This was a decent thriller but not every aspect of it worked for me.

The story is told from two POVs, Abby in the present and Gia’s written manuscript from the recent past, describing events leading up to when Abby’s story begins. I liked getting both perspectives, but I wasn’t clear on the timeline right at first and would have liked that to be more obvious.

I also didn’t find either main character to be very redeeming. Gia was selfish and snobbish, the quintessential rich girl, and Abby was the girl from the other side of the tracks who grew up with no money and would do anything for her rich friend. I didn’t feel inclined to side with either one of them.

The thing I liked most about this book was actually that it’s kind of ambiguous. We readers don’t walk away knowing the whole truth of what happened in the book, and I liked that aspect of it.

Overall I thought this book was fine. If you like thrillers that deal with rich people drama and unlikable narrators, this one might be a good fit for you.

Ladykiller follows 2 friends who couldn't be more different and the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Gia. From the beginning I was invested. We obviously have an unreliable narrator (or two) and the setting of a Greek island was beautifully done. For as invested as I was in the beginning, that started to wane towards the middle, where I thought the pacing got a bit slow. I was also underwhelmed by the ending. I just felt like there a lot of buildup for an ending that kind of just left me hanging. Overall, it was a quick and interesting read. I did enjoy it, but it just wasn't my favorite book.

Both women are hiding things, and the book leans into that ambiguity in a way that keeps readers guessing. It explores toxic friendship, privilege, and the masks we wear—especially when wealth and power are involved. I'm not a fan of unreliable narrator. Maybe it's the season of life I'm in, I wasn't vibing.

Thank you NetGalley and Bantam for the arc!

Gritty, smart, and sharper than expected. This book plays with genre in fascinating ways. The prose was electric, though some transitions felt jarring. Still, I loved the boldness and commentary woven into the noir plot

If you're looking for a great book to read this summer, Ladykiller is a fantastic choice. This twisty tale takes readers to the beautiful beaches of Greece to the northern lights in Sweden, this is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages. I really enjoy Katherine Wood's writing style and how she pulls her plots together. Definitely a good one!

Thank you Bantam and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is a story full of twists and set in some beautiful locations. Gia and Abby have been friends since they were kids but their lives couldn't be more different. Gia is the daughter in a wealthy family while Abby's mom is their chef. Despite their difference circumstances, the two are very close. After a tragedy during a summer vacation in Greece, their lives are forever changed and shapes the trajectory of their lives. The friends plan to meet in Sweden for Gia's 30th birthday but Gia never shows up. Abby and Gia's brother, Benny, fly to Greece where nothing seems to make sense.

I enjoyed the beginning of this book and was hooked almost from the first sentence. Unfortunately the ending left me disappointed and is the reason for the lower rating. The story is told from multiple points of view, with Gia's story mostly related by the pages in the typewritten manuscript she leaves in her Greek mansion. The author brings the settings to life with her words and this is a fun mystery/thriller but I actually said "WTF" when I got to the end. Despite this, it is recommended and good for a summer beach read.

3.5 stars rounded upwards.

Lady Killer marks the debut of novelist Katherine Wood. The suspense begins when Abby flies to Greece at the invitation of her best friend, an heiress named Gia, who is planning a birthday party there. Gia has disappeared, and it is her journal that provides clues as to what may have happened. Suspicion falls on her husband because of things that are indicated in the journal, but he’s gone, too.

My thanks go to NetGalley and Random House for the invitation to read and review. This book is for sale now.

It is clear from the get-go that Wood can write. Her word smithery is smooth and original. However, there is so much sexual content that I can’t enjoy the story or bond with the main characters. Partner swapping; threesomes. I finally gave myself permission to skim the rest. Unlike some other reviewers, I have no difficulty with the ending; it’s getting there that makes me queasy. For some readers, the steamy segments of this novel will make it more pleasurable, but the only perspective from which I can write is my own.

Recommended to those that like a sexy novel of suspense.

I enjoyed reading this suspenseful story. I enjoyed this author's writing style and their attentions to details that made the story come to life. The author did a great job of making the story feel realistic. This is a well written story that is engaging and hard to put down. A story about secrets and more secrets. I enjoyed the characters in this story. They are connectable and add so much to the story. They have great growth throughout and made the story easy to read. The twists and turns had me turning pages fast just to see what was going to happen next. This is a fast paced story that is entertaining and one you don't want to miss out on. This is a great story that I highly recommend.

LADYKILLER by Katherine Wood
Narrators: Marcella Black & Hallie Ricardo

I received an early copy from NetGalley, but I got behind so I used the audio to help me catch up.


Okay so no lies, when I started this one I made it about 15% and had no clue what was happening. Once I realized that the chapters were from Abby’s perspective and Gia’s manuscript that helped me follow along a little better.

This one was good. I enjoyed the story and the twist. In the end you don’t know who is lying and who is telling the truth.

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: ebook

This book would make a perfect beach read this summer. I read the majority of it on a plane (the best uninterrupted reading time in my opinion).

I love a thriller with a great setting. The majority of the book is set in Greece! Two best friends are the narrators - one in present day, the other through her manuscript. It kept me on my toes, for sure. I didn’t know who I could trust! It’s also a great read if you enjoy messy, wealthy main characters.

