The Collective

The Collective

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  • Create Date:2021-11-13 09:51:47
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Alison Gaylin
  • ISBN:0063083159
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

The USA Today bestselling and Edgar Award–winning author of Never Look Back and If I Die Tonight plumbs the dark side of justice and the depths of diabolical revenge in this propulsive novel of psychological suspense that melds the driving narrative of Then She Was Gone with the breathtaking twists of The Chain and the violent fury of Kill Bill。

“Alison Gaylin’s The Collective is an astonishing feat。 In the tradition of Ira Levin’s unforgettable social thrillers (Rosemary’s Baby, Stepford Wives), it’s a nerve-shredding, emotionally harrowing ride that also speaks volumes about our current moment, the dangers of our digital world, the potency of female rage。 Don’t miss it。” —Megan Abbott


Just how far will a grieving mother go to right a tragic wrong?

Camille Gardner is a grieving—and angry—mother who, five years after her daughter’s death, is still obsessed with the privileged young man she believes to be responsible。

When her rash actions attract the attention of a secret group of women—the collective— Camille is drawn into a dark web where these mothers share their wildly different stories of loss as well as their desire for justice in a world where privilege denies accountability and perpetrators emerge unscathed。 Fueled by mutual rage, these women orchestrate their own brand of justice through precise, anonymous, complexly plotted and perfectly executed revenge killings, with individual members completing a specific and integral task in each plan。

As Camille struggles to comprehend whether this is a role-playing exercise or terrifying reality, she must decide if these women are truly avenging angels or monsters。 Becoming more deeply enmeshed in the group, Camille learns truths about the collective—and about herself—that she may not be able to survive。

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Reviews

Lisa

This book, wow! I am so glad I chose this as my @bookofthemonth selection。 I started this last night and could not wait to finish it。 Such an incredible story from start to finish and I need to read everything by @alison。gaylin now。

Debra Flite

This is really good! I couldn’t put it down。 The suspense builds from the first chapters and had my heart racing until the very end!

Erin Kelly

This book was so good! Page-turny, twisty。 I kept wondering how the author would bring it all together and she did! I thought I saw some twists coming, but she fooled me at every turn。

Lisa Arrigo

A fantastic read! Couldn't put it down A fantastic read! Couldn't put it down 。。。more

Val

Wow, what a concept about shared grief and revenge。 If survivors band together secretly and work in tandem, completing only part of the steps, revenge killings, cleverly disguised as accidents can happen without anyone being the wiser。Years after her teenage daughter's murder, Camille still can't move past it。 To further put salt in the wound, the suspect - a local frat boy - was exonerated and is living his best life right in front of her eyes。 Her marriage fractured, her friends no longer come Wow, what a concept about shared grief and revenge。 If survivors band together secretly and work in tandem, completing only part of the steps, revenge killings, cleverly disguised as accidents can happen without anyone being the wiser。Years after her teenage daughter's murder, Camille still can't move past it。 To further put salt in the wound, the suspect - a local frat boy - was exonerated and is living his best life right in front of her eyes。 Her marriage fractured, her friends no longer come around and she works as a digital creator for free just to take her mind off obsessing over what she could have done differently。 Into her life walks a woman who hands her a strange business card with one word on the front。 Her curiosity peaked, she enters into the dark web, finding a group of women who have also lost their children through the fault of someone else who has not "paid the price" for their actions。 There is so much more to this story, but I'll let you read it。This story had me hooked from the very beginning。 The pace throughout the book was consistent and the tension level had me on the edge of my seat throughout。 The only disappointment to me was the ending。 It's not a bad ending at all, I think I just expected a little more pizzazz。 That being said, it didn't ruin the book for me, just took it down one star in my book。 Definitely recommend! 。。。more

Karlie

The book was a bit too hyped for me so I think my expectations were too high。 It is a good pace read so you read it quickly but it’s also not that big of a book so that’s why you finish quickly。 Not sure how I would have ended it myself but it fell a bit flat for me。

