The Herd: A Novel

Andrea Bartz

Mar 2020 · Sold by Ballantine Books

About this ebook

Why did the founder of a glamorous coworking space for women disappear? Her best friends will risk everything to uncover the truth in this “propulsive thriller” (Marie Claire) from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club pick We Were Never Here.

“Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies.”—The Washington Post

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Real Simple • Marie Claire • Good Housekeeping • CrimeReads

As CEO of the Herd, an elite women-only coworking space, Eleanor Walsh seems to have it all: close friends, a sweet husband, and the most glamorous and successful female-empowerment-based company in New York City. Then she vanishes on the night of a glitzy press conference—and the police suspect foul play.
 
For Hana, the head of PR for the Herd and Eleanor’s best friend, this is a nightmare. For Hana’s sister, Katie, a journalist, this is the story that will make her career. But when the sisters launch their own investigation and begin to learn what Eleanor was hiding, they must also face the secrets they’ve been keeping from each other—and confront just how dangerous it can be when women’s perfect veneers start to crack.

Ratings and reviews

HOT MESS! The concept of The Herd is intriguing and I hoped for its potential as a suspense hit. However, what I got instead was a convoluted hot mess. There's no engagement between the characters. I could not get drawn into their circle, into their story and as such I simply found I did not care about the characters or what happened. Then there's what happened: a lot! On and on! 2 POVs, constant backstabbing and several twists revealed. While this offers plenty attempts of enticement, it also pulls the book in every which way imaginable. Normally I'd be pleased at the action, but with the lack of connection with characters, and twists thrown in just for twists sake, this was yet another road block that stopped me from becoming fully engaged. Whenever a twist occurred, it did little to excite, or meant nothing to me at that point. I'd say I lost interest half way. But honestly, I don't think I was ever fully invested at any point.

So badly written, plot given away in the prologue even though what you know isn't 'revealed' until about halfway through the book. Lots of jumbled bits of story that seem rushed and poorly thought out.

About the author

Andrea Bartz is a Brooklyn-based journalist and New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here, The Lost Night, and The Herd. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, Martha Stewart Living, Redbook, Elle, and many other outlets, and she’s held editorial positions at Glamour, Psychology Today, and Self, among other publications.