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One of Us Knows
From the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of When No One Is Watching comes a riveting thriller about the new caretaker of a historic estate who finds herself trapped on an island with a murderer—and the ghosts of her past.
Years after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder derailed her historical preservationist career, Kenetria Nash and her alters have been given a second chance they can’t refuse: a position as resident caretaker of a historic home. Having been dormant for years, Ken has no idea what led them to this isolated Hudson River island, but she’s determined not to ruin their opportunity.
Then a surprise visit from the home’s conservation trust just as a Nor’easter bears down on the island disrupts her newfound life, leaving Ken trapped with a group of possibly dangerous strangers—including the man who brought her life tumbling down years earlier. When he turns up dead, Ken is the prime suspect.
Caught in a web of secrets and in a race against time, Ken and her alters must band together to prove their innocence and discover the truth of Kavanaugh Island—and their own past—or they risk losing not only their future, but their life.
Years after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder derailed her historical preservationist career, Kenetria Nash and her alters have been given a second chance they can’t refuse: a position as resident caretaker of a historic home. Having been dormant for years, Ken has no idea what led them to this isolated Hudson River island, but she’s determined not to ruin their opportunity.
Then a surprise visit from the home’s conservation trust just as a Nor’easter bears down on the island disrupts her newfound life, leaving Ken trapped with a group of possibly dangerous strangers—including the man who brought her life tumbling down years earlier. When he turns up dead, Ken is the prime suspect.
Caught in a web of secrets and in a race against time, Ken and her alters must band together to prove their innocence and discover the truth of Kavanaugh Island—and their own past—or they risk losing not only their future, but their life.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2024
About the author
Alyssa Cole
41 books5,923 followersAlyssa Cole is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and sci-fi romance. Her Civil War-set espionage romance An Extraordinary Union was the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award’s Best Book of 2017 and the American Library Association’s RUSA Best Romance for 2018, and A Princess in Theory was one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2018. She’s contributed to publications including Bustle, Shondaland, The Toast, Vulture, RT Book Reviews, and Heroes and Heartbreakers, and her books have received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Library Journal, BuzzFeed, Kirkus, Booklist, Jezebel, Vulture, Book Riot, Entertainment Weekly, and various other outlets. When she’s not working, she can usually be found watching anime or wrangling her pets.
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June 2, 2024
Tick tock, tick tock… Can you hear the ticking clock inside my head? It's like a bomb ready to explode any second! Oh boy, what did I just read? My head is spinning! My brain cells are all mixed up! It's been ages since I've come across something so quirky, eerie, yet incredibly intelligent, unique, creative, and entertaining in a strangely sarcastic way!
The inner dialogues between multiple dissociative characters were a bit overwhelming, yet oddly humorous and refreshingly original, like a bizarre kind of theatrical performance with multiple actors. As you delve into this journey, you quickly realize you're reading two books, two storylines, two themes at the same time: one about being trapped on an island where people start dying one by one, reminiscent of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," and another about a traumatized woman suffering from dissociative identity disorder, struggling against her other identities and trying to unite them to protect herself from an outside threat, akin to "Shattered Island," "Split," and themes from "Minds of Billy Milligan" and "Sybil."
Both storylines are incredibly compelling and immersive, drawing you in with their clever and sarcastic tone, conveyed through the characters' multitude of voices: from Solomon's rational and controlling demeanor to Empress's quirky nature, Della's responsible attitude, Mesmer's confidence, Keke's innocent charm, Lurk's confusion, Rapunzel's wild spirit, and Kenetria's self-deprecating humor.
The portrayal of the castle she's constructed and the positioning of each identity as "headmates" are brilliant inventions that transport readers into a fantastical realm.
The story begins with Kenetria Nash's boat trip to an isolated island on the Hudson River to start her new job as the resident caretaker of a historic home. The catch? Kenetria didn't apply for the job—her alter ego, Della, did. And when Kenetria decides to take control of her body, Della disappears, as if she were never part of her shattered personality.
Desperate for stability after being dismissed from her university program and kicked out of her home, Kenetria seizes the opportunity, only to discover that the house on Hudson River eerily resembles the one she's imagined in her mind for her other personas. Coincidence? And why do the boatman and caretaker warn her that she can't spend a single night alone in the house? What secrets does it hold? Is it cursed, as rumored by the locals? And why does everyone who sets foot on the island end up dead?
But caretaking isn't Kenetria's only problem. A surprise visit from the house's conversational trust leaves her rattled, and when one of them dies, she becomes a prime suspect. Now, she must make peace with her inner demons and enlist their help to uncover the real perpetrator before she becomes the next victim. But to do so, she must confront her dark past, the very reason she created a castle with multiple characters in her mind in the first place.
Overall, this is Allyssa Cole's second thriller, and it's even more captivating than her previous work. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with a unique writing style.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow/William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me with a digital review copy of this well-executed psychological thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The inner dialogues between multiple dissociative characters were a bit overwhelming, yet oddly humorous and refreshingly original, like a bizarre kind of theatrical performance with multiple actors. As you delve into this journey, you quickly realize you're reading two books, two storylines, two themes at the same time: one about being trapped on an island where people start dying one by one, reminiscent of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," and another about a traumatized woman suffering from dissociative identity disorder, struggling against her other identities and trying to unite them to protect herself from an outside threat, akin to "Shattered Island," "Split," and themes from "Minds of Billy Milligan" and "Sybil."
Both storylines are incredibly compelling and immersive, drawing you in with their clever and sarcastic tone, conveyed through the characters' multitude of voices: from Solomon's rational and controlling demeanor to Empress's quirky nature, Della's responsible attitude, Mesmer's confidence, Keke's innocent charm, Lurk's confusion, Rapunzel's wild spirit, and Kenetria's self-deprecating humor.
