Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch is a fast-paced and engaging debut novel that makes for a good palette cleanser. I was immediately drawn into the story, the plot had me very intrigued. The premise is fun, and the writing is pretty solid! However, as the book progressed, my interest started to wane. The middle felt a bit slow and lacked the excitement I was hoping for, which made it harder for me to stay fully invested.
The relationship between Jae and Evie also didn't resonate with me. I didn't connect with their dynamic, and Evie's constant bad decisions made her a frustrating character to follow. At times, I found myself wanting her to make a different choice, but she just kept digging herself deeper. I also felt the twist at the end was fairly obvious but still a decent ending! Overall, not a bad debut for Hannah and I would be interested to read more of her future work!
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!!

DNF @ 20%, this sadly didn't work for me. I could tell you the ending twist at the beginning and it was almost too unrealistic!

This is a very unusual story. I almost put it down after the first chapter. (But keep going, it gets better)
This author has a very different way of writing. Lots and lots of "thoughts" from the main characters. It put me off at first and then I settled into it and thought "let's see where this takes me".
And it takes you into a wild ride of murder, running and hiding, Many exciting action scenes.
Many surprises. A romance sort of...more like an alliance and blending of souls. I had no idea how it would end.
I must admit I skimmed alot. Much of the "thoughts" involved past history of the 2 main characters lives. Some of it interesting but most did not move the story along.
If I hadn't skimmed I would have given it a 5 star rating.
It really is unusual.

Killer Potential was a tough start for me, but I'm glad I kept with it. It turns into a hilarious story of an unliekly duo of fugitives trying to clear their names.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: March 18, 2025

This sapphic thriller was a good commentary on wealth and socioeconomic mobility, but otherwise irritating. Our MC Evie is 29 years old and talks obsessively about how smart she is, which made it very difficult for me to believe any of her actions throughout. I thought the twist was going to be that she was just nuts and Jae was all in her head. That being said, the twist did surprise me. The romance in this gave the ultimate ick. There was no build up or chemistry, and it felt a bit predatory coming out of nowhere.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this. It was good, but I was so stressed out for a lot of the book. I liked that it is a different premise and plot to most mysteries/thrillers I read.

This book wasn't my favorite. I think my biggest problem was by the time I got through with the full page paragraphs I had lost interest. I guessed the plot immediately and nothing really stood out.

I hated Evie. I found her childish and just plain conceited. I finished it hoping I was going to get more but, I left disappointed.

A twist I didn’t see coming! This one took me a little bit to get into but once you get about half way through, it’s one you can’t put down.

Let me first say, I read this book in one day. Something about the style in writing and suspense just kept me hooked until I finished the book! This book does a great job keeping you guessing about the "whodunit", while also carrying along an entire storyline about the main character. I kept thinking, NO DON'T DO THAT, that's a terrible idea! So, definitely a few of those unrealistic actions that we see in horror movies, but I still didn't guess the ending!

I usually go in blind to most books, and I would recommend you do the same for this one!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

I selected this book based on the cover and synopsis. Unfortunately the first several chapters did not captivate me and were odd once the initial murder happened. I was not invested in the characters and the progression and the plot was strange. I did not finish the book after chapter 5.

Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch is a thriller featuring Evie Gordon, a flailing multi-degree college graduate. Evie works as an SAT tutor for the wealthy of LA. The novel begins with her being spotted at her clients immediately after their grisly murders. She and the young woman she finds bound at the mansion quickly go from bystanders to fugitives, and go on the run. I became immediately engrossed in the chase and found the novel to be compulsively readable. I could not put it down! It’s a sharp, occasionally funny Thelma and Louise love story. An overall fast paced psychological thriller. A very strong debut novel. 4/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. 3/18/25

Debut mystery thriller that had me cheering for both suspects until the true killer was revealed. Evie found herself in a “wrong place at the wrong time” type of situation on her normally scheduled day to tutor the Victor’s daughter. Upon entering the quiet house she soon finds Mr & Mrs Victor dead so she attempts to flee but not before stumbling across what she thinks to be a kept prisoner. Mishaps occur and various other crimes can’t be avoided in their attempts to remain free until they solve the murder of the Victors. The writer kept me riveted and pensive in comparing true life to some of the narratives. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love the Thelma and Louise + Cat & Mouse vibes that run all through this book. The murder mystery had me thinking I knew what was coming but i totally did not guess the twist. Definitely recommend.

After she shows up to her tutoring gig for a wealthy family and discovers the parents' dead bodies, Evie Gordon goes on the lam with a mysterious young woman she finds hiding in the victims' house. It was a cool premise, but this didn't do much for me. This is a "Bonnie and Bonnie" story; it mostly has pages and pages of Evie and her comrade in arms trying to evade the police, stealing cars and committing petty thievery at every turn. It was all super implausible — Evie and her companion were easily able to steal so many items and break into so many empty houses. I thought the story was repetitive, and the big twists were easily predictable. And though Evie is inevitably book smart and somewhat scrappy, she was also gullible and made many dumb decisions. I wasn't really invested in the story.

The sharp and witty writing pulls you into this Thelma & Louise thriller. The requirement to suspend disbelief becomes almost too much until things take a turn and you realize you're totally invested in the story and these two antiheroes. The big reveal is somewhat predictable so I urge readers to just go along on the wide ride without trying to solve the mystery. This is a really great debut from Hannah Deitch. Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced digital ARC of this adventurous tale!

Loved this book. Witty, funny, and captivating from the first page. Thelma and Louise but gayer, and with an incredible twist. Cinematic descriptions of the American landscape and sharp, quick inner monologue from a deeply flawed and deeply lovable protagonist. High recommendation for fans of The Girls - Emma Cline, Bright Young Women - Jessica Knoll, and The Maidens - Alex Michaelides.

The premise of Killer Potential had me intrigued from the start, and while the book took me on one heck of a ride, I just don’t think it was for me.

This was a fun cat-and-mouse thriller that had some fun romance thrown in there. Evie, the main narrator, stumbles across a murder and then a person trapped in a wall, and rather than report it to the police - they run.

While I don’t think this book was for me, I did enjoy the writing and the overall flow of the book. I was able to pick up on the twist pretty early on and it felt more like an explanation of what happened rather than a who-done-it.

Fans of Thelma and Louise, Gone Girl and other like novels will find this book entertaining and unique!

#KillerPotential starts with a fascinating premise: SAT Evie Gordon arrives at Serena Victor’s house one day to find Serena’s mother and father brutally murdered. Before she has time to react, she finds a woman tied up in the walls. Convinced that they’ll be accused of the Victors’ murders, Evie and this woman flea. Even more intriguing - the woman refuses to speak.

Hannah Deitch’s debut novel is billed as a thriller, but it’s also an adventure tale, as we follow these two women on road trip, as they try to figure out what to do next and fight against the people who are trying to stop them.

This book is fast-paced, fascinating, and full of surprises. If you’re looking close enough, the biggest surprise might be easy to predict, but it was still a good one. And I really enjoyed the third act of this book, with all of the insight and resolutions it brought.

I’ve heard a lot about this book and I’m thankful to #NetGalley and William Morrow for the chance to read it a little early!

I’m not really sure what the intention behind this book was. While the pacing was decent (it took about 20% to pick up), the character development is pretty non-existent. The ending was oddly unsatisfying and I found I didn’t root for either character. A bit of a letdown overall.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.