Blurb Beware: The blurb gives away a lot of the book and isn’t quite accurate. In fact, the first line of the blurb doesn’t happen until 80 percent into the book, and that conflict is resolved pretty quickly. So avoid.

I also can’t tell what’s on the cover. Maybe it will be clearer in print. It looks at first glance like someone swimming a butterfly stroke. But maybe it’s someone doing a backstroke. Then again, maybe it’s a landscape shot? My vision is not good enough to decipher it.

The construction of the story is a little weird. We have Abby in the present, being invited to visit her best friend, Gia, in Greece. This is interspersed with Gia’s “manuscript” of her newlywed life in Greece, backtracking several months. It takes about 75 percent of the book for the manuscript to catch up to the present. This made it feel like the book hadn’t really started yet. Then it’s all Abby’s POV for the rest of it. The manuscript is all present tense (groan) and most of Abby’s POV is in past tense (but some is in present tense). I HATE narratives in present tense. Only five percent of writers can use it effectively.

The beginning really confused me. In the prologue, it talks about a zoo animal that escapes and eats another animal, then switches mid-paragraph to a funeral. I thought the funeral was for the animal for a long time but it was for a person totally unrelated to the zoo. I still have no idea what the point of the zoo tale was, and I am still recovering from the whiplash of the non sequitur. Maybe it was copy and pasted in by mistake in the ARC.

The atmosphere of the book is full of suspicions, with characters and actions that feel a bit off, and secrets waiting to be revealed. So it has a great buildup, if a tad slow. Then the ending was a letdown. It’s just ambiguous, no clear answers. I hate that. It’s not a bad book by any means — if it sounds appealing, you’ll probably like it. Still a good book but could be better.

Another one from Penguin Random House, Ladykiller by Katherine Wood, will be out in July 2024, and this is a wild ride. Gia, is an heiress, newly married, and getting her family home on a Greek island ready for sale when she goes missing leaving behind a manuscript filled with clues, or are they? Her brother, Benny, and her best friend growing up, Abby, are expecting her in Sweden for a birthday celebration under the Northern Lights, and Gia fails to show up. Instead, she feigns illness and refuses to answer their calls. Meanwhile, Abby, is receiving alarming emails that leave her on edge. The emails are linked to a series of events from the last summer Abby and Gia were together on that Greek island when they were both 18. Benny and Abby return to Greece to find the family home vacant. All of Gia's things are there, but she is where to be found. They find the manuscript and realize that Gia's marriage, and her husband, Garrett, aren't at all what they seem. Additionally, as things unravel, Abby is forced to shed more light on that incident from the girls past, because it's becoming clear, the past and the present are somehow connected. Will Benny and Abby find Gia in time, and will the two of them finally consummate the long standing attraction between them? And if they do, will it survive the truth of the past, and the questions for the future. There are several stories under the cover of this novel with twists and turns and more questions than answers Instead, the reader is left to ponder which truth they believe. All in all, a great summer beach read to add to your pile! Thank you Penguin Random House for selecting me!

Ladykiller is a vibe. It's a tumultous tale of love, lust and deception set against the glimmering backdrop of a Greek paradise. Gia's narrative takes place 5 months before the present day and the story opens on Gia and her husband and the steamy one-night stand that was never supposed to end in marriage. But, sometimes things are just so right that they work out, against all odds.

But while things are going fantastically in love, financially, things aren't going quite as well. Barrett's business is struggling and Gia has to help him out several times. And worse, while she grew up rich, her father's death has resulted in her and her brother Benny being almost broke - apart from her Greek villa that she's renovating and then has plans to sell. Then, unexpected guests enter the story and things take at turn.

Abby's narrative starts in present day. She and Gia were best friends as children and Abby, Benny, and Gia have made plans to meet in Sweden to reunite and celebrate Abby's birthday. But Gia doesn't show. As Abby and Benny work to track Gia down, things aren't as they seem. And people aren't as they seem. And time is running out.

Ladykiller is the perfect summer read with all the twists and turns. It would be amazing to enjoy as you lie by a pool and drink a cool drink. Special thanks to Netgalley for an advanced readers e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out July 9.

This is the first time I’ve read this author. I found the premise of this story intriguing which was my reason for wanting to read it.

Gia, Benny, and Abby three peas in a pod. Abby’s mother worked for Gia and Benny’s father which is how she came to be in their midst. As you might guess, Abby didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in her mouth, but Gia and Benny did.

Abby wondered how she could be so lucky as to become the best friend of such a wealthy young girl. Gia wasn’t wealthy, but her parents were hella loaded. Gia’s father loved Abby as one of his own so much so that he paid for her college education back in the U.S. Gia and Benny were originally from Greece. They used to spend summer vacation together and do all sorts of things young teens do.

Twelve years later, Gia is working as an attorney and repaying her debt to Gia’s father by living out her dreams of becoming a lawyer. Gia’s father had recently passed, and it was the first time in many years that Abby got to be with her old bestie and her brother Benny, albeit under unfortunate circumstances.