The portrayal of the castle she's constructed and the positioning of each identity as "headmates" are brilliant inventions that transport readers into a fantastical realm.
The story begins with Kenetria Nash's boat trip to an isolated island on the Hudson River to start her new job as the resident caretaker of a historic home. The catch? Kenetria didn't apply for the job—her alter ego, Della, did. And when Kenetria decides to take control of her body, Della disappears, as if she were never part of her shattered personality.
Desperate for stability after being dismissed from her university program and kicked out of her home, Kenetria seizes the opportunity, only to discover that the house on Hudson River eerily resembles the one she's imagined in her mind for her other personas. Coincidence? And why do the boatman and caretaker warn her that she can't spend a single night alone in the house? What secrets does it hold? Is it cursed, as rumored by the locals? And why does everyone who sets foot on the island end up dead?
But caretaking isn't Kenetria's only problem. A surprise visit from the house's conversational trust leaves her rattled, and when one of them dies, she becomes a prime suspect. Now, she must make peace with her inner demons and enlist their help to uncover the real perpetrator before she becomes the next victim. But to do so, she must confront her dark past, the very reason she created a castle with multiple characters in her mind in the first place.
Overall, this is Allyssa Cole's second thriller, and it's even more captivating than her previous work. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with a unique writing style.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow/William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me with a digital review copy of this well-executed psychological thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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May 23, 2024
All the stars go to Alyssa Cole for even attempting such a uniquely structured novel as One of Us Knows.
Ever experience thriller fatigue? I sure have.
Look, it’s one of my fave genres, but good golly I cannot tell you the number of times that I’ve been reading a new release and gone, “Wait, haven’t I read this one before?”
I can guarantee: you have never read anything like One of Us Knows.
Let me also say, even if you devour thrillers, this one is not for everyone. In fact, I seriously thought that perhaps it wasn’t for me.
I am so glad that I did not throw in the towel. Ha, my stubbornness to not DNF a novel paid off!
Up for the challenge? Read on, friend.
Definitely trippy and filled with some WTF-moments, One of Us Knows is akin to an expertly plotted Agatha Christie locked-room mystery on a dark and stormy night. The gothic setting of an historic estate on a remote Hudson River island adds to the creep factor.
Kenetria “Ken” Nash developed dissociative identity disorder — previously referred to as multiple personality disorder — as a coping mechanism from extreme childhood trauma.
Her alters, or “headmates,” vary in age (four to 54-years-old) and gender, each with their own personality and role.
The story unfolds from multiple POVs and interactions, including chapters written as a collaborative journal that the headmates use to update one another.
The narrative is both overwhelming and fascinating: you’re reading multiple character POVs — inner dialogue as well as conversations with one another — from people who all share the same body but do not necessarily have access to the same information.
Say what?
Told ya, not for everyone.
But if you’re up for a challenge, I strongly encourage you to put on your thinking caps and dive into One of Us Knows. It’s slow going at first, mostly because you’re trying to wrap your head around what and who you’re reading, but progresses at a rapid clip in the second half of the book.
Kudos to you, Alyssa Cole. Wow. Just wow.
January 9, 2024
The law of Goodreads is that any genre book that challenges its readers will end up with a sub-4 rating, so I don't doubt this one will be ranked well below what it deserves. I'd call this a 4.5, but am definitely rounding up to balance the Goodread Idiot Effect.
(The fact that the protagonist, like the writer, is Black and female surely won't influence any if those negative reviews, of course, I'm sure.)
Anyway, Cole does NOT deliver a straightforward thriller or mystery, but she instead gives us a damned fine -- and, best I can tell, well-researched -- story with a protagonist with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Ken, one of Kenetria Nash's personalities who had been dormant for years, wakes up in control to find the body is about to start a new mysterious caretaker job. As she attempts to learn what's been happening for years (including learning about COVID), she realized that there's something mysterious happening with both the job and with her other personalities, and has two mysteries to solve.
I want to avoid going too heavily into the plot, because the twists and surprises are too much fun, but you don't have to be a very talented reader to figure out that stuff from Kenetria's past will come up. The key things here are that all of Kenetria's personalities have distinct and believable personalities, and their interactions with each other and with the outside world drive the storytelling here as much as the actual plot. This is a quick and intense read (while Cole doesn't delve on cruelty, it's a given that people with DID tend to have a major trauma in their background). While some twists are expected, there are some nice curveballs (ones that all stand up to scrutiny) as well.
Overall, this is a blast. I'd categorize it as closer to a contemporary gothic (it's literally set in a castle) than a traditional thriller, but it's more between the lines of the two genres. This is Cole's second consecutive book to blur genre lines, and I'm definitely up for seeing what her next book is.
(The fact that the protagonist, like the writer, is Black and female surely won't influence any if those negative reviews, of course, I'm sure.)
Anyway, Cole does NOT deliver a straightforward thriller or mystery, but she instead gives us a damned fine -- and, best I can tell, well-researched -- story with a protagonist with Dissociative Identity Disorder. Ken, one of Kenetria Nash's personalities who had been dormant for years, wakes up in control to find the body is about to start a new mysterious caretaker job. As she attempts to learn what's been happening for years (including learning about COVID), she realized that there's something mysterious happening with both the job and with her other personalities, and has two mysteries to solve.
I want to avoid going too heavily into the plot, because the twists and surprises are too much fun, but you don't have to be a very talented reader to figure out that stuff from Kenetria's past will come up. The key things here are that all of Kenetria's personalities have distinct and believable personalities, and their interactions with each other and with the outside world drive the storytelling here as much as the actual plot. This is a quick and intense read (while Cole doesn't delve on cruelty, it's a given that people with DID tend to have a major trauma in their background). While some twists are expected, there are some nice curveballs (ones that all stand up to scrutiny) as well.
