Review: One of Us Tawni O'Dell

Dr. Sheridan Doyle, a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist, is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney's office whenever a twisted killer's mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he's still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family, plagued by panic attacks and haunted by the tragic death of his little sister and mental unraveling of his mother years ago.
Returning to a hometown grappling with its own ghosts, Danny finds a dead body at the infamous Lost Creek gallows where a band of rebellious Irish miners was once executed. Strangely, the body is connected to the wealthy family responsible for the miners' deaths. Teaming up with veteran detective Rafe, a father-like figure from his youth, Danny, in pursuit of a killer, comes dangerously close to startling truths about his family, his past, and himself.

I received this book via NetGalley.


After reading the blurb I really thought this book would be right up my alley. I wasn't truly on the edge of my seat until more towards the end as I was ready for the big reveal of a secret. There seems to be a killer, suspense all done within a small town. But it was more of a town that has been haunted by their past. It wasn't as exciting of a book for me as I hope. There are secrets that come to light but does it help those involved or does it hurt them?
I have to say I really liked the town name Lost Creek and how it made money was by mining. You don't hear about towns like those in books. I have to say I loved Tommy who was Danny Doyle's grandpa. He just had that witty personality about himself even though he doesn't play a major role within the story.
Danny has came back to check on his grandfather since he has gotten sick. While there, he enters into a murder or two, he learns that there is a secret between his family and the family that owns the mining company.

The characters are well written to where you can understand how they feel about certain things. You can see why Danny left Lost Creek and why he doesn't want to really go back. You get Scarlet who is a main character but she is cold and calculating, and you sure enough find out why. You get the story told by different points of characters and I thought that was pretty good for the author to do so you don't read from just one character. Overall great book to read.

Tawni O'Dell is the New York Times bestselling author of Fragile Beasts, Sister Mine, Coal Run, and Back Roads, which was an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Tawni's screen adaptation of Back Roads is currently in development to be made into a film with Adrian Lyne set to direct. Her work has been translated into 15 languages and been published in over 30 countries.
Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania where she now lives with her two children