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That Night
They said she was a murderer.
They said she killed her sister.
But they lied.
As a teenager, Toni Murphy had a life full of typical adolescent complications: a boyfriend she adored, a younger sister she couldn’t relate to, a strained relationship with her parents, and classmates who seemed hell-bent on making her life miserable. Things weren’t easy, but Toni could never have predicted how horrific they would become until her younger sister was brutally murdered one summer night.
Toni and her boyfriend, Ryan, were convicted of the murder and sent to prison.
Now thirty-four, Toni is out on parole and back in her hometown, struggling to adjust to a new life on the outside. Prison changed her, hardened her, and she’s doing everything in her power to avoid violating her parole and going back. This means having absolutely no contact with Ryan, avoiding fellow parolees looking to pick fights, and steering clear of trouble in all its forms. But nothing is making that easy—not Ryan, who is convinced he can figure out the truth; not her mother, who doubts Toni’s innocence; and certainly not the group of women who made Toni’s life hell in high school and may have darker secrets than anyone realizes. No matter how hard she tries, ignoring her old life to start a new one is impossible. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out what really happened that night.
But the truth might be the most terrifying thing of all.
They said she killed her sister.
But they lied.
As a teenager, Toni Murphy had a life full of typical adolescent complications: a boyfriend she adored, a younger sister she couldn’t relate to, a strained relationship with her parents, and classmates who seemed hell-bent on making her life miserable. Things weren’t easy, but Toni could never have predicted how horrific they would become until her younger sister was brutally murdered one summer night.
Toni and her boyfriend, Ryan, were convicted of the murder and sent to prison.
Now thirty-four, Toni is out on parole and back in her hometown, struggling to adjust to a new life on the outside. Prison changed her, hardened her, and she’s doing everything in her power to avoid violating her parole and going back. This means having absolutely no contact with Ryan, avoiding fellow parolees looking to pick fights, and steering clear of trouble in all its forms. But nothing is making that easy—not Ryan, who is convinced he can figure out the truth; not her mother, who doubts Toni’s innocence; and certainly not the group of women who made Toni’s life hell in high school and may have darker secrets than anyone realizes. No matter how hard she tries, ignoring her old life to start a new one is impossible. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out what really happened that night.
But the truth might be the most terrifying thing of all.
372 pages, Hardcover
First published June 17, 2014
About the author
Chevy Stevens
11 books9,925 followersCHEVY STEVENS lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and daughter. When she’s not working on her next book, she’s hiking with her two dogs on her favorite mountain trails and spending time with her family. Chevy's current obsessions are vintage airstreams, Hollywood memoirs, and all things mid-century modern.
Chevy's debut novel, STILL MISSING, was a New York Times bestseller and won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel. Her books, including THOSE GIRLS which Stephen King called "incredibly scary" have been published in more than thirty countries. Her seventh novel, DARK ROADS, is now available. Please visit her at www.ChevyStevens.com.
REVIEW POLICY: I only rate books I really love. This is a way for me to share my favourites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,017 reviews
February 23, 2023
THIS WAS SO GOOD!
I just can't stay away from Chevy Stevens' excellent, dark thrillers!
I listened, totally absorbed, to the audiobook of this dark tale of teen bullying and the gross miscarriage of justice against two young people - all based on what amounted to purely circumstantial evidence. (The media frenzy didn't help their case, either! The media often convicts people before they've even had their day in court.)
My heart broke for Toni and Ryan - their story was incredibly tragic. But this story highlighted an ongoing problem with our penal system: ex-convicts tend to fall back into criminal behaviour and end up right back in prison because few of us are willing to hire or give these persons a second chance. People who leave the prison system have very few champions. I have always said that only the rich can afford justice. The rest of us just have to make do with what we get.
Regarding the bullying aspect: I never understand why we willingly give people like Shauna the power to influence and manipulate our behaviour. It is bad enough that we bow down to peer pressure and rush to buy the latest phones and gadgets. Everyone wants to be popular - but this popularity invariably comes at someone else's expense. We keep perpetuating these same social hierarchies. Maybe we should send all of our children to school wearing body armor?
One final comment: Toni's parents totally failed her, particularly her mother. Ironic, wasn't it, how she so adored her daughters' tormentor, Shauna, and would never hear a word against her. Perhaps this was because Toni's mother and Shauna were both clingy, neurotic and controlling. It says a lot for Toni's inner strength that she did not lose her humanity in prison. Not all of the inmates in prison were evil: Margaret became the mother that Toni never really had. That was a welcome balance after those first few battle zone years.
. . . . . . . .
There are many aspects of this story that still tease my brain as I write this review, and for me, this is always a sign of an exceptional novel - those lingering thoughts and feelings that haunt you long after you have turned the last page. I've become a huge fan of Chevy Stevens' thrillers because, after taking us down a very tortured, painful path, she usually manages to leave us feeling hopeful. Yes, dark or terrible things do happen to many of us, but evil does not always prevail.
Loved the ending: they now had the freedom to go anywhere and do anything.
I highly recommend this spellbinding (and, as always, very well written) novel.
I just can't stay away from Chevy Stevens' excellent, dark thrillers!
I listened, totally absorbed, to the audiobook of this dark tale of teen bullying and the gross miscarriage of justice against two young people - all based on what amounted to purely circumstantial evidence. (The media frenzy didn't help their case, either! The media often convicts people before they've even had their day in court.)
My heart broke for Toni and Ryan - their story was incredibly tragic. But this story highlighted an ongoing problem with our penal system: ex-convicts tend to fall back into criminal behaviour and end up right back in prison because few of us are willing to hire or give these persons a second chance. People who leave the prison system have very few champions. I have always said that only the rich can afford justice. The rest of us just have to make do with what we get.
Regarding the bullying aspect: I never understand why we willingly give people like Shauna the power to influence and manipulate our behaviour. It is bad enough that we bow down to peer pressure and rush to buy the latest phones and gadgets. Everyone wants to be popular - but this popularity invariably comes at someone else's expense. We keep perpetuating these same social hierarchies. Maybe we should send all of our children to school wearing body armor?
One final comment: Toni's parents totally failed her, particularly her mother. Ironic, wasn't it, how she so adored her daughters' tormentor, Shauna, and would never hear a word against her. Perhaps this was because Toni's mother and Shauna were both clingy, neurotic and controlling. It says a lot for Toni's inner strength that she did not lose her humanity in prison. Not all of the inmates in prison were evil: Margaret became the mother that Toni never really had. That was a welcome balance after those first few battle zone years.
. . . . . . . .
There are many aspects of this story that still tease my brain as I write this review, and for me, this is always a sign of an exceptional novel - those lingering thoughts and feelings that haunt you long after you have turned the last page. I've become a huge fan of Chevy Stevens' thrillers because, after taking us down a very tortured, painful path, she usually manages to leave us feeling hopeful. Yes, dark or terrible things do happen to many of us, but evil does not always prevail.
Loved the ending: they now had the freedom to go anywhere and do anything.
I highly recommend this spellbinding (and, as always, very well written) novel.
July 20, 2016
I usually like Chevy Stevens writing. I don't know what the heck happened in this one.
Toni is a young girl who is all in lurve with a bad boy named Ryan. They smoke pot, have sex and pretty much are the typical whiney teenagers. Her younger sister is perfect in every way. Then Toni has ticked off a major teen drama queen and the bullying begins. The thing is I liked none of the characters. None.
The first half of this book is written so childish that I almost DNF'd it. I kept on and it did somewhat pick up in the second half. Toni and Ryan are convincted of her sister's death. It's obvious that they did not do it and I had to suspend belief that they were convicted. The whole thing was just head shake worthy.
I never did connect with Toni's character either when she was being bullied, the whole prison sentence or at any time.
She was bullied in high school, in prison and in the half way house? It just seems like too much.
I will say her mom in this book is probably the worst case of some one who should never have had children that I have ever read.
I was given an ARC copy of this book by Netgalley for a honest review.
Toni is a young girl who is all in lurve with a bad boy named Ryan. They smoke pot, have sex and pretty much are the typical whiney teenagers. Her younger sister is perfect in every way. Then Toni has ticked off a major teen drama queen and the bullying begins. The thing is I liked none of the characters. None.
The first half of this book is written so childish that I almost DNF'd it. I kept on and it did somewhat pick up in the second half. Toni and Ryan are convincted of her sister's death. It's obvious that they did not do it and I had to suspend belief that they were convicted. The whole thing was just head shake worthy.
I never did connect with Toni's character either when she was being bullied, the whole prison sentence or at any time.
She was bullied in high school, in prison and in the half way house? It just seems like too much.
I will say her mom in this book is probably the worst case of some one who should never have had children that I have ever read.
I was given an ARC copy of this book by Netgalley for a honest review.
March 8, 2023
3.75🌟
What exactly happened That Night?
Toni and her boyfriend Ryan are about to start their young lives together. They never got along with the other kids they grew up with anyhow. (Like at all!) And they’re more than happy to leave everyone behind. The first step towards independence will be finishing high-school, finding a job and an apartment to move in together.
Nothing can stop them now…right!?
Well, not so fast everyone!
And so the nightmare begins. Toni’s younger sister is brutally murdered and Toni and Ryan are quickly convicted of her murder and sent off to prison.
Now, nearly fifteen years later both are paroled under the condition they never have contact with each-other. Easier said than done, given they both return to their hometown. For Toni it’s a chance to get her life back. For Ryan it’s a mission to clear their names.
But not everyone is happy to see them return. And old rivals become hated enemies.
I listened to the audio and loved the narration by Jorjeana Marie. Though this may not have been a favorite from this author, (just so much hatred that my heart hurt) I still have one more of her past reads to listen to until her next release!
What exactly happened That Night?
Toni and her boyfriend Ryan are about to start their young lives together. They never got along with the other kids they grew up with anyhow. (Like at all!) And they’re more than happy to leave everyone behind. The first step towards independence will be finishing high-school, finding a job and an apartment to move in together.
Nothing can stop them now…right!?
Well, not so fast everyone!
And so the nightmare begins. Toni’s younger sister is brutally murdered and Toni and Ryan are quickly convicted of her murder and sent off to prison.
