What You Never Knew by Jessica Hamilton

Release: April 13th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Source: Suzy approved Book Tours
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, Kobo.

Told in alternating points of view between the living and the dead, Jessica Hamilton’s debut novel will be perfect for The Lovely Bones fans.

The Bennett family owns the Idyllic Avril island, where their hundred-year-old cottage sat nestled in acres of forest. Forty-year-old June Bennett believed that someone had sold the island after the summer of her father’s disappearance when she was only twelve years old. Months after her older sister May’s shocking death in a fatal car accident, June finds out that no one has ever sold the cottage. The Bennett family still owns the Idyllic Avril island, and now it’s hers.

Still reeling from losing her sister, June travels back to Avril island in search of answers. As she digs, she learns that the townspeople believe that someone might have murdered her father. And, he never abandoned his family in the dead of night, as she was led to believe by her mother. And that’s when she begins to notice strange things happening on the island. The missing family possessions start showing up, doors locking on their own. Amidst unexplained noises in the night, shadowy figures are disappearing into the woods. June soon realizes that this was not the wishes of her childhood summers at Avril Island.

About the Author:

Though born in Australia, Jessica Hamilton grew up in Ontario, Canada. She has lived and worked in the Czech Republic, Taiwan, India, and Japan. Also, she studied writing at the Humber School for Writers as well as George Brown College. She lives in Orillia, Ontario, with her husband, son, and daughter. What You Never Knew is her first novel.

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What You Never Knew Review:

“What You Never Knew” is a lovely mystery thriller about a woman who goes to a remote island to get answers to the past. I enjoyed the way the author narrated the story with her writing style. The plot toggles between June and May’s perspectives, and I was fascinated with May’s view as she is a ghost and wants to protect June.

The story starts a bit slow but quickly picks up once June reaches April island. From then on, the author beautifully adds in quite a few twists and turns, where you don’t know what is happening. Some of the moments that shocked me were when June finds the carcass of crows or talks to Leslie. For some reason, Leslie and Judy unnerved me, and I felt that the townsfolk were shady. The author also throws a few red herrings creatively, where you find yourself suspecting everyone. At some point, I was even questioning June and wondering if she just imagined whatever she was facing.

Speaking of June, I enjoyed the main characters. The author wrote June perfectly, as she tries to figure out her family’s secrets in April Island. However, while I liked June, I felt there were some open ends about her. For instance, I didn’t find the affair part necessary and found it did not add to the plot. Moreover, there is no closure about why she did that to Leo, which made me dislike her a bit. Apart from that, I liked June, May, and Ezra. June and Ezra shared a beautiful friendship and sparked the tale. Moreover, June and May share an incredible bond, and I loved their emotional connection as sisters.

Overall, “What You Never Knew” was a gripping mystery thriller, and I enjoyed reading it!