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Joe Hart

Or Else: A Thriller Paperback – April 1, 2022

by Joe Hart (Author)

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A secret love becomes a fatal affair in a twisting novel of suspense by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Joe Hart.

When novelist Andy Drake returns to his hometown to care for his ailing father, a reconnection with his childhood friend Rachel escalates into a secret love affair. For Rachel, struggling to maintain the facade of a picture-perfect life, it’s an escape from an emotionally abusive marriage. Then Andy receives an anonymous note warning him to end the affair. Or else.

Whoever’s been watching is going to make Andy pay. Weeks later, Rachel’s husband, David, is shot to death. Rachel and her two young sons vanish without a trace. One misstep, one careless reveal, and Andy could look as guilty as sin. Clue by clue, as his investigation into the mystery unfolds, Andy discovers that he and Rachel weren’t the only ones keeping secrets.

Nothing in this quiet neighborhood is as it seems. No one peeking from behind the curtains of their homes can be trusted. And the worst is yet to come. Because David isn’t the only one who will die.

Print length

253 pages
Language

English
Publication date

April 1, 2022
Dimensions

5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

1542035120
ISBN-13

978-1542035125
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

Words are funny things. They’re warped mirrors of what we mean, and only once in a while do they reflect the truth.
Highlighted by 279 Kindle readers
We wish our loved ones long lives and quick deaths. It’s what separates us from animals.
Highlighted by 170 Kindle readers
It’s funny the things you remember and what you forget. All of it’s important, every last second.
Highlighted by 140 Kindle readers

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Hart remains a suspense writer to watch.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Or Else is a thriller/suspense tour de force. Joe Hart has knocked it out of the park with a start-to-finish roller coaster ride of perfectly executed twists and expertly timed chills. Deep character development and rich narrative seals Or Else’s place as the not-to-be-missed domestic thriller/suspense of the year.” ―Steven Konkoly, author of the Ryan Decker series and Deep Sleep

“The perfect thriller for a rainy afternoon, Or Else draws you into a web of small town secrets, lies, and intrigue and doesn’t let you go. Hart’s well-rendered setting and characters resonate like people and places you’ve known. Loved every minute of this absolute page-turner!” ―D.M. Pulley, bestselling author of The Dead Key

“Joe Hart has written compelling stories before, but it’s in Or Else that he shows off just how good he is. This book checks all the boxes for me: a (seemingly) quiet, small town drama―filled with those little quirks and secrets nobody wants to talk about―that quickly blossoms into something big, sinister, and menacing. Hart doesn’t pull any punches on some serious issues, either: love, infidelity, family conflict…there’s plenty to think about right up to the explosive ending. THIS is the thriller you’ll be recommending for the foreseeable future.” ―Matthew Iden, author of the Marty Singer series and The Winter Over

About the Author

Joe Hart is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of fourteen novels, including The River Is Dark, Obscura, The Last Girl, and We Sang in the Dark. When not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising, exploring the great outdoors, and watching movies with his family. For more information on his upcoming novels and access to his blog, visit www.joehartbooks.com.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas & Mercer (April 1, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 253 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1542035120
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1542035125
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #212,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,360 in Psychological Thrillers (Books)
- #6,729 in Murder Thrillers
- #16,259 in Suspense Thrillers

Customer Reviews:
20,337 ratings

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Joe Hart

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Joe Hart is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of thirteen novels that include The River Is Dark, Obscura, and The Last Girl. When not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising, exploring the great outdoors, and watching movies with his family. For more information on his upcoming novels and access to his blog, visit www.joehartbooks.com.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

20,337 global ratings

5 star		46%
4 star		34%
3 star		15%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Anne-Marie (Annie) Kosar

UNPUTDOWNABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER & MYSTERY!!!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 26, 2023

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DO NOT MISS READING THIS ONE!!!! Or….anything by Joe Hart actually:-). This one was full of twists & turns & mysteries & secrets!! The writing was STUNNING & BEYOND CAPTIVATING….Joe Hart is a TRUE TALENT!!:-). Also….on a personal note….I am a member of the LGBTQ community and the way in which Joe Hart wrote about some of the struggles we face in our lives, their possible connections to spirituality/religion for many, and how for many this can lead to deep pain and can be a matter of life and death for some:-(.His words resonated intensely for me….giving voice to my own struggles in a way I never could and being so cathartic for me…. Thank you, Joe Hart, for shining a much needed light on this VERY important subject and probably saving MANY LIVES in the process…. I am forever grateful to you for that!!! DEF READ THIS ONE BY JOE HART!!!:-). I LOVED & ADORED it!!:-)

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 30, 2023

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The storyline kept me going forward with lots of plot twists but some of them were never completely explained satisfactorily. The ending is one of those where you have the choice to decide how you want it to end.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 30, 2023

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An interesting story that was a pretty easy read. I thought the ending was a little predictable and trite, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Helpful

Darren M. Reed

slow-burn thriller that is an enjoyable read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 26, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book was definitely what I would call a slow burn. You learn right away of the warning Andy receives from the note telling him to end his secret relationship with Rachel.

