Thriller

56 Days

56 Days

  • Downloads：9325
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-08-23 21:21:10
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Catherine Ryan Howard
  • ISBN：B08YRYN8XY
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

No one knew they'd moved in together。 Now one of them is dead。 Could this be the perfect murder？

56 DAYS AGO
Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin the same week Covid-19 reaches Irish shores。

35 DAYS AGO
When lockdown threatens to keep them apart， Oliver suggests that Ciara move in with him。 She sees a unique opportunity for a new relationship to flourish without the pressure of scrutiny of family and friends。 He sees it as an opportunity to hide who - and what - he really is。

TODAY
Detectives arrive at Oliver's apartment to discover a decomposing body inside。

Will they be able to determine what really happened， or has lockdown provided someone with the opportunity to commit the perfect crime？

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Reviews

gills ，

Crime in a Covid Time56 Days starts with the discovery of a body and flips back and forward over time in the run-up to that discovery。 The story is told from various characters viewpoints， including Lee （Detective Inspector Leah Riordan）， Ciara and Oliver。 The narrative jumps about between today， and e。g。 56 days ago， 32 days ago etc。 and the narrator occasionally changes during a chapter， so you have to keep your wits about you。The book is set during Covid times - with the first lockdown in Ire Crime in a Covid Time56 Days starts with the discovery of a body and flips back and forward over time in the run-up to that discovery。 The story is told from various characters viewpoints， including Lee （Detective Inspector Leah Riordan）， Ciara and Oliver。 The narrative jumps about between today， and e。g。 56 days ago， 32 days ago etc。 and the narrator occasionally changes during a chapter， so you have to keep your wits about you。The book is set during Covid times - with the first lockdown in Ireland occurring within the timespan - indeed the announcement of the lockdown is the catalyst for Ciara and Oliver deciding to move in together， despite having just met three weeks prior。It is actually difficult to write too much more about the story without giving away spoilers， but Catherine Ryan Howard has written another page turner， in which she even manages to reference her previous book as though it is part of the reality she has woven。 There are many things in this book that a couple of years ago would have seemed unrealistic but， after Covid and the many lockdowns， they are a reality that we can all identity with - the empty streets， lack of traffic noise， queuing for shopping… 。。。more

Anthea L ，

so entertaining！

Gil ，

great narrative and surprisingly addictive story。

Liz Shaw ，

i truly thought i knew where this was going but i had some of the details wrong。 i like that the beginning of COVID lockdown was added in to the plot of the book。

Jessica ，

This was solid。 I was completely surprised by two shifts in the story， each of which made perfect sense （yay for plot twists that aren't over the top）。 This was solid。 I was completely surprised by two shifts in the story， each of which made perfect sense （yay for plot twists that aren't over the top）。 。。。more

Kelly ，

This is the 4th novel I've read by Catherine Ryan Howard， and as I've loved each one， she is now going onto my auto-buy author list。 I couldn't put it down！ It's set in Dublin during the initial lockdown due to Covid， but it is not about Covid， and therefore I didn't mind that fact at all。 It tells the story of Ciara and Oliver， who met just before the lockdown， started a relationship， and then decided to quarantine together in Oliver's apartment。。。the chapters alternate from each of their viewp This is the 4th novel I've read by Catherine Ryan Howard， and as I've loved each one， she is now going onto my auto-buy author list。 I couldn't put it down！ It's set in Dublin during the initial lockdown due to Covid， but it is not about Covid， and therefore I didn't mind that fact at all。 It tells the story of Ciara and Oliver， who met just before the lockdown， started a relationship， and then decided to quarantine together in Oliver's apartment。。。the chapters alternate from each of their viewpoints （and go back and forth in time - sometimes you get a scene you've already read but from the other character's perspective， which I enjoyed）。 And there are also chapters that are set just a bit in the future， just a couple weeks after all this， from the viewpoint of the detective who is investigating the dead body found in that same apartment。 As I mentioned， I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and couldn't wait to figure out what exactly had transpired to lead to death。 A few things I figured out ahead of time， but there were still a few twists I did not see coming。 I loved it！ 。。。more

Megan Tiscareno ，

Slow build to the end and then a speed race。 Lots of twists and turns took me to this surprising ending that I did not see coming… but it literally went from 0 to 100 in a matter of 3 pages！

