Matt WittenBesprekingen

The Necklace by Matt Witten

Susan Lentigo is setting out on a journey from the Adirondacks to North Dakota to witness the execution of the man who raped and murdered Amy, her young daughter, twenty years ago.

Susan and Amy made a necklace with colorful beads just days before the murder. Amy loved the necklace and wore it constantly, vowing to never take it off. The convicted murderer, a man Susan calls The Monster, had confessed to the crime. While there was an admission of guilt Amy's necklace was never found.

Susan’s trip starts badly. She abandons plans of driving her old car and must take a bus. She meets some friendly people, others not so. Money is lost, hope nearly is. Susan is focused on one goal, and that is to get to North Dakota in time for the execution.

With little else to do on her bus ride, Susan thinks about the days surrounding the murder. Conversations with police and FBI investigators, neighbors, family, and friends are revisited. The missing necklace is always on her mind.

Despite herself, Susan begins to wonder if The Monster is truly responsible for Amy’s murder. The closer she gets to North Dakota and the execution, the more doubt she has.

I enjoyed the book, and the latter half was simply unputdownable. Several times I felt as if I were watching a slow-motion crash. I couldn’t look away, even though the suspense in a couple spots was palpable.

3.5 stars - As a parent, this book was very hard to read. My heart shattered for Susan (the main character)!! The cover is absolutely brilliant, and fits the book perfectly. I think the only thing that could be improved upon would be an explanation on how Susan forgave her mother's voicemail.

The whole 'travelling to the execution' was stressful!! (Why didn't Susan have an emergency credit card or something?)

All in all, a good read, I think the book was the perfect length!

I love that the story alternates between the present and the past. It keeps you engaged throughout the story as you learn tidbits from each timeline to help you piece together what happened. I liked the cover before I read this book and I absolutely love it now that I have finished the book. The cover becomes much more sinister once you know the whole story. I thought the a-ha moment that Susan had was written really well. You can see Susan making the connections and putting the pieces together. Looking forward to reading more of Matt's books in the future.

Loved, Loved, Loved this book! I didn't read the blurb or any reviews about it prior to starting it so I had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of this super natural world. I LOVE the authors depiction of all the different creatures so to speak, especially her vampires. Just how I would imagine vampires to be in they were real. The storyline was well layout and gave the right amount of suspense for me. My only complaint is that Diana was a little too accomplished education/career wise for it to be believable for me I guess, but it could be wound that that some of it came from subconscious witchcraft within her. Not holding it against the overall book, just stood out while reading. Can't wait to read the next in the series.

Killer Story by Matt Witten is a highly recommended mystery about a journalist searching for the truth behind a murder.

Petra Kovach, is a young reporter who has been laid off several times and is about to be let go again when she pitches a story to her editor. She claims to have sensational inside undisclosed information about the murder of Olivia (Livvy) Anderson. Petra was a counselor at a journalism camp Olivia attended when she was 14 and the two kept in touch. Olivia became a successful podcaster while at Harvard and was killed. The professor tried for the crime was acquitted, so the real killer was never found. When Petra ran into Olivia's brother, Eric, one night he intimated that he had knowledge that the police didn't know.

Although Petra didn't have any new information, she claims she does in order to keep her job. Her bravado over the claim of new material concerning the unsolved murder is now to be a series presented as both a podcast and in print. She desperately searches for new clues and ends up betraying confidences and her integrity. This lack of principles is rampant among the journalists. Is Petra really looking for justice for Olivia or is she more interested in advancing her career?

It is clear that Petra so desperately wants to succeed as a journalist that she will quickly set aside any professional ethics. It may present itself as a story about searching for justice, but it is really a story about how low Petra will go to get the next sensational story. This is what makes the story compelling, but it isn't really shocking. Despite journalist claiming they have standards, it is obvious that many would do the same thing Petra did, set principles and legalities aside to get a sensational story out that will result in more clicks, views, and downloads.

Due to her actions, Petra is an unlikable, flawed character. As the narrative unfolds, Petra actions reflect her mindset. She becomes more concerned with each sensational new revelation and the clicks it will get as she increasingly sets aside ethics while framing it all as "justice for Olivia" rather than the more truthful "career for Petra."

