What happened to Columbia? After a mysterious collapse on stage Columbia I’d found deceased. That’s when everything begins to unravel for her daughter Darian. Who would want to kill her mother and why? So good, kept me on the edge of my seat.

I am not sure I have ever inhaled a 450+ page book so fast. A Very Bad Thing made my pulse skyrocket. It was a rollercoaster ride that I could not get enough of. There was so much ping ponging back and forth (while managing to not be confusing) that I felt dizzy. This book was so well plotted, well written, well thought out. I was enamored with it. I can’t say the twist wasn’t easy to see coming, but I feel like that’s because my brain was in overdrive, metaphorically holding all of these strings in rapidly spawning additional hands. I was like that calculating meme. I needed to read the next chapter. Needed to pinch another string. Connect it with a push pin. I truly cannot recommend this book enough.

I always enjoy J.T. Ellison’s books, and “A Very Bad Thing” was no exception. This is the best suspenseful thriller I’ve read in a while, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even though I did have a lot of the storyline predicted, there were still some twists that were so well executed - even in the very end. I look forward to the author’s next book!
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!
4.5/5 rounded up!

This is another suspenseful and twisty novel by Ellison. When bestselling author Columbia Jones is found dead, there is no shortage of suspects. A lot of suspects translate to many characters to keep straight, which is the biggest downfall of this book. Often, I had to go back to remember how a certain character connected to the story. Once I was able to keep them all straight, I really enjoyed the twists in the story. The ending was a little confusing and didn't wrap everything up in a neat bow, but I don't mind that. I will continue to read Ellison novels because I love the suspenseful way she writes!

I spent the first part of the book partially confused about who Riley was and the role she played. I even reread pages trying to discover the answer.
There were too many characters who cluttered the plot and it made it easy become sidetracked.
I did like the ending because it was quite the clever twist on the story.

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison is a brilliantly crafted novel. This novel hooked me from the start and I just could not stop reading. An author with secrets, a stalker, a gruesome murder, danger at every turn, no one she can trust— this book was a really compelling thriller. It was way more than I anticipated and I think readers of this genre will really enjoy it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This was a fun popcorn thriller with a good twist at the end. It did involve suspending belief in order to make some of the story and plot twists work.

It starts out very intriguing, but then gets a little slow, so you need to stick with it before it picks up again.

Overall, it was not my favorite thriller that I read this year, but it kept me interested enough.

This was an outstanding book--to kill your protagonist in the first chapter is a bold and fascinating move.

Rich setting--from Denver to Nashville to NYC, it was an immersive experience.

If you'd like to know more, you can check out my interview with JT Ellison on Youtube at youtube.com/@thrillersbythebookclubpod

This was my first experience reading a JT Ellison novel and I am obsessed!! The action kicked off on the very first page and continued right through to the end. If you enjoy a murder mystery with multiple POVs, I strongly suggest you to give this book a try!

I loved A Very Bad Thing. This was a great mystery with interesting characters and a surprise at the end. Five stars!!

Columbia Jones might be dead, but there's no reason for her name to die with her.

Columbia Jones famed author in the middle of world book tour turns up dead in Denver. At first no one seems to know how she died but her death leaves many unanswered questions. She has left a will with strict instructions on who is to be there and why. Her daughter Darian. Darian who is her right hand and is very involved in her daily life. Riley, who is a reporter that is doing a story on her life and world tour. Knox Shepherd who was in prison for murder. Kira a young mother and fan of Columbia Jones. Who are these people to Columbia Jones. The bigger question becomes who is Columbia Jones.
If she was killed why. What house of cards did Columbia build to keep her secrets safe.

What a thriller and the plot unraveled itself very well. Fun read.

A special thank you to Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

I have enjoyed a few of this authors other books. I thought this book was rather interesting. It wasn't really my favorite but still was a good read.

A Very Bad Thing was filled with so much mystery and suspense---it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page, and my mind was blown from all of the plot twists. The novel follows Columbia Jones, a famous author who is murdered and leaves behind numerous secrets that must be uncovered from those close to her (and others who don't know her at all).

It's going to take a few days for me to recover from this book (and I mean that in the best way possible). My hat's off to J.T. Ellison---what a book!

I love a super twisty thriller this time of year! How about you?⁣
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A Very Bad Thing follows Columbia Jones, a celebrated writer who knows when to deliver a juicy plot twist. ⁣Everyone loves her and she’s at the top of her game. Until she isn’t.⁣
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Because on the last night of her most recent book tour, a face in the crowd makes Columbia collapse. ⁣And the next morning - in the biggest twist of all - she is found dead in a pool of blood.⁣
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As one life comes to an end, it’s just the beginning of all the lives around her shattering - as the truth of Columbia’s illicit past comes out. ⁣
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I am a HUGE fan of J.T Ellison’s books and how she masterfully twists past and present, and secrets and lies into every thrilling story. ⁣
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I would have given this 5 stars but I had a few questions that were nagging me at the end regarding all the paternity/maternity connections. I think she did a great job with the way everyone was connected but I did get pretty confused towards the end!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the digital copy to review.

I am a huge fan of J.T. Ellison, and have read all of her stand alone books. This one is a doozy, and quite entertaining to say the least. The audio was great for this one, I loved listening to this ca-razy story. I could not figure out where in the heck it was going or who was behind it all, and was completely wrong in the end, which was more than fine. I could not get to the end fast enough to know how it would end.

I thought this was a creative premise - a very popular author is found dead, and basically everyone close to her is a suspect, including her daughter. But as the case goes on, it seems the author may have had a past with several that may have wanted her dead, and the body count is rising. Don’t let the length deter you, it feels like a quick read and is one that should be on your list, and don’t miss the author’s note at the end.

I absolutely love the cover of this book.

I loved the suspense and her writing is exceptional.

Will keep you on the edge of your seat and i will always recommend her books.

I will read anything this author writes.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Famous author Columbia Jones is found dead in her hotel room while closing out the book tour for her latest smash hit novel. Who killed her? And why? The truth slowly rolls out in the most tangled and delicious web of lies and deceit.

Oh boy what a ride! I loved this and it's zillion layers. I was intrigued with all the characters and their pieces to the puzzle. It kept me guessing and intrigued. I loved Columbia and by the end of the book loved her even more! Excellent complex whodunnit with a huge cast of characters and a bunch of surprises. Well done!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review!

This was my book club's September pick. We were so excited to read it after watching all of the positive early reviews roll in!

A VERY BAD THING was a wild ride. I always love the spin JT Ellison puts on thriller books and this one certainly had some unique elements. Also, I love the pink cover!

This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning. It started off with a bang and then went right into getting to know the characters.

Columbia Jones is a famous author and on a book tour when she is murdered. Her daughter Darius is her right hand publicist. Her world is shattered and she is on a mission, along with others, to find out who murdered her mother and why.

The story is one you really have to pay attention to. There are A LOT of characters and A LOT of POV's. If you need to take notes, take notes! I was confused for a while trying to figure out everyone but eventually, managed to keep them all straight.

Regardless, this is a good "whodunnit" novel with a lot of guessing to be done. When it finally all comes together, it makes sense. The twist at the end though, I just knew it! * chefs kiss *

Excellent writing by the author. This is my first read by J.T. Ellison but it won't be my last!

Suspenseful and well-written tale of a popular author who, one day at a reading, sees someone from her past and passes out on stage. The next day, she is found murdered. I liked the characters in the book, the commentary on writing and writers, and the ever-escalating suspense. I listened the audiobook alternately and much preferred the written version on the page for this one - the audiobook narrator was a little hard to understand at times. Overall a good read by a reliable suspense author.