Bookreporter。com Mystery & Thriller ，

As most of the world was at home during lockdown and cocooning to the max， authors were in the same boat， and their writing could have gone in one of two directions。 They could have written about the pandemic or somehow infused it into their work。 The more popular choice was to write solid， entertaining， escapist fiction in worlds that were not impacted by COVID-19 to allow readers to disappear into a novel and forget about what was going on in the real world。Irish author Catherine Ryan Howard c As most of the world was at home during lockdown and cocooning to the max， authors were in the same boat， and their writing could have gone in one of two directions。 They could have written about the pandemic or somehow infused it into their work。 The more popular choice was to write solid， entertaining， escapist fiction in worlds that were not impacted by COVID-19 to allow readers to disappear into a novel and forget about what was going on in the real world。Irish author Catherine Ryan Howard chose the first option with her book， 56 DAYS。 In a brilliant turn， she not only references the pandemic but uses it as a plot device to hide an alleged murder。 In the Author Notes， she indicates how the characters had kept her company， and she wishes that in a brighter， more hopeful world， their story would entertain us as well。Howard has become a must-read author。 An Edgar Award finalist for THE LIAR’S GIRL， she produced the most unique take on the serial killer novel I have ever read with THE NOTHING MAN。 So it goes without saying that I eagerly awaited the opportunity to read and review 56 DAYS。 As the title indicates， the story unfolds over a period of 56 days， the majority of which are during the government-imposed pandemic lockdown， this one taking place in Dublin， Ireland。Each chapter is set on a different day during this timeline。 It's a genius move from Howard， who can keep readers off-balance thanks to this disparate storytelling， which skillfully reveals and hides key plot twists。 The first chapter is set “Today，” and we find two detectives from the Gardai investigating the discovery of a body in one of the many apartment units at a tightly compressed complex in Dublin。 Fifty-six days ago was the first meeting of Oliver and Ciara， both of whom were at a local grocery store in the self-checkout line。 They run into each other again at 53 days， and Oliver clumsily asks Ciara out to a movie。 He has learned in their brief time chatting that she is a fan of anything related to NASA and astronauts， and he has found a cinema playing a film in that genre。The pandemic hits incredibly early in their relationship， and they find themselves spending more time in their apartments。 Eventually they will choose Oliver’s flat as Ciara’s is way too small。 They learn more about each other， like how Ciara is originally from Cork and Oliver has just returned to Ireland after living in London。 He also spends a lot of time texting and phoning someone named Rich， who he says is his brother from Australia。When the action returns to “Today，” we see the detectives questioning various neighbors and gathering data primarily about Oliver。 As the novel propels forward， you will have a challenging time putting it down as two very odd and telling plot twists are revealed。 There are many questions about Oliver and Ciara for which you will want answers， and you will be eager to find out whose body was found by the Gardai。56 DAYS is pure perfection and a psychological thriller of the highest order。 For fans of Howard’s work， you will appreciate the slick mention of the serial killer known as The Nothing Man --- a great shoutout to her prior novel。Reviewed by Ray Palen 。。。more

Nicole Harney ，

I really enjoyed this book。 Enjoyed the lockdown setting and delving back into those memories of early covid days when it all felt so surreal。 My only criticism of the book is that I found the number of days and change it timeline difficult to keep up with - personally I find dates in the month format （ie 25th March rather than 50 days ago） as easier to follow。 Enjoyable read all the same。

Caroline Croezen ，

Nail bitingly twisty and thoroughly engrossing！ My favourite thriller writer since I read The Nothing Man。 Super read。

Paulina Bellantonio ，

First book I’ve read that uses Covid as a plot point。 I was skeptical because of that at first and wondering if it would hit too close but it actually played out well。 This book kept me guessing。 I loved the multiple POVs and the non-linear timeline。 It felt like I was peeling back the layers of an onion to uncover the mystery and it kept me guessing till the very end。 I won’t divulge an actual synopsis because I’m afraid of spoiling anything。 Overall this was a well executed mystery that had me First book I’ve read that uses Covid as a plot point。 I was skeptical because of that at first and wondering if it would hit too close but it actually played out well。 This book kept me guessing。 I loved the multiple POVs and the non-linear timeline。 It felt like I was peeling back the layers of an onion to uncover the mystery and it kept me guessing till the very end。 I won’t divulge an actual synopsis because I’m afraid of spoiling anything。 Overall this was a well executed mystery that had me hooked from start to finish！ 。。。more

Lance ，

A fair mystery but for me not totally satisfying

Jodi M ，

You see the twist， but not fully。 Other than not wanting to read about the pandemic while we are still in the pandemic this book was really good。 The story is told backwards and it was woven masterfully。 It alternates between his viewpoint， her viewpoint and the detective’s viewpoint。