The twists and the direction of the investigation aren't surprising. What kept me immersed in the story was following Petra's increasingly competitive and the-ends-justify-the-means attitude. I kept wondering just how low she would go before she realized what she was doing, and how the ethics of all the journalists seemed to be tossed out the window for the clicks. And then, yeah, solving the murder mystery and learning who really killed Olivia.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/01/killer-story.html

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader along with a Q&A with the author (who had some great answers).
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WHAT'S KILLER STORY ABOUT?
While studying journalism in school, Petra acted as a counselor for a high school journalism camp. In that role, she met and befriended a young girl named Livvy Anderson. Over the years since then, the two forged a strong friendship—almost like sisters. At some point though, the relationship faltered—in college, Livvy started posting videos online spouting (in Petra's view) extreme right-wing politics, hateful speech, and the like. For example, she defended a star football player accused of raping a woman on campus by trashing her reputation and exposing personal details. Rather than pushing back or even arguing with her friend, Petra chilled communication, assuming it was a phase, and focused on her own work.

And it might have been a phase if Livvy hadn't been killed. The murder was fairly sensational—it happened while Livvy was recording a video (but she paused the recording so no one saw it or the murderer). The accused killer was acquitted—and most of the country (including Petra) assumed it was a travesty of justice and that he got away with it. The Court of Public Opinion definitely found him guilty.

Years later, Petra has found herself (like most young print journalists) bouncing around from newspaper to newspaper, trying to stay employed. She's now at a major Boston newspaper and thinks that life is stable—the subjects of her stories might not be that glamorous, but she's working, and the big story is around the corner.

Until she's laid off. She panics at this point—her boyfriend (who moved cross-country with her for this job, changing the course of his career) isn't going to put up with the lack of stability much longer, and it's going to only get harder getting a job at the rate she's going. So she throws out a mad pitch to her editor—what if she could definitively prove who killed Olivia Anderson? She tells him this story isn't just the kind of thing for the paper—it'd make a great podcast.

Visions of the kind of revenue that Serial and similar podcasts could bring to the paper, not to mention the publicity of this kind of story, he gives her two weeks to firm up the story, start producing the podcast, and they'll see what happens.

Petra heads off to find the evidence she pretended to have during that meeting—and hopefully much more.

THE JOURNALISM OF THIS NOVEL
I've talked before about how I'm a sucker for a novel about a driven journalist—typically a print journalist, too. I'm always ready, willing, and able to embrace and fall into the romance of the crusading reporter. Or just one who does the job well, without a crusade.

But those kinds of stories are getting harder to tell and to believe in our current media landscape. Not just because print journalism is dying (for worse or for worser). It's definitely not the track that Witten takes here. Petra is desperate and acts desperately—she lies to her editor at every turn, overstating her case and the evidence she has at each step of the way. Almost every fictional reporter* cuts a corner here and there and bends a rule and the truth in pursuit of the story and/or the truth. Even thosPetra amputates corners and forces the truth about her actions into positions only the most experienced yogi can handle—at least when it comes to what she tells her editor, coworkers, the police, her boyfriend, and so on.

* Lawyers, please note that I'm not saying anything about the methods of actual reporters or the companies they work for. Please don't sue me.

When it comes to her actual reporting, however—in print, podcast, and elsewhere—Petra is much more honest. Bowing to editorial pressure she may say something earlier than she should* and while she never lies, she sure edges close to it. Her scripts feature incredibly well-chosen words—true, but open to interpretation.

* There are a few hundred words I could write about other journalistic ethical moves here, but I'd be getting sidetracked.

The journalism—both in print and in the podcast—we see here is very likely what fills our screens and earbuds. It's sensationalistic, click-driven, and not necessarily all that honest. It's depressing to think about, and it's not great to read about if you think about it in those terms—but it makes for a thrilling (and realistic) read. Still, I think I need to go watch Deadline – U.S.A. or something to restore my faith in humanity.

THE ALT-RIGHT DEPICTION
Thanks to Livvy's online persona, even now, she has a good number of fans. Many of those fans are not happy about Petra's podcast—and make that displeasure well known online. At least one goes further than that. Between them and Livvy's videos (and other online activities), Witten has to walk a careful line—he needs to depict them in an honest and believable way without turning them into a convenient punching bag for a reader or character to spend a lot of time venting about their politics (perhaps even himself). Or, to go in the other direction, too.

I really appreciated the restraint he showed in this regard, it'd be easy to slip here, but on the whole, he simply reports on the views espoused—sure, it's clear that Petra and her colleagues (and many of the witnesses that talk about it) disagree with Livvy and her fans/defenders, but with only one exception, we don't get details their differences with the alt-right views.

