This book was pretty good! I can’t say I was absolutely blown away - this wasn’t necessarily anything special when it comes to the mystery/thriller genre - but I had a decent time and liked the flow of the story.

Eh not my favorite. I didn’t really like any of the characters and the story itself felt kind of tired. Not my cup of tea I guess.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Katherine Wood for an ARC of Ladykiller. 2024 has been a year of good books already! I was honestly hooked to this book to the very last page. Katherine’s writing is fantastic and keeps you wanting more. I was worried I was going into a reading slump with some previous books that didn’t hook me, but this brought me right back. I loved the multiple POV’s from Gia’s manuscript and Abby’s perspective. I don’t think this will happen, but I would love a sequel to this!

A heiress, Gia, goes missing and Abby is on the move to find out what happened to her best friend. Gia answers Abby had been best friends for ages and their friendship bonded more after a terrible tragedy happened in Greece. Abby moved on to study law and Gia made a salacious memoir to process what had happened. Twelve years later, Gia is back at their family house in Greece with her new husband to sell the family estate after her father’s passing. Gia and her husband, Garrett, entertain a few guests while they are there. Gia decides to invite Abby and Benny, her brother, to see the northern lights for her 30th birthday. Abby is hesitant at first because she wants to make partner, but decides she needs to see her best friend. Abby starts receiving threatening emails and she’s worried her secret might come out. What an odd time to receive these emails right before she meets up with Gia again. Abby meets up with Benny at the airport, but once they get to the resort, Gia still isn’t there. They call and text and email Gia, but there are only these odd mysterious responses. They decide enough is enough and head to Greece to see what’s actually going on with Gia. They arrive at the family estate to find it completely deserted. The only clue they can find is a new manuscript detailing the last couple months. What’s included is some pretty salacious secrets. The manuscript ends abruptly and Abby and Benny are worried about what’s happened to Gia and her new husband - is he a good man? Is what she said true about everything that’s happened since they arrived? With Abby and Benny left with even more questions than when they arrived, what’s the most concerning is - are they too late?

LadyKillIer – Katherine Wood

Katherine Wood presents a well-written and intriguing story of Gia and Abby. Gia grows up surrounded by luxury with a full house staff. Abby is the daughter of one of the staff. Regardless of their differences, the girls become fast friends and remain so until one horrible night rips their friendship apart.

Years later, Gia reaches out to Abby with an invitation for an all-expenses paid trip to Sweden to celebrate Gia’s Birthday. Reluctantly, Abby accepts the invitation, but when she arrives for the reunion, Gia is a no-show. It does not take long for Abby to determine Gia is missing. Find out if Abby can find Gia before it’s too late. You will not be disappointed. The characters are well developed and the story is easy to follow. Once you start, you won’t be able to put Ladykiller down.

Gia and Abby are best friends who are bonded by tragedy. Years after the tragedy, Abby receives an invitation from Gia to join her in Sweden to see the Northern Lights. Except Gia doesn't show up. Abby and Gia's brother head to Greece to try to find Gia.

This story started out strong. The middle got a little messy and turned into a dysfunctional romance novel at times. The ending is open ended and doesn't tie things nicely into a little bow. While I still enjoyed reading this, I prefer endings that don't leave me guessing or leave things open to my imagination.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you @netgalley @bantambooksuk #partner for the gifted copy of this ebook!

Two girls. One tragic event. Forever tied together by their misfortune. Both girls, Gia and Abby changed from that point on, one threw herself into studies and one vigorously wrote a memoir. Fast forward 12 years later and Gia has moved on. She meets and marries a new man after a short whirlwind romance living quite the glamorous life in Greece. Having recently lost her father she is in charge of selling his estate but first she plans to celebrate her birthday with her best friend. When Abby boards the plane she receives a confusing and threatening message. Not sure what it means she lands and heads to meet Gia, with Gia’s brother Benny. When they arrive, Gia is MIA and they find a manuscript which unravels the details leading up to her disappearance. 👀

Ladykiller is the perfect summertime popcorn thriller. It’s easy to become invested in these characters and the loose ends and questionable details that left me flipping pages find out what happened to Gia! I loved Abby and Benny getting about Gia’s life through the manuscript. I can only imagine in real life how mysterious this would be! This book felt very devious making it hard to put down. I did have an inkling as to what was happening but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of this one! If you love thrillers that include deceitful, deceptive characters that you cannot trust make sure to give this one a try!

