Title: Don’t Open the Door
Author: Allison Brennan
Publication: January 24, 2023
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Pages: 389
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
After their ten-year-old son, Chase, was senselessly murdered, Regan’s life unraveled. Her corporate lawyer husband, Grant, blamed the death on Regan’s work as a US marshal. Unable to reconcile their grief, they divorced, and Regan quit her job and moved away.
Now she’s back after a voice mail from her former boss Tommy said he had important news to share about Chase’s killing. Regan is stunned to learn Tommy is dead too. When she reaches out to Grant, his panicked reaction raises her suspicions. Then a lawyer with ties to her ex also turns up murdered, and the police make Grant their top suspect.
Unsure of his guilt or innocence, Regan risks everything to find Grant before the police do so she can finally get the answers to all that has haunted her since losing Chase. But the truth is not even close to what she imagines—and now she fears she has no one to trust.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
I had always wanted to read an Allison Brennan book, but for some reason I just never found the time. This opportunity arose to read Don’t Open the Door and I took it. As a fan of Lisa Gardner, I had high hopes for this detective/cop led mystery/thriller.
The story follows Reagan, who lost her son under a year before and then her friend who is looking into it is killed. She comes back to her old stomping ground to finish his investigation, not only to learn about her sons murder, but also to find closure for her friend’s investigation and honor him. I instantly like Reagan. She reminds me a lot of myself. I can people, but I don’t always want to people and I am really good at digging deep into things to get the information I need. I should have been a detective. Who knew?
Reagan is a great, strong leading female character that really pulls the story towards her and keeps you interested. I was invested in her journey to discover the truth and loved her power she exuded when talking to people and holding her own in a world surrounded by men. I also really liked Charlie and some of the other people helping her in this journey. I did not, however, like Grant. While I know he was not the antagonist per se, I felt he was. He was so infuriating and really made things go a way it did not have to go. I know he was scared, but he definitely made everything worse for everyone. The writing was smooth and the story flowed nicely as we crept closer to who the bad guy(s) was.
Oddly, I loved the ending of this book. I know that may see weird to some because its not exactly a happy ending. While everything was figured out and solved, it likely wasn’t a happily ever after for the characters. I felt this made it more realistic because not everything ties up in a happy little bow in the end. I am definitely a big fan of Allison Brennan now and can’t wait to see more of Reagan Merritt and other novels as well. Everyone should check these out. Phenomenal reading!
