David Bell Follow

I always enjoy a David Bell novel, and being a Kentucky girl, I like that I can picture so many of the settings he mentions in his books. Try Not to Breathe started out a little slower than I expected from Bell, but it does pick up as the story progresses. It never quite makes it to what I would consider a thriller, though. It feels more like a domestic suspense. That said, there are a couple of things going on that raise the creep factor a bit. Like the mystery around Anna's stalker. The family secret wasn't too hard to figure out, but the twist at the end was still a pretty good one despite the predictability. The book is well written, and while I didn't find the characters exactly likable (at least at first), I wanted to know how things would turn out for them. All things considered, this one isn't my favorite David Bell novel, and it's more domestic suspense than thriller, but it's still a good book overall. I feel like this one would do well on screen with its colorful characters and family drama.

Talk about a rock and hard place! Connor Nye is backed into a corner with two choices - one bad and the other worse. And here's where I'll tell you that I didn't much like our Professor Nye. He's been through a lot and maybe felt like he had no other option, but that doesn't make what he did okay. At the same time, his circumstances did make me feel a little sorry for him, so David Bell does an excellent job of making sure we understand that there is much more to Connor than his bad choices.
The story is very well written - it's a bit of a slow burn, but there's enough going on to keep the reader engaged, and the tone of the story kept me right there, waiting to find out the who and why of it all. I did guess part of it, but Bell threw a curveball in that I didn't expect.
As a Kentucky girl who lives just a hop, skip, and a jump away from David Bell's hometown, I appreciate the mentions of places and things that are recognizable to me, and I love how it all has an authentic feel, right down to the mention of a bluegrass festival. The story also includes a big nod to the #metoo movement and how women might be wary of speaking out and not being believed, so it's certainly relevant.
All in all, Kill All Your Darlings is a thriller that kept me reading long into the night with its ever-growing tension and suspense. With this story, the author gives us a character who isn't perfect by any means, who doesn't always do the right thing, but he's redeemable enough that you can't help but hope it all works out. This is one of those stories that sticks with you long after the last page has turned. It's a must-read for any thriller/suspense fan.