It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel. It had me hooked from the beginning. We are following Evie, a SAT tutor, who shows up to work and finds the parents of the teenager that she tutors dead. Before she is able to get out of the house and safe, Evie hears a cry coming from the closet and a woman is there.

This book was wild ride following Evie and mysterious woman running from the law because now the country believes that they are the ones responsible for the parent's death.

This was a fast paced thriller with a strong ‘Thelma and Louise’ theme. It was a fun read and great debut novel.
Thank you Netgalley., for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on March 18, 2025

The setup of the novel is masterfully crafted, with chapters strategically divided into two primary themes that enrich the storytelling. The first theme, titled “The Driving Evie,” delves deep into the tutor’s inner dialogue as she navigates the complexities of a cross-country journey. This section intricately examines the mental gymnastics necessary to evade capture, showcasing Evie’s strategic thinking and resourcefulness. Simultaneously, it captures her attempts to decipher the motives of her enigmatic and mostly silent traveling companion. Despite the lack of conversation, Evie finds solace in the skills of her partner, a formidable woman who excels in hotwiring cars—an invaluable talent on the road. In moments when words fail, her ability to jumpstart a vehicle proves far more critical than idle chatter, highlighting the practicality of their partnership in a high-stakes scenario.

The second theme, aptly named “Reality,” shifts the focus to the outside world, illustrating the tumultuous events unfolding when the alleged murderess is no longer behind the steering wheel. In this space, Evie’s keen intellect endeavors to articulate the extent of her precarious situation, fully aware that she is adrift in troubled waters without a paddle.

*Killer Potential* intricately explores themes of social mobility, the pervasive pressures of societal expectations, and the insidious nature of the American Dream. Deitch skillfully portrays Evie’s metamorphosis from a bright, promising student to a sensationalized media figure embroiled in a murder accusation, blending biting humor with sharp social commentary. The narrative raises profound questions about the narratives that society feeds us and how these stories shape our identities and destinies.

Deitch’s writing sparkles with wit, seamlessly interweaving humor with an undercurrent of suspense. The dialogue crackles with authenticity, while the relentless pacing keeps readers eagerly turning the pages, reluctant to pause. The novel’s darkly comedic tone injects a distinctive flavor, differentiating it from conventional thrillers and inviting readers into a complex emotional landscape.

*Killer Potential* stands out as an exceptionally original debut, merging the tension of a thriller with the introspective depth of literary fiction. It is sure to resonate with fans of works like *The Guest* and *My Sister, the Serial Killer*. Deitch has deftly constructed a narrative that entertains while provoking thought, making it an essential read for anyone in search of an innovative and engaging thriller.

Both of the main characters are portrayed with depth and nuance, allowing readers to connect with their struggles and triumphs on a personal level. The surprising twist of having a woman as the central perpetrator adds a compelling layer of complexity to the storyline, challenging conventional expectations. The book’s climax features a meticulously executed reveal, plunging readers into a state of suspense that lingers long after the last page.

The intricate twists and turns create a gripping narrative that keeps the reader engaged, heightening the sense of urgency against the backdrop of an expansive road trip. The writing is not only captivating but also expertly crafted, making it nearly impossible to set the book aside.

For those who appreciate thought-provoking novels that blend humor with sharp social critique, this book comes highly recommended. It offers a riveting experience that will keep you thoroughly engaged until the very last moment, leaving a lasting impression long after the final chapter.

This is one of the stupidest books I've ever read. I have known several highly intelligent people who have no common sense, but in this case my 12-year-old grandson would make smarter moves. The writing is short, choppy sentences; often more like lists than actual writing. I really don't recommend this book to anyone.

She's worked hard all her life to make her decisions good ones. But Evie Duncan now finds herself teaching rich kids how to get their SAT scores high enough to enter the kind of life she's always dreamed of. When tutor Evie arrives at her next student's home, she finds the parents dead and becomes Evie, the murder suspect. But first, she'll rescue a woman from the crime scene. A witness to clear her name.....no, a woman who either can't or won't communicate. So on the run they go. What follows is a mixture of Evie's desperation, her frustration and her absolute terror that she'll become famous for all the wrong reasons.

With her debut release this good, what happens next? Hannah Deitch has set a high bar for her next book. It will be interesting to see what comes next!