This may have been my first book by Katherine Wood, but I don’t think it’ll be my last!

Thank you to Penguin Random House for my digital copy!

DNFing at 8%. The writing feels super clunky and I can already tell I’m really not going to like one of the main characters. Rich people drama books usually aren’t for me but I had high hopes that this one would change my mind.

I loved this book! recommended it to my friend immediately. loved the vacation vibes. one of my fav titles of the year.

Thanks to Bantam for the advance copy of Ladykiller & apologies for being nearly a year behind on my review…

After experiencing a tragedy together in Greece, Gia and Abby have been best friends since despite being total opposites. Gia is a wild and unpredictable heiress and Abby is bookish and introverted.

Now, twelve years later, they’re set to reunite in Sweden, after Gia settles the family estate upon her father’s death, new husband in tow. But as Abby is preparing for takeoff, she gets an email that gives her a bad feeling. Upon arriving, Abby finds Gia’s brother, Benny, but neither of them can find Gia. After several days of cryptic communication, they choose to fly to Greece together and try to determine what’s wrong.

When they arrive, the estate is empty, save for a journal that seems to chronicle the time leading up to Gia’s disappearance. Abby and Benny have more questions than answers, but the clock is ticking and they’re racing against time to decode the cryptic messages and find Gia.

First of all, there was just something about this cover that made me need to pick it up. It’s sexy, summer-y, and opens a lot of questions. And the questions don’t stop there. I had so many throughout the book (in a good way!).

I always enjoy thrillers where friends are forever tied together through a tragic event in their past. It’s cliche and done so often, but I can never resist picking it up.

Gia and Abby both brought different elements to the story. Abby was, admittedly, a much more boring character and I didn’t love her. But, Gia really is the star of the show so even though I didn’t love Abby, her POV was focused on Gia and what happened to her, so it kept me invested.

Is there going to be a continuation? It seems open enough that we could see a book two, and that would definitely bring me back in.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

The perfect summer read! This book is full of money, greed, and Greek sun. Absolutely will be recommending this one for summer book clubs.

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is a sharp, provocative thriller that blends dark humor with biting social commentary. With a narrative voice that’s bold, unapologetic, and often chillingly insightful, Wood delivers a story that’s as much about gender dynamics and power as it is about murder.

The protagonist is a complex, morally ambiguous woman who defies the typical mold of female characters in crime fiction. She’s calculating, magnetic, and disturbingly relatable at times—which makes the story all the more compelling. As the body count rises, so does the tension, but it’s the psychological undercurrents and emotional detachment that give the book its unique edge.

Wood’s writing is sleek and confident, with sharp dialogue and a narrative that pulls you in from the first page. While some of the plot twists verge on implausible, the sheer charisma of the main character and the novel’s audacity more than make up for it.

This isn’t your average thriller—it’s darker, bolder, and not afraid to explore the ugly side of desire and control. A must-read for fans of female antiheroes and psychological suspense with a feminist bite.

Ladykiller is a glossy, fast-paced thriller that delivers all the ingredients of a binge-worthy summer read: glamorous locations, wealthy people behaving badly, and secrets layered in a tangle of unreliable narration. Katherine Wood sets the stage with a gripping premise—a missing heiress, a scandalous manuscript, and a best friend desperate for answers. There’s definitely a Gone Girl vibe here, with characters you’re not quite sure you can trust and just enough twists to keep the pages turning.

That said, while the setup is intriguing and the Mediterranean setting evocative, the novel doesn’t quite stick the landing. The manuscript-within-the-book is compelling at first but ultimately feels like a gimmick that doesn’t fully pay off, and Gia’s voice—meant to be bold and enigmatic—sometimes reads more performative than persuasive. Abby, the narrator on the search, feels underdeveloped, and her motivations occasionally veer into implausible territory.

There’s a lot of fun to be had here if you’re in the mood for a juicy escape, but the emotional stakes never quite hit, and the final act leaves a few too many threads dangling. It’s entertaining, sure—but if you’re expecting something truly groundbreaking or chilling, Ladykiller might leave you lukewarm.

The first thing that pulled me into this book was the unique jumps in timeline between the actual story, and one of the main character’s manuscript. Unfortunately it became my least favorite part due to the fact I was SO confused on what was real and what wasn’t. But maybe that was the intention? Either way it just didn’t work for me the way I had hoped. Psychological thrillers are my jam and there was definitely enough happening in this book to keep me interested and pushing through but in the end I had more questions than answers. The writing has potential so I’d be open to reading another book by this author, this one just wasn’t my favorite. Read this one if you’re a fan of rich people behaving badly, multiple timelines, and open ended finales that are up to your own interpretations.


Thank you to @netgalley and @ballantinebooks for the gifted copy of this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

Ladykiller is not a genre I read often. When I do indulge it's often fun. If you have this one on your TBR, go in blind. I think it would be a lot more interesting if you do. I often go into my books without reading the synopsis and I feel like if I had read this one I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much.

There is a lot that is going on in this story. Between all the drama, the backstabbing, and the unreliable narratives you have a lifelong friendship and a little romance. Grab some snacks and enjoy.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.