This was not my favorite book. There were too many twist til the end when it did not quite read as a good ending.

I almost made it to Greece during the beginning of the pandemic. But it was not in the cards for me at the time. Borders shut down a day after we arrived in our layover city and we had to high-tail it back to the states. 𝙇𝙖𝙙𝙮𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 by 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙙 really gave me serious FOMO.

Gia, an heiress and her long time best friend Abby were inseparable in their teens. But now, as adults, they've become estranged, living completely different lives. Gia is a party girl with too much money, and too little time. While Abby, who is from a much less fortunate upbringing, went to law school with the aid of Gia's family, is just starting her career as an attorney. With an invite from Gia to celebrate her birthday in Sweden, Abby is eager to reconnect. But once Abby and Gia's brother (Benny) get to the uniquely beautiful resort in Sweden and find Gia is not there, nor is she answering her phone, they become suspicious. Gia, would never miss a party, especially one that celebrates her. Worried about Gia, Abby and Benny fly to Greece to find that Gia's estate is eerily deserted. The only clue they have to finding Gia is through an unfinished manuscript of Gia's describing the events leading up to her disappearance. Ladykiller is written from both Abby's current perspective and Gia's manuscript. In Gia's manuscript we find out the truth about Gia's marriage to Garrett, a man she's only known a few months, and their mysterious house guests whom they'd just met.

I enjoyed most of the book, particularly Abby's POV. She is much more relatable and her chapters more straight to the point, as she and Benny try to find Gia. Gia's manuscript takes up most of the middle of the book giving us a deeper look into the lifestyle she lives. It's extravagant, indulgent and carefree. There are sharp twists and turns as the mystery unravels, but I was left feeling more tangled up with the loose ending. Although I was left feeling unsatisfied, I did still enjoy the book. It was very well written and transported me to places and a lifestyle I had not yet (or ever will) experience.

Where is Gia? What has happened to her? And who are these new people she's invited into her life?

Thank you @NetGalley @penguinrandomhouse and @bantambooksuk for the ARC pre-approval. Ladykiller out July 9, 2024.

#NetGalley #PenguinRandomHouse #BantamBooks

Thank you to Netgalley, the Publishes Random House Publishing and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this e-ARC early.

I was exited to read this novel and really enjoyed the first 1/3 of the story. Gia, a wealthy heiress invites her brother and her best friend Abby to view the Northern Lights in Sweden for her birthday. When she doesn't show up, the two set out for Greece where she is staying at her father's house, which she has inherited. As Gia recently married after a whirlwind courtship, the two are concerned for Gia's safety. Can they find her in time?

I started off really enjoying the novel as I felt the first chapter really set the scene with it's acidic wit, but unfortunately after a few hundred pages my interest started to wane. The last part of the book bored and confused me at the same time. The ending was confusing but not in a cliff hanger type of way.

This book was a fantastic thriller that had so many twists and turns it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Gia is a wealthy heiress who wants to celebrate her birthday with her best friends from childhood (Abby) and her brother (Benny) at a remote hotel to watch the northern lights. Only Gia doesn’t turn up for the trip and Abby and Benny learn Gia’s new marriage wasn’t all roses and sunshine played out on a Greek island. The books goes between Abby’s current accounts of what is happening the Gia’s unpublished memoirs of her life leading up to her disappearance. I loved how the author seamless blended together the current and past events along with all the characters in the story. I could not wait to see how she wrapped up the book and I was not disappointed with the ending!

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood started out a little slow for me but once it picked up, I was hooked.

Ladykiller is about two friends - Gia and Abby - who have been best friends since they were kids. Gia comes from a wealthy family and she and Abby met when Abby's mother began working for the family as their cook. Gia's family has helped put Abby through college and has financially supported other endeavors. When Abby and Gia are both 18, they go through something really traumatic together at Gia's family's home in Greece. Gia goes on to write a powerful memoir about the ordeal, while Abby stays away from the family estate for 12 years. Gia is getting ready to sell the family estate after her father dies, but when Abby and Gia's brother Benny receive weird messages from her, they return to the estate to look for Gia. The estate is deserted and Gia is missing. Can they find her and figure out what happened? This is really where the twists and turns hit you hard!

