Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate, 3.5 Stars

In this stunning and propulsive debut, a town grieves the loss of a young girl—but some fight to keep the truth about her death a secret. For fans of Jane Harper, Ashley Flowers, and Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng.

The question

For the last ten years, the small, claustrophobic town of West Wilmer has been struggling to understand one thing: Why did it take young Grant Dean twenty-seven minutes to call for help on the fateful night of the car accident that took the life of his beloved sister, Phoebe? If he’d called sooner, she might still be alive.

The secret

As the anniversary of Phoebe’s death approaches, Grant is consumed by memories of that night on the bridge and everything he lost: his future, his reputation, his little sister. And the secret he’s been keeping all these years is suffocating him. But he and Phoebe weren’t the only ones in the car that night. Becca was there. She knows what happened—and she will do anything to help Grant keep his secret.

The truth

Everyone in West Wilmer remembers Phoebe, but only June remembers that another person was lost that night. Her brother Wyatt has been missing for ten years and now June is alone—no family, no friends. Until someone appears at her door. Someone who may know where Wyatt went all those years ago. Someone who knows what really happened on the bridge that night. Someone who is ready to tell the truth.

Taking place over three days and culminating in a shocking twist that will leave you breathless, Twenty-Seven Minutes is a gripping story about what happens when grief becomes unbearable, dark secrets are unearthed, and the horrifying truth is revealed.

My Review:

It’s been 10 years since Phoebe Dean died one cold night after an accident on the bridge in town. And now, following the death of another resident, the town is planning to tear the bridge down. It’s just too dangerous. With the news of the bridge and a 10-year memorial planned for Phoebe, wounds are being re-opened for many people in the small town of West Wilmer.

First there is Phoebe’s brother Grant, who has never recovered from losing his sister. Then there’s the town psycho, Becca, who is in love with Grant and has been for 10-years. Then there’s June who’s mother has just died, but who really lost her family 10 years ago on the night of Phoebe’s accident when her brother disappeared.

There’s a ton of small-town dysfunction and tragedy wound up in the pages of Twenty-Seven Minutes. I really wanted to know what had happened that night and I couldn’t put the book down.

I would have given the book a higher rating but there were a few elements missing for me. For example, it was never explained by Phoebe had been so critical and possessive of her brother while she was alive. And some of the details got a bit repetitive as the book went on. But in the end, it was a great read!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out now!