I rate this book 4 stars. There two narratives: Abby, a friend of Gia, since childhood, when her mother was hired as a housekeeper by Gia's father. Gia's father Hugo, seeing how much his daughter liked Abby, enrolls her in the same private school and pays for her education through college.
Gia's manuscript: a journal she has kept which she hopes to turn into a book. Gia's family is very wealthy.
Most of the book takes place on the small Greek fictional island of Miteras. There are many twists and turns in this mystery, filled with con artists, a murder or two, a fair amount of sex(not graphic sex), greed and and an extremely wealthy family. There is also a romance or two.
One other important character in the book: Benny, Gia's brother. I did not figure who did what to who until near the end. I liked the ending.
The author's note mentions that the book has been adapted for television. I suspect a Lifetime movie.
#Ladykiller #NetGalley. Thank You KATHLEEN QUINLAN at Penguin Random House for sending me this eARC through NetGalley

This story started off promising. I enjoyed the atmospheric descriptions of the Greek islands, as well as the Swedish resort. But every aspect of the plot got a little too obvious towards the conclusion and the ending just fell flat for me.

Gia, wealthy woman, has married her soulmate Garrett and is in the process of selling her Greek island home for a large sum. Eager to reunite with the two people she loves the most, her brother Benny and her childhood friend Abby, she organizes a trip to witness the Northern Lights together. The two meet but Gia is a no-show. Thus begins the search for Gia, her husband and the guests who had stayed with her before her disappearance. They have one principal clue which is shared with the reader: a memoir manuscript she has left behind, describing what happened to her or at least what she wants them to know. Katherine Wood’s novel is a thriller from start to finish. Everyone lies or avoids the truth and with so many twists it is difficult to trust anyone, knowing their motives. Many have been deceived. Will the reader be one such victim?

This was a fun one! A perfect beach read for the start of summer. It kept me on my toes and the mystery was unexpected. The ending is a bit vague, but I still had fun deciding what I thought happened and going with that. Not really a thriller, but still a quick read with multiple POVs, an unreliable narrator, and a super swanky Greek setting.

I don't want to give too much away about the plot, since this one is fun to dive right in, but here is the first sentence of the official plot description: "When an heiress goes missing, her best friend races to unravel the secrets behind her disappearance using clues left behind in an explosive manuscript…"

Sounds amazing right? It's perfect summer page turner!

Ladykiller
By Katherine Wood
Review 4

LadyKiller reads from different points of view. Abby was raised by a single mother who worked for a wealthy family. They lived on the family property, and she became best friends with the family’s daughter Gia. Abby was embraced by the family and received many privileges that she enjoyed immensely. The vacations in Greece, private school and university education made Abby feel as part of the family.

Gia tells her side of the story through her manuscript. Grieving from her father’s death, she impulsively marries a wealthy businessman with temporary cash flow setbacks. Her book tells tales of their drug and alcohol fueled hazes, promiscuity, and hints of possible adultery. Irresponsibly spending her inheritance, she decides to sell the villa in Greece to hold on to her money. While they are renovating the villa prior to the sale she starts to question the character of the people in her life. Is it autobiographical? Or is it fiction?

Abby is frantic to find her best friend Gia, who is missing after she failed to show up for the birthday weekend in Sweden that Gia planned for herself. She and Gia had been estranged recently because Abby did not approve of Gia’s reckless decisions. Right before leaving New York to meet Gia, Abby receives an anonymous e-mail that she fears will bring to light a secret she has kept since she was a teenager.

Their friendship is complicated and even though Abby was treated like family, you can only wonder if Gia sees her as equal. Abby the achiever is a likable character, Gia is an annoying, unlikable women who thinks she can manipulate anyone. The story finishes with a few unanswered questions, and I can only wonder if some characters will always be looking over their shoulder for the rest of their life.

The descriptions of the Greek island and the food made me want to plan a trip to the Greek islands to see it for myself. I read this book in a day while sitting at the beach, it was just what I needed to start my vacation.

Thank you @netgalley @bantam @randomhouse @thekatwritesbooks #LadyKiller #NetGalley #arc #AdvancedReaderCopy #KatherineWood

"Ladykiller" by Katherine Wood is a sensual and suspenseful novel where not everyone's story is true. Gia and Abby, best friends since childhood, grew apart after Gia's marriage, which Abby disapproved of. When Abby receives an invitation to Gia’s thirtieth birthday at a Swedish chalet, she hesitantly attends, hoping to mend their relationship. However, upon arrival, Gia is missing, raising Abby’s fears about Gia’s dangerous husband.