Overall, this is a blast. I'd categorize it as closer to a contemporary gothic (it's literally set in a castle) than a traditional thriller, but it's more between the lines of the two genres. This is Cole's second consecutive book to blur genre lines, and I'm definitely up for seeing what her next book is.
May 15, 2024
Kenetria ‘Ken’ Nash comes to on a Hudson River dock with no clue how or why she’s there. Diagnosed eight years ago with dissociative identity disorder following a life-altering event, it seems she’s been dormant while one of her “headmates” has had the reins. Now faced with figuring out what is going on, Ken is excited—but also wary—when she learns that she has accepted the position of resident caretaker with the conservation trust of historical home on the isolated Kavanaugh Island.
Just as Ken’s getting settled into the magnificent house, however, a member of the historical trust that has hired her shows up unannounced. Piling onto her troubles is the weather system blowing in. With roiling clouds and battering winds, she finds herself stuck on the island not only with her surprise visitor, but a whole host of men that just might mean her harm. One of whom, in fact, was the very individual that set her past alight. As the rain descends, things seem unable to get worse. Or so Ken thinks...
When someone is found dead—and Ken is covered in their blood—she becomes obvious prime suspect. Now it is up to her and her handful of alternate identities to figure out what happened. With a hefty dose of secrets and forgotten trauma from the past, Ken must work quickly before she too loses her life. In a race against time, it will take everything she has to learn not only who the killer is, but also the sinister truth of Kavanaugh Island.
What in all that is holy did I just read? I simply can’t get over how downright addictive but also eerily mind-bending One of Us Knows was from beginning to end. From the sarcasm that flowed from the pages to the dynamite characters, this book was nothing like what I expected, but also absolutely everything that I wanted. Fast-paced, twisted, astute and entirely unique, the dissociative identity disorder aspect added an element to this story that I’ve never seen before. Needless to say, it was an utter home run.
The characters were simply divine, all things considered. A striking collection of alternate personalities, each had distinct identities that manifested as genuine and true. At the same time, however, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the reality of it all. How an individual existing with at least five other “headmates” could manage to live day-to-day was staggering. Add in the suspense-laden plot that had my pulse racing and my fingers flying, and I was completely won over.
The storyline itself consisted of two alternate storylines. One with a very And Then There Were None feel and another that presented the topic of dissociative identity disorder and the stress of living with multiple other personalities. Rife with true-to-life emotion and a propulsive writing style, I quickly got sucked in as the plot unraveled before me. Try as I might, there was no putting the puzzle pieces together and I was forced to sit on the sidelines until the final timely reveal.
I do have to mention, however, that this book likely isn’t for everyone. With a definite need to suspend all disbelief, the nevertheless compelling, intense tale wasn’t your cut-and-dry thriller. It also just so happened to be a rather convoluted plot. You know the kind where you have to pay extra close attention? Well, this is one of those. All the same, if you keep your eye on the ball, you’ll be justly rewarded.
An intriguing combo of gripping psychological thriller with something that could almost be magical realism but is instead all too real, Cole not only created a superlative story, but also a beguiling world. After all, my mind was well and truly spellbound by both the real and imaginary castles that she drew within these pages. Through evocative descriptions and jaw-dropping twists, this once-in-a-lifetime tale won me over hook, line and sinker. Now excuse me as I start counting down the days until Ms. Cole’s next novel. Rating of 4.5 stars (upgraded).
Thank you to Alyssa Cole and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: April 16, 2024
Trigger warning: COVID, misogyny, ableism, racism, mention of: sexual assault, self-harm
Just as Ken’s getting settled into the magnificent house, however, a member of the historical trust that has hired her shows up unannounced. Piling onto her troubles is the weather system blowing in. With roiling clouds and battering winds, she finds herself stuck on the island not only with her surprise visitor, but a whole host of men that just might mean her harm. One of whom, in fact, was the very individual that set her past alight. As the rain descends, things seem unable to get worse. Or so Ken thinks...
When someone is found dead—and Ken is covered in their blood—she becomes obvious prime suspect. Now it is up to her and her handful of alternate identities to figure out what happened. With a hefty dose of secrets and forgotten trauma from the past, Ken must work quickly before she too loses her life. In a race against time, it will take everything she has to learn not only who the killer is, but also the sinister truth of Kavanaugh Island.
What in all that is holy did I just read? I simply can’t get over how downright addictive but also eerily mind-bending One of Us Knows was from beginning to end. From the sarcasm that flowed from the pages to the dynamite characters, this book was nothing like what I expected, but also absolutely everything that I wanted. Fast-paced, twisted, astute and entirely unique, the dissociative identity disorder aspect added an element to this story that I’ve never seen before. Needless to say, it was an utter home run.
The characters were simply divine, all things considered. A striking collection of alternate personalities, each had distinct identities that manifested as genuine and true. At the same time, however, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the reality of it all. How an individual existing with at least five other “headmates” could manage to live day-to-day was staggering. Add in the suspense-laden plot that had my pulse racing and my fingers flying, and I was completely won over.
The storyline itself consisted of two alternate storylines. One with a very And Then There Were None feel and another that presented the topic of dissociative identity disorder and the stress of living with multiple other personalities. Rife with true-to-life emotion and a propulsive writing style, I quickly got sucked in as the plot unraveled before me. Try as I might, there was no putting the puzzle pieces together and I was forced to sit on the sidelines until the final timely reveal.
