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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Sort of a hot mess. This book just had too many story threads and I was not invested enough to see how they came together (assuming they do).
I couldn’t put this one down. I read it in just a few hours! It’s fast-paced and packed with action. The story kicks off with Callie’s disappearance ten years ago, a cold case that her father is desperate to reopen. Enter Ethan, a former detective with a flawless track record, has been pulled back in to take on the case by his old partner. I loved the twists and the pacing on this one. Definitely my top fave by him now.
Thanks to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing | Kensington for my advanced e copy in exchange for my honest review.
Publish date: July 29 (today)
This was my first book by Charlie Donlea and now I’m kicking myself for missing out for so long! I loved the pacing of this audiobook and the unexpected twists and turns in the second half. It really turned out to be quite a wild ride! I hope there will be a second installment to pick up where this one left off. The narrator was a great choice for this book and really had led the multiple POV well.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
At last! All summer I’ve been searching for that mystery/thriller that keeps me guessing and not wanting to stop my book. Thank you Charlie Donlea for GUESS AGAIN, because finally I found it! This book is for you if you enjoy twists, turns, a bunch of suspects – and don’t mind a serial killer being in the mix.
I am blown away at the narration talent of Vivienne Leheny! If I didn’t know she was the sole narrator, I’d be convinced I had just listened to a full cast performance. The audio was crisp and clear with strong production quality.
I am so thankful to NetGalley and RB Media for access to an advanced listener copy of this audiobook. I’ve found a new author in one of my favorite genres! Look for more Charlie Donlea reviews from me, and I hope this isn’t the end of the story for the cast of Guess Again! I’ll also be starting a read-along of the physical copy with a group, so I can’t wait to see how this reads vs. the audio! To my lovers of a good thriller – grab this one!
I am blown away at the narration talent of Vivienne Leheny! If I didn’t know she was the sole narrator, I’d be convinced I had just listened to a full cast performance. The audio was crisp and clear with strong production quality.
I am so thankful to NetGalley and RB Media for access to an advanced listener copy of this audiobook. I’ve found a new author in one of my favorite genres! Look for more Charlie Donlea reviews from me, and I hope this isn’t the end of the story for the cast of Guess Again! I’ll also be starting a read-along of the physical copy with a group, so I can’t wait to see how this reads vs. the audio! To my lovers of a good thriller – grab this one!
mysterious
3.75⭐️
I’ve listened to two others by this author which I either really enjoyed or loved, so I was keen to try this book.
I had the audiobook read by Vivienne Lehney who provides distinct voices for the main characters, but I wasn’t keen on the one for the older detective.
Ten years ago Callie went missing and was never found.
Ethan Hall was a detective, but switched to medicine becoming an ER doctor. Pete is his detective partner seeks him out to help get closure for Callie’s family.
There are a couple of storylines covering different time frames and perspectives. It’s a slow start in the first half. I like Ethan, not sure how authentic I found his career swop.
Overall I enjoyed it, the ending is very good. It looks like it could become a series, personally I prefer standalones.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Guess Again” by Charlie Donlea is an absolutely addictive read! I devoured it in one sitting because I simply couldn’t put it down. From the very first page, the tension hooked me and never let go. The cold case element was brilliantly woven, filled with unexpected twists and turns that had me gasping out loud more than once. Every time I thought I had something figured out, Donlea pulled the rug out from under me in the best way possible.
What really stood out was the intricate plotting and pacing nothing felt wasted or predictable. The narrative alternates seamlessly between past and present, gradually peeling back layers of secrets while keeping you guessing until the final pages. The suspense builds with such precision that it’s impossible not to stay glued to the story.
I also loved how Donlea’s writing balances sharp, investigative detail with an emotional depth that makes you deeply invested in the characters and their fates. It’s everything I want in a thriller: shocking revelations, relentless pacing, and a perfectly satisfying conclusion that ties everything together.
This is easily one of my favorite thrillers of the year and a perfect example of why Charlie Donlea is a master of suspense. If you love cold cases, jaw dropping twists, and stories that refuse to let go, this is a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
“Guess Again” by Charlie Donlea is an absolutely addictive read! I devoured it in one sitting because I simply couldn’t put it down. From the very first page, the tension hooked me and never let go. The cold case element was brilliantly woven, filled with unexpected twists and turns that had me gasping out loud more than once. Every time I thought I had something figured out, Donlea pulled the rug out from under me in the best way possible.
