What They Did is a suspenseful, dark and emotional tale of family and friendship, trauma and grief, regret and redemption. Brimming with a simmering intensity and a growing sense of dread and desperation as the inevitability of poor decisions begin closing in. Rio Youers has done it again! Delivering a captivating and weighty reading experience you won’t soon forget.
Twenty-four years ago, best friends Carly Rivers and Dana Lee were involved in a tragic experience that set their lives on separate paths. Carly became a police officer while Dana found herself working for a charismatic and dangerous drug dealer. Making a pact to never discuss what happened to them all those years ago, they had fallen out of touch until Carly’s husband is killed in the line of duty and her son, Anthony, ends up in Dana’s backyard making bad choices. Reconnecting isn’t easy, especially with the secret of their past hovering over their heads. But with Anthony’s life in danger, they come together one more time to do what is necessary to keep someone they love from harm.
This is one of those great books that features a duality of storytelling, one moment thrilling readers with a story about crime and violence then delivering emotional gut punches that resonate with anyone who has deeply cared for someone. The thriller side has well-developed characters readers will get invested in, a tremendously developed plot that drives the book forward with urgency, and high-intensity moments that will leave you breathless. The emotional side contains a soul-searching exploration of handling grief and trauma, what family means to us and the lengths we go to protect those we love, and how true friendship never dies no matter time, space and distance. This combination comes together flawlessly to create a novel that is impossible to put down and difficult to get out of your head.
Another brilliantly crafted thriller by Rio Youers. One that’s destined to be an award winner, gracing many lists of top books for 2026 and a favorite of readers everywhere.
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