The next time Abby hears from Gia is when she called to advise her that she was getting married to the man of her dreams. Abby tried to be happy for her bestie, but she was struggling to do so because Gia had a terrible habit of loving hard, strong and entirely too fast. She hadn’t known her man but for a few short months and they were getting married. Abby begged Gia not to do it and to give it more time so she could get to know her beau, but Gia was always headstrong and determined to live her best life and do whatever her heart desired because her father gave her a life that she’d grown accustomed to and a girl wants what she wants.

As a result of this conversation, Abby was outraged that Gia would be so stupid as to marry this man she hadn’t known but for a minute. Several months go by and all of a sudden while Abby was in the middle of a case, Gia sends an invitation to her and her brother, Benny, to help her celebrate her thirtieth birthday in Sweden and to watch the awesome northern lights. Abby wasn’t sure she’d be able to just pick up in the middle of a case and go flying halfway around the world for a friend that was angry with her for stating the obvious. But this was Gia and Abby loved her like a sister and this was the olive branch she needed.

As luck would have it, Abby’s boss let her go and she was well on her way. By the time Abby and Benny’s planes landed, Gia was noticeably absent. Where on earth could she be? Why would she ask them to fly there to celebrate her birthday and she be a no show. Abby received a strange text message from Gia stating she was sick and was so sorry she wouldn’t be able to make the trip and advised that she and Benny should continue to stay and enjoy the suite and the northern lights on her.

Abby and Benny weren’t buying that excuse at all. They had no idea what was really going on, that is, until they decided to leave Sweden and head to Greece to find Gia. Once they returned to her home to find Gia missing, they stumbled across her manuscript of her memoir and began reading. What they found on those pages was enough to raise eyebrows and cause some scratching of one’s head. To find out what Gia wrote, you’ll have to read the rest of the novel.

Wow! There was so much going on and a great many things I left out because it would give too many spoilers. I enjoyed the flow of the story. Again, it was a lot, but it was the useful information you needed. I felt the author gave lots of detail, but not overly done. In fact, the details she provided the reader will be needed because it gives a lot of insight into what is to follow. However, having said that, this story was way too long. I know that’s a huge pet-peeve of mine, but this story really began to grate on my nerves because of the carrot dangling that drove me insane. But even though it did that, I was still able to figure out much of what was happening, and then when I got to the ending, I wasn’t quite sure how I was supposed to feel.

Again, I can’t go into detail because it will spoil the story, but I felt a little let down after having read all those pages that it ended in the way in which it did. I found myself having more questions and not the correct answers. I didn’t hate the ending, but I didn’t love it either. At the end of the day, this was really a good story, and I did enjoy the journey.

This should be a big summer read - it has a fabulous setting, interesting, complicated characters, and a propulsive plot. A total page turner for anyone who likes tales of scrappy outsiders and rich people behaving badly in glamorous locales.

Well this was a sexy story. I wasn’t expecting that. Told in two points of view. It is a glimpse into the rich and misbehaving. I wasn’t invested in the characters which is so important to me when reading. I actually disliked them. I did stick it out to see how it all ends and then I don’t think I actually did find out because certain things weren’t answered. That was a bit of a let down to me. I have this 3 1/2 stars because I was entertained. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The story started off strong but lost momentum and so did I. Did not care for the ending as it left to many questions and loose ends. Frustrating. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Dual POVs. I did enjoy one POV more than the other. The middle portion of this book kind of lost me. I think a lot of it was filler and I didn’t find myself to be fully committed at times. The ending is full of twists and turns, some might think *too* many.

This was a relatively fast read. It pulled me in immediately and I was all in throughout the first half. There are time jumps and points of view swaps as well as a manuscript. All of this was a bit confusing at times but after a while I began to follow along with it and actually found myself intrigued as my imagination ran wild. I was excited to get to the end and it most certainly was going to give me a great bit twist with such an awesome lead up. Unfortunately, it did not. It fell flat and I was left disappointed and blah. Perhaps if a reader goes into this without high expectations they will find it to be enjoyable through the end.

Katherine Wood was a new author to me, but the synopsis for Ladykiller seemed too good for me to pass up. I am glad that I gave a new author a chance. This book was great! It tells the story of Gia, an heiress who lives in Greece with her new husband. However, her new life isn't everything that it seems to be from the outside. Gia goes missing and her best friend, Abby, and her brother are left with a manuscript that Gia wrote as their clues to find her. The storyline kept me wondering and guessing throughout and I did not see the end coming.

Overall, I liked this one. Although I did enjoy the story, it did take some twists and turns that didn’t really add much to the story. About halfway through it did seem to get a bit boring and I just wanted to find out the ending. I liked the unreliable narrator aspect. I enjoyed the different character points of view that made it harder to figure out what was going on since you didn’t know what to believe. The ending felt a bit unsettled for me though. A bit unfinished. I am glad I stuck with it though since overall I enjoyed it.

