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One of Us

Tawni O'Dell (Goodreads Author)

3.57 · Rating details · 1,879 ratings · 351 reviews

“A fearless exploration of the line between mental illness and true evil, a place many thriller writers visit but without the kind of fearless insights [Tawni] O’Dell reveals in this powerful novel” (The New York Times Book Review).

Dr. Sheridan Doyle—a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist—is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s of ...more

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Paperback, 295 pages

Published April 7th 2015 by Gallery Books (first published August 1st 2014)

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Aug 06, 2014 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2014, netgalley

Danny Doyle- he grew up in a town where mining was king. Everyone was either working there or expected too. Years ago his great grandfather was hung with the Nellies for uprising against the mine owner. Danny grew up hard, with an abusive father and a mentally ill mother. He comes back to town as a "boy done good." He is a forensic psychologist that studies serial killers-I would have liked even more on his job. (That part was so interesting)
He is a tad bit proud of that fact that he has risen a ...more

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Apr 26, 2014 Robert rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: robert-s-reads, netgalley

If you look up the term cold-hearted bitch in the dictionary, you’re liable to find a picture of Scarlet Dawes. She has evil figured out so well she could suck your soul out of your body from three feet away. And then she’d kick your decaying corpse with her stiletto heel while carrying her Gucci purse. She’s so evil that her mom resorted to the gin and tonic years ago (heavy on the gin light on the tonic), and her dad was born without a soul, and there’s an empty void where his heart should be. ...more

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Feb 13, 2014 Patrice Hoffman rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: provided-by-netgalley

I have been waiting to read another Tawni O'Dell book since I was in high school. It is there I became a fan after reading, and loving, her Oprah approved debut Back Roads. Yes, I know I've missed a few of her others along the way but I'm happy that this book, One of Us placed me back on the O'Dell wagon.

Forensic psychologist Sheridan Doyle a.k.a., Danny, returns to his home town Lost Creek to care for his aging, sick grandfather. Shortly after returning he comes across a dead body in the gallo I have been waiting to read another Tawni O'Dell book since I was in high school. It is there I became a fan after reading, and loving, her Oprah approved debut Back Roads. Yes, I know I've missed a few of her others along the way but I'm happy that this book, One of Us placed me back on the O'Dell wagon.

Forensic psychologist Sheridan Doyle a.k.a., Danny, returns to his home town Lost Creek to care for his aging, sick grandfather. Shortly after returning he comes across a dead body in the gallows. The gallows attracts crowds hoping to find paranormal activity because of the hanging of four coal miners named Nellies. It's clear that either the Nellies are up to some paranormal revenge or there could in fact be a killer on the loose. I'm betting on the latter.

Danny begins to investigate the crime with Detective Rafe, his childhood father figure. After another mysterious murder occurs, they both hone in on a killer that has no moral compass and is more evil than any character I've read in quite a while. As Danny puts together the pieces to the towns mysteries, he learns that his own past may be colliding head on with the future.

Let's begin by saying, One of Us is exceptionally engulfing. It's the type of novel you can begin and finish in a day. It moves along with a pace that does not slow for anyone. O'Dell also manages to provide readers with intelligent characters. There isn't one character who doesn't know the culprit, therefore sparing readers of smoke and mirrors. There's nothing worse than an oblivious protagonist that you just want to shout at to get a grip when clues are looking them right in their face.

While on the subject of characters, I don't know who's more F-ed up. Quite possibly it's Danny, his psycho mom who's been prosecuted for killing his sister, or the actual villain. I couldn't stop thinking once that old saying "doctor heal thyself". Danny still carries the weight of his childhood everywhere he goes. Even after becoming a successful forensic psychologist and appearing as a witness in very high profile cases, he can't seem to shake the scared child he once was. Bullied for being a child of a baby-killer is one obstacle he is unable to overcome.

Many of the characters in One of Us are as damaged as the mines they work. This town has little going for it except the mines and the paranormal attraction of the gallows. There is no beauty anywhere which is why O'Dell made a point of annoyingly dropping every designer name in the book. FYI, poor people can't tell the difference between an Yves Saint Laurent or a Wal-Mart clearance item. I certainly can't. There was no need to reference the clothing of Danny's or his antagonist in every chapter. Seriously!

Overall, One of Us is a fun read. Tawni O'Dell has reclaimed her throne in my mind and I will go back to read the ones I've missed since her debut. I highly recommend fans of psychological suspense to read One of Us. I'm certain after reading there's no easy way to run from the past, the truth, or who we really are.