Narrated by both Gia and Abby—Gia before her disappearance through memoir snippets and Abby after—this novel keeps readers hooked with its complex characters and twisted mysteries. Set against the beautiful backdrop of a Greek island, it offers a thrilling escapist journey filled with surprising twists.

As a debut novel, "Ladykiller" impresses with its expert plot and character development. The ending ties up most loose ends but leaves one big question open for readers to ponder, making it an unforgettable read. It's a must-read for summer 2024, exploring female friendships, jealousy, and the lengths people will go to maintain power and status.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

How can two friends who are total opposites survive being friends after so many lies were told and one friend is a possible cold blooded killer. This the story of Gia and Abby two totally different women whose lives were intertwined from a young age.

Gia is the daughter of the powerful Hugo Torres who had given his daughter everything a girl could want. A good education, trips but mostly money. Abby on the other hand is a girl raised by a single mom who worked to provide for her daughter. It wasn't until Abby's mom got a job with the Torres family that life for Abby changed.Since Hugo loved the influence Abby had on Gia he gave Abby what Gia had. A beautiful home, paid education where Abby became a lawyer and a very rich life. This made the girls life long friends until they weren't. Through in a murder where Gia said she was protecting Abby from an attacker, or was she.? Was this the first lie and then you throw in Benny Gia's brother who has been in love with Abby since childhood..

Twelve years later Abby is a la wyer and Gia is still the free spirit spending her money and getting married. Until her dad dies and her life is about to change along with Abby who she really has not connected with in a long time. Until she asks both Benny and Abby to come on a trip with her to see the Northern Lights that both Benny and Abby feel that something is wrong. Gia is no where to be found. Strange text messages to them from Gia are very confusing. Plus Benny didn't trust Gia's new husband Garrett and these two new friends they made. Something isn't right. Can the incident from twelve years ago come back to haunt Abby? I Gia really the victim here or is she the murderer? Something is not right and Benny and Abby need to find out. NOW!!!

I love twists and turns in a mystery and Katherine Wood really put many in this novel. Ladykiller had me guessing at every turn.. If you like twists and turns this book is for you. There are many characters to follow which was a little hard at times to keep up with but the setting in Greece was amazing very descriptive and wanting me to go there. Gia was a twisted and complicated character which I truly enjoyed.She kept digging that hole for herself but seemed to always get out of it. Always blaming someone else especially Abby her life long sister who she no longer needed in her life The author also referenced many times to The Talented Mr. Ripley, which I felt was on point with this book. It kept me glued to the page.

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Wood and the publishing company for the ARC. I would totally recommend it to anyone who loves twists and turns and a good thriller.

United States Publication: July 9, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Gia and Abby are unlikely best friends. Gia comes from great wealth, wealth that Abby benefited from throughout her childhood and college years. Gia's father paid for Abby to go to the same boarding schools that Gia did and then paid for Abby's college education. But Abby never completely fit into the world of wealth; she always was on the edge. When Gia and Abby are 18 and about to head off to their freshman year of college, a tragic event changes the course of the girls' future. A stalker of Gia attacks Abby, and Gia kills him. This event results in Gia becoming a published author and Abby dealing with the trauma of the event. Fast forward a decade (at least), and Gia's father has died. In a surprise move, he leaves none of his massive wealth to his various children and current or ex-wives. Gia is left "penniless." Within months of his death, Gia meets and marries a man who fits neatly into her life of wealth. She WAS left her family home in Greece, and in order to fund her life, she is forced to sell the home and property. She and her husband live at the house while making the required repairs and renovations in order to sell the home. Abby and Gia haven't spoken in months due to Abby's disapproval of this quick courtship and marriage, but as Gia is turning 30, she wants to meet Abby in Sweden to view the Northern Lights and reconnect. But Gia is a no-show to her own birthday celebration, and Abby, along with Benny - Gia's younger brother, becomes alarmed. Abby and Benny fly from Sweden to Greece to hunt down Gia - is she really missing or just playing a prank (that makes no sense) on her brother and best friend?

Hmmm. I almost decided not to read this title, as heiresses and rich people's problems aren't really my thing. But I did decide to read it, and as I started it, I felt pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. But then. It got to be too much. Gia and her husband had a toxic relationship with numerous red flags - no big surprise given how long they had(n't) known each other. And it turned into a disturbing interaction between them and the couple they invited to stay at the house with them. It honestly disgusted me. The story got tedious, and by the time the book ended, with a lot of mystery and unknowns still present, I was rather glad to be done with the book. All that being said, I did rate it rather high, given what I just said, because of the initial enjoyment I got from the story and various elements of the story, both past and present. But it isn't a book I would recommend to anyone.