A wonderful mystery thriller set mostly in on a fictional Greek island.
Story is told from the POV of Abby and Gia, two best friends since childhood, but with very different background. Gia Torres is a wealthy heiress, who inherited an estate on a Greek island from her recently deceased father. Abby, a daughter of Torres family's housekeeper, who grew up with the Torreses, and frequently spent the summers on the island. Abby has a lot to be thankful to the Torres family, they treated his mom right, they paid for her private education and law school, and Gia has been a loyal friend to her for many years. The women however have not spoken to each other for a while, after an argument over Gia's new husband. Abby warned her not to marry a man she knew for only a month, but Gia thinks she is in love and this man is everything she ever wanted.
The friends decide to reconcile and meet in Sweden for Gia's birthday: just them and Gia's brother Benny (who also had feelings for Abby since childhood). When Gia does not show up in Sweden, they become worried and go to Greece to look for her.
Through Gia's story - a manuscript she's been working on - we get a story of what has been happening on the island during the weeks prior to her birthday getaway. We learn about secrets that the friends kept together and from each other.

I loved the setting, which Katherine Wood beautifully set up; I felt transported to the island and I could feel the Greek summer breeze as I read it. The middle is a bit muddy and dragged a bit for me, but it was sandwiched between a great beginning and end. The end will not be for everyone, but I loved the ambiguous ending. It will depend on the reader to decide whose story to believe.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine | Bantam for an early access to the book.

Gia and Benny are born into a wealthy family. The family takes Abby in and pays for her education. When their father dies, Gia is forced to sell the villa in Greece with her new husband. She plans to visit the Northern Lights in Sweden with both Abby and Benny to celebrate her birthday and the sale of the house. When Gia fails to show in Sweden, Abby and Benny go to Greece to try and find her. The first part of the book alternates between Abby's past and Gia's manuscript (which she writes in the villa in Greece). The second part is solely Abby's POV with her trying to find Gia.
Interesting plot but a little convoluted, Read it while visiting Greece, so that part was enjoyable. Fast read.

Gia and Abby have been best friends forever. They were bonded by a tragedy that happened to them in Greece when they were eighteen. Twelve years later, Gia is back in Greece with her new husband for the summer, getting ready to sell the family estate after her father’s passing. Abby receives an invitation from Gia inviting Abby to celebrate her birthday with her in September beneath the Northern Lights. Abby is thrilled to get time off from her stressful job to go to Sweden. However, on the day of Abby’s flight, she receives a mysterious threatening email. Then, when she and Gia’s brother Benny arrive in Sweden, Gia is not there. After receiving several cryptic messages from Gia, their phone calls go unanswered. Abby and Benny decide to head to Greece to see what is going on with Gia. When they arrive in Greece, the only clue to Gia’s whereabouts is a manuscript Gia wrote about the events of the summer. Will Abby and Benny be able to find Gia before it’s too late?

This was my first book by Katherine Wood. I enjoyed the atmospheric read. The details of the Greek estate made you feel like you were right there on the beach with the characters. The book alternates between Abby’s point of view and Gia’s manuscript. I really enjoyed the first three-quarters of the book there was a lot of intrigue, suspense, and salacious details. Then, a twist happened that left things pretty ambiguous at the end. For this reason, I give it 3.5/5 stars. I recommend it to people that like atmospheric reads!