Copy provided by Simon & Schuster via Netgalley

...more

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Nov 26, 2013 Leanne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2014, netgalley

One of Us is not exactly a mystery novel. It has some of the elements of one - deep, dark family secrets, strange and seemingly random murders, a psychologist who studies the minds of serial killers - but the difference here is that we watch the deaths as they happen, through the eyes of the killer. So the real mystery isn't who did it? or even why did they do it?, but how the history of the town and the family relationships have shaped the characters and led to this point.

Lost Creek, the rundo One of Us is not exactly a mystery novel. It has some of the elements of one - deep, dark family secrets, strange and seemingly random murders, a psychologist who studies the minds of serial killers - but the difference here is that we watch the deaths as they happen, through the eyes of the killer. So the real mystery isn't who did it? or even why did they do it?, but how the history of the town and the family relationships have shaped the characters and led to this point.

Lost Creek, the rundown, impoverished mining town (really, it's all in the name) where most of the action takes place, is a breeding ground for secrets. Danny Doyle, son of an alcoholic father and a bipolar mother, has risen above his blue collar roots (and wants everyone to know it) to become an extremely successful forensic psychologist specializing in serial killers - complete with TV appearances, bestselling novels and expert witness testimonies. He's called back to Lost Creek when his lovably gruff grandfather, Tommy (who is 96 and somewhat excessively wise) is reported ill. Upon his return, Danny discovers a dead body at the site of the gallows, a famous Lost Creek site at which a group of miners were hung for crimes they largely didn't commit several generations back, which is the start of a chain of murders and the exposure of a lot of buried truths.

There is rich detail and description about the town's chilling background - O'Dell deftly weaves together the past and present themes and you can really feel the desolation and oppression of Lost Creek's residents. The town is obsessed with the gallows and what they symbolize - the struggle of power between the Dawes family, the owner of the mines, and the working class. However, O'Dell also starts several intriguing side plots and doesn't really follow through with all of them - I would have appreciated more length to the book to really get into more of the details. And on the other hand, enough with the designer name dropping! Every time Danny appears in a scene, every single item of clothing he's wearing, brand and all, is listed, as if to prove exactly how well groomed and well off he is (this is just a minor complaint, but it was irritating).

It's a dark novel, though not quite as gritty as Back Roads, the last book of hers I've read, and it was addictive. I feel like I read quite a few novels in this vein, and it was certainly on the more enjoyable end of the scale. I'm so interested in the psychology of serial killers, and these sections (especially the interactions between Danny and one of his "clients", a killer of young boys) were incredibly compelling. Definitely recommended, especially if you've enjoyed any of Tawni O'Dell's previous novels. ...more

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Aug 16, 2014 Kelly (and the Book Boar) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2014, arcs

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

RELEASE DATE TODAY - 8/19

Noted forensic psychologist Dr. Sheridan Doyle (Danny to his family) has been called back to his home town in order to check on his aging grandfather. He never planned on discovering a dead body at the legendary (and reportedly haunted) gallows where a group of miners were hung generations ago. He never could have imagined getting involved in solving the mystery of this death, or that he would have to revisit h ...more

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Aug 31, 2014 SUSAN *Nevertheless,she persisted* rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: nope-nyet-bleh

I really wanted to like this book.It caught my interest and kept until the introduction of Scarlet Dawes. She was a fork in the toaster. Scarlet killed the flow of the book and her character was ackward and farfetched. As I read on,I began to feel that many of the characters acted/reacted in an unbelievable manner.
I grew weary of the innumerable descriptions of designer apparel....Alexander McQueen,Stella McCartney, Belanciago...Oh my. The book felt disjointed,unfinished and lacked continuity.
I ...more

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Jun 10, 2014 Maxine (Booklover Catlady) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-books-read

After reading reviews with strong praise for this book I was excited to get stuck into it. However, I struggled from the start to really connect with the imagery and the characters, at times it felt like the book was slipping from my grasp, I had to strain to concentrate at times, in short I found it a bit hard going.

