What do you think?
Rate this book
Someone Knows
As a college English professor, Elizabeth looks forward to the start of each new semester teaching her creative writing seminar. At least until she reads chapter one of The Reckoning, a tale about a high school senior who has an affair with her teacher. To anyone else it would be the beginning of a great page-turner, but to Elizabeth it is the beginning of the end.
She knows this story. It’s all familiar because she lived it. The girl in the story was her best friend Jocelyn, and Elizabeth knows exactly how the story will end—with the professor dead. Because she was the one who killed him.
Someone knows what Elizabeth did twenty years ago and her secret is about to be exposed, but who is the mystery student submitting the chapters? In an effort to find out, Elizabeth returns to her Louisiana hometown where it soon becomes clear that no matter how many years have gone by, she can’t escape her past.
She knows this story. It’s all familiar because she lived it. The girl in the story was her best friend Jocelyn, and Elizabeth knows exactly how the story will end—with the professor dead. Because she was the one who killed him.
Someone knows what Elizabeth did twenty years ago and her secret is about to be exposed, but who is the mystery student submitting the chapters? In an effort to find out, Elizabeth returns to her Louisiana hometown where it soon becomes clear that no matter how many years have gone by, she can’t escape her past.
277 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2025
1497 people are currently reading
38161 people want to read
About the author
Vi Keeland
134 books34.3k followersVi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and
USA Today
Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over one hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-six languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
Stop by and meet Vi in her private reader group on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViKee...
Stop by and meet Vi in her private reader group on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViKee...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,284 reviews
June 23, 2025
Vi Keeland nails it again with another fast paced and gripping thriller! I was so blown away by the author's debut thriller that when I saw the widget for this one in my inbox I immediately downloaded it and it did not disappoint!
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Sexy, provocative, dangerous, thrilling, dark and gripping. I think fans of Freida will enjoy this one - it does have a dash more spice to offer though.
We follow our FMC, Elizabeth who's a creative writing professor at an NYC university. While going over her students work one evening, the students are composing novels, turning in one chapter at a time.
As Elizabeth reads over the first chapter of one of her students' work, it seems eerily familiar. A story she's lived already. As more chapters from this student come in, Elizabeth realized this can't be a coincidence - someone must know the truth of what happened 20 years ago. Someone must know about the murder she committed and hasn't spoken of in 20 years...
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Vi Keeland gives us the story in broad strokes allowing for a lighting fast pace. No meandering around insignificant details here. She gets us to where we want to get to as the reader and with quick punchy chapters and engaging dialogue.
Each chapter left me dying to know what happened and tearing into the next one hoping to get some crumbs lol. I truly didn't want to put the book down.
I really appreciate these sexy little thrillers that Keeland has been putting out, they're not centered around any type of romance but they're still sexy and dangerous. Perfect to read in one afternoon!
What a ride this one was! Multiple twists and turns that take you down paths you had LITERALLY no idea you were about to embark on. I had a blast with it, and it knocked me on my ass lol. Definitely recommend!
Expected Pub Date - 06/17/25
₊⊹⁀➴The Unraveling Review - 5 Stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own. 💐
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Sexy, provocative, dangerous, thrilling, dark and gripping. I think fans of Freida will enjoy this one - it does have a dash more spice to offer though.
We follow our FMC, Elizabeth who's a creative writing professor at an NYC university. While going over her students work one evening, the students are composing novels, turning in one chapter at a time.
As Elizabeth reads over the first chapter of one of her students' work, it seems eerily familiar. A story she's lived already. As more chapters from this student come in, Elizabeth realized this can't be a coincidence - someone must know the truth of what happened 20 years ago. Someone must know about the murder she committed and hasn't spoken of in 20 years...
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Vi Keeland gives us the story in broad strokes allowing for a lighting fast pace. No meandering around insignificant details here. She gets us to where we want to get to as the reader and with quick punchy chapters and engaging dialogue.
Each chapter left me dying to know what happened and tearing into the next one hoping to get some crumbs lol. I truly didn't want to put the book down.
I really appreciate these sexy little thrillers that Keeland has been putting out, they're not centered around any type of romance but they're still sexy and dangerous. Perfect to read in one afternoon!
What a ride this one was! Multiple twists and turns that take you down paths you had LITERALLY no idea you were about to embark on. I had a blast with it, and it knocked me on my ass lol. Definitely recommend!
Expected Pub Date - 06/17/25
₊⊹⁀➴The Unraveling Review - 5 Stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own. 💐
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
November 18, 2025
i know this isnt VKs first mystery/suspense novel, but its my first time reading one by her and, i have to say, im completely satisfied.
ive been a fan of VK for awhile now, so i know she is always going to deliver a story that allows me to turn off my brain and just enjoy what i am reading. her pacing is good, her characters are interesting, and the plot always gets me hooked. just pure entertainment and this book is no exception. although the “reveal” is pretty obvious and didnt really add much for me personally, i still enjoyed the way the events unfolded.
VK is a successful romance author and, based on this, her mystery/suspense stories could reach the same level over time. so im excited to see what she comes up with next!
↠ 3.5 stars
ive been a fan of VK for awhile now, so i know she is always going to deliver a story that allows me to turn off my brain and just enjoy what i am reading. her pacing is good, her characters are interesting, and the plot always gets me hooked. just pure entertainment and this book is no exception. although the “reveal” is pretty obvious and didnt really add much for me personally, i still enjoyed the way the events unfolded.
VK is a successful romance author and, based on this, her mystery/suspense stories could reach the same level over time. so im excited to see what she comes up with next!
↠ 3.5 stars
August 25, 2025
✯ 𝟏.𝟕𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 (spoiler-FREE review)
For a thriller novel, this book was extremely predictable.
Firstly, I have to agree, the concept was really unique for a thriller. So I was really excited to see how the story unfolds. But what took me out of the tale were the extremely predictable plot twists and not-so-likeable characters.
I saw the twists coming from miles away and the numerous plot holes didn't help either. So many things weren't explained and the ending was so rushed. I can't even remember the last time I read a thriller that was THIS predictable.
The fmc's main personality trait is that she is horny throughout the novel and sleeps with anyone in her sight. She was so self-centered, she literally used the guy who was in love with her to her own advantage in order to gain access to privileged information and abandoned him once her purpose was done. This isn't even half of what she did that annoyed me, there's a lot more but I can't mention those without spoiling it, so I won't.
To sum it up, this isn't the kind of thriller that will keep you on edge, rather it's the kind that's binge-worthy but very very predictable. Would recommend this only if you're new to the thriller genre.
For a thriller novel, this book was extremely predictable.
Firstly, I have to agree, the concept was really unique for a thriller. So I was really excited to see how the story unfolds. But what took me out of the tale were the extremely predictable plot twists and not-so-likeable characters.
I saw the twists coming from miles away and the numerous plot holes didn't help either. So many things weren't explained and the ending was so rushed. I can't even remember the last time I read a thriller that was THIS predictable.
The fmc's main personality trait is that she is horny throughout the novel and sleeps with anyone in her sight. She was so self-centered, she literally used the guy who was in love with her to her own advantage in order to gain access to privileged information and abandoned him once her purpose was done. This isn't even half of what she did that annoyed me, there's a lot more but I can't mention those without spoiling it, so I won't.
To sum it up, this isn't the kind of thriller that will keep you on edge, rather it's the kind that's binge-worthy but very very predictable. Would recommend this only if you're new to the thriller genre.
June 17, 2025
Well, as a longtime fan of Vi Keeland’s romances (both her standalones and collaborations with Penelope Ward) and her recent thriller Unraveling, I was eager to dive into this one—so much so that I requested it without even reading the blurb.
The story follows Elizabeth, a mid-forties English professor who has spent years keeping men at arm’s length, focusing on her career, and distancing herself from the traumatic events of her youth in Louisiana. But when a student submits a story containing eerily specific details about a murder she committed two decades ago to protect her best friend Jocelyn from their abusive English teacher, Mr. Sawyer, Elizabeth realizes her past is catching up with her. Forced to return to her hometown, she must confront the ghosts of her past: Jocelyn, who has been missing for years; Ivy, her former best friend turned suburban mother; and her own alcoholic mother, whose neglect shaped her childhood.
Complicating matters further is Noah—a charismatic man ten years her junior who immediately draws her in. The problem? He’s the son of the very man she killed all those years ago. As Elizabeth scrambles to uncover who is taunting her with novel chapters based on her darkest secret, she also struggles to resist her dangerous attraction to Noah, knowing it could lead her down a path she may not survive.
This psychological thriller is fast-paced and addictive, though not without its flaws. Some twists are predictable, including the identity of the person tormenting Elizabeth, and the romance—particularly her involvement with Noah—teeters between steamy and unsettling. The book leans more toward romantic suspense than a pure mystery thriller, with multiple male characters vying for Elizabeth’s attention, and even dips into erotic thriller territory with its darker themes. That said, the final twist, while not quite on par with a jaw-dropping Freida McFadden-style ending, was still satisfying and cleverly executed.
Despite its predictability, Unraveling delivers an engaging, binge-worthy read filled with intrigue, suspense, and morally complex characters. It’s the kind of book you devour in one sitting, and for that alone, I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to a solid 4. A perfect choice for fans of fast-paced, compulsive thrillers with a touch of romance!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
The story follows Elizabeth, a mid-forties English professor who has spent years keeping men at arm’s length, focusing on her career, and distancing herself from the traumatic events of her youth in Louisiana. But when a student submits a story containing eerily specific details about a murder she committed two decades ago to protect her best friend Jocelyn from their abusive English teacher, Mr. Sawyer, Elizabeth realizes her past is catching up with her. Forced to return to her hometown, she must confront the ghosts of her past: Jocelyn, who has been missing for years; Ivy, her former best friend turned suburban mother; and her own alcoholic mother, whose neglect shaped her childhood.