The tragic secrets kept between friends, whose bond has been forged tightly as a result, resurface when one goes missing and the other races to find her in Katherine Wood’s Ladykiller.
Becoming friends when they were young girls, Gia and Abby became close despite the differences in their backgrounds and they became even more closely bonded by a tragedy they experienced and kept secret together in Greece when they were eighteen. Twelve years later, Abby has worked hard in her studies while it seemed that Gia, as an heiress, focused more on having a good time but with the death of Gia’s father, she’s now preparing to sell the family’s estate in Greece with the help of her new husband. To celebrate Gia’s thirtieth birthday, she’s invited Abby to Stockholm for the Northern Lights but when Abby departs she receives an anonymous, threatening email about her lying and past so when she and Gia’s brother Benny arrive at the resort and Gia’s not, with cryptic messages that don’t sound like her, they become concerned enough to go to Greece to check on her. They find an eerily deserted estate upon arrival and the sole clue left behind is a manuscript that Gia wrote of events leading up to her disappearance; however, are the details of her new marriage and the guests they entertained true or had she embellished for dramatic effect, and just where is Gia and can they find her before anything drastic happens?
Moving between Abby’s perspective in the present and Gia’s perspective of the past through the manuscript of a memoir she’s writing, the tension builds as the narratives develops, with the slow surfacing of lies that have lurked and been obscured through various means, relationships that form and fracture, and fictions that blend with versions of the truth to forge the reality that’s presented into a murky and unreliable thing. The power of the wealthy’s ability to manipulate and influence to protect and maintain their status is thoroughly demonstrated throughout the stories told with Gia’s family’s influence to cast eyes toward a different truth about the tragic events that bonded her and Abby as teens and the antics of Gia’s new husband and friends during their time in Greece, which showcases the attitudes and priorities that some may have in relationships. The pacing of the narrative is generally slow and then whiplash fast as events come toward their conclusion, in an end which leaves several questions unaddressed and open to the reader’s imagination.
Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ladykiller is a messy, sexy, destination thriller that will grab your attention from the beginning and refuse to let go.

Gia and Abby have been best friends since they were kids, when Abby's mom became Gia's wealthy family's chef, and they moved into their home. When they were 18, a traumatic end to the summer left the girls going in different directions: Gia wrote a salacious novel about the ordeal, and Abby got to studying to become a lawyer. Twelve years later, Gia asks Abby to come on a trip with her to see the Northern Lights, which have been on their bucket list forever. Abby reluctantly agrees and makes the journey with Gia's brother Benny, who she had confusing feelings about that last summer they all spent together.

When they arrive, Gia doesn't show up, and they start to become concerned about what happened to her, until they find a manuscript in her Greek summer house that starts to clear up some of their questions, but not all of them.

This book screams summer beach read, and its beautiful, broken and lethal characters will mesmerize you just as much as the white hot Grecian setting.

I'm a sucker for books set in Greece especially ones with a missing heiress! I absolutely had to read this book when I had the opportunity. Unpopular opinion, however, I was not a fan of this cover as much as everyone else seems to be! But that's a minimal issue!

I was very intrigued with this book and it sure started off good. Unfortunately, I felt like it fizzled out fast...which was a little disappointing for me. I didn't think this ended as strong as it began. I felt like so much buildup happened throughout the story, but it wasn't leading to anything big. I had many questions about things that never got answered. With a different ending, this book would have been an easy five star read!

Many thanks to Novel Suspects Insiders Club, Penguin Random House, and Netgalley for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

In this book we are following Abby and Gia, who are best friends that haven't spoken since Gia eloped with Garrett after her wealthy father passed away. We are following Abby in the present and Gia in the past through manuscript pages. Abby and Gia have been friends for years when Abby's mother cooked for Gia's family until Gia's mother is but in a sanatorium. When Abby and Gia were 18 years old Gia dates Noah, who we are told was obsessed with Gia and tried to have sex with Abby mistaking her for Gia and Gia knocked him in the head with a lamp killing him and her family covered it up. Gia surprises Abby with a trip to Sweden to finally see the northern lights along with her brother Benny who has had a crush on Abby for years. Abby and Benny arrive and Gia emails saying that she is sick when in reality she's not and when a family friend goes over to check on her that friend finds the house empty and the locks changed. Through Gia's pov we learn that her and her new husband Garrett meet some new friends Timeo and Emelia. Timeo and Emelia stay with them and when Benny comes to stay with his girlfriend Camilla things are brought to the surface like Garrett not being who he says he is and threatening to kill her once the money for the house sell goes through. Timeo goes to Sweden to warn Abby and Benny and once they go back to the island that they spent summers going to growing up Timeo tells them that Gia killed Garrett and Emelia because they were stealing money from Gia. Emelia turns out to be Noah's sister who wants revenge for his death after getting the back page to a novel that Noah loved that his father gave him before going to jail. Abby admits to sending it at the end of the novel. Gia denies everything and gets upset with Abby and writes a book about what happened and not writing about Abby except to say that she was write about Garrett not being a good guy and not to marry him. Abby and Benny end up engaged 18 months later and Gia hasn't been seen since leaving the island. Abby and Benny take over Benny's fathers charity that Gia wanted but that Benny's fathers ex-wife ended up with but gave to Abby and Benny. This book is perfect for the summer. I haven't written everything that happens but this book was so good. I can't wait to see what this author writes next.

