After that intriguing title, here's a fast-paced, adventurous novel with lots of unexpected twists and turns, surprises galore, romance and heart, lifelong love and long-term friendship, familial conflicts and sibling rivalry. Toss in danger [both off-stage and present) and twisty mysteries (even reported Bigfoot sightings) in a beautifully scenic locale. The result is an engrossing story to keep readers riveted late into the night.

Man, this started off promising. The real-life treasure hunt that is the background. The uses of AI and the future it could bring (basically the plot of a much better episode of Black Mirror). But the knowledge of Bitcoin, AI, all of it really, was exceptionally shallow. The characters were sappy and this would have scored incredibly low on the Bechdel test. How can you be this worried about your livelihood, freedom, and life and talk almost exclusively about men? And the men! Toxic masculinity is so bad it feels almost like a parody of old romance novels. Two men physically fight over a woman they have literally just met. Men are constantly protecting and saving women. There was more, but that's enough. The over the top plots and predictable "twist" just made the whole thing unbearable.

This is a fast-paced techno thriller with a character that is an AI chat bot. It is different and has a twist you might not see coming.

Katrina's life falls apart when her beloved grandmother dies at the same time her company collapses due to embezzlement. North Haven, where she grew up, is a temporary haven, particularly when she discovers her grandmother has left her her cafe/restaurant. She held things together after her husband died in an accident by 'talking' to him using the chat bot her company developed, which had been loaded with all his previous chats and messages - but now, in the middle of everything, the bot suddenly claims Jason was murdered. Worse, it soon becomes clear that the danger isn't over. Between trying to follow clues Jason left and evading more present dangers, can she stay safe against known and unknown dangers and find what Jason died trying to protect - not to mention work out what she actually wants to do with the rest of her life, given the chance?

A great read that held my attention and kept me guessing from the first page. I can't claim to have guessed who the culprits were, but I'm glad of who it wasn't. Her family relationships are somewhat complicated, and his are worse, but both sides improve over the course of the book, which I appreciated. I love the way Seb supports Katrina, though with the hints we kept getting about 'that day in the woods', I thought more was going to come of it, possibly complicating things. Instead, we get a relatively straightforward romance amid a complicated suspense plot - but it probably worked better that way. If you like a suspense story that keeps you guessing, with danger, mystery and intrigue, and a side of romance where they work together to try to sort things out, this is definitely one to try. Recommended, and looking forward to more by the authors.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

This is the second story these two authors have written and I enjoyed this one more than their first. Acker's legal background comes into play in this story with it pivoting around the lead character, Katrina Berg, a company legal counsel, who is grieving the loss of her husband, Jason.

Katrina works for an AI company that markets a chatbot, which she uses to 'talk' to Jason. It's a bit creepy, but understandable with her sense of grief and the advancements in technology. She discovers he was murdered and Katrina is determined to find out who was responsible. She has some time on her hands as her employer has gone bust, the founders having flown the coup back to China, to avoid criminal investigations. Katrina returns to her parent's home as she's also been gifted her grandmother's restaurant in the latter's will.

Katrina's friend, Liv, has also become unemployed, they both having walked for Talk, Co, which is filing for bankruptcy. Liv was dating one of the founders and is struggling with her own situation. Katrina invites Liv to stay with her.

Katrina's investigation is well written and we're kept guessing about whodunnit to Jason. He was in possession of a mysterious rare Satoshi egg that contains a USB drive with $30million of bitcoin attributed to it. A sufficient motivation for murder.

Katrina is being followed by someone who wants that egg. Strange that she only receives the attention of the bad guys a year on from the murder, one of the odd elements about the story. I found the connection between Jason's killer and the assassin assigned to find the egg a little far fetched and the killer's rationale a little weak.

The final fifty or so pages lacked the tight tension I was expecting and the way Jason's killer ended up getting caught felt a bit 'Murder She Wrote' rather than suspenseful thriller.

I enjoyed Katrina's character arc and her relationship with Sebastian Wallace, a Michelin starred chef, who runs a fancy restaurant in the town. Sebastian is a good guy, I really enjoyed his character. He was full of grace having had a tough upbringing.

I'd rate it a 3.5.

I received an early ebook copy from Thomas Nelson via Net Galley and this has had no bearing on my review.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Katrina's life has taken a nosedive recently. She was a rising star in the ai world. She is questioning her life and what she needs to do. This book grabbed my attention from the start.