Complicating matters further is Noah—a charismatic man ten years her junior who immediately draws her in. The problem? He’s the son of the very man she killed all those years ago. As Elizabeth scrambles to uncover who is taunting her with novel chapters based on her darkest secret, she also struggles to resist her dangerous attraction to Noah, knowing it could lead her down a path she may not survive.
This psychological thriller is fast-paced and addictive, though not without its flaws. Some twists are predictable, including the identity of the person tormenting Elizabeth, and the romance—particularly her involvement with Noah—teeters between steamy and unsettling. The book leans more toward romantic suspense than a pure mystery thriller, with multiple male characters vying for Elizabeth’s attention, and even dips into erotic thriller territory with its darker themes. That said, the final twist, while not quite on par with a jaw-dropping Freida McFadden-style ending, was still satisfying and cleverly executed.
Despite its predictability, Unraveling delivers an engaging, binge-worthy read filled with intrigue, suspense, and morally complex characters. It’s the kind of book you devour in one sitting, and for that alone, I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to a solid 4. A perfect choice for fans of fast-paced, compulsive thrillers with a touch of romance!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
medium blog
June 21, 2025
NYC English professor Elizabeth Davis left her alcoholic mother and her troubled small-town Louisiana past behind twenty years ago. She’s tried to push away the memories of how far she went one night to help her friend Jocelyn escape an abuser. The booze and casual hook-ups haven’t erased the memories of his death.
Imagine her shock when a student in her large writing class submits her first chapter assignment online and it perfectly details the beginning of Jocelyn’s experience with that abuser, down to the exact names of those involved. In such a huge class, she doesn’t know who this writer is, but she does know one thing: she knows how this story ends. Do they?
As each new emailed chapter comes in with details getting closer to revealing Elizabeth’s crime, she becomes more desperate and paranoid to uncover who knows her secret and what they want from her. This will take her back to Louisiana and a past she’s tried so desperately to escape and into the arms of someone very unexpected!
So, straight off the bat. The instigator for this story’s premise is an abusive student-teacher relationship. For those of you who read or know the book, think My Dark Vanessa if it was turned into a psychological thriller with an even more abusive power dynamic. The blurb calls it an “affair”, which even the book itself calls out. It’s not an affair when a teacher uses their power to abuse a student, but I’ll get off my soapbox.
Despite the dark premise, I did enjoy Keeland’s latest psychological thriller. This isn’t just your average unreliable, sexaholic FMC making repeated foolish decisions, though I won’t say that there aren’t some of those. There’s some depth to this one regarding the long-term effects of these types of abusive relationships on the victims and how their troubled homes often set them up to be victimized. It’s not heavy-handed … just enough to let you know the book isn’t simply gratuitous entertainment for its own sake.
I know the blurb looks straightforward and like one you’ve heard hundreds of times - those were my thoughts too, but it isn't as simple as it looks. I was genuinely surprised by a very unexpected twist that came close to halfway through that changed the rest of the story. I was flipping pages the whole book, anxious to see where it would lead!
I liked Keeland's first thriller The Unraveling last year. Personally, I think this one is even better. She stays true to some of the erotic elements she gravitates towards which I don’t love, but I thought it was tamed down and more tolerable or at least understandable in this one. She kept me guessing to the very end and finished things off in a way that I both loved and hated at the same time! I’ll leave you readers to figure out how both can be true. ;)
Keeland is showing she has the chops to write great psychological thrillers and I’ll be in line for her next!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books, NetGalley and author Vi Keeland for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now.
Imagine her shock when a student in her large writing class submits her first chapter assignment online and it perfectly details the beginning of Jocelyn’s experience with that abuser, down to the exact names of those involved. In such a huge class, she doesn’t know who this writer is, but she does know one thing: she knows how this story ends. Do they?
As each new emailed chapter comes in with details getting closer to revealing Elizabeth’s crime, she becomes more desperate and paranoid to uncover who knows her secret and what they want from her. This will take her back to Louisiana and a past she’s tried so desperately to escape and into the arms of someone very unexpected!
So, straight off the bat. The instigator for this story’s premise is an abusive student-teacher relationship. For those of you who read or know the book, think My Dark Vanessa if it was turned into a psychological thriller with an even more abusive power dynamic. The blurb calls it an “affair”, which even the book itself calls out. It’s not an affair when a teacher uses their power to abuse a student, but I’ll get off my soapbox.
Despite the dark premise, I did enjoy Keeland’s latest psychological thriller. This isn’t just your average unreliable, sexaholic FMC making repeated foolish decisions, though I won’t say that there aren’t some of those. There’s some depth to this one regarding the long-term effects of these types of abusive relationships on the victims and how their troubled homes often set them up to be victimized. It’s not heavy-handed … just enough to let you know the book isn’t simply gratuitous entertainment for its own sake.
I know the blurb looks straightforward and like one you’ve heard hundreds of times - those were my thoughts too, but it isn't as simple as it looks. I was genuinely surprised by a very unexpected twist that came close to halfway through that changed the rest of the story. I was flipping pages the whole book, anxious to see where it would lead!
I liked Keeland's first thriller The Unraveling last year. Personally, I think this one is even better. She stays true to some of the erotic elements she gravitates towards which I don’t love, but I thought it was tamed down and more tolerable or at least understandable in this one. She kept me guessing to the very end and finished things off in a way that I both loved and hated at the same time! I’ll leave you readers to figure out how both can be true. ;)
Keeland is showing she has the chops to write great psychological thrillers and I’ll be in line for her next!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books, NetGalley and author Vi Keeland for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now.
July 15, 2025
Elizabeth is holding a creative writing class when she starts to receive stories from one of her students, that sound a bit too familiar… The story resolved around her friend, Jocelyn’s affair with her teacher 20 years ago. One dead teacher and a missing friend. Someone has found out her secret and what she did to protect her friend 20 years ago. She’s forced back to her hometown to see her sick mother, while trying to unravel who from her past is playing games with her.
This was such a fun & spicy thriller. I loved it. I read Vi’s debut thriller and this matched the same energy for me. The romantic undertones kept the premise of the story interesting while also delivering plot twists throughout. She has a way of luring you, making you think you know the direction she’s heading and then pulling a 180 on you. Normally I guess most thrillers but this kept me on my toes. The last few pages made me laugh out loud and stare at the wall because she pulled the sheet over my head. This is exactly what I look for in a thriller.
This held my attention & I couldn’t put it down until I finished it in one sitting. Definitely recommend this and unravelling if you’re wanting to dip your toes into thrillers!
Many thanks to NetGalley & Atria books for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Available now.
This was such a fun & spicy thriller. I loved it. I read Vi’s debut thriller and this matched the same energy for me. The romantic undertones kept the premise of the story interesting while also delivering plot twists throughout. She has a way of luring you, making you think you know the direction she’s heading and then pulling a 180 on you. Normally I guess most thrillers but this kept me on my toes. The last few pages made me laugh out loud and stare at the wall because she pulled the sheet over my head. This is exactly what I look for in a thriller.
This held my attention & I couldn’t put it down until I finished it in one sitting. Definitely recommend this and unravelling if you’re wanting to dip your toes into thrillers!
Many thanks to NetGalley & Atria books for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Available now.
June 16, 2025
જ⁀➴ 2 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Vi Keeland, and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Someone Knows will be officially published on June 17th, 2025! It is also available to read now if you're a current member of the Aardvark Book Club subscription box available in the US and Canada as one of their June 2025 picks!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
I wasn't really sure what I was expecting going into this thriller, but this wasn't it. Maybe I'm just not cut out for thrillers anymore, but this read, while a fast read, was wholly predictable and forgettable.
Elizabeth is a college English professor in NYC. While reviewing and grading her students' assignments for her creative writing seminar, she comes across one of the submissions titled The Reckoning. Upon reading it, she discovers that the story is a major deja vu moment for her...because everything that the student wrote is something that she was there for 20 years ago in her hometown in Louisiana. Only 2 other people know about what happened, and they swore to never speak to each other after the events of that fateful night, so who is sending her these chapters, and how do they know what's going on?
First off, I wanted to say that the pacing was so slow for a book that didn't even scratch 300 pages. It felt like nothing exciting or groundbreaking was happening throughout the story. It was the same cycle of Elizabeth complaining about being in Louisiana, getting drunk, wanting to hook up with guys, hooking up with said guys, passing out after taking her sleep medication, waking up, and doing the same thing over and over again with a hint of stalking her friend Ivy in the parking lot of her workplace in the middle of the day. She was CONSTANTLY horny for a person who had bigger fish to fry, and considering why she was in Louisiana in the first place and the overall themes and topics that were discussed in the story, I felt like those serious topics were overshadowed and almost felt like they were shoved aside at times for Elizabeth to fulfill her sexual needs.
She lives in a constant state of paranoia after seeing those chapters coming in from The Reckoning sent to her. It felt like every side character became someone she didn't like because she was spiraling and figuring out ways that they could be the person sending her those chapters of The Reckoning. I don't know about you, but I doubt that any of her suspects—all of whom were fully grown adults who had lives and jobs to pay the bills—would go out of their way to do something like that. Just imagine how much time and effort it would have to take for someone to pretend to be an online student taking a creative writing course—which means enrolling in a college and paying tuition to be in the class—and then finding out what happened to Elizabeth specifically 20 years ago down to the exact details to then turn those details into a full-blown story that could've been written by any thriller author. There was someone crazy enough to do all of that, considering that's the big mystery of the book to begin with, but she treated everyone like they were guilty until proven innocent.