This is the first part where as the reader you start to learn of the possible suspects. All of them seem plausible. I wouldn’t say the book is fast paced but it keeps you interested. The characters are well defined and relatable. The author does an amazing job keeping you in thriller mode while also keeping some levity. It is after Andy tries to discuss the note with Rachel that the events really start to unfold.

MINOR SPOILER ALERTS:

You learned that Andy‘s lover Rachel’s husband David has a business partner that had recently died by suicide. You learned that there was some problems within that organization but not much comes to clarity until the moment you’ve learned that the police are at Rachel‘s house because David was found murdered and Rachel and the kids were missing. It is at this point you start the protagonist Andy starts his own investigation… during David‘s investigation you learn of his traumatic past and how it will relate to the current situation.

MORE SPOILERS:
There is another death that seemed unrelated. Mary was killed in an accident at her home. She was a church assistant. one evening Andy wakes up to find a visitor had entered his house and sitting in his kitchen. This man seems to be a professional that has mob connections. Andy immediately thinks this guy works for the people that had David killed and who are also holding Rachel and the kids. The man tells Andy to back away but also said he had nothing to do with David and his family. Andy doesn’t quite believe this but keeps his investigation going…. Later you find out the truth that the Priest really started everything by molesting David and Rachel’s son and the dad confronts the priest and extorts money for his silence… Once you find this out as the reader you believe that Rachel catches on to this And kills David?… Or did David kill ryan (his business partner-to stop the spending) and then Mary when she was on to him and then Rachel kills him when she figures it out and goes on run to hide from whoever they owe money to? However, if this was the answer it would open more questions… In the end it all makes sense and you are rewarded with closure to a well plotted thriller. I definitely recommend this novel!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Darren Perdue

A good thriller. Not great, but not bad either.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 18, 2022

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I have noticed that in recent years, one of the up-and-coming types of thrillers is what I would call a “suburban thriller”. It is the kind of thriller that happens to the everyday person, whether it is a soccer mom, a dad who works from home, or family type of stuff. The draw of this genre is “It can happen to you!” Joe Hart gives us a really good example of this with his book Or Else.

Andy Drake is a thriller author. He moves back to his hometown after a failed marriage to help take care of his father who is in the early stages of dementia. He reconnects with a childhood friend, Rachel, and this connection turns into a secret love affair that lasts six months. Rachel is married to the son of one of the town’s most prominent families, and they have two children together, and the marriage is falling apart as fast as her husband’s business. One morning, Andy finds a note on his door telling him to end the affair OR ELSE. Shortly after getting the note, Rachel’s husband is found dead and Rachel and her kids disappear. Desperate to find answers, Andy starts an investigation of his own. What he discovers is everyone has a secret, and some will kill to keep them from coming to light.

As thrillers go, this one was a good read. Not fantastic, but not bad either. The writing is good and the pace is consistent. What makes this book shine is the family dynamic the main character has, and how he tries to balance this dynamic while he investigates what is going on. If you pay attention, and I mean REALLY pay attention, you can figure out what is going on by the end of the book. The clues are there, and there is no sudden introduction of a character to tie this up just to end it.

The main drawback for me is that I felt like I read this book before, but that is because I am well versed in this subgenre.

I give this book 4 bookmarks out of 5!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Tightly woven mystery

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 28, 2022

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Didn’t think I would like this story in the beginning but the story and the characters grew on me and I loved the deductive reasonings that play across the whole story. The wrap up at the end is excellent and very well thought out.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 12, 2022

Verified Purchase

Do you remember the Geico commercial that is aired on television every Halloween. The young people running in a horror movie. This book is not a horror story. It is a very good mystery/ thriller. However, when you are the main character in this book, you make bad decisions, that's what you do. Great book, I really enjoyed it.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Tambok

Great Fun

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 2, 2022

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Andy Drake is a novelist who returns to his hometown to look after his Father who is suffering from Dementia. He lives in the house next door in a quiet suburban cul-de-sac called the Loop. Not much goes on there aside from Andy's affair with former childhood sweetheart Rachel. Not that much until Rachel's husband is found dead and her and her 2 sons go missing. Convinced that Rachel and the boys have been abducted by whoever killed her husband Andy, convinced that the police aren't doing enough,decides to investigate himself. In doing so he crashes around like a bull in a china shop upsetting most of the Loop's occupants,the local clergy AND the occasional underworld figure. As a crime writer Andy runs plot-lines through his head convinced that his vocation makes him an ace detective. He's far from that and only belatedly realises he's missed an obvious clue as to where to start looking for Rachel that will have readers almost shouting at the book in frustration.

This is a very entertaining story with Andy usually acting on impulse rather than common sense . It seems everyone living in the Loop has their own story and Andy's feuding dysfunctional family add to the mix of a tale that borders on the farcical at times but is great fun as well as being a good murder mystery with the now compulsory twists.

