3.5 stars, rounded up. Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch presents an intriguing premise, following two unlikely fugitives—a tutor and a freed captive—on a cross-country escape. The narrative offers a blend of dark humor and suspense, drawing comparisons to "Thelma and Louise." However, I felt the plot lacked depth, and the character development was insufficient. While the story provides an engaging escape, it did no engage me as thoroughly as I thought it would.

While I really liked the premise of this book, and was excited to read it, it ended up being not what I had hoped it would be.

The book follows Evie Gordon, an SAT tutor that stumbles into a double murder scene, and looks guilty as hell when caught being there. She goes on the run with another person from the crime scene, and has to figure out who the real killer is before the police catch up with them.

Pros:
-interesting premise and a solid start to the book
-the characters were interesting and not what I expected them to be

Cons:
-there seemed to be a bit of an tone identity crisis to the book, where it just shifted too many times
-why did Evie just flee? It still seems like I had to suspend a lot of belief for this one
-the pacing was tricky, I found myself skimming a lot of pages just to get to some action
-the twist of the book didn’t feel like a real shocker, I thought we already knew that?
-it felt like the author didn’t know how to land the plane, and the end of the book felt disconnected and detached and unclear

Overall it just wasn’t for me, but I can definitely see lots of potential in this debut novel.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was so fun! I knew I would like this because of the comps: The Guest by Emma Cline and My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, and as a former "gifted" child who felt really connected to the main character. It's one of those novels that starts off elevated and just continues skyrocketing from there.

Evie Gordon is paying off her student loan debt by tutoring the wealthy in LA. One day, she arrives at one of her lessons to find the parents of her tutee murdered and someone asking for help behind the walls.

From there, her life spirals out of control as she and the woman she rescued go on the lam because she is now suspected of the murders.
What unfolds is a Thelma and Louise-like road trip of crime, except if Thelma and Louise also ate each other out at night haha. I enjoyed this novel and didn't expect it to be a well-written blend of social commentary on wealth inequality, the justice system, and humor.

Killer Potential was such a gripping and suspenseful read! From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the eerie atmosphere and the sense of unease that built with every page. The main character’s struggle with their past added some emotional depth, which I appreciated.
The plot was well-paced, with plenty of twists and red herrings that kept me guessing. I especially loved how the author slowly revealed the backstory, making me question who I could trust. The writing was vivid, creating a tense and immersive setting that added to the book's chilling tone.
The only reason I’m giving it four stars instead of five is I figured out the twist.
Overall, Killer Potential was a thrilling, atmospheric read with plenty of suspense and surprises. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers and twisty mysteries!

What a lot of fun! The writing is solid, with Deitch taking potshots at educational privilege, academic success, and trust. A great character study as well as mystery. The ending surprised me and is bound to be controversial.

a fast-paced thriller with crazy turns that i read in one sitting

killer potential follows evie gordon, a sat tutor who flees with a strange woman after she's spotted at the scene of a grisly murder. as evie and the woman's run grows crazier and crazier, the two of them start to get closer as they navigate the chaos of the world they're in.

this book is super fast-paced. from the start, we're dropped into this dizzying action, and i found myself holding on for the ride. the writing is short, crisp, and staccato, and there were times where i found the plot almost implausible. there were a lot of crazy turns in this icl like there was one big one where i was gagged as hell. i was sitting in my bathroom mouth dropped. nevertheless, i was deeply immersed in the world deitch had built. there's a lot of dark humor and commentary on social expectations. the relationship between the two women was romantic and captivating, and while it's a little rushed, i think being in their circumstance makes sense for the relationship to be so rushed.

the ending...pause i was so shocked. a funny, crisp, and smart thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. a killer debut and a great thriller to read.

thanks to netgalley and william morrow for the arc!

This is the best thriller I’ve read in a while. It begins with the main character walking in on the scene of a double murder. Flash forward an hour or so, and she’s on the run with a woman she doesn’t know and who isn’t speaking. The relationship between these two women is at the center of this book, with all the action of being cross country fugitives.

I did get a little bored with them being on the run by the midpoint of the book, and the events that got us into part three were welcome.

