"Everything We Didn't Say" by Nicole Baart

 

Juniper Baker had just graduated from high school and was deep in the throes of a summer romance when Cal and Beth Murphy, a childless couple who lived on a neighboring farm, were brutally murdered. When her younger brother became the prime suspect, June’s world collapsed and everything she loved that summer fell away. She left, promising never to return to tiny Jericho, Iowa.

Until now. Officially, she’s back in town to help an ill friend manage the local library. But really, she’s returned to repair her relationship with her teenage daughter, who’s been raised by Juniper’s mother and stepfather since birth—and to solve the infamous Murphy murders once and for all. She knows the key to both lies in the darkest secret of that long-ago summer night, one that’s haunted her for nearly fifteen years.

As history begins to repeat itself and a dogged local true crime podcaster starts delving into the murders, the race to the truth puts past and present on a dangerous collision course. Juniper lands back in an all-too-familiar place with the answers to everything finally in her sights, but this time it’s her daughter’s life that hangs in the balance. Will revealing what really happened mean a fresh start? Or will the truth destroy everything Juniper loves for a second time? Baart once again brilliantly weaves mystery into family drama in this expertly-crafted novel for fans of Lisa Jewell and Megan Miranda. ~taken from Goodreads

Author, Nicole Baart, is no stranger to me. I have read and reviewed two other of her novels. You can check out my review on "Little Broken Things" here and my review on "You Were Always Mine" here. 

"Everything We Didn't Say" is a very slow read. Alternating between past and present we are taken through a horrific event that happened 15 years ago and the aftermath it has left on present day. Right from the start I was bombarded with characters and had a really hard time trying to follow along and make sense of who everyone was and how they fit into the plot. 

Secrets and vendettas are never ending in this small town. As the mystery of the past starts to reveal itself, it then seems to start to repeat itself in the present and very small twists and turns appear. The storyline from the past seemed to give off a YA feel to it that just didn't quite mesh with the present day timeline. The main character in present day was simply unrelatable. It was so hard for me to finish this book. 

It took me almost 2 full weeks to read this novel and I only sped up my reading at the end because the publishing date was upon me. I was hoping that we would get a third perspective on the murders via the podcast, after all that is what fueled Juniper's return to her hometown. The podcast is simply a mention in the novel, an afterthought. I was also confused about how her "good friend", Cora, fit into her life. She returned to help her out at the library, but her help didn't seem that needed and we don't know how or why the two remained so close over the years. 

This novel does pick up around the 80% mark and the story resolves in a whirlwind. Everything was tied up nicely. 

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. 

"Everything We Didn't Say" is being released today, November 2, 2021 here in the U.S. so you can purchase wherever you buy your books. 

This was a 2.5 star read for me but I do look forward to future releases from the author. 

Happy Reading!