Review: One of Us by Tawni O’Dell

Today’s title is a mystery with a violent history behind it…

From the New York Times bestselling author of Back Roads comes a fast-paced literary thriller about a forensic psychologist forced to face his own demons after discovering his small hometown terrorized by a serial killer.

Dr. Sheridan Doyle—a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist—is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office whenever a twisted killer’s mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he’s still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family, plagued by panic attacks and haunted by the tragic death of his little sister and mental unraveling of his mother years ago. Returning to a hometown grappling with its own ghosts, Danny finds a dead body at the infamous Lost Creek gallows where a band of rebellious Irish miners was once executed. Strangely, the body is connected to the wealthy family responsible for the miners' deaths. Teaming up with veteran detective Rafe, a father-like figure from his youth, Danny—in pursuit of a killer—comes dangerously close to startling truths about his family, his past, and himself. In this masterfully told psychological thriller in the vein of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, the past and present collide to put Lost Creek’s long-lived ghosts to bed.

drey’s thoughts:

Dr. Sheridan Doyle is a forensic psychologist who heads back to his hometown of Lost Creek after a long absence. He’s stayed away because nothing in Lost Creek holds any appeal, especially with his family’s history – his mother’s mental health, his sister’s death, his father’s disinterest. Nothing in Lost Creek is worth Danny Doyle’s return, except his grandfather’s health.

Then people turn up dead, and Danny gets pulled in by curiosity. There’s a lot of history in Lost Creek after all, and not just Danny’s family’s. The town’s violent coal-mining roots pops up in current day events, luring Danny in with echoes of the past, and what Danny eventually learns, turns his life upside down.

One of Us is a slow read, and it’s almost lyrical in its telling. It’s a slow read though, so you’ll want to make sure you’re in the mood for a leisurely mystery. Hmm, do those words even go together? In this case, they do. And you’ll sit there, mouth agape, when you come to the same realization Danny does. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

drey’s rating: Pick it up!

Have you read One of Us? What did you think?

About Tawni O’Dell

Tawni O’Dell is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels including Back Roads, which was an Oprah’s Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Back Roads is currently in development to be made into a film by Michael Ohoven, the producer of the Academy-Award-winning, Capote. She is also a contributor to several anthologies including Becoming Myself: Reflections on Growing Up Female. Her works have been published in over 40 countries.

Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania with her two children.

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