One caution to readers is that this book gets pretty dark, with some explicit violence on the page. The comparisons to Thelma and Louise are apt, but the overall mood is darker. Otherwise, this book is a thrilling ride.

This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was gripping, bloody and full of suspense.
Evie is far from a perfect person, and yet I couldn't help but root for her and connect with her. Her relationship with The Woman is fascinating. The way their survival skills complement each other and they have this symbiotic, yet somehow toxic relationship, added a wonderful layer to this story.
Anyone who has feelings about the way the U.S. media and the public consume true crime, especially female killer, will love the commentary this book offers. And for anyone who's always making up stories about everyone else's back story, you'll connect with Evie the same way I did.

Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch is a mystery/thriller debut novel that is darkly humorous and will keep you turning the pages.

Evie Gordon has always been labeled talented and gifted. Straight A student in all AP classes, she then goes on to an elite college. But after graduating she finds herself floundering in the real world. Her job as an SAT tutor for the uber rich of LA is alright but she is still drowning in debt. One day Evie arrives at her clients house for her normal tutoring session. What she finds will change her life forever. The parents of the teen she tutors are dead outside. As she goes to leave the house, she hears someone calling for help. She finds a woman tied up underneath the stairs. But things go from bad to worse when the teenager Evie tutors comes home and finds the two women in her house and her parents dead. Quickly going from SAT tutor to suspected murderer in the eyes of the law and media, Evie and the woman start their escape across the country eluding police and wondering how did things get so messed up.

This is such a great debut novel that is thought provoking and insightful. The writing is very solid and I love the blend of dark humor with the tension of our two main characters. The way Deitch masterfully explores the themes of sexism and academic success and privilege really makes this debut a standout in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Deitch, and William Morrow for this ARC. Expected publication date is March 18th 2025.

📚: Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch
⭐️: 3/5

Evie Gordon: formerly a talented and gifted student turned deep-in-student-debt SAT tutor. Everything turns upside down when she arrives to her Sunday afternoon client to find the front door open, the parents of the home dead in the backyard, and an unknown woman stashed away in the house, tied up. What ensues? A Thelma & Louise style tale throughout the USA.

This was a completely addictive page-turner of a read that falls apart at its conclusion and doesn’t quite stick the landing. I was so into this for both parts 1 and 2 (even with a very heavy dose of predictability), but the ending left me underwhelmed.

Thanks to William Morrow via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Killer Potential is out today, 3/18.

Upon first reading this, I was immediately drawn in. Then I thought I wouldn't like it because the story seemed played out, you know the same old Thelma and Louise story. Then I found myself drawn in again with the interesting love story that started developing. While I did guess the twist about halfway through, I did overall enjoy the story. The writing was well done and the character development was incredible.

WHAT A RIDE!

I am voluntarily leaving my honest review..

This book went left so quickly, all gas no brakes! I love a good whodunit, and the sapphic element was very tastefully written.

There is so much I want to say, but I can't without spoiling it. All Hannah had to do was stick to her first mind, but no! She picked door #2 and tossed her life upside down! I was so invested in this story that I finished it in one sitting. I had to know the outcome. I thought I knew, then I didn't, then I did. I was completely on the edge of my seat the entire time!

This was a good time.

Thank you to Netalley, William Morrow, and Hannah Deitch for the ARC of this book.

Thank you @williammorrowbooks and @netgalley for the e-ARC.

Let’s go on a road trip. Evie Gordon is an SAT tutor for the super rich in Los Angeles. One day she shows up for a session and literally walks into a murder scene. On her way out she hears someone calling for help and finds a woman tied up under the stairs. She unties her and they flee the scene worried they’ll be accused of murder.

And they are. Evie, at least. The other woman isn’t known to anyone. They go on a road trip across America trying to outrun the authorities.

Phew! This is a debut. It’s a little dark, a little funny, and very twisty. Evie is super smart and witty and the entire book is highly entertaining. It’s definitely more of a popcorn thriller. You have to suspend belief. There’s also a romance that I didn’t need (as an FYI I never need romance - but I especially despise what feels like a forced romance). Overall, great for a debut and I was entertained throughout.

