I Did It For You is Amy Engel's new stand alone novel.

Fourteen years ago, Greer's sister Eliza, and her boyfriend were murdered in their small town of Ludlow, Kansas. The murderer was caught and punished. Greer couldn't cope and fled the town for big city life. But fourteen years on, there's been another murder that is eerily similar to that first one. Did did they convict the wrong person? And it is this that drives Greer back home to Ludlow.

Engel has penned an interesting mystery. The book is character driven, exploring many themes - grief, guilt, loss, friendship, relationships, anger, love and more. Much of this through the three main characters. Greer, Ryan and Cassie have been friends from a young age. Their banter and easy manner with each other is well drawn. But Greer isn't warmed back by a number of people, who wonder why she's digging up old troubles.

I enjoyed picking out clues from conversations, memories, interactions, behaviors and more, coming up with my own answer for whodunit. I had my suspicions, but was caught off guard from a late reveal. And not what I expected at all. Well done!

I quite enjoyed I Did It For You and this introduction to a new to me author.

Fourteen years ago Greer’s world shattered when her sister Eliza and Eliza’s boyfriend Travis were brutally murdered. After graduation, Greer fled Kansas for Chicago, traded her Main Street, one stoplight town for the anonymity of the big city and never looked back.

Until another pair of teens is gunned down in a killing eerily similar to Eliza’s. The police are calling it the work of a copycat — after all, Roy Mathews confessed to the crime and was sentenced to death. But something about his confession never sat right with Greer, she was always convinced there was more to the story, something — or someone — that could have remained behind all these years knowing Greer couldn’t possibly resist its siren song and the call to return home.

Romcoms are fun and all, but my idea of a great summer read is a thriller. Give me a cold case, give me a heist! At 270 pages, I DID IT FOR YOU is prime beach read material, gripping and intense and perfect for an afternoon.

Engel’s description of Ludlow was so vivid; I’m from one of those tiny towns and saw so much of my hometown echoed on these pages. The neighbors who don’t bother to lock their doors at night, the seen-better-days general store, the 40-year old football star still clinging to 18. Friends, my high school had a yearly festival where cow patty bingo on the football field was a THING. I love traveling through books but there’s just something special about a setting feeling so familiar and Ludlow, Kansas was it.

The night Eliza was murdered there was something she wanted to tell Greer. Something important and Greer’s been wondering what it was for fourteen years. With the police offering no help (the last time she went to them with questions she wound up in a therapist’s office), and with her parents acting more like strangers now, Greer’s chance at getting to the bottom of everything is the last person she should be talking to: Dean Mathews, Roy’s brother.

To go on would be to give it all away, but I had a great time reading this one. It’s out today and would make for a fantastic weekend escape!

When I sat down to give feedback for Amy Engel's I Did It For You, I struggled with what to say, other than you really never know what chain of reactions start with just the smallest event. I could also say that I loved the book, which I did, but it seems inadequate for the complexity of emotions it brings out.

The death of Greer's sister is the single-most defining event of her life, and she's unable to move past it until she has all the answers. But is she really better off knowing? Do we ever really know the people in our lives and the secrets they're hiding?

I Did It For You would be the perfect buddy read/book club pick. It's disguised as a thriller, but there's also so much to think about.

A very easy read that grabs your attention and holds onto it for 300 pages. I raced through this book in a few days. The author writes well, and the sentences and sequence of events flows smoothly so that you find yourself reading chapters at a time without really realizing it. The question of who was responsible for the murders was the biggest incentive to keep reading because it was obvious, at least to me, that whoever it was had to be close to Greer. There seemed some obvious choices and some not-so-obvious ones, but in the end I did manage to guess who it might be. Although I did think the reveal was a bit anticlimactic, considering that the "I did it for you" plotline made me believe this was a case of obsession for Greer. I thought the other plot twist, the one that happened a bit earlier in the book, was more startling. Overall, though, I enjoyed this quick read and have a renewed vigor to read Ms. Engel's Book of Ivy duology that I've owned for years and yet have never gotten to.

3.5 stars, rounded down

Overall, this is a solid mystery, but it takes a bit too long to get going. There are a few intriguing surprises and once a big reveal happens, the pace gets quicker and the narrative more intriguing.