This book has been compared to Gone Girl, in that fans of Gone Girl will love this book. From my perspective, not only is just about every book these days compared with Gone Girl b ...more

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Jan 23, 2014 Wendy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nov-14

One Of Us is set in Lost Creek, an old coal mining town in Appalachia, that has been haunted by a macabre history.
Sheridan (Danny) Doyle was raised by an abusive father and a mentally unstable mother who was convicted of killing his baby sister and burying her in the back yard when Danny was 5. He rose above his disturbed childhood to become a prominent forensic psychologist in Philadelphia, specializing in the minds of serial killers.
When his elderly grandfather becomes ill Danny is asked to c ...more

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Jun 23, 2014 Paul Pessolano rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“One of Us” by Tawni O’Dell, published by Gallery Books.

Category – Fiction/Literature Publication Date – August 19, 2014

This book may be fiction/literature but has a deeply hidden mystery in it. The novel takes place in an old Pennsylvania coal town. A town that is run by the owner of the coal mine. As in all cases during this time the owner of the mine also owned the miners. The miners worked for starvation wages that were often offset by having to pay for items at the Company Store. A band of ...more

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Jul 21, 2014 Liz Barnsley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Thank you to the author and publisher for the netgalley review copy.

Dr. Sheridan Doyle, a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist, is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office whenever a twisted killer’s mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he’s still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family. Returning to a hometown grappling with its own ghosts, Danny finds a dead body at the infamous Los Thank you to the author and publisher for the netgalley review copy.

Dr. Sheridan Doyle, a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist, is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office whenever a twisted killer’s mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he’s still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family. Returning to a hometown grappling with its own ghosts, Danny finds a dead body at the infamous Lost Creek gallows where a band of rebellious Irish miners was once executed. Strangely, the body is connected to the wealthy family responsible for the miners’ deaths. Teaming up with veteran detective Rafe, a father-like figure from his youth, Danny, in pursuit of a killer, comes dangerously close to startling truths about his family, his past, and himself.

This is my first Tawni O Dell novel and I found it to be a well written and engaging psychological thriller, very much character driven and with some very dark undertones that kept me enthralled throughout the reading experience - I will definitely be tracking down more books from this author.

Told as it is from two different viewpoints – Danny and Scarlet – it has a great depth of atmosphere and some truly chilling moments alongside real psychological insight into the characters and what has led them here. Not so much a “whodunnit” as a “whydunnit” this tracks the history and events leading up to the time that brings Danny back to his childhood home and the ramifications of some hidden truths coming to light.

Atmospherically speaking the sense of place is magnificent – the dying town of Lost Creek is brought into sharp focus by some imaginative and intelligent writing that lets you see what is bubbling just beneath the surface. A dark history abounds here and its effects are far reaching – by allowing her characters to lead the way Ms O Dell manages to keep you off kilter, never sure what may be just around the corner, at the same time giving a snapshot of small town life and the intricacy of that which is absolutely fascinating.

I don’t want to delve too much into the plot – it has a rich vein of history running through it and one of those stories where discovery is key, the slow but steady build up of information is done here in top notch fashion and I would highly recommend that you go into it with as little prior information as possible.

Overall an excellent read in one of my favourite genre’s and comes recommended for fans of Crime fiction with an edge.

Happy Reading Folks! ...more

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Apr 11, 2014 Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

My View:
This is my first experience of reading a Tawni O’Dell book and I must say how impressed I was with this offering! This book has it all:

Atmospheric – wonderful creation of settings - of a struggling mining town, of prison, of the extremely wealthy, of the mentally unbalanced… and of a gamut of emotions, this is a fascinating read.

Complex – the narrative twists and turns, we have two perspectives - of Danny’s past and present and glimpses of Scarlet’s life – past and present and the inters ...more

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Feb 22, 2016 Jo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller-adult, scribd

It took awhile to get into this one. I even considered DNFing, but I am glad that I didn't. It was heartbreaking and fulfilling. ...more

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Jun 07, 2014 Judy Collins rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: suspense, crime, books-read-in-2014, netgalley-arc, mystery, 2014-releases

A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tawni O’Dell’s ONE OF US is an engaging psychological thriller, set in an old coal mining town of Lost Creek, holding deep dark secrets in the backwoods of Appalachia. Loved the front cover image as pulls you into this world of mystery and murder.

Danny Doyle, born and raised in this coal mining town of Pennsylvania, and has no desire to return after struggling with demons from childhood, from bully ...more

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Apr 22, 2014 Lisa D - Sassy Cat Chat rated it really liked it · review of another edition

One of us by Tawni O'Dell is a really great read. The plot line is a bit different so it's nice to read something that feels fresh rather than the same old story told by someone else.