Steph

From the very beginning, Camille’s rage radiates off the page。 But so does her love。Camille Gardener suffered an unimaginable tragedy five years earlier, and her life was changed forever。 Stuck in grief, she finds a group of women who have had tragedies of their own。 Together, they turn their grief into action。 Revenge, secrets, power, karma; these are some of the major themes tackled in the book。This is the epitome of a page-turner。 At the same time Camille is becoming obsessed with her online From the very beginning, Camille’s rage radiates off the page。 But so does her love。Camille Gardener suffered an unimaginable tragedy five years earlier, and her life was changed forever。 Stuck in grief, she finds a group of women who have had tragedies of their own。 Together, they turn their grief into action。 Revenge, secrets, power, karma; these are some of the major themes tackled in the book。This is the epitome of a page-turner。 At the same time Camille is becoming obsessed with her online group, I’m becoming obsessed with reading her story。 It’s one of those books where you just want to shut out the world and devour the pages as fast as you can read them。 The writing is hauntingly beautiful in places。But it’s so much more than a run-of-the-mill thriller; it asks dark questions about morality and challenges you to consider what you might do in the same situation。I will say that I didn’t love the ending。 It was fitting, it just wasn’t what I wanted to happen。 。。。more

Christine

Quick paced psychological thriller that is packed with trauma and revenge。 I was in the middle of this read when our family had an experience so similar to the situations I'm this book that it made the realization of how someone could fall into the Collective so much more possible。 If I hadn't had that experience I may have struggled with some plausibility in the plot but truth be told even with it being beyond unlikely it was such a well told and well paced story I was all in until the last sen Quick paced psychological thriller that is packed with trauma and revenge。 I was in the middle of this read when our family had an experience so similar to the situations I'm this book that it made the realization of how someone could fall into the Collective so much more possible。 If I hadn't had that experience I may have struggled with some plausibility in the plot but truth be told even with it being beyond unlikely it was such a well told and well paced story I was all in until the last sentence。 。。。more

Kathryn Hawks

Ugh I really what back-and-forth between three and four stars on this definitely not a five star but I did enjoy it。 I’m still processing everything I didn’t love the ending but at least it was wrapped up and not just left open ended it was a fast easy read thriller。 A lot to think about as far as justice and black and white and gray areas

Julie Anne

The plot was great。 A page turner with a lot of twist。 There were a lot of characters and stories to keep up with though。 It felt like a really good Netflix series, but one you realllllly had to be paying attention to at all times to really get the full story。 This would be a great movie。

Doris

4。7 stars - TV-series worthy! I kept saying things like: I could never!Oh no she didn’t!These women got some balls!Wowwwww…Girl, you CRAZY!! Careful what you wish for, honey!What a fun, action-packed read! Clever premise, simple characters, and great storytelling of what grief can do to a person。 I look forward to delving more into the mind of this author in the future。

Rose Grabowski

Camille Gardener's 15 year old daughter was raped and murdered 5 years ago by a 17 year old from a wealthy family。 He was acquitted after the expensive defense attorney turned the blame onto her daughter。 The rage has been destroying her。 She is approached by a collective of grieving mothers that serve revenge to those that took their children。 She decides to join。 This truly makes you think about vengeance and justice。 The story is compulsively readable and had some unexpected twists and turns。 Camille Gardener's 15 year old daughter was raped and murdered 5 years ago by a 17 year old from a wealthy family。 He was acquitted after the expensive defense attorney turned the blame onto her daughter。 The rage has been destroying her。 She is approached by a collective of grieving mothers that serve revenge to those that took their children。 She decides to join。 This truly makes you think about vengeance and justice。 The story is compulsively readable and had some unexpected twists and turns。 I appreciate the Book of the Month Club for offering it this month。 。。。more

Livvy

(Three and a half) This was a interesting concept and then the reveal was kinda lame?! Would make for a really good film staring Melissa McCarthy (I’m right, shush)

Nell Klein

Excellent read!