I read a review that said this was easy to guess and the twist was one you saw coming. I thought I figured it the twist but it wasn't the biggest reveal of all.

Evie and Jae having a sexual relationship wasn't necessary. I feel like they were trauma bonded and Jae took advantage of Evie's naivety. The ending was frustrating to see that Jae gets away with everything while Evie's life was ruined.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
I devoured this book..
It was amazing, addictive, and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

[ARC review]
KILLER POTENTIAL by Hannah Deitch is not a romance. Obvs.

There is a love story, but it's definitely not a romance. Evie is an SAT tutor, and when she shows up one Sunday afternoon and the fancy house of one of her clients, she walks into a murder scene. As she attempts to flee, she hears someone call for help, and finds a woman tied up under the stairs. From there, they are on the run, crisscrossing the country to avoid being caught.

I don't read a lot of thrillers, but the description intrigued me. It's not so literary as to be inpenetrable, although I do prefer the tidier endings of genre fiction. Kind of like how when I was a kid songs would just fade out into the next track on the cassette, but on streaming (yes, I almost said "as mp3s" I am OLD) it needs to have a distinct ending. I like a clear cut ending, sue me! But anyway, that is more of a genre difference than an issue with this specific book. It's a fast, compelling read, and I had a good time.


.
.
.
#NetGalley #ARCreview #KillerPotential

📚 ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Killer Potential By Hannah Deitch
Publication Date: March 18, 2025
Publisher: William Morrow

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

Thank you so much to William Morrow and Hannah Deitch for this #gifted physical book, and to NetGalley as well for the e-ARC, both in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

Wow, this book pulled me in QUICK! Just twenty pages in, I already didn't want to put Killer Potential down till it was done! I freaking LOVED this cat-and-mouse thriller, with its heart-pounding tension and edge-of-your-seat storyline! This gives Thelma and Louise vibes, but with characters who are more unhinged and a spicy on-the-run love story to turn up the heat.

I couldn't put this one down till it was over and the tension never wavered for me. I cannot believe this is Deitch's debut, as her fast-paced writing style was brilliant in the way it captured my attention and kept me furiously turning page after page until the very end!

This is a story about Evie, an SAT tutor to wealthy teens in the greater Los Angeles area. When Evie shows up to tutor her regular Sunday student, she finds the front door wide open and discovers the bodies of the homeowners in the backyard. Before she can alert authorities, Evie hears a quiet voice asking for help, and after rescuing the woman tied up under the stairs and clearly being held captive, someone else arrives at the home and immediately believes Evie and the mysterious stranger are the killers. Evie and this woman make a run for it and somehow become fugitives when the entire country believes they're stone-cold killers.

I loved Evie's character and the authentic way Deitch wrote her quirky personality traits in developing her character. I loved the mystery of Evie's sidekick and how her story was slowly revealed throughout the entire book. The prominence of two badass female MCs and an LGBTQIA love story is refreshing. Their cross-country trek was captivating and had me holding my breath as I hoped for the story to somehow have a good outcome for everyone. And I loved the twists and turns of this storyline, all the way into its last pages!

This read is a wild ride that is so brilliantly twisted it'll leave you gasping in delight! This is a fun, page-turning adventure that you'll easily want to finish in one sitting. With this debut, Hannah Deitch is absolutely an author to watch!! Don't miss this one, friends.

#KillerPotential #HannahDeitch #WilliamMorrow #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARCs #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #debutthriller #debutauthor #LGBTQIA #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

2.5/5, rounded up to 3. Too many glaring plot holes in the storyline to even be remotely plausible and the characters themselves came off as self absorbed and shallow.

I didn't care for this book. Too much time was spent on "filler" stories from her past rather than plugging away at the plot. The writing style was just not for me.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

Excellent premise, and a quick read. Outlandish, but in the best way. Thanks publisher and netgalley!

Killer Potential, Hannah Deitch's debut novel is killer (pun intended).

Five stars!

Evie Gordon the female protagonist is a scholarship student who has graduated with a PILE of debt. She takes on a job as a tutor for a wealthy family. She discovers a dead body at the family's house. She somehow becomes a suspect.