What really stood out was the intricate plotting and pacing nothing felt wasted or predictable. The narrative alternates seamlessly between past and present, gradually peeling back layers of secrets while keeping you guessing until the final pages. The suspense builds with such precision that it’s impossible not to stay glued to the story.
I also loved how Donlea’s writing balances sharp, investigative detail with an emotional depth that makes you deeply invested in the characters and their fates. It’s everything I want in a thriller: shocking revelations, relentless pacing, and a perfectly satisfying conclusion that ties everything together.
This is easily one of my favorite thrillers of the year and a perfect example of why Charlie Donlea is a master of suspense. If you love cold cases, jaw dropping twists, and stories that refuse to let go, this is a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. This book was so good. Detailed, suspenseful, and dark. The short chapters made for a perfect bingeable read. Thank you Kensington for my copy!!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Guess Again by Charlie Donlea
Pub Date: 7/29/25
Format: audio
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I keep getting surprised with books that have Criminal Minds vibes this month and I’m not mad about it! This is the third book I’ve read by Donlea and he never ceases to keep me guessing!
This book has an opening that will make you a a bit sick and pretty intrigued all at once. I feel like after the first chapter, I thought I understood where this book was going but I very much did not.
I appreciated how everything tied together in this book, but did not necessarily feel like the journey to get there was cohesive enough. I struggled a bit with all the jumping around. I am very grateful for the advanced listening copy from Netgalley and Recorded Books, but I think this would be a better eyeball read due to all the moving parts.
It also takes a lot for me to dislike a narrator as I am not super picky, but the narrator seemed very robotic to me throughout and it almost felt like it was read by AI a bit.
However, huge bonus for short chapters (always) and a very intriguing main character! A law enforcement agent who quits to become a doctor??? I was super intrigued by his story!
I would definitely recommend checking this book out, but think it would be much more enjoyable in a different format. If you’re looking for a twisty thriller, Donlea definitely has one for you with Guess Again!
Pub Date: 7/29/25
Format: audio
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I keep getting surprised with books that have Criminal Minds vibes this month and I’m not mad about it! This is the third book I’ve read by Donlea and he never ceases to keep me guessing!
This book has an opening that will make you a a bit sick and pretty intrigued all at once. I feel like after the first chapter, I thought I understood where this book was going but I very much did not.
I appreciated how everything tied together in this book, but did not necessarily feel like the journey to get there was cohesive enough. I struggled a bit with all the jumping around. I am very grateful for the advanced listening copy from Netgalley and Recorded Books, but I think this would be a better eyeball read due to all the moving parts.
It also takes a lot for me to dislike a narrator as I am not super picky, but the narrator seemed very robotic to me throughout and it almost felt like it was read by AI a bit.
However, huge bonus for short chapters (always) and a very intriguing main character! A law enforcement agent who quits to become a doctor??? I was super intrigued by his story!
I would definitely recommend checking this book out, but think it would be much more enjoyable in a different format. If you’re looking for a twisty thriller, Donlea definitely has one for you with Guess Again!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was another Netgallery read I had to bump to the front of the line 🫣.. I LOVE Me some Donlea
You know that scene in Aladdin, when genie tells Aladdin he has 2 wishes left. Aladdin corrects genie, it's actually still 3 wishes, because Aladdin didn't technically wish to be brought out of the caves? The way genie's jaw drops to the ground in .25 seconds in response is exact same response one has to reading a Charlie Donlea Novel.
I will never forget Mr Donlea because he taught me that no matter how lazy you may be feeling at the time you always, always, ALWAYS, read a books epilogue!
I don't even like cop/FBI thrillers as a rule. In fact, they're pretty much at the bottom of my personal book food chain as it gets.. Can we just take a second and let that sink in? The talent it takes to be pulling 5 stars from people that aren't even the biggest fan of your genre. I personally think that speaks volumes. Another absolute home run and I'm absolutely not surprised