You Deserve to Know
- Judith D Collins
- Mar 15
- 9 min read
Narrator: Alex Picard
Tantor Media
ISBN: 9781250892034
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group | Forge Books
Publication Date: 03/11/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
A brand new suspense novel from "the master of the suburban scandal" (Samantha M. Bailey), Aggie Blum Thompson.
Neighbors Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa share more than playdates and coffee mornings on their tranquil street in East Bethesda. They confide their deepest secrets, navigate the challenges of motherhood together, and provide a support system that seems unbreakable.
But when Gwen’s husband is found murdered after one of their weekly Friday night dinners, the peaceful quiet of their cul-de-sac shatters. The seemingly idyllic world of the three close-knit mom friends becomes a web of deception, betrayal, and revenge.
As the police investigate, the veneer of friendship begins to crack, revealing hidden tensions, clandestine affairs, and long-buried jealousies among the three women. With suspicions mounting and the neighborhood gripped by fear, Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa must confront the chilling truth about their husbands, and the sinister undercurrents in their own friendship.
About the Author
Before turning to fiction, Aggie worked as a newspaper reporter, covering cops, courts, and trials, with a healthy dose of the mundane mixed in. Her writing has appeared in newspapers such as The Boston Globe and The Washington Post. She lives in the suburbs just over the Washington D.C. line with her husband, two children, cat, and dog.
Her three domestic thrillers — I DON’T FORGIVE YOU, ALL THE DIRTY SECRETS, and SUCH A LOVELY FAMILY — are all set in the Washington DC area. They are available everywhere books are sold.
Her fourth novel — YOU DESERVE TO KNOW — will be out in March of 2025.
Connect with Aggie:
Exceptional Authors.
Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
BEHIND THE BOOK AND THE AUTHOR
Welcome to the first March 2025 #AuthorElevatorSeries! Special guest author Aggie Blum Thompson joins us today with her fourth novel, the highly anticipated suburban domestic thriller, YOU DESERVE TO KNOW.
“Captivating . . .Thompson drops her fully fleshed-out characters into a mile-a-minute plot peppered with blindsiding twists, making the novel easy to devour in a single sitting. This is domestic suspense at its finest.”―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Join us as Aggie shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and up-close and personal fun moments from this talented author.
Behind the Book
Q. Give us your best ELEVATOR PITCH for your new novel, YOU DESERVE TO KNOW.
I am cribbing this from a starred review in Booklist, which I think did a great job of summarizing the book!
Nassau Court is an attractive subdivision in Bethesda, Maryland that’s perfect for families —nice homes, plenty of space, good schools, and friendly neighbors. Couples Scott and Aimee, Lisa and Marcus, and Gwen and Anton socialize every weekend, help out with each other’s kids, and are good friends.
But when one of the men is found dead, the layers of artifice are quickly peeled back, and what once looked like perfect lives begin to fall apart, piece by piece.
The genial, sociable atmosphere quickly turns dark, with steadily escalating tension, unexpected twists around every corner, revelations about how dark human nature can be, and an ending that is as shocking as it is shattering.
Q. DESCRIBE your novel in three words or less.
Twisty, suburban noir.
Q. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Your favorite character to write, and/or most challenging?
My favorite character to write was Lisa, one of the wives who lives on the cul-de-sac, and who comes across at first as having some serious issues. But as I wrote her, I delved more into her backstory to help explain why she behaved in some of the outrageous ways she did. And then by then, everything you thought you knew about Lisa is up for reexamination.
Q. WRITING: Do you have a favorite chapter or scene in the novel you enjoyed writing the most?
I really loved writing the very last chapter of the book the most. I say “very” last because the book really has two endings. In the actual ending, I got to rip the mask off one of the characters and show them for who they really are (I’m using intentionally vague pronouns!).
Q. DID YOU KNOW? Name 1-5 things that readers may not know about your new book.
I name the smaller characters in my books after friends and neighbors. It’s a nice surprise for them!
Q. UPCOMING: Can you share what you are currently working on or what is next in ten words or less (or more)?
I am working on my fifth novel now, about a suburban woman who must convince her friends and family that she was kidnapped while discovering how her kidnapping connects to an unsolved murder in her neighborhood.