There are lots of twists in this story as it follows both Evie and the woman she finds tied up at the scene. This book has such Thelma and Lousie vibes and I am here for it!

The writing is excellent, and I love the road trip suspense that kept me turning the pages.

The characters are perfectly crafted, and the final reveal is so well done.

Highly recommend!

Thank you for the LGBTQIA representation!

This was fun and very entertaining. The plot fell a bit short for me because from the jump, it was just too unbelievable. The best thrillers, in my opinion, are grounded in reality, which is what makes them all the more thrilling. Still had fun with this queer Bonnie and Clyde romp.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the e-ARC!
This was such an entertaining premise! Filled with humorous spontaneity and electric fun, it follows the story of an SAT tutor stumbling upon (and escalating) a wildly developing crime scene.
There were many elements of the story I liked: it was full of action from the beginning, was well-written, and had a charming romantic dynamic between the main characters. But, ultimately, my main criticism is that the book felt unrealized by the final act.
From the beginning, you can guess the main plot twist fairly easily, but the witty writing and action-packed flow made the convenient twists and predictable plot development too enjoyable to nitpick. In the final part of the story, the slow build of the first two acts started to feel rushed and the plot gets a bit lost in itself as we start to gain clarity of the situation our main character has found herself in. This element in particular left the story, while originally building as a promising thriller, to become more of a psychological character study - still intriguing, but not quite as captivating by the end.
Still, this was a great debut! I’ll definitely check out Hannah’s future works!

I don’t read many thrillers, but the premise of KILLER POTENTIAL hooked me—an SAT tutor, Evie, shows up at her client’s house to see the teenager’s parents murdered. A stranger cries out for help, and Evie tries to rescue her, only for someone to arrive at the house, making it look like Evie committed the crime. She and the stranger go on the run, but nothing is as it seems.

The reason I often don’t go for thrillers is that they can feel formulaic. Killer Potential was anything but—not because it was hard to guess the killer (although it took me a while to get there), but because the characters are flawed, layered, and complex. The plot drives the book forward, but the story deviates into motive and character sometimes in a way that only further informs the plot. I thought this book was incredibly well crafted and vividly written, and I found myself underlining some of the insights the main character has about human nature.

At times, the book was a bit graphic for my personal taste, so be aware of that going in. Maybe it’s to be expected with a thriller, but that was the one thing that decreased my enjoyment slightly—I wanted more musings and less head wounds, but that’s just me. If you enjoy thrillers, definitely pick this up—but even if you’re reluctant, Killer Potential might surprise you.

I really wanted to love this book. It started off good, I liked Evie and the scenario she found herself in was intriguing. Plus I was super interested in finding out about the woman in the closet, so I was engrossed. That is until Jae started talking and their relationship took a huge leap all of a sudden. For me the romance component took away from the suspense and excitement the story had.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC of this book.

After perfect grades and a degree from an elite university, Evie Gordon is set for a life of success. Yet she finds herself drowning in debt and lacking the motivation to do much other than be a SAT tutor for the rich in Los Angeles. The Victors are some of her wealthiest clientele.

Evie is thrown one Sunday when she arrives for her tutoring session to find the Victors brutally slain in their backyard, and she discovers a mysterious bound woman in their closet. Evie frees the unknown woman, yet they are spotted by someone as they try to escape. The pair are forced to embark on a cross-country road trip, trying to remain hidden as they become the targets of a nationwide manhunt.

This is such a genius idea for a thriller, and I loved every second of it. Evie is such a snarky and unlikeable narrator at times, yet is so darkly funny and relatable. Her relationship with the mystery woman is fascinating to me, and the commentary on class and success will stick with me. I really can't wait to see what this author puts out! I read a lot of thrillers, and this one was a bit of a palette cleanser for me as weird as it is to say. It is quick, fun, and will leave you wanting more. It is absolutely for us burnt out gifted kids.

Killer Potential is an enjoyable and fast-paced story. I put myself in Evie's shoes, and while I wouldn't have reacted in the same way she did, I went along with the ride she took me on and I wasn't disappointed. To say that I was hooked from the beginning is not an understatement. This was a fun and entertaining read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

Whoa, hang on. This was not what I was expecting - this was a blast! Fast paced and exciting, this book exceeded my expectations and honestly, I couldn't get enough. Much thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance!