Library Journal - Audio
06/10/2024
Donlea's (Summit Lake) latest follows Alexandra Quinlan, whose entire family was murdered when she was just 17. Narrator Vivienne Leheny provides a tension-filled performance, describing how Alexandra survives only by accident. When the police arrive, they find her with the murder weapon in her lap and charge her with the crime. She is eventually exonerated, but not before spending time in juvenile detention and enduring cruel harassment from the media and from true-crime fans. Still haunted by her family's deaths, Alexandra adopts a new identity, changing her name to Alex Armstrong and throwing herself into her work as a legal investigator. This work is not without its dangers, as Alex soon uncovers a disturbing case that may be connected to her family's murder. Leheny's portrayal of Alexandra is poignant, capturing the confusion of young Alexandra and the tenacity of her older self. She ably handles the multiple storylines, some of which may strain credulity, and provides a well-paced and engrossing listen. VERDICT An intricately plotted suspense novel for fans of Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, and Stacy Willingham.—Joanna M. Burkhardt
APRIL 2023 - AudioFile
Vivienne Leheny guides listeners through a mystery involving a girl who fought the legal system and won--but has still been found guilty in the court of popular opinion. Alex Armstrong is living under an assumed name, doing her best to stay out of the spotlight while searching for the man who killed her family. When her family was murdered, Alex was accused due to poor police work, and she has spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. Leheny's narration of the beginning of this audiobook gives listeners the feel of a true-crime podcast. Her delivery becomes more emotional as the story focuses on Alex's life after the trial. Leheny keeps listeners in a perfect balance of tension and fascination throughout this murder mystery. V.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
Early Praise for THOSE EMPTY EYES:
"In this ambitious thriller from one of my favorites, Charlie Donlea weaves together seemingly separate mysteries in smart and completely unexpected ways, proving his finesse as a writer. Those Empty Eyes draws readers in from the first heart-stopping pages and doesn't let go until the end. Donlea's fans will love this one!" —Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing
Additional Praise for Charlie Donlea
“An exciting debut, with all the right touches, captivating from the first page to the last.” —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author on Summit Lake
"A perfectly executed and entirely satisfying read, Don't Believe It is a gripping thriller that will blow readers away, from the first page right up to the very last words. Charlie Donlea's best book yet!" —Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl
“Excellent… The ingredients — adultery, fake identities, ulterior motives, forgery, plagiarism, rough sex, unusual chapter breaks, a little murder thrown in here and there — are enticing, and Donlea tells a propulsive tale.” —The New York Times on Twenty Years Later
“[Plot lines] merge seamlessly into a surprise ending that I didn’t see coming. Author Charlie Donlea has an easy readable style and skillfully adds depth and intrigue to this enjoyable thriller.” —Mystery Scene on Twenty Years Later
“Breathtaking pacing and clever plot twists.” —Publishers Weekly on Twenty Years Later
“There are a lot of threads in this plot, but Donlea weaves it all together really well…Twenty Years Later is a fast-paced read with just enough depth to keep you invested in what’s going on. If you’re in a reading rut, this is a great rut buster!” —Jeremy Anderberg, Read More Books Substack on Twenty Years Later
“An entertaining thriller…surprises lurking around every corner.” —Kirkus Reviews on Twenty Years Later
“Probably the most complex and morally satisfying novel that Donlea has written thus far. Here, he deftly utilizes 9/11 to pinpoint a moment in time that is necessary to the plot while not in any way using the tragedy to manipulate the feelings of readers…Donlea subtly moves away from the 9/11 tragedy and makes his story more about the present-day characters as they battle to find the truth through a sea of lies and false accusations.” —Bookreporter on Twenty Years Later
“Gripping...the book's real strength is the idiosyncratic Rory, who suffers from OCD and is on the autism spectrum, a deeply developed character readers can't help rooting for. Hopefully, she'll be back soon.” —Publishers Weekly, Best Books of Summer on The Suicide House
"Charlie Donlea is a superb psychological suspense writer...the book has a fast-paced plot and main characters unlike any typically found in this genre." —Seattle Book Review on The Suicide House
"Part 1970s serial-killer thriller and part contemporary Chicago crime novel, this deceptively quick read has something for everyone." —Booklist on Some Choose Darkness
"In Donlea's skillful hands, this story of obsession, murder, and the search for truth is both a compassionate character study and a compelling thriller." —Kirkus Reviews on Some Choose Darkness
"You can't blame Charlie Donlea if the ending of his novel makes your jaw drop. The title alone Don't Believe It is fair warning that his characters are no more to be trusted than are our initial impressions of them." —The New York Times Book Review on Don't Believe It
"Don't Believe It displays excellent craftsmanship, from the way sentences are constructed to the serpentine plot. The prose sings. Sentences are short and punchy. Word choices are specific and impeccable. The story captivates. The central mystery unfurls in layer after layer of falsehoods and deception. It's easy to get hooked on the book's heady cocktail of highly rated television and high stakes subterfuge." —ForeWord Reviews
"[A] fast moving page-turner...Donlea skillfully maximizes suspense by juggling narrators and time." —Publishers Weekly on The Girl Who Was Taken
"Donlea's sophomore effort is solid. He effectively tells the story using shifts in time, and...keeps the reader guessing and second guessing until the end, thanks to an expertly crafted abundance of potential suspects. For fans of medical suspense and forensic thrillers, especially those who like morgue scenes in television crime shows." —Library Journal on The Girl Who was Taken
"If you're looking for a gripping thriller that will give you the chills in the heat of summer, you'll love Some Choose Darkness." —SheReads, Best Books of Summer
"With a soaring pace and teasing plot twists, Charlie Donlea's debut mystery is like a cool drink of water with a twist of lemon. It's refreshing to find a book that has such a well developed plot and excellent writing to back it up." —BookPage on Summit Lake
APRIL 2023 - AudioFile
Vivienne Leheny guides listeners through a mystery involving a girl who fought the legal system and won--but has still been found guilty in the court of popular opinion. Alex Armstrong is living under an assumed name, doing her best to stay out of the spotlight while searching for the man who killed her family. When her family was murdered, Alex was accused due to poor police work, and she has spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. Leheny's narration of the beginning of this audiobook gives listeners the feel of a true-crime podcast. Her delivery becomes more emotional as the story focuses on Alex's life after the trial. Leheny keeps listeners in a perfect balance of tension and fascination throughout this murder mystery. V.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