That being said, though, I felt that the plot twists were entirely predictable. There was so much foreshadowing and what I thought were extremely obvious hints dropped throughout the story that I personally felt like it would've been insane if someone didn't catch onto them and put two and two together. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I'm too analytical for thrillers because I try to pick up on clues and hints throughout the story to form a theory, and then I upset myself when it ends up being right lol. I know that some people may enjoy the plot twists, so I know this is a personal issue of mine. I'm sure plenty of other people may be thrown off or surprised, but I was not that person.
Overall, I don't think this was the thriller for me, but I can see how others may enjoy it. I know Vi Keeland is also a romance author, so I might give some of her romance books a shot in the future and see if I like those more than her thrillers!
P.S. Please check the trigger warnings before reading this. There's a lot of heavy content that's discussed in the story, and I don't believe there was a trigger warning list at the beginning of the ARC. I included a list at the end of my review.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Trigger/content warnings: grooming, inappropriate sexual relationship between a minor and an adult, homicide, drug use, alcoholism, death of a parent, miscarriage, mention of child death, sexual content
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: It's been a while since I picked up a thriller, so I'm excited to start this one! This is also my first Vi Keeland book, so I'm hoping this delivers🤞🏼🍀 I mainly have heard of Vi Keeland writing romance novels, but I'm super excited to see where she goes in the thriller genre and what she has up her sleeve! I’ve been on a roll this month with four-star reads so I’m hoping my streak continues with this.
This is ARC 5/11 out of my June 2025 ARC reading schedule, and ARC 1/4 for my next deadline of 6/17!
Thank you to NetGalley, Vi Keeland, and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Someone Knows will be officially published on June 17th, 2025! It is also available to read now if you're a current member of the Aardvark Book Club subscription box available in the US and Canada as one of their June 2025 picks!
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
I wasn't really sure what I was expecting going into this thriller, but this wasn't it. Maybe I'm just not cut out for thrillers anymore, but this read, while a fast read, was wholly predictable and forgettable.
Elizabeth is a college English professor in NYC. While reviewing and grading her students' assignments for her creative writing seminar, she comes across one of the submissions titled The Reckoning. Upon reading it, she discovers that the story is a major deja vu moment for her...because everything that the student wrote is something that she was there for 20 years ago in her hometown in Louisiana. Only 2 other people know about what happened, and they swore to never speak to each other after the events of that fateful night, so who is sending her these chapters, and how do they know what's going on?
First off, I wanted to say that the pacing was so slow for a book that didn't even scratch 300 pages. It felt like nothing exciting or groundbreaking was happening throughout the story. It was the same cycle of Elizabeth complaining about being in Louisiana, getting drunk, wanting to hook up with guys, hooking up with said guys, passing out after taking her sleep medication, waking up, and doing the same thing over and over again with a hint of stalking her friend Ivy in the parking lot of her workplace in the middle of the day. She was CONSTANTLY horny for a person who had bigger fish to fry, and considering why she was in Louisiana in the first place and the overall themes and topics that were discussed in the story, I felt like those serious topics were overshadowed and almost felt like they were shoved aside at times for Elizabeth to fulfill her sexual needs.
She lives in a constant state of paranoia after seeing those chapters coming in from The Reckoning sent to her. It felt like every side character became someone she didn't like because she was spiraling and figuring out ways that they could be the person sending her those chapters of The Reckoning. I don't know about you, but I doubt that any of her suspects—all of whom were fully grown adults who had lives and jobs to pay the bills—would go out of their way to do something like that. Just imagine how much time and effort it would have to take for someone to pretend to be an online student taking a creative writing course—which means enrolling in a college and paying tuition to be in the class—and then finding out what happened to Elizabeth specifically 20 years ago down to the exact details to then turn those details into a full-blown story that could've been written by any thriller author. There was someone crazy enough to do all of that, considering that's the big mystery of the book to begin with, but she treated everyone like they were guilty until proven innocent.
That being said, though, I felt that the plot twists were entirely predictable. There was so much foreshadowing and what I thought were extremely obvious hints dropped throughout the story that I personally felt like it would've been insane if someone didn't catch onto them and put two and two together. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like I'm too analytical for thrillers because I try to pick up on clues and hints throughout the story to form a theory, and then I upset myself when it ends up being right lol. I know that some people may enjoy the plot twists, so I know this is a personal issue of mine. I'm sure plenty of other people may be thrown off or surprised, but I was not that person.
Overall, I don't think this was the thriller for me, but I can see how others may enjoy it. I know Vi Keeland is also a romance author, so I might give some of her romance books a shot in the future and see if I like those more than her thrillers!
P.S. Please check the trigger warnings before reading this. There's a lot of heavy content that's discussed in the story, and I don't believe there was a trigger warning list at the beginning of the ARC. I included a list at the end of my review.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
Trigger/content warnings: grooming, inappropriate sexual relationship between a minor and an adult, homicide, drug use, alcoholism, death of a parent, miscarriage, mention of child death, sexual content
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: It's been a while since I picked up a thriller, so I'm excited to start this one! This is also my first Vi Keeland book, so I'm hoping this delivers🤞🏼🍀 I mainly have heard of Vi Keeland writing romance novels, but I'm super excited to see where she goes in the thriller genre and what she has up her sleeve! I’ve been on a roll this month with four-star reads so I’m hoping my streak continues with this.
This is ARC 5/11 out of my June 2025 ARC reading schedule, and ARC 1/4 for my next deadline of 6/17!
March 9, 2025
Just a creative writing assignment? Or is there truth behind the words?
Elizabeth is an English Professor teaching creative writing at a college in New York. But when she receives one of her assignments back, it eerily details a part of her life she’s kept secret for over 20 years. The name attached is Hannah. Who is she? How does she know all the details of Elizabeth’s past?
Elizabeth needs to seek out Hannah before her entire past becomes exposed.
Vi Keeland takes you to the edge of your comfort zone and holds you there with her clever twists and shocking moments you’ll never see coming.
The ending was an absolute drop the mike moment!🎤
Bravo…you got me!🙌
Vi Keeland’s transition from romance to thrillers has been flawless! She is now one of my go-to authors! The moment I saw the cover release I knew I had to read it!
This book can definitely fit into the category of an erotic thriller. But don't let that scare you. The main focus is definitely on the thriller aspect.
Spice meter:️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley
Elizabeth is an English Professor teaching creative writing at a college in New York. But when she receives one of her assignments back, it eerily details a part of her life she’s kept secret for over 20 years. The name attached is Hannah. Who is she? How does she know all the details of Elizabeth’s past?
Elizabeth needs to seek out Hannah before her entire past becomes exposed.
Vi Keeland takes you to the edge of your comfort zone and holds you there with her clever twists and shocking moments you’ll never see coming.
The ending was an absolute drop the mike moment!🎤
Bravo…you got me!🙌
Vi Keeland’s transition from romance to thrillers has been flawless! She is now one of my go-to authors! The moment I saw the cover release I knew I had to read it!
This book can definitely fit into the category of an erotic thriller. But don't let that scare you. The main focus is definitely on the thriller aspect.
Spice meter:️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley
July 10, 2025
probably a 4.5! this is one of the better thrillers i’ve read in awhile 👏🏼 and FINALLYYYY… a thriller with a shocking ending!!!
if you’re in a reading slump and looking for a quick book to binge, read by the beach or pool, a plane ride etc, this is the one!!! under 300 pages. also perfect for book clubs—there is much to debate and discuss (especially the ending!)
the premise: a girl killed someone 20 years ago and told basically no one. present day, she’s a teacher and her students have to write a story for review. when one of her students sends her chapters telling a story that follows exactly what she did 20 years ago, she panicks. how does this person know what happened so many years ago? who is sending her these chapters?
this was my first book by this author but certainly won’t be my last. loved her writing style, very easy to follow and captivating right away.
also liked this both via audio and physical copy, prob liked audio more actually!
i’m a thriller snob, so i’m always very excited when we:
1) have multiple twists… check
2) have an ending that isn’t tied up in a pretty little bow and instead has a wow factor… check
lots of red herrings, lots of fun and a book i deff recommend!! thanks to Atria for putting this on my radar :)
if you’re in a reading slump and looking for a quick book to binge, read by the beach or pool, a plane ride etc, this is the one!!! under 300 pages. also perfect for book clubs—there is much to debate and discuss (especially the ending!)
the premise: a girl killed someone 20 years ago and told basically no one. present day, she’s a teacher and her students have to write a story for review. when one of her students sends her chapters telling a story that follows exactly what she did 20 years ago, she panicks. how does this person know what happened so many years ago? who is sending her these chapters?
this was my first book by this author but certainly won’t be my last. loved her writing style, very easy to follow and captivating right away.
also liked this both via audio and physical copy, prob liked audio more actually!
i’m a thriller snob, so i’m always very excited when we:
1) have multiple twists… check
2) have an ending that isn’t tied up in a pretty little bow and instead has a wow factor… check
lots of red herrings, lots of fun and a book i deff recommend!! thanks to Atria for putting this on my radar :)
June 22, 2025
A QUICK FUN SOLID THRILLER READ
Twenty years ago, Elizabeth killed her best friend Jocelyn's school teacher. Jocelyn and the disgraced teacher were having an affair. Now today an English professor herself, Elizabeth is reading a creative novel written by one of her unknown students and the story is detailing exactly what Elizabeth did. Whose is the student and how did they find out. Its up to Elizabeth to return to her hometown to catch the writer before all is exposed.