Fourteen years ago, Greer's older sister Eliza and her boyfriend Travis were shot and killed. The murderer was caught fairly quickly and has recently been executed for his crime. Greer moved away from her small Kansas hometown but hasn't been able to put the murders behind her because she feels somehow like it was her fault. When another young couple is murdered in the same way in the town and deemed a copycat killing, Greer returns home because she has some suspicions that her sister's killer didn't work alone.

This book is more than a mystery, it's about confronting the past and the effects grief and loss has on everyone it touches. When all is said and done, this book is stronger as a character study of Greer and how Eliza's death and the unresolved nature of it impact her life. I didn't find the resolution to the mystery very surprising and it's honestly the weakest part of the book when taken as a whole. That's what made me round the rating down rather than up.

Overall this is a strong book and is well written and intriguing. Definitely worth reading.

I Did it For You is an adult contemporary mystery and thriller about a young woman whose sister was the victim of a horrific crime and now fourteen years later there is a similar murder in the same small Kansas town.

Greer Dunning’s sister and boyfriend were murdered fourteen years ago in a parked car. A young man (Roy Mathews) from a neighboring city was immediately arrested and sentenced to death but Greer has always suspected he didn’t act alone. But months after his execution a nearly identical murder of a teenage couple has happened and this time the police don’t have a suspect. Greer heads back to her small Kansas town to investigate why four people lost their lives with no clear motive and enlists the help of Roy’s older brother Dean for help. Greer and Dean will interview both friends and family of the victims and the murderer to try to figure out who is responsible and finally put the past to rest.

I Did It For You is a dark small town mystery about what happens to a community when violence strikes. Everything from Greer’s father escaping into the bottle to Roy’s family home being vandalized feels authentic and realistic. Amy Engel does a really good job drawing out the tension as Greer and Dean get closer to the truth and the uneasy feeling that everyone is keeping secrets and the perpetrator is hiding in plain sight. Despite the dark subject matter I enjoyed the small moments of levity between Dean and Greer and their overall chemistry.

I highly recommend this gritty and dark murder mystery. It has suspense, drama and an unexpected series of twists and turns that lead to a killer.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amy Engel returns following The Familiar Dark and The Roanoke Girls with her latest, I DID IT FOR YOU, a gripping tale exploring guilt, loss, trauma, and the many ways in which a violent murder transforms the family of the victims and the killer's family.

Greer Dunning returns to her rural hometown of Ludlow, Kansas, from Chicago after the execution of the man, Roy Matthews, who murdered her sister, Eliza, and her boyfriend, Travis, fourteen years ago while making out in a car.

Despite a clear motive, Roy was convicted and executed. Greer, the younger sister, was not satisfied with the original investigation.

Now it appears there is a copycat killer. Two teens, Addy and Dylan, have been murdered, similar to her sister's murder. Is someone trying to lure her back to town?

Greer returns determined to solve this mystery—her family was devasted, and they were not there for her due to their grief.

Set in a rural small town, a story of a sixteen old Greer trying to run away, and now the truth has to come out. She is now getting close to the brother of her sister's murderer, Dean. From family members, friends, and enemies, we revisit the past and present.

Told from the POV of Greer, secrets are unraveled in this slow burn character-driven mystery exploring fear, shame, guilt, trauma, loss, forgiveness, and the many ways it affects everyone close to the victims and the murder's family.

While I would not classify this as a thriller, it is a well-written raw, emotionally—engrossing heart-breaking crime psychological mystery of small-town darkness, focusing on Greer's grief and struggles.

Thanks to #PenguinGroup #Dutton and #NetGalley for an advanced reading copy for an honest review.

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JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 25, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
July 2023 Must-Read Books

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton and Amy Engel for an advanced copy of I DID IT FOR YOU that comes out July 25, 2023!

I really enjoyed this until the ending. The motivation for the crimes didn't quite make sense to me. There were some good moments of suspense and reveals along the way, one that really surprised me!

Amy Engel writes the best gritty crime thrillers. If she is the author, I will be the reader.
Every 👏🏻 time 👏🏻

I Did it For You is about a woman who returns to her small hometown after a murder of two teens that mirrors how her sister was killed in the past. She believes there was more to the story of her sister’s murder and she wants answers. She wants to make sure it doesn’t ever happen again…but in true thriller fashion, someone else wants something else for her. 💁🏼‍♀️

In this book, the small Kansas town is a character itself. It plays a role. It has a personality. Also, the victims were not just names mentioned, they came alive on the page in a unique way and the character development and exploration of grief in this story was top notch.