Our main character Danny is a successful forensic psychologist living in the big city. He returns home to the small town he is from, and not very fond of. We get to learn all about his less than perfect childhood as his family and it's secrets are laid out through the story line.

Our second main character, Scarlet, ...more

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May 06, 2014 Erin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-review

ARC for review.

This was my first Tawni O'Dell book after her Oprah selection from years ago. I wasn't thrilled with that book (it was set in Appalachia, as is this one, and there were things about it that bothered me...but it's been so many years ago I'm not sure exactly why). This was...better.

First of all, quite a page-turner, and with the same dark, gothic feel as Gap Creek - based on these two books only I would say that O'Dell has a love/hate relationship with the region (and with sibling ...more

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May 23, 2014 NaTaya Hastings rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-books

I read this book because I was a fan of Tawni O'Dell's "Backroads." However, this book did not live up to the precedent set by that novel. There were several problems that stood out to me that I simply couldn't get over. For instance, there were awful pacing issues, and worse, there were times when the point of view simply shifted between characters without warning, and it made it hard to follow along.

Furthermore, there were inconsistencies in the plot. For instance, one lady confesses that she ...more

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Dec 31, 2013 Diane S ☔ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5 review to follow.

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Jan 21, 2015 A Reader's Heaven rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, net-galley, thrillers

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Dr. Sheridan Doyle—a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist—is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office whenever a twisted killer’s mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he’s still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family, plagued by panic attacks and haunted by the tragic death of his little sister and ...more

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May 25, 2014 Fictionophile rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: psychological-thrillers, netgalley-read, gallery-books

This review was originally published on my blog: Fictionophile

Set in a Pennsylvania coal town, Tawni O’Dell’s latest novel transports the reader into the closed, ‘company town’ atmosphere of the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. Our protagonist Sheridan Doyle escaped the confines of his upbringing and went to college. Now a renowned forensic psychologist in Philadelphia, his only tie to his home town is his elderly grandfather Tommy. When he learns that Tommy has taken ill, he returns to Lost Cr This review was originally published on my blog: Fictionophile

Set in a Pennsylvania coal town, Tawni O’Dell’s latest novel transports the reader into the closed, ‘company town’ atmosphere of the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. Our protagonist Sheridan Doyle escaped the confines of his upbringing and went to college. Now a renowned forensic psychologist in Philadelphia, his only tie to his home town is his elderly grandfather Tommy. When he learns that Tommy has taken ill, he returns to Lost Creek to care for him.

Lost Creek has not been good to Sheridan. Tragic memories abound. As a result, Sheridan is plagued with nightmares and suffers from panic attacks. When his baby sister Molly was just a week old his mother was accused of killing her and burying her in the backyard. She always denied it, but with a history of mental illness, she was not believed. After she was imprisoned Sheridan was left with his physically abusive, drunken father. When things got bad at home he would escape to his grandfather’s house for some safety and comfort. Another man in Sheridan’s life is Rafe. A surrogate father figure, Rafe was a police officer in Sheridan’s youth. Now he is the town’s only detective.

The town itself has a tragic history. A century ago some Irish immigrant miners (known as as the Nellie O’Neills) protested their despicable working conditions. In their angry protest they killed two people. To ‘teach them a lesson’ they were all hanged at a public gallows. The gallows still stands as a reminder and as a macabre tourist attraction. The town’s history was interesting, but I felt it was somewhat overplayed in the novel.

The story is told in two voices. That of Sheridan, whose blue-collar roots tie him to the town ; and that of Scarlet, the daughter of the wealthy and powerful mine owner. As the novel begins, shortly after Sheridan’s arrival back in Lost Creek, a body is found near the gallows. The superstitious townsfolk believe it may be the work of the ghostly Nellie O’Neills, but the more pragmatic Rafe is certain that there is a human out there with a motive.

Then, Rafe and Sheridan have another murder to solve. A middle-aged woman is found dead in her home. She is a victim of the traditional “death by blunt object”. Little evidence leaves them temporarily stymied.

Meanwhile, the reader comes to realize that Scarlet is a psychopath. Throughout her life she has murdered anyone who upsets her. Her latest victim is the cousin of her old Nanny…

This is the first novel I have read by the esteemed author, Tawni O’Dell and I enjoyed her writing for the most part. The setting was an integral part of the story and she portrayed it well. Her constant descriptions of what the protagonists were wearing got on my nerves more than a bit. I like nice clothes as much as the next person, but thought the name-dropping couture unnecessary. I think I know why she incorporated these descriptions in the narrative, but I still feel the novel would have been better off without them.

