"Annette Lyons’s Just One More is a fast-paced thriller featuring shocking discoveries, a heart-rending besties relationship, and deep questions about how far we’ll go to protect those we love."

"Annette Lyon’s Just One More is the ultimate thrill ride; a heart-pounding, terrifying page-turner that grabbed me from the opening paragraphs and didn’t let go until the final sentences. Don’t think you know how this plays out; just put yourself in Lyon’s eminently capable hands and enjoy the ride!"

"A gripping mind-twist of a read that you won’t be able to put down. Expertly-woven perspectives keep the action moving and tension high—an unpredictable ride to the very last page. Crisp, clever, and utterly engrossing, Just One More is a must read."

"With an intense exploration of character and settings that will transport you to another time and place, [Annette Lyon] is one of the best writers working today. She never disappoints."

"What a ride! Annette Lyon takes ‘It’s always the husband’ to the next level in this tension-filled, page-turning suspense. Cleverly crafted with alternating points-of-view and timelines, reading Just One More is like watching a scandalous, pulse-pounding movie you can’t turn away from. The pacing is perfection and Becca and Jenn are riveting. I was hooked. Do yourself a favor: buckle up, settle in, and enjoy the read. Don’t forget the popcorn."

02/01/2023

It started with a tattoo. Librarian Jenn had the phrase "Just one more" inked on her shoulder for her husband Rick, as a nod to fond stories from his childhood. However, Rick hates the tattoo and tells Jenn she made those stories up. Jenn then realizes there are more discrepancies regarding Rick's past. She uses her research skills to probe his life and soon discovers Rick's former aliases and two dead wives, both drowned under mysterious circumstances. When Jenn doesn't answer her phone and is late to pick up her baby from her best friend Becca's care, Becca drives Ivy home and discovers Jenn drowned in the bathtub. Becca's and Jenn's perspectives are told in alternating chapters, which creates tension unevenly. The ending is unexpected, which may intrigue readers, but it's a bumpy ride to get there. VERDICT This is Lyon's first foray into suspense, after writing mostly romance and women's fiction (most recently contributing to The Inns of Devonshire). Consider this for purchase where the LDS community is strong, as Lyon has an audience there.—Sarah Sullivan

2023-01-12
A librarian’s closest friend turns sleuth to find her killer.

Single mother Becca Kalos has been babysitting Jenn Banks’ 5-month-old daughter while Jenn packs for a getaway vacation. Concerned when Jenn fails to pick Ivy up on time, Becca drives to her friend’s house and finds Jenn’s corpse in the bathtub. A series of flashbacks from Jenn’s perspective begin 17 months earlier, as her new surprise tattoo gets a less-than-enthusiastic reaction from Rick, her lawyer husband. When Jenn suspects that she’s pregnant, she’s devastated to learn that Rick doesn’t want children. These flashbacks, moving progressively forward in time, are counterpointed by Becca’s grieving and searching for answers. Once accidental death is ruled out, Becca determines to “find the monster” who did this and make him pay. The transparency and straightforward structure of the prolific Lyon’s first thriller are key to its potency. Two intimate first-person narratives run on parallel tracks, and suspense is added drop by drop against a backdrop of female bonding and contemporary women’s issues arising mainly from marital turbulence and work-life balance. Becca’s obsession with finding Jenn’s killer disrupts her home life with twins Maggie and Davis and puts a strain on her job with an ad agency. The reader receives pieces of the puzzle along with Becca, while Jenn’s revelations keep recasting these discoveries in a different light. Rick is clearly not an admirable guy, but could he have murdered his wife? Lyon provides a few welcome twists on the way to a satisfying finale.

Crisp, compelling, formulaic suspense executed with finesse.