Now, nearly fifteen years later both are paroled under the condition they never have contact with each-other. Easier said than done, given they both return to their hometown. For Toni it’s a chance to get her life back. For Ryan it’s a mission to clear their names.
But not everyone is happy to see them return. And old rivals become hated enemies.
I listened to the audio and loved the narration by Jorjeana Marie. Though this may not have been a favorite from this author, (just so much hatred that my heart hurt) I still have one more of her past reads to listen to until her next release!
October 14, 2017
Library... Overdrive.....”Audiobook Available”
After reading Margitte ‘s great review...I checked my Overdrive app., and sure enough - I was able to download and listen to this book in seconds.
The library Overdrive continues to get better and better.
Any e-reader or audiobook lover not taking advantage of the easy-instant- downloading service ......is missing out on the easiest- cheapest way to select from a wide variety of books to choose from- with no financial or emotional investment.
Don’t like the book- simply return it: no money loss - no book review to write.
THIS BOOK KEPT ME AWAKE....but I slept strange hours first — from around 5pm to 10pm.
I can’t remember the last time wearing my earphones to bed .... but I made an exception. Reading for long stretches has been harder on my eyes since my surgery —the bandage across my face plays tricks with my vision —so an audiobook is not not only a nice companion when walking- doing laundry-cooking-soaking or sauna time.....but when our eyes need a good rest.
I was drawn in right away- following along with this story. I was not NOT interested ....but I admit to feeling somewhat emotionally detached — YET INTERESTED ENOUGH to to want to see this book to the end.
Toni Murphy, narrator, was just getting out of prison: paroled conditions- released to her hometown, Campbell Rover, British Columbia, at the age of 34. She and her High School boyfriend, Ryan, were both sent to prison for murdering Tony’s younger sister, Nicole. Returning to her hometown - it seemed everyone was waiting for her to do ‘something’ that would send her right back.
Fifteen years - Toni spent locked up.... it wasn’t ‘her’ intention to ever return. And of course I wondered - but I honestly had no idea - ok- I had thoughts - but I’m not saying what those thoughts were .....
The story - easily jumps back and forth in time- years leading up to the murder of Nicole - a crime Toni says SHE DID NOT DO - to present day: her being released...and challenges she faces.
The parts I felt somewhat emotionally detached from - YET INTERESTED for the totality of the entire outcome — were all the ins & outs - details - of the teenage turmoil: jealousies-insecurities- bullying- rebelliousness-the family bickering- teenage eye-rolling and sassy smart mouth talk.
Regardless of what I felt in the beginning,..... there were some valuable dynamics going on:
As much as Toni was not exactly an easy going likable character- I did think about the reality of what can really happen to a basically decent teen if one too many things go wrong for them. It’s easy to see how - Toni’s soul was beaten down from all sides- at school from her once close friends who turned on her ( it hurt the most when her best friend Shauna dropped her and spread gossip) - and at home - from her own mother.
Add sibling- rivalry- ( but we feel Toni loved her younger ‘favored’ sister as much as their mother did), but Toni’s world was getting smaller. She was hanging all hope on her boyfriend Ryan — but their love relationship was creating problems too. We see how Toni— almost 18 —was falling into an ‘at risk’ teen.... and nobody and nothing was working to reverse the direction of the train she was on. It was as if a ‘LIFE-OF-ITS-OWN’ took her down a dark tunnel with no way back to return. Toni’s support system was breaking - and so was she. Then....to be convicted of killing her sister- how in the world does one ever recover from that— innocent or guilty?
This is a sad story .....
The tension continues to build - we get past judging the teenage bickering - yet we never soften to Toni’s cold hearted controlling mother.....
And then somewhere a little past halfway into this book the ‘whodunit & why’ kick in stronger. The suspense has increased.....and the ending leaves us thinking.
This ‘was’ an unexpected twist for me - with a surprising conclusion—-
I can understand readers ‘not’ liking the ending....but as heartbreaking as it was - shocking really- it was also a gutsy realistic one..... leaving us with a range of thoughts and feelings - ones I felt distant from earlier in this novel.
I could forgive all that came before - because this ending made a statement!
After reading Margitte ‘s great review...I checked my Overdrive app., and sure enough - I was able to download and listen to this book in seconds.
The library Overdrive continues to get better and better.
Any e-reader or audiobook lover not taking advantage of the easy-instant- downloading service ......is missing out on the easiest- cheapest way to select from a wide variety of books to choose from- with no financial or emotional investment.
Don’t like the book- simply return it: no money loss - no book review to write.
THIS BOOK KEPT ME AWAKE....but I slept strange hours first — from around 5pm to 10pm.
I can’t remember the last time wearing my earphones to bed .... but I made an exception. Reading for long stretches has been harder on my eyes since my surgery —the bandage across my face plays tricks with my vision —so an audiobook is not not only a nice companion when walking- doing laundry-cooking-soaking or sauna time.....but when our eyes need a good rest.
I was drawn in right away- following along with this story. I was not NOT interested ....but I admit to feeling somewhat emotionally detached — YET INTERESTED ENOUGH to to want to see this book to the end.
Toni Murphy, narrator, was just getting out of prison: paroled conditions- released to her hometown, Campbell Rover, British Columbia, at the age of 34. She and her High School boyfriend, Ryan, were both sent to prison for murdering Tony’s younger sister, Nicole. Returning to her hometown - it seemed everyone was waiting for her to do ‘something’ that would send her right back.
Fifteen years - Toni spent locked up.... it wasn’t ‘her’ intention to ever return. And of course I wondered - but I honestly had no idea - ok- I had thoughts - but I’m not saying what those thoughts were .....
The story - easily jumps back and forth in time- years leading up to the murder of Nicole - a crime Toni says SHE DID NOT DO - to present day: her being released...and challenges she faces.
The parts I felt somewhat emotionally detached from - YET INTERESTED for the totality of the entire outcome — were all the ins & outs - details - of the teenage turmoil: jealousies-insecurities- bullying- rebelliousness-the family bickering- teenage eye-rolling and sassy smart mouth talk.
Regardless of what I felt in the beginning,..... there were some valuable dynamics going on:
As much as Toni was not exactly an easy going likable character- I did think about the reality of what can really happen to a basically decent teen if one too many things go wrong for them. It’s easy to see how - Toni’s soul was beaten down from all sides- at school from her once close friends who turned on her ( it hurt the most when her best friend Shauna dropped her and spread gossip) - and at home - from her own mother.
Add sibling- rivalry- ( but we feel Toni loved her younger ‘favored’ sister as much as their mother did), but Toni’s world was getting smaller. She was hanging all hope on her boyfriend Ryan — but their love relationship was creating problems too. We see how Toni— almost 18 —was falling into an ‘at risk’ teen.... and nobody and nothing was working to reverse the direction of the train she was on. It was as if a ‘LIFE-OF-ITS-OWN’ took her down a dark tunnel with no way back to return. Toni’s support system was breaking - and so was she. Then....to be convicted of killing her sister- how in the world does one ever recover from that— innocent or guilty?
This is a sad story .....
The tension continues to build - we get past judging the teenage bickering - yet we never soften to Toni’s cold hearted controlling mother.....
And then somewhere a little past halfway into this book the ‘whodunit & why’ kick in stronger. The suspense has increased.....and the ending leaves us thinking.
This ‘was’ an unexpected twist for me - with a surprising conclusion—-
I can understand readers ‘not’ liking the ending....but as heartbreaking as it was - shocking really- it was also a gutsy realistic one..... leaving us with a range of thoughts and feelings - ones I felt distant from earlier in this novel.
I could forgive all that came before - because this ending made a statement!
September 24, 2024
AH!! This one didn’t shake me to my core unfortunately
In That Night, we are following rebellious teenager Toni who just cant seem to catch a break with her friends and family. She just wants to isolate herself and be with her boyfriend Ryan. But one late night out with her boyfriend, her sister Nicole ends up being k!lled. Toni and Ryan are then convicted for Nicole’s smurder! The story is told in the past and present POVS of Toni. Before that horrific night and in today's time when she is being released from prison. Can she get justice?
Usually with Chevy’s book, they hook me from the start and have the hairs on my arms standing too attention, but it failed with this one. Toni’s character was so uninteresting to me, and it was just the same drama over and over again. She is a victim who continuously stays being bullied all the way from childhood to her now adult years. There was no character development for her in my opinion.
The past chapters were a chore to get through because I just couldn’t relate with her actions and behaviour and just about every character were so unlikeable and a annoyance to read about. The present chapters also felt like a like for like of what she already went through in her past.
The police procedural was so abysmal and so unrealistic and there was no twist or surprise as its very obvious who the culprit was, and I couldn’t truly understand the whole point of the book.
Even though not my favourite by Ms. Stevens I still commend her on being a great writer and will continue reading her backlist list and future works.
In That Night, we are following rebellious teenager Toni who just cant seem to catch a break with her friends and family. She just wants to isolate herself and be with her boyfriend Ryan. But one late night out with her boyfriend, her sister Nicole ends up being k!lled. Toni and Ryan are then convicted for Nicole’s smurder! The story is told in the past and present POVS of Toni. Before that horrific night and in today's time when she is being released from prison. Can she get justice?
Usually with Chevy’s book, they hook me from the start and have the hairs on my arms standing too attention, but it failed with this one. Toni’s character was so uninteresting to me, and it was just the same drama over and over again. She is a victim who continuously stays being bullied all the way from childhood to her now adult years. There was no character development for her in my opinion.
The past chapters were a chore to get through because I just couldn’t relate with her actions and behaviour and just about every character were so unlikeable and a annoyance to read about. The present chapters also felt like a like for like of what she already went through in her past.
The police procedural was so abysmal and so unrealistic and there was no twist or surprise as its very obvious who the culprit was, and I couldn’t truly understand the whole point of the book.
Even though not my favourite by Ms. Stevens I still commend her on being a great writer and will continue reading her backlist list and future works.
March 22, 2017
I am now a Chevy Stevens fan. This is the second book I have read by her and will not be my last. I own three more of her books that I am really excited to read.
That Night was just the perfect read at the right time for me. What a fun, easy and enjoyable read this was for me.