The title is very clever. The obvious of course, is that Sheridan is now an outsider and no longer considered to be “One of Us” by the townspeople. I can’t go into other explanations however without incorporating some spoilers. ...more

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Jul 29, 2014 The Bookend Family rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

If you think that your family is screwed I up I encourage you to read One of Us by Tawni O'Dell. Inside is a family as twisted as a rope. If your family doesn’t seem better by the time you are done, you have my sympathy. I also would encourage you to read this book because it's an exceptionally good thriller; taut, tense, and chock-full of well-drawn characters.

The protagonist is Dr. Sheridan Doyle, fastidious and rather famous forensic psychologist whose specialty is twisted killers. His unusua If you think that your family is screwed I up I encourage you to read One of Us by Tawni O'Dell. Inside is a family as twisted as a rope. If your family doesn’t seem better by the time you are done, you have my sympathy. I also would encourage you to read this book because it's an exceptionally good thriller; taut, tense, and chock-full of well-drawn characters.

The protagonist is Dr. Sheridan Doyle, fastidious and rather famous forensic psychologist whose specialty is twisted killers. His unusual choice of career isn't surprising when you get a look at his background, raised in a run-down mining town in southwestern Pennsylvania by an abusive father and a mother who spent most of his life in an insane asylum after being accused of killing Danny's sister.

The story starts when Dr. Doyle returns to his hometown to visit his aging grandfather, Tommy, who was really the only good influence in Danny's early life. Even he, though, seems to have spent an inordinate amount of time telling Danny horrifying tales about the Nellie O Neills, a rebellious group of early union miners reminiscent of the Molly McGuires, who ended up dancing at the end of a rope. Danny finds a dead body at the Lost Creek Gallows, a bizarre historical monument to the aforementioned miners. Danny's interest piques when it turns out that the body is connected to the wealthy family of the robber baron responsible for the miner's death. With the help of the idiosyncratic veteran detective Rafe, a father figure for Danny, he begins to pursue the killer, certain that he is dealing with someone who has all the hallmarks of a serial murderer.

This is a gripping tale, and Ms. O’Dell does an exceptional job of melding the past and the present, but the book really hits its stride when the story starts to begin to become dangerously close to revealing startling truths about Danny, his past, and his family.

All of this makes for an exciting thriller, but there's more to this book than just chills. Ms. O’Dell's invocation of Danny's grimy hometown-not unlike my own hometown, with steel-mills taking the place of coal mines, is spot-on. Danny is a wonderful character, complicated compelling, and vivid, and all of the supporting character are nearly as good. Ms. O'Dell's prose, told through Danny's first person narration is evocative yet lean enough not to get in the way of the plot.

I really haven't mentioned the plot too much, and I am not going to, because it has as many twists and curves as the Thunderbolt, a wooden rollercoaster from the amusement park near my old home town, and did I tell you about that family? You would have to go back to The Last Kind Words by Tom Piccarilli to find such a demented crew. So read this book, and the Tom Piccarilli too while you are at it, two for the price of one. ...more

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Aug 28, 2014 Ashley Farley rated it liked it · review of another edition

Behind his public persona, Dr. Sheridan Doyle is still Danny, the lost little boy running from his past. Abused by his father, abandoned by his mentally ill mother, raised by his eccentric grandfather, he makes for an interesting protagonist. Today, Sheridan Doyle is a famous forensic psychologist, a shrink who studies the minds of the criminally insane, not to help them get better but in fascination of their behavior.

When Danny returns to his hometown of Lost Creek, Pennsylvania, to help take c Behind his public persona, Dr. Sheridan Doyle is still Danny, the lost little boy running from his past. Abused by his father, abandoned by his mentally ill mother, raised by his eccentric grandfather, he makes for an interesting protagonist. Today, Sheridan Doyle is a famous forensic psychologist, a shrink who studies the minds of the criminally insane, not to help them get better but in fascination of their behavior.

When Danny returns to his hometown of Lost Creek, Pennsylvania, to help take care of his aging grandfather, he stumbles upon a dead body at the gallows, the famous landmark where a group of rebellious Irish miners was executed many years ago. He joins forces with his old detective friend, Rafe, to help solve the murder. But is the illustrious doctor prepared for what he soon discovers?