This was a good solid thriller. This book would be good for someone just getting into thrillers as it carries all the components for a juicy suspenseful read. The story started off well but having to wait till halfway through for a ultimate shocker/ twist was a bit annoying. The chapters before then were good but a little repetitive and long winded.
I really enjoyed the first twist and didn’t see it coming but everything else was somewhat predictable. I do think there was some minor plot holes in the book that made me give it the side eye but overall, for a quick weekend binge read this book would deliver.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
☆pre read☆
This author got me into Romantic Suspense Thrillers!
I'm hoping I enjoy it more than i did her last book
I have my fingers tightly crossed
❤️🤍❤️🤍
Twenty years ago, Elizabeth killed her best friend Jocelyn's school teacher. Jocelyn and the disgraced teacher were having an affair. Now today an English professor herself, Elizabeth is reading a creative novel written by one of her unknown students and the story is detailing exactly what Elizabeth did. Whose is the student and how did they find out. Its up to Elizabeth to return to her hometown to catch the writer before all is exposed.
This was a good solid thriller. This book would be good for someone just getting into thrillers as it carries all the components for a juicy suspenseful read. The story started off well but having to wait till halfway through for a ultimate shocker/ twist was a bit annoying. The chapters before then were good but a little repetitive and long winded.
I really enjoyed the first twist and didn’t see it coming but everything else was somewhat predictable. I do think there was some minor plot holes in the book that made me give it the side eye but overall, for a quick weekend binge read this book would deliver.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
☆pre read☆
This author got me into Romantic Suspense Thrillers!
I'm hoping I enjoy it more than i did her last book
I have my fingers tightly crossed
❤️🤍❤️🤍
June 6, 2025
As soon as I read the email for an invitation to read Keeland’s next thriller, I immediately downloaded it! I was a big fan of The Unraveling and couldn’t wait to see what she had in store for us next!
Elizabeth is a thirty-seven year old English professor. She’s single, no kids and as far as her dating life…. She’s a free spirit who is living out her desires. In other words, she doesn’t want to be tied down.
A student emails her writing assignment to Elizabeth. As the professor is reading the story, she realizes the story is nothing of fiction. She knows this story and has spent her whole life trying to forget it. Suddenly, her whole world is about to come crashing down.
If you haven’t read her work before, the author is famous for her romance/smut novels. She has a huge following on Instagram. People love her. I, on the other hand do not like romance involved with my murders…. But Vi Keeland hooks the reader so hard that I am willing to skim the 💦 scenes lol.
The ending was quick and left me with some questions. However, I still enjoyed the journey. Highly recommend giving this author a go!
Dark trigger warning of child abuse/ sexual abuse
Pub date- 6/17/2025
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elizabeth is a thirty-seven year old English professor. She’s single, no kids and as far as her dating life…. She’s a free spirit who is living out her desires. In other words, she doesn’t want to be tied down.
A student emails her writing assignment to Elizabeth. As the professor is reading the story, she realizes the story is nothing of fiction. She knows this story and has spent her whole life trying to forget it. Suddenly, her whole world is about to come crashing down.
If you haven’t read her work before, the author is famous for her romance/smut novels. She has a huge following on Instagram. People love her. I, on the other hand do not like romance involved with my murders…. But Vi Keeland hooks the reader so hard that I am willing to skim the 💦 scenes lol.
The ending was quick and left me with some questions. However, I still enjoyed the journey. Highly recommend giving this author a go!
Dark trigger warning of child abuse/ sexual abuse
Pub date- 6/17/2025
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 6, 2025
Beyond dark and disturbing, Someone Knows was a spicy, provocative thriller that had me thinking long and hard thanks to the spine-chilling unease. You see, with serious themes and realistic plot lines, it was both hard to read and yet also addictive in the extreme. The fast pace and earth-shattering twists, though, were what had me flying through the pages at speed. Thanks to punchy chapters that kept me completely in the dark, I just couldn’t put this book down no matter what. I know. I know. I’ve said it before, but twisty is an understatement when it comes to this novel—especially when I got to that final jaw-dropping chapter and its last-minute reveal.
The were only two small flies in the ointment. While clever and cunning, the open-ended conclusion irked me somewhat. You see, as much as I loved the shock and awe of the last chapter, I much prefer a nice, pretty little bow at the end. Instead of delivering up all of the answers, though, this book made me want to throw it across the room in a fit. Leaving me with more questions than answers, I can only hope that there’s a sequel coming up on the horizon. After all, the rest of the book was simply divine…well…minus the high level of spice, that is. Coming in too hot for this non-romance reader, I just wasn’t a fan of what got rather too close to smut in my eyes.
All in all, despite a couple of mostly minor flaws, the morally complex characters, unguessable reveals, and a book-within-a-book feel made this dark romantic thriller into quite the unputdownable read. At less than 300 pages and with a taut storyline, I actually had to force myself not to skim. After all, with plenty of twisted manipulations and unbridled deceit, it delivered a mind-game of a read in no uncertain terms. Just be aware that the premise had a heavy dose of graphic triggers. If you have a strong stomach, though, this could be the book for you. I mean, who doesn’t love shocks that shift everything you thought you knew in just a matter of seconds? Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
As a college English professor, Elizabeth looks forward to the start of each new semester teaching her creative writing seminar. At least until she reads chapter one of The Reckoning, a tale about a high school senior who has an affair with her teacher. To anyone else it would be the beginning of a great page-turner, but to Elizabeth it is the beginning of the end.
She knows this story. It’s all familiar because she lived it. The girl in the story was her best friend Jocelyn, and Elizabeth knows exactly how the story will end—with the professor dead. Because she was the one who killed him.
Someone knows what Elizabeth did twenty years ago and her secret is about to be exposed, but who is the mystery student submitting the chapters? In an effort to find out, Elizabeth returns to her Louisiana hometown where it soon becomes clear that no matter how many years have gone by, she can’t escape her past.
Thank you to Vi Keeland and Atria/Emily Bestler for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 17, 2025
Content warning: grooming, physical and sexual abuse of a minor, cancer, death of a parent, sex, alcoholism, mention of: miscarriage
The were only two small flies in the ointment. While clever and cunning, the open-ended conclusion irked me somewhat. You see, as much as I loved the shock and awe of the last chapter, I much prefer a nice, pretty little bow at the end. Instead of delivering up all of the answers, though, this book made me want to throw it across the room in a fit. Leaving me with more questions than answers, I can only hope that there’s a sequel coming up on the horizon. After all, the rest of the book was simply divine…well…minus the high level of spice, that is. Coming in too hot for this non-romance reader, I just wasn’t a fan of what got rather too close to smut in my eyes.
All in all, despite a couple of mostly minor flaws, the morally complex characters, unguessable reveals, and a book-within-a-book feel made this dark romantic thriller into quite the unputdownable read. At less than 300 pages and with a taut storyline, I actually had to force myself not to skim. After all, with plenty of twisted manipulations and unbridled deceit, it delivered a mind-game of a read in no uncertain terms. Just be aware that the premise had a heavy dose of graphic triggers. If you have a strong stomach, though, this could be the book for you. I mean, who doesn’t love shocks that shift everything you thought you knew in just a matter of seconds? Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
As a college English professor, Elizabeth looks forward to the start of each new semester teaching her creative writing seminar. At least until she reads chapter one of The Reckoning, a tale about a high school senior who has an affair with her teacher. To anyone else it would be the beginning of a great page-turner, but to Elizabeth it is the beginning of the end.
She knows this story. It’s all familiar because she lived it. The girl in the story was her best friend Jocelyn, and Elizabeth knows exactly how the story will end—with the professor dead. Because she was the one who killed him.
Someone knows what Elizabeth did twenty years ago and her secret is about to be exposed, but who is the mystery student submitting the chapters? In an effort to find out, Elizabeth returns to her Louisiana hometown where it soon becomes clear that no matter how many years have gone by, she can’t escape her past.
Thank you to Vi Keeland and Atria/Emily Bestler for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 17, 2025
Content warning: grooming, physical and sexual abuse of a minor, cancer, death of a parent, sex, alcoholism, mention of: miscarriage
July 19, 2025
3.5 STARS / rounding up to 4 STARS
The ending was a surprise.......... 😮
Entertaining, but not a page turner for me (until the last few chapters)!
Elizabeth is an English Professor and one of her students has written a very CHILLING story that rings a little too close for comfort for her. All she can think of is "This isn't fiction. This is a REAL story, a true story."
"Someone knows. Someone besides us."
Elizabeth becomes obsessed with finding out who/why wrote this writing assignment. Why now? Its been twenty years?
The story took a weird turn around halfway and I wish it hadn't (can't completely get onboard with the twist), but decided to just go with it! There is also a fair amount of trigger warnings and some cringey sex scenes I didn't expect.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to round up or down, but the ending was pretty great and I was curious who the mystery was, so 4 stars it is!
Available on KU and came out June 17, 2025
The ending was a surprise.......... 😮
Entertaining, but not a page turner for me (until the last few chapters)!
Elizabeth is an English Professor and one of her students has written a very CHILLING story that rings a little too close for comfort for her. All she can think of is "This isn't fiction. This is a REAL story, a true story."
"Someone knows. Someone besides us."