Magnolia Mamas ，

Stayed up waaaay too late one night finishing finishing this one。 56 Days has so many surprising twists， and hidden secrets - I was hooked from start to finish。 And the ending…DID NOT see it coming。 😱 I was nervous to read this one because it mentions that dreaded “C” word we all hate by now， but kudos to Catherine Ryan Howard for making a fresh （and frightening） twist to the situation by creating the perfect thrilling read。 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alexandra Porter ，

Every time I thought I had it figured out， I was wrong！ Using COVID as a plot point for this book definitely made it even creepier than if it hadn’t have been used。

Hayden ，

I go back and forth on the rating here and I do think it's a book you could go back and read and find clues you didn't necessarily pick up on the first time。 I did figure out what the ultimate twist was before it happened， but it was an earned ending。 I go back and forth on the rating here and I do think it's a book you could go back and read and find clues you didn't necessarily pick up on the first time。 I did figure out what the ultimate twist was before it happened， but it was an earned ending。 。。。more

Ellie Spencer ，

As an avid thriller fan， it can be hard for me to read a book that catches me by surprise， but this one managed to shock me multiple times。56 days follows the lives of Oliver and Ciara。 Who’s relationship is ramped up by the pandemic。 However， 56 days after they first meet， Detectives Lee and Karl and called in after a body has been found。This book kept me on my toes more than I expected it to。 Usually with thrillers I get a sense of whether there may be plot-twists。 Strangely， I didn’t think th As an avid thriller fan， it can be hard for me to read a book that catches me by surprise， but this one managed to shock me multiple times。56 days follows the lives of Oliver and Ciara。 Who’s relationship is ramped up by the pandemic。 However， 56 days after they first meet， Detectives Lee and Karl and called in after a body has been found。This book kept me on my toes more than I expected it to。 Usually with thrillers I get a sense of whether there may be plot-twists。 Strangely， I didn’t think there would be any twists in this book， which made the numerous ones that appeared even more exciting！ Howard used language perfectly to hint that ‘reality’ was a particular way， only to later reveal a twist that shone a light on the truth。 The novel flipped between the present day and time points from the last three months as well as following three different character points of view。 At first I struggled a little to understand what was going on but by the end I absolutely loved this。 I enjoyed the unique use of the pandemic to create an interesting thriller storyline。 I also love books with multiple characters points of view。 My main issue with this novel was that things did get repetitive because of this。 If more extra information had been added when repeating scenes from other characters views， I would have loved it。 But the repetition of the same conversations with very little added was a bit tiring。 That being said， overall I really enjoyed this novel and still feel like I am reeling from all the twists that were thrown in。I would recommend this book to any thriller fan！ I want to thank Readers First， Corvus publishers and Catherine Ryan Howard for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts。 。。。more

Alison Cairns ，

The first book I have read directly about the Covid-19 pandemic。 Based in Dublin this is a story of a young couple meeting just before lockdown and how their relationship moves forward。 Or is it？ Oliver and Ciara meet randomly in Tesco buying lunch。 Both are new to Dublin and it seems fate that they meet。 Oliver is naturally suspicious as he has a secret to hide， not wanting anyone to know his identity。 The story moves from 56 days previously to the present day， and at various intervals in betwe The first book I have read directly about the Covid-19 pandemic。 Based in Dublin this is a story of a young couple meeting just before lockdown and how their relationship moves forward。 Or is it？ Oliver and Ciara meet randomly in Tesco buying lunch。 Both are new to Dublin and it seems fate that they meet。 Oliver is naturally suspicious as he has a secret to hide， not wanting anyone to know his identity。 The story moves from 56 days previously to the present day， and at various intervals in between。 Cut to the present and a body is discovered in Oliver's flat， which has been lying there， rotting for weeks。 Gradually the story emerges of how we got to this moment。 A good twist at the end that I was not expecting。 #netgalley #56days 。。。more

Pgchuis ，

3。5* rounded down。 I had read reviews of this novel， warning that it was set during and based on the circumstances of the first Covid lockdown and that it might be 'too soon' for some readers。 I would echo that -it was a strange read and somehow a bit close to home （not that I moved in with a man I barely knew during the first lockdown and no one has died in my home）。So Ciara moves in with Oliver when Covid hits Dublin because forming a household is the only way they can go on seeing each other， 3。5* rounded down。 I had read reviews of this novel， warning that it was set during and based on the circumstances of the first Covid lockdown and that it might be 'too soon' for some readers。 I would echo that -it was a strange read and somehow a bit close to home （not that I moved in with a man I barely knew during the first lockdown and no one has died in my home）。So Ciara moves in with Oliver when Covid hits Dublin because forming a household is the only way they can go on seeing each other， since Oliver is a strict rule follower。 A few weeks later a decomposing body is discovered in his apartment。 This is not a spoiler - the time line jumps around all over the place， so we know this from the beginning。 I enjoyed the 'Today' sections and the banter between the police officers Lee and Karl。 The chapters from the perspectives of Oliver and Ciara allowed secrets to be slowly revealed， but the broad strokes of what was going on became clear to me quite early on。 Although there was a bit of a twist at the end， it was a little underwhelming and the overlapping of perspectives led to an increasing amount of repetition。I prefer other novels by this author。 。。。more

