An underrated gem of a thriller (Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea)

I'm super picky about my thrillers...here's one that stands out from the pack!

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 // Elizabeth Barnhill (@wacoreads on Instagram) never fails to recommend the best thrillers, ones that don't feel like all the others. Twenty Years Later was included in The Best of the Rest List that comes along with Currently Reading Podcast's January Indie Press List (which Elizabeth and Fabled Bookshop curated). ⁠

It opens with a crime scene where a man’s naked body is hanging off the balcony of a massive mansion in the Catskills…with what appear to be whip marks across his butt. We then skip to 20 years later, when new DNA technology enables authorities to identify their first 9/11 victim based solely off of tiny bone fragments…and, that victim is the person who was accused of murdering the man hanging from the balcony 20 years ago. Avery Mason, the new host of a hit TV newsmagazine show, decides to pursue this story for her show…and uncovers far more than she expected.⁠

There is a LOT going on in this book (particularly with character introduction at the beginning) and it takes a bit of patience to get into, but it is TOTALLY worth it! The beginning is a slow burn, but the last quarter or so reads like a true thriller. ⁠

The 9/11 DNA technology element was fascinating and used really well in this story. It made me feel like I was learning something about history while reading a thriller.

Finally, I absolutely loved the ending and stayed up past midnight to finish the last 25%, something I rarely do.⁠

Who here is super picky about their thrillers?