I was definitely looking at everyone like they could be guilty and everything like it was a clue and I had a blast with this read. Everyone has a dark side, everyone has secrets. That’s what makes them real.

That’s all I’ll say about the plot aspects though because I was completely enthralled by every twist and turn and I’ll be damned if I give anything away and take that away from another reader!
So 🤫

As for the writing, Engel’s descriptions, characters, wittiness, and her twists are ALL perfection. She’s cemented herself as a favorite author for me. Ever since I read The Familiar Dark years ago, I have loved her work and her newest novel, I Did it For You, delivers all the small town mystery feels, just as I hoped it would. I am in awe and will be buying this for my shelves on pub day.

3.5 stars!
Greer is returning to her hometown after many years away due to the traumatic event of her teenage sister being murdered. Fourteen years later, another teenage couple has been murdered in the same way. Greer was always suspicious about the man convicted for her sister’s death and she needs to find out the truth once and for all.

I always pick up Amy Engel’s books because of how gritty they are. She did a great job (as per usual) setting the tone with the town she created. It was grungy and atmospheric. I also liked the cast of supporting characters. I did find Greer was naive at times and I saw the twist coming which kind of took away from it for me. I don’t love when I can predict the majority of the book.

💌 Book Review 💌
Thank you to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for the eARC of this in exchange for my honest review!

Greer's sister, Eliza, was killed when they were teens. The killer was quickly found and arrested and was recently executed. Now, a copy cat murder has occurred back in their hometown...or was it a copy cat at all? Greer returns home determined to find out what really happened to her sister and who committed the latest murders.

I really wanted to love this one and it was a perfectly fine, entertaining thriller, but something was just missing for me. I think because I've read a previous book from this author that I loved, I was expecting something darker that evoked more emotion. I can definitely see other people really enjoying it though but it wasn't for me.

If you want to try this one, it publishes next week on 7/25.

#IDidItForYou #netgalley #duttonbooks #thriller #bookreview

Absolute must read! Amy Engel is a true master at writing character driven thrillers that leave you on the edge of your seat until the end! Her latest novel I Did It For You completely wow’ed me and will definitely be one of my top read of 2023!

This twisty, turny tale centers around, Greer Dunning, who lost her sister to an unthinkable murder 14 years ago. Greer makes it a point to avoid her hometown at all cost, but when a copycat murder happens in that same small town, she decides it’s time to head home!

Wowzer! This book is the most addictive novel I have read in a long time! It consumed me while I was reading it, and occupied most of thoughts for days after! There are so many well placed twists that I didn’t seeing coming! I Did It For You is a 5++++ star novel that I HIGHLY recommend! As soon as I was finished, I texted all of my friends and family to pre-order this gem because it’s just that fantastic! As per usual, I so excited to see what Amy Engel comes out with next!

“That’s the thing about murder. It’s all fun and games until it happens to you.”⁣
⁣
Eliza and her boyfriend are shot and killed while making out in a car. 14 years later, it happens again to Addy and Dylan. ⁣
⁣
Eliza’s sister Greer hasn’t been able to look past what happened to her sister. Part of her feels to blame. She returns to her town after years and years to try to find lay to rest what happened to her sister. ⁣
⁣
Rory already received the death penalty for her sisters killing before it happens again. Is it a copy cat? Was he found guilty, when he actually was innocent?⁣
⁣
Eliza works alongside Dean, Rory’s brother to try to find out the truth. People have turned their heads and disrespected in their small town because of his brother, but Eliza finds a kind of kinship in him.⁣
⁣
Twists and turns, secrets and lies are dug up along the way until we find out what actually happened, who did it and why. ⁣
⁣
We get bits and pieces of chapters from all of the characters who are now deceased. ⁣
⁣
It was a slow burn, but it was definitely suspenseful and I didnt exactly see the ending coming. I always like when every character has something that makes them a little suspicious so you don’t know who actually did it and that was done well for this.⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Greer returns home after 14 years away. Her sister and her boyfriend were murdered and the murderer was convicted and executed. But Greer has always thought the killer had a partner and after a new murder has happened, Greer wants to find the killer. This book has some great twists and turns. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to @duttonbooks for mt advance copy. I loved Engel’s previous novels, so I knew I was in for a treat. I also have to say I dig this cover.

