The Ash Park Series Boxed Set (Books 1-3) by Meghan O’Flynn – Review by Liz Vrchota

The Ash Park Series Box Set (Books 1-3): Famished, Conviction, and RepressedThe Ash Park Series Box Set (Books 1-3): Famished, Conviction, and Repressed by Meghan O’Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to start by saying this is my absolute favorite thriller series right now and for a long time. I have completely fallen in love with the dark and twisty world of Ash Park and the detectives that work so hard to make it safer for the inhabitants while struggling with their own deep dark demons. These books will knock your socks off and are absolute must haves. Box sets make my day for so many reasons, one being easy gifting so I can spread the goodies around, and definitely something I have already done with this. I can’t wait to see if we will get more Ash Park books in the future or whatever twisted story Meghan O’Flynn cooks us up! Below is a review for each individual books.

FAMISHED ~ Book #1:
I will admit I was hesitant going into reading this novel. I ADORE thriller novels. Love the gore and scares, and by all means give me all the twisted intrigue, mystery, with a twisty plot. I want to believe this could be real so I can be scared. See, we live in a pretty scary world already. One, where just watching the daily news is enough to make me want to put three locks on my door and cameras in my home with a fully loaded gun in my nightstand. So what really confused me was when I began to really get into this novel, was all those one star reviews that had me so hesitant to pick up a thriller novel from an author that I adore. I have several points I need to make because it has been really weighing on my mind here. First, Meghan O’Flynn is a clinical therapist and a mother. Can you imagine the horrors she hears and sees on a daily basis while having to go home and live a “normal” life and be a nurturing mother? I struggle as a mother with the guilt of knowing I brought a child into this world that is slowly, each day, becoming more and more depraved to a point where I fear to go to even the grocery store. She gets a backstage pass to this stuff. So yeah it isn’t so shocking to envision the phrase so often used to describe such shocking writing…

“Thomas grinned like a fifteen year old girl with a cock in her ass.”

Umm… you apparently don’t read, watch TV, or go to the mall, etc. I have heard phrases like this be slung around, all too much, sadly in one form or another. This is supposed to be from a depraved person and depicts a state of mind. It is crucial character development.

Second, gore and sex is definitely a major role is this book. Now I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It isn’t a necessary aspect for a thriller book, but for this storyline it was necessary to have the details in order to fulfill the plot. Given that nugget of information you can decide whether you’d like to give it a try or not, but don’t rule it out completely just because it is a part of the story until you consider that. It is not done in distaste or overwritten and everything has its place. I can think of many great horror movies that were amazing because they managed to be detailed with gore and violence to a realistic point. It made the movie realistic and feel as if it happened not was a written script. Those are the ones that get you. Famished does this, and that is a difficult feat!

With that said and out of the way, and if you have decided to keep going you are in for one hell of a thrilling ride. I picked this up about 8:45 at night, it was raining (again) and I just needed something to help me unwind to get to sleep. I had no idea that I would be reading well into the night and devouring this book in one sitting. In fact I am actually typing this review very sleepily at 4 am because I awoke with a start from a disturbing dream (those darn scary bedtime stories) and had to do something to distract myself for a bit. This book is still very much on my mind and I am sure it will be for quite some time. Luckily, Conviction, the second book is available now so I am off to dive right into it after this. I think I am going to skip out on those reviews this time! Happy reading, and scary dreams! Thank you so much Meghan O’Flynn for the bloody amazing thriller!
CONVICTION ~ Book #2:
Conviction is the second installment in the Ash Park Novels from Meghan O’Flynn. She has quickly become my favorite thriller writer and one-click go to author for this genera. I have never been disappointed with a novel of hers and once again she has managed to top the bar she set with her last. Conviction took me on a riveting, perplexing, and hair-raising journey that I never wanted to end. I absolutely adore Meghan’s knack for making it nearly impossible to figure out the twist before it happens. I am known for being the one that figures out the movie twenty minutes in, and same for most books like this, but never with Meghan’s. I am 80% of the time wrong, and I LOVE it!

Like I said before, this is the second installment in her Ash Park novels. They could be read as standalones, but I would highly recommend that you read them in order. There are a lot of reoccurring characters that make up the team that do the investigations and so forth. I find it would be a travesty to really divulge much of anything else about the plot because I just can’t ruin this book for you. Curl up with your favorite blanket in a comfy spot. Set the mood and settle in for a dark adventure you are sure to enjoy in one sitting. Thanks Meghan O’Flynn for another outstanding thrill!

REPRESSED ~ Book #3
Holy fracking wow! Repressed is another impressive chilling thriller from Meghan O’ Flynn. I must confess, after each of the Ash Park novels that I read by the ever talented O’ Flynn, I am more enamored than I was with the previous one I just praised as the best of the series. O’ Flynn really has the knack for drawing in the reader and holding you and your thoughts hostage long after you finish the last page. Each of the books could be read as standalones, but I would read them all and in order. For one, as mentioned, they are all great, but they do build in plot and stories, as well as have characters that we do get glimpses of in each of the books, and two, why not?? It is the perfect season and they are all available to scoop up and enjoy!

Repressed gives us the story of Curt Morrison. I always knew that there was more to Curt but I had no idea what was to come from him that is for sure! (No spoilers here though!) Though, as we follow him in his new life with his wife and adorable new daughter we begin to learn about some deep and dark demons that lay ‘repressed’ in his past. The case that Morrison and Petrosky are working on also becomes an overlying factor and everything Morrison has ever cherished will come into jeopardy. Will he be able to conquer his past demons and do whatever it takes to protect the ones that he loves now? Or will the past finally come to catch up to him?

This book touches on some difficult subjects, like the others have, but it is done in a way that makes the story flow. Every piece is necessary to the novel, and tells the story that the reader needs to fully understand all that is going on. Nothing is done without care to details. You can tell these are topics close to Meghan O’ Flynn’s heart. I personally cannot wait to get my hands on the next novel, which will be right after I finish this review. I think a storm is brewing outside too, perfect weather for an Ash Park novel!! Thank you so much for another amazing novel, Meghan O’ Flynn!

Review by @lizaileen
View all my reviews

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