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Read advance reader review of He Started It by Samantha Downing, page 4 of 5

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He Started It by Samantha Downing

He Started It

by Samantha Downing

  • Critics' Consensus (19):
  • Published:
  • Jul 2020, 400 pages
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Page 4 of 5
There are currently 35 member reviews
for He Started It
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  • Jennie W. (Denver, CO)
    He Started It
    This was a page turner. I could not put this down. There were so many twists and reveals. The author does a great job of building up the suspense and keeping you guessing. I did not find many of the character very likable, however, they keep you wanting to know more about them and their past circumstances. I was thinking about the ending for days after finishing.
  • Liz B. (Fairview, TX)
    Engaging Thriller
    He Started It is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of unexpected twists. With a better ending, it would rank 5 stars for sure. These are characters you love to hate as their unlikely story unfolds. I enjoyed the smartly written dialogue and road trip details as the family crossed the US. Just wish there had been a more definitive ending.
  • Ginny H. (Troutdale, OR)
    He Started It by Samantha Downing
    Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan's grandfather passes away and in order to claim the money in his will, they must reenact a trip that he took them on years before across the country. The siblings haven't been together for ages so it could be a strain. Two of them bring their siblings along for the ride. We learn many secrets and opinions as they trudge across the route. Each one is all about the inheritance and not so much each other. We learn more about the oldest child who disappeared on the first trip. I have to admit I was a little taken aback with the ending which I won't give away.
  • Deb T. (Belpre, OH)
    The Same But Not
    I reviewed "My Lovely Wife" before it came out and have yet to figure out the ending. "He Started It" is the same; the story is completely different but I was still unable to grasp the ending. Read it yourself and see if you agree!
  • Madeline M (Florida)
    Not Your Average Road Trip
    This is not a nostalgic family road trip story. This is a dark, twisted tale, laden with lies, seething with secrets. The voice is hard, harsh. The characters aloof and cold, keeping everyone, including each other, from getting anywhere close. And yet, we are compelled to keep turning those pages, to finish the journey, even if we have a sneaking suspicion we won't like where we end up.
  • Jeanne W. (Colorado Springs, CO)
    A Twisty, Turn-y Road Trip
    A family of not-very-nice people goes on a road trip to scatter Grandpa's ashes and thus fulfill the conditions of his will and inherit his fortune. Everybody is a liar and only out for themselves. Because you never know what the truth is the book twists and turns until you're dizzy. This is a fast read because you keep wanting to find out the truth. Unfortunately, the author commits one of my biggest pet peeves. The ending is ambiguous and feels like driving off a cliff. I actually had to check to see if my book was missing the last chapter. I would have rated the book a solid 5 if it hadn't been for that fact.
  • Cheryl W. (Crosby, MN)
    Yes, he did start it.
    First sentence in book. You want a heroine. Last sentence. Here we are, at the end, and we still don't know who the heroine is. You'll have to figure that out for yourself. So many twists and turns in this book. Just when you think you have a handle on it, a twist and you have to rethink. So challenging who is telling the truth and who is not. I think they all were liars and had secrets.

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