Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea {Book Review}

Twenty Years Later is another audiobook I received from NetGalley.

I’ve never read anything by this author before but after this book, I’m thinking of definitely trying a few month of the books.

This is my first ‘read‘ for 2021 and I’m so glad I started the year off on a good reading note.

This book kept my attention from the first sentence and I couldn’t wait to get to the end to know what revelation all the twists and turns were leading to.

This is also one of those books that needs a movie adaptation. Even better, a series to keep the suspense going and growing.

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DISCLAIMER: This review could contain possible spoilers based on my opinions. All opinions and views are my own.

Book Review: Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea #bookreview #thrillerbooks #bookaddict #booktwt #netgalley
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Challenge prompt: Historical Fiction
Originally published: 2021

Hours: 11h58m
Format: Audiobook

Plot:

Avery Mason, host of American Events, knows what stories grab her audience’s attention.

Her latest one involves an unsolved murder, kinky sex, betrayal and a tragedy.

The twist in the story: victim Victoria Ford’s DNA is successfully identified by new technology from the 9/11 events. The same victim who was accused of murdering her married lover years ago. Victoria had been having an affair with a successful novelist who was found hanging from the balcony of his mansion. The crime scene covered in Victoria’s DNA.With her last phone call on that day, she pleaded with her sister to prove her innocence.

Emma Ford has waited for twenty years to lay her sister to rest, but she can’t do so until she can clear her name. Avery takes up the case to investigate Victoria’s involvement in the murder.

As Avery starts putting the pieces of the puzzle together, Victoria’s private life starts to create a darker mystery.

Not only does Avery want to get to the bottom of those secrets, she needs to keep her own dark secret hidden deep inside, a secret she thought was buried forever.

Thoughts:

The book has a good pace and a fantastic build up of suspense. As soon as you feel you’ve figured something out, the author throws you back in the deep end to continue grasping at the truth.

Not only were Victoria’s secrets fascinating when revealed, but Avery’s secret also deserves a credit because I wasn’t expecting the big shock around it. I loved the build up of it in-between the main plot line and how it was all laid out in the end. You get a secret or two from another character in the book as well which was a good add on and showed that no matter who you are, everyone in life has their own issues.

I did enjoy the parallel timeline and bringing in a significant event to add more drama to the story, as tragic as it was. It ended up being an interest twist in the plot. The 9/11 storyline was written in strategically and was used to create an extra step in the plot and build the correct emotional atmosphere for the book.

The kinky sex was exactly that: kinky! It’s not so explicit as to make some readers uncomfortable but enough information to understand what is going on and explanations around it.

It has everything from murder to grief, to lies and affairs, to resolutions and more questions.

Overview:

The main plot and the sub-plots came together beautifully at the end, and the ending completely blew me away. I honestly did see the truth being what it was. It was a ‘wow‘ moment. It has to be one of the best plot twists I’ve ever read.

Thanks again to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book.