Chevy Stevens delivers a gripping story of a murder with secrets, betrayal and heartache that had me feeling angry and sad but not weighing me down with emotions. With just the right amount of suspense and tension to keep me turning the pages as fast as I could.
The story is told from misunderstood and resentful teenager Toni’s perspective shifting easily between the past, leading up to the murder and incarceration and the present after she is released from jail for the murder of her sister. We see her go from the teenager she was to a cautious, closed off women trying to stay out of trouble after she is released. Struggling to adjust to a new life on the outside. However the past is still hanging over her and threatening her future and she must find the truth.
Just the right amount of grit and shocking events with twist and turns that kept me guessing until the satisfying end. I highly recommend.
All of Norma's and my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
That Night was just the perfect read at the right time for me. What a fun, easy and enjoyable read this was for me.
Chevy Stevens delivers a gripping story of a murder with secrets, betrayal and heartache that had me feeling angry and sad but not weighing me down with emotions. With just the right amount of suspense and tension to keep me turning the pages as fast as I could.
The story is told from misunderstood and resentful teenager Toni’s perspective shifting easily between the past, leading up to the murder and incarceration and the present after she is released from jail for the murder of her sister. We see her go from the teenager she was to a cautious, closed off women trying to stay out of trouble after she is released. Struggling to adjust to a new life on the outside. However the past is still hanging over her and threatening her future and she must find the truth.
Just the right amount of grit and shocking events with twist and turns that kept me guessing until the satisfying end. I highly recommend.
All of Norma's and my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
January 10, 2024
3.5* This wasn’t bad! Not my favorite from this author but not terrible. I really love how she writes but I just had some difficulty connecting with this one for some reason. Good, but didn’t wow me!
March 22, 2017
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
1.5 Stars
I’m not going to waste much of my time on this, but I want to put something out there so you don’t waste much of your time on it either. My reading experience when it comes to That Night pretty much went a little something like this . . .
I fell victim (once again) to the Goodreads side margin adverts that had me clicking all the buttons required to put Chevy Stevens’ newest release on hold at the library. When That Night popped up as a “currently available” selection, I couldn’t resist the instant gratification of downloading it. I mean, this is America and I do indeed want things now. I scrolled through the ratings and noticed a certain someone on my friend list was the only dissenting opinion, but chalked it up to her having her period or one of her monkey’s experiencing a bad case of diarrhea or whatnot that made her read it wrong. After all, Chevy Stevens wrote one of the best thrillers I’ve ever read. (Apparently all of my friends also read it back in the day where their reviews consisted of “dis was guuud” so here’s a generic link to Still Missing. Also note that I may or may not have also read and enjoyed Never Knowing, but I can’t remember since I have a terminal case of Old Lady Brain. The entire reason I joined GR in the first place was to track what I had already read in order to NOT end up checking out something from the library, reading 50 pages and having severe déjà vu since it was a book I had read months or years before so way to fail me once again, brain.)
Anywho, I checked this out since it was readily available and promptly channeled my inner Ron 2.0 which had me asking myself . . . .
Now I know how he feels almost all the time.
The story here was about a woman named Toni who was (along with her boyfriend, Ryan) accused of murdering her sister when she was a teenager. The reader then has to follow the back and forth timey wimey between the past and the present where Toni has been released from jail and her attempts to find out what really happened “that night.” And everything about it was terrible. I am not a reader who minds knowing the “whodunit” aspect of a mystery if the story is done well. Unfortunately, that was not the case here. I can’t believe this is the same author who wrote Still Missing. This read like a submission to an unaccredited How to Write a Mystery Book 101 course that someone would pay $99 for on the internet in order to have a real “pro” tell them their snowflake was the speshulist of them all. I HATED Toni and said out loud more than a few times . . . .
And as far as all of the supposed police work?????
If that’s how the criminal justice system actually works in Canada y’all can keep your universal healthcare and I’ll keep my ass here where I’m pretty sure I won’t go to jail for nothing. I’m rounding up to 2 Stars because (i) I’ve read a couple of real stinkers already this year and at least this one could be categorized as a mindless poolside guilty pleasure and (ii) I don’t want anyone throwing the baby out with the bathwater and I think Chevy Stevens aforementioned stuff deserves a look-see.
1.5 Stars
I’m not going to waste much of my time on this, but I want to put something out there so you don’t waste much of your time on it either. My reading experience when it comes to That Night pretty much went a little something like this . . .
I fell victim (once again) to the Goodreads side margin adverts that had me clicking all the buttons required to put Chevy Stevens’ newest release on hold at the library. When That Night popped up as a “currently available” selection, I couldn’t resist the instant gratification of downloading it. I mean, this is America and I do indeed want things now. I scrolled through the ratings and noticed a certain someone on my friend list was the only dissenting opinion, but chalked it up to her having her period or one of her monkey’s experiencing a bad case of diarrhea or whatnot that made her read it wrong. After all, Chevy Stevens wrote one of the best thrillers I’ve ever read. (Apparently all of my friends also read it back in the day where their reviews consisted of “dis was guuud” so here’s a generic link to Still Missing. Also note that I may or may not have also read and enjoyed Never Knowing, but I can’t remember since I have a terminal case of Old Lady Brain. The entire reason I joined GR in the first place was to track what I had already read in order to NOT end up checking out something from the library, reading 50 pages and having severe déjà vu since it was a book I had read months or years before so way to fail me once again, brain.)
Anywho, I checked this out since it was readily available and promptly channeled my inner Ron 2.0 which had me asking myself . . . .
Now I know how he feels almost all the time.
The story here was about a woman named Toni who was (along with her boyfriend, Ryan) accused of murdering her sister when she was a teenager. The reader then has to follow the back and forth timey wimey between the past and the present where Toni has been released from jail and her attempts to find out what really happened “that night.” And everything about it was terrible. I am not a reader who minds knowing the “whodunit” aspect of a mystery if the story is done well. Unfortunately, that was not the case here. I can’t believe this is the same author who wrote Still Missing. This read like a submission to an unaccredited How to Write a Mystery Book 101 course that someone would pay $99 for on the internet in order to have a real “pro” tell them their snowflake was the speshulist of them all. I HATED Toni and said out loud more than a few times . . . .
And as far as all of the supposed police work?????
If that’s how the criminal justice system actually works in Canada y’all can keep your universal healthcare and I’ll keep my ass here where I’m pretty sure I won’t go to jail for nothing. I’m rounding up to 2 Stars because (i) I’ve read a couple of real stinkers already this year and at least this one could be categorized as a mindless poolside guilty pleasure and (ii) I don’t want anyone throwing the baby out with the bathwater and I think Chevy Stevens aforementioned stuff deserves a look-see.
February 28, 2017
Vancouver island, Canada.
I'm a little bit between the devil and the deep blue sea about this book. It was a great read, for sure! A young troubled teenager, getting involved with more mischief than she could handle lands up convicted of murder and spends fifteen years incarcerated. She always claimed she and her boyfriend were innocent, like everyone else in jail.
A system worked against them, until they finally had enough and fought back with nothing to lose.
All the characters in the book are complex. The events are drawn-out for dramatic effect, and pity-parties abound througout the plot. Yet, if I think about the way the book was written, for instance how detailed the life of hell behind bars for Tony Murphy and her boyfriend, Ryan, was presented, I figured the reader needed to go through it to get an idea of how it was really like. Ryan was also one of those young people who had to carry the albatross of his father's sins around his neck. It did not matter what Ryan's intentions in life was, the community expected him to be like his dad and they acted upon it.
Relationships between mothers and daughters went haywire, not because anyone involved was write or wrong, but all of them reacted differently to what was happening to them. Years of bullying, harassment and vendettas reigned and nobody caught up on it. Opportunities to do so just never presented themselves.
It is a really really sad book. One of the reasons why the story touched me so deeply, was that it could happen to anyone, yet not all the people who found themselves in this situation had a good author behind them to change their destinies(and keep the readers happy). Reality looks a lot different. And that was the real sad part for me.
Nevertheless, the ending was so realistic, it made a lot of people angry. But for me it just ensured that the book deserved five stars. The author had guts to present the tale this way, knowing that the readers might not like the ending or perhaps the story. Fortunately it worked for most, including me.
Heartbreaking. But very good in the end.
LOVED IT!
I'm a little bit between the devil and the deep blue sea about this book. It was a great read, for sure! A young troubled teenager, getting involved with more mischief than she could handle lands up convicted of murder and spends fifteen years incarcerated. She always claimed she and her boyfriend were innocent, like everyone else in jail.
A system worked against them, until they finally had enough and fought back with nothing to lose.
All the characters in the book are complex. The events are drawn-out for dramatic effect, and pity-parties abound througout the plot. Yet, if I think about the way the book was written, for instance how detailed the life of hell behind bars for Tony Murphy and her boyfriend, Ryan, was presented, I figured the reader needed to go through it to get an idea of how it was really like. Ryan was also one of those young people who had to carry the albatross of his father's sins around his neck. It did not matter what Ryan's intentions in life was, the community expected him to be like his dad and they acted upon it.
Relationships between mothers and daughters went haywire, not because anyone involved was write or wrong, but all of them reacted differently to what was happening to them. Years of bullying, harassment and vendettas reigned and nobody caught up on it. Opportunities to do so just never presented themselves.
It is a really really sad book. One of the reasons why the story touched me so deeply, was that it could happen to anyone, yet not all the people who found themselves in this situation had a good author behind them to change their destinies(and keep the readers happy). Reality looks a lot different. And that was the real sad part for me.
Nevertheless, the ending was so realistic, it made a lot of people angry. But for me it just ensured that the book deserved five stars. The author had guts to present the tale this way, knowing that the readers might not like the ending or perhaps the story. Fortunately it worked for most, including me.
Heartbreaking. But very good in the end.
LOVED IT!
July 26, 2016
I needed to write this review, and it wasn’t because Jesus told me to. I just wanted to clear the air on that particular point, because a few of my proclivities and tendencies will be made abundantly clear over the course of the next several hundred words, and if profanity ain’t your cup of java, you may want to leave the building before Elvis does.