I thought the book was a little drawn out in the early chapters, and in a few spots later on, but the twists and turns made up for that. I am often pretty quick to guess a twist or even an outcome of a book like this...but it's safe to say author Katherine Wood had me beat on most of this, which is great news!

Wood's descriptions of the landscape - in Greece and Switzerland - were mesmerizing and really made me feel like I was right there with Gia, Abby and Benny.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is the sort of story I longed for for the longest time. It had everything in it. The characters were the best part. I could tell the author put a lot of effort in to the characters.

Book Title: Ladykiller
Author: Katherine Woods
Publisher: Random House Pushing Group –Ballantine Bantam
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
My Rating: 2.5 Stars
Pages 368

Anyone who views this cover surely is thinking – take me with you to Greece’

Oops – unfortunately turned out not be 'my' type of paradise- some nasty things going on.


Story starts - Abby and Gia are close friends but from two completely difference backgrounds,-Gia, a wealthy heiress, and Abby, the daughter of the chef for Gia’s family.
Gia’s father recognizes how close they are and actually pays for Gia’s education.

Twelve years later Abby receives an invitation from Gia to celebrate her birthday in Greece come September beneath the Northern Lights,
Only, when Abby and Benny – Gia’s brother arrive, they find the beachfront estate empty and only Gia’s Manuscript aka memoir. Gia writes detailed descriptions of the events leading up to her disappearance. The pages reveal the dark truth and dirty secrets of the guests they entertained. Yes! Rich people behaving badly.
It’s also a story filled with sensuality, seduction, and of course sex!
The vivid descriptions of some of the sexual encounters had me checking if the genre was listed as ‘Erotica’
No one listed it as such!

I was curious as to what happened to Gia. I am sure there was a story beneath it all – perhaps it was made clear in the parts I skipped

. I did laugh out loud when Gia’s book was released and one critic described
‘Gia’s a sexy, sailor-mouthed heroine for modern times and unashamed to put herself first’.

Yes!! The cover had me but unfortunately this didn’t work for me.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Bantam for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 9, 2024.

Thanks @netgalley and @randomhouse for the eARC of LadyKiller by @thekatwritesbooks in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 The allure of Greece runs deep. Gia and Abby, friends since childhood, encountered an unthinkable tragedy at the age of eighteen in this Mediterranean paradise. As their lives move past this, the trauma resonates and leaves a lasting imprint. As Gia, the heiress, approaches her thirtieth birthday, hope abounds for the new decade ahead until she mysteriously disappears and Abby and her new husband search desperately for the clues to find her. Ladykiller is a stunning and masterfully written thriller that will leave you holding on until the very end! A reminder that under the allure of amazing destinations, wealth, and seeming to have it all, vulnerability and trauma affects all of us…and nothing in life is certain! What really happened?!?

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram soon!

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is a mystery thriller is set against the backdrop of a Greek beach estate and a Swedish getaway. The novel follows the intertwined fates of heiress Gia and her friend Abby. The narrative unfolds through a dual perspective, alternating between Gia's compelling manuscript chronicling her tumultuous summer in Greece and Abby's perspective as she embarks on a journey to reunite with her friend in Sweden one month later. As the story progresses, tensions escalate with Gia's enigmatic guests, Abby's unsettling encounters with threatening emails, and the unexplained absence of the heiress herself at their Swedish vacation.
Overall, Ladykiller offers a richly atmospheric experience, immersing readers in a world of glamour and danger. While the narrative initially unfolds at a leisurely pace and there were quite a few spicy scenes (I personally am not a fan of these but if you like spice then this should be a plus), I powered through and once we got to the more thrilling aspects of the story, I was hooked. This was a fun read that I read in a few sittings, an easy book that was personally a good escape for me.
Thanks so much Netgalley, Bantam, and Random House for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

LadyKiller by Kathleen Wood

Was Gia’s story fantasy or truth?
Was Abby truthful or not?
Was Garrett a lover or a con man?
And what about Emelia, Timeo and Dimitrois?
Kathleen Wood leaves the reader to decide what is fact and fiction.

inside the covers of LADYKILLER is a story of love, secrets and unanswered questions. And the setting was perfect..Greece in all it’s glory. Breathtaking descriptions! I definitely could feel the splash of water against my feet; my toes sinking into the beach sand and the wind blowing through my hair. Kudos to Kathleen Wood for that!