I was enjoying Danny’s story quite a bit when the author introduced a new first-person character in Chapter Eight. Maybe if I’d met Scarlett sooner, I would have appreciated her character more. Then again, she’s a psychopath, so probably not. Scarlett is a murderer, a cold-blooded killer who annihilates anyone who gets in her way. Not only do we see her in the act, she tells us about her past crimes, the first one committed when she was the tender age of ten.

One of Us lacks suspense. The reader is aware of events as they happen, which leaves nothing to the imagination. There is no chase. There is concern for who will be the next victim. There is no mystery. The pace slowed for me about halfway through and I considered abandonment. But I stuck with it out of curiosity and compassion for Danny. His character is the element in this novel that works. I would be writing an entirely different review if the author had shown Scarlett’s character through Danny’s eyes.
Danny and Scarlett have many things in common. Some I can tell you about, others I cannot. The most obvious is their obsession with clothing. You’ve heard me say it before. Less is more, especially in terms of description. Simple references to an Armani Suit and a full-length black mink coat would’ve painted the picture. I found the constant reference to designer labels in poor taste.

Aside from my other grievances, I thought this author does a great job of portraying the hopelessness of the townsfolk. We get a real sense of how these families have struggled to survive the hardships of the mining industry for generations.

For more of my reviews, visit my website at www.chroniclesofavidreader.com ...more

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Jun 24, 2014 Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, read-in-english, thriller-detective-mystery

READ IN ENGLISH

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

Publication date: August 19th 2014

Dr. Sheridan "Danny" Doyle is now a famous psychologist in Philadelphia, but used to be an outcast with his irresponsible father and mentally ill mother who's in jail. Raised by his grandfather, who's grandfather was executed before the eyes of his father as one of the Nellies, READ IN ENGLISH

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

Publication date: August 19th 2014

Dr. Sheridan "Danny" Doyle is now a famous psychologist in Philadelphia, but used to be an outcast with his irresponsible father and mentally ill mother who's in jail. Raised by his grandfather, who's grandfather was executed before the eyes of his father as one of the Nellies, a group of rebellious Irish miners. However, the past is far from dead in Lost Creek.

It started off very good. I could immediately feel that this was a community that's - almost with every step they take - still strung to the past. The gallows were never torn down, there are the NONs, there's a museum, and most of people believe the whole place is haunted.There are few people in Lost Creek that are not somehow related to the men, the Nellies, that died there in the 19th century. The mines still run, and are still in the hands of the same family, the Dawes. Thus everyone in the village is still dependent on them. Danny has freed himself from this, but gets drawn back into it when he returns to Lost Creek to look after his sick grandfather Tommy, and stumbles upon a dead body near the gallows.

I was from the very beginning drawn into the story, but this somehow stopped after about 100 pages, when the POV switches between Danny and Scarlet (firstborn daughter of Dawes), who's a terribly unlike-able character. I don't mind reading about a psychopath, but she was just SO annoying, I found that I couldn't really care the same for the rest of the story. I still wanted to find out what happened (and what was written on that mysterious piece of paper), but mostly I just wanted to get rid of Scarlet. The writing was good and read fast, which would make this a perfect summer suspense had Scarlet not been such an annoying character...

A nice little touch of her lovely character

"I liked her well enough. She was no threat to me. My family had more money. I was prettier, smarter, and had a far superior wardrobe. I was better than her in every way that I wanted to be." *

* This was quoted from the reader's proof, and may have been corrected/changed in the final version, but I haven't been able to check. ...more

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Sep 19, 2014 Ubiquitousbastard rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, united-states, mystery

Honestly, I don't know why this was on my to-read list, but it was and I read it because...boredom?

There were several aspects of this book that bothered or annoyed me, although most of them are details rather than sweeping problems. Firstly, this author seems to think there are two types of people: blue collar and ridiculously effete. Now, maybe I just didn't pick up on some subtlety and she portrays people like this for a reason. However, if it was only intended to demonstrate (view spoiler) Honestly, I don't know why this was on my to-read list, but it was and I read it because...boredom?