Sonofabitch, she’s back. I don’t know where she went for novels two and three. I can speculate, but I prefer to stick to the facts, since I’m a simpleminded person at heart. What I do know is that I read Never Knowing and wasn’t particularly impressed, and I’ll probably read ALWAYS WATCHING at some point before I kick the bucket, but I’d say the chances are better than average that I’ll be underwhelmed. But in the meantime, let’s focus on the task at hand, and if I had to sum up THAT NIGHT in one sentence it would be thus: It was damn good.
This was one serious mindfuck from the first page to the last. Women can be some serious bitches and torment each other for years, decades even. Men, on the other hand, simply don’t function that way. We’re either not smart enough, or vindictive enough, or maybe it’s some combination of the two.
I mean growing up I thought my brother was a little shit, and to be perfectly honest, I was probably a little bastard, but I didn’t plan his imminent demise for sixteen years of my life. If you’re looking for that kind of deep-seated revenge, you might as well start planning out multiple graves, or maybe you’ll need a whole cemetery to bury the bodies. But it makes for good entertainment. Just ask the creators of Revenge.
Sorry, getting back on track here. More than once, my eyes were wide, and the little voice in my head said, “That couldn’t possibly happen.” And then the roller coaster of emotions started, and I found myself clinging to the edge of the cliff by my teeth. The pages flipped with effortless ease like I was giving the fuzz the bird from the front seat of my Corvette. I piled emotions on top of emotions until I was buried in a haze and cloud filled stupor, the bottle caressing my lips over and over again.
Shauna and Rachel, Kim and Cathy reminded me of a viper or a praying mantis. If I ever had any inclinations of returning to high school to relive my glory days, I’d bury them right now in my own backyard. If you want to see nasty, it doesn’t get much nastier than the four of them. Holding your hand one minute and slitting your throat the next is just how these girls roll, and if you don’t like it, you can back the fuck off. Dealing with the bodies might prove to be a bit of a challenge, but one that can be overcome with smiles and more hand holding and quite possibly a tire iron.
Despite my better judgment, I liked Toni. While some reviewers might shout at the heavens and curse her very name, I found myself rooting for her. She wasn’t just dealt a bad hand; she had an entire deck of fraudulent cards. If you don’t like her pity party, that’s fine, but she truly wants to turn her life around and move on, and if that means she stumbles once in a while, she just needs to pick herself back up.
If you believe I have a soft spot for the underdog, you’re absolutely right. That’s just how I roll. Nicole, though, was the good one, the pretty one, and she used all of her assets to her advantage, her mother doting on her like she was a doll. So, yeah, she didn’t get any sympathy points from me, but then I like to see the little gal win.
It’s easy to say that these teenagers are mere caricatures, but when have young adults not been a bunch of bastards and bitches. I was young once, I know how it all goes down on the playground. And if you’re in the popular crowd, it’s like being in a mosh pit at the latest hard rock concert. I stood back and watched all the madness unfold, and that’s exactly what I did here. If you’re smart, you’ll do the same, and might even glad you partook in the festivities.
You might, however, be a bit disappointed in the ending, and I can’t say that I’d blame you in that regard.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
Sonofabitch, she’s back. I don’t know where she went for novels two and three. I can speculate, but I prefer to stick to the facts, since I’m a simpleminded person at heart. What I do know is that I read Never Knowing and wasn’t particularly impressed, and I’ll probably read ALWAYS WATCHING at some point before I kick the bucket, but I’d say the chances are better than average that I’ll be underwhelmed. But in the meantime, let’s focus on the task at hand, and if I had to sum up THAT NIGHT in one sentence it would be thus: It was damn good.
This was one serious mindfuck from the first page to the last. Women can be some serious bitches and torment each other for years, decades even. Men, on the other hand, simply don’t function that way. We’re either not smart enough, or vindictive enough, or maybe it’s some combination of the two.
I mean growing up I thought my brother was a little shit, and to be perfectly honest, I was probably a little bastard, but I didn’t plan his imminent demise for sixteen years of my life. If you’re looking for that kind of deep-seated revenge, you might as well start planning out multiple graves, or maybe you’ll need a whole cemetery to bury the bodies. But it makes for good entertainment. Just ask the creators of Revenge.
Sorry, getting back on track here. More than once, my eyes were wide, and the little voice in my head said, “That couldn’t possibly happen.” And then the roller coaster of emotions started, and I found myself clinging to the edge of the cliff by my teeth. The pages flipped with effortless ease like I was giving the fuzz the bird from the front seat of my Corvette. I piled emotions on top of emotions until I was buried in a haze and cloud filled stupor, the bottle caressing my lips over and over again.
Shauna and Rachel, Kim and Cathy reminded me of a viper or a praying mantis. If I ever had any inclinations of returning to high school to relive my glory days, I’d bury them right now in my own backyard. If you want to see nasty, it doesn’t get much nastier than the four of them. Holding your hand one minute and slitting your throat the next is just how these girls roll, and if you don’t like it, you can back the fuck off. Dealing with the bodies might prove to be a bit of a challenge, but one that can be overcome with smiles and more hand holding and quite possibly a tire iron.
Despite my better judgment, I liked Toni. While some reviewers might shout at the heavens and curse her very name, I found myself rooting for her. She wasn’t just dealt a bad hand; she had an entire deck of fraudulent cards. If you don’t like her pity party, that’s fine, but she truly wants to turn her life around and move on, and if that means she stumbles once in a while, she just needs to pick herself back up.
If you believe I have a soft spot for the underdog, you’re absolutely right. That’s just how I roll. Nicole, though, was the good one, the pretty one, and she used all of her assets to her advantage, her mother doting on her like she was a doll. So, yeah, she didn’t get any sympathy points from me, but then I like to see the little gal win.
It’s easy to say that these teenagers are mere caricatures, but when have young adults not been a bunch of bastards and bitches. I was young once, I know how it all goes down on the playground. And if you’re in the popular crowd, it’s like being in a mosh pit at the latest hard rock concert. I stood back and watched all the madness unfold, and that’s exactly what I did here. If you’re smart, you’ll do the same, and might even glad you partook in the festivities.
You might, however, be a bit disappointed in the ending, and I can’t say that I’d blame you in that regard.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
November 5, 2021
Toni Murphy, who grew up in Campbell River, British Columbia, was a rebellious teenager. Irritated by a mother who tried to rein in her behavior, Toni acted out by smoking cigarettes, toking marijuana, drinking, sneaking out to see her boyfriend Ryan after curfew, and engaging in mild criminal behavior.
Besides having problems at home, Toni was bullied by a vengeful girl named Shauna, who had been Toni's friend until they fell out over a boy. Since then, Shauna and her clique made Toni's life hell. They harassed her, lied about her, and turned all of Toni's friends against her.
Trying to rise above the fray, Toni and Ryan were optimistic about their future. After high school graduation, they planned to rent an apartment, get jobs, make money, and travel. They were even getting a head start by working part-time until school finished.
Toni was employed as a waitress in a local restaurant, which was fine unless Shauna and her cohorts dropped in and made trouble.
For a while, Toni's one ally was her younger sister Nicole, who tried to smooth the waters between Toni and her mom. When Nicole turned sixteen, however, she was drawn into Shauna's circle, thrilled to be one of the 'popular girls.' Nicole started drinking, sneaking out to be with older boys, and spending weekends at Shauna's house. Nicole even joined Shauna's coterie in taunting Toni at the restaurant.
Nicole's behavior became odder and more secretive until the unthinkable happened and she was killed. One night, when high school kids were partying at the lake, Nicole was bludgeoned to death. Toni and Ryan were convicted of the murder and sent to prison for 15 years.....though they loudly proclaimed their innocence.
The story, which is narrated by Toni, shifts back and forth between the past (starting in the late 1990s) and the present (2014). In the sections set in the past, Toni relates events preceding her incarceration.....and then her years in prison. In the chapters detailing the present, Toni talks about being released on parole and her activities afterwards. ALL of this is unutterably bleak and depressing.
Toni's description of her adolescent years reads like a young adult novel, recounting the intense teenage love between herself and Ryan, and the beastliness of the high school clique. I could have done with a good deal less of Toni and Ryan's infatuation.
In addition, I had little sympathy for Toni's rude, disrespectful conduct toward her mother and her deliberately delinquent behavior.
Toni's sister Nicole was no peach either, and the girls' parents were UNBELIEVABLY obtuse. They were blind to Nicole's misbehavior; refused to believe Shauna was a bully; and blamed Toni for ALL the friction in the household.
Toni's recollection of her time in jail - and then a halfway house prior to parole - is also grim, filled with ruffians and fights. Toni's worst nemesis is an awful woman named Helen, who'd rather kill Toni than look at her.
In fact, all the major protagonists in the book are unlikable, and the only sympathetic characters are secondary figures like Toni's employer, a few friends she makes in jail, and Captain (a pit bull).
Toni's current decisions also strike me as poor, since - once she's on full (but monitored) parole - she moves back to Campbell River. This is a place where everyone thinks she's a murderer and Shauna and her compatriots still live. However, Toni 'wants to find the real killer', which seems like asking for trouble. And trouble follows.
And then there's Ryan, also out on parole. Toni is forbidden - by the provisions of her parole - to see Ryan, but she still loves him just as fiercely as when she was a teenager. Is this believable? After more than fifteen years of a very tough life?
All this activity leads to an appropriately dramatic climax.
The book, though well written, feels overdone and not credible (to me). However, I can see the novel appealing to other readers.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
February 8, 2019
Really really enjoyed this one!! Absolutely not a dull moment, felt like this pacing was fantastic and it did not drag at all. Did this one on audio AND was actually surprised by the reveal! Couldn't recommend this anymore for those out there that love thrillers / mysteries!!
August 14, 2018
That night.......that night which changed everything for Toni Murphy.
The book opens as Toni Murphy is a thirty-four-year-old woman being released from prison. She and her high school boyfriend, Ryan have been wrongly convicted for the murder of Toni's younger sister, Nicole. Now that Toni is out on parole, she is an entirely different person. Prison has toughened her, made her stronger, made her harder, and changed the relationships with those in her life forever. No one believed her or her boyfriend Ryan when the couple steadfastly claimed their innocence. Robbed of years of her life, Toni wants to start over and doesn't want to do anything to violate her parole.