All that drama for an ending with no actual conclusion. The topic of SA can also be tricky to write about especially when there’s lying involved

"Ladykiller" by Katherine Wood is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Wood masterfully weaves together a story of suspense, betrayal, and deception, drawing readers into the dark and twisted mind of the protagonist. The character development is superb, with each individual feeling both relatable and utterly chilling. The plot twists are unexpected yet satisfying, leaving readers guessing until the final pages. Wood's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it difficult to put the book down. Overall, "Ladykiller" is a must-read for fans of the genre, delivering thrills and suspense in equal measure.

I unfortunately DNF this book around 25%. I can't give the most accurate review, I just know I was bored :(

And I love this author! I just don't think this was for me. I was quite uninterested in the characters and what was happening between the couple. I will still give her a chance.

There were so many elements I enjoyed about this book! A book within a book, friends to lovers, rich people getting into trouble in paradise, and unreliable female narrators. Even though it’s technically suspense, it really felt like there was a love story at the heart of this novel. It was a fun take on the genre and definitely had Gone Girl vibes. Entertaining, addictive, with sexual tension sprinkled throughout. The perfect beach read this summer!

I loved reading Gia’s manuscript as she logged her side of the story, the same way she’d done following a terrible tragedy when she saved her best friend, Abby, a decade prior. It was immersive and I enjoyed getting to know all the shady characters and their motives. Benny, her brother, was my favorite since he seemed to be the only sincere person in the book. It gripped me from beginning to end, trying to figure out the truth of what was going on, and I still don’t know. The old well on the property definitely created the most suspense for me overall.

My favorite character arcs were Benny and Abby, and their relationship. I was rooting for them the entire time. The ending left me hanging, not knowing exactly what happened, but it left it open for a possible sequel. The pace was steady until the end when it slowed, and Abby was settled into her new life.

4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For readers who enjoy complicated relationships, unreliable protagonists, exotic locations, and suspense.

“Ladykiller” is a mystery thriller by Katherine Wood. This is a book told in two POV - Abby’s (present) and Gia’s (five months previously through a manuscript). The descriptions of Greece were vivid - ah, to be rich enough and carefree enough and young enough - which was a great virtual holiday. The friendship/relationship between the two females was interesting and held my attention. There were a number of people to not trust/believe in this book - is the new husband all that he seems (depending upon how you see him), is Gia as clueless as she seems (again, depends), are the new housemates all they seem (debatable), and what about the best friend? The pacing of this book was slow, building up a lot of the story, but once around the 50% mark things start progressing faster, then about 25% later, things really unfold quickly. The ending is a LOT ambiguous, but I was okay with that (odd, as usually I prefer closed endings). This was a quick-ish read and even with a cast of “not really likable or trustworthy characters,” it wasn’t that bad a ride. If you don’t like open-ended endings and a not final “who done it,” this may not be your cup of tea. 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.

Loved this book although I hated every single character! LOL! Gia and Abby are childhood friends, reconnecting after having had a brief spat. But when Gia doesn't show up at the resort they are supposed to be meeting at, Abby, along with Gia's brother Benny, go on the search for their friend/sister. Lots of action and suspense, this was hard to put down! Loved the setting too (I now really want to go to Greece!!).
This will be a really entertaining beach read.

This was a good read! It was twisty and suspenseful and kept me guessing, which I love in a thriller. Thank you for the ARC!

I enjoyed the structure of the chapters and the dual narration: Abby's chapters narrate the present, and Gia's chapters, written as her manuscript, fill in the gaps from the near past. I didn't particularly like any of the characters. Many of them read as shallow, naive, and whiny, which, although it may have been purposeful, made it hard to stay invested in the story. I also felt like the real mystery didn't begin until the last 30% of the book. Until that point, all of the revelations had been blatantly obvious, to the point of annoyance that the main character's hadn't realized it yet. I did enjoy the discussion of never truly having closure, and the doubt and second-guessing that occurred, along with the questioning of whether you really know someone. I just wish the entire book had been as good/interesting as the last 30% was. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a romance-heavy thriller in a Mediterranean setting.

Told from two different viewpoints and timelines, the story starts off a bit slow. Abby and Gia, longtime pals who've drifted apart due to some past tragedy, decide to patch things up by planning a trip to see the Northern Lights in Sweden for Gia's 30th. But when Gia doesn't show up for her own bash, Abby and Gia's brother, Benny, get worried and head back to where it all began in Greece to find her.

Apart from the unnecessary explicit stuff that doesn't really add to the story, this book is a thrilling read, especially when you're snuggled up on a cold winter weekend dreaming of sunny islands. Just a heads-up though, it leaves you with a bunch of unanswered questions - but hey, that's part of the psychological thriller charm, right? Just okay overall, I don't think I'd recommend it but I don't regret reading it.