Beware of the lady killer…I mean ladykiller, right!? This book is one wild episode after another. Gia, who was raised by a very wealthy and powerful father, is unmoored after her father’s death. This leads to her quickly marrying a man she barely knows. Things are hot and heavy at first, but as time goes on her husband, Garrett, doesn’t seem as great as he did in the beginning. Will things end amicably or will someone, in fact, be killed? Read this great summer thriller to find out!

A slow burn, but once I got into it I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to @RandomHouse/Ballantine and #NetGalley for a digital ARC of #Ladykiller. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This was the perfect book to start summer reading season. A clever take on Highsmith's "Talented Mr. Ripley", Ladykiller is full of hustlers, the wealthy behaving badly, and the people who get swept up in the wake, all set against the beautiful backdrop of the Greek islands.

Thoroughly enjoyable read!

Abby owes her life to her friend Gia: not only did her father pay for Abby's education, but Gia herself rescued Abby from an attacker when they were eighteen. However, their friendship has been on the rocks since Abby loudly objected to Gia's precipitous wedding. A birthday trip to Sweden with Gia's brother (and Abby's long-time crush) Benny was supposed to repair their relationship, but Gia never showed up. When Benny and Abby go to Gia's Grecian villa to investigate, they find an empty house and the disturbing manuscript that has been interspersed throughout. Things really pick up once the dual timelines converge. Twisted and ambiguous.

This is a 3.5 for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy. Ladykiller is told by two best friends, Abby, in the first person, and Gia via her manuscript. This approach makes for interesting storytelling though, at times, was a little confusing, especially in the beginning. It took me a while to totally get into the rhythm of the book and it didn’t really take off for me until about half way through. The mood is established when it uses a quote from The Talented Mr. Ripley as an Epigraph, and uses a setting on a beautiful Greek island. The plotting is very complex and twisty. Gia is not a sympathetic character so when doubts arise as to her actions and veracity, it’s hard to know what’s true and what’s not. As Abby questions, “Was she f—-ing with me, or was she just being Gia, impulsive and insensitive to everyone else’s needs?”. Who’s good and who’s not? “Protagoras believed that the truth was relative, because what one person might consider to be true, another might consider to be false.” The book certainly keeps you off-balance and proved a good read.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars for rating purposes

This book follows Abby and Gia, unlikely friends that formed a close bond throughout their childhood until a tragic event happens while they are in Greece. Gia used the tragedy to write book entail what happened and Abby went on to become an attorney through the kindness of Gia's father funding her schooling.

This story flashes to the present, which is 12 years after the event, and Gia has invited Abby and her brother, Benny, to celebrate her birthday watching the Northern Lights. Abby accepts the invitation after feeling guilty telling Gia she couldn't marry someone only a month after meeting. The multiple POV is told from Abby's view and Gia's manuscript, a mix of reality and fiction. When Gia doesn't end up meeting her brother and best friend in Sweden, they find out things had started to go wrong for Gia and her new husband.

The twists of the story made it interesting and a quick read. I wanted to know what was happening and who really was the bad guy. I enjoyed the mix of what I consider a reliable and unreliable narrator throughout the story, but a majority of the time you have no idea where the craziness is going to come through. I enjoyed the characters throughout, but Benny was my favorite which was sad considering he was not a main character. Abby and Gia are likable but do a lot of questionable things throughout the book.

I recommend this book for those that like a twisty story told from 2 POVs and potentially with unreliable information being provided. The ending is also open-ended so if you like a nice and complete ending this may not be the read for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the e-ARC in return for an honest review!

I enjoyed this fun mystery that kept me entertained the entire time. It was fun and suspenseful but also kept me guessing with the unique premise. 4 out of 5 stars.

This is quite unique mystery that twists with long buried secrets, lies, and deceit. Set on a beautiful, remote island in Greece the story centers on Gia, daughter of privilege, and Abby, daughter of the family's chef. They have been best friends since childhood but have become estranged by Gia's hasty marriage to someone she barely knows. Both are still haunted by a secret from their past. The plot takes quite unexpected twists and turns and kept my attention from beginning to end! Katherine Wood has skillfully combined Abby’s narration of events with Gia’s “manuscript” of her life, past and present, including both a new husband and new friends who are not what they seem. Does Gia’s manuscript of her life reflect the truth, or just the image she wishes to portray of herself as a tragic heroic victim. It is an exciting read from beginning to an end that still leaves you guessing just a bit! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of my review are my own.

