Don't Ask, Don't Follow by Mary Keliikoa is a highly recommended suspense novel set in Portland, Oregon, that seeks to solve a murder and find a missing person.

Beth Ralston, a paralegal at her father's law firm, has had enough mingling at the office party so she heads back upstairs to her office to rack up more billable hours. She finds Craig Bartell, her boss, has been murdered and she sees a woman who appears to be her sister Lindsay, fleeing the scene. Beth is unable to catch her sister and, while she waits for the police, she discovers Lindsay left her phone in Beth's bag. The phone had an unsent message on it: "Don’t ask. Don’t follow."

Lindsay is an investigative reporter, so sometimes it is hard to reach her, but she never drops completely out of touch. In an attempt to find Lindsay, Beth begins to look into the material that Lindsay was investigating and trying to expose. It involves large scale corruption, secrets, and betrayal that may involve even her own family.

Beth is a determined, fully realized character who has a strong bond with her older sister that serves her well as she tries to find Lindsay. Since Don't Ask, Don't Follow is told through Beth's first person point-of-view, trusting and believing in her findings is important.

The information Lindsay was chasing also involved Craig and makes her question not only the information Lindsay was collecting but also their parent's truthfulness. It is clear as events unfold that someone is follow Beth and means her harm. The detective is also fast on the same trail and keeps encountering Beth while he investigates.

The plot does seem to slow down in the middle after it initially takes off at a quick pace. There are also a few plot points that require a suspension of disbelief, especially toward the end. The journey to the final denouement is interesting, full of action, and will hold your complete attention. Thanks to Oceanview Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This is a well written, well paced, character driven thriller that grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until I had read it straight through. The constant intrigue, not knowing who to trust, and the unexpected twists made this an enthralling read. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for an advanced reader copy

Thank you NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the copy of Don't Ask, Don't Follow by Mary Keliikoa. I had no idea where the story was going and that reveal blew me away! If you love family intrigue and long-held secrets, this is the perfect book for you! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Beth Ralston finds her life spiraling out of control when she discovers her boss murdered and her sister Lindsay, apparently, fleeing the scene. Beth is a paralegal working in her father's firm and her sister is an investigative journalist. When her sister disappears after the murder, leaving only her cell phone with a message saying "Don't ask. Don't follow," Beth is determined to ignore her sister's message and find her.

As Beth tries to track down her sister, she learns that her sister was investigating a possible black market baby selling scheme. Poor women were told that their babies died after they gave birth at a special clinic. A DNA report seems to indicate that Lindsay's genetics don't match their parents which makes Beth wonder just how long this baby stealing racket has been going on.

As she checks out the adoption agency and some of the women she could track down, she's sure that she's being followed. Her father, who is busy running for mayor, tells her to back off and let Lindsay get out of her own mess. He tells her to avoid the police detective who is investigating the murder claiming they had run-ins at a trial that prejudices him against her father.

Not sure who to trust, Beth finds herself discovering all sorts of things about her family and learning who she can really trust.

I enjoyed this fast-paced thriller.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This story gripped from the first page to the last. Very suspenseful and kept me guessing.

Don't Ask, Don't Follow by Mary Keliikoa is a heart-pounding thrill ride of a book that grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let you go.
Keliikoa unravels a tale of secrets, greed, dysfunctional family, exploitation, trust, and power, using a fast pace and a relatable and sympathetic main character in Beth Ralston to reel the reader in. The book is well-written, meticulously crafted, and gripping, and it's difficult to put down once you get started. The discoveries Beth makes in her search for her sister and the killer of her boss are meted out in order to maximize suspense and enjoyment.
I am thrilled to have received a copy of #DontAskDontFollow from #NetGalley.

Thank you ThrillerBookLoversThePulse & Oceanview Publishing #partner, for the advanced e-copy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow in exchange for my honest review.

Somehow this is the first book I’ve read by Mary Keliikoa but it certainly will not be the last. I’m not sure how I haven’t heard of her before now, but I won’t be making that mistake again…I’ve already added her other books to my tbr as I wait to see what she writes next.

This book grabbed me from the get-go with quite an explosive beginning and kept me engaged and guessing all the way through! It is a complex, layered tale that is full of secrets, and a cat and mouse game unlike any other and I was so not prepared for where it ultimately headed, the twists coming hard and fast at times, keeping me on my toes all the way up to the very end.

I love a good sister story and while this one is told all through the one sister’s point of view, I found that bond of sisterhood to be such a deep motivating factor on Beth’s part. The character development of both sisters, all told through Beth’s eyes, was done so well that I really felt I knew both of them, as well as the other characters. This makes it quite easy to become more emotionally invested in the story, which I found myself doing, feeling as desperate as Beth was to know what happened to Lindsay.

