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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Okayโฆ this one got me. I had a wild theory around 66% in, and was correct. It was totally out of left field and based on nothing in the book Just my brain spiraling like it does when I read too many thrillers. Although I did call one of the twists, the other reveal? Completely blindsided me. I loved that. Charlie Donlea really knows how to weave a complex, layered mystery that keeps you second-guessing everyone and everything.
There were a lot of moving parts, so many characters and pieces to connect, but it all came together in such a satisfying way. I devoured this book. Honestly, if I didnโt have to do annoying things like go to work and parent, I couldโve read it in one sitting.
Easily a new favorite from Donlea. Highly recommend! I received an eARC of this book for review consideration and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
There were a lot of moving parts, so many characters and pieces to connect, but it all came together in such a satisfying way. I devoured this book. Honestly, if I didnโt have to do annoying things like go to work and parent, I couldโve read it in one sitting.
Easily a new favorite from Donlea. Highly recommend! I received an eARC of this book for review consideration and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
Take this with a grain of salt because I seem to be an outlier on this one!
๐: Ethan Hall left his job as a detective years ago. Even with a 100% solve rate, the mental and emotional toll got to be too much. But when a cold case is re-opened, Ethan is approached. Since the case involves the serial killer who killed his father, Ethan decides to take it on.
๐ค: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- serial killer thrillers
- intricate webs of secrets
- action-packed endings
๐ญ: Guess Again was certainly entertaining and fast-paced. It's plot-driven with short chapters. It has a lot of elements thriller-readers will love. I couldn't have predicted some of the reveals. And it's always fun to read about familiar places as a Wisconsinite!
There were a few things that wore on me as the book went on. There were multiple times the dialogue felt unnatural in efforts to get information across. I also thought two of the reveals were interesting, necessary, and surprising. Others felt like too much. Finally, I'm not usually one to notice little details, but there were multiple times that I was like "how did this happen?" that felt convenient.
Rating: I liked it! (3)
Thank you to Kensington Publishing, NetGalley, and the Thrillers by the Book Club MKE leaders for the early copies of this book in exchange for an honest review.
๐: Ethan Hall left his job as a detective years ago. Even with a 100% solve rate, the mental and emotional toll got to be too much. But when a cold case is re-opened, Ethan is approached. Since the case involves the serial killer who killed his father, Ethan decides to take it on.
๐ค: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- serial killer thrillers
- intricate webs of secrets
- action-packed endings
๐ญ: Guess Again was certainly entertaining and fast-paced. It's plot-driven with short chapters. It has a lot of elements thriller-readers will love. I couldn't have predicted some of the reveals. And it's always fun to read about familiar places as a Wisconsinite!
There were a few things that wore on me as the book went on. There were multiple times the dialogue felt unnatural in efforts to get information across. I also thought two of the reveals were interesting, necessary, and surprising. Others felt like too much. Finally, I'm not usually one to notice little details, but there were multiple times that I was like "how did this happen?" that felt convenient.
Rating: I liked it! (3)
Thank you to Kensington Publishing, NetGalley, and the Thrillers by the Book Club MKE leaders for the early copies of this book in exchange for an honest review.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow, what a page turner!! And, boy, does this one have a heck of a twist at the end! The characters are likable and well developed. There are lots of twists and turns that made this book a mental workout. I think my mouth may have been hanging open by the end.
Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
5โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ read!!!
โGUESS AGAINโ by Charlie Donlea lives up to its title. I have read all of Donleaโs work and thought I knew most of his tricks but this book really proved me wrong.
The story lives up to his usual structure of multiple POVs to tell the story which does so in an efficient manner leaving the reader on their toes while they root for the (very likeable!) main character.
I really enjoyed this read because there was multiple story lines going on which made it such a quick read and it was all tied up nicely at the end (??? Hoping for a sequel with more Ethan!!). I got into about 75% of this book thinking it was going to be a 4 star but the ending really did it for me in rating this 5 stars. If you love cold cases, great detective work and serial killer reads this one is for you!
