It's One Of Us

Written by J.T. Ellison

Narrated by Julia Whelan

Everybody lies. Even the ones you think you know best of all ...

Olivia Bender designs exquisite home interiors that satisfy the most demanding clients. But her own deepest desire can’t be fulfilled by marble counters or the perfect rug. She desperately wants to be a mother. Fertility treatments and IVF keep failing. And just when she feels she’s at her lowest point, the police deliver shocking news to Olivia and her husband, Park.

DNA results show that the prime suspect in a murder investigation is Park’s son. Olivia is relieved, knowing this is a mistake. Despite their desire, the Benders don’t have any children. Then comes the confession. Many years ago, Park donated sperm to a clinic. He has no idea how many times it was sold — or how many children he has sired.

As the murder investigation goes deeper, more terrible truths come to light. With every revelation, Olivia must face the unthinkable. The man she married has fathered a killer. But can she hold that against him when she keeps such dark secrets of her own?

This twisting, emotionally layered thriller explores the lies we tell to keep a marriage together — or break each other apart...

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Mar 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781867276111

J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY(R) award winning co-host of the literary show A WORD ON WORDS. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in 28 countries. She lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens.

Reviews for It's One Of Us

[alekee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a go to author for a great thriller, and she did not disappoint!From DNA to infertility, a woman's journey to have a child of her own, and a husband discovering he has over two dozen children.What a great concept and we are there as the facts unfold, but we are kept on the edge of our seat as bodies turn up, and disturbing happenings develop! Past soon meets the present, but surprises abound, and most I never saw coming!A must read, you won't be able to put it down!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

[dwcofer_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is a psychological thriller that for the most part kept me engaged. However, at several parts, it really lagged, and became difficult to continue reading. I wanted to DNF the book a number of times, especially near the middle of the book.The book has too many characters. Every possible person, no matter how insignificant, is named. Many are only mentioned once and never appear again. Also, was it really necessary to have three of the main character’s name start with the same letter? That was somewhat confusing. Additionally, the book is too long and bloated. It could easily been a tighter and better book if 100 pages were cut. The length caused the book to bog down in several places.Realize that none of the characters are honest. They all have secrets they desire to keep hidden and all are flawed. They all make bad decisions, often hurting the people they claim to love the most.My biggest issue is the ending. It is ridiculous and absurd. The author has written several books and should have been able to write a better ending to the book. The reader’s emotions are jerked around at the end and it was not appreciated. Overall, it is a two-star book, but had it contained fewer characters and 100 less pages, it could easily have been a four star book.

[geauxgetlit · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Best book so far in 2023!
It takes a domestic thriller to the next level and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop.

This book spins infertility and donor sperm births on its head.
This is one high flying adrenaline ride you don’t want to miss and that ending…wow it completely blew my mind!!

I’m a huge fan of JT Ellison and this might be her best book yet! Make sure you read the author’s note at the end as she has personal experience with infertility and miscarriage!

I applaud you J. T. for sharing such a personal experience you have had for others to read and you are correct it should be made more aware. I shared that journey also.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It’s One of Us by J.T. Ellison is a book that I struggled get through. The author’s style of writing made it impossible for me to get into the story. I found the writing to be choppy. The point-of-view alternates between several characters (too many in my opinion). I like that we are told at the beginning of each chapter who is narrating. I was not a fan of any of the characters. The author did not give the readers a character they could like and relate to (we need a likeable protagonist). I was hoping the mystery would be complicated and twisty. The mystery is extremely easy to solve. I correctly solved part of the whodunit before the end of the first chapter. I was surprised when the author revealed the killer’s identity halfway through the book (talk about a BIG no no). I was tempted to toss the book across the room at this point. Olivia and her husband, Park have been trying to conceive. We get to see how the experience affects a couple emotionally and physically. From the way the author described how it affected Olivia; I can tell that infertility is something the author has experienced personally. I wish Olivia had been a sympathetic character instead of a self-serving whiner. Olivia’s self-worth depends upon a man (I guess Olivia did not get the memo that it is 2023). She should have been a confident woman (she has a successful career, good looks, and she is intelligent—for the most part). Infertility seems to be a popular topic in novels lately (it has been overdone). It’s One of Us has my biggest pet peeve which is a love triangle. Some of the secrets or revelations are hard to believe (I wondered if we had entered an alternate reality). I found myself rolling my eyes often. At the end when the final secret is revealed, it is anticlimactic. It ended just as I predicted after reading the first chapter. I was very happy when I turned the last page of It’s One of Us.

[madison_fairbanks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It’s One of Us by J. T. EllisonContemporary thriller. Multiple POV and timelines. DNA results show that the prime suspect in a murder is Park’s son. His wife, Olivia, is shocked because as far as she knows, Park doesn’t have any children. Park concurs and tells the police he doesn’t have any children. But further investigation, and pressure on Park, has him admitting that he donated to a sperm bank in his college years. A second victim is found. Pressure from police and news reporters put Olivia and Park under the microscope as well as the donation clinic. Turns out they didn’t limit usage and it seems there are more than just a few children. A mystery and thriller that will have you guessing over and over again. Who is telling the truth? Who knows more than they are admitting to? How many offspring can there actually be?I enjoyed this a lot. The suspense was well done and the suspect list grew. Chapter headings told you the POV. The audiobook is narrated by Julie Whelan and is wonderful.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Olivia and Park Bender are desperately trying for a baby, but Olivia keeps miscarrying. Then, when a woman is found dead, the police come to the Bender's home with news. There has been a DNA match to Park, but it is not an exact match, it is from his son. Park is dumbfounded, he doesn't have a son. Then, he realizes that he donated sperm years earlier, and as a result, there are many offspring of his. A daughter is running a group called "the halves" which are all his children. They realize that the murderer is "one of us". This puts another strain on Olivia and Park's marriage. Park's past resurfaces, he was close to a few women who were found dead. Is Park guilty? Perry, his twin, returns from Europe, and he and Olivia also have a past. Secrets may unravel this marriage.

