
Member Reviews

I enjoyed the structure the author chose for his book. It felt like literary fiction and thriller and it was great. I enjoyed the characters and the story keep me involved all the way until the end. I recommend this book.

Story of the book-
Thirty-year-old Virginia Carey, who is eager to be married, is hired as a tip line operator because she believes it will be simple to find a partner there. Charlie Ford, a surprisingly kind homicide investigator, and attractive Chief of Police Declan “Deck” Brady are present. Virginia receives a call from Verona, a mystery lady who gives her information about four deaths on a distant local beach, just as her plans are starting to come together and she can almost imagine a ring on her finger.
Verona, a sex worker, also divulges to Virginia information about the bizarre obsessions of police officers that she has been engaged with as well as the obscene and boisterous parties that police officers frequented. Then comes a shocking tip: Verona believes a police officer is behind the deaths.
The officers Virginia works with are marriageable, despite their occasional rough edges, therefore it can’t be true. While Verona and Virginia have developed an odd bond that makes her believe that her recommendations are being heard, Virginia is aware that the solution to the case ultimately rests in her hands. The tip line will make the killings’ real motives clear. As long as Virginia is prepared to listen.
My review-
Instead of being a standard thriller, “The Tip Line” falls between literary fiction and thrillers. True crime aficionados will adore this one since it features a large cast of dubious people (I never quite knew who to believe!) and a conclusion I couldn’t stop thinking about. It’s a fantastically crafted thriller that examines the perils of our culture’s poisonous preoccupation with marriage serving as the only route to female happiness.
I adored “The Tip Line’s” distinctive writing style since it gave Virginia such a powerful voice and turned to be inside of her thoughts into an enjoyable roller coaster. I like how intricate the narrative was and how exciting it was for such a little book. I thought Vanessa Cuti’s writing was excellent, and I mostly liked the characters. The idea of this novel piqued my interest, and I like parts of it. There were, however, some obstacles I was unable to overcome. For instance, Virginia is generally nasty and obnoxious and can be monotonous at times. While brief, this book has some interesting moments and well-thought-out storylines.
Cuti expertly raises the stakes through a combination of the looming threat of a predator on the prowl and the anxious, intensely introspective voice of the narrator, whose thoughts accelerate as the story goes on until both the reader and the protagonist are circle through fractured, uncertain fantasy worlds of ominous what-ifs. I enjoyed immersing myself in Virginia’s vivid imagination because of her captivating voice. I was mesmerized by her singular focus and desire even as I mentally yelled at her to open her eyes and take better care of herself. I felt bad for her. Excellent book; read it in one sitting. If you want to read something unique, I would suggest this book.

I loved the unique writing style of The Tip Line, it gave such a strong voice to Virginia and made being in her head a fun roller coaster. Highly recommend this wonderfully immersive debut!

I obviously misread the summary because I had something completely different in mind for this. It wasn't *bad* it just wasn't what I expected. I was thinking it was a period piece with glamour but it wasn't and it was very gritty. It just became difficult to keep reading.

Thanks so much to Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an early copy of THE TIP LINE—which ruined my weekend because I could not stop reading it! This novel is an incredibly written thriller that explores the dangers of our culture’s toxic obsession with marriage as the sole path to happiness for women. The voice of the main character, Virginia, is so mesmerizing, and I loved living in her over-active imagination. Even as I screamed at her in my head to open her eyes and take better care of herself, I was fascinated by her single focus and desire. I felt for her. I got frustrated with her. I rooted for her. I hated her. And I loved every page of this book. Now that I've inhaled it, I can't stop thinking about it. I have a feeling I'll be processing this beautifully written, highly character-driven thriller for a long time.

This sounded like it would be a suspenseful take on the Gilgo Beach murders but it just didn't work for me. The main character's driving motivation of getting married was too much. A lot of the book is her stream of consciousness narrative and was all over the place and not focused enough on the murders. I felt quite muddled and the ending confused me.

This was a fantastic, original read, and I was so STRESSED by the time I finished (in the best way). I kept wanting to yell at the main character, "Girl, stop drinking and start running!"
The TIP LINE is not a typical thriller book, but instead occupies that space between thriller and literary fiction similar to Otessa Moshfegh and Laura Lippman and a delightfully weird interiority that evokes literary greats like Renata Adler, Virginia Woolf, and Sylvia Plath.
Despite it's setting, this is not a police procedural with a traditional plot structure and familiar comforting tropes, and a reader going in with those expectations because of how the book was marketed are likely to be confused and disappointed. What this is, is a smart work of literary fiction with daring and experimental prose and a fast-moving plot that keeps you moving through the book at breakneck speed.
The story follows Virginia, a woman in her 30s who is excellent at making bad decisions. Determined to find a man to marry, she takes a job in the most male-dominated workplace she can find: the Suffolk Police Department. She's the civilian operator of the tip line, and one day she gets a call that leads to the discovery of multiple dead sex workers: the work of a still-active serial killer.
Cuti skillfully builds tension, not only with the circling danger of a predator on the hunt, but through the anxious, intensely introspective voice of the narrator, whose thoughts race ever-faster as the book progresses, until the reader and the main character are cycling through uncertain, fractured fantasy worlds of shadowy what-ifs. The narrative is not about catching a killer but a descent into the rich, tumultuous world of a lone woman's mind. Five stars.