Thank you to publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
fast-paced
๐๐ช๐๐จ๐จ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฎ ๐พ๐๐๐ง๐ก๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐๐
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ 5/5
๐๐๐๐ค๐ค๐ (๐ข๐ณ๐ค)
๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐: 352 ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ด
๐๐๐ฃ๐ง๐: ๐๐ฉ๐ณ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ณ
๐๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐: ๐๐ถ๐ญ๐บ 29, 2025
There isnโt a book Charlieโs that I havenโt loved, and this is no exception. I absolutely loved this from beginning to end. I was immediately invested and was reading every moment I could because I had to know what was going to happen. There were so many instances where I thought I had figured it out, but I kept being proven wrong! This is such a great read, and high recommend
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
leave it to the last book I read in may to be the most captivating, thrilling read!! charlie donalea writes so fast-paced it makes my head spin, and those twists? remarkable ๐๐ผ
when I first started this story, I truly thought this was a sequel & I missed the first one because it jumped right into the characters and recapping information from their pasts ๐ค I wanted more backstory from them in a showing manner rather than just telling what happened to themโฆ
however, the format of the plot itself was brilliant! a retired detective is pulled back into the throng of a missing person cold case to dig up any details & new informationโฆ and boy, was it full of surprises! it kept me on my toes the entire time!
even when it seemed all of the pieces were scattered and different (how does a former ๐ฅฃ killer who unalived the detectiveโs dad link up with the governorโs missing daughter from ten years ago?!), they all fit together! not as neat as a jigsaw puzzle, but a messy collage (which I loved) ๐ณ
and that ending? those last chapters? FLOORED
this story is super dark and depressing, especially for those suffering from child and parent losses, so take that into consideration when picking this one up! but itโs definitely a shocker and winner from me!
#gifted by kensington press
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: napa valley merlot
when I first started this story, I truly thought this was a sequel & I missed the first one because it jumped right into the characters and recapping information from their pasts ๐ค I wanted more backstory from them in a showing manner rather than just telling what happened to themโฆ
however, the format of the plot itself was brilliant! a retired detective is pulled back into the throng of a missing person cold case to dig up any details & new informationโฆ and boy, was it full of surprises! it kept me on my toes the entire time!
even when it seemed all of the pieces were scattered and different (how does a former ๐ฅฃ killer who unalived the detectiveโs dad link up with the governorโs missing daughter from ten years ago?!), they all fit together! not as neat as a jigsaw puzzle, but a messy collage (which I loved) ๐ณ
and that ending? those last chapters? FLOORED
this story is super dark and depressing, especially for those suffering from child and parent losses, so take that into consideration when picking this one up! but itโs definitely a shocker and winner from me!
#gifted by kensington press
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: napa valley merlot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Trafficking, Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If Charlie Donlea writes it then you know Iโm going to not only read it but Iโm also going to love it. First off thank you so much Charlie Donlea and Kensington Books for the early release and gifted copy of Guess Again. When it came in the mail I literally screamed!
I finished this in under 24 hours I loved the story and the characters and Iโm keeping all of my fingers crossed that we get a second book!! I need more of Ethanโs story!
This was a complete mindf*ck (in the best way) as the title states guess again because itโs going to make you guess again. I thought I had it all figured out throughout the book but then twist after twist kept coming! It gave me major The Silence of the Lambs vibes so if you were a fan of that then youโll love this!
A former detective Ethan Hall switches gears in his career and becomes an ER doctor. He decided he needed to leave the gruesome life of solving crimes in his past and wanted to work on saving people in a different way. During his time as a doctor his old partner seeks Ethan out and asks him to help him uncover a case that went cold ten years prior. Ethan agrees to lead the investigation which then begins a winding and diabolical cat and mouse game between Ethan, this case, and eventually his own past. Twists and turns galore. This will be a thriller hit this summer so be sure to add it to that tbr!
Publishes 7/25!
I finished this in under 24 hours I loved the story and the characters and Iโm keeping all of my fingers crossed that we get a second book!! I need more of Ethanโs story!
