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cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
I have enjoyed so many of Phillippi Ryan's thrillers and this one is very entertaining. The main character is a public relations advisor that helps her clients with crisis management. I loved the premise of having a PR advisor as the main character. Arden Ward is falsely accused of sleeping with a client, but her boss gives her one last assignment to help salvage her professional reputation. She is asked to assist the wife of a successful man recently acquitted for vehicular homicide deal with the fallout from his sensational case.
The story is interesting, but bogs down somewhat in the middle. Arden's efforts seem to go in circles as she tries to get to the truth of what really happened in the original incident as well as current threats that are putting her clients and herself in danger. I couldn't figure out all the twists and turns in this book, but I was able to figure out a big part of it. I was surprised the savvy Arden didn't see through one person's lies. Overall, One Wrong Word is an entertaining book with a strong finish, making up for some of the slower portions of the story.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from Tor Publishing Group and Forge Books, My review was voluntary and unbiased.
danubooks's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A crisis management expert needs to use her skills to salvage her own reputation.
If you have said the wrong thing on a hot mic, been caught in a compromising position, or just fallen victim to a vicious rumor, then Arden Ward is the person to whom you should turn. She is a public relations professional whose expertise is in tamping down bad press and ramping up the positive spin. Arden never suspected that she would find herself being let go when the wife of her firm’s most important client accuses her of having an affair with the husband Arden knows that there is no truth to the claim, and her boss knows it too….but money talks, and the client represents a lot of it for the firm. To cushion the blow, Arden’s boss offers her the chance to do one last job in return for a healthy commission and a good recommendation from him. Arden is more than clever enough to know that if she says no to the assignment she will also be ensuring that she gets a lousy recommendation, so she reluctantly agrees. Her new client turns out to be Cordelia Bannister, the wife of a man who has just been acquitted in a fatal hit and run accident. While Ned, the husband, was in fact found not guilty of driving while intoxicated and of vehicular manslaughter for the death of the skateboarder who died when hit by the car Ned was driving, public opinion is still running high against Ned, Cordelia and their two young children. Cordelia wants their lives to go back to normal, and to quiet those saying that Ned was drunk at the time of the accident and that he got off scot free because he is a wealthy and very successful real estate executive. She also suspects that Ned is hiding something from her, but isn’t sure what it is. Arden meets with Cordelia, and then with Ned (who isn’t so sure that he needs someone like Arden) to discuss what can be done to erase the moniker, “The Parking Garage Killer” and make the hashtag #skated disappear from social media. Arden gets a strange feeling from the pair, thinking perhaps there is more wrong with the marriage than just the rough period they’ve just endured. She sets to work and is starting to make some progress when the unimaginable happens. Ned’s attorney Nyomi Chang is critically injured in a hit and run when she is on her way to meet Ned (and just after leaving a meeting with Arden). The prosecuting attorney, still furious that she failed to get a conviction against Ned, is convinced that he is behind Nyomi’s accident as well. Is even Arden good enough to salvage the Bannisters’ reputation after this latest wrinkle? What exactly is going on behind closed doors with Ned and Cordelia? The couple seems to be harboring secrets both from one another and from Arden. If Arden can pull this off, she may be able to salvage her career….but her life as well as her livelihood may now hang in the balance, because someone seems to want to destroy Ned Bannister at all costs.
One Wrong Word gives the reader a taste of what it must feel like when the truth of a situation doesn’t really matter because the public has decided on a different narrative. Arden is a sympathetic character, if a bit naive given her chosen occupation. Cordelia and Ned make for an interesting if slippery pair, and it was hard to decide if they were innocent but wronged or if one or both of them know more about what happened on the night of the accident than they are telling. With a furious prosecutor determined to see justice done and members of the wealthy and influential circle in which the Bannisters socialize having connections to the night in question, there is no shortage of suspects or of motives. Expect some plot twists and don’t trust anyone….finding out who done it (and why) will keep you busy right up until the last pages of the book. A fun read, all in all. Fans of Hank Phillippi Ryan’s previous books will likely enjoy this addition to her roster as well, and readers of Kate White, Allison Brennan and B. A Paris should give it a try. Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Forge Books for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of One Wrong Word in exchange for my honest review.
If you have said the wrong thing on a hot mic, been caught in a compromising position, or just fallen victim to a vicious rumor, then Arden Ward is the person to whom you should turn. She is a public relations professional whose expertise is in tamping down bad press and ramping up the positive spin. Arden never suspected that she would find herself being let go when the wife of her firm’s most important client accuses her of having an affair with the husband Arden knows that there is no truth to the claim, and her boss knows it too….but money talks, and the client represents a lot of it for the firm. To cushion the blow, Arden’s boss offers her the chance to do one last job in return for a healthy commission and a good recommendation from him. Arden is more than clever enough to know that if she says no to the assignment she will also be ensuring that she gets a lousy recommendation, so she reluctantly agrees. Her new client turns out to be Cordelia Bannister, the wife of a man who has just been acquitted in a fatal hit and run accident. While Ned, the husband, was in fact found not guilty of driving while intoxicated and of vehicular manslaughter for the death of the skateboarder who died when hit by the car Ned was driving, public opinion is still running high against Ned, Cordelia and their two young children. Cordelia wants their lives to go back to normal, and to quiet those saying that Ned was drunk at the time of the accident and that he got off scot free because he is a wealthy and very successful real estate executive. She also suspects that Ned is hiding something from her, but isn’t sure what it is. Arden meets with Cordelia, and then with Ned (who isn’t so sure that he needs someone like Arden) to discuss what can be done to erase the moniker, “The Parking Garage Killer” and make the hashtag #skated disappear from social media. Arden gets a strange feeling from the pair, thinking perhaps there is more wrong with the marriage than just the rough period they’ve just endured. She sets to work and is starting to make some progress when the unimaginable happens. Ned’s attorney Nyomi Chang is critically injured in a hit and run when she is on her way to meet Ned (and just after leaving a meeting with Arden). The prosecuting attorney, still furious that she failed to get a conviction against Ned, is convinced that he is behind Nyomi’s accident as well. Is even Arden good enough to salvage the Bannisters’ reputation after this latest wrinkle? What exactly is going on behind closed doors with Ned and Cordelia? The couple seems to be harboring secrets both from one another and from Arden. If Arden can pull this off, she may be able to salvage her career….but her life as well as her livelihood may now hang in the balance, because someone seems to want to destroy Ned Bannister at all costs.