This book is told through alternating timelines. The reader is shown Toni's life as a teenager. She is young, in love and has plans for her future. She, like most teenagers, rebels against her parents and is defiant, and breaks the rules. She was also being bullied by a group of girls who give all new meaning to the term "mean girls."
As an adult, Toni struggles to move on with her life as the past looms heavily over her. Ryan, her high school sweetheart, believes he can find out who really killed Nicole as Toni struggles with her parent's reaction to her being released from prison. How very sad to be doubted and not believed.
I discovered Chevy Stevens years ago, through an overdrive read along and became a fan. I find her books to be very readable and engaging. She has some twists and turns but nothing comes out of left field and nothing feels unbelievable.
That Night is a fast read with interesting characters. This is the perfect beach and/or plane book. A great way to escape the world for a while. Can easily be read in one sitting. This book kept my interest and was entertaining. I think most will guess the who but not the why when it comes to the killer in this book. As the saying goes - it’s the journey and the destination. Getting to the truth and unraveling secrets is the meat and potatoes of this book.
This book had been sitting on my to-read list for quite some time and I am thankful for a book challenge which caused me to pick this one up.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
The book opens as Toni Murphy is a thirty-four-year-old woman being released from prison. She and her high school boyfriend, Ryan have been wrongly convicted for the murder of Toni's younger sister, Nicole. Now that Toni is out on parole, she is an entirely different person. Prison has toughened her, made her stronger, made her harder, and changed the relationships with those in her life forever. No one believed her or her boyfriend Ryan when the couple steadfastly claimed their innocence. Robbed of years of her life, Toni wants to start over and doesn't want to do anything to violate her parole.
This book is told through alternating timelines. The reader is shown Toni's life as a teenager. She is young, in love and has plans for her future. She, like most teenagers, rebels against her parents and is defiant, and breaks the rules. She was also being bullied by a group of girls who give all new meaning to the term "mean girls."
As an adult, Toni struggles to move on with her life as the past looms heavily over her. Ryan, her high school sweetheart, believes he can find out who really killed Nicole as Toni struggles with her parent's reaction to her being released from prison. How very sad to be doubted and not believed.
I discovered Chevy Stevens years ago, through an overdrive read along and became a fan. I find her books to be very readable and engaging. She has some twists and turns but nothing comes out of left field and nothing feels unbelievable.
That Night is a fast read with interesting characters. This is the perfect beach and/or plane book. A great way to escape the world for a while. Can easily be read in one sitting. This book kept my interest and was entertaining. I think most will guess the who but not the why when it comes to the killer in this book. As the saying goes - it’s the journey and the destination. Getting to the truth and unraveling secrets is the meat and potatoes of this book.
This book had been sitting on my to-read list for quite some time and I am thankful for a book challenge which caused me to pick this one up.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
May 12, 2015
I absolutely loved this book all I can say is read it you won't be disappointed thought it was better than Still Missing& that one I loved also
October 14, 2017
This is a spoiler review! I have clicked the spoiler icon and people still don’t see it so be aware!
Omg! If I could give this book 100 stars I would. I have no words except this book ranks right up there with Dark Places. One of my favorite books. This was a whirlwind novel and I loved every page of it. I didn't see the ending coming although I figured one of the accused had something to do with it. I was glad to see Shauna get hers. I knew she had killed Nicole but never got why. Will be recommending this to everyone! I'm so sad it's over and I hope they make a movie out of it!!! One of my top 5 favorites!!!!!!!!!!
Omg! If I could give this book 100 stars I would. I have no words except this book ranks right up there with Dark Places. One of my favorite books. This was a whirlwind novel and I loved every page of it. I didn't see the ending coming although I figured one of the accused had something to do with it. I was glad to see Shauna get hers. I knew she had killed Nicole but never got why. Will be recommending this to everyone! I'm so sad it's over and I hope they make a movie out of it!!! One of my top 5 favorites!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2020
"The anger never really leaves you".
That Night by Chevy Stevens
I have read many of Chevy Stevens books. Some I liked, some I did not. This one I ADORED.
I am not going to do a plot summary on this one. Well..not much of one anyway. This book is about Toni, who was convicted, along with her boyfriend, of murdering her sister on THAT NIGHT. Now Toni is out of jail. She is bitter, jaded, grieving her sister, still caring about her ex boyfriend and wanting justice for her sister. Whoever the killer is , it isn't her.
I really connected to this story. One of my pet peeves with some of Chevy Stevens books, is that I do not always connect with the characters. They were all drawn so well here. And it is hard not to get caught up in this story.
Toni, despite all her pain and damage, bitterness and cynicism, is a character I really enjoyed getting to know and I was rooting for her from the beginning. Her kind soul is evident from the start and it was painful to see the judgments formed against her. She is a character I still think about.
Of all Chevy Stephens books this is my favorite one by far. The atmosphere of the town was also strong and I could not put the book down.
I will say there is bullying in this book which could be a trigger for some so proceed with caution.
SPOILERS:
I did like some parts of the ending. A ray of light, a bit of sunshine in an oasis of darkness. It was a fitting end to an absolutely fantastic book. Five stars and highly recommended.
That Night by Chevy Stevens
I have read many of Chevy Stevens books. Some I liked, some I did not. This one I ADORED.
I am not going to do a plot summary on this one. Well..not much of one anyway. This book is about Toni, who was convicted, along with her boyfriend, of murdering her sister on THAT NIGHT. Now Toni is out of jail. She is bitter, jaded, grieving her sister, still caring about her ex boyfriend and wanting justice for her sister. Whoever the killer is , it isn't her.
I really connected to this story. One of my pet peeves with some of Chevy Stevens books, is that I do not always connect with the characters. They were all drawn so well here. And it is hard not to get caught up in this story.
Toni, despite all her pain and damage, bitterness and cynicism, is a character I really enjoyed getting to know and I was rooting for her from the beginning. Her kind soul is evident from the start and it was painful to see the judgments formed against her. She is a character I still think about.
Of all Chevy Stephens books this is my favorite one by far. The atmosphere of the town was also strong and I could not put the book down.
I will say there is bullying in this book which could be a trigger for some so proceed with caution.
SPOILERS:
I did like some parts of the ending. A ray of light, a bit of sunshine in an oasis of darkness. It was a fitting end to an absolutely fantastic book. Five stars and highly recommended.
November 6, 2018
Audiobook narrated by Jorjeana Marie 11h 16 min 18 secs
This is my 5th Chevy Stevens read and all her BC crime dramas always sweep me in. That Night is a bit of a slow burn.
Not that I minded because Jorjeana Marie(also one of the narrators in Those Girls)is a fantastic narrator. In the beginning, the chapters alternate between Toni's time in prison and the events leading up to her younger sister's murder. My willingness to sit and just enjoy the story battled my desperation to just find out "whodunnit ." Although not one of my favorites for its ability to keep the inevitable conclusion at bay, I absolutely know without a doubt that Chevy Stevens will continue to draw me in.
This is my 5th Chevy Stevens read and all her BC crime dramas always sweep me in. That Night is a bit of a slow burn.
Not that I minded because Jorjeana Marie(also one of the narrators in Those Girls)is a fantastic narrator. In the beginning, the chapters alternate between Toni's time in prison and the events leading up to her younger sister's murder. My willingness to sit and just enjoy the story battled my desperation to just find out "whodunnit ." Although not one of my favorites for its ability to keep the inevitable conclusion at bay, I absolutely know without a doubt that Chevy Stevens will continue to draw me in.
June 26, 2017
I love all books by Chevy Stevens and this one was great!!! I just love her writing style and can't wait to read her other books.
April 7, 2017
I read Still Missing and for me it just okay, so I was hesitant to give this one a listen. The first part of the book was a challenge because it felt so YA, but it also seemed realistic, especially when dealing with all consuming high school love. I have said before that there is no love comparable to the first love of a high school boy. That was flawlessly depicted but I was horrorstricken as a mother (and former teen in love) to observe Toni's realistically cruel behavior toward her mother: that starry-eyed-syrupy-sweet-towards-boy-but-cynical-and-mean-towards-mom behavior that I never adopted but many around me did. Good God, I hope my daughter has more brains when she gets there.
Though it started a bit slow, with loads of catty teenagers, the story picked up and eventually I was quite invested. Don't read this unless you've read the book: It took quite a while to arrive at a ending. I guess I was hoping for more. 3 stars.
Though it started a bit slow, with loads of catty teenagers, the story picked up and eventually I was quite invested. Don't read this unless you've read the book: It took quite a while to arrive at a ending. I guess I was hoping for more. 3 stars.
August 10, 2017
Η Τόνι και ο φίλος της ο Ράιαν, είναι 2 δεκαοχτάχρονα παιδιά. Η Τόνι κάνει ότι μπορεί για να πάει κόντρα στη μητέρα της κι ο Ράιαν, το αγόρι της, δεν είναι κι η καλύτερη επιλογή- κατά τη μητέρα της πάντα. Στο σχολείο, περνά δύσκολα και δεν την πιστεύει κανείς. Ένα βράδυ, πηγαίνουν μια βόλτα μαζί με την αδερφή της. Μόνο που εκείνη βρίσκεται άγρια δολοφονημένη κι οι δυο τους στη φυλακή ως ένοχοι. Ακόμη κι οι ίδιοι οι γονείς της, την εγκαταλείπουν κ' τη θεωρούν ένοχη.
Μας περιγράφει επίσης σκηνές και περιστάσεις από τη ζωή της κατά τη διάρκεια της φυλάκισης της, ώσπου βγαίνει με αναστολή κι επιστρέφει στην πόλη που γεννήθηκε. 'Ομως, κάποιος ή κάποιοι προσπαθούν να την ξαναστείλουν φυλακή.
Ένα ακόμη ψυχολογικό θρίλερ από την αγαπημένη πλέον Chevy Stevens
Συστήνεται ανεπιφύλακτα.....
Μας περιγράφει επίσης σκηνές και περιστάσεις από τη ζωή της κατά τη διάρκεια της φυλάκισης της, ώσπου βγαίνει με αναστολή κι επιστρέφει στην πόλη που γεννήθηκε. 'Ομως, κάποιος ή κάποιοι προσπαθούν να την ξαναστείλουν φυλακή.