I do have to mention, however, that this book likely isn’t for everyone. With a definite need to suspend all disbelief, the nevertheless compelling, intense tale wasn’t your cut-and-dry thriller. It also just so happened to be a rather convoluted plot. You know the kind where you have to pay extra close attention? Well, this is one of those. All the same, if you keep your eye on the ball, you’ll be justly rewarded.
An intriguing combo of gripping psychological thriller with something that could almost be magical realism but is instead all too real, Cole not only created a superlative story, but also a beguiling world. After all, my mind was well and truly spellbound by both the real and imaginary castles that she drew within these pages. Through evocative descriptions and jaw-dropping twists, this once-in-a-lifetime tale won me over hook, line and sinker. Now excuse me as I start counting down the days until Ms. Cole’s next novel. Rating of 4.5 stars (upgraded).
Thank you to Alyssa Cole and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: April 16, 2024
Trigger warning: COVID, misogyny, ableism, racism, mention of: sexual assault, self-harm
April 29, 2024
I wanted to DNF this @ 20% and I should have ❗️😒
Want to read
June 14, 2022ALYSSA COLE THRILLER COME BACK YESSS
May 24, 2024
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (formerly referred to as multiple personality disorder) has always been a fascinating plot device in stories. Even when it’s not utilized that well, it’s still fascinating, primarily because the actual disorder is so fascinating.
It’s just so strange to think that a person can have two or more distinct individual personalities in one head. What would that be like? Would it feel crowded? What if the personalities don’t like each other?
Alyssa Cole, in her recent thriller, “One of Us Knows”, introduces readers to a protagonist with DID, and it is done extremely well. Unlike some novels that tackle the disorder, Cole’s use of the disorder is integral to the story. It’s not just a clever plot twist, nor does it trivialize the seriousness of the disorder. Certainly, it is, at times, the source of some humor, but for the most part, Cole illuminates how the disorder can be a life-saving defense mechanism for people who have suffered incredible trauma, especially in their childhood.
Kenetria Nash has eight distinct personalities in her head. Well, eight that she knows about. They all live in a castle (a mental construct that a previous psychiatrist helped to set up for them), and she calls them her headmates. They can have conversations with each other, and they take turns “fronting”—-being the dominant personality to deal with the real world—-depending on the situation. For example, Della, a 65-year-old grandmotherly type, deals well with people. Ken is a more angry, aggressive personality, who appears when the situation calls for it. Empress is a teenager who loves anime and video games. Each personality, in their own way, has something useful to contribute at any given time. (I couldn’t help but be reminded of the Disney film “Inside Out”, only much more adultified.)
Personalities do, however, have a tendency to go “dormant”. In other words, they can go off to some corner of the castle and disappear for long periods of time. At the beginning of the story, Ken awakens as the front personality after a six-year dormancy. She finds herself on a boat, heading to an island off the coast of New Jersey.
Ken has a lot to catch up on, especially since she has missed a lot, including the Trump presidency, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter movement. But besides having to catch up with current events, a new problem arises: as the boat nears the island, she sees a castle on the horizon. It’s not just any castle, though: it’s the exact same castle that exists in her head.
What the hell is going on?
To say more would be to offer spoilers, and I couldn’t do that, because this book is cray-cray, in a fantastic way.
Cole, whose last book “When No One is Watching” was one of the more underrated thrillers of 2020, has created another exciting and suspenseful-as-hell thriller.
It’s just so strange to think that a person can have two or more distinct individual personalities in one head. What would that be like? Would it feel crowded? What if the personalities don’t like each other?
Alyssa Cole, in her recent thriller, “One of Us Knows”, introduces readers to a protagonist with DID, and it is done extremely well. Unlike some novels that tackle the disorder, Cole’s use of the disorder is integral to the story. It’s not just a clever plot twist, nor does it trivialize the seriousness of the disorder. Certainly, it is, at times, the source of some humor, but for the most part, Cole illuminates how the disorder can be a life-saving defense mechanism for people who have suffered incredible trauma, especially in their childhood.
Kenetria Nash has eight distinct personalities in her head. Well, eight that she knows about. They all live in a castle (a mental construct that a previous psychiatrist helped to set up for them), and she calls them her headmates. They can have conversations with each other, and they take turns “fronting”—-being the dominant personality to deal with the real world—-depending on the situation. For example, Della, a 65-year-old grandmotherly type, deals well with people. Ken is a more angry, aggressive personality, who appears when the situation calls for it. Empress is a teenager who loves anime and video games. Each personality, in their own way, has something useful to contribute at any given time. (I couldn’t help but be reminded of the Disney film “Inside Out”, only much more adultified.)
Personalities do, however, have a tendency to go “dormant”. In other words, they can go off to some corner of the castle and disappear for long periods of time. At the beginning of the story, Ken awakens as the front personality after a six-year dormancy. She finds herself on a boat, heading to an island off the coast of New Jersey.
Ken has a lot to catch up on, especially since she has missed a lot, including the Trump presidency, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter movement. But besides having to catch up with current events, a new problem arises: as the boat nears the island, she sees a castle on the horizon. It’s not just any castle, though: it’s the exact same castle that exists in her head.
What the hell is going on?
To say more would be to offer spoilers, and I couldn’t do that, because this book is cray-cray, in a fantastic way.
Cole, whose last book “When No One is Watching” was one of the more underrated thrillers of 2020, has created another exciting and suspenseful-as-hell thriller.
April 15, 2024
This was a
RIDE
, y'all. Really putting the phrase "I contain multitudes" to work.
