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blueskyvibes1point0's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I received one word as an arc audiobook through NetGalley. I have not been paid for my opinion, and my opinion is honest.
In "One Wrong Word," crisis management expert Arden Ward faces a personal crisis when she is falsely accused of an affair with a powerful client. With her career and reputation on the line, she's given two weeks to salvage her future. Enter Cordelia Bannister, seeking Arden's help for her husband Ned, a real estate mogul whose reputation is tarnished by a fatal drunk driving accident. As Arden dives into the case, she uncovers unsettling truths, leading her to question if she's protecting a killer.
Rating:
1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 3/5 While I found the story well plotted and engaging, I believe it could have been a tad shorter, and unfortunately, I was able to predict the plot twist correctly, which was disappointing.
2. **Characterization:** 5/5 The characters were beautifully crafted, and it was gratifying to witness their development throughout the book.
3. **Writing Style:** 4/5 I thoroughly enjoyed it and eagerly anticipate their next book.
4. **Originality:** 5/5 This book felt refreshingly original, unlike anything I've encountered before.
5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 3/5 While the book didn’t deeply resonate with me emotionally, it did evoke some feelings, and I appreciated the well-wrapped-up ending.
6. **Narrator Emotion and Tone:** 4/5 I'd rate Gail Shalan's narration a 4 out of 5. She effectively conveyed the book's emotions, enhancing the overall experience.
7. **Narrator Character Differentiation:** 3/5 While the characters were distinguishable, I felt there could have been more effort to give each one a unique voice.
8. **Narrator Pacing and Flow:** 5/5 The book maintained a steady pace, and the narration flowed seamlessly.
9. **Audio Quality:** 5/5 The audio quality was exceptional, as expected from Macmillan Audio.
10. **Additional Audiobook Elements:** N/A. I didn’t notice any extra audio effects in this book.
Overall score: 4.11/5
If you enjoyed this book I’d recommend “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng.
samalvarez823's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
“Money. Money and greed. And making the world be the way you wanted it to be. But she, Monelle Churchwood, wanted the world a different way. She wanted justice.”
This is a story about a man’s innocence or possibly lack there of. A story of a man not being convicted of a death and all the ramifications that come after that. Is he guilty or was he framed. Can his new crisis management expert, Arden, help he and his family return to their lives after the judgement is handed down? Or will fate intervene and keep convicting them?
I have to be honest here, I began really reading this yesterday during my lunch break – I made it to about 17% in AND it sucked me in! I got home and had to keep reading until I finished it shortly before 2am. It was SO good and really that’s no surprise for me. Hank is truly a wonderfully gifted writer. She exudes mystery, suspense and thrills in just one page. She knows how to bring you into her stories and keep you intrigued. I loved it and that’s why I’m giving it five stars!
lutztn's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
randina's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
kaitlinlaughlin's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Arden, a crisis management expert, is falsely accused of having an affair with a powerful client which leads to her last case with her current employer. Arden loves helping people and knows the ins and outs of how important public perception is. Arden’s last case comes when Cordelia Bannister asks specifically for Ardens help. Cordelia’s husband, Ned, has recently been acquitted in a drunk driving accident which claimed a life. The court of public opinion has sided against them, even after he was acquitted. Arden sets out to find out what really happened that night. Who can you trust? Who’s telling the truth? This book took place in just a few days. It’s not particularly in action packed story but it was such a mystery with an ending I didn’t see coming. Nothing is what it seems.
I received the audio book version. The narrator was okay. Her voice was a little monotone and she didn’t have multiple voices for different characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio arc of One Wrong Word!!
I received the audio book version. The narrator was okay. Her voice was a little monotone and she didn’t have multiple voices for different characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio arc of One Wrong Word!!
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
4.0
This is one wild and twisty ride from start to finish and I devoured it in a day! I have come to expect this type of complex thriller from this author and her latest stand-alone novel did not disappoint. The novel centers around Arden Ward, a crisis manager who seems to be at the top of her game when she finds herself in her own crisis that threatens to derail her career and tarnish her reputation. The wife of a high-power client informs Arden's boss that she suspects the relationship Arden has with her husband is more than professional. Arden's boss gives her an ultimatum to save her reputation and let her gracefully and quietly exit the firm, even though the charges are unfounded. Finding herself into a no-win situation, Arden relents and agrees to try and help one last client, Claudia Bannister, who is trying to repair her husband Ned's reputation following a fatal drunk driving incident. Ned was acquitted but the fallout is impacting the entire family's lives and Claudia is desperate to reclaim the life she, Ned, and their children had before the trial. As Arden begins to help Claudia and Ned rebuild, a second fatal car crash thrusts the family back into the spotlight and causes Arden to question whether she is protecting a killer.
The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Arden, Claudia, and District Attorney Monelle Churchwood, who was the lead counsel on Ned's prosecution. I liked seeing the story from multiple angles and the fact it was told through a totally female lens. The story's pacing was excellent and while I had suspicions about who might be behind things, I was completely stumped about the possible motivations and the why. When everything was ultimately revealed, I was surprised (in the best possible way) but felt like the clues had been laid out perfectly and strategically along the way. I loved seeing how everything was pulled together and how all of the small pieces of the puzzle ultimately came together. It was a riveting, complex tale from start to finish -- and an extremely satisfying read!
Many thanks to Forge Books and Hank Phillippi Ryan for providing a NetGalley copy of this novel and for the chance to be a Super Reader again.
The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Arden, Claudia, and District Attorney Monelle Churchwood, who was the lead counsel on Ned's prosecution. I liked seeing the story from multiple angles and the fact it was told through a totally female lens. The story's pacing was excellent and while I had suspicions about who might be behind things, I was completely stumped about the possible motivations and the why. When everything was ultimately revealed, I was surprised (in the best possible way) but felt like the clues had been laid out perfectly and strategically along the way. I loved seeing how everything was pulled together and how all of the small pieces of the puzzle ultimately came together. It was a riveting, complex tale from start to finish -- and an extremely satisfying read!
Many thanks to Forge Books and Hank Phillippi Ryan for providing a NetGalley copy of this novel and for the chance to be a Super Reader again.
cheri325's review against another edition
3.75
Arden award is a crisis manager. But facing her own crisis, through helping one last client, might be more than she can handle.
This is a quick, entertaining popcorn thriller. I enjoyed it.
This is a quick, entertaining popcorn thriller. I enjoyed it.
marvsbooks's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this domestic suspense! Set in Boston, it’s clear the author has either done her research or has lived here. All of the little commentary notes about the setting are so on point…one that really stuck out was the trip up route 2 past MCI Concord…and how a stoplight came out of nowhere. I was cracking up because we’ve totally gotten stopped by it more than once.
Following MC Arden as she gets fired from her crisis management position, while she manages one final situation before leaving the firm, this book was a game of cat and mouse. We know all along that Arden is getting thrown into something…but seeing all the pieces come together was fantastic. I wasn’t completely shocked by the twists, but they were surprising.
All in, another solid novel from a wonderfully crafty author.
Following MC Arden as she gets fired from her crisis management position, while she manages one final situation before leaving the firm, this book was a game of cat and mouse. We know all along that Arden is getting thrown into something…but seeing all the pieces come together was fantastic. I wasn’t completely shocked by the twists, but they were surprising.
All in, another solid novel from a wonderfully crafty author.