Publication Date: April 16, 2024
From the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of When No One Is Watching comes a riveting thriller about the new caretaker of a historic estate who finds herself trapped on an island with a murderer—and the ghosts of her past.
Years after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder derailed her historical preservationist career, Kenetria Nash and her alters have been given a second chance they can’t refuse: a position as resident caretaker of a historic home. Having been dormant for years, Ken has no idea what led them to this isolated Hudson River island, but she’s determined not to ruin their opportunity.
Then a surprise visit from the home’s conservation trust just as a Nor’easter bears down on the island disrupts her newfound life, leaving Ken trapped with a group of possibly dangerous strangers—including the man who brought her life tumbling down years earlier. When he turns up dead, Ken is the prime suspect.
Caught in a web of secrets and in a race against time, Ken and her alters must band together to prove their innocence and discover the truth of Kavanaugh Island—and their own past—or they risk losing not only their future, but their life.
Kenetria Nash lands a new job as caretaker of an isolated island estate. Under normal circumstances, this might be fantastic news, but for someone who suffers from dissociative identity disorder, it serves as a catalyst for a unique thriller.
Author Alyssa Cole delivers a fresh reading experience with One of Us Knows. Using a journal approach at the beginning of each chapter provides insight into the seven active alter personalities. Kenetria has been inactive for six years, while one of the other personalities had been “fronting.”
Meanwhile, the island has secrets of its own. When a group of estate bigwigs visit the island and are stranded by a storm, Kenetria’s inner struggle takes a back seat to a much bigger issue. All fingers point to her when one of the visitors is found dead—and he is tied to her past.
It’s bad enough to field questions from others, but Kenetria must unravel the secrets being kept by her alters to prove her innocence. The author does an excellent job ensuring that each personality has a distinct voice and mannerisms.
One of Us Knows delivers a thought-provoking psychological thriller that plumbs the depths of the human mind.
Alyssa Cole is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and sci-fi romance. Her contemporary rom-com A Princess in Theory was one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2018, and her books have received critical acclaim from Library Journal, BuzzFeed, Kirkus, Booklist, Jezebel, Vulture, Book Riot, Entertainment Weekly, and various other outlets. When she’s not working, she can usually be found watching anime or wrangling her many pets.