-----------------------------------
Disclaimer: I'm normally squiffy on thrillers making use of mental illnesses as part of the twist or reveal or casting judgmental light on a segment of the population that already struggles to get care. I think what worked for me about this story is that you know from the outset about her illness, how she's managing multiple identities, and it's not used to paint her as lesser/broken/damaged/dangerous nor where the twists and thrills are derived from. But I am not OwnVoices and hope they would be able to attest to the accuracy/quality of the novel and its subject matter.
-----------------------------------
Writing:
This is a book that is intentionally challenging and asks a lot of the reader. While technically the whole book is told from one person, it's actually multi POV because of all the different personalities in the system. Sometimes they are fronting, co-piloting, or even have all of their interaction fully contained within their inner world. Coming from predominantly SFF, this is a breeze; but I imagine a lot of folks who stick to Contemporary/Thrillers will find that aspect difficult.
Like the first book I read from her this also says "A Thriller" on the cover, though like her other book it could -should?- honestly also be classified as a Horror. Ymmv. i do think her craft improved in this one and I'm not sure if it's the media I've been exposed to in the interim, or a testament to her writing, but I found this story -while still over the top- was much more believable.
Characters:
I really loved each of the POVs and their distinct voices. There was a single chapter where I had to flip back and verify if it was Solomon or Ken, but other than that they were all very distinct and easy to tell apart. I won't spoil the relationship dynamics, but I also really enjoyed these and watching how different characters interact with each other.
As someone who is terminally online myself, I loved Empress most and only wish she could speak up more often. :P Please, Alyssa Cole, tell us what happens to Souta and his goblin wife!!
Plot/Themes:
If you're familiar with When No One is Watching by the author, then you will see similar themes come up-- about race and class, privilege and unjust systems, thinly masked prejudice. Honestly there were a lot of moments in this that reminded me of some of my favourite horror movies ("Get Out" and "Ready or Not" among others) and homages to classics like And Then There Were None but in a manner that made it feel fresh and new.
Overall:
There's a moment around 80 pages into the review copy that I have that made me pause, totally unpredicted and wildly caught off guard, and immediately get hella invested. It's rare that a book can do that to me, especially a thriller.
So I think this book more than accomplished what it set out to do: I was thrilled.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
ps Ken is an icon:
-----------------------------------
Disclaimer: I'm normally squiffy on thrillers making use of mental illnesses as part of the twist or reveal or casting judgmental light on a segment of the population that already struggles to get care. I think what worked for me about this story is that you know from the outset about her illness, how she's managing multiple identities, and it's not used to paint her as lesser/broken/damaged/dangerous nor where the twists and thrills are derived from. But I am not OwnVoices and hope they would be able to attest to the accuracy/quality of the novel and its subject matter.
-----------------------------------
Writing:
This is a book that is intentionally challenging and asks a lot of the reader. While technically the whole book is told from one person, it's actually multi POV because of all the different personalities in the system. Sometimes they are fronting, co-piloting, or even have all of their interaction fully contained within their inner world. Coming from predominantly SFF, this is a breeze; but I imagine a lot of folks who stick to Contemporary/Thrillers will find that aspect difficult.
Like the first book I read from her this also says "A Thriller" on the cover, though like her other book it could -should?- honestly also be classified as a Horror. Ymmv. i do think her craft improved in this one and I'm not sure if it's the media I've been exposed to in the interim, or a testament to her writing, but I found this story -while still over the top- was much more believable.
Characters:
I really loved each of the POVs and their distinct voices. There was a single chapter where I had to flip back and verify if it was Solomon or Ken, but other than that they were all very distinct and easy to tell apart. I won't spoil the relationship dynamics, but I also really enjoyed these and watching how different characters interact with each other.
As someone who is terminally online myself, I loved Empress most and only wish she could speak up more often. :P Please, Alyssa Cole, tell us what happens to Souta and his goblin wife!!
Plot/Themes:
If you're familiar with When No One is Watching by the author, then you will see similar themes come up-- about race and class, privilege and unjust systems, thinly masked prejudice. Honestly there were a lot of moments in this that reminded me of some of my favourite horror movies ("Get Out" and "Ready or Not" among others) and homages to classics like And Then There Were None but in a manner that made it feel fresh and new.
Overall:
There's a moment around 80 pages into the review copy that I have that made me pause, totally unpredicted and wildly caught off guard, and immediately get hella invested. It's rare that a book can do that to me, especially a thriller.
So I think this book more than accomplished what it set out to do: I was thrilled.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
ps Ken is an icon:
Want to read
February 4, 2024I think Alyssa Cole might be even more amazing at thrillers than she is at romance, holy shit the premise of this sounds abso-freaking-lutely incredible
January 27, 2024
I really hate giving books low ratings, but have to do it here. The concept for the book had so much potential. It was unique and different for a thriller. But this book was so confusing, it was hard to stay focused. It also was really slow to get going. After I finished it, I still feel confused as to what was really going on. Good concept that just never got there. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 17, 2024
A genre-bending gothic thriller centered around a woman with dissociative identity disorder serving as the caretaker at a gothic estate, when she finds herself trapped on the island with a murderer. Chilling!
What’s it about?
Kenetria Nash had a breakdown several years earlier that led to her losing her spot in the historical preservationist graduate program at Benson College. As a young child, Kenetria experienced trauma that led her to develop DID as a way to cope. This involves splitting into different selves who manage or take over different parts of her life. Kenetria and her other “headmates" keep a shared journal to update one another on what has been happening while the others have been away.
Ken (Kenetria, the host) has been away for some time and awakes on a dock, waiting for transportation to her new job as a caretaker on a remote estate on Hudson River Island. She’s unfamiliar with the island, her alter Della evidently applied for the job while Ken was away. When she arrives on Hudson River Island, she realizes that the house looks almost identical to the one she’s built in her mind to cohabitate with her other headmates. Has she been here before?