Elyse Rudin

A couple’s teenage daughter is murdered by a teenage boy。 The boy faces a trial and is exonerated。 The mother of the girl is obsessed with the outcome。 The marriage falls apart。 The mother five years later becomes part of a group of mothers who seek revenge。 A real page turner and would recommend。 The end is not your typical ending。

Ashley Kritzer

This book turned out to be one of my absolute favorites of 2021 🤩Thank you to William Morrow Books and Bibliolifestyle for my gifted copy of “The Collective” by Alison , which came out Nov。 2。“The Collective” is a group of mothers of murdered children。 They come together on the dark web to fantasize about the elaborate revenge killings of their children’s murderers。 When Camille Gardener, whose daughter Emily was raped and left for dead by a frat boy at 15, finds the group, she’s relieved to fin This book turned out to be one of my absolute favorites of 2021 🤩Thank you to William Morrow Books and Bibliolifestyle for my gifted copy of “The Collective” by Alison , which came out Nov。 2。“The Collective” is a group of mothers of murdered children。 They come together on the dark web to fantasize about the elaborate revenge killings of their children’s murderers。 When Camille Gardener, whose daughter Emily was raped and left for dead by a frat boy at 15, finds the group, she’s relieved to find people who understand her rage。 But the more time she spends chatting with the group, the more she can’t tell if they’re role playing or actually carrying out these murders。 I didn’t know going in that I was going to become obsessed with this one, that it would become one of my absolute favorites of 2021。 Maybe I should have known, with the endorsement quote from Megan Abbott, who does darkness so well。 (She accurately calls “The Collective” a “nerve-shredding, emotionally harrowing ride。”)This thriller is just so well done。 It’s dark, it’s addicting, and the twist was 🤯🤯🤯 If you’re in a reading slump I really think it would pull you out of it。 I will be recommending this one for a long time to come。 。。。more

Amanda’s_Good_Books

丅ᕼᗴ ᑕᗝᒪᒪᗴᑕ丅ᎥᐯᗴᗷƳ ᗩᒪᎥᔕᗝᑎ ǤᗩƳᒪᎥᑎRELEASE DATE 11/2/2021Camille’s headed to Harris Blanchards award ceremony, he is winning a humanitarian award at the exclusive Brayburn club。 Five years have passed since he’s killed her daughter Emily。 And she’s there to let them all know he is a murderer。 And I have to be honest, I stood and clapped for her。 GO CAMILLE! I digress, after being rescued by her daughter's heart 🫀 literally olthe heart donor。 They have a close relationship and she seems to need him as 丅ᕼᗴ ᑕᗝᒪᒪᗴᑕ丅ᎥᐯᗴᗷƳ ᗩᒪᎥᔕᗝᑎ ǤᗩƳᒪᎥᑎRELEASE DATE 11/2/2021Camille’s headed to Harris Blanchards award ceremony, he is winning a humanitarian award at the exclusive Brayburn club。 Five years have passed since he’s killed her daughter Emily。 And she’s there to let them all know he is a murderer。 And I have to be honest, I stood and clapped for her。 GO CAMILLE! I digress, after being rescued by her daughter's heart 🫀 literally olthe heart donor。 They have a close relationship and she seems to need him as much as he her。 She’s approached to join a club, of grieving mothers called NIOBE。 She begins to tell her story。 Her daughter was 15 and killed at a frat party。 She had alcohol poisoning, lived 3 days after being found, and told her mom he raped her。 Well NIOBE is her weed as THE COLLECTIVE is crack。。。 One is tame and full of rules and the other is down to for whatever。 And this woman spends hours and hours reading these pages。 It’s all-consuming, taken her over without mercy。 They send you on test missions to complete at first。 It gets dirtier each time you go, until one day she’s killing people and can’t go back。 This is a gritty book。 I loved it。 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 S҉҉T҉҉A҉҉R҉҉S҉҉#booklover #bookworm #instabook #bibliophile #booknerd #bookstagrammer #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookblogger #booklovers #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookblog #bookstagrammers #bookblogging #thecollective #alisongaylin #williammorrow 。。。more

Allison Glasgow

Sadly, I was not much of a fan of this book。 It kept me engaged enough to finish it, but it didn't leave me satisfied。 Camille annoyed me。 All of the characters lacked depth。 I was bored at times and skimmed through many parts of the book (and in doing so, didn't miss anything。。。)。Good plot-it was definitely well thought out and intriguing but。。。just lacking, imho。 Sadly, I was not much of a fan of this book。 It kept me engaged enough to finish it, but it didn't leave me satisfied。 Camille annoyed me。 All of the characters lacked depth。 I was bored at times and skimmed through many parts of the book (and in doing so, didn't miss anything。。。)。Good plot-it was definitely well thought out and intriguing but。。。just lacking, imho。 。。。more