Fascintating! We will be on the lookout for your next one—sounds scandalous. Continue reading below for more up close and personal from Aggie!
Behind The Author
BIRTH STATE? or (Country)
Born in New York City
CURRENT STATE?
Now I live in Maryland, just over the D.C. line
ZODIAC SIGN?
Sagittarius — and it’s shockingly accurate! Curious, intense, and honest to a fault.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT WHERE YOU RESIDE?
So much culture! I’m within walking distance of bookstores and libraries and coffee shops and a quick metro ride to many (free) museums.
FAVORITE FLOWER?
That’s tough. I am a gardener and I love everything from the first daffodils to the late autumn asters. But when my Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) blooms it’s like nothing else. They open at dusk and almost glow in the dark — attracting night moths with their rich tropical scent.
DOG/CAT LOVER?
Both! I have a Golden Retriever and a teeny black cat and they represent both sides of my personality — I am an extroverted introvert. I love to be outside, romping in the garden and hanging with friends like my dog, but then I need to curl up on the sofa (with a good book of course) and not talk to anyone and recharge — cat style.
YOUR FAVORITE LIFE LESSON QUOTE?
“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” My kids are probably sick to death of hearing this, but I’ve said it to myself more than I have to anyone else. These days I am very into “get it done” energy.
THE FIRST BOOK YOU REMEMBER READING THAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME AN AUTHOR—THE ONE YOU CANNOT STOP THINKING OF.
The first book that really made me want to write a novel was Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. A very cool camp counselor lent it to me one summer when I was 12 years old. It is a totally inappropriate book for a 12-year-old and I devoured it!
Luckily there were many more in the series. I couldn’t get enough of Mouse and Mary Ann and their antics in San Francisco. I went home and promptly wrote Tales of the Seventh Grade, chronicling what all my middle school friends were up to. It was pretty popular and made the rounds of my class. Sadly, the book was confiscated by my science teacher, never to be seen again.
FAVORITE READING FORMAT?
Paperback – very portable and I don’t feel guilty if I drop it in the bath!
YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT RECIPE?
Flourless chocolate cake. I am gluten-free and I love, love, love dark chocolate. One of my close friends bakes this for me every birthday.
IF YOU WERE TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?
“Late Blumer.” I am a late bloomer! (And Blum is my maiden name). I got married in my 30s, had kids in my mid-to-late 30s, and didn’t publish my first novel until I was 50!
ONE BIT OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE AN INSPIRING AUTHOR?
Read all the time. Know your genre inside and out — all the conventions, tropes, varying tones etc. Then read outside your genre. I especially recommend reading good narrative non-fiction. It’s a great chance to learn from writers who were confined by facts and history but still told an engaging story.
WISE MESSAGE OR ADVICE FROM YOUR GRANDPARENTS (OR ELDERS)
My grandmother used to say, zu viel ist ungesund, which is German for “too much is unhealthy.” Even the good stuff. Especially the good stuff!
FIRST JOB?
Working behind the pastry counter at Bruce’s — Baker to the Stars when I was fifteen. The walls were adorned with pictures of a smiling tanned Bruce next to photographs of celebrities like Billy Joel and Jay Leno. I used to slip my friends ruggelach or black and white cookies when they came in.
FIRST CAR?
A 1991 Toyota Corrola stick shift. I drove that car across the country four times.
PET PEEVE?
People who don’t put on their left turn signal at a red light.
WHAT AREA WOULD YOU LIKE ONE OF FUTURE BOOKS TO BE SET?
Long Island, where I grew up.
FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK?
Half Magic by Edward Eager. I loved this book so much — the four siblings who bickered but were so close. They discover a magic coin that grants half of any wish they make. I used to check it out of the library over and over again.
SOMETHING YOU WILL NEVER TRY AGAIN?
Doing inverted headstands in yoga. I ended up with little tiny burst blood vessels all around my eyes.
A SMELL YOU LOVE?
Coffee and pipe tobacco. It reminds me of my father.
