kessler who cut through the nonsense like a sharp knife through butter. They turn up in part two of the book after part one has set the scene for the current murder and an historical one 29 years ago which are linked by a group of people present at both murders. French shapes her characters both likeable and not so likeable beautifully enabling the reader to picture them so clearly. The rollercoaster storyline has many twists and turns and a brilliant ending I certainly didn't guess. Definitely one for anyone who enjoyed a good who done it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own

This is a triumphant return to form for Nicci French, I read it in a couple of sittings! The pacing of the two parts of the novels worked so well and as the party guests were interrogated about their movements I realised I should have been playing closer attention. It was difficult to feel sympathy for many of the characters as they all seemed deeply flawed but this didn't make it any less compelling and I had know idea who the villain was. Brilliant.

I’ve read most of the author’s novels and this is definitely my favourite of their most recent thrillers. Almost 30 years ago Tyler Green was found guilty of the murder of his old school friend Leo whilst they were at University. On his release, Tyler asks his university friends to come together for a reunion, but that night at the reunion dinner another friend is found murdered.
I absolutely loved this and raced through it over the course of 24 hours. The first half focuses on the reunion dinner party as the reader gets to know the group of ex friends and their relationship with each other. The second half focuses primarily on the murder investigation led by DI Maud O’Connor who readers may remember from previous French thrillers. I definitely preferred the second half which is well plotted and structured and also gives important and upsetting insights into the state of the criminal justice system and how prisoners are treated. I believed in the characters who are all interesting and I felt that how their lives had turned out was portrayed realistically. My only criticism is that the first half did go on for slightly too long and became a little repetitive, hence my 4 star rating. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I'm a big Nicci French fan and this book did not disappoint!

I absolutely raced through it to get to the end, and the reveal was a big surprise. The multiple POVs kept it interesting, and just as the party setting was starting to get a little bit repetitive it switched over to part 2, helping to avoid "the muddy middle".

One thing that was a little distracting during part 1 was the implausibility that they would have all showed up in the first place, and also that a character like Kristen would be quite so annoying with a load of people she's never met before. But there was nothing so far fetched that it felt like it couldn't have happened. I didn't place Maud's character straight away as I didn't love Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter (I seem to be in the minority!), but I like her as a detective. While all the party goers felt quite believable, Maud's boss and the prison staff felt maybe a touch like caricatures.

I'd recommended this for anyone who likes and easy-to-read, unpredictable whodunnit.

What Happened That Night is a superb addition to the Maud O’Connor series; tense, atmospheric, and crafted with the kind of precision that reminds you why Nicci French remain masters of crime.

After nearly thirty years in prison for fatally stabbing his university friend Leo Bauer, Tyler Green is finally free. Tyler is determined to reconnect with the group of friends who were there the night Leo died for the first time in decades and a reunion is organised.. Everyone gathers with their own memories and the night takes a dark turn and another friend is found dead. All the evidence points to Tyler, putting his new found freedom in jeopardy. Detective Maud O’Connor is called in to investigate, and the central question becomes whether she can uncover the truth before Tyler is condemned all over again.

As a long‑time reader of the author and this series, I found it brilliant to step back into Maud’s world. The character work is as sharp as ever—complex, believable, and grounded in real emotional stakes. The plotting is equally impressive: clever without ever feeling contrived, and paced so well that the book becomes genuinely compulsive.

One early scene in particular stood out for me: the gathering at Beatrice’s house. The atmosphere in that moment is so finely drawn that I could feel it pressing in from the page. The unease, the shifting dynamics, the sense that something is about to crack, it’s executed with such skill that I was genuinely on the edge of my seat.

Overall, this is Nicci French at their best: immersive, intelligent, and utterly gripping. A must‑read for fans of the series and anyone who loves crime fiction with real emotional depth.

The husband and wife writing duo, Nicci French, really are on form with their latest DI Maud O’Connor investigation.

A disbanded group of old university friends, now in their fifies, has gathered at the behest of one of their number, ex-convict Tyler Green who has been in prison for almost thirty years for the murder of another of their number, the charismatic, sometimes cruel Leo Bauer. Tyler wishes to speak his former friends before vanishing from their lives forever. And what he says to them ensures that their fragile loyalties are scattered to the four winds.