That exception comes from Petra having to do a deep dive into their activities and to try to interact—so it comes about organically. Even then, Witten doesn't let Petra go too far.

I mention this to say that readers shouldn't let the politics involved in the book dissuade them—it's there, but it's just part of the atmosphere. And it's fairly evenly handled, and I can't imagine many readers having a problem with it.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT KILLER STORY?
Early on in the novel, I made assumptions (as you do) about the kind of story that Witten was telling and what kind of things the reader should expect from the plot and characters. I was wrong on just about every point. It was a very different kind of story, the characters ended up going in directions I wouldn't have guessed (Petra's editor, boyfriend, and best friend were probably the exceptions to this), and every theory I had about the killing was wrong.* And the result is a richer, deeper, and more satisfying novel than what I thought I was going to get (and I anticipated this being a good one!).

* Well, almost. I did have the motive and killer right for a chapter or two, but Witten and Petra got me off of that path.

Witten's story in last year's Jacked was one of the higher points in a collection full of high points, and this novel solidified my appreciation for his writing. Before I got to the point where I realized that the novel wasn't telling the story that I thought it was and shifted my expectations, I spent a good deal of time not liking the book—but I couldn't stop reading it or thinking and talking about it when I wasn't reading it. It was just too well done. It got under my skin. Actually, it's still there—I can't stop thinking about Petra and her choices. I even emailed Witten to ask a couple of questions I had about some points—points that I think the reader could have divergent opinions on, but I wanted his authorial take on it. I've never done this before. But I had to know—and even having his take on them, I'm chewing on it.

I'm going to be haunted by Killer Story for a bit—in the best way. If you're looking for a mystery you can sink your teeth into and chew on, look no further.

This book had a slow build, but once it took off, I did not want to put it down—intense, suspenseful, heart-pounding. I was holding my breath at times.

Susan Lentigo’s seven-year-old daughter Amy was raped and murdered twenty years ago., and now she is on her way from upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the convicted killer’s execution. Her road trip does not go smoothly., as along the way, her car breaks down and her money is stolen. I thought the road trip portion of the book was really interesting as it revealed what a courageous, determined woman Susan was. I was emotionally invested in this character.

While on this journey, Susan discovers something that makes her seriously doubt the guilt of the convicted man. And if her hunch is right, another little girl may be in danger. But the clock is ticking. The execution is only hours away. And this would mean that the real killer is free. Limited in funds and time, can she stop the execution?

There are amazing secondary characters that help Susan in her quest – a sarcastic teenager and the retired FBI agent that worked the initial case.

The book goes inside the prison, inside the death chamber. The final words of the convicted killer (who has always maintained that he is innocent) and the emotions of his sister are heartfelt. What could have been very dark is expressed in a realistic manner.

The ending of the book is shocking and satisfying. Overall, an extremely well-written book. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Oceanview Publishing for the review copy. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Matt Witten did it again with this nail biting thriller. We are in the era of the podcast. True Crime and Murder Mysteries reign supreme. But just how far are the creators willing to go for content?

Petra gives us an in depth and behind the scenes account of the volatile world of journalism. You will see just how blurred the lines can become chasing your next piece of evidence for the latest episode.

This story seriously had me doubling back, rereading chapters and scratching my head with every turn of the page. The moment you think you’ve figured it out you’re right back to square one.

This is one will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you looking at podcasters and journalists in a whole new light. Prepare for one hell of an ending!

Due to some stand-out writing by Matt Witten and some excellent narration by Harley Jane Kozak, The Necklace turned out to be a story that kept me cheering for Susan Lentigo's ultimate success. Susan's voice drew me right into the heart of the story and never turned me loose. This woman's life slammed into a brick wall twenty years ago when her seven-year-old daughter was raped and murdered, and she's never wanted to recover from it. She expects nothing from life, and your heart aches for her as she relives her memories of life with her little girl.

This story puts its foot on the gas and never lets up as Susan begins her journey to a North Dakota prison. Readers experience the trauma she and her husband suffered twenty years ago, and while we can see how the shock and indescribable pain sometimes made Susan overreact to situations, I for one never doubted her when she learned of the real killer's identity.