This story might not appeal to everyone, but personally, I found it captivating! I was so engrossed that I couldn't stop reading. The exploration of chatbots, AI, cryptocurrency, and Triads was fascinating, and contrary to my initial assumption, it was far from dull. The narrative isn't overly technical, so it doesn't overwhelm the reader with language. The plot thickens when Katrina, a Silicon Valley lawyer, learns from a chatbot that her husband's death, seemingly accidental, was actually murder. She embarks on a quest for the truth, returning to her roots in a unique Norwegian community in Northern California. The vivid descriptions of this town are enchanting. There, Katrina reconnects with Seb, a former high school peer she once wronged, now a successful restaurateur. Their evolving relationship, from mere acquaintances to friends and eventually more, is the kind of development I love in a story. The book is replete with peril and action as Katrina and Seb delve into the mystery of her husband's death and the deadly pursuit of chatbot/AI technology. A cast of well-developed characters enriches the story, adding layers and intent. Particularly poignant is Seb's dynamic with his father, while Katrina's fluctuating relationships with her family contribute significantly. Overall, it's a riveting tale with numerous twists that kept me reading well into the night.

I LOVED this book. The creative mix of AI and Bitcoin made the book feel relevant in today's society, with enough fanatical details to keep me lost in the wonderful world of fiction. I really enjoyed the spotlight on loss and handling grief, and also the growth in the main character throughout the story. She was someone you could root for, and be engaged with, while also seeing areas she could grow.

I loved the emotional maturity of the male main character. He handled his past and his family with the kind of incredible manliness that had me swooning.

I didn't really like the love triangle, especially the way it ended and the fact that it didn't seem better one way or the other. Some of the plot twists came so late in the novel that I felt it didn't really get time to be explored, but all in all, it was an incredible book with such a creative premise that I couldn't put it down.

I can't wait to read more from them.

This was such a clever, relevant and modern concept and the authors executed it beautifully. The plot plays on our fears of the unknown and how technology might change our world, but does so in quite a credible way- not over the top in how it is done. I don’t know how two authors managed to work together to present such a seamless work, but there is no sense of disconnect or inconsistency. The style is concise, clear and descriptive. A really good book.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC.

The premise had a lot of promise, but I was bored and confused throughout this novels. I think I was the wrong target for this, and I think that I expected a more thrilling thriller.

2⭐️

I enjoyed this book, it kept me engaged and wanting more. I was able to predict something’s, but others were a surprise.

I Think I Was Murdered has a step into sci-fi with an AI bot resuming the life of a dead man, another into romance, and another one into mystery. The whole story, however, has one main theme which is human greed. Katrina goes back to her home town after her life starts to crumble, her husband died, the business she worked hard to make a success is under investigation and her grandmother has died. She soon discovers her husband had a secret and somebody is willing to kill to discover it. At the beginning the story is somewhat slow but then it gets speed and everything starts to happen. There's a good plot, the story is well-written and captivating, although, at least for me, Seb could be a little bit less talented and be a little less like Superman. Entertaining!
I thank the authors, their publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker I read 48% from the Kindle and the other 52 I listen to it on an audio book with narration from Karen peaks. when I consume a book this way, I usually have a favorite, but in the instance of this book, I must be honest and say I do not. Katrina lost her husband Jason the year before and on the day the company she works for is being invaded by the FBI she finds out her grandmother Frida is dying and tries to rush home to see her before the end but sadly she is too late. When the thanks to the company she works for she can hear her husband‘s voice and even talk back but one day when she hears him say I was murdered. It was like giving a dog a bone because this is when the hunt is on. was her husband murdered and if so, will she be able to prove it? I tried to write this review more than once, but there is so much to this book. I really wish Goodreads had half stars because I would definitely give this book 3 1/2. I enjoyed it and love Christian fiction and thought Seb and Katrina, were great characters and the sub plot with Dylan and everything happening with Liv were all great reasons to read this book. I just felt like there was something missing in the narrative. I am not one of those reviewers who can analyze a book down to its protons so just know as for recommending it I certainly do. I love these authors books some more than others in this one is definitely better than a lot of them. I thought the narrator did an awesome job. She is such a great voice. so whether you like audiobooks or just reading from your Kindle, either one will do. #NetGalley,#HarperCollinsChristianPublishing, #ThomasAndMercerBooks, #ColleenCoble, #RickAcker, #IThinkIWasMurdered,

This is a review of the audiobook.

