What Never Happened: A Thriller

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.

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427 pages

Average rating: 5.55

49 RATINGS

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3 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

serialthriller
Feb 27, 2024
1/10 star
Book Review: "What Never Happened" by Rachel Howzell "What Never Happened" by Rachel Howzell was an interesting read that started off with a lot of detail and a thrilling storyline. However, as the book progressed, it seemed like the author deviated from the main plot and the story lost its grit. The author seemed to be all over the place and the book became confusing, lacking a cohesive narrative. It felt like reading multiple books in one, with too many theories and ideas competing for attention. Despite these drawbacks, the book did provide insights into people dealing with identity crisis, depression, and childhood trauma. This aspect of the book was exclusive and allowed readers to gain a deeper understanding of these issues. Additionally, the book provided a glimpse into the mind of the author, Rachel Howzell, which added an extra layer of interest. Overall, I would not recommend "What Never Happened" to readers who enjoy serial thrillers or captivating reads. While it had its moments, the book's lack of coherence and the overwhelming number of theories made it difficult to fully engage with the story. However, if you are interested in exploring themes of identity crisis, depression, and childhood trauma, this book might still be worth considering.
Anonymous
Jan 05, 2024
8/10 stars
Great Summer Read! Catalina Island Thriller

Rachel Howzell Hall takes us through Catalina's hillside, as Collette returns to the small town, where her family was murdered, to care for her aunt. As if that wasn't enough trauma and PTSD to sort through, Collette is tasked with writing the obituaries for a string of old women who start falling like flies when she returns.

I'd give the character development a 7/10, we learned about Collette but many of the side characters lacked depth. I would have loved to get more backstory to Noah, Flynn, and Maddie...but it all stayed pretty surface-level.

I took a trip to Catalina Island for my first wedding anniversary, so I enjoyed revisiting the island through the story. Makes me wonder if the small sleepy coastal town really has some dark secrets.
Nur.A
Aug 11, 2023
8/10 stars
I enjoyed this very much. Rachel Howzell Hall built up tension so masterfully, I felt truly creeped out.

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