Told from multiple viewpoints, we learn just how dissatisfied with their lives this group of largely privileged, successful people are – and why. We are also shown what Tyler has had to cope with over the years, the ramifications of a justice system on its knees and how the current poor reputation of the Met impacts on decisions made and paths followed.

An historical murder is not enough. On the night of the gathering, after much alcohol, some drug taking and a fair amount of recriminatory talk, just as everyone is about to leave, one of the party is murdered. Enter DI Maud O’Connor. Tension builds as we see how Maud and her supporting DS Carrie Kessler work to uncover who has killed affable Will Garvey. However, that is only part of why this story is so gripping and involving. Nicci French’s characterisation is both subtle and credible, resulting in outcomes which seem entirely convincing. Added to this, their use of a central London backdrop grounds the action effectively, whether it be a grubby interview room or a sitting room interior designed to within an inch of its life.

Whilst readers of Nicci French will always remember Frieda Klein, Maud is an excellent alternative. Long may she prosper!

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Another masterpiece”
I genuinely don’t think this duo can write a book that isn’t totally compelling. I was lucky to get a NetGalley copy to review. I read it in two sittings and can tell you it’s another fantastic story, the characters are relatable, the story will drag you in and I love Maud. This is the 3rd in a series and whilst, yes, you could read as a standalone my advice is to buy the first two so you understand Maud’s story which runs through all 3 books. I remember getting The Memory Game (their first book) and I knew that I’d hit gold. I’ll be re-reading this and some of my other favourite books by them…totally recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nicci French are a writing duo who always deliver, and What Happened That Night is no exception. Told in two parts the dinner party reunion and the aftermath. The structure works perfectly, building tension steadily before everything unravels. What begins as a reunion dinner party that no one is particularly looking forward to soon descends into chaos. Secrets are revealed, emotions run high, and friendships that were already fragile are completely shattered by the time we reach Part Two.
DI Maud O’Connor makes her entrance in the aftermath, and she is a fantastic character, this is the 3rd book she’s featured in now and I really love her character she knows what she knows and refuses to be swayed, no matter the pressure from those above her. Through the investigation, we also discover that the friends’ lives have not turned out as they once expected, with some realising they are far less happy than they believed. . Nicci French handles these emotional revelations with realism, making the characters feel entirely believable. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout, and the ending is brilliant and very satisfying. I’ve read all of Nicci French’s books to date and this is one of their best. With believable characters and a well-structured plot, this was an unputdownable read for me and comes highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster uk for the Arc.

This was a delicious mix of locked room psychological thriller and police procedural/detective novel. With well rounded characters and big secrets this story follows a compelling group of old friends reuniting for the first time in 30 years when one of the group is released after serving time for murdering one of the groups friends.
Tense, intriguing and full of flawed characters with secrets and lies, then the second murder happens and it becomes a smooth well paced detective thriller with heaps of emotion and a lot of grit.

What Happened That Night is a wonderfully layered thriller that pulls you in with its slow‑burn tension and keeps you hooked with its emotional complexity. Nicci French has a real gift for crafting characters who feel lived‑in and flawed, and Tyler Green is no exception. After nearly thirty years behind bars for a crime he insists he didn’t commit, his release should feel like a second chance—but instead it becomes the start of a new nightmare.

The setup is irresistible: Tyler reunites with the same group of university friends who were there the night Leo Bauer died, hoping to piece together the truth. The atmosphere is thick with old loyalties, buried resentments, and the kind of unease that comes from knowing everyone remembers that night differently. When another friend turns up dead, the tension snaps tight, and suddenly Tyler’s fragile freedom is hanging by a thread.

Detective Maud O’Connor is a fantastic addition—sharp, intuitive, and quietly determined. Her investigation adds a grounded, procedural counterbalance to Tyler’s emotional turmoil, and watching her pick apart the group’s tangled history is deeply satisfying.

What makes the novel especially compelling is its exploration of memory, guilt, and the long shadows cast by a single tragic night. The pacing is measured but never slow, building toward a conclusion that feels both surprising and inevitable.

Elegant, atmospheric, and full of psychological depth, What Happened That Night is a gripping read for anyone who loves character‑driven suspense with real emotional stakes. A strong, thoughtful thriller from a consistently excellent duo.

With thanks to Nicci French, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC