Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I found the writing to be too vague and not engaging at all. I just couldn’t get into at all.

I hope others love this one.

Move over, Agatha Christie. Step aside, Gillian Flynn. There’s a new murder in town—and this time, the author is the victim.

Columbia Jones is a literary powerhouse: bestselling books, screaming fans, and even a movie adaptation on the horizon. She’s basically the Beyoncé of fiction. But on the final stop of her book tour, instead of signing autographs, Columbia drops dead. Fast forward a few hours and she’s not sipping champagne in a limo—she’s face-down in a pool of her own blood.

Talk about killing your darlings.

Enter Darian: Columbia’s daughter, publicist, and certified hot mess. She’s grieving, sure, but she’s also juggling a PR disaster, nosy reporters, a moody detective, and a mother who apparently had more skeletons than a Halloween pop-up store. The deeper the investigation goes, the messier it gets. Revenge, betrayal, dark secrets, and a cast of potential killers—Columbia’s past comes back to bite, hard.

Sounds juicy, right? And it is… mostly. But let’s talk turkey.

This book had so much going on—twists, flashbacks, multiple POVs, secret scandals, and a few too many side characters auditioning for a bigger role. At times, it felt less like a thriller and more like being lost in a maze made of dramatic monologues. I wanted to love Darian, but she kept giving brat energy. The most intriguing characters? Criminally underused. And yes, while I was desperate for answers, the path to get there had some unnecessary detours.

BUT—the payoff? Worth it. The ending clicked together like the last piece of a 1000-piece puzzle, and the epilogue? Chef’s kiss. No spoilers, but let’s just say one character had me yelling, “I knew it!” at my Kindle.

Final verdict: ★★★☆☆
This murder mystery had all the ingredients—celebrity secrets, family drama, and enough red herrings to open a seafood restaurant. I just wish it had been a little leaner, meaner, and more focused. Still, a fun, twisty ride for those who like their thrillers with a bit of literary flair and a slow-burn payoff.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

Another great J.T. Ellison book with plenty of twists to keep you interested. I did NOT see that ending coming! Based in the publishing world so it's also fun to see some behind the scenes about that industry also.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my gifted copy.

This was my first book by J.T. Ellison and it will not be my last. Although, this was a chunky book and read very fast. I could not turn the paged fast enough. I'm excited to read more by this author.

Prepare to be utterly captivated and unnerved by J.T. Ellison’s “A Very Bad Thing.” This isn't just a thriller; it's a descent into the darkest corners of the human psyche, a labyrinth of secrets and lies that will keep you guessing until the final, chilling reveal. From the very first page, a sense of unease settles in, a creeping dread that only intensifies as the story unfolds.

Ellison masterfully crafts an atmosphere of mystery and suspicion, where nothing is quite as it seems, and everyone has something to hide. The characters are complex and deeply flawed, their motivations shrouded in shadows, making it impossible to know who to trust. The narrative weaves a tangled web of past and present, blurring the lines between memory and reality, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew.

“A Very Bad Thing” is a slow burn, a simmering pot of tension that gradually boils over into a shocking climax. It's a story that lingers in your mind, long after you've turned the last page, leaving you with a sense of profound disquiet. If you're looking for a thriller that will challenge your assumptions and keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further. J.T. Ellison has delivered a dark and disturbing masterpiece that will stay with you for a long time.

Check out this teaser:

A great writer knows when to deliver a juicy plot twist. But for one author, the biggest twist of all is her own murder.

With a number of hit titles and a highly anticipated movie tie-in, celebrated novelist Columbia Jones is at the top of her game. Fans around the world adore her. But on the final night of her latest book tour, one face in the crowd makes the author collapse. And by the next morning, she’s lying dead in a pool of blood.

Columbia’s death shocks the world and leaves Darian, her daughter and publicist, reeling. The police have nothing to go on—at first. But then details emerge, pointing to the author’s illicit past. Turns out many people had motive to kill Columbia. And with a hungry reporter and frustrated cop on the trail, her secrets won’t stay buried long. But how many lives will they shatter as the truth comes out?

DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

Okay, 'A Very Bad Thing' seriously messed with my head—in a good way! This wasn't your typical murder mystery. I had absolutely no clue where the story was going with all the secrets and red herrings. The 'book within a book' thing was so clever, and I was completely blindsided by the ending. It's a long book, and it takes a bit to get going, but once it does, you're hooked. I loved the characters and the whole mystery. Definitely a 4-star read for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

This book was fairly good. I figured out the twist before it happened and it felt a little long, but a pleasant read.

3.5 stars
I always enjoy JT Ellison’s books. Add in Saskia Maarleveld’s narration and you’ve got a winning combo! I didn’t connect as much to the characters/murder suspects as I’d hoped but it was still compelling from start to finish!

Columbia Jones is a successful writer living what seems to be a perfect life. Her books are international bestsellers, her fans adore her, and her daughter loves her and is happy to be part of the team who protects Columbia and ensures her continued success.

It’s the final night of Columbia’s latest book tour promoting her most recent release and its movie tie-in, and everything is going well until she suddenly collapses after seeing a face from her past in the crowd. The next morning she’s dead in her bed and with her death the secrets of her past start to come to light, hinting that her life wasn’t as perfect as everyone thought it was.

This one has short chapters and is told from multiple POVs. It also uses the book within a book device. Columbia leaves behind the first story she ever wrote and we get to read that story via snippets spread throughout the book. I thought that this early story was one of the best parts of the book.