Thank you, Aggie, for spending time with us today!
PS. I love a late bloomer. Congrats!
Too bad about the Tales of the Seventh Grade! Could have been a bestseller. Shame on the science teacher for interferring with stardom! Would love for her to see you now.
Praise
"Captivating..Thompson drops her fully fleshed-out characters into a mile-a-minute plot peppered with blindsiding twists, making the novel easy to devour in a single sitting. This is domestic suspense at its finest."
―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Thompson flawlessly creates engaging plot twists and imperfect, realistic characters that readers will love to hate. This is a must-buy for public libraries and perfect for fans of Adele Parks and Lisa Unger.
—Library Journal (starred review)
"Thompson initially creates a genial, sociable atmosphere that quickly turns dark, with steadily escalating tension, unexpected twists around every corner,revelations about how dark human nature can be, and an ending that is as shocking as it is shattering."
―Booklist
My Review
The master of suburban scandal domestic thrillers, Aggie Blum Thompson, returns following Such a Lovely Family with her fourth novel, the highly anticipated— YOU DESERVE TO KNOW.
YOU DESERVE TO KNOW is a twisty suburban noir whodunit that will have you turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning. It's a perfect group of friends, a seemingly idyllic suburban setting, and a shocking murder that will keep you guessing until the very end.
But remember, looks are most definitely deceiving...
About...
The book starts with a transcript from NBC's Dateline with the interviewer and guest. There is a book calledYou Deserve to Know , which is the subject of several podcasts and has turned into a movie and a documentary. It is called autofiction. We do not know who wrote the book.
Now, let the games begin... As the secrets unravel and the truth comes to light, you'll be on the edge of your seat, unable to put the book down.
Set in a peaceful subdivision outside of Washington, DC, we meet three neighborhood wives: Aimee (Scott), Gwen (Anton), and Lisa (Marcus).
They're not just friends; they're a tight-knit group that hosts weekly dinners, helps out with the kids, shares parenting advice, and even goes on family vacations together. But their seemingly perfect lives are about to be shattered...
The three families live on the same cul-de-sac, Nassau Court in East Bethesda, just outside Washington DC. The five younger kids are all close in age and attend the same school.
Their Friday night ritual is piling into one of the backyards and grilling or taking out. Sometimes, they drink too much and say things they shouldn't. Yes, some are jealous. But is there more?
On the surface, Gwen and Anton seem perfect. Anton, the successful writer, university teacher, twin boys, and sophisticated Gwen, works part-time at a Georgetown PR firm.
Then Anton leans into Aimee and whispers something in her ear: "You deserve to know."
His wife wants to know what he is up to.
Later, Aimee hears an argument between Gwen and Anton. Little does she know what happens behind closed doors and her friend's marriages.
The following morning, the neighbors receive the shocking news that Anton is dead. MURDERED. This unexpected turn of events will keep you on the edge of your seat.
His body was found in an alley next to a bar in downtown Bethesda and hit by a car.
My thoughts...
YOU DESERVE TO KNOW is a wickedly scandalous thrill ride of domestic suspense, as the carefully curated lives and facade of these friends and neighbors begin to crumble with secrets and lies. The unpredictable twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end.
The close friendship turns into a toxic web of lies and deceit in what was once a close friendship between the three women, spirals into a poisonous web of lies, disloyalty, jealousy, and infidelity. A devious, twisted tale of deception and falsehoods where every character brims with secrets, and every page holds an unexpected surprise.
Blum's chilling psychological thriller cleverly exposes the dark secrets behind a seemingly perfect marriage's closed doors. This dark and twisted domestic suspense will keep you on your toes and have you wondering exactly what goes on behind your neighbor's door with characters you love to hate.
Interview...
Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries QA ride with Aggie where we go behind the book and this talented author.
Recs...
YOU DESERVE TO KNOW is for fans of the author and those who enjoy cleverly written domestic thrillers by B.A. Paris, Mary Kubica, Lisa Unger, and Liv Constantine.
A special thanks to Forge Books and NetGalley for an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. #CoverLove
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Mar 11, 2025
