Alex Armstrong has changed everything about herself—her name, her appearance, her backstory. She’s no longer the terrified teenager a rapt audience saw on television, emerging in handcuffs from the quiet suburban home the night her family was massacred. That girl, Alexandra Quinlan, nicknamed Empty Eyes by the media, was accused of the killings, fought to clear her name, and later took the stand during her highly publicized defamation lawsuit that captured the attention of the nation.
It’s been ten years since, and Alex hasn’t stopped searching for answers about the night her family was killed, even as she continues to hide her real identity from true crime fanatics and grasping reporters still desperate to locate her. As a legal investigator, she works tirelessly to secure justice for others, too. People like Matthew Claymore, who’s under suspicion in the disappearance of his girlfriend, a student journalist named Laura McAllister.
Laura was about to break a major story about rape and cover-ups on her college campus. Alex believes Matthew is innocent, and unearths stunning revelations about the university’s faculty, fraternity members, and powerful parents willing to do anything to protect their children.
Most shocking of all—as Alex digs into Laura’s disappearance, she realizes there are unexpected connections to the murder of her own family. For as different as the crimes may seem, they each hinge on one sinister truth: no one is quite who they seem to be…
Those Empty Eyes is an emotional, fast-paced thriller with conspiracies, serial killings, and an intricate plot. The story follows Alex Armstrong, who, 10 years ago, survived the brutal massacre of her family, only to be branded a suspect by the public and have her life turned upside down. Now, living under a new identity, she’s determined to clear her name & uncover the truth. With the help of a reporter, she uncovers a web of secrets that point to forces who will do anything to keep the truth buried.
The story unfolds across a dual timeline, alternating between the past, when Alex’s family was murdered, and the present, where she lives under a new identity investigating the truth. The story is told via multiple POVs—mainly Alex’s, but also the investigative journalist & secondary characters—revealing clues from different perspectives and making the story more compelling! Alex is a fierce, resilient protagonist who’s easy to root for. The investigative journalist who teams up with her grounds the story with her persistence and intellect. There are a lot of intriguing side characters, some of whom protect Alex—but no one is exactly who they seem!
The pacing is relentless with short, punchy chapters that make the book difficult to put down. The first half jumps around a lot between different threads. There are detours & red herrings in the 2nd half & questionable plot points that may have readers shaking their heads—but the ending lands with shock and satisfaction, cleverly tying the threads together and will leave readers reeling at how neatly everything falls into place!
Narrator Performance
This Graphic Audio adaptation is narrated by a full cast, including Eva Wilhelm, Amanda Forstrom, Richard Rohan, Nanette Savard, Natalie Van Sistine, Jessica Threet, Chris Stinson, Sam Intrater, Nathaniel Priestley, Jenna Sharpe, and Jonathan Sleep. The production has sound effects and cinematic music that make it feel like listening to a high-budget radio drama. Unfortunately, the main narrator has a habit of emphasizing the ends of words, sometimes making it feel like listening to a newscast—and can make it difficult to fully engage. On the positive side, Amanda Forstrom delivers a standout performance as protagonist Alex, and the supporting narrators all give secondary characters distinct voices that add texture and tension. The original audiobook (narrated by Vivienne Leheny) or a physical copy may be the more enjoyable option here, but this graphic audio is still a high-quality production with entertainment value!
Narrator Performance
This Graphic Audio adaptation is narrated by a full cast, including Eva Wilhelm, Amanda Forstrom, Richard Rohan, Nanette Savard, Natalie Van Sistine, Jessica Threet, Chris Stinson, Sam Intrater, Nathaniel Priestley, Jenna Sharpe, and Jonathan Sleep. The production has sound effects and cinematic music that make it feel like listening to a high-budget radio drama. Unfortunately, the main narrator has a habit of emphasizing the ends of words, sometimes making it feel like listening to a newscast—and can make it difficult to fully engage. On the positive side, Amanda Forstrom delivers a standout performance as protagonist Alex, and the supporting narrators all give secondary characters distinct voices that add texture and tension. The original audiobook (narrated by Vivienne Leheny) or a physical copy may be the more enjoyable option here, but this graphic audio is still a high-quality production with entertainment value!
This Graphic Audio adaptation is narrated by a full cast, including Eva Wilhelm, Amanda Forstrom, Richard Rohan, Nanette Savard, Natalie Van Sistine, Jessica Threet, Chris Stinson, Sam Intrater, Nathaniel Priestley, Jenna Sharpe, and Jonathan Sleep. The production has sound effects and cinematic music that make it feel like listening to a high-budget radio drama. Unfortunately, the main narrator has a habit of emphasizing the ends of words, sometimes making it feel like listening to a newscast—and can make it difficult to fully engage. On the positive side, Amanda Forstrom delivers a standout performance as protagonist Alex, and the supporting narrators all give secondary characters distinct voices that add texture and tension. The original audiobook (narrated by Vivienne Leheny) or a physical copy may be the more enjoyable option here, but this graphic audio is still a high-quality production with entertainment value!