A surprise visit from the home’s conservationist catches Ken off guard. Meanwhile a strong weather formation is rolling in, making it impossible to leave the island. The conservationist isn’t the only surprise guest that will be staying on the island with Ken. When someone is found dead, Ken is the prime suspect. She must work together with her other headmates to find out what happened and clear her name.
What did I think?
This is a dark and addictive thriller with a unique premise and expert execution. The different identities all have their own clear personalities and roles, and seeing their thoughts about one another and what is happening in the shared journal offers surprising levity. I won’t lie that it is overwhelming at first as the reader is getting the hang of the various headmates that share Ken’s body. It quickly evens out, as it becomes clear that each plays a different role, has a unique personality, and even have different limitations.
The book is gripping from start to finish, the structure and plot are unique, and the setting was well-developed and unsettling. It’s a unique structure and narrative format that added layers to the story to wonderful effect. The dialogue among the headmates adds a lightness to a dark and twisted story. Themes of mental health are understandably present, but it also has a lot of subtext about race and class as well that can’t go unacknowledged.
Chilling, dark, addictive, and twist-filled—this is a must-read for those looking to expand their horizons!
Thank you to William Morrow for my copy. Opinions are my own.
What’s it about?
Kenetria Nash had a breakdown several years earlier that led to her losing her spot in the historical preservationist graduate program at Benson College. As a young child, Kenetria experienced trauma that led her to develop DID as a way to cope. This involves splitting into different selves who manage or take over different parts of her life. Kenetria and her other “headmates" keep a shared journal to update one another on what has been happening while the others have been away.
Ken (Kenetria, the host) has been away for some time and awakes on a dock, waiting for transportation to her new job as a caretaker on a remote estate on Hudson River Island. She’s unfamiliar with the island, her alter Della evidently applied for the job while Ken was away. When she arrives on Hudson River Island, she realizes that the house looks almost identical to the one she’s built in her mind to cohabitate with her other headmates. Has she been here before?
A surprise visit from the home’s conservationist catches Ken off guard. Meanwhile a strong weather formation is rolling in, making it impossible to leave the island. The conservationist isn’t the only surprise guest that will be staying on the island with Ken. When someone is found dead, Ken is the prime suspect. She must work together with her other headmates to find out what happened and clear her name.
What did I think?
This is a dark and addictive thriller with a unique premise and expert execution. The different identities all have their own clear personalities and roles, and seeing their thoughts about one another and what is happening in the shared journal offers surprising levity. I won’t lie that it is overwhelming at first as the reader is getting the hang of the various headmates that share Ken’s body. It quickly evens out, as it becomes clear that each plays a different role, has a unique personality, and even have different limitations.
The book is gripping from start to finish, the structure and plot are unique, and the setting was well-developed and unsettling. It’s a unique structure and narrative format that added layers to the story to wonderful effect. The dialogue among the headmates adds a lightness to a dark and twisted story. Themes of mental health are understandably present, but it also has a lot of subtext about race and class as well that can’t go unacknowledged.
Chilling, dark, addictive, and twist-filled—this is a must-read for those looking to expand their horizons!
Thank you to William Morrow for my copy. Opinions are my own.
February 8, 2024
I received a free copy of, One of Us Knows, by Alyssa Cole, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Kenetria Nash is not like everybody else, she has dissociative identity disorder, or as most people know it as, multiple personality disorders, like Sybil. Kenetria gets a job as a caretaker of a historic home, but nothing is as it seems, then someone is murdered and Kenetria is prime suspect. Wow, what a ride. This was a good thriller, I enjoyed it, except for the swearing, which I did not care for.
April 29, 2024
What did I just read ??? This book is a disaster on so many levels. It is filled with a jumble of unrelated themes-racism, misogyny, trauma, sexuality, rape, mental health and maybe some element of mystery? Don’t get me wrong-these are all important issues but when muddled together they lose their impact and get lost in the mess. And for some reason toss in supernatural elements and the pandemic? Don’t even get me started on the DID element. As a therapist who has worked with DID clients I was shocked at how poorly this was handled. I am at a loss for words about the ending. Now multiple characters have DID and their alters have sex with one another? While alters in the same system also have sex with one another? WTF? Wrong on so many levels.
December 25, 2023
The premise for this novel had a lot of potential, however, I don’t think it reached it. For a book set mostly within one characters head who has multiple personalities, you have to make the personalities interesting enough to keep the reader entertained and invested. I wasn’t attached to any of the personalities which we spent so much time with. Overall, a solid idea for a fresh book but lacking execution.
Also I will add, the Covid pandemic is mentioned several times so if you don’t want to be reading anything having to do with the pandemic, skip this one.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Also I will add, the Covid pandemic is mentioned several times so if you don’t want to be reading anything having to do with the pandemic, skip this one.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
March 13, 2024
Goodreads giveaway win
This was a highly anticipated story for me and sadly it didn’t work out in my favor. The story had a very slow start and things didn’t get interesting until well over 100 pages. 141 to be exact…….then when the action finally started I felt like things were rushed and I was left with more questions than answers. 😩
I will give Cole kudos for writing a unique thriller about a main character with Dissociative identity disorder and I really did feel each character was unique but keeping up with the different points of views at times was a little confusing.
This was a highly anticipated story for me and sadly it didn’t work out in my favor. The story had a very slow start and things didn’t get interesting until well over 100 pages. 141 to be exact…….then when the action finally started I felt like things were rushed and I was left with more questions than answers. 😩
I will give Cole kudos for writing a unique thriller about a main character with Dissociative identity disorder and I really did feel each character was unique but keeping up with the different points of views at times was a little confusing.