Ένα ακόμη ψυχολογικό θρίλερ από την αγαπημένη πλέον Chevy Stevens
Συστήνεται ανεπιφύλακτα.....
September 4, 2017
2 Stars
DNF @ 61%
I can’t read it anymore. Instead of focusing on the mystery of that night, it focused on the anger, hurting, temper, pain... There was too much pain for me. There wasn’t anything good on there. Most of the time I clenched my jaw so hard that my teeth ached. I didn’t like none of the characters, even Toni.
DNF @ 61%
I can’t read it anymore. Instead of focusing on the mystery of that night, it focused on the anger, hurting, temper, pain... There was too much pain for me. There wasn’t anything good on there. Most of the time I clenched my jaw so hard that my teeth ached. I didn’t like none of the characters, even Toni.
June 9, 2014
I don't know where to rate this title. I was so excited when I found out I was approved for this title that it was a little deflating when I actually sat down to read it. More on that later. I'd heard and read only raving reviews for other Chevy Stevens titles so I was more than anxious to start That Night when the time allowed.
That Night is the latest mystery suspense by Chevy Stevens featuring Toni Murphy. Toni's spent 15 years in prison for the murder of her younger sister Nicole along with her boyfriend Ryan who was also convicted of the murder. Because Toni and Ryan aren't exactly angels and partake in the occasional mischief teens are prone to, it's not hard for many to accept the idea she murdered her sister. The only problem is that Toni didn't. The question is who did?
That Night is a first-person narrative that alternates between Toni's past in high school, her time in prison, and her time out of prison. With the 17-year anniversary of Nicole's death nearing, and Toni and Ryan's release, a series of events leads them on a mission to prove their innocence. Of course, the true killer can't let that happen.
Well! With the summary out of the way we can get down to the review. As mentioned before, I was eager to begin this novel as soon as time allowed. That excitement was quickly drained away with the writing. I felt that I'd been given a YA novel although it was not what I requested. I usually steer clear of YA because I generally find the under developed frontal lobe of teens to be draining. No offense teens... I just do. I was most likely as self-absorbed as the next at that age. Quick to be the victim, whiny, and draining. As an adult, you come to see that it's not all about you and my own problems are way bigger than Shaunie not liking what shirt I wore or any popularity contests.
Toni's recollection of high school is where she and I had a disconnect. Yes, her life was made a living hell by Shaunie and her minions and the result of their attacks is something they should never be forgiven for. But, reading the actual narration made me feel distant from the story and almost annoyed. I don't think that was Stevens intention. I couldn't accept that a 34 year old woman was telling the story. She just sounded like a child.
For a while, That Night can't stop replaying, reiterating, and reminding the reader that high school was hell. I felt like we couldn't get past her being a victim... which I never bought. Toni is a fighter. I loved this about Toni. Even with her back against the wall rather it be in jail or high school, Toni was not to be counted out. This spirit is what kept me invested in a novel I was sure to be a 2-star rating up until then.
Around the 75% mark, I was finally on board. The excitement I initially had was renewed. Toni's narrative began to focus on her time in and out of jail and allows readers to see how she's developed from being a bullied teen. It is during these chapters I was glued to the page. Needing to know what happened that night with Nicole and who's ass Toni and I needed to kick gave me steam. Yes it did!
The only other source issue I had with this novel is the sheer number of villains. High school bullies, jailhouse bullies, and even blood-related bullies. Toni's family could possibly be the worse people on the face of the earth. I don't know one book I've read where an obvious sociopath isn't at least supported by their parent. Most parents will make excuses their children until they run out of breath but instead Toni's parents just gave up... really gave in to the idea that their daughter could really kill their sister based off of testimony from one of their known frenemies.
Overall, That Night by Chevy Stevens was worth the time. It's a fast read full of villains I wouldn't wish on my own high school bully ending in a confrontation I never saw coming. It's almost as if people don't care what they cost someone else all for the sake of them getting their way. And it appears the lies we tell ourselves to justify our bad actions really just aren't good enough. Although I wasn't totally in love with the first half of this novel I did find it to be an enjoyable read after all. I look forward to reading whatever comes next for Stevens.
Copy provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley
That Night is the latest mystery suspense by Chevy Stevens featuring Toni Murphy. Toni's spent 15 years in prison for the murder of her younger sister Nicole along with her boyfriend Ryan who was also convicted of the murder. Because Toni and Ryan aren't exactly angels and partake in the occasional mischief teens are prone to, it's not hard for many to accept the idea she murdered her sister. The only problem is that Toni didn't. The question is who did?
That Night is a first-person narrative that alternates between Toni's past in high school, her time in prison, and her time out of prison. With the 17-year anniversary of Nicole's death nearing, and Toni and Ryan's release, a series of events leads them on a mission to prove their innocence. Of course, the true killer can't let that happen.
Well! With the summary out of the way we can get down to the review. As mentioned before, I was eager to begin this novel as soon as time allowed. That excitement was quickly drained away with the writing. I felt that I'd been given a YA novel although it was not what I requested. I usually steer clear of YA because I generally find the under developed frontal lobe of teens to be draining. No offense teens... I just do. I was most likely as self-absorbed as the next at that age. Quick to be the victim, whiny, and draining. As an adult, you come to see that it's not all about you and my own problems are way bigger than Shaunie not liking what shirt I wore or any popularity contests.
Toni's recollection of high school is where she and I had a disconnect. Yes, her life was made a living hell by Shaunie and her minions and the result of their attacks is something they should never be forgiven for. But, reading the actual narration made me feel distant from the story and almost annoyed. I don't think that was Stevens intention. I couldn't accept that a 34 year old woman was telling the story. She just sounded like a child.
For a while, That Night can't stop replaying, reiterating, and reminding the reader that high school was hell. I felt like we couldn't get past her being a victim... which I never bought. Toni is a fighter. I loved this about Toni. Even with her back against the wall rather it be in jail or high school, Toni was not to be counted out. This spirit is what kept me invested in a novel I was sure to be a 2-star rating up until then.
Around the 75% mark, I was finally on board. The excitement I initially had was renewed. Toni's narrative began to focus on her time in and out of jail and allows readers to see how she's developed from being a bullied teen. It is during these chapters I was glued to the page. Needing to know what happened that night with Nicole and who's ass Toni and I needed to kick gave me steam. Yes it did!
The only other source issue I had with this novel is the sheer number of villains. High school bullies, jailhouse bullies, and even blood-related bullies. Toni's family could possibly be the worse people on the face of the earth. I don't know one book I've read where an obvious sociopath isn't at least supported by their parent. Most parents will make excuses their children until they run out of breath but instead Toni's parents just gave up... really gave in to the idea that their daughter could really kill their sister based off of testimony from one of their known frenemies.
Overall, That Night by Chevy Stevens was worth the time. It's a fast read full of villains I wouldn't wish on my own high school bully ending in a confrontation I never saw coming. It's almost as if people don't care what they cost someone else all for the sake of them getting their way. And it appears the lies we tell ourselves to justify our bad actions really just aren't good enough. Although I wasn't totally in love with the first half of this novel I did find it to be an enjoyable read after all. I look forward to reading whatever comes next for Stevens.
Copy provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley
November 24, 2013
I got this book from Bookreporter.com which is a delightful place to read about books and knitting. I was please to receive this as I had liked her first book, "Still Missing" which has one of the best twists I've read in a book. Other than the setting, I would never know this book was written by the same author. This is drivel, in my opinion, with zero surprises and a mind numbing predictability.
The lead character, Toni, is such a grating and annoying person that you want to run when she comes into the story. The book is divided into two main sections, her senior year in high school and her 16 year prison stint and aftermath. She whines constantly about her mother not loving her enough but, believe me, she is no prize. In addition to her goth make-up and grungy clothes, she does poorly in school and often cuts class. She smokes like a chimney including pot. She sneaks out at night to sleep with her boyfriend, supposedly a great love match. They drink and sneak into unoccupied houses to have sex and drink liquor. She has no real friends. Really, what's not to like about her? She can't quite grasp why she has a troubled relationship with her mother. She is also a target of "mean" girls. Think Lindsay Lohan here.
After she goes to prison, she has no growth. Oh, the author tries to make you think she does by going to class and making a very few friends. Still she has issues with how her mother treated her and the mean girls. She never makes it past those two events. In fact that is the entire summary of the book. Bad mother, mean girls, poor Toni. It was like fingernails on the chalkboard.
This was an uncorrected manuscript and the book is not slated for release until June 2014 so maybe it will undergo a major transformation before publication. I hope so. If it doesn't, don't waste your time.
The lead character, Toni, is such a grating and annoying person that you want to run when she comes into the story. The book is divided into two main sections, her senior year in high school and her 16 year prison stint and aftermath. She whines constantly about her mother not loving her enough but, believe me, she is no prize. In addition to her goth make-up and grungy clothes, she does poorly in school and often cuts class. She smokes like a chimney including pot. She sneaks out at night to sleep with her boyfriend, supposedly a great love match. They drink and sneak into unoccupied houses to have sex and drink liquor. She has no real friends. Really, what's not to like about her? She can't quite grasp why she has a troubled relationship with her mother. She is also a target of "mean" girls. Think Lindsay Lohan here.
After she goes to prison, she has no growth. Oh, the author tries to make you think she does by going to class and making a very few friends. Still she has issues with how her mother treated her and the mean girls. She never makes it past those two events. In fact that is the entire summary of the book. Bad mother, mean girls, poor Toni. It was like fingernails on the chalkboard.
This was an uncorrected manuscript and the book is not slated for release until June 2014 so maybe it will undergo a major transformation before publication. I hope so. If it doesn't, don't waste your time.
July 28, 2014
3.5★
Toni Murphy was only eighteen years old when she and her boyfriend, Ryan were taken into custody for the brutal murder of Toni's sister, Nicole. They both claimed they were innocent, but trying to prove it would be difficult. Spending the next sixteen locked away years would be the hardest time of Toni's life. She would come across some of the meanest and hardest of women whom she knew to keep clear of, but that wasn't always easy.