If you enjoy a suspenseful, addictive read, that is equal parts thriller and family drama, this one is for you!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

Don’t ask. Don’t Follow. Beth is used to those words from her older sister Lindsey. But once Beth finds Lindsay fleeing the scene of a murder, those words will serve to push her to continue searching for her missing sister. What lies ahead is a treacherous path filled with family secrets and lurking danger.

I really enjoy family mysteries and complex sibling relationships and Don’t Ask Don’t Follow delivered on both fronts. I felt for Beth and her deep rooted desire to belong and to be loved. And I truly enjoyed her journey from a workaholic rule follower to someone impulsive and driven by her love for her sister.

Anyone who consumes a lot of thrillers will probably put the pieces together faster than Beth (shoutout to all Sherlocks out there) but to me that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story overall. If you enjoy character driven murder mysteries, you will definitely want to check out this one!

A huge thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC!

There’s a lot of new thrillers getting us very excited over at @thrillerbookloversthepulse and one of these is the upcoming new thriller #dontaskdontfollow by @mary.keliikoa.author 🤩🤩

𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒔𝒌, 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘… this was the secret code between Beth and her sister Lindsay… usually preceding Lindsay getting up to some shenanigan or two…

When Beth discovers her boss murdered, followed by a glimpse of Lindsay pegging it down the hall, she discovers an unsent text on Lindsay’s phone reading “𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒔𝒌, 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘”…

From there, Keliikoa delivers a suspenseful, and brilliantly paced, cat and mouse chase. I thought Beth’s character development was great, and the twists certainly kept me guessing.

A brilliant character-driven thriller with family drama aspects, I highly recommend you add this one to your TBR!

4.5 stars rounded up!

This is a story of a family and family secrets. It wasn’t so much action as a slow ride to the conclusion of the story. It captures my attention from the first page. I would definitely recommend this book. It is the first I have read by this author and I definitely will try her again. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

thriller, sisters, suspense, secrets, investigative-journalist, lawyers, law-enforcement, lies, betrayal, corruption, family-drama, family-dynamics, family-expectations, crime-fiction, local-law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, paralegal, family-business****

Fast paced intrigue with strong characters and many astonishing surprises.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley.

The perfect mix between fast pace and slow burn thrills that will make you stay up past your bedtime! I really liked the writing style of this book.

This book was @thrillerbookloversthepulse  feature pick and after finishing it, I see why it was chosen! Thank you to @oceanviewpub and @netgalley for my ARC!

Beth grew up in an upper class family and is currently working as a paralegal, although her father is waiting on her to follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer. Currently content with her life and with driving her Honda, Beth can relate more to her sister Lindsay than anyone else. Lindsay isn’t making the big bucks either, but she’s an investigative reporter and her next story might blow everything open.

At the law firm’s company party, Beth waits for her plus one, Lindsay, but she doesn’t show. During the party, Beth finds her boss tragically murdered in his office and swears she sees Lindsay running out of the building. Then Beth sees a message from Lindsay, “Don’t ask, don’t follow” - the same sisterly code they followed since they were kids and Beth would cover for Lindsey sneaking out of the house.

The reader is taken on through Beth’s journey of protecting her sister throughout an ongoing murder investigation while also trying to get to the bottom of what happened to her boss and where Lindsay has gone.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow is a slow burn psychological thriller with unexpected twists, shocking family secrets, and a reveal that made my jaw drop. I enjoyed Beth as our main character and I found her to be a smart, relatable person who I was rooting for throughout the story. This is the first book I’ve read by Keliikoa and it won’t be my last!

I really enjoyed this thriller about two sisters - one trying to save the other. All the characters were seemlessly woven together. And as every thriller needs, a twist at the end that was not one that had imagined. Four stars.

Pub: June 4, 2024

Happy #thrillerthursday and #fridayjr ! I don’t know about you, but I am so ready for the weekend.

Predictive text time: Don’t ask, don’t follow or else…. _________

✨Review ✨

One of my favourite things about bookstagram is getting introduced to new-to-me authors! Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow was my introduction to Mary Keliikoa. At first I wasn’t sure how all of the different plot pieces were going to come together- we have murder, kidnapping, family drama, sisterhood, adoption scandals, religion, the dynamics of a law firm… but Keliikoa smoothly connects everything in a refreshing plot that’s easy to follow without sacrificing on the twists and red herrings.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a thriller told in first person. It was a delightful surprise to read this narration style and a reminder of how fun it can be to experience a story in “real time” through the POV of a good lead character like Beth.