April 18, 2024
I was super intrigued when I first started this one. I loved learning about the DID personalities. But that is about it. It started to get boring after awhile and I ended up stopping at 50%.
May 4, 2024
How did it go so wrong for me when it had DID, which has been one of the most intriguing things for me since forever. The author's last book was a hit for me. I guess that's the reason I didn't wanna dnf😓
Read
April 26, 2024dnf@40%
as someone who LOVED Cole’s first thriller i’m so disappointed with this one. I’ve enjoyed DID books in the past but in this one i found the different personalities too hard to keep track of and not distinctive enough - and the story itself just wasn’t that interesting so i tapped out
as someone who LOVED Cole’s first thriller i’m so disappointed with this one. I’ve enjoyed DID books in the past but in this one i found the different personalities too hard to keep track of and not distinctive enough - and the story itself just wasn’t that interesting so i tapped out
April 14, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears on NetGalley at the following link:
https://www.netgalley.com/member/book...
I don’t know that I’ve ever been as confused by a book’s Prologue as I was after reading the one in “One of Us Knows.” And unfortunately, it didn’t get much better after that.
Right out of the gate, terminology germane to the storyline is put out there without a reference point. Inner world: Outer life. DID. Dormant. Castle. Bad Day System. What do these words mean in the context of the story?
It took me three chapters to begin to understand the narrator was someone with multiple personalities (dissociative identity disorder), and that one or more of those personalities was narrating sections or complete chapters. Which really got confusing when internal conversations among multiple personalities are taking place at the same time. And by then, the book had almost completely lost me.
I can appreciate the challenge in writing about a character with this condition, especially from a first-person perspective. But as the reader I need to know more about each of these personalities. What’s their backstory? More importantly, what’s the backstory for the person lugging around all these personalities in her head? How did she come to be this way? That doesn’t come through in the writing.
This may be a flaw within me, but whether it’s a book or a film or a TV program, if you don’t catch me early, you’re not likely to catch me at all. And while I always prefer to finish what I start, I put this one down about midway through.
And not likely to actively follow this author.
https://www.netgalley.com/member/book...
I don’t know that I’ve ever been as confused by a book’s Prologue as I was after reading the one in “One of Us Knows.” And unfortunately, it didn’t get much better after that.
Right out of the gate, terminology germane to the storyline is put out there without a reference point. Inner world: Outer life. DID. Dormant. Castle. Bad Day System. What do these words mean in the context of the story?
It took me three chapters to begin to understand the narrator was someone with multiple personalities (dissociative identity disorder), and that one or more of those personalities was narrating sections or complete chapters. Which really got confusing when internal conversations among multiple personalities are taking place at the same time. And by then, the book had almost completely lost me.
I can appreciate the challenge in writing about a character with this condition, especially from a first-person perspective. But as the reader I need to know more about each of these personalities. What’s their backstory? More importantly, what’s the backstory for the person lugging around all these personalities in her head? How did she come to be this way? That doesn’t come through in the writing.
This may be a flaw within me, but whether it’s a book or a film or a TV program, if you don’t catch me early, you’re not likely to catch me at all. And while I always prefer to finish what I start, I put this one down about midway through.
And not likely to actively follow this author.
May 2, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4!
I loved the psychological aspect of this especially with a MC as someone with DID - it was fascinating and she made for the ultimate unreliable narrator. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, the creepy isolation of the castle on the island and the history there.
However, a lot of the book was spent building all the headmates/alters (as it needed to be otherwise it would’ve been hard to understand) and the actual thriller/mystery portion wasn’t as flushed out as I was hoping for, though I realize this is a hard balance to strike with such a complex MC.
Thank you William Morrow and Bibliolifestyle for my copy of the book!
I loved the psychological aspect of this especially with a MC as someone with DID - it was fascinating and she made for the ultimate unreliable narrator. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, the creepy isolation of the castle on the island and the history there.
However, a lot of the book was spent building all the headmates/alters (as it needed to be otherwise it would’ve been hard to understand) and the actual thriller/mystery portion wasn’t as flushed out as I was hoping for, though I realize this is a hard balance to strike with such a complex MC.
Thank you William Morrow and Bibliolifestyle for my copy of the book!
June 6, 2024
I'm confused why this book's ratings are so low because it's SO GOOD. It's Get Out meets Split, all mixed with Alyssa Cole's signature gaslighty thrills. It was also a nice exploration of dissociative identity disorder without falling into cliches. I loved the distinction between the personalities on audio, all performed by one narrator! I was confused for the vast majority of the book but it started to converge towards the end. This isn't necessarily a thriller for the faint of heart, but isn't quite a horror novel.
Ultimately I'm just glad that Keke got to pet a puppy.
Ultimately I'm just glad that Keke got to pet a puppy.
June 13, 2024
Thank you CocoaChapters and William Morrow for my gifted copy.
This book was a highly anticipated read for me, as I loved the author's previous thriller. What this book left me with was straight confusion. I kept asking, Wtf was going on? Because I genuinely did not know. I started off reading this book, and when I saw the audio was available, I thanked God. I believe that was the only reason I got through this, plus the fact that I was on a bus ride where I couldn't sleep.
Let's get to the story at hand. I appreciated Alyssa putting the list of personalities at the beginning of the book. Too often, authors introduce a bunch of characters, and it makes it hard for people to follow along. The personalities were easy for me to distinguish; what became confusing was the inner world from the real world. Some of the personalities could be in the real world, and some of them couldn't, and the switching was chaotic, which made the book harder to digest. When it came to the twist, it fell flat on me and just left me with more questions than when the book started. There's a certain point of confusion I can entertain with a thriller, and this book went way past the threshold.
