WHAT THEY DID by Rio Youers is a dark, gritty thriller that grabs you by the throat and never lets go. Set in the drug world in Michigan and Ohio, the story takes readers on a wild ride as two women bonded by a violent act in their youth join forces to save a son gone astray.

Carly and Dana met in New Jersey as high schoolers, hitting it off right away and getting matching tattoos. Dana always had a penchant for bad boys, and Carly preferred to play it safe. When Trent Collier enters Dana’s life, chaos ensues. Trent’s a bully and a violent individual. When a weekend meant for romance turns into a brawl between Dana and Trent, Carly gets swept up in the physical altercation, and Trent ends up dead. The girls dispose of the body and vow never to tell anyone. Now, twenty-four years later, Carly is a law enforcement officer in Florida and has just lost her husband in the line of duty. Her son, Anthony, is reeling from the loss and looking for an escape. He heads to Ohio with friends. Meanwhile, Dana’s life never amounted to much after Trent’s death, and her path led her to a Michigan town, where she assists the local drug dealer in collecting his money. When Dana and Carly reconnect, Dana meets Carly’s son, and a series of events leads the young man into dealing drugs for a dangerous individual. Dana knows how high the stakes are, but does she let her old friend know, or does she keep quiet? When Anthony’s life is on the line, Dana must alert Carly, and the two must find a way to save Anthony. One way or the other.

WHAT THEY DID is a harrowing picture of how grief and bad choices lead to life-altering consequences. This novel starts with a bang, featuring richly drawn characters and detailed sequences of events. The writing is strong, the violence is ugly and dark, and the villain is particularly heinous. The ominous landscape of drug dealers, murderers, and one-bad-choice deaths immerses readers in a world where people find themselves stranded with no good options. With themes of friendship, family, loyalty, and revenge, this novel touches all the bases of an edge-of-your-seat thriller. There are no easy answers or happily-ever-after endings, but there are realistic consequences for the characters. Carly is relatable as a mother willing to do anything to protect her son, and Dana is relatable as a woman who lets life happen to her, without regard for her future or safety. Overall, this novel takes readers on a wild journey, and this must- read author delivers another explosive, pulse-pounding thriller.