There Should Have Been Eight

By: Nalini Singh

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

In this chilling thriller from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh, a remote estate in New Zealand’s Southern Alps hosts a reunion no one will ever forget.

Seven friends.
One last weekend.
A mansion half in ruins.
No room for lies.
Someone is going to confess.
Because there should have been eight. . . .

They met when they were teenagers. Now they’re adults, and time has been kind to some and unkind to others—none more so than to Bea, the one they lost nine long years ago.

They’ve gathered to reminisce at Bea’s family’s estate, a once-glorious mansion straight out of a gothic novel. Best friends, old flames, secret enemies, and new lovers are all under one roof. But when the weather turns and they’re snowed in at the edge of eternity, there’s nowhere left to hide from their shared history.

As the walls close in, the pretense of normality gives way to long-buried grief, bitterness, and rage. Underneath it all, there’s the nagging feeling that Bea’s shocking death wasn’t what it was claimed to be. And before the weekend is through, the truth will be unleashed—no matter the cost. . . .

Critic reviews

"Singh writes with gripping passion and an acute eye for social commentary, all while delivering a divinely engaging mystery."—Entertainment Weekly

"Singh (Quiet in Her Bones, 2021) excels at creating atmospheric scenes, evoking dusty secret passageways and the dangers of the freezing weather to create a sense of dread. Told from Luna's perspective, this story of friendship and obsession unfolds gently at first, then at a breakneck pace until it reaches a shocking conclusion. Give this excellent thriller to readers of Megan Miranda's The Only Survivors (2023)."—Booklist, starred review

“Readers will find it nigh on impossible to put this book down as the pace and tension increase dramatically as members go missing or su­er mysterious accidents. Strong characterizations, a tension-laden plotline, and a spooky setting are all conducive to a creepy whodunit. I’ll admit to being surprised at the big reveal in an explosive climax.... Highly recommended to fans of lockedroom mysteries and suspense thrillers.”—Mystery & Suspense magazine

"A wild, exciting and shocking thriller, with so many twists along the way."—The Reading Cafe

Good story but first person narrative was too granular

I wanted to like this book. I read Nalini Singh’s two other crime novels and consider them in my top 10 reads of all time. But it was hard to understand the motives of the main character in this book. Her character could have used some more contextual background that would perhaps help the reader understand her obsession with the muse in the story. I was bored by the main character by mid-book. Her myopic first person narrative was exhausting.

A classic trope

This story is what you get when a great author decides to write in a classic mystery trope of "friends/strangers vacation at a mysterious house and one or multiple are murderers" ala And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie or the most recent Glass Onion movie.
Sadly as a mystery fan this book fell short for me. Fir me it started with the first person POV. I don't want to be in the head of a grieving friend who is dealing with a recent disability diagnosis. Also the mystery wasn't much of a mystery but more a predictable whodunnit.

Story line and conclusion. Loved the narration.

Loved both the story and narration. One or two more chapters would have been great, but Thai just me.

Suspenseful and scary

This was a very different story than what I’m used to from Nalini Singh, but it was also a very interesting mystery and I loved it!

Twists and turns, some you're ready for, some so surprising!

A vacation getaway at an expansive estate, with long time friends, what could go wrong?