One Wrong Word gives the reader a taste of what it must feel like when the truth of a situation doesn’t really matter because the public has decided on a different narrative. Arden is a sympathetic character, if a bit naive given her chosen occupation. Cordelia and Ned make for an interesting if slippery pair, and it was hard to decide if they were innocent but wronged or if one or both of them know more about what happened on the night of the accident than they are telling. With a furious prosecutor determined to see justice done and members of the wealthy and influential circle in which the Bannisters socialize having connections to the night in question, there is no shortage of suspects or of motives. Expect some plot twists and don’t trust anyone….finding out who done it (and why) will keep you busy right up until the last pages of the book. A fun read, all in all. Fans of Hank Phillippi Ryan’s previous books will likely enjoy this addition to her roster as well, and readers of Kate White, Allison Brennan and B. A Paris should give it a try. Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Forge Books for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of One Wrong Word in exchange for my honest review.
kyletheblindbarista's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
flowersfavouritefiction's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
itsallaboutbooksandmacarons's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
3.5
This book truly captivated me with its unpredictable narrative, consistently maintaining my intrigue. The legal elements not only added depth but also sparked my interest, creating a unique blend of intellectual stimulation and suspenseful storytelling.
The emotional depth portrayed in the narrative, especially in moments of devotion, resonated with my own feelings. However, a bittersweet sadness lingered as I grappled with the intricacies of the unfolding plot, adding a poignant layer to the overall experience.
Amidst the clarity of emotions, the writing style emerged as a beacon, skillfully weaving words that drew me deeper into the story. It left me reflecting on the characters and their journey, turning this book into more than just a read but a memorable exploration of emotions and thoughts.
The emotional depth portrayed in the narrative, especially in moments of devotion, resonated with my own feelings. However, a bittersweet sadness lingered as I grappled with the intricacies of the unfolding plot, adding a poignant layer to the overall experience.
Amidst the clarity of emotions, the writing style emerged as a beacon, skillfully weaving words that drew me deeper into the story. It left me reflecting on the characters and their journey, turning this book into more than just a read but a memorable exploration of emotions and thoughts.
madisonwfairbanks's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
One Wrong Word by Hank Philippi Ryan
Mystery, psychological thriller.
One Wrong Word can ruin your life. Crisis management expert Arden Ward knows that fact a little too well right now. She’s been fired from her job after being unfairly accused of having an affair with a powerful client. Arden agrees to take on an investigation case of Cordelia and Ned Bannister. He’s on trial for murder. Cordelia wants her family protected and the case investigated. Th more Arden searches and analyzes evidence, the more tangles. She has to question if she is also protecting a killer.
Twists and turns, sabotage or lies? The more she untangles, the deeper the threat.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this story, narrated by Gail Shalan. The performance is well done with the mounting tension clearly being heard and felt. There are distinct voices for the three main voices as well as several secondary characters and all are clear and easily followed. The only one not quite believable was the young boy, but it’s a short part. The timing was average to most audiobooks and I ended up listening at 1.5 which is my preferred. This story has only one POV, which makes the audiobook easier to follow. The twists, turns and reveals of the mystery had me backing up a bit twice while listening to clarify a point.
Drama and suspense and twists kept me reading to figure out what really happened.
Overall a wonderful suspenseful read.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
summerbende's review against another edition
3.0
This book was ok. I didn’t really feel there was much going on… kind of a slow burn for me. There were a couple twists in the book, but a lot was predictable. I listened to the audio book. The narration was decent except for when she did the kid voice. It was an interesting story line, but I felt it was a little repetitive.
kyproff's review against another edition
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
minipanda's review
3.0
Cordelia Bannister has hired Arden Ward, a skilled PR crisis management expert, to handle the severe backlash that her husband Ned is currently facing. Ned was recently acquitted of a fatal drunk driving accident, but the public seems to be unconvinced of his innocence. The media have been reporting extensively on the case, and Ned and his wife Cordelia have been subjected to negative attention. Cordelia even received threatening texts and calls.
However, just as Arden begins her work, another car accident connected to Ned occurs, leading to renewed scrutiny. As Arden delves deeper into the case, she is faced with the question of whether Ned was truly innocent in the first accident, or whether there is something more to the story that has yet to be revealed.
I found the book to be decent overall, though I did predict the culprit early on which made the story feel a bit slow at times. Nonetheless, the ending was still satisfying thanks to some unexpected twists. I would recommend this book to fans of mysteries, although it may not be as appealing to those who read mysteries frequently.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
However, just as Arden begins her work, another car accident connected to Ned occurs, leading to renewed scrutiny. As Arden delves deeper into the case, she is faced with the question of whether Ned was truly innocent in the first accident, or whether there is something more to the story that has yet to be revealed.
I found the book to be decent overall, though I did predict the culprit early on which made the story feel a bit slow at times. Nonetheless, the ending was still satisfying thanks to some unexpected twists. I would recommend this book to fans of mysteries, although it may not be as appealing to those who read mysteries frequently.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***