Elizabeth becomes obsessed with finding out who/why wrote this writing assignment. Why now? Its been twenty years?
The story took a weird turn around halfway and I wish it hadn't (can't completely get onboard with the twist), but decided to just go with it! There is also a fair amount of trigger warnings and some cringey sex scenes I didn't expect.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to round up or down, but the ending was pretty great and I was curious who the mystery was, so 4 stars it is!
Available on KU and came out June 17, 2025
June 20, 2025
4 stars
Check triggers (some triggers are spoilers so I won't mention them here)
This was a VERY VERY addictive read. It's the kind of book where you don't feel the time passing as you go and then all of a sudden you're done!
In terms of plot, this was so entertaining, but some of the twists were predictable. That doesn't take away from the story though, at least for me. There were some lingering questions or plot-holes maybe? But I can't get into those without spoilers.
Elizabeth's actions can sometimes come off as dumb or just sex-driven😅 but given her circumstances, I think she can be excused😅 The spice though? 🫦
Now the ending.. it was simultaneously staring me in the face and not 😅 I don't know how to feel about it.. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it yk? Did it psychologically make sense for Elizabeth to make that decision? probably not 😅 but this is fiction so whatever🤣
Also justice for Sam that's all I've got to say🤚
Check triggers (some triggers are spoilers so I won't mention them here)
This was a VERY VERY addictive read. It's the kind of book where you don't feel the time passing as you go and then all of a sudden you're done!
In terms of plot, this was so entertaining, but some of the twists were predictable. That doesn't take away from the story though, at least for me. There were some lingering questions or plot-holes maybe? But I can't get into those without spoilers.
Elizabeth's actions can sometimes come off as dumb or just sex-driven😅 but given her circumstances, I think she can be excused😅 The spice though? 🫦
Now the ending.. it was simultaneously staring me in the face and not 😅 I don't know how to feel about it.. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it yk? Did it psychologically make sense for Elizabeth to make that decision? probably not 😅 but this is fiction so whatever🤣
Also justice for Sam that's all I've got to say🤚
April 29, 2025
"I need backup—because 2 days later, I’m still spiralling."
Inviting you all to read this book because I can’t be the only one emotionally unravelling over here.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: SA, grooming, abuse.
I gently ask you to check in with yourself about these TW as they're very central to the story.
Rating:
We'll settle on 4.75⭐ (rounded up). It almost was a favourite.
A few unresolved and still open questions kept it from fully landing for me—but I guess that's what Vi Keeland wanted to do.
The book unsettled, left me uneasy, and begging for more crumbs.
Just... prepare yourself.
🌀 Hooked from the Start
The writing is sharp and tense in all the right ways. It hooked me and didn’t let go.
Pacing? Perfect. Characters? Threaded in and out with intention.
Even when juggling multiple moving pieces, the author never let the flow drop.
I was constantly guessing, spinning theories left and right—but never feeling totally sure. At best, I landed on 60% suspicion, and even then, I kept doubting myself. It’s that kind of book.
Complete page-turner.
⚡ The Twist
Then, the first twist happened, and I got whiplash.
What hurts is: I knew. I even asked myself the exact question that would lead there, but I dismissed.
🤔 I’m still torn about that first twist.
I loved the concept behind it, but I’m uncertain about how it was framed. Certain aspects felt heavier than what the story actually needed to convey. And while the moment left me reeling, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this particular reveal is becoming a bit overused lately.
➕ Some of the extra layers that followed felt unnecessary—especially since what came after packed a much bigger emotional punch and lasting impact. That’s the twist I’ll be haunted by.
Left Uneasy. Still Processing.
By the end, I was cracked open. There’s one line that echoed through me:
Oof.
The ending made me want to scream (not exaggerating - I actually did). The unease it left me with is... I have no words.
After everything—the journey, the peeling back of layers, the rebuilding—we’re left haunted and no definitive peace. Just a lingering ache and a question that won't quit:
Was this meant to offer healing… or simply haunt us?
So yeah, I repeat:
⚠️ If the trigger warnings leave you uneasy, please pace yourself with this book.
Check in with your mental health as you read. Take breaks. Step away if needed.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC and for absolutely wrecking my peace of mind. Much appreciated.
--
My face when I finished.
--
Pre-read:
I am sat for a mystery thriller and a haunting past.
Inviting you all to read this book because I can’t be the only one emotionally unravelling over here.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: SA, grooming, abuse.
I gently ask you to check in with yourself about these TW as they're very central to the story.
Rating:
We'll settle on 4.75⭐ (rounded up). It almost was a favourite.
A few unresolved and still open questions kept it from fully landing for me—but I guess that's what Vi Keeland wanted to do.
The book unsettled, left me uneasy, and begging for more crumbs.
Just... prepare yourself.
🌀 Hooked from the Start
The writing is sharp and tense in all the right ways. It hooked me and didn’t let go.
Pacing? Perfect. Characters? Threaded in and out with intention.
Even when juggling multiple moving pieces, the author never let the flow drop.
I was constantly guessing, spinning theories left and right—but never feeling totally sure. At best, I landed on 60% suspicion, and even then, I kept doubting myself. It’s that kind of book.
Complete page-turner.
⚡ The Twist
Then, the first twist happened, and I got whiplash.
What hurts is: I knew. I even asked myself the exact question that would lead there, but I dismissed.
🤔 I’m still torn about that first twist.
I loved the concept behind it, but I’m uncertain about how it was framed. Certain aspects felt heavier than what the story actually needed to convey. And while the moment left me reeling, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this particular reveal is becoming a bit overused lately.
➕ Some of the extra layers that followed felt unnecessary—especially since what came after packed a much bigger emotional punch and lasting impact. That’s the twist I’ll be haunted by.
Left Uneasy. Still Processing.
By the end, I was cracked open. There’s one line that echoed through me:
“Who haunts a victim?”
Oof.
The ending made me want to scream (not exaggerating - I actually did). The unease it left me with is... I have no words.
After everything—the journey, the peeling back of layers, the rebuilding—we’re left haunted and no definitive peace. Just a lingering ache and a question that won't quit:
Was this meant to offer healing… or simply haunt us?
So yeah, I repeat:
⚠️ If the trigger warnings leave you uneasy, please pace yourself with this book.
Check in with your mental health as you read. Take breaks. Step away if needed.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC and for absolutely wrecking my peace of mind. Much appreciated.
--
My face when I finished.
--
Pre-read:
I am sat for a mystery thriller and a haunting past.
March 27, 2025
If you’re in the mood for a fast paced, gripping thriller, with just a sprinkle of unbelievability then this would be it. Someone. Knows tells the story of Elizabeth. She’s currently an English professor in New York City whose past comes back to haunt her. One of her students submits the beginnings of a novel for their creative writing class that very closely resembles Elizabeth’s childhood. Who is the student and what is it that she knows? Elizabeth makes the trek to Louisiana to find out
This book definitely had me turning pages. It moved just slow enough for me to continuously want more. The pacing was perfect. As an example, Elizabeth receives a note and as opposed to reading that note right away, she discards it for later. I just wanted to know what was in the note. It was those kind of things that kept making me want to read more. There is a little bit of suspending your disbelief, but not to the point of unbelievable, which is great, especially in this genre.
I would definitely recommend this and look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
This book definitely had me turning pages. It moved just slow enough for me to continuously want more. The pacing was perfect. As an example, Elizabeth receives a note and as opposed to reading that note right away, she discards it for later. I just wanted to know what was in the note. It was those kind of things that kept making me want to read more. There is a little bit of suspending your disbelief, but not to the point of unbelievable, which is great, especially in this genre.
I would definitely recommend this and look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
July 21, 2025
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow! My first Vi Keeland book, but definitely not my last!
Elizabeth is a college professor holding a creative writing seminar. When she starts receiving chapters to review from one of her students telling a VERY familiar story, she freaks out. How does this person know about what happened 20 years ago? She didn’t tell anyone - nobody knows. Well, someone knows!
As Elizabeth heads back to her hometown in Louisiana to try and unravel the mystery, lots of surprises unfold. I loved how the ending wasn’t super tidy. I was still left with a “wow” feeling and I really liked it!
This was a bit spicier than I normally like, but it was a lot of fun and super entertaining. Every time I put it down I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again!
I’m looking forward to reading this author’s backlog soon!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced copy to read and review.
Wow! My first Vi Keeland book, but definitely not my last!
Elizabeth is a college professor holding a creative writing seminar. When she starts receiving chapters to review from one of her students telling a VERY familiar story, she freaks out. How does this person know about what happened 20 years ago? She didn’t tell anyone - nobody knows. Well, someone knows!
As Elizabeth heads back to her hometown in Louisiana to try and unravel the mystery, lots of surprises unfold. I loved how the ending wasn’t super tidy. I was still left with a “wow” feeling and I really liked it!
This was a bit spicier than I normally like, but it was a lot of fun and super entertaining. Every time I put it down I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again!
I’m looking forward to reading this author’s backlog soon!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced copy to read and review.
February 26, 2025
An english professor receives an assignment that describes a secret that she has hidden for 20 years. Is someone messing with her? Does someone know what she did?
This was an exciting ride with a lot going on. She goes back to her hometown, her mother is dying, and she faces all the secrets of her past. There are some very spicy scenes so keep that in mind if spice is not your thing.
Everyone was suspicious and when I got to the very end I was shocked. Keep in mind there are some trigger warnings with this one: sexual abuse of a minor and physical abuse. Some thrillers are less dark, but this one has some very dark scenes.