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is such a great who did it read!! This book reminded me of Verity. If you like books with a suspenseful thrill ride, an escapist journey, murder, con artists, that has many twists and turns then you will love this book. Told thru dual POV Abby and Gia’s manuscript.

Gia, Benny, and Abby have been friends since they were kids. They met as kids when Abby’s father became the chef to Gia’s well off family.

Years later, Abby and Benny are meeting Gia to celebrate her birthday that was supposed to take place on a remote Greek island, that belonged to Gia and Benny’s family. When they get there, there is no sign of Gia anywhere. While searching for Gia they find a manuscript written by Gia telling the events that had unfolded in the last couple of days. They are in a race against time to find out what happened to Gia and her new husband Garrett who may not be who he said he was.

I could not put down this who did it story that was full of mystery, con artists, intrigue, suspense, who is lying, who is telling the truth murder mystery. The end left me with questions and wanting to know who was telling the truth and what really happened…I have to know!! Thank you to Bantam Books and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Abby and Gia are lifetime besties...or are they?

From the moment I saw this cover/title I knew I had to read this book!
I am happy to say it did not disappoint!

Reading this book from Gia's point of view, I felt like I was laying poolside in Greece with the sun beating down on me without a care in the world. From Abby's point of view, I could feel the nerves and excitement! This book had me hooked from Page 1 and it never stopped. I loved how descriptive the book was, to actually make you feel like you were there and feeling their feelings. I loved that there was such a range of emotions in the book to keep you guessing the entire time. Jealousy, love, lust, longing, anger, suspense, happy, thrill. It was such a fun summer read.
The only con to this book is how it ended. Let me clarify by saying that it didn't end bad, just left me wondering for the rest of my life! WHYYYYYYY!!!
With that being said, may we have another? Sequel perhaps?
I would recommend this to anyone I can get to listen to me :)

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and the author for allowing me to read this eBook in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller

Gia, an heiress, and Abby, the daughter of Gia's family chef, are the protagonists of this novel. They have known each other since childhood, and the plot centers on their friendship and the ways in which it will impact their lives.

The celebration of Gia's birthday was supposed to take place on a remote Greek island, but unexpected events occurred! There is no sign of Gia. In an effort to unravel this mystery, Abby and Gia's brother will read Gia's manuscript, which contains a comprehensive account of the occurrences that occurred prior to Gia's disappearance.

The narrative is told in the first person, from the point of view of both of the women, with Gia's narration taking place through the words that she has written in her manuscript. Despite the fact that the story appears to be interesting and the writing is also of high quality, I did not feel completely invested in this tale or the characters.

Recently, I finished reading an advanced reader copy of a book with a broad concept comparable to this one. One of the characters went missing, and the narration style was comparable to this one! The difference lies in the fact that the two women in this story are childhood friends, whereas, in the previous book, they were mother and daughter. Of course, the stories and circumstances are totally different, but the concepts are very similar.

The twists in the story were undoubtedly intriguing and had the potential to elevate the narrative. I think there will be many readers who will enjoy them. However, the execution left much to be desired. The buildup to these twists was insufficient, resulting in a lack of context and emotional investment, at least from me. The twists seemed to come out of nowhere, which I felt disturbed the flow of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

LADYKILLER
Katherine Wood

First half:
Sexy
Sharp writing
Playful
Exotic
Luxurious

Second half:
Stereotypical storyline

For Gia, it’s champagne toasting on an ordinary Tuesday, island hopping, sex on the beach, and staying in daddy’s summer house for the week rent-free and writing to tell all about it.

For Abby, it’s textbooks, torts, and memories that haunt her. Although best friends their lives have never been the same. Gia had everything handed to her that Abby had to work hard for.

Off the cusp of a quick marriage, her father’s death, and the publishing of her first successful book Gia invites Abby to stay with for a time. Abby is at first hesitant but reluctantly agrees. Gia’s first book was a memoir and Gia told it all. Including what happened to both in Greece 12 years ago.

We follow along as old wounds resurface, secrets that were buried deep are unearthed, and rough times from the past look like a walk in the park in Katherine Wood’s LADYKILLER.


Told in part through excerpts from Gia’s sexed-up manuscript. The story starts out hot, but the fire gets extinguished by introducing a stereotypical storyline. It was a little too easy to pick out the bad guy and unfortunately, once I identified them as such the material never deviated from its original course.

LADYKILLER unraveled as it went on. Tying up all the loose ends was an effort and it felt like reading it. It was such a bummer because I enjoyed the first half. I will check out the next book Wood writes if the timing is right.

Thanks to Netgalley, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for the advanced copy and the opportunity to provide feedback!

LADYKILLER…⭐⭐⭐