I read a little more than half of this book (maybe 55%) before I had to put it down. It wasn’t for me

Great book, what a page turner, couldn't put this book down! corrupt police -who would have thought! not always an easy read but amazingly written.

I want to thank Netgalley and crooked Lane Books for the copy.
O had a hard time on this one and I'm going to be honest I read 30% and simply decided it was not for me.
Virginia stars as a good character that get a job as a civilian on a very old fashioned tip line on the police. (In this moment I was hooked on the story) but then she started to develop her true colors.
Though I'm always up for an UFC Virginia was to obsessed on the husband department and I didn't expect that from the plot.
The writing is engaging but from nowhere she starts imagined herself married to a detective with two children and I was... Ok that's my cue to leave this and not engaging any more.
The writing was good and probably in another time I would be up to finished the whole book but not right now.
I'm going to give it three stars because the begging was really promising and I hope maybe this book works with you. IDK

I did not get into this story the character was my age and just felt like a teenager and didnt relate to her. The story was okay but nothing to remembr I'll pasd on this author next time

I really liked this book and found it to be suspenseful and full of twists. The only I didn’t love was the ending as it seemed to stop abruptly and not clearly answer the biggest question of who was the killer. Maybe it did in a very subtle way but I didn’t quite get it and wished that had been clearer.

Thank you to Crucked Lane Books and Netgalley for allowing me to readThe Tip Line by Vanessa Cuti.
It was a very different read, I found it weird to be so in the head of Victoria. Her mind rearranging reality. She totally got what she wanted ' a husband'!! But at what expence? ........to hell with everything else.

Woof....I really hated this book.
Despite being 30 years old, Virginia, our main character, acts like a 13 year old during the cusp of puberty. The stream-of-consciousness writing style reads like a diary and doesn't do anything to help a rather boring story. The entire focus of Virginia was to be married and I think there may have been a mystery but my eyes rolled back so far into my head that I don't know.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

What a brilliant debut novel for Vanessa Cuti. I was gripped and intrigued. When Virginia gets a job answering the Tip Line for the local police department she is thrilled thinking she may find her potential husband within the force. At thirty one she is obsessed with finding a husband.
Most of the calls she receives are meaningless but then Virginia receives a call on the tip line saying there are four dead bodies on a beach. As the caller rings again and again Virginia begins to earn her trust and finds out the girls name is Verona and that she is a sex worker.
The story is cleverly written and makes the reader think. A quick and easy read.

Vanessa Cuti’s novel The Tip Line was ok. I was not a fan of the main character she becomes annoying and tiresome. Her obsession with finding a husband was annoying. It is a fast read and had a few intriguing moments.
Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book and found bits of it engaging. However, there were some issues for me that I could not get past. For example, Virginia is all around awful and annoying and it really gets boring in some parts. However, this is a quick read and had some really intriguing moments and thought out plots. I could really do without the whole obsessed with seeking a husband aspect of this story and focusing truly on the tip line.

The Tip Line by Vanessa Cuti was a good, quick, suspenseful debut thriller.
Thrilling, exciting and page turning. This is a story you will want to read. It keeps you engaged from the first page to the last. Keeps you guessing from the beginning and when the story ends you are still guessing.
What a well-written story and plot that was totally an exciting read.
Virginia was a character who I personally couldn't connect with.
I enjoyed her story but her personality was iffy IMO.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, the writing and overall setting of The Tip Line.
I will definitely read Cuti's next thriller.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Crooked Lane Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Virginia has not had a lot of luck in the love department and isn’t getting any younger. She decides to take a job in the police department working the tip line somewhat hoping she will meet a single man. One day while taking tips she gets a call from a woman who advises there are dead bodies out near the beach. Virginia reports the tip and this sets off a chain of events. The woman who called in the tip calls every so often to provide more info and Virginia has got her wish and found a man in the police department. Who committed the murders and will Virginia find love is anyone’s guess.
The premise of this one was really promising and I was looking forward to reading this one. However, it fell very flat for me. The writing was really good but I found the story really didn’t go anywhere. I did find parts to be a bit confusing as it jumped from the present moment to thoughts Virginia was having. I also didn’t love the character of Virginia as I felt she portrayed women negatively in that every woman need a man to be happy or feel fulfilled. The ending was a letdown as well. Overall, this book just wasn’t for me but it doesn’t mean you won’t like it so give it a chance.

Virginia, a 30 year old woman desperate to land a husband accepts a job at a busy PD in Suffolk County, however she isn’t as interested in her job as she is as in landing a husband.
When a major case comes along she becomes invested in one of the callers.
The book takes an interesting turn and you had to come to your own conclusion as to
The ending. My take could be a bit different as I am married to a police officer.
Virginia’s focus was to only get married, not really do her job.