Every Last Fear: A Novel

Alex Finlay

Mar 2021 · Sold by Minotaur Books

About this ebook

“High-energy . . . Finlay expands the puzzle and ratchets up the action.” —New York Times

"This debut is gripping from the first bone-chilling line until the final page." —Newsweek

One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2021: • Newsweek • CNN • E! Online • Goodreads • BuzzFeed • PopSugar • BookBub • Bibliofile • Mystery and Suspense

A LibraryReads Selection — A Top Book Voted by Librarians for March 2021
An Indie Next Pick — A Top Book Voted by Independent Bookstores for March 2021

In one of the year’s most anticipated debut psychological thrillers, a family made infamous by a true crime documentary is found dead, leaving their surviving son to uncover the truth about their final days.

“They found the bodies on a Tuesday.” So begins this twisty and breathtaking novel that traces the fate of the Pine family, a thriller that will both leave you on the edge of your seat and move you to tears.

After a late night of partying, NYU student Matt Pine returns to his dorm room to devastating news: nearly his entire family—his mom, his dad, his little brother and sister—have been found dead from an apparent gas leak while vacationing in Mexico. The local police claim it was an accident, but the FBI and State Department seem far less certain—and they won’t tell Matt why.

The tragedy makes headlines everywhere because this isn’t the first time the Pine family has been thrust into the media spotlight. Matt’s older brother, Danny—currently serving a life sentence for the murder of his teenage girlfriend Charlotte—was the subject of a viral true crime documentary suggesting that Danny was wrongfully convicted. Though the country has rallied behind Danny, Matt holds a secret about his brother that he’s never told anyone: the night Charlotte was killed Matt saw something that makes him believe his brother is guilty of the crime.

When Matt returns to his small hometown to bury his parents and siblings, he’s faced with a hostile community that was villainized by the documentary, a frenzied media, and memories he’d hoped to leave behind forever. Now, as the deaths in Mexico appear increasingly suspicious and connected to Danny’s case, Matt must unearth the truth behind the crime that sent his brother to prison—putting his own life in peril—and forcing him to confront his every last fear.

Told through multiple points-of-view and alternating between past and present, Alex Finlay's Every Last Fear is not only a page-turning thriller, it’s also a poignant story about a family managing heartbreak and tragedy, and living through a fame they never wanted.

Ratings and reviews

Every Last Fear is the “debut” novel of pseudonymous author Alex Finlay. It is a fast-paced and compelling thriller with multiple narrators, numerous subplots and many revelatory flashbacks. Finlay’s talent is creating a complex and high-speed thriller that is intriguing enough to withstand potential temporary confusion. As the book opens, Matt Pine, a film student at NYU learns that most of his family has died under mysterious circumstances in Mexico. The only other surviving member of the Pine clan is his older brother, incarcerated for murdering his girlfriend. While Matt has accepted his brother’s conviction, his father and sister have been consumed with proving his innocence. Some of the chapters contain depictions of their exoneration quest, others stay with Matt in the present as he is faced with the responsibilities and obligations that accompany such a tragedy. He is aided by the formidable Sarah Keller, an FBI agent who has been assigned the case. Every Last Fear is so cinematic and filled with twists and red herrings, that it seems to scream out for a series adaptation. More time could then be spent exploring the mysteries and immersing into the well-developed characters. Many of the events and coincidences stretch credulity, but this book is so entertaining that readers will willingly accept these and just go along for the ride. Thanks to the author, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I loved this book! It's my 1st by Alex Finlay. I think I've found another new author! I loved the writing & the suspense. I read it in the afternoon right up to the early hours of the morning, 4 am, to be exact! Thank you, Mr. Finlay for a book I could sink my teeth into!

Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay Multiple viewpoints provide insight into the characters of this story as the author seamlessly weaves the past and present together to explain a twisted tale that destroyed many lives. A debut novel by an author that has a bright future. What I liked: * The plot and writing * The way the pieces all came together in the end * That the truth finally came out * That there were a few good men left to tell the story and witness to what happened * FBI Agent Sarah Keller: intelligent, professional, incisive, dedicated, and also a loving mother and wife – balanced and admirable. * Bob: Sarah’s husband, a man that is wise and an anchor to keep Sarah grounded * Matt: college student, typical for his age, conflicted about his older brother, and has a lot to contend with. * The way the facts were slowly presented to provide the whole account – an account that resonated and felt “right” in the end * The secrets * The complexity and layers * That it felt believable – I was drawn in and felt part of the story * That I had a feeling of satisfaction and that justice had been, or would be, served * Getting to read a well written book by a new-to-me author What I didn’t like: * The murders that could have been prevented * The callous lack of regard for life some in the story had for others * That many aspects of this story were believable – sad that people do behave as some characters in this story did. Did I enjoy this book? Yes Would I read more by this author? Yes Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus-Aries for the ARC – This is my honest review. 4-5 Stars

About the author

Alex Finlay lives in Washington, D.C. and is the author of critically-acclaimed novels, including the 2021 breakout, Every Last Fear. His work has appeared on numerous best-of-the-year lists, been published in seventeen languages around the world, and is currently in development for a major television limited series.