[bookchickdi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've read two novels recently that had unique premises- the first was Kylie Scott's romance End of Story (my review here) and the second is J.T. Ellison 's twisty suspense novel It's One of Us. Interior designer to the wealthy Olivia and her husband Park have been trying for a long time to have a baby. Their IVF treatments have led to pregnancies, but Olivia has miscarried several times. On the day of her most recent miscarriage, the police come to their door saying that Park's DNA has been found on the body of a local woman who was found murdered at the bottom of a lake.The police tell Park and Olivia that they believe Park is the father of the person who killed the woman. Since she and Park have no children, Olivia believes there has been a mistake. Park then tells Olivia that while in college he donated to a sperm bank, which shocks and upsets Olivia.Although Park was told his sperm would be only used ten times, there is a Facebook group of 28 young people who have all used an ancestry website to discover that Park is their father. One of these people could be the killer. As the police investigate, a man harasses Olivia at one of her job sites. Will she be the killer's next victim?There are a lot of secrets being kept from everyone in this twisty story. Olivia is keeping a secret about Park's twin brother from Park. When the police discover that Park's college girlfriend was found dead at the bottom of a lake years ago, the press become relentless, staking out Park and Olivia's home.A careful reader might be able to guess at the identity of the killer, but there are many red herrings in the novel that take the reader in different directions. The few twists at the end seem to come out of left field, and the final twist I found too unbelievable. It's One of Us has a fascinating premise, and people who enjoy shows like Dateline and suspense movies on Lifetime will definitely want to read this one.Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Winter 2023 Mystery/Thriller Blog Tours.

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's One of Us is J.T. Ellison's latest suspense novel.Oh, the premise of this one is downright devious! Olivia Bender and her husband Park seem to have it all. But the one thing they both want, is to have a child of their own. However, when the police come knocking on their door, things will never be the same for this couple. DNA that matches Park's points to his son being the perpetrator. But he doesn't have any children - or does he? And that's just the opener. Ellison takes her plot down paths you won't see coming!I really liked how Ellison presented One of Us. Almost every character is given a point of view and a voice. As the reader, we're the only ones who have all of that information in one place. Also running parallel to the search for the crime culprit is a dissection of a marriage in crisis mode. The cracks are widening with every disclosure. Ellison's writing makes for addictive reading. With the rotation of points of view, I can't wait to get back to one thread and another and another! And without providing spoilers, Ellison's plot premise is more than possible. Current technology of a certain type has opened the door for professional and amateur sleuthing. (I know I'm being quite obtuse but I don't want to ruin this read for you!)I quite enjoyed this latest from Ellison.

[lorikboyd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

TW…Infertility and miscarriage. Dealing with fertility issues is not for the faint of heart. The emotional toll, mood swings, not to mention the drugs and procedures are costly. It can make a marriage stronger or the cracks in the marriage grow wider (per cover). JT Ellison knows first hand (see Author’s Note). Proceed with caution if you are sensitive to this…it is handled honestly, but might be much if you are dealing with this. Olivia has a thriving job as an Interior Designer. Life should be perfect, but fertility issues rob her of her one dream, becoming a mother. Then her life changes on a dime with the knock on her door. Her husband, Park, DNA is found at a crime scene. A long ago secret comes to light and their world is shaken to its core. Secrets, lies, betrayal…this book is full of them. Ellison spins a web and it’s easy to get caught up in. Just when you think you have everything figured out, there might be a little twist or two thrown in throughout the story. Characters are sympathetic, but not necessarily likable. Storyline flows well and keeps you turning the page. One storyline with Park I found a little absurd. DNA testing thru the internet is a hot topic and this deals with a headline we’ve all read about. Overall a strong story. Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

[fredreeca · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Olivia has been trying to get pregnant for years. She loses her last IVF baby and she is basically numb. She is sick of her husband and just plain sick of everything! Then the police show up at her door with a unique case. The killer’s DNA matches her husband. But that can’t be. They don’t have children.I love all the narrators. Not usually my thing, but the way this is organized it adds so much to the story and the intensity. Plus, the uniqueness of this tale really had me engrossed. Yes, it is a murder mystery but what makes it unique is how the murderer was identified and conceived. I mean a sperm bank and he has how many siblings? Add in the freaky twist at the end which I did not see coming and you have a captivating book!I have been a fan of this author for a long time and this book is one of her bests!Need a fabulous thriller which will have you completely consumed…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I could not put this book down. The suspense of finding out all of these peoples lies and secrets kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved both Olivia and Park and Scarlet and Darby. I loved all the twists and turns. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.