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What Never Happened  By  cover art

What Never Happened

By: Rachel Howzell Hall
Narrated by: Kristen Ariza
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Publisher's summary

It’s murder in paradise as a woman uncovers a host of secrets off the rocky California coast in a gripping novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall.

Colette “Coco” Weber has relocated to her Catalina Island home, where, twenty years before, she was the sole survivor of a deadly home invasion. All Coco wants is to see her aunt Gwen, get as far away from her ex as possible, and get back to her craft—writing obituaries. Thankfully, her college best friend, Maddy, owns the local paper and has a job sure to keep Coco busy, considering the number of elderly folks who are dying on the island.

But as Coco learns more about these deaths, she quickly realizes that the circumstances surrounding them are remarkably similar…and not natural. Then Coco receives a sinister threat in the mail: her own obituary.

As Coco begins to draw connections between a serial killer’s crimes and her own family tragedy, she fears that the secrets on Catalina Island might be too deep to survive. Because whoever is watching her is hell-bent on finally putting her past to rest.

©2023 Rachel Howzell Hall (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“The range exhibited in narrator Kristen Ariza's performance of this thriller is unparalleled. She shines at voicing Coco Weber's conflicting emotions as she escapes L.A. and returns home to remote Catalina Island.… Ariza allows something as simple as a cell phone ringing to amplify the suspenseful ambiance of this audiobook. When Coco receives threats to her own life, Ariza embodies her determination to get to the bottom of all the deaths—past and present.” AudioFile Magazine

“Original, compelling, memorable, What Never Happened by novelist Rachel Howzell Hall will have a very special interest for fans of crime fiction in general, and deftly crafted murder mysteries in particular.” Midwest Book Review

“Howzell Hall specializes in complex, realistic characters…What Never Happened gives a unique look at the domestic thriller.” Florida Sun Sentinel

What listeners say about What Never Happened

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  • 10-23-23

I was hanging on every word!!!!

I highly recommend this book it’s full of intrigue! You want believe how it ends! Listen to this book!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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The suspense!

The book was interesting and kept my attention. Loves the suspense. I definitely recommend it.

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Love this book!!!!

So refreshing to read a book with a strong Black female. Can't wait to read other books by this author!!!

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Excellent book!

I thought the narrator was great, and the story kept me guessing the entire time. This is a really great book!

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Coukd not stop listening to this book?

This is a story that will stay with me for a very long time. Beautiful character development with intricate layers. having been to Catalina Island, I could picture the story unfolding. And to position it during the early days of Covid added more intrigue. Collette Weber was the sole survivor of A murderous attack that killed her family. She returns to the island over 20 years later to escape a failed marriage and care for her elderly aunt. But what she uncovers there is pure evil. This is not a scary book but rather an intricate murder mystery. Elderly women with multi million dollar homes are dying.. and not of natural causes. I can’t wait to read more books by this author, this particular book would make it great film!

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Plot Twist

Loved the characters, hated some. Wasn't completely predictable and confusing enough to keep you wondering and listening.

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Kept me laughing and guessing

Enjoyed this book immensely! The plot was interesting and the narrator was spot on. The book kept me laughing the whole time.

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Great story

This is a great story with lots of twists and turns in it. The narrator was amazing she told the story beautifully.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not Howzell Halls best

This is one of my favorite thriller writers and I was looking forward to a book I hadn’t read of hers but this is not the greatest. One thing Hall is always good at is the sense of place the city being a character and I enjoyed reading something set in Avalon in San Catalina. The character of Gwen and their complicated relationship was interesting but it felt like that wasn’t being developed forward either just repetition going in circles. I don’t know this just seemed like it needed a few rounds of editing. Having a narcissistic ex husband offscreen the whole time we never see was weird so so so much unnecessary repetition, so many nonsensical decisions by Collette and the police, it didn’t feel like it was moving forward. The character felt passive, things just happening to her instead of a smart clever woman putting the clues together and solving the mystery. Which maybe she wasnt supposed to be clever but it’s frustrating to figure out the mystery with hours of the book yet and not have those fun moments of realization with the protagonist at the same time. I mostly like the narration just hated how she did the voice of the male love interest did not make him seem sexy or enticing at all.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Meh

I had trouble the whole way through getting into it. The thoughts of the main character were confusing at times. The weird thoughts of an old lady sprinked in. It just didn't come together well. And the narration didn't help. Would not recommend wasting your time on this book.

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