It's not quite a 5 star book for me,there was a big scene that I wasn't convinced by but I'd go to a 4.5 if I could. It's quirky,fun and even touching in places where serious matters are addressed. Andy is a flawed character who doesn't always get it right.....far from it,which all part of it's charm.

27 people found this helpful

The Cat's Mother

It wasn't for me I'm afraid

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 12, 2022

Verified Purchase

I never like to leave a bad review for a book, authors put their heart and soul into producing a novel and it must be disheartening to read poor reviews, but I’m afraid the Amazon First book I chose this month didn’t tick the boxes for me.

Firstly, who on earth writes an anonymous, threatening note with the words ‘Do as I say or else’? It’s the sort of thing a kid would say and most adults wouldn’t take it that seriously. There were quite a few red herrings along the way but they were obvious. I didn’t feel the characters come to life, they were a bit bland and I couldn’t picture who would play them for a TV drama, and I certainly didn’t feel the passion between Andy and Rachel.

The writing was a bit clunky with lots of short punchy sentences which didn’t flow for me. At night, the end of a chapter is usually a good point for me to turn off the light and go to sleep. But when I picked up one evening, the next chapter started with the paragraph ‘At least a part of me had.’ That’s it! I had to go back and re-read the previous page of the last chapter. The majority of the book is written in the first person, i.e. Andy, the protagonist, but occasionally this slips into the second person as if Adam is talking to or about himself.

I'm unlikely to have downloaded this book normally, but it seemed the best of the Amazon First choices this month. Overall, I just didn’t find it that thrilling, I found the whole plot a bit boring and I was quite relieved to finish it. Sorry Joe, it wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read but it just wasn’t for me.

6 people found this helpful

Kaffmatt

Two stars is generous

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 3, 2022

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This is a- sort of- humorous attempt at a murder/missing person scenario. Sorry but the only thrilling bit was actually getting to the end of the book. It’s rather weak, with an insubstantial plot that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Andy is an author who is having an affair with his neighbour, Rachael. Andy’s father has dementia. Rachael’s husband, David, is in business with Ryan and the business has money problems. David and Ryan are killed. On the same day as David’s death, Rachael and their two children are missing. Andy investigates since the police seemingly are not too interested. Andy uses his writing ideas to create answers as to who may be responsible. Obviously there’s more details but that’s about it as a synopsis and it’s wishy washy.
I was distracted, many times, from my reading of this book as it just didn’t appeal to me; lacklustre.

5 people found this helpful

Ashrae

Or Else

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 29, 2022

Verified Purchase

4.5 stars rounded up.
Andy has returned home to care for his father who is in the early stages of dementia. He reconnects with his childhood friend Rachel and they start an affair behind the back of her emotionally abusive husband David. One day, he finds a note warning him off her, telling him that it must stop. Or Else. But then, soon after, Rachel's husband is shot dead and she and her children missing.
Not trusting the police, Andy takes it upon himself to try and find out what happened to David, and in turn, where Rachel and the children have gone. Have they been taken or did they flee? Are they safe? Or has the worst happened?
And Andy believes that only he can get to the bottom of things. But in doing so, he skirts and crosses lines he really shouldn't, putting himself in more danger than he ever knew. But it is something that he just has to do...
Oh my days, this hit the ground running from the start and didn't let up until the very end. Delivering shock after twist along the way, culminating in a perfect satisfying ending.
Only thing I wasn't convinced of was Andy's need to go back and look after his father who appeared perfectly well capable of doing that himself, thus allowing Andy free reign to gad about willy nilly!
There are twists and turns aplenty and more than a healthy dollop of duplicitous behaviour to be found herein. We also have a very eclectic mix of characters who were all well drawn and easy to connect with in some way. I especially liked that Andy was an author and kept referring to his writing in more than humorous observational ways. Plotting was good and kept me on my toes throughout. And the ending when it came, made perfect sense and wrapped things up nicely.
All in all, another winner from an author already on my watch list. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Lynda Kelly

Some Repetition Irritated Me

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 16, 2022

Verified Purchase

This was my Kindle First pick of the month in March. I hadn't happened upon this author before but understand he writes books in genres that wouldn't usually appeal to me. This story kept my interest but I almost packed it in more than once or twice because of some repetition I was getting cheesed off with coming across.
He has written some nice characters who were very likeable people in the main. There are also some moments that had me chuckling along to myself. I had wondered all the way through how old Andy was and this was never revealed till we are 85% in, however...I finally figured he is 34 in case anyone else is wondering.
The one thing that REALLY got my back up was hearing how many times Andy was feeling sick or nauseous.....it is mentioned a LOT !! It's 'like he has vomit on the brain' was a note I made only 34% into it. Chardonnay-glazed needed to be written like this, too. Every time he wrote farmers market he dropped the apostrophe, too-something else that had me gritting my teeth in frustration.
As I say, the story is interesting and I read it quickly but I'm not sure I'd rush to buy another by him.

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