What added strength and veracity to the story was the addition of the two people who believed Susan. One, a rebellious teenage girl who recognized in Susan the parent she wanted (and deserved) but didn't have, and the other, the retired cop who made the original arrest and wound up putting an innocent man behind bars. When you've got a trio of characters like these who are willing to fight against the odds, you've got one dynamite story and one emotionally-charged ending nothing will stop you from reading.

I want to thank the person who recommended The Necklace to me. I'm certainly going to be on the lookout for more of Matt Witten's writing.½

The Necklace by Matt Witten has left me astounded and breathless and although the novel deals with extremely difficult subject matter, it is well-worth the time to read it. The story alternates between two periods of time: twenty years ago when Susan Lentigo’s daughter is murdered and in the present day when she goes on a road trip from New York and North Dakota to witness the execution of the convicted murderer. Not much more can be revealed about the content so you must read the book yourself to discover a storyline like no other. The tension increases chapter by chapter. The author, Matt Witten, is a screenwriter and TV writer and therefore it would be easy to imagine this as a movie. The characters are good and bad and some both at the same time. They are interesting, sympathetic, cruel and devoted, providing the reader with a broad range of emotions. And, even when the reader begin to grasp the denouement of the mystery, there are unexpected developments galore. The Necklace will remain as one of my favorite mysteries this year. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Highly recommended. Thank you to Oceanview Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC The Necklace by Matt Witten has left me astounded and breathless and although the novel deals with extremely difficult subject matter, it is well-worth the time to read it. The story alternates between two periods of time: twenty years ago when Susan Lentigo’s daughter is murdered and in the present day when she goes on a road trip from New York and North Dakota to witness the execution of the convicted murderer. Not much more can be revealed about the content so you must read the book yourself to discover a storyline like no other. The tension increases chapter by chapter. The author, Matt Witten, is a screenwriter and TV writer and therefore it would be easy to imagine this as a movie. The characters are good and bad and some both at the same time. They are interesting, sympathetic, cruel and devoted, providing the reader with a broad range of emotions. And, even when the reader begins to grasp the denouement of the mystery, there are unexpected developments galore. The Necklace will remain as one of my favorite mysteries this year. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Highly recommended. Thank you to Oceanview Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“The Necklace” is Susan Lentigo’s story from start to finish. The narrative alternates between Lentigo’s current dilemmas and the vicious events from twenty years ago. Lentigo’s daughter was brutally murdered, and that trauma continues to haunt her. She is on her way to witness the execution of the monster who murdered her child.

Lentigo is a troubled character; it is a miracle that she has made it twenty years. She lives on the edge of disaster and appears to have no common sense. However, she does have friends who definitely care for her. She should elicit sympathy and compassion, but her entire existence is like a four-car wreck on the freeway with the accompanying police cars, ambulances, and firetrucks. You know what happened and how dreadful it all is; you don’t want to think about it, but you just have to look as you drive past.

The plot is designed to evoke tension and emotion leading to a very melodramatic climax. There are plenty of unusual encounters and many unbelievable coincidences along the way to that extremely dramatic ending, but to me, the events were almost anticipated, and the end was actually predictable. I am sure many people will love the cinematic drama and the calamities that define Susan Lentigo, but I just could not get past her unbelievable ineptitude and incredibly coarse vocabulary. (I just feel there is more to be said than F*#*) I was given a review copy of “The Necklace” by Matt Witten and Oceanview Publishing.

Read it and decide for yourself.

Susan’s young daughter was murdered years ago. The man accused of her murder is now about to be put to death. Susan is determined to see it through. However, as she travels to his execution, she comes across some new information. The accused may be innocent. Susan must do everything she can to correct this. An innocent man is about to die and this is not going to happen on her watch.

Susan is a character which tore at my heart. She lost her daughter then she lost her marriage. She has struggled to just go on with her life. But, she cannot let go of her daughter. The key to this case is a necklace. It is just a necklace of cheap beads. But they made it together and her daughter was wearing it the day she died. And the necklace has never been found.

While on her trip to the execution, Susan discovers something about the necklace. And it is not what you expect. You will have to read this to find out!

This definitely would make a great movie. It is intense and alarming in places.

Need a quick, fierce read….oh boy! YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS ONE! Grab your copy today.

The Necklace by Matt Witten is a recommended thriller.