This is a really interesting concept! After stumbling upon a murder scene, an SAT tutor who's adrift in life becomes the primary suspect in the brutal murders and goes on the run with a mysterious woman who also happened to be at the scene. Our protagonist makes a lot of bad, bad decisions, but that's what keeps her on the lam, so I can't be too mad about it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, releasing today!

Should probably give this one a 2.5 but I try to be nicer with debut novels, so I'll round up to a three. I think this book ended up on my radar thanks to an offer of the ARC from NetGalley that described it as "sapphic Thelma and Louise" and like...I guess, but this one didn't work that well for me and I'm not sure why. I found Evie pretty identifiable but just didn't end up being that invested in her and Jae-the ending was kind of predictable although I did like the way things wrapped up in the story. I don't know if it was the writing style? The way some of the plot points and character reactions felt a little unbelievable? The book was a slow starter but the pacing evened out and once it got going the book moved along quickly, which I appreciated (I can see how other authors might have gotten bogged down in the "on the run" portion which didn't happen here, although we did take quite a circuitous route around the country). The creativity is there and I think a lot of the complaints I have are pretty common in debuts, so I'm definitely interested to see what Deitch does next!

Sunday afternoon Evie Gordon, a SAT tutor, has an appointment for a tutoring session with Serena Victor, a seventeen year old from a very wealthy family in Beverly Hills. Once Evie arrives at the Victors she find Peter and Dinah brutally murdered along with a women tied up in a closet. Evie is now the prime suspect to the murders and fleets the scene along with the women she rescued from the closet!

I found myself giggling at the very beginning before I realized this was not supposed to be a giggling fun time kind of book and it went serious rather quickly when she found Peter and Dinah. Once I pick up the book I had a very hard time putting it down. I needed to know who had murdered them and if Evie got caught while on the run. However, if I did put it down I found myself having a hard time picking it back up. For a debut novel I think Hannah Deitch did a great job on this book!

I love the cover of this book, and it's what made me read it! I thought this was a really good debut. The story was fast paced and really fun, but you really have to suspend disbelief for this one. The story started out really strong, so I was hooked in right away. It was a page turner, for sure. I enjoyed Evie's character. I felt she was really well written, even though some of her decisions were pretty out there.

Overall, good book. I will look for more from this author in the future!

Thank you to William Morrow for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Whaaat did I just read was definitely the vibe when I finished. I did not see the twist coming because it plays on the assumption that we will think people are terrible, but there's a spin on that belief. Don't get me wrong, pretty much everyone, even our lead Evie, are not great. We're inside her head experiencing her darkest and sometimes most illogical thoughts after she's been accused of murder.

It's two women on the run, following their own media coverage to stay ahead of the hunt, slowly learning things about herself and the mysterious woman by her side, and having to resort to all kinds of criminal deeds in order to survive and evade law enforcement.

It's imperfect, messy, twisted, and yet you completely feel for Evie. The narrative is more important than the evidence or the truth, and that plays out in the end in ways you won't expect.

Somehow a thriller and a romance with an ending that's going to punch you in the chest and make you lose your breath.

This was an interesting thriller. Thrillers are often hit or miss for me and while I guessed the plot twists relatively early on, the characters and especially Evie really drive this story forward.

Killer Potential is everything I never knew I needed in a thriller. A sapphic, eat-the-rich Bonnie and Clyde? Say less. There may be readers who are turned off by the introspective prose and relative lack of action (there are plenty of great action sequences and an excellent plot twist, but it isn't wall-to-wall action. Think less Fast and Furious, more killer character building and insight into class consciousness and the myth of upward mobility). But to me, it was the perfect blend of action and insight. Deitch is clearly talented - the fact that she was able to flesh out Jae so fully before she even spoke a word is simply *chef's kiss.* And don't even get me started on the dynamic between Jae and Evie. So hot. So deep. So brooding.

Fans of Bound, Parasite, and Luigi Mangione, look no further! (These things may seem unrelated, but that is the magic of Killer Potential). A definite 5 stars from this formerly Talented and Gifted gay.