There is some truth to the old adage that there is nothing new under the sun, however, this simplistic view tends to discount innovations that can serve to make something familiar feel fresh in execution. Take for example, the second thriller soon to be released by Alyssa Cole—One of Us Knows. Despite containing all types of familiar components, the magic this author weaves is in making it all feel so unique, unusual, and undeniably fresh. Aficionados of psychological suspense and true crime might view it as Shutter Island by way of When Rabbit Howls, with more than a dash of the gothic tradition sprinkled throughout. But even that undercuts the true mastery of Alyssa Cole here and her ability to stake a claim by adding her own pioneering twists to well-established tropes.
One of Us Knows is a thriller. But bear with me on this, it’s a novel that doesn’t exactly have a proper plot. This is not to imply that it doesn’t have a ton of story. That sounds confusing and contradictory but makes total sense in application. The conflict and crisis at the center of One of Us Knows evolves out of deep—extremely deep—character development and its clash with backstory. The forward momentum plot can be concisely conveyed as: A 37-year-old woman travels to an isolated Hudson River mansion to begin a job as the new caretaker, only to find herself stranded—by freakish weather—on the island with some unexpected individuals.
To understand how this is enough complexity to carry the entire novel, it must be pointed out that Kenetria “Ken” Nash suffers from dissociative identity disorder and many of her “headmates” (as they are called in the book) take turns narrating our tale. It seems that Ken—the primary personality—has been dormant for an extended period of time, so upon re-awakening she isn’t even aware they are on their way to a job interview. Alyssa Cole uses the ferry ride across the Hudson River as an opportunity and reason to give readers the necessary backstory of Ken’s condition, the history of the island, and her job expectations as the new caretaker. This may seem like a lot to consume, but rest assured that Cole has the pacing on lockdown and this journey unfolds slowly but steadily. (Note: not one paragraph of it is boring.)
Given that One of Us Knows is a contemporary set novel, this means that Kenetria’s dormancy also coincided with the pandemic, allowing Alyssa Cole to explore that period and the seismic societal shifts that occurred afterwards through fresh, untainted eyes. It is a watershed moment of bringing our shared trauma into a narrative in a way that reinforces its significance. This alone makes this novel a must-read.
Eventually, a death does occur and Ken and her headmates must learn to work together to determine exactly what happened. Readers often stress how important unique characterization of each player is when consuming a book. That need is only elevated when most of the characters are all in the same body—albeit with their own varying ages, genders, races, sexualities, and above all else, motivations. Alyssa Cole nails this and every reader will find that they have a favorite among Kenetria’s headmates. With all of their interests, the storyline features references to anime, manga, folklore, as well as more serious topics such as the history of placing women in “medical” centers against their will and the unethical treatment of Women of Color—including mixed-race citizens.
In the end, One of Us Knows seems to be a novel-length treatise on the importance of accepting all facets of ourselves—good, bad, and ugly. By centering a truly fractured individual. Alyssa Cole is better able to more concretely demonstrate this, but every reader will soon recognize that there are various “voices” in all our head trying to direct and dictate each of our moves. We just need to trust and listen. Pick up Alyssa Cole’s One of Us Knows soon and enjoy one of the most inventive and unusual thrillers you are likely to encounter. It is a complex journey well worth taking.
BUY LINKS: One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
