Thank you to ThrillerBookLovers Promotions, Forge Books, #partner, for an advanced e- copy of One Wrong Word in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Forge Books
Published: February 6, 2024
Summary:
A heart-racing new psychological thriller from USA Today bestselling and multiple award-winning author, Hank Phillippi Ryan.
One wrong word can ruin your life. And no one knows that better than savvy crisis management expert Arden Ward. Problem is, she’s now forced to handle a shocking crisis of her own. Unfairly accused of having an affair with a powerful client, Arden’s life and dreams are about to crash and burn. Then, Arden is given an ultimatum. She has just two weeks to save her career and her reputation.
Is Cordelia Bannister the answer to her prayers?
Cordelia needs Arden’s help for her husband Ned, a Boston real estate mogul. Though he was recently acquitted in a fatal drunk driving accident, his reputation is ruined, and the fallout is devastating not only to the Bannisters’ lives, but the lives of their two adorable children.
Arden devotes her skill and determination—and maybe her final days on the job—to helping this shattered family, but soon, revelations begin to emerge about what really happened the night of the accident. And then—another car crash throws Ned back into the spotlight.
This case is Arden’s final chance to protect her own future and clear her name. But the more she tries to untangle the truth, the more she’s haunted by one disturbing question—what if she’s also protecting a killer?
Gossip. Lies. Rumors. Words like that can hurt you. And Arden knows the reality. Sometimes one wrong word can kill.
My thoughts:
I have been a fan of Hank Phillippi Ryan for quite some time and am always left stunned at her books and this one was no exception. There is a reason she is one of my must-read authors and this book proves it!
Hank is the master when it comes to cat and mouse games, and this latest book sure had me guessing all the way through. Each character is so very layered and complex that it’s hard to know what side they are on. The amount of secrets and lies that end up being uncovered kept me glued to this book, desperately trying to work out just what was going on. Each time I thought I had a pulse on what was happening, a new twist would be revealed to shake things up.
I loved the characters in this book, even though they weren’t all the most likeable. I loved that I didn’t necessarily trust them and while my intuition about one or two of them proved to be correct, I in no way had it all worked out. There were connections I didn’t see coming at all, but once they were revealed, I sat there stunned. This book is so much more than what is presented at face value. You have to pay attention to the nuances and the layers that the author so cleverly puts into every situation.
Throughout the book, there is so much uncertainty, and it really hit home the idea that one wrong word, or even one wrong action, can change your life. This was such a clever, engaging read and I found myself completely invested. It didn’t turn out the way I expected, but that ending was more than satisfying and I loved every second of this book. Be sure to add this one to your list…it comes out in February and you don’t want to miss it!