The narrative follows Susan Lentigo currently and twenty years ago. The novel opens during a fund raising event for Susan. Twenty years ago, soon after they bought the beads to make a necklace together, Susan’s seven-year-old daughter Amy was murdered. Now the man who was convicted of her death is going to be executed and Susan is planning to travel in her dilapidated car from Upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the execution. Her neighbors and friends in her close knit community have donated money to help her get to North Dakota. Susan has never recovered from the death of her daughter. When she discovers a clue involving the necklace Amy made twenty years earlier, the search is on to find more information and the real killer before another young girl is killed.

While your sympathy is with Susan, she is also her worst enemy. She seems emotionally unstable, foolhardy, rude, and quick to anger. She makes several poor, inexplicable choices that are inconceivable and detract from the plot. The clues she is following and her interactions with others aren't entirely believable. The plot will capture your interest, however, in spite of Susan's character. The search for clues and several fortuitous incidents help Susan find the information about who could be the real killer and get her to North Dakota where she finds the FBI agent she worked with twenty years ago and seeks his help.

The plot is easy to follow and read quickly in both timelines, and the switching back and forth in time works in the novel. Susan's search for the truth will grab your attention and even though many of her trials during the trip are a result of her own poor choices, you will still want her to find closure and hope she finds some sense of peace. Once she actually arrives in North Dakota the sense of danger increases. While the ultimate denouement is satisfying, it is not a shocking surprise. 3.5

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/09/the-necklace.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4237762536½

Twenty years after the murder of her daughter, the man who murdered her seven-year-old daughter will be put to death.

Susan is on her way to the execution and begins to panic because something she saw may prove that this man is innocent and the real killer is still out there.

Could she be correct, though? All the evidence pointed to him, so how could the wrong man have been in jail all these years?

Susan did not have a smooth trip so maybe she is just imagining what she saw. Her money was stolen, her car broke down, and she isn't sure she will make it in time to save this man.

We re-live the nightmare of the trial as well as present day.

Mr. Witten’s writing style flowed smoothly, and the story line kept my interest even though the book was tense with some upsetting situations.

You will be with Susan and feel her anxiety and her questioning herself about if she is right.

A nice twist at the end. 5/5

This book was given to me by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story in a few words:

A small town waitress, Susan Lentigo, sets out on a road trip to North Dakota to witness the execution of the man who killed her daughter twenty years ago. This is a heart-pounding crusade for justice and as the clock ticks down on Curt Jansen`s life we follow Susan on a journey towards the inevitable. Along the way she meets people pulling her out of multiple predicaments she faced.... especially meeting her ex and the retired cop who made the original arrest.... Janson always maintained he was innocent, now at the last hours Susan wonders if they have the right man behind bars and pinpoints all her energy on finding the truth.

My thoughts:

This story if very predicable I easily pictured what was coming long before I read it. Haven said this, Mr. Witten has nevertheless written a very suspenseful and captivating drama I enjoyed quite a bit. We follow two timelines: one set twenty years ago, when the crime occurred. The second timeline is present day when Jansen is days from being executed.

“The necklace” is a fast-paced thriller hard to put down and is told from the point of view of Susan. The writing style is very direct no flowery language to slow down the prose. Even with its dark and dreary subject matter the story is not a depressing read. Susan character is multi-layered and human. She makes mistakes and takes risks; it is so easy for us to root for her all the way.

The necklace plays a key part of the plot and why is this simple piece of beaded jewellery made by Susan and worn by the daughter just days before her murder so special.....the simple answer: the necklace was never found during the investigation....an intrigue that follows us till the very end.

Although this story is a fiction, the author has based some parts on different events and people and had made a true page-turner with few twists to derailed most of us.

This is a good read I enjoyed passing time with.

I wish to thank Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A missing child, a parents worst nightmare. The search for truth and the heartbreak that follows.

This is such a gripping novel. It puts you right in the shoes of the mother. The pain, the unanswered questions.

This was by far the best thriller I have read in a long time. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Such a well written story.

Jacob Burns is a screenwriter who made it big with a screenplay about gas killing people in San Francisco. Although not terribly proud of the movie he is enjoying the big bucks the movie brought him. However, he is now a bit blocked as a writer. When a fellow writer/artist dies at his feet he does some amazing things to try and find out who killed "the Penn".

There is a great cast of characters and Jacob and his family are a lot of fun. As a first novel it is very well done. There are some minor "nits" I could pick but all in all it was a satisfying read. I'll probably be reading more.

This is a very good and fast read.