This was a really interesting concept, the AI chatbot going through texts and social media so Katrina could “speak” with her dead husband. You have to suspend belief about done things but it was an entertaining story. Some of the chapters left off on notes that didn’t make sense but it was easy to look past that. I knew who the bad guy was but that didn’t detract from the story. I enjoyed this very much.

Attorney Katrina Foster hasn’t recovered from the death of her husband, Jason, from a year ago. Killed in a car accident, she has been able to “visit” with him through his AI chatbot. She knows that she must move on until she hears his message telling her that he thinks he was murdered. He was meeting someone the day of the accident, but who is this person and did the meeting take place? Katrina is still working as legal counsel at Talk, Inc. with her friend and company CEO, Liv. With personnel and other issues, the company is soon investigated by the FBI. Returning home, she has inherited Bestemor, her grandmother’s beloved restaurant. Dealing with family issues, she meets with restauranteur Sebastian “Seb” Wallace for his advice on running Bestemor. Seb has his own family concerns as he and Katrina become more than casual friends. Will she ever find out what really happened to Jason? Can she forgive, recover and move on with her new life and love? A bit confusing (for me) at first due to the AI Chatbot feature, but an enjoyable, twisted mystery. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Have you ever picked up a book based on the title alone? This one definitely grabbed my attention—and from the very first page I was hooked!

Katrina Berg is a grieving widow who uses an experimental chatbot to “talk” to her dead husband. But when “her husband” tells her “I think I was murdered,” she has to wonder if the bot is glitching . . . or could it be telling the truth?

Lies, betrayal, and murder meet cutting edge technology in this fascinating thriller that will keep you guessing what’s real and what’s AI all the way to the end. Fast-paced and fabulous!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating 3.5

This was a different type of suspense with AI in the mix. I am in two minds, because though it did bring a different type of suspense to the plot, I wasn’t totally a fan.

The plot around solving the murder of Jason was intriguing and the action at the end nail-biting. I had one major suspect from the start and was sad to see my suspicions correct at the end.

There was a lot of characters to get to know and I was happy with the way Dylan’s story turned out.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, all opinions expressed are my own*

I think I was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker, was a book so full of intrigue and mystery, it was hard to put down. I fell in love with Katrina, and found myself so drawn into her story, they felt like friends. Highly recommend this book!

Colleen Coble and Rick Acker team up again to bring readers another thrilling read. I Think I Was Murdered is a standalone (not part of the Tupelo Grove series). But the story is a must-read for suspense fans.

Katrina Berg thought she had it all – her dream career and loving husband. But when Jason dies, she downloads old texts, pictures and emails into a program that lets her talk to Jason in a chatbot version of himself. But when AI Jason tells Katrina that he thinks he was murdered, she heads back to her hometown to figure out what really happened when his car went off the road. She enlists her old friend, Seb Wallace, to help her, but someone doesn’t want either one of them to get too close to the truth.

I loved this book from start to finish. The mystery was complex, and in a small town, just about anyone was a suspect in my mind. But what I really loved was the setting. Katrina comes from a small Norwegian town where her grandmother ran a café and served authentic Norwegian delicacies. I loved the culture and characters, which all blended nicely into one intriguing mystery. I highly recommend I Think I Was Murdered to anyone who loves an intriguing mystery with complex characters and a unique setting.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Colleen Coble and Rick Acker make an outstanding writing team. While I had to google the name Satoshi Nakamota and know very little about bitcoin or bots, I thoroughly enjoyed this multi-faceted romantic suspense story. The authors provided enough information to help people like me understand the technology without slowing down the story, allowing us to focus on the intrigue. Katrina Foster's husband was killed in an automobile accident,or so she thought. A year later it looked as if it might not have been an accident. As Katrina investigates, she and her best friend are also dealing with the loss of their jobs and possible criminal charges as their boss flees the country after embezzling company money. Multiple family issues compound Katrina's stress which is surprisingly helped by the presence of a high school friend that she failed to even recognize at first, a friend who was dealing with family problems of his own. This story has a lot of hygge and made me want to experience some for myself, especially as we look forward to cooler weather and a slower-paced schedule.

I Think I Was Murdered is the complete package. I highly recommend it, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.