You Know What You Did: A Novel
In this heart-pounding debut thriller for fans of Lisa Jewell and Celeste Ng, a first-generation Vietnamese American artist must confront nightmares past and present. . . .
Annie “Anh Le” Shaw grew up poor, but seems to have it all now: a dream career, a stunning home, and a devoted husband and daughter. When Annie’s mother, a Vietnam War refugee, dies suddenly one night, Annie’s carefully curated life begins to unravel. Her obsessive-compulsive disorder, which she thought she’d vanquished years ago, comes roaring back—but this time, the disturbing fixations swirling around in Annie’s brain might actually be coming true.
A prominent art patron disappears, and the investigation zeroes in on Annie. Spiraling with self-doubt, she distances herself from her family and friends, only to wake up in a hotel room—naked, next to a lifeless body. The police have more questions, but with her mind increasingly fractured, Annie doesn’t have answers. All she knows is this: She will do anything to protect her daughter—even if it means losing herself.
With dizzying twists, You Know What You Did is both a harrowing thriller and a heartfelt exploration of the refugee experience, the legacies we leave for our children, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters.
Annie “Anh Le” Shaw grew up poor, but seems to have it all now: a dream career, a stunning home, and a devoted husband and daughter. When Annie’s mother, a Vietnam War refugee, dies suddenly one night, Annie’s carefully curated life begins to unravel. Her obsessive-compulsive disorder, which she thought she’d vanquished years ago, comes roaring back—but this time, the disturbing fixations swirling around in Annie’s brain might actually be coming true.
A prominent art patron disappears, and the investigation zeroes in on Annie. Spiraling with self-doubt, she distances herself from her family and friends, only to wake up in a hotel room—naked, next to a lifeless body. The police have more questions, but with her mind increasingly fractured, Annie doesn’t have answers. All she knows is this: She will do anything to protect her daughter—even if it means losing herself.
With dizzying twists, You Know What You Did is both a harrowing thriller and a heartfelt exploration of the refugee experience, the legacies we leave for our children, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters.
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This needs to be your next thriller book pick!! You will never believe this is Nguyen’s debut novel.
We are following the main character, Annie Shaw, her devoted husband Duncan and their daughter Tabitha. They live a beautiful home together and are happy. When Annie’s Mother, a Vietnam War refugee, comes to stay with them in their guest house, Annie sees and watches her mother displaying some rather disturbing behaviors. She is beginning to become upset with her mother when she is criticizing Tabby about what she is wearing and her makeup choices. When Annie goes to check on her elderly mother one foggy morning, she finds her deceased. Annie's life and mental state begins to suffer. Annie suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder and has carefully curated her life from the horrors of her upbringing and generational trauma. Annie begins to see the world around her crumble and she doesn't quite know how to navigate this new reality.
Annie is reeling from her daughter not wanting to spend time with her anymore, and her husband pushing for her to get the help she needs. She begins to start losing pieces of her memory, due to her excessive drinking and finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Did she do this? But worse, is her mother's ghost haunting her?
In my opinion this was a terrific book. The author has a beautiful way of making you feel immersed in the book. I enjoyed the entire book and especially the ending. I thought that I was ready for it, but it still took me by surprise. I would diffidently recommend this one to all of the thriller/suspense readers. I can’t wait to see what K.T. Nguyen come up with next.
My thanks to Penguin Group Dutton, The Author, K.T. Nguyen as well as NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of You Know What You Did.
To read more of my book reviews please visit my website https://theshelflifebooks.com
We are following the main character, Annie Shaw, her devoted husband Duncan and their daughter Tabitha. They live a beautiful home together and are happy. When Annie’s Mother, a Vietnam War refugee, comes to stay with them in their guest house, Annie sees and watches her mother displaying some rather disturbing behaviors. She is beginning to become upset with her mother when she is criticizing Tabby about what she is wearing and her makeup choices. When Annie goes to check on her elderly mother one foggy morning, she finds her deceased. Annie's life and mental state begins to suffer. Annie suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder and has carefully curated her life from the horrors of her upbringing and generational trauma. Annie begins to see the world around her crumble and she doesn't quite know how to navigate this new reality.
Annie is reeling from her daughter not wanting to spend time with her anymore, and her husband pushing for her to get the help she needs. She begins to start losing pieces of her memory, due to her excessive drinking and finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Did she do this? But worse, is her mother's ghost haunting her?
In my opinion this was a terrific book. The author has a beautiful way of making you feel immersed in the book. I enjoyed the entire book and especially the ending. I thought that I was ready for it, but it still took me by surprise. I would diffidently recommend this one to all of the thriller/suspense readers. I can’t wait to see what K.T. Nguyen come up with next.
My thanks to Penguin Group Dutton, The Author, K.T. Nguyen as well as NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of You Know What You Did.
To read more of my book reviews please visit my website https://theshelflifebooks.com
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