I look forward to reading more of Mary Keliikoa’s books!

Thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse @oceanviewpub & @netgalley for the gifted copy to read and review

Murder, intimidation and keeping secrets hidden take center stage in Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow, an investigative thriller that will keep you guessing before leaving you shook. Mary Keliikoa has crafted an intense and twisty story in which no one can be trusted and the truth is hard to swallow.

Beth Ralston is a paralegal at her father’s law firm. During an office party, she finds her boss murdered in his office and a woman that looks like her sister Lindsay running away from the scene of the crime. Shocked and awaiting the police to question her, Beth finds a message from her sister that states “Don’t ask. Don’t follow.” But Beth isn’t one to sit idly by, especially when her sister is unreachable and in danger. And as she investigates, dark secrets come to light, everyone she comes into contact becomes a target, and the truth about her own family threatens to rock her world. But she won’t stop until she finds out what happened to her sister and takes down those responsible for the reprehensible plot she uncovers. Even if it might kill her in the process.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow kicks off quickly with a murder in the first chapter, but then does an excellent job patiently and methodically building the investigation while maintaining a high degree of tension through casting doubt upon everyone and raising tons of questions. But when the answers to those questions finally come…oh boy, look out! Shocking truths and major twists hit you like a two by four to the face. Making you wonder how Beth can ever pick up the pieces of the life she though she knew. And making you think about your own family and what secrets they could be hiding. Resulting in an entertaining, engaging, suspenseful and contemplative novel.

A fast paced read with turns I didn't see coming. Keliikoa does a great job with keeping the reader on the edge of our seat. While I enjoyed the story some parts just seemed off. Overall I would recommend you give this one a read this summer.

Thank you for allowing me to be an ARC reader. ❤️
Wow! This book has all the twisty turns. So many story lines to follow that kept me guessing up until the very end of the book. Beth was a great FMC. She was smart and determined and I loved following her on her journey in search of her sister and the truth. Such a good book!

A digital copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions. The opinions are my own and freely given.

This story centers around Beth Ralston who discovers her boss has been murdered and her sister is missing. Whether she is hiding or has been abducted is the question. Beth, who is a paralegal in her father's law firm, follows her sister's steps to try to find her. Beth finds herself under the radar of the police and when bodies keep turning up, she seems to be around. Homelessness, drug and alcoholic addiction and adoption ends up being the root of everything. But can Beth find Lindsay before it's too late?

The girl's parents are so upper class. It seems to me they are so distanced from the girls that they don't seem to have the time to even acknowledge them, and some of the things they do, like brunch, feels like an obligation. With their dad running for mayor and their mom always having migraines and going to bed, I feel like they had a very strange relationship. If it wasn't for the nanny turned housekeeper, I don't think the girls would have had any parental guidance growing up.

Beth didn't seem to know who to trust throughout this whole story and I personally think she did just fine by herself. Detective Matson, although really investigating everything that Beth was able to tell him, was unavailable a lot, she had to call him several times.

Even though I didn't like the parents, this was a very fast-paced story, and I spent most of it wondering what Lindsay was investigating and whether she was hiding or if she was still alive.

Wowzers! An intense, clever tale, Don’t Ask, Don’t Follow took me into a seedy world that felt all too believable. From the delicious cat-and-mouse chase to the complex plot, this psychological thriller not only had my heart pounding, but also presented a crime fiction edge that pulled me in deep. And while I had my suspicions about what was to come, the twists and turns nevertheless shocked me to my core right up until the final revelation.

The characters were strong, vividly portrayed and well-developed. Especially Beth. With an impressive character arc, she was a definite home run. Coming a close second were the supporting characters, some of whom were villains and others merely suspicious. All told, it made it easy for me to give them each a wary side-eye until the timely reveal, which is an addition to any novel that I greatly admire.

The storyline itself started out with a bang. While it slowed down quite a bit in the middle, my attention never wavered for a minute. Pivoting more towards a character-driven plot, the dysfunctional family dynamic and poignant themes meant for a heart-wrenching read. As the page count dwindled, however, so too did the slow burn as the action increased, leading straight into a dynamite climax. Needless to say, there was no end to the thrills.

All in all, Mary Keliikoa has earned my affection. The first I’ve read by her, it certainly won’t be my last. After all, between a host of morally gray characters and dark, long-buried secrets, this chilling and disturbing tale had everything I wanted and more. Yet another book that deftly walked the line between family drama and thriller, it’s quite simply not one to be missed. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Mary Keliikoa, Oceanview Publishing, NetGalley and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.