TITLE: That Night
CHARACTERS: Toni & Ryan
AUTHOR: Chevy Stevens
PUBLICATION DATE: 6/17/14
ORDER LINKS:Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
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.
REVIEW:
I’ve never read anything by Chevy Stevens before, but I am such a fan now! I couldn’t put this book down. Toni and Ryan are a teenage couple in love. High school drama, bullies, demanding parents and typical teenage angst fill this story with so much tension. Toni’s life is turned upside down when one fateful night her younger sister is murdered. The police, her parents and the whole town place the blame on Toni and Ryan, and they end up spending 14 years in prison for her murder. The story is told from Toni’s point of view in alternating timelines – both the events of the past and the events of the present. Telling a story with different time streams can be confusing to readers, but this was written so well I found that the story flowed beautifully. Each chapter gave just enough information to keep you hanging at the edge of your seat for more.
When Toni and Ryan are released they begin to investigate the murder on their own and against their parole conditions. The ensuing plot gains momentum and is full of drama, action and intensity. I wanted to whoop my fist in the air in triumph and at the same time cry for all of the things these characters go through – especially Toni. I just can’t say enough about this story. It was a fabulous read and I could’ve kept reading for hundreds of pages more. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read that highlights the injustices, prejudices and assumptions that are so prevalent in our society; as well as their sometimes devastating outcomes.
Disclaimer:
I purchased a copy of this book. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
No comments yet.