Kelly Hooker ，

The COVID-19 fiction has arrived！ Are you ready for it？ 56 DAYS， the latest from Catherine Ryan Howard is the first book I have read set in the thick of the coronavirus lockdown。Ciara and Oliver serendipitously meet a week before COVID-19 arrives in Dublin。 The pair move in together on a whim to avoid being separated in lockdown。 What’s a lockdown story without a dead body？ Told from the perspective of Ciara， Oliver， and the detectives， secrets from the past emerge as the murder is investigated。 The COVID-19 fiction has arrived！ Are you ready for it？ 56 DAYS， the latest from Catherine Ryan Howard is the first book I have read set in the thick of the coronavirus lockdown。Ciara and Oliver serendipitously meet a week before COVID-19 arrives in Dublin。 The pair move in together on a whim to avoid being separated in lockdown。 What’s a lockdown story without a dead body？ Told from the perspective of Ciara， Oliver， and the detectives， secrets from the past emerge as the murder is investigated。 I can understand how it might feel “too soon” for many readers to pick up this book。 For me， the pandemic quarantine served as a fascinating backdrop for a murder mystery/police procedural and felt firmly rooted in reality。 One of the things I enjoyed about this story was the slow reveal of the character's intentions。 I also appreciated the multiple POVs with characters offering different perspectives on the same set of events。 I have heard others rave about Howard’s previous novel， THE NOTHING MAN which I plan to pick up soon。 I appreciated the nod to THE NOTHING MAN in this book--I love when author’s reference their previous works！Alana Kerr Collins did an incredible job with the audiobook narration--I love an Irish accent！ 56 DAYS was also a recent book of the month club pick you won’t want to miss。RATING: 4/5 starsPUB DATE: 8/17/21A big thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ALC in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Ildikó Connell ，

This book rules！ Excellent thriller， cannot recommend enough

Tara ，

I wanted to like this more。 it was good and kept my interest but I didn't like the last 1/4 of the book。 I wanted to like this more。 it was good and kept my interest but I didn't like the last 1/4 of the book。 。。。more

Julie Gerbino-Horowski ，

I’m between 3。5 and 4 stars on this one。 I can’t put my finger on why， I just know that I can’t give it a solid 4 stars。 It’s a really good book。 The story was great。 The characters were great。 There was a nice twist at the end that I did not see coming。 It was just missing something for me for the solid 4 stars。

K。T。 Sparks ，

Too soon。

Tammy ，

Very interesting and heart breaking story， dragging in some part but an entertaining page turner。

Raena ，

The concept of this was brilliant。 So many twists you really won’t guess what is happening。 The first （covid） lockdown is the perfect backdrop for this story but covid itself isn’t a major factor in the story， just the lockdown。 This is a new author for me but one I will add to my list of ones to watch out for。 Really well written。

Darlene ，

3。5 stars-Ciara and Oliver start dating right before the pandemic。 Once the lockdown begins， they decide to live together for 2 weeks in Oliver’s apartment。 56 days later - there is a dead body in Oliver’s apartment。 The story flips back and forth between Oliver and Ciara’s POV and now （56 days later）。 It’s a slow build in the beginning， but the last 100 pages have lots of twists and turns。

Cody Marie ，

Wow， the twists！ I thought I knew it all until the very end。 I wanted the happy ending and love story， didnt get it。 But satisfying ending anyway。 Jumps from then and now and 3 character POVs。

Eggbeater ，

This was the first book I've read which incorporated the pandemic as part of its fictional story。 The plot had a great "what if" type of thriller scenario and the lockdown really fit into that perfectly。 The story seemed plausible and I was kept guessing the whole way through。 Thumbs up。 This was the first book I've read which incorporated the pandemic as part of its fictional story。 The plot had a great "what if" type of thriller scenario and the lockdown really fit into that perfectly。 The story seemed plausible and I was kept guessing the whole way through。 Thumbs up。 。。。more

Jane Kelsey ，

Loved this book。 Probably one of the best books I've read this year and the first one featuring lockdown。 Loved this book。 Probably one of the best books I've read this year and the first one featuring lockdown。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=56 Days

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=56 Days&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,56 Days&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0