Octavia (ReadsWithDogs)

As a mother with a dead child who was killed I definitely could relate to this story of rage and revenge, but what I couldn't relate to was the sheer blindness and loyalty the main character has for these other grieving mothers。Sure, we'd all like to think karma is real, but sometimes it needs a little helping hand and is it really a crime to kill if you're killing bad folks?! Dexter style?!Suspend your belief in people and don't expect a happy ending 。。 As a mother with a dead child who was killed I definitely could relate to this story of rage and revenge, but what I couldn't relate to was the sheer blindness and loyalty the main character has for these other grieving mothers。Sure, we'd all like to think karma is real, but sometimes it needs a little helping hand and is it really a crime to kill if you're killing bad folks?! Dexter style?!Suspend your belief in people and don't expect a happy ending 。。 。。。more

Nance

3。5-4 star rating; I can’t make up my mind, I’ve changed this a few times…This was a good thriller。 Very unique storyline! But, it was the ending that I had a problem with。 It was over too fast。 I wish “the collective” was flushed out。 There was not any resolve against this vigilante group。 And, by the looks of it, there never will be…unless the author writes a sequel or turns it into a series, which I think would be ideal。 A very entertaining and intriguing page-turner…

。:Veronica:。

Implausible。

Cookie6102

The Collective is an engrossing foray into how far one woman will go to seek revenge for the death of her daughter。 Camille Gardener has not been the same since her 15-year-old daughter died, and as she obsesses over the boy she believes to be responsible for Emily’s death, she loses a great deal: her husband, her self-respect, and her dignity。 The latter is especially true after a viral video of her confronting Emily’s murderer brings Camille in contact with a mysterious group that offers her a The Collective is an engrossing foray into how far one woman will go to seek revenge for the death of her daughter。 Camille Gardener has not been the same since her 15-year-old daughter died, and as she obsesses over the boy she believes to be responsible for Emily’s death, she loses a great deal: her husband, her self-respect, and her dignity。 The latter is especially true after a viral video of her confronting Emily’s murderer brings Camille in contact with a mysterious group that offers her a way to find closure。 What follows is a murderous, depraved excursion into the depths of Camille’s grief, and that ending is perfect! The twist is fabulous! 。。。more

Chelsey

This was a solid 5⭐️ read for me until the ending。 Wrapped up way too fast and wasn’t satisfying。 But for all the pop culture references and keeping me entertained, I still give it 4⭐️!

Lyndsey thelittlereadingmermaid

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 this book has me absolutely SHOOK。Like, i’m lying awake at 2am because I can’t stop thinking about my suspiciously missing car keys and i’m wondering if the collective somehow got their hands on them。 I’m wondering if i’m “next” because the way this one went… MIND BLOWN。It’s been awhile since I’ve read a thriller where there wasn’t a “happy” ending。 Where the main character does end up biting the dust。 Getting killed, not resolving the murder, that sort of thing。 So reading the end of this one g this book has me absolutely SHOOK。Like, i’m lying awake at 2am because I can’t stop thinking about my suspiciously missing car keys and i’m wondering if the collective somehow got their hands on them。 I’m wondering if i’m “next” because the way this one went… MIND BLOWN。It’s been awhile since I’ve read a thriller where there wasn’t a “happy” ending。 Where the main character does end up biting the dust。 Getting killed, not resolving the murder, that sort of thing。 So reading the end of this one gave me CHILLS。 I found it to be super calculated and the work of an absolute genius and I’m now wondering how the author knows so much about the dark web… how much research went into this one!? I must know。The main character, Camille, I grew frustrated with more than once。 She made stupid decisions, she trusted so blindly and it seemed like, to me, if I had lost my child and my marriage in that way- I would be a little more skeptical of literally everything。 That would scream a red flag to me。 BUT it could also be that her trauma has blinded her so much into trusting the collective and trusting people she might not have otherwise。more to come 。。。more

Kaela Turley

This one was really good, but kind of lagged in the middle and became predictable towards the end。 It still kept my attention and I really enjoyed it。