The writing was smooth, the chapters flowed from one to the other in the their different voices. There was no doubt from the beginning of the story that Gia may not be all we think she is. A little to self-serving. The Abby chapters seemed to be better constructed. Maybe the author was trying to portray a chaotic Gia. If so, she certainly accomplished that.

i did enjoy the book. Sometimes it drove me crazy with unanswered questions. Definitely full of twists and turns. I think the ending is a perfect set up for a sequel. Not everyone is going to like this story but I found it refreshing because unlike other mysteries it was difficult to find answers.

i would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Group-Ballantine for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book.

Still don’t know if I like this book. Enjoyed the location descriptions. Felt the whole story was over the top and didn’t give sufficient explanations of the outcomes.

Wow - this book was a doozy - my mind is still reeling from all of the twists, turns, and subterfuge. What a fun story! Ladykiller takes us into the world of the global elite, as Gia, a privileged young woman with a complicated past gives us insight into her life through her memoir - at the same time, we see things through the perspective of her best friend, Abby, the family chef's daughter who was gifted similar privileges. Between the two of them, the story takes several surprising twists, leaving the reader unsure of who to trust. SUCH a great, intriguing story - I can't wait to read whatever comes next for Katherine Wood!

Twisty goodness with an ending that'll keep you thinking.

This is an author to follow! ⭐️✨🌟✨⭐️

5 stars

I really wish I could give 1/2 stars because this book was better than a 4 but not quite a 5 for me. It was a little slow to get into because I didn't find the main character to be particularly likable, but past the first few chapters, I was intrigued.

Ladykiller is about Gia and her best friend Abby. Gia is the spoiled little rich girl, now an adult, and Abby, the poor best friend. Because Abby was a good influence on Gia, Gia's family paid for Abby to go to school with Gia and basically grow up together. Benny is Gia's younger brother who also factors in. As young adults, a violent crime occurred, and Gia wrote a book about it. Gia and Abby share many life experiences, but their approaches to life are different.

The book starts when Gia's dad dies. Gia has impetuously married and is documenting her life, including her relationship with her husband and newfound friends. She and Abby aren't as close as they once were, and Gia invites Abby and Benny to meet with her to experience the Northern Lights in Sweden. Abby sees this as an olive branch and agrees to meet, interested in spending time with Benny as well. As Abby leaves town, however, she receives an ominous email that she thinks is tied to the past and to the version of events around the violent incident in their past. Abby has been in conflict about how Gia portrayed the incident, what she owes Gia's family for her upbringing, and her own memories and understanding of events.

Most of the book is building to the conflict, telling the story of Gia's life. When Benny and Abby arrive at the planned destination, Gia doesn't show up and there are several questionable things happening. With Gia's impulsive life and unreliable actions, they question whether something has happened to her or if this is just Gia being Gia. When they go looking for her at the Greece home, they find the manuscript where she's been documenting her life and it adds more questions. Is she in danger? Is she dead? Is it all fiction?

Ladykiller was interesting, and while I couldn't identify with the wealthy and jet setting life, Katherine Wood does an excellent job with the details and motivation. Once Abby's version of past and current events are evident, you're left wondering whether Gia's version of events can be trusted. Is she the manipulator or is she being manipulated? The best part of the book was in revealing the strands of truth and fiction at the end, and how the different characters fit in.

Be aware that it is not a clear-cut ending and there are provocative and sexual situations.

My thanks to NetGalley, Katherine Wood, and Bantam for the ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Picture this: Greece in the summer, intense romance, skinny-dipping and G&Ts. What more can you need? Mix in a mischievous past and some murder mystery and you've got Ladykiller!

This book was a trip! I typically don't enjoy unreliable narrators, but I think it worked so well in this book! I'm also a sucker for characters that are willing to go a little crazy in order to achieve what they want (think Verity, The Housemaid, Every Last Secret). From the very beginning I was entranced by the multiple POVs, dark past, hidden secrets and of course the setting! This was the perfect spring break read and I think will be a hit for readers this summer!

