Or Else

A Thriller

By: Joe Hart

Narrated by: Graham Halstead

Edgar Award Winner for Best Paperback Original.

A secret love becomes a fatal affair in a twisting novel of suspense by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Joe Hart.

When novelist Andy Drake returns to his hometown to care for his ailing father, a reconnection with his childhood friend Rachel escalates into a secret love affair. For Rachel, struggling to maintain the facade of a picture-perfect life, it’s an escape from an emotionally abusive marriage. Then Andy receives an anonymous note warning him to end the affair. Or else.

Whoever’s been watching is going to make Andy pay. Weeks later, Rachel’s husband, David, is shot to death. Rachel and her two young sons vanish without a trace. One misstep, one careless reveal, and Andy could look as guilty as sin. Clue by clue, as his investigation into the mystery unfolds, Andy discovers that he and Rachel weren’t the only ones keeping secrets.

Nothing in this quiet neighborhood is as it seems. No one peeking from behind the curtains of their homes can be trusted. And the worst is yet to come. Because David isn’t the only one who will die.

©2022 by Joe Hart. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Hart remains a suspense writer to watch.”—Publishers Weekly

“Or Else is a thriller/suspense tour de force. Joe Hart has knocked it out of the park with a start-to-finish roller coaster ride of perfectly executed twists and expertly timed chills. Deep character development and rich narrative seals Or Else’s place as the not-to-be-missed domestic thriller/suspense of the year.”—Steven Konkoly, author of the Ryan Decker series and Deep Sleep

“The perfect thriller for a rainy afternoon, Or Else draws you into a web of small town secrets, lies, and intrigue and doesn’t let you go. Hart’s well-rendered setting and characters resonate like people and places you’ve known. Loved every minute of this absolute page-turner!”—D.M. Pulley, bestselling author of The Dead Key

Meh

This was mildly intriguing, but it was just too bland overall. Narration was okay.

Entertaining Enough!

Although the story was average ...the book was thoughtfully written. It had some twists and turns and was well thought out. The book was entertaining enough for a days work in the garden. The narrator did a great job! I'd listen to the book again!

A bit slow moving!

One does get to know the characters well! I enjoyed that! I liked the ending!!!

Or Else

This story will twist you and turn you, but will also make you say “uh?” The MC is a mystery/thriller/horror writer but doesn’t know how to flush out clues. He does better than the police but that’s no saying much.

There are a lot of false leads and the MC pulls leads out of thin air at times. He gets stuck and can’t see anything else for a bit. Other than my thoughts that he should be able to piece clues together better, this story is well written and will keep you hanging in until the end.

Eeehhh!

The writer and narrator were in sync, however the tale told was pedestrian at best.

Accidentally purchased

I love my accidental purchase ofJoe Hart’s audible book! Now I have to read them all! Narrator was perfect! Do yourselves a favor and read this book “Or Else”.

Great Characters, Good Story

This doesn't happen often, but I find myself in the strange position of having liked the characters better than the story. Main character Andy is an author who is caught between his next (hopefully) bestseller, his aging father, and a married woman. As the narrator of the story, he's very engaging. His life seems to tap dance on the line between chaotic and insane.

I enjoyed both the writing style and the depth of the characters, especially Andy, his father, and his siblings. Their relationship is close yet retains that familial tension that adds to their realism.

That being said, the story just didn't grab me completely. It was good: full of unexpected and hair-raising moments. Andy finds himself caught in a completely unsustainable position when he realizes the husband of his lover has been murdered and his lover is missing. It's difficult to go to the cops to admit what's been going on and then add, "but I didn't do it." We all know how these things go. There really isn't a good way out of his dilemma. So, he puts his literary detective skills to work on his own.

Overall, it's a solid 4 star read.

wow, is all I can say

this is the best thriller I've read in years. I normally have them figured out in the first 1\3 of the book. this one had me stumped until the last chapters of the book

Very well written and I'm looking to read more from this author. Give it a read, I think you'll also enjoy it.

Just w.o.w!

I’m speechless…ok, almost :)
What a story! Well written and gripping. I could not put down this book. I liked that the H was a regular guy…just a little flawed, with struggles like most of us. I couldn’t stave off the occasional cackle at the snark. Highly recommend this if you’re looking for an unusual murder mystery.

Captivating

Well written and authentic. Told in first person, the reader gets a bird’s eye view of the action, suspense, and complications of the plot. Couldn’t put it down.