I really enjoyed this one. I actually want to read more by this author now as I like her writing style a lot.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was an exciting ride with a lot going on. She goes back to her hometown, her mother is dying, and she faces all the secrets of her past. There are some very spicy scenes so keep that in mind if spice is not your thing.
Everyone was suspicious and when I got to the very end I was shocked. Keep in mind there are some trigger warnings with this one: sexual abuse of a minor and physical abuse. Some thrillers are less dark, but this one has some very dark scenes.
I really enjoyed this one. I actually want to read more by this author now as I like her writing style a lot.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2025
Sexy, twisted, intense, and emotional describe this addictive, gripping thriller. Does someone know Elizabeth’s deepest and darkest secrets? Is someone out to get her, or is her imagination in overdrive? The past and present collide as secrets are revealed. Elizabeth’s tragic history is threatening her future and wreaking havoc on her mental stability. I was completely invested in Elizabeth’s reckless journey as she searched for answers and clarity. The plot is fast-paced with a clever, satisfying conclusion. Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC.
June 28, 2025
The hype is real!
I’ve been in a terrible reading slump for the past month, as so many books have been super disappointing. Vi Keeland is an author that has been on my radar for a while, but I couldn’t find her books on audiobook. When Someone Knows appeared on Libby, I figured I would give it a shot.
This book is addictive! While it deals with a dark subject matter (see trigger warnings), I couldn’t put it down! Friends, I literally listened to this in one day. The narration by Leslie Howard and Aiden Snow is superb! The plot is not very original, but I was genuinely gripped from page one.
Vi Keeland might be new to the thriller genre, but she is a prolific dark romance author. Please note that there are some very steamy scenes in this book as well. Dare I mention that it gave me Verity vibes?! 🫣
This twisty thriller will have you guessing until the very last sentence!
I just found The Unraveling on Eaudiobook and can’t wait to listen to it!
Trigger warnings: Grooming, strong sexual content
4.5/5 stars rounded down
I’ve been in a terrible reading slump for the past month, as so many books have been super disappointing. Vi Keeland is an author that has been on my radar for a while, but I couldn’t find her books on audiobook. When Someone Knows appeared on Libby, I figured I would give it a shot.
This book is addictive! While it deals with a dark subject matter (see trigger warnings), I couldn’t put it down! Friends, I literally listened to this in one day. The narration by Leslie Howard and Aiden Snow is superb! The plot is not very original, but I was genuinely gripped from page one.
Vi Keeland might be new to the thriller genre, but she is a prolific dark romance author. Please note that there are some very steamy scenes in this book as well. Dare I mention that it gave me Verity vibes?! 🫣
This twisty thriller will have you guessing until the very last sentence!
I just found The Unraveling on Eaudiobook and can’t wait to listen to it!
Trigger warnings: Grooming, strong sexual content
4.5/5 stars rounded down
June 12, 2025
2 Stars (Outliner)
One Liner: Ticks all items on the checklist
English professor Elizabeth looks forward to each semester to teach creative writing to college students. One of the students submits a chapter about a high school senior who has an affair with her teacher. Elizabeth is too familiar with this story and knows exactly what happened. After all, her best friend, Jocelyn, was that girl, and Elizabeth had killed the professor.
Looks like someone knows what she did two decades ago. But who? Elizabeth returns to her hometown, Louisiana, to dig deeper. Maybe it’s time she faced her past!
The story comes in Elizabeth’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
While I don’t mind predictable stuff in cozy mysteries and romance, I somehow can’t stand it in thrillers. Picky much, hell yeah! Still, since I enjoyed the author’s latest romance book, I thought I’d try this one too.
Let me be clear that this is decently good. It has all the elements you want from a thriller. In fact, it could be a great read if this is what you want.
The narration is fast-paced, which is a huge plus. It keeps the pages turning even if the plot doesn’t move (there isn’t enough plot to move anyway).
The first-person POV is spot-on. Despite my rating, I have to applaud the author for getting the tone right. It goes from borderline egoistical to frantic and messy very well.
In a way, the book could be a study of patterns. Not just the ones openly discussed, but others too. I think this could be a book club read. There is a lot to dissect if you want to!
However, the overall effect is underwhelming. That’s mainly because I’m no longer awed by such twists or characters. I wondered about a twist two to three chapters before it happened. This continued until the end.
Then the MC, by god! It’s mandatory for them to be idiots, so she is no exception. Living on coffee and alcohol- check; horny even when her life is crap- double check; pea-brained and idiotic- check. The list could go on…
The book is called a chilling and sexy thriller. It wasn’t chilling, but okay. It wasn’t sexy either. It was horny. I know it’s hard to get the erotic elements just right to add that extra bite to the thriller (I tried it in a short story). Here, it started well, but soon became a joke. While it does serve the purpose of making readers question the MC’s mental state, it doesn’t do anything else.
And that unwanted and most useless last chapter, which has become an annoying trend in this genre. I don’t know who started it, but I can’t wait for someone to end it. The last chapters of a thriller book don’t have to shock the reader and inadvertently make them question the whole plot.
Honestly, there could have been a better last chapter, especially since there was a much better character suited for that role. That’s all I will say!
To summarize, Someone Knows has everything that would make a good thriller, but I couldn’t enjoy it. Those who love the genre might like it more. Do check the other reviews before you decide.
Don’t ignore the triggers!
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #SomeoneKnows
***
TW:
One Liner: Ticks all items on the checklist
English professor Elizabeth looks forward to each semester to teach creative writing to college students. One of the students submits a chapter about a high school senior who has an affair with her teacher. Elizabeth is too familiar with this story and knows exactly what happened. After all, her best friend, Jocelyn, was that girl, and Elizabeth had killed the professor.
Looks like someone knows what she did two decades ago. But who? Elizabeth returns to her hometown, Louisiana, to dig deeper. Maybe it’s time she faced her past!
The story comes in Elizabeth’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
While I don’t mind predictable stuff in cozy mysteries and romance, I somehow can’t stand it in thrillers. Picky much, hell yeah! Still, since I enjoyed the author’s latest romance book, I thought I’d try this one too.
Let me be clear that this is decently good. It has all the elements you want from a thriller. In fact, it could be a great read if this is what you want.
The narration is fast-paced, which is a huge plus. It keeps the pages turning even if the plot doesn’t move (there isn’t enough plot to move anyway).
The first-person POV is spot-on. Despite my rating, I have to applaud the author for getting the tone right. It goes from borderline egoistical to frantic and messy very well.
In a way, the book could be a study of patterns. Not just the ones openly discussed, but others too. I think this could be a book club read. There is a lot to dissect if you want to!
However, the overall effect is underwhelming. That’s mainly because I’m no longer awed by such twists or characters. I wondered about a twist two to three chapters before it happened. This continued until the end.
Then the MC, by god! It’s mandatory for them to be idiots, so she is no exception. Living on coffee and alcohol- check; horny even when her life is crap- double check; pea-brained and idiotic- check. The list could go on…
The book is called a chilling and sexy thriller. It wasn’t chilling, but okay. It wasn’t sexy either. It was horny. I know it’s hard to get the erotic elements just right to add that extra bite to the thriller (I tried it in a short story). Here, it started well, but soon became a joke. While it does serve the purpose of making readers question the MC’s mental state, it doesn’t do anything else.
And that unwanted and most useless last chapter, which has become an annoying trend in this genre. I don’t know who started it, but I can’t wait for someone to end it. The last chapters of a thriller book don’t have to shock the reader and inadvertently make them question the whole plot.
Honestly, there could have been a better last chapter, especially since there was a much better character suited for that role. That’s all I will say!
To summarize, Someone Knows has everything that would make a good thriller, but I couldn’t enjoy it. Those who love the genre might like it more. Do check the other reviews before you decide.
Don’t ignore the triggers!
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #SomeoneKnows
***
TW:
April 10, 2025
4.5 ⭐
After finishing the book, one thought immediately came to mind: 𝐰𝐨𝐰… 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞! But first, let me tell you a bit about the plot.
The FMC is a college English professor. She also teaches creative writing, and one day, she receives a first chapter a story from a student — a story about a relationship between a high school senior and her teacher. The thing is, Elizabeth knows this story all too well, because twenty years ago, her best friend was that girl… and Elizabeth was the one who killed the teacher.
I was a little slow to get into the book at first, but once it hooked me, I couldn’t put it down. This is a psychological thriller with steamy moments, and it’s full of unexpected twists. I had so many theories and guesses, but I was never fully sure of anything. Toward the end, I had no idea how things would wrap up. That final chapter? My jaw was on the floor. The ending is somewhat open, and while I’m usually not a fan of open endings, this one felt just right. It was the perfect way to close this story!
I’ve read Vi Keeland’s romance books before, but this was my first time reading one of her thrillers — and I’m blown away! I’ve also seen amazing reviews for The Unraveling, so I'll definitely pick that one up later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
After finishing the book, one thought immediately came to mind: 𝐰𝐨𝐰… 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞! But first, let me tell you a bit about the plot.
The FMC is a college English professor. She also teaches creative writing, and one day, she receives a first chapter a story from a student — a story about a relationship between a high school senior and her teacher. The thing is, Elizabeth knows this story all too well, because twenty years ago, her best friend was that girl… and Elizabeth was the one who killed the teacher.
I was a little slow to get into the book at first, but once it hooked me, I couldn’t put it down. This is a psychological thriller with steamy moments, and it’s full of unexpected twists. I had so many theories and guesses, but I was never fully sure of anything. Toward the end, I had no idea how things would wrap up. That final chapter? My jaw was on the floor. The ending is somewhat open, and while I’m usually not a fan of open endings, this one felt just right. It was the perfect way to close this story!