If you're into page-turning thrillers full of non-stop drama, then this will be right up your alley!

“Ladykiller” takes the unreliable narrator to a whole new level in this psychological thriller about two best friends traumatized by an incident that happened when they were 18, while spending the summer on a Greek estate. Gia and Abby have been best friends since childhood. Gia comes from an extremely wealthy family whose father paid for Abby’s college and law school education. Abby, Gia and Gia’s brother Benny spent idyllic summers on a Greek estate owned by Gia’s family, until the summer when Gia and Abby were 18 and Gia killed Gia’s stalker while he was in the process of sexually assaulting Abby. Gia processed the trauma by writing a famous memoir detailing the events of that fateful night. Despite years of therapy, Abby is still haunted by that night and a secret that she carries.

Abby and Gia stayed friends throughout their twenties until they had a falling out when Abby warned Gia not to go through with her last minute wedding to Garrett, a man she only knew for a few months. Abby begs off attending the wedding, citing work obligations, which adds to Gia’s resentment.

All appears to be forgiven when Gia invites Abby to join her and Benny at a luxurious hotel in Sweden to celebrate Gia’s 30th birthday. However, when Benny and Abby arrive in Sweden, Gia does not appear and doesn’t immediately respond to texts or calls. Benny and Abby begin to worry that something has happened to Gia, particularly when Benny recounts the days he spent with Abby at the Greek estate the previous month, where he sensed tension between her and Garrett and had suspicions of a strange couple who took up residence at the estate with Gia and Garrett.

Interspersed with Abby’s narrative are sections of a manuscript written by Gia, recounting her time at the Greek estate where she is renovating it in preparation for sale to her stepmother. Gia’s father had died, leaving the bulk of his estate to charity, with the exception of select properties, which he left to each of his children. Gia inherited the Greek estate, which she needs to sell to finance the lifestyle she has become accustomed to all her life. As she stresses over completing the renovations and getting the much needed money from the sale of the estate, she begins to suspect Garrett’s true motives for marrying her, as he starts to pressure her to lend him money to stave off the bankruptcy of his shipping company. In the meantime, Gia impulsively invites a couple she and Garrett met at a restaurant to live with them, after the couple indicated their yacht had broken down and was in the shop for repairs. However, as the days progress, Gia becomes suspicious of her husband and the couple, as no one seems to be who they claim.

As Abby and Benny try to find Gia, their fears for her safety growing, Abby begins to wonder if Gia is who she seems to be and if she really is in danger. The tension ratchets up as Abby and Benny search for Gia and the truth of both that long ago summer and the current events surrounding Gia, Garrett and the mysterious couple are called into question. Readers will find it hard to put down this twisty thriller with its complex characters and intricate plot where none of the narrators can be trusted to tell the truth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a page turner, and kept me wanting to know more. I wish we could do half stars, as I'm not a huge fan of cliffhanger endings...I need closure! Otherwise, a great book! I loved to hate all the characters, and just when I thought I knew what was going on, a twist comes along and blows up my thoughts!

Thank you to Katherine Wood, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and Netgalley for this e-ARC.

DNF @ 33%. I tried to get into this slow burning thriller, but ultimately, it just wasn't for me. I was waiting for that twist and major thrills to draw me in, and it just never came. I also was just having a hard time with the vibe of Gia and Garrett's relationship, and I really wanted more Abby in the narrative. I will say that it was very well-written, and I know there are readers out there who are going to dig this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to give this one a try.

A bonafide page-turner! Fascinating characters, wealth, beautiful people in beautiful places. Intrigue for sure as well as romance, raw sex, liars and cheaters. Lots of secrets…. It is a great ride, enjoy!

This book sounded so good I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Unfortunately for me I felt myself a bit underwhelmed by it. I think the descriptions of the locations and scenery were beautifully done. I think the fact that none of the characters are likeable can be a good thing in books but I was a bit turned off in this one. I also don't hate the open ending. I'll end with saying this isn't a bad book but I found it to be kind of forgettable. Of course other readers will really like this one and if that is you, I'm glad for that.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam and Katherine Wood for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.