Keke would have to be my favorite personality out of all of them. I could follow along well with her when she was on the page, and she brought an emotional pull to the story. This story had a chance to go a different way, but it didn't. I found the DID focal point so interesting, and it was almost like you had to be well-versed in the subject or research it on the side while reading the book. I would not recommend this book, but I may give Alyssa another chance.
This book was a highly anticipated read for me, as I loved the author's previous thriller. What this book left me with was straight confusion. I kept asking, Wtf was going on? Because I genuinely did not know. I started off reading this book, and when I saw the audio was available, I thanked God. I believe that was the only reason I got through this, plus the fact that I was on a bus ride where I couldn't sleep.
Let's get to the story at hand. I appreciated Alyssa putting the list of personalities at the beginning of the book. Too often, authors introduce a bunch of characters, and it makes it hard for people to follow along. The personalities were easy for me to distinguish; what became confusing was the inner world from the real world. Some of the personalities could be in the real world, and some of them couldn't, and the switching was chaotic, which made the book harder to digest. When it came to the twist, it fell flat on me and just left me with more questions than when the book started. There's a certain point of confusion I can entertain with a thriller, and this book went way past the threshold.
Keke would have to be my favorite personality out of all of them. I could follow along well with her when she was on the page, and she brought an emotional pull to the story. This story had a chance to go a different way, but it didn't. I found the DID focal point so interesting, and it was almost like you had to be well-versed in the subject or research it on the side while reading the book. I would not recommend this book, but I may give Alyssa another chance.
May 4, 2024
Audiobook is def the way to go if only for how well each one of our MC’s personalities is narrated. It makes it easier to not have to guess who is “fronting” or in the drivers seat. I thoroughly enjoyed this story up until the last 20% which is when the plot got a bit convoluted. I didn’t know much about dissociative identity disorder but it made for a unique premise in this character driven mystery. I just wish the ending had been more satisfying. Memorable personalities despite the conclusion.
More of a 3.5 💫
More of a 3.5 💫
April 13, 2024
DNF at 14%. I get what the author was trying to do here, but it did not work and felt like a scattered mess. I wasn’t rooting for any of the personalities or cared to know more. Tried 3 different times to get into this and just couldn’t, sadly.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 21, 2024
Thank you Goodreads for the free book. I found this book confusing. I know the main character has DID but I wish more of the story was based in the outer world than inner world.
April 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of One of Us Knows! In all of the books I've read over the last three years, I don't think any of them have explored DID through the main characters. I found this incredibly interesting and enlightening. I really liked this aspect. I also thought the overall mystery was interesting. A little campy, though, for those of you who don't like that.
I will say I was SO confused with how the DID system interacted with one another. Some voices were regular, some italicized, some italicized in parentheses. Sometimes they were in real life, sometimes they were in the inner world. It took me out of the book a lot because I just couldn't keep up with it.
Overall: enjoyable, quick, and definitely different from most of what I've read before!
I will say I was SO confused with how the DID system interacted with one another. Some voices were regular, some italicized, some italicized in parentheses. Sometimes they were in real life, sometimes they were in the inner world. It took me out of the book a lot because I just couldn't keep up with it.
Overall: enjoyable, quick, and definitely different from most of what I've read before!
May 14, 2024
2.5 stars! The last 25% of the book I liked, but the getting there part was so boring and sloooow to get through that I honestly wouldn’t recommend. I have read almost everything from this author and usually enjoy the books, but this one I just expected more from and it was so disappointing. I’m glad I had the audiobook from the library, cause otherwise oof I don’t think I would have made it through.
Basically we follow a character who has dissociative identity disorder (aka multiple personalities) and we hear a lot of that inner dialogue, as well as the characters kind of trying to figure out where they are/what’s going on around them. While interesting, I just went into this expecting a thriller and a murder to happen and so I wanted that to happen already. This wasn’t especially “thrilling” and the murder doesn’t happen until 75%-ish into the story. Soo once that did finally kick off and things start to happen, I liked it. But yeah, the portion to get there was just rough. I’ve enjoyed the other thrillers from this author more than this.
CW (provided by author): depictions of physical violence, references to self harm, misogyny, ableism, racism, and sexual assault
Basically we follow a character who has dissociative identity disorder (aka multiple personalities) and we hear a lot of that inner dialogue, as well as the characters kind of trying to figure out where they are/what’s going on around them. While interesting, I just went into this expecting a thriller and a murder to happen and so I wanted that to happen already. This wasn’t especially “thrilling” and the murder doesn’t happen until 75%-ish into the story. Soo once that did finally kick off and things start to happen, I liked it. But yeah, the portion to get there was just rough. I’ve enjoyed the other thrillers from this author more than this.
CW (provided by author): depictions of physical violence, references to self harm, misogyny, ableism, racism, and sexual assault
November 6, 2023
Cole's second thriller tells the story of a woman with dissociative identity disorder, a woman who has been haunted in her palace of alters for many years. Ken wakes from six years of being dormant while a different personality, Della, has taken over. Now Ken finds herself ready to take on a new job as a caretaker for a windswept island in the Hudson River. Della has found this job for them and then disappeared. Luckily, Ken has her other personalities to ground her-especially Solomon, the man she loves even though he's in her head. Once Ken arrives, she finds herself mostly alone along with the island's caretaker, free to unearth its secrets. But those secrets are more dangerous than she realizes, and she must band together with her alters to save them all. Although there were plot points I did not completely relate to or understand, I enjoyed the ride, especially when the story went off the rails. Alex rating: 3
January 12, 2024
The premise for this novel had a lot of potential, however, I don’t think it reached it. It was too all over the place for me.
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