This was a complete mindf*ck (in the best way) as the title states guess again because itโs going to make you guess again. I thought I had it all figured out throughout the book but then twist after twist kept coming! It gave me major The Silence of the Lambs vibes so if you were a fan of that then youโll love this!
A former detective Ethan Hall switches gears in his career and becomes an ER doctor. He decided he needed to leave the gruesome life of solving crimes in his past and wanted to work on saving people in a different way. During his time as a doctor his old partner seeks Ethan out and asks him to help him uncover a case that went cold ten years prior. Ethan agrees to lead the investigation which then begins a winding and diabolical cat and mouse game between Ethan, this case, and eventually his own past. Twists and turns galore. This will be a thriller hit this summer so be sure to add it to that tbr!
Publishes 7/25!
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Reading Journal Details
Book: Guess Again by Charlie Donlea
Format Read: eBook (~352 pages long)
My Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ (5/5)
My Quick Take Review
This sharply plotted thriller has layered characters, killer pacing, and lives up to the title Guess Again by being so twist-laden that it'll keep you guessing until the very end! Charlie Donlea has completely outdone himself with this one!
My Full Review
Guess Again is a fast-paced, twist-filled thriller with clever red herrings and jaw-dropping moments. Its seamless blend of intersecting timelines, misdirection, and flashbacks kept me guessing and completely engaged.
Short, punchy chapters combined with multiple perspectives adds layers without ever feeling disjointed all while maintaining high tension and strong emotional depth. Ethan, the main protagonist, is whip smart, relentlessly persistent, and full of heart.
I'd truly love to see a prequel just exploring his detective days, as I get the sense it would be an equally compelling story. The other accompanying characters in the novel are just as well-developed, each adding meaningful complexity to this harrowing story. The ending hints at a possible sequel, which I'd love to see and eagerly read if it ever came to fruition. This is hands down my favorite Charlie Donlea novel to date.
I received a complimentary advanced readers copy (ARC) of this highly anticipated novel from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley in return for my voluntary review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
Book: Guess Again by Charlie Donlea
Format Read: eBook (~352 pages long)
My Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ (5/5)
My Quick Take Review
This sharply plotted thriller has layered characters, killer pacing, and lives up to the title Guess Again by being so twist-laden that it'll keep you guessing until the very end! Charlie Donlea has completely outdone himself with this one!
My Full Review
Guess Again is a fast-paced, twist-filled thriller with clever red herrings and jaw-dropping moments. Its seamless blend of intersecting timelines, misdirection, and flashbacks kept me guessing and completely engaged.
Short, punchy chapters combined with multiple perspectives adds layers without ever feeling disjointed all while maintaining high tension and strong emotional depth. Ethan, the main protagonist, is whip smart, relentlessly persistent, and full of heart.
I'd truly love to see a prequel just exploring his detective days, as I get the sense it would be an equally compelling story. The other accompanying characters in the novel are just as well-developed, each adding meaningful complexity to this harrowing story. The ending hints at a possible sequel, which I'd love to see and eagerly read if it ever came to fruition. This is hands down my favorite Charlie Donlea novel to date.
I received a complimentary advanced readers copy (ARC) of this highly anticipated novel from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley in return for my voluntary review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Thank You Netgalley and Kensington Books for this digital arc!
We follow Ethan Hall, former detective and current doctor, being asked to come back and figure out a cold case. A missing teen girl over a decade ago.
With flashes of the past, the story takes you on an amazing thriller ride. I loved the writing style that left breadcrumbs to the mystery at every other chapter, the character depth and just a smart villain!
Charlie Donlea has illustrated a cinematic thriller and I wonโt stop yapping about this for a long time to come!
We follow Ethan Hall, former detective and current doctor, being asked to come back and figure out a cold case. A missing teen girl over a decade ago.
With flashes of the past, the story takes you on an amazing thriller ride. I loved the writing style that left breadcrumbs to the mystery at every other chapter, the character depth and just a smart villain!
Charlie Donlea has illustrated a cinematic thriller and I wonโt stop yapping about this for a long time to come!