Someone Knows, the debut thriller from New York Times bestselling author Vi Keeland, is a gripping tale full of twists that had me guessing until the very last page. Not knowing what to expect from a romance author, Someone Knows was a pleasant surprise.
As a college English professor, Elizabeth looks forward to the start of each new semester teaching her creative writing seminar. At least until she reads chapter one of The Reckoning, a tale about a high school senior who has an affair with her teacher. To anyone else it would be the beginning of a great page-turner, but to Elizabeth it is the beginning of the end.
She knows this story. It’s all familiar because she lived it. The girl in the story was her best friend Jocelyn, and Elizabeth knows exactly how the story will end—with the professor dead. Because she was the one who killed him.
Someone knows what Elizabeth did twenty years ago and her secret is about to be exposed, but who is the mystery student submitting the chapters? In an effort to find out, Elizabeth returns to her Louisiana hometown where it soon becomes clear that no matter how many years have gone by, she can’t escape her past.
To be honest, this novel by Vi Keeland wasn’t even on my radar until I received an email from Atria Books. Knowing my reading preferences and having collaborated with them on a beer surrounding Daniel Kraus‘ Whalefall, the Atria team suggested I might enjoy this debut thriller from Keeland. They were correct in their assumption as Someone Knows turned out to be a fast-paced, twisty thriller that had me furiously turning each page to see where the hell the book was headed.
The first few chapters I read at my normal reading pace, but midway through, I found myself racing toward the conclusion to see where Keeland would take Elizabeth and how the story would unfold. I consumed the final 40% in one sitting. Keeland has a great ability to craft each chapter to force you into the next that makes it impossible to put the book down.
Elizabeth is a deeply compelling character in which I could not help but feel for as the story unfolds. She has suffered through some significant stressors in her life, including family drama and alcoholism as well as unresolved trauma buried deep in her memory. It was hard not to connect with her on a personal level and root for her journey to end on a positive note. While the supporting cast that Elizabeth encounters are well-developed and add depth to the story, it’s Elizabeth herself who steals the show for sure.
As a romance novelist, Keeland does include a bit of spiciness to Someone Knows, which longtime fans of her work are sure to appreciate. However, as someone who is indifferent to such moments, these spicy moments did not significantly add the overall story.
Someone Knows is an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride packed with unexpected twists. Vi Keeland makes a strong debut in the thriller genre, delivering a novel that hooks you from the outset and feverishly pushes you toward the end. Someone Knows is perfect for those romance fans who want a bit more thrill in their novel as well as those thriller fans looking for a bit of spice.
Someone Knows hits bookstores everywhere on June 17, 2025 from Atria Books. The audiobook is available for pre-order at Libro.fm!