I’ve read Vi Keeland’s romance books before, but this was my first time reading one of her thrillers — and I’m blown away! I’ve also seen amazing reviews for The Unraveling, so I'll definitely pick that one up later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 20, 2025
well this was INSANE!! Very disturbing but insanely good.
Elizabeth is a an English professor who starts receiving chapters of a story that recount events that actually happened to her. Very disturbing events. Throughout the book Elizabeth is trying to figure out who is sending her these chapters and let me tell you, I never got it right. Everyone was suspicious to me 🫵🏻
The beginning is a little slow but once the story picks up, its full speed ahead and I couldn't put it down. There's a big twist about halfway through the book that I never saw coming. I thought the plot was very unique and the main character is definitely complex. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a fast-paced read!
Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
Elizabeth is a an English professor who starts receiving chapters of a story that recount events that actually happened to her. Very disturbing events. Throughout the book Elizabeth is trying to figure out who is sending her these chapters and let me tell you, I never got it right. Everyone was suspicious to me 🫵🏻
The beginning is a little slow but once the story picks up, its full speed ahead and I couldn't put it down. There's a big twist about halfway through the book that I never saw coming. I thought the plot was very unique and the main character is definitely complex. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a fast-paced read!
Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
June 22, 2025
3.5-4⭐️ I am purposely choosing to exclude a synopsis here because this is the type of book that’s best to go into completely blind (minus the gorgeous cover). While I normally do like to get a hinting as to what the book is about, I choose not to for this, and I am so glad I did.
There is just something about a Vi Keeland thriller that makes it absolutely impossible to put down. The MC is usually a bit unhinged, the plot fast-moving with twists flying, and they are the perfect length to read in one(ish) sitting. This story is darker than her last, with some very heavy triggers, but no less action-packed with what I would call thrilling chaos (if you’ve read either this or Unraveled, you will know exactly what I mean). I absolutely love how well she combines an element of romance into her thrillers without turning them into romantic suspense - these are definitely thrillers.
🎧 I read this one predominantly with my ears because her narrators are always so fun, and Leslie Howard and Aiden Snow are no exception here.
Read if you like:
▪️romantic thrillers
▪️domestic suspense
▪️dark academia
▪️bingy reads
▪️dual perspectives
▪️Louisiana setting
CW: Very heavy trigger warnings for this one. Please DM for more info or research beforehand if you are sensitive to any.
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you to the Alis for buddy reading this one with me and thank you to Atria and Simon Audio for the advanced copies.
There is just something about a Vi Keeland thriller that makes it absolutely impossible to put down. The MC is usually a bit unhinged, the plot fast-moving with twists flying, and they are the perfect length to read in one(ish) sitting. This story is darker than her last, with some very heavy triggers, but no less action-packed with what I would call thrilling chaos (if you’ve read either this or Unraveled, you will know exactly what I mean). I absolutely love how well she combines an element of romance into her thrillers without turning them into romantic suspense - these are definitely thrillers.
🎧 I read this one predominantly with my ears because her narrators are always so fun, and Leslie Howard and Aiden Snow are no exception here.
Read if you like:
▪️romantic thrillers
▪️domestic suspense
▪️dark academia
▪️bingy reads
▪️dual perspectives
▪️Louisiana setting
CW: Very heavy trigger warnings for this one. Please DM for more info or research beforehand if you are sensitive to any.
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you to the Alis for buddy reading this one with me and thank you to Atria and Simon Audio for the advanced copies.
May 9, 2025
Out of the park again Ms Keeland, please keep 'em coming!!!
When an English professor starts receiving chapters of her teenage crime; she's committed to finding out who the sender is. In light of the estrangement from her mother, the unexpected hookup that's now in the picture and the best friend that helped cover up the crime; who could it be!!! Also could it be that her mind has resorted to playing games with her. You will never see that end coming!!
Solid 4.5 stars!!!!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!!! Beyond humbled 🙏🏾
SOMEONE KNOWS out June 17th 2005!!
When an English professor starts receiving chapters of her teenage crime; she's committed to finding out who the sender is. In light of the estrangement from her mother, the unexpected hookup that's now in the picture and the best friend that helped cover up the crime; who could it be!!! Also could it be that her mind has resorted to playing games with her. You will never see that end coming!!
Solid 4.5 stars!!!!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!!! Beyond humbled 🙏🏾
SOMEONE KNOWS out June 17th 2005!!
June 13, 2025
Okay, don’t get me wrong—I did enjoy this book. The writing? Super engaging. The pacing? Quick and addictive, with those short chapters that make you say, “Just one more,” until suddenly it’s 2 a.m. Vi Keeland definitely has a writing style I’d love to read more of. This book specifically gave me major Freida vibes, but dialed up with some extra spice.
The premise? Chef’s kiss. A college English professor, Elizabeth, reading a creative writing submission that eerily mirrors a deadly secret from her past? I was hooked from the first chapter. The inclusion of chapters from “The Reckoning” was a nice touch.
Now, that said… the characters? Mostly insufferable. I get it—trauma, secrets, baggage—but dang, it was rough. Only a few were bearable, and even then, barely. Still, I pushed through because I was dying to know how it all tied together.
The twist—well, the first part? Kind of predictable. A little anticlimactic. But the writing made up for it. I was still invested. And then we got to the big reveal about who’s behind the mysterious story submission and… I’m sorry, what? That choice just didn’t land for me. There were so many stronger, more satisfying options. This one felt random—like a curveball that didn’t quite make it over the plate.
And after that point? The story kind of lost its footing. Something felt off. Things stopped making sense. The momentum fizzled. And then that ending… the final chapter felt like it belonged to a different book. Shock factor? Maybe. Resolution? Not really. If anything, it left me with more questions than closure, and not in a “ooooh intriguing” way—more like, “wait, huh?”
I honestly think this story needed a bit more room to breathe. More time with the characters. More emotional depth. A few more layers to help everything click into place. A longer page count could’ve helped flesh it all out.
Still, I can’t deny that I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t stop reading. The premise alone was so clever, and I love the way Keeland built suspense through the interwoven chapters. Even if the ending didn’t work for me, the journey there was a compelling ride.
- 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 | 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💐ᡣ𐭩
The premise? Chef’s kiss. A college English professor, Elizabeth, reading a creative writing submission that eerily mirrors a deadly secret from her past? I was hooked from the first chapter. The inclusion of chapters from “The Reckoning” was a nice touch.
Now, that said… the characters? Mostly insufferable. I get it—trauma, secrets, baggage—but dang, it was rough. Only a few were bearable, and even then, barely. Still, I pushed through because I was dying to know how it all tied together.
The twist—well, the first part? Kind of predictable. A little anticlimactic. But the writing made up for it. I was still invested. And then we got to the big reveal about who’s behind the mysterious story submission and… I’m sorry, what? That choice just didn’t land for me. There were so many stronger, more satisfying options. This one felt random—like a curveball that didn’t quite make it over the plate.
And after that point? The story kind of lost its footing. Something felt off. Things stopped making sense. The momentum fizzled. And then that ending… the final chapter felt like it belonged to a different book. Shock factor? Maybe. Resolution? Not really. If anything, it left me with more questions than closure, and not in a “ooooh intriguing” way—more like, “wait, huh?”
I honestly think this story needed a bit more room to breathe. More time with the characters. More emotional depth. A few more layers to help everything click into place. A longer page count could’ve helped flesh it all out.
Still, I can’t deny that I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t stop reading. The premise alone was so clever, and I love the way Keeland built suspense through the interwoven chapters. Even if the ending didn’t work for me, the journey there was a compelling ride.
- 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 | 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💐ᡣ𐭩
June 21, 2025
If you like your murder mystery’s with a lot of spice then Someone Knows will be right up your alley. I hade no idea that this author was a romance writer but I learnt that pretty quickly with her writing. That is not my usual kind of read but I handled it 😅
Elizabeth really was a mess of a character. She is so broken from what happened in her teenage years,and is she has trouble forming and keeping relationships, trusting men and sleeping. She does however, enjoy sleeping with multiple men without strings. She is an English professor in New York, and her latest assignment for her students has her scared. Somebody knows the intimate details of her life, in particular, the time when she killed her English teacher in high school. This sends her completely off the rails and she heads home for the first time in years to face her demons and work out who is doing this to her.
There were a few twists that I didn’t see coming that was for sure.. I changed my mind so many times on who I thought was responsible. It was very satisfying ending.
Thanks so much to Little Brown Book Group UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. Comes out on June 17th.
Elizabeth really was a mess of a character. She is so broken from what happened in her teenage years,and is she has trouble forming and keeping relationships, trusting men and sleeping. She does however, enjoy sleeping with multiple men without strings. She is an English professor in New York, and her latest assignment for her students has her scared. Somebody knows the intimate details of her life, in particular, the time when she killed her English teacher in high school. This sends her completely off the rails and she heads home for the first time in years to face her demons and work out who is doing this to her.
There were a few twists that I didn’t see coming that was for sure.. I changed my mind so many times on who I thought was responsible. It was very satisfying ending.
Thanks so much to Little Brown Book Group UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. Comes out on June 17th.
July 18, 2025
4.45 Stars, rounded down!
My goodness, Vi Keeland knows how to write sexy, gripping thrillers!! She grabbed my attention last year with her release, The Unraveling, so I knew I had to get this new release ASAP, and unlike most books I look forward to reading for some time, this one did NOT disappoint! While it wasn't perfect, I believe it'll stand out by the end of '25 as one of the better thrillers I read!
