Review: That Night by Chevy Stevens

That Night by Chevy Stevens

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 384

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  As a teenager, Toni Murphy had a life full of typical adolescent
complications: a boyfriend she adored, a younger sister she couldn't relate to, a strained relationship with her parents, and classmates who seemed hell-bent on making her life miserable. Things weren't easy, but Toni could never have predicted how horrific they would become until her younger sister was brutally murdered one summer night. 

Toni and her boyfriend, Ryan, were convicted of the murder and sent to prison.

Now thirty-four, Toni is out on parole and back in her hometown, struggling to adjust to a new life on the outside. Prison changed her, hardened her, and she’s doing everything in her power to avoid violating her parole and going back. This means having absolutely no contact with Ryan, avoiding fellow parolees looking to pick fights, and steering clear of trouble in all its forms. But nothing is making that easy—not Ryan, who is convinced he can figure out the truth; not her mother, who doubts Toni's innocence; and certainly not the group of women who made Toni's life hell in high school and may have darker secrets than anyone realizes. No matter how hard she tries, ignoring her old life to start a new one is impossible. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out what really happened that night.

But the truth might be the most terrifying thing of all.


Kritters Thoughts:  Small town, murder and lives lost in more than the typical way were the major themes for this book.  Toni tells this story, but from three different points in time with chapters nicely headlined as to what time period she is narrating from and I loved how the weaved together.  From the beginning, the author sets the stage that Toni's sister has been murdered and Toni and her not so clean cut boyfriend are found guilty for the murder, although they preach from the beginning that they are completely innocent.  The reader must decide at some point whether they are convinced that she is speaking the truth or really did commit the crime.

For some reason, early on, I was convinced of their innocence, but kept second guessing my gut feeling!  I appreciated how Chevy Stevens really created doubt and made this story have many ups and downs.  The other piece that I absolutely adored was this small town that was run by a few personalities - the cop, his daughter, her horribly mean friends and this family in the center.  I loved how everyone knew everyone - that is how I grew up and yet there were still secrets kept.  Even at the end when I thought it was settled more came out and I was still stunned by it all!

This may be a shock to both you and me, but this was my first Chevy Stevens book I had read.  I am officially a fan and will be reading her previous books immediately!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from St. Martin's Press.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.