There were several aspects of this book that bothered or annoyed me, although most of them are details rather than sweeping problems. Firstly, this author seems to think there are two types of people: blue collar and ridiculously effete. Now, maybe I just didn't pick up on some subtlety and she portrays people like this for a reason. However, if it was only intended to demonstrate (view spoiler) then it was not at all subtle, and I might go as far as ham-fisted (a term I usually reserve for my own writing). Secondly, I seriously, seriously don't care about Prada-whatever and Gucci-something. Since the only designer thing I own is years old Dolce and Gabbana perfume...yeah, it sort of annoys me and wastes my freaking time. Third, there was no mystery in a mystery book. The author (and viewpoint character) both tell you almost immediately who's behind the murder(s). Fourth, why on earth are they called the Nellies? I get the connection, but why? Fifth-(view spoiler) Sixth-yes the bones of a child dead a few decades would most likely contain DNA, since we find bones from early hominids (and apparently a dinosaur) with testable DNA. Alright, six issues should suffice for this, there are probably more problems I had with this book, but it's feeling a bit egregious at this point.

What I liked about it: the pacing was decent for a book in which very little happened. The length was also just a hair past what I would have liked (my attention-admittedly not so focused-was wandering by the last twenty pages). Also, other than a few iffy word choices, I think the writing was also above average and I admit to liking the highbrow vocabulary. Fine, I'm a bit of a hypocrite about upper-class tendencies, but the constant descriptions of designer clothes did get obnoxious.

Overall, this was basically an average book, nothing special or memorable. But for a mystery book, I would say it's slightly above average. ...more

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Nov 16, 2016 Carol rated it it was ok · review of another edition

One of Us by Tawni O'Dell
2.5★'s

From The Book:
Dr. Sheridan Doyle—a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist—is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office whenever a twisted killer’s mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he’s still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family, plagued by panic attacks and haunted by the tragic death of his little sister and mental unraveling of his mother years ago ...more

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May 21, 2014 Naomi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Synopsis: Dr. Sheridan Doyle is the "go to", TV friendly forensic psychologist in Philadelphia. He makes sure his personal image matches his professional one. Back in his hometown of Lost Creek, he is still known as Danny Doyle, the shy, bullied young boy from a blue collar family of coal miners. An image that Sheridan would be happy to never see again.

He can't get that lucky when he is called back to Lost Creek to care for his grandfather. Unfortunately for him, the first thing he comes across ...more

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Feb 01, 2014 The Pfaeffle Journal (Diane) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014

Ever since reading Back Roads I have been a fan of Tawni O’Dell. NetGalley provided a copy newest novel One of Us. This is one the best books I have read in a while. It re-forces why I am a fan.

Set in the Pennsylvania coal country, Lost Creek is best known for its gallows where a band of rebellious miners were hung. Dr Sheridan Doyle returns to check on his aging grandfather, Tommy Doyle. Doyle is now a successful forensic psychologist, who is quite into himself. Shortly he arrives home he finds ...more

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May 17, 2014 Dara S. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2016, wom-challenge-2016

I had trouble with this book drawing me in until the last 100 pages or so. I had to bump up the rating. I never saw the ending coming. This book is weird, touching and twisted.

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Mar 08, 2015 Patty rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, mystery

The book is about hardship, poverty, mental illness and an incredible tragedy.

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Nov 12, 2015 Allison rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I gave up on this book after about 50 pages. I just couldn't get into it which was disappointing because I've read other books by this author and really enjoyed them. ...more

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Mar 08, 2020 Mel Salcedo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Second book I’ve read by the author, and will definitely be reading more. A mystery ( that’s not really a total mystery pretty quickly, but not supposed to be ... you’ll get it when you read it :) , and a well written page turner .

O’Dell does a great job of wrapping her stories in the larger picture of class friction in America. This particular is novel set in a fictional mining town in Pennsylvania, and paints a vivid picture of the community and the history of mining in America.

I like her wri ...more

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About Tawni O'Dell

Tawni O'Dell

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Tawni O'Dell is the New York Times bestselling author of Fragile Beasts, Sister Mine, Coal Run, and Back Roads, which was an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Tawni's screen adaptation of Back Roads is currently in development to be made into a film with Adrian Lyne set to direct. Her work has been translated into 15 languages and been published in over 30 countri ...more

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“I’ve never had any desire to be loved. I prefer being feared. It gets the same results but without any hugging.” — 3 likes

“Most people who stay do it because they’re afraid to leave, and most people who leave do it because they’re afraid to stay. If you stop and think about it you’ll find that fear is the motivating factor for most decisions people make in their lives” — 1 likes

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