(3.5 stars) Gia and Abby are childhood friends forever bonded by the tragic events that occurred the summer they were 18 at Gia’s dad’s house on a remote island in Greece. In advance of her 30th birthday, Gia invites her brother, Benny, and Abby for an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden to celebrate. When Benny and Abby show up in Sweden, Gia isn’t there. And more suspiciously, she texts that she’s sick and isn’t able to make the trip. Concerned that something isn’t right, Benny and Abby head to Greece to find Gia, but when they get there, they find a deserted house. After they discover Gia’s latest manuscript, they set out to find her. The manuscript leads us to expect the worst as Gia depicts a life that wasn’t as charming as it seemed. Where is Gia? And does her disappearance have anything to do with the events of that previous summer? Abby has to figure out how much of the manuscript is true and piece together what happened to Gia, before it’s too late.

This book was a wild ride and gave serious Gone Girl vibes. I can’t say I love novels with an unreliable narrator, but if you do, Ladykiller nails that. The ending also left me a little unsatisfied, but I can’t say it was predictable. I flew through it because I had to know how it would end and let’s just say lust, greed, and dirty little secrets will lead people to do crazy things. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book follows two best friends Abby and Gia. Gia gets into a troubling marriage with Garrett and they live in Greece.
On a night out with Garrett, Gia makes some new friends and invites them back to the mansion to stay. Then things get a little out of control and Gia starts questioning everything.
Abby is worried about Gia after she doesn’t show up for a planned vacation.
I felt this was a unique plot line and really enjoyed the book.

This such a fun and sexy thriller! The setting of the Greek islands is exotic, as are the characters. I devoured the plot and lapped up the suspense like a hungry pup. The twists and misdirections had me desperate to find out the truth. In short, this was a deliciously twisty book and a genius debut. I feel lucky to have gotten an advanced copy, so thank you to Bantam and NetGalley! I eager.y await the author’s next book and hope this one is wildly successful!

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood #fortysixthbookof2024 #arc #ladykiller

CW: death, murder, drug and alcohol use, rape, blackmail, assault

This book alternates between the perspectives of Abby and the manuscript of her childhood heiress friend Gia. Gia invites Abby to meet her for a vacation but when she doesn’t show up, Abby needs to find her and also keep a hidden secret from their past from resurfacing.

The setting of this novel is so well written. I felt like I was sitting in a Greek villa and now I need to plan a trip. Abby and Gia were fleshed out characters and didn’t feel like caricatures of the usual spoiled rich brat and moralistic poor hanger-on friend that you often see in thrillers. It was a pleasant surprise.

I was kept on my toes for the entire novel and didn’t suspect any of the turns. There were some questions left unanswered but it didn’t detract from the story. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I will say the cover is a bit boring and kind of commonplace but not the fault of the author. If you like thrillers and really fun settings, I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

Thank you to @penguinrandomhouse - Ballantine and @netgalley for the advance copy. (pub date 7/9/24)

Gia and Abby have been friends since they were girls. They kind of separated until recently when Gia invites Abby to Greece for the summer. Abby gets a mysterious email and when Abby and Benny arrive in Greece, Gia is missing. They find a manuscript detailing events leading up to Gia's disappearance and with more questions for Abby and Benny. I only read 1/2 of this book and then gave up on it. If you like books like this, then you would love it. But I didn't feel the book was for me.

I really enjoyed Ladykiller! It's a great beach read, is an intriguing mystery, takes place in the Mediterranean on a Greek island, and features a wild cast of characters who keep you guessing. I would have rated this one higher but I'm not sure how I feel about the ending - it's open, up to the reader's interpretation. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review. 3.5/5 ⭐️

A story of money, sex, lies and secrets; too many lies and secrets. When Abby goes to Sweden to meet her best friend Gia for Gia's birthday Gia doesn't show up but her brother Benny does. Benny says he saw Gia on the Greek island where the family has a house and she was looking forward to Sweden. A strange man approaches Abby needing to tell her something but disappears. Abby and Benny go to the island to look for Gia but find the house empty. They do find an unfinished manuscript that Gia was writing. It seems to be the story of what has been happening in Gia's life but is any of it true...it doesn't seem like it could be. Some things just don't fit. Could the lies from twelve years ago be coming back to haunt the best friends or is one of them a cold blooded killer out to get the other one...