If I had to use one word to describe this book it would be predictable. I guessed the twists fairly early on. The author telegraphed all of the clues pretty obviously throughout the book, especially within the snippets of the short story from the past. The clues were so obvious that it was hard to miss where the story was going.

The book was also a little too long at almost 500 pages. There was a lot of unnecessary filler and while the beginning and the end flew by the middle did drag. The multiple POVs made it seem like things were happening in the middle, but very little of what was happening actually advanced the story in any way.

I had some issues with this book but I did continue to read it until the end, even if it was only to see if my guesses were right and also to see who made it out alive in the end. There was a promising premise here but the story got a little too bogged down and convoluted to make good on that promise.

This was more of a miss than a hit for me but I would definitely give other books by this author a chance.

Thanks NetGally and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy.

A Very Bad Thing is a very good read if you are into thrillers, especially ones that have you trying to solve it in your head and everyone is a suspect!

It was a bit out there for me, and there were times where I definitely thought the story dragged a bit, being almost 500 pages felt a bit much for me.

It is fast paced, with love-able and hate-able characters - and was a very good read!

A Very Bad Thing is a mystery/thriller novel following the murder of a famous author. and the way her death entwines three women in her life. Columbia Jones is a famous author, with many best selling books and millions of fans across the world. Columbia is currently on tour for her latest book, along with her daughter Darian, who works as her assistant, and a young reporter named Riley, who Columbia handpicked to accompany her on the tour, to write a profile piece about her. On the last night of the tour, a strange interaction with a man in the crowd leads Columbia to collapse, although she is quick to brush off the incident. However, the next morning, Riley finds Columbia dead in her bed. Accused of murder by Darian, Riley, along with the detective working the case, are trying to figure out who wanted Columbia dead. As we follow Riley and Darian throughout the case, we also follow Kira, a young woman who is seemingly unconnected to the murder, but may have more of a connection to Columbia and her death than she realizes.

I absolutely devoured this book. The plot was so fast paced and full of twists, that I didn't want to stop reading because I had to find out what happened. I really enjoyed the multiple POVS in this book; J.T. Ellison does a great job at creating characters you love, and love to hate. The plot twist was a bit unbelievable. but I found this book so fun and twisty that I really didn't mind. Highly recommend this one!

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison is a dark and suspenseful thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats with twists and turns that will leave them breathless. The novel centers around the shocking murder of Columbia Jones, a successful author at the peak of her career. When Columbia is found dead after collapsing during a book tour, her daughter and publicist, Darian, is thrust into a whirlwind of grief and intrigue.

As the investigation unfolds, secrets about Columbia's past begin to surface, revealing that many people had reasons to wish her harm. With a determined reporter and an increasingly frustrated detective on the case, the truth behind Columbia’s death is slowly uncovered, but not without damaging the lives of everyone involved.

Ellison expertly blends the glamour of the literary world with the darkness of human nature, making this an enthralling read. A Very Bad Thing is a rollercoaster of suspense, with well-developed characters and an unpredictable plot. If you’re a fan of thrillers with intricate mysteries and shocking reveals, this book is a must-read.

This book is filled with twists leaving you thinking everyone could be a possible suspect, then the bodies start piling up dwindling the suspect list, and I never figured out the suspect so that makes an amazing read in mybooks

The creepy vibes of this book were everything I love and more in a mystery thriller!!! @thrillerchick really knows how to craft characters and plots points that I absolutely cannot put down💕 One of my favorite thrillers on 2024!

⭐️A VERY BAD THING, out NOW⭐️

Thank you to @amazonpublishing for the ARC!

Columbia Jones is killed while on a book tour, she leaves begin her daughter and vague clues about her past. Along for the ride is a journalist dictating her life and a mother who idolizes Columbia. How did Columbia die, who will be an integral part in finding out who did it and what will they learn along the way?

I have been reading a lot of Ellison novels lately, I am not mad one bit about it! This was dark and twisty, I had to know more. I really liked Columbias character and how she was portrayed throughout the novel. Her daughter could be a bit of a monster but it worked to balance out the character dynamics. I will say, there was some fluff that wasn’t necessary so it could have been shorter. I feel like I’ve been saying that a lot, it’s too long 🤣. I believe it is necessary for some books, not this one.

This was a fun thriller with a decent payoff at the end. Portions of the story and plot twists were a little farfetched, and the middle portion dragged a bit, but overall it was interesting and fun.

I'm a fan of J.T. Ellison, and I expect to love anything she writes. This book definitely lived up to my expectations with intriguing characters, especially author Columbia Jones, and twisty plotting loaded with red herrings, making it challenging for readers to anticipate how things will play out. Even this was a longer book, it held my attention all the way through. Fans of twists and complex plotting will enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an early copy of A Very Bad Thing in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first JT Ellison book that I didn’t love. The characters just didn’t come together for me and I didn’t get the same thrill I usually do reading her books.

Well that was…… UNEXPECTED! Told between past, present & multi POV’s this story weaved a suspenseful web of secrets and lies. The secrets kept getting darker and the lies kept multiplying. The pacing, the characters, the plot, the settings, the twists….. chefs kiss!

I literally inhaled this book. I’m usually not one for “longer” books, but I couldn’t put this down. This was my first J.T. Ellison book and I have already borrowed some of her other books.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this eArc of A Very Bad Thing. If you can’t tell already, yes, I highly recommend this read