Elizabeth is a creative writing professor who receives a manuscript written by a student that eerily mirrors the abuse she suffered as a high school senior – perhaps a little too accurately, forcing her to question how anyone could know what she’s spent twenty years trying to forget. Who is this student who knows the intimate details of her past? More importantly, how does she know? Only one or two other people know the details of what happened that night, so who has spilled the beans? Elizabeth returns to her hometown determined to uncover the truth and confront the past before it catches up to her and shatters the life she’s built!
Elizabeth was a complex and conflicted protagonist whose choices consistently challenged my loyalty as a reader. While I felt deeply for the trauma she experienced as a teen, I found myself increasingly frustrated by her behavior in the present timeline. Even though she was unpredictable and I sometimes questioned her actions, there was little doubt she made for a compelling and entertaining read! I also appreciated the dynamic between her and her mother, but wished that her mother's character were developed just a bit more. I also felt the same way about Noah.
The plot was a masterfully crafted example of psychological suspense, full of unexpected twists and turns - the pacing was lightening-quick, and I was glued to the edge of my seat throughout. That said, I found myself wishing the story had delved deeper into the pivotal night between Elizabeth and her abuser. Instead, the details were left somewhat vague, with only the outcome – his death – made clear. Interestingly, this might be one of the rare thrillers where I found myself wanting more detail rather than less, usually, I’m wishing for the opposite! The ending delivered a jaw-dropping twist I never saw coming, leaving me yearning for more. To be honest, I'm still mulling over how I feel about the ambiguity of that ending!
This novel is not one for the faint of heart - it was full of triggering scenes that might not be for sensitive readers, or beginners to the genre, but it totally worked for me as a whole. This is a novel I'd recommend to those that enjoy steamy thrillers with marginally unpredictable, unreliable, unlikeable lead characters. If you can enjoy those aspects and still enjoy your reading experience, this is definitely the book for you!
My goodness, Vi Keeland knows how to write sexy, gripping thrillers!! She grabbed my attention last year with her release, The Unraveling, so I knew I had to get this new release ASAP, and unlike most books I look forward to reading for some time, this one did NOT disappoint! While it wasn't perfect, I believe it'll stand out by the end of '25 as one of the better thrillers I read!
Elizabeth is a creative writing professor who receives a manuscript written by a student that eerily mirrors the abuse she suffered as a high school senior – perhaps a little too accurately, forcing her to question how anyone could know what she’s spent twenty years trying to forget. Who is this student who knows the intimate details of her past? More importantly, how does she know? Only one or two other people know the details of what happened that night, so who has spilled the beans? Elizabeth returns to her hometown determined to uncover the truth and confront the past before it catches up to her and shatters the life she’s built!
Elizabeth was a complex and conflicted protagonist whose choices consistently challenged my loyalty as a reader. While I felt deeply for the trauma she experienced as a teen, I found myself increasingly frustrated by her behavior in the present timeline. Even though she was unpredictable and I sometimes questioned her actions, there was little doubt she made for a compelling and entertaining read! I also appreciated the dynamic between her and her mother, but wished that her mother's character were developed just a bit more. I also felt the same way about Noah.
The plot was a masterfully crafted example of psychological suspense, full of unexpected twists and turns - the pacing was lightening-quick, and I was glued to the edge of my seat throughout. That said, I found myself wishing the story had delved deeper into the pivotal night between Elizabeth and her abuser. Instead, the details were left somewhat vague, with only the outcome – his death – made clear. Interestingly, this might be one of the rare thrillers where I found myself wanting more detail rather than less, usually, I’m wishing for the opposite! The ending delivered a jaw-dropping twist I never saw coming, leaving me yearning for more. To be honest, I'm still mulling over how I feel about the ambiguity of that ending!
This novel is not one for the faint of heart - it was full of triggering scenes that might not be for sensitive readers, or beginners to the genre, but it totally worked for me as a whole. This is a novel I'd recommend to those that enjoy steamy thrillers with marginally unpredictable, unreliable, unlikeable lead characters. If you can enjoy those aspects and still enjoy your reading experience, this is definitely the book for you!
August 20, 2025
the setup…
Elizabeth Davis is an English professor at New York’s Pace University. One of her classes is a yearlong fiction writing seminar. When one of her students submits her first chapter for review, Elizabeth is stunned to find the details are identical to something that happened to her friend Jocelyn when she was seventeen. It involves a sexually abusive affair with an older teacher who ends up dead…and she knows who killed him. Who is this student and how does she know???
the heart of the story…
To say that submitted writing assignment unnerved Elizabeth is an understatement. It’s sends her into a tailspin, back to her Louisiana hometown where it all happened. There were only three people who knew what happened, including herself, but Jocelyn seems to have disappeared and the student was equally elusive. Elizabeth is a complicated woman with an active sexual life but avoids relationships beyond anything casual despite suitors wanting more. It was clear she’d experienced some kind of trauma in her past, made especially clear when she returned home.
the narration…
Leslie Howard carries most of the story and she was wonderful as the confident but angsty Elizabeth. I loved her voice tone. Aiden Snow was a lovely surprise as well. They were excellent storytellers.
the bottom line…
I expected there’d be a few twists but this journey was more squiggly than I was prepared for, especially the one that turned the story on its head at about the halfway mark. It made me sit up straight and reevaluate everything. Nothing is what it seemed and everything is called into question. And that ending…had to rewind and listen several times to make certain I heard it right. My first and certainly not my last by this author.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Elizabeth Davis is an English professor at New York’s Pace University. One of her classes is a yearlong fiction writing seminar. When one of her students submits her first chapter for review, Elizabeth is stunned to find the details are identical to something that happened to her friend Jocelyn when she was seventeen. It involves a sexually abusive affair with an older teacher who ends up dead…and she knows who killed him. Who is this student and how does she know???
the heart of the story…
To say that submitted writing assignment unnerved Elizabeth is an understatement. It’s sends her into a tailspin, back to her Louisiana hometown where it all happened. There were only three people who knew what happened, including herself, but Jocelyn seems to have disappeared and the student was equally elusive. Elizabeth is a complicated woman with an active sexual life but avoids relationships beyond anything casual despite suitors wanting more. It was clear she’d experienced some kind of trauma in her past, made especially clear when she returned home.
the narration…
Leslie Howard carries most of the story and she was wonderful as the confident but angsty Elizabeth. I loved her voice tone. Aiden Snow was a lovely surprise as well. They were excellent storytellers.
the bottom line…
I expected there’d be a few twists but this journey was more squiggly than I was prepared for, especially the one that turned the story on its head at about the halfway mark. It made me sit up straight and reevaluate everything. Nothing is what it seemed and everything is called into question. And that ending…had to rewind and listen several times to make certain I heard it right. My first and certainly not my last by this author.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
March 5, 2025
Whoa! This book was amazing and very well written! The author had put a lot of thought, effort and time into writing this! It had me confused throughout the book, but in a really good and suspenseful way. I thought I knew everything, then realized I knew nothing. The details in this book are remarkable. Not only was this book full of suspense, it had crazy sexual encounters as well. It was disturbing, dark and eerie. It made me feel sick to my stomach at times. It had me feeling overwhelmingly anxious and full of fear at times. I really felt like I was feeling the same emotions as the woman telling her story. WOW, just wow!
Someone Knows is about a woman named Elizabeth, who is an English college professor living in New York. One of her anonymous students sends in their assignment. This assignment is the beginning of a story. When she begins reading it, this story sounded very familiar and was convinced it was about her childhood friend. As Elizabeth starts reading more and more of the story, she realizes it is about her childhood friend. Elizabeth has been hiding secrets and she’s not the only one from her hometown hiding secrets as well. She is on a mission to finding out who is writing this story and stops at nothing to figure it out. She even goes to her hometown, back in Louisiana. While she’s in her hometown, everyone is a suspect. She never ruled out a suspect perhaps living in New York, but this anonymous writer knew too much and assumed they had to have been from Louisiana. Elizabeth knows how this story ends, but who else knows? Who is this anonymous writer and why are they writing her this story?
This story contains trigger warnings. These trigger warnings include child abuse, murder, grief, explicit sexual content, violence and death. It may be disturbing to some readers.
This book takes you on an adventure on finding out things that you will never even think of! I give this book a high 5 out of 5 stars rating! Thank you so much to NetGalley, author Vi Keeland and Atria books for this advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Someone Knows is about a woman named Elizabeth, who is an English college professor living in New York. One of her anonymous students sends in their assignment. This assignment is the beginning of a story. When she begins reading it, this story sounded very familiar and was convinced it was about her childhood friend. As Elizabeth starts reading more and more of the story, she realizes it is about her childhood friend. Elizabeth has been hiding secrets and she’s not the only one from her hometown hiding secrets as well. She is on a mission to finding out who is writing this story and stops at nothing to figure it out. She even goes to her hometown, back in Louisiana. While she’s in her hometown, everyone is a suspect. She never ruled out a suspect perhaps living in New York, but this anonymous writer knew too much and assumed they had to have been from Louisiana. Elizabeth knows how this story ends, but who else knows? Who is this anonymous writer and why are they writing her this story?
This story contains trigger warnings. These trigger warnings include child abuse, murder, grief, explicit sexual content, violence and death. It may be disturbing to some readers.
This book takes you on an adventure on finding out things that you will never even think of! I give this book a high 5 out of 5 stars rating! Thank you so much to NetGalley, author Vi Keeland and Atria books for this advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,284 reviews