K vitale

Kept my interest from start to finish。。。totally engrossing。 Favourite quote "Even for the luckiest of us, life is mostly pain, with moments of happiness thrown in just to keep us vertical。 But the Denises of the world don't understand that。 They think pain and loss is for other people。 They say things like 'everything happens for a reason,' and they believe it because it comforts them, the idea that people like me must have deserved what they got。"Aglayan Kaya。 Kept my interest from start to finish。。。totally engrossing。 Favourite quote "Even for the luckiest of us, life is mostly pain, with moments of happiness thrown in just to keep us vertical。 But the Denises of the world don't understand that。 They think pain and loss is for other people。 They say things like 'everything happens for a reason,' and they believe it because it comforts them, the idea that people like me must have deserved what they got。"Aglayan Kaya。 。。。more

Ben Grover

Hello, I’m Ben I live in Boston I was reading an article posted on NACA first time home buyers website, and came across a Credit Specialist with a topnotch recommendation so I wrote him on 760pluscreditscore AT gmail DOT com。 I explained my problem to him derogatory marks and criminal records within 8days with a good report and also increase my score to a high 790 plus I was a little skeptical but I had to give it a try。 So he gave me some instructions to do that would help him get score fixed a Hello, I’m Ben I live in Boston I was reading an article posted on NACA first time home buyers website, and came across a Credit Specialist with a topnotch recommendation so I wrote him on 760pluscreditscore AT gmail DOT com。 I explained my problem to him derogatory marks and criminal records within 8days with a good report and also increase my score to a high 790 plus I was a little skeptical but I had to give it a try。 So he gave me some instructions to do that would help him get score fixed and which I did and it worked I became very happy and we moved on with the process on the 7th he got my sc0re back on track with a good trade lines, they are the best and reliable credit specialist, 。。。more

Betty

This is the first book by Alison Gaylin that I have read。 “The Collective” reminded me of the book “The Chain。” How far would you go to get revenge against the murderer of your child?The killer of Camille’s daughter not only has gotten away with the murder, shockingly he was just awarded a Humanitarian Award。 Camille goes ballistic and attracts the attention of a group of women calling themselves The Collective。 Accessed on the dark web, the women share their stories of grief over losing their c This is the first book by Alison Gaylin that I have read。 “The Collective” reminded me of the book “The Chain。” How far would you go to get revenge against the murderer of your child?The killer of Camille’s daughter not only has gotten away with the murder, shockingly he was just awarded a Humanitarian Award。 Camille goes ballistic and attracts the attention of a group of women calling themselves The Collective。 Accessed on the dark web, the women share their stories of grief over losing their children and vent their anger。 They all want justice。 The Collective makes that happen。But when does justice become revenge? Is revenge killing ever justified? Is collateral damage acceptable? There is a lot to think about here。Camille swears loyalty to The Collective but what happens when she wants out? I was completely immersed in the story but didn’t see the ending coming even though I should have。Excellent writing。 A somewhat slow start that quickly gained momentum。 Twists that worked well with the story。 And a stunning conclusion。 。。。more

Zelda

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 This book book gave me just enough anxiety to keep turning the page so I gave it an extra star。 It was a sort of awkward book。 And it kind of left me with a lot more questions than answers。 The last bit felt rushed。 I did enjoy the moral gray area trope。 This obviously contains spoilers so if anyone could answer me, why did the collective take out the real Wendy? And how did Dianne’s son really die?

Melissa Leigh

Easy read, received and finished in one evening。 Another book with zero world building nor character development。 There’s this boom of novels right now sacrificing plot for absurd twists because that’s what will you get a slot in next months BOTM picks。 This book in particular was all over the place at best and non-sensical at worst。 Why would somebody who wants to murder someone do them an absolute intense kindness first? Plus the “twist” at the ending was predictable from very early on。 Anothe Easy read, received and finished in one evening。 Another book with zero world building nor character development。 There’s this boom of novels right now sacrificing plot for absurd twists because that’s what will you get a slot in next months BOTM picks。 This book in particular was all over the place at best and non-sensical at worst。 Why would somebody who wants to murder someone do them an absolute intense kindness first? Plus the “twist” at the ending was predictable from very early on。 Another author could’ve done something fantastic with this plot but this author felt completely flat。 1。5 very generous stars。 。。。more