Now aged thirty four, Toni is finally being released, but now she must try and cope with living outside of the prison. Returning to Campbell River will not be easy as this is not a place that holds happy memories for her. Although this is where she met and fell in love with, Ryan it was also where she was bullied by quite a few of the local girls. Toni hasn't had a lot of contact with her parents since her sister was killed. Toni’s father tries to see, Toni when he can, but it's not easy if he wants to keep the peace with his wife. Toni knows she and Ryan didn't kill her sister and now she will do all she can to find the person who did. Will she find out who killed her sister and will she and Ryan be together again?
This was an enjoyable and entertaining read, but it really was missing something for me. In saying that I still look forward to reading more from this author and I know many will enjoy this book.
Toni Murphy was only eighteen years old when she and her boyfriend, Ryan were taken into custody for the brutal murder of Toni's sister, Nicole. They both claimed they were innocent, but trying to prove it would be difficult. Spending the next sixteen locked away years would be the hardest time of Toni's life. She would come across some of the meanest and hardest of women whom she knew to keep clear of, but that wasn't always easy.
Now aged thirty four, Toni is finally being released, but now she must try and cope with living outside of the prison. Returning to Campbell River will not be easy as this is not a place that holds happy memories for her. Although this is where she met and fell in love with, Ryan it was also where she was bullied by quite a few of the local girls. Toni hasn't had a lot of contact with her parents since her sister was killed. Toni’s father tries to see, Toni when he can, but it's not easy if he wants to keep the peace with his wife. Toni knows she and Ryan didn't kill her sister and now she will do all she can to find the person who did. Will she find out who killed her sister and will she and Ryan be together again?
This was an enjoyable and entertaining read, but it really was missing something for me. In saying that I still look forward to reading more from this author and I know many will enjoy this book.
June 18, 2017
In high school, Toni wanted nothing more than to move out of her parent’s house and in with her boyfriend Ryan. Her mother constantly compared Toni to her younger sister Nicole, who was the well behaved child – the opposite to Toni’s rebellious personality. When Nicole befriends Shauna, Toni’s former best friend who now is set on making Toni’s life miserable, their relationship becomes strained.
Toni thought her life was challenging, but she had no idea how much worse it was about to get. After Nicole is brutally murdered, Toni and Ryan are convicted of her murder…only, it wasn’t them. No one believes that they are innocent, including her own parents. Toni and Ryan are sent off to prison, and aren’t released until 15 years later.
Told in alternating timelines, we follow Toni’s story in both the past and present and see what happened leading up to Nicole’s murder as well as her determination after being released to find the truth about what happened that night.
I loved this book! I was hooked from the very first page, and really had a hard time putting the book down! The alternating timelines worked perfectly in this book, and I really enjoyed being able to see what happened in Toni’s past leading up to Nicole’s murder instead of just where she was presently. I think it gave a lot more depth to her character, and I loved it.
I was constantly trying to figure out what happened to Nicole, and although I had one suspect in mind, I knew I was missing something…I was questioning everyone and everything to try and figure out what the motive for murder was! Without giving anything away, I will say that I was completely surprised when everything came to light! I didn’t see the twists in this book coming, and was talking out loud to myself when I was finishing the book!
The book was fast paced, and even though it was almost 400 pages long, I never felt like it was dragging. There were a lot of components to the story aside from the storyline with Nicole, and I enjoyed the minor plot points as well, such as the friendships Toni made in prison, her relationship with Ryan and how it changes after being convicted, and I particularly liked Toni’s father. Her mother on the other hand…I hated her! I felt a lot of anger reading the story…I can’t imagine losing 15 years of my life for a crime I didn’t commit!
So far, I’ve loved everything of Chevy Stevens that I’ve read, and have moved her other books higher up on my TBR list! I think she’s a phenomenal author, and I’m a huge fan! I definitely recommend this book for fans of the psychological thriller genre!
Toni thought her life was challenging, but she had no idea how much worse it was about to get. After Nicole is brutally murdered, Toni and Ryan are convicted of her murder…only, it wasn’t them. No one believes that they are innocent, including her own parents. Toni and Ryan are sent off to prison, and aren’t released until 15 years later.
Told in alternating timelines, we follow Toni’s story in both the past and present and see what happened leading up to Nicole’s murder as well as her determination after being released to find the truth about what happened that night.
I loved this book! I was hooked from the very first page, and really had a hard time putting the book down! The alternating timelines worked perfectly in this book, and I really enjoyed being able to see what happened in Toni’s past leading up to Nicole’s murder instead of just where she was presently. I think it gave a lot more depth to her character, and I loved it.
I was constantly trying to figure out what happened to Nicole, and although I had one suspect in mind, I knew I was missing something…I was questioning everyone and everything to try and figure out what the motive for murder was! Without giving anything away, I will say that I was completely surprised when everything came to light! I didn’t see the twists in this book coming, and was talking out loud to myself when I was finishing the book!
The book was fast paced, and even though it was almost 400 pages long, I never felt like it was dragging. There were a lot of components to the story aside from the storyline with Nicole, and I enjoyed the minor plot points as well, such as the friendships Toni made in prison, her relationship with Ryan and how it changes after being convicted, and I particularly liked Toni’s father. Her mother on the other hand…I hated her! I felt a lot of anger reading the story…I can’t imagine losing 15 years of my life for a crime I didn’t commit!
So far, I’ve loved everything of Chevy Stevens that I’ve read, and have moved her other books higher up on my TBR list! I think she’s a phenomenal author, and I’m a huge fan! I definitely recommend this book for fans of the psychological thriller genre!
August 21, 2014
Chevy Stevens is at the top of her game with her latest release "That Night".
18 yr old Toni and her boyfriend Ryan are accused and found guilty of murdering Toni's younger sister, Nicole. They spend the next 15 years in prison. Hardened by the system, Toni wants to start a new life after her release, but Ryan is determined to prove their innocence. Though wary of violating her parole, she knows the real killer must be found and brought to justice.
The story alternates between Toni's high school days, time incarcerated and the time following her release. Through each time period she has to contend with bullies whether it be crazed teenage girls, demented inmates or deviant ex-cons. Toni's determination through all of the obstacles thrown at her is extremely admirable.
A page turner and a riveting thriller "That Night" will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
18 yr old Toni and her boyfriend Ryan are accused and found guilty of murdering Toni's younger sister, Nicole. They spend the next 15 years in prison. Hardened by the system, Toni wants to start a new life after her release, but Ryan is determined to prove their innocence. Though wary of violating her parole, she knows the real killer must be found and brought to justice.
The story alternates between Toni's high school days, time incarcerated and the time following her release. Through each time period she has to contend with bullies whether it be crazed teenage girls, demented inmates or deviant ex-cons. Toni's determination through all of the obstacles thrown at her is extremely admirable.
A page turner and a riveting thriller "That Night" will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
November 25, 2021
My first Chevy Stevens read was an absolute winner! Thank you to Mandie for my RAOK gift, it was fantastic. A story full of secrets and lies, definately right down my alley. I will be looking out for more Chevy Stevens books - any suggestions?
I loved going on Toni's journey with her. At 34 years of age, she is finally being released from prison where she was serving a sentence for murder - the murder of her younger sister Nicole. She was convicted along with her then boyfriend, Ryan but maintains their innocence. Told in alternative timelines, we find out what happened that night to Nicole, and see how Toni deals with life after prison. It has changed her and she still harbors resent for the mean girls that lied to put her away. Returning to her home town, she learns who her real friends are.
I didn't pick the ending of this one and was completely caught up in the mystery. Highly recommend.
I loved going on Toni's journey with her. At 34 years of age, she is finally being released from prison where she was serving a sentence for murder - the murder of her younger sister Nicole. She was convicted along with her then boyfriend, Ryan but maintains their innocence. Told in alternative timelines, we find out what happened that night to Nicole, and see how Toni deals with life after prison. It has changed her and she still harbors resent for the mean girls that lied to put her away. Returning to her home town, she learns who her real friends are.
I didn't pick the ending of this one and was completely caught up in the mystery. Highly recommend.
May 21, 2014
At multiple points in the first half of Chevy Stevens' That Night, I found myself wishing the story would get to the night in question already and maybe get this novel moving forward.
Instead, the story of the falsely accused and convicted Toni Murphy and her boyfriend kept churning on and on, giving the reader details that didn't matter much in the question of who killed her sister and why or much in the way of character development for Toni. Early on, I got that Toni was a rebel, misunderstood by her parents and the system. I got that Toni faced bullies all her life and I suppose much of the character arc that Stevens is trying to lay out for Toni and the reader is her slowly realizing that she's going to have to stand up for herself or else be downtrodden her entire life. Of course, it takes being falsely accused and convicted of her sister's murder and going to prison for Toni to become self-reliant and a "bad ass."
It's a shame really because the hook of this novel and the first few chapters are interesting enough. Early on, Toni is an intriguing narrator for the events unfolding (chapters alternate between the events leading up to Toni's conviction and events is sent to prison). But my patience for her quickly began to wear thin by the time we get to her third or fourth conflict with her parents who "just don't understand her" and how she can't wait to get out from under their roof so she can move in her boyfriend.
Along the way, she alienates her family, including her younger sister who is harboring some secrets as well. These secrets prove instrumental in solving the case once and for all and really determining what happened that night her sister was killed. The sister in question wanted to tag along with Toni and her boyfriend on a date up to the lake. Toni reluctantly agrees, but once there Toni and her boyfriend go off to smoke weed and make out under the stars, leaving the sister alone. When they come back a few hours later, the sister is dead and the prime suspects are Toni and the boyfriend.
And yet for all the hope I had that getting to the night in question would finally kick-start this novel, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated with the story and Stevens' storytelling decisions. While I can see that the high school group of mean girls would be able to pull of bullying Toni and her sister in school, the steps they take to ensure Toni and her boyfriend are sent up the river become increasingly over the top and absurd. It's hard to believe that everyone buys them -- though to be honest it's not like Toni has worked hard to earn anyone's faith at this point.