This is marked as a psychological thriller, and while I do think there is suspense, it is mostly a mystery. As per usual Engel writing-it’s extremely realistic and believable. She has such a knack for showing us dysfunctional family dynamics. This one was no exception and she really showed us the aftereffects of murder and its ripple effect through a family.

The atmosphere was perfect. It helped to keep the tension high. Small town Kansas prairie sounds like its filled with cornfields and I could really picture the location. I also appreciated how our main character; Greer kept the reader in the dark with her secrets. It helped with all the twists. One of the big reveals was great!

My only concern was the motive from our perpetrator. It was thin and I felt like it kind of lacked explanation. Don’t let that stop you though-this was enjoyable, and I will most definitely be looking forward to Engel’s next.

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Group Dutton and author Amy Engel for this eARC in exchange of an honest review.

Greer Dunning returns to her hometown in Ludlow, after hearing about the tragic death of a young couple, who apparently is similar to when her sister Eliza and boyfriend Travis were murdered. Greer needed to find some closure to what really happened on that one random summer night. Upon her return she gets right back in the routine of things back when she was younger, watching her parents suffer and grow apart as they grieve for Eliza. She catches up with her childhood friends Ryan and Cassidy; high school classmates, and has a first-time encounter with the killer’s brother, Dean Matthews. Things unravel and Greer discovers things that her small town has been hiding for the longest time in connection to the past and recent murders.


I like small town murders and drama, and this book has both. It is a slow burn story, like slowwww burnnnnn — each character was well-developed and each chapter leaves an element of mystery to keep you invested in the story. I find the main character unlikeable though, but at the same time I tried understanding where she was coming from in making one bad decision after another as an adult. The book also showed how each person deal with loss and grief, which makes you empathetic as a reader to each of these characters. Approaching the ending gives you more clues and the final chapter did give you the answer that you needed from the beginning. I liked it overall, hence 4 stars! This book releases July 25th.

Greer never got over her sister's murder. Now, years later, a copycat murder brings her back to town and pushes all of her past questions to the forefront.

This was a really good, atmospheric thriller!

Greer: You can feel her frustration throughout the whole book. She knows everyone has secrets, including herself, and just tries so hard to figure it all out. Engel did a good job showing the uncomfortableness of coming back to town after years away through Greer. You connected with her grief and yearning to understand what actually happened all those years ago.

The town: The building of this fictional town was well drawn out. It's a small town with festivals and places you know not to go to. All of this helps build the atmosphere of the novel. It has an eerie feel to it which helps the reader sink into the story.

The romance: I love thrillers that throw in a good romance, whether it's a HEA or not. In here, Greer teams up with the brother of the boy that killed her sister and sparks fly!

The twists: There are a few and I liked them all. I did figure most of the ending out (that's not usually for me though) but I was happy with most of the resolution.

This is a must for readers of Megan Miranda or Riley Sager. It has the same approachable thriller writing.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. My review are always honest.

Greer Dunning has returned to her hometown of Ludlow, Kansas after the execution of the man who murdered her sister, Eliza, fourteen years ago. Two teens have been murdered and their murders appear to be like her sister's murder. These murders bring back the past and leave Greer with more questions than answers. She is determined to learn the truth.

This was a slow build for me and yet I didn't mind it as I normally would. I especially enjoyed how Engel showed the effects death/murder has on a family. Greer's parents were devastated and drowning in their grief after their daughter Eliza was murdered. So devastated that they could not be present for Greer who was also mourning the loss of her sister. Engel also showed how the murder also affected the family of the killer.

How murder affects families was the strongest part of the book for me. The mystery of the new murders was good but was lacking a little for me. I just wanted a little more. More what? More danger, more tension, and more suspense. When the book ended, I thought "seriously?" and "why?”. Like other reviewers, I wanted clarity on the motive.

This book does a great job touching on loss, guilt, grief, and secrets. Big props for that.

This was a well written, character driven mystery.

I was initially pulled into this one- a woman returns to her hometown after two teenagers are killed in very similar circumstances to how her sister was murdered. The community is afraid they have a copy cat killer on their hands and she feels compelled to come home and finally get answers. This is a story I feel like I’ve read so many times before, and even though this book had some clever twists, the big reveal and motivation behind these crimes did not add up or make sense.

Another entry into the "woman returning to her hometown to investigate a murder and to confront her past" genre. That said, this still was a good story and kept me interested despite figuring out the 'twist' early on.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.