Just when I was at my breaking point with this one, I realized that I was two-thirds of the way through so I might as well stick around and see how it all comes out. And I did and, while I won't give it away here, I can say that the solution isn't necessarily worth the 300 or so pages I spent with this book. A mystery can have a slow burn, building up the characters and background until the deciding action is given to us on the printed page (it may not help this book that I went from reading it to the latest novel by Elizabeth George. George, quite frankly, runs rings around Stevens in terms of character, atmosphere, world building and a compelling mystery. But again, that could be because I've had a dozen or more books to get to know everyone in George's universe and find it easier to maintain my relationship with them if they act like the north end of a south bound horse).
It's too bad That Night failed to live up the promise of its first few pages and its premise. This one had a chance to be something interesting but instead turned out to be one of the more frustrating books I've read in quite some time.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received an ARC of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
Instead, the story of the falsely accused and convicted Toni Murphy and her boyfriend kept churning on and on, giving the reader details that didn't matter much in the question of who killed her sister and why or much in the way of character development for Toni. Early on, I got that Toni was a rebel, misunderstood by her parents and the system. I got that Toni faced bullies all her life and I suppose much of the character arc that Stevens is trying to lay out for Toni and the reader is her slowly realizing that she's going to have to stand up for herself or else be downtrodden her entire life. Of course, it takes being falsely accused and convicted of her sister's murder and going to prison for Toni to become self-reliant and a "bad ass."
It's a shame really because the hook of this novel and the first few chapters are interesting enough. Early on, Toni is an intriguing narrator for the events unfolding (chapters alternate between the events leading up to Toni's conviction and events is sent to prison). But my patience for her quickly began to wear thin by the time we get to her third or fourth conflict with her parents who "just don't understand her" and how she can't wait to get out from under their roof so she can move in her boyfriend.
Along the way, she alienates her family, including her younger sister who is harboring some secrets as well. These secrets prove instrumental in solving the case once and for all and really determining what happened that night her sister was killed. The sister in question wanted to tag along with Toni and her boyfriend on a date up to the lake. Toni reluctantly agrees, but once there Toni and her boyfriend go off to smoke weed and make out under the stars, leaving the sister alone. When they come back a few hours later, the sister is dead and the prime suspects are Toni and the boyfriend.
And yet for all the hope I had that getting to the night in question would finally kick-start this novel, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated with the story and Stevens' storytelling decisions. While I can see that the high school group of mean girls would be able to pull of bullying Toni and her sister in school, the steps they take to ensure Toni and her boyfriend are sent up the river become increasingly over the top and absurd. It's hard to believe that everyone buys them -- though to be honest it's not like Toni has worked hard to earn anyone's faith at this point.
Just when I was at my breaking point with this one, I realized that I was two-thirds of the way through so I might as well stick around and see how it all comes out. And I did and, while I won't give it away here, I can say that the solution isn't necessarily worth the 300 or so pages I spent with this book. A mystery can have a slow burn, building up the characters and background until the deciding action is given to us on the printed page (it may not help this book that I went from reading it to the latest novel by Elizabeth George. George, quite frankly, runs rings around Stevens in terms of character, atmosphere, world building and a compelling mystery. But again, that could be because I've had a dozen or more books to get to know everyone in George's universe and find it easier to maintain my relationship with them if they act like the north end of a south bound horse).
It's too bad That Night failed to live up the promise of its first few pages and its premise. This one had a chance to be something interesting but instead turned out to be one of the more frustrating books I've read in quite some time.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received an ARC of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2017
Άλλο ένα ωραίο βιβλίο δια χειρός Chevy Stevens. Έπιασα με ενθουσιασμό το βιβλίο (συγκεκριμένα το pdf) γιατί είχα διαβάσει πρo ολίγου καιρού την «Εξαφάνιση». Η ιστορία εκτυλίσσεται γύρω από τη δολοφονία της Νικόλ και την άδικη φυλάκιση της μεγαλύτερης αδελφής της (Τόνι) και του αγοριού της (Ράιαν). Στην ουσία το βιβλίο καταπιάνεται με το bullying στα χνάρια του πολυαγαπημένου «13 Reasons why». Ειλικρινά ποτέ δεν μπόρεσα να καταλάβω γιατί να φερθείς έτσι. Γιατί να θέλεις να προκαλέσεις ψυχικό ή ακόμη και σωματικό πόνο; Αν δεν συμπαθείς κάποιον απλά αγνοείς την ύπαρξή του. H Σόνα και η παρέα της μου θυμίζουν τα means girls που είχα στο σχολείο.
Όπως και στην «Εξαφάνιση» υπάρχει μια έντονη αίσθηση αδικίας και δυσφορίας. Όσο μας δίνονται νέα στοιχεία γύρω από τη δολοφονία τόσο πιο ζοφερή γίνεται η κατάσταση. Η αφήγηση πάλι δεν είναι γραμμική αλλά δεν δημιουργείται σύγχυση στον αναγνώστη που προσπαθεί να ενώσει τα κομμάτια του παζλ. Απεναντίας κρατάει έτσι την προσήλωσή μας. Την παραδέχομαι την Chevy Stevens γιατί καταφέρνει πάλι να συνδέσει τέλεια το παρόν μ�� το παρελθόν προωθώντας έτσι την συναισθηματική εμπλοκή με την βασανισμένη ηρωίδα.
Αυτό το υπνωτιστικό μπλε που κυριαρχεί στα εξώφυλλα και των δύο μυθιστορημάτων ταιριάζει απόλυτα με κλίμα βιβλίων. Έξυπνο το τέχνασμα που βάζει μία wannabe δημοσιογράφο να φτιάχνει δοκίμιο με τίτλο «Εκείνη τη νύχτα» κλείνοντας έτσι έξυπνα το μάτι στον αναγνώστη. Επιπλέον πρέπει να παραδεχτώ πως μπορεί να περιέχει απειροελάχιστες ρομαντικές/ερωτικές σκηνές αλλά έχουν μία μαγεία. Ράιαν έλα να χτυπήσεις και το δικό μου παραθύρι….θα σου ανοίξω.
Όσον αφορά την εξήγηση δεν με άφησε speechless αλλά είχε στιβαρή βάση. Δεν νομίζω ότι υποτιμάει την νοημοσύνη του αναγνώστη. To φινάλε ήταν άκρως ικανοποιητικό για μένα, απλά θεωρώ πως η εξαφάνιση ήταν πιο δυνατό βιβλίο. Σοκαριστικό μεν συναρπαστικό δε.
Όπως και στην «Εξαφάνιση» υπάρχει μια έντονη αίσθηση αδικίας και δυσφορίας. Όσο μας δίνονται νέα στοιχεία γύρω από τη δολοφονία τόσο πιο ζοφερή γίνεται η κατάσταση. Η αφήγηση πάλι δεν είναι γραμμική αλλά δεν δημιουργείται σύγχυση στον αναγνώστη που προσπαθεί να ενώσει τα κομμάτια του παζλ. Απεναντίας κρατάει έτσι την προσήλωσή μας. Την παραδέχομαι την Chevy Stevens γιατί καταφέρνει πάλι να συνδέσει τέλεια το παρόν μ�� το παρελθόν προωθώντας έτσι την συναισθηματική εμπλοκή με την βασανισμένη ηρωίδα.
Αυτό το υπνωτιστικό μπλε που κυριαρχεί στα εξώφυλλα και των δύο μυθιστορημάτων ταιριάζει απόλυτα με κλίμα βιβλίων. Έξυπνο το τέχνασμα που βάζει μία wannabe δημοσιογράφο να φτιάχνει δοκίμιο με τίτλο «Εκείνη τη νύχτα» κλείνοντας έτσι έξυπνα το μάτι στον αναγνώστη. Επιπλέον πρέπει να παραδεχτώ πως μπορεί να περιέχει απειροελάχιστες ρομαντικές/ερωτικές σκηνές αλλά έχουν μία μαγεία. Ράιαν έλα να χτυπήσεις και το δικό μου παραθύρι….θα σου ανοίξω.
Όσον αφορά την εξήγηση δεν με άφησε speechless αλλά είχε στιβαρή βάση. Δεν νομίζω ότι υποτιμάει την νοημοσύνη του αναγνώστη. To φινάλε ήταν άκρως ικανοποιητικό για μένα, απλά θεωρώ πως η εξαφάνιση ήταν πιο δυνατό βιβλίο. Σοκαριστικό μεν συναρπαστικό δε.
November 7, 2015
I think I'm in the minority. 'That Night' was my first experience with the Canadian author, Chevy Stevens, and with a main character like defiant eighteen-year-old Toni Murphy, it was hard to enjoy this. She was so annoying that throughout the entire book, I felt like gouging my eyes out with a spoon. Yes, her life was hell - especially at school, but concerning her home life, with some communication and a little respect, things could have been better.
If I had the beauty of hindsight, I wouldn't have gone with the audio version. I think that was my mistake. The narrator; a women named Jorjeana Marie was far too good at portraying the condescending voice of teenagers. It's cringe-worthy. Having said that, this reads more like a young adult book than a mystery/thriller novel. Though, let me tell you, I would not want my young nieces reading this book. It's full of bullying and teenage drama - the sort of crap you hope your kids, nieces, nephews and their friends never have to go through.
For me, the writing was mediocre. If you can get past all the teeny bopper stuff, the suspense will pull you through. It's obvious who's involved with the murder, but there's more to it than meets the eye.
If you like spoiled-immature-angry characters, then give this book a try, but I suggest you have handy a lot of patience and a bottle of Advil, especially for the first half.
If I had the beauty of hindsight, I wouldn't have gone with the audio version. I think that was my mistake. The narrator; a women named Jorjeana Marie was far too good at portraying the condescending voice of teenagers. It's cringe-worthy. Having said that, this reads more like a young adult book than a mystery/thriller novel. Though, let me tell you, I would not want my young nieces reading this book. It's full of bullying and teenage drama - the sort of crap you hope your kids, nieces, nephews and their friends never have to go through.
For me, the writing was mediocre. If you can get past all the teeny bopper stuff, the suspense will pull you through. It's obvious who's involved with the murder, but there's more to it than meets the eye.
If you like spoiled-immature-angry characters, then give this book a try, but I suggest you have handy a lot of patience and a bottle of Advil, especially for the first half.
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