This is such a great debut novel - a well written, fast paced, murder mystery. A modern day Bonnie and… Claudia? Character development is slow, but that just adds to the mystery.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, my opinion about this book was all over the place as I read this. It opens fast and hot, with Evie, an SAT tutor to wealthy California kids, shows up for an appointment only to find her student's parents both dead, clearly NOT from natural causes. Before she knows what's happening, she ends up on the run, but not alone, fearful of being accused and arrested for the murders. I'll leave it at that, because I think going into this as blind as possible is ideal.

For the first third of the book, there was very little dialogue, and I have to say I started to get quite bored. Once the dialogue picked up, things got more interesting. I did have to suspend disbelief a bit as Evie and her "accomplish" were able to remain on the run for so long, and I occasionally found myself rolling my eyes a bit. But during the last third, a shocking twist, which I usually HATE, completely changed the game and I could not put this down.

This a mostly entertaining and very clever thriller that stands out for it's creativity. This is also a debut, which makes me quite excited for what Deitch might put out next!

Immediately I knew I was going to be in the minority of not liking this one. The narrators voice irritated me so much that I just had to out it down. Did not finish, due to just plain not liking this one.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

An SAT tutor shows up to her wealthy clients house to find the family murdered and an unidentified woman tied up. As she frees her, the two are spotted and end up on the run after becoming the main suspects. Fun, but ultimately takes a weird turn I didn’t love. Points for originality and important commentary though!

If I don’t start off with a pun about how this book had KILLER POTENTIAL but fell short, I won’t forgive myself. This book had so much going for it, and I loved the voice in the beginning of it, but I feel like the author’s voice shifted throughout the story and couldn’t keep up with the strong start. The start of this book had some snark, but as the book went on, the tone changed into something else (don’t want to spoil it), and I was disappointed. I also didn’t care for the twist in this book because I found it very obvious. That said, I enjoyed reading/listening to this book and did look forward to it. I just got more and more underwhelmed as it continued.

Some “If you liked” style comparisons: The book references Thelma and Louise, which is accurate. There’s also a popular film favorite of mine it reminded me of, but sharing the title would be a spoiler. I did get frustrated when I saw how much felt ripped from that film, though.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc!

I would rate this a 3.5

It took me a bit to get into it and then it became fast moving. It's an easy read. I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters.

However some of the things they get into during their roadtrip took me out of the story for being to unrealistic.

i REALLY wanted to love this. it sounded so fun and exciting and suspenseful but what we got in reality was a slow-burn, repetitive, unexciting plot. the entire second part of this book could have been removed and the novel would have improved because of it. i wanted to care about the characters, i wanted to either hate them or love them, be rooting for them or against them. but in reality i just didn't really care to see what happened to them. the inevitability of their capture and unrealistic aspects of their escapes made the novel fall short. sure, it isn't the worst book i've ever read, but it certainly isn't one i'll find myself thinking about in the future or recommending to my friends

The story starts off with a crazy unlucky situation when the SAT tutor shows up at the scene of a murder. I couldn't wait to see which direction it went. The entire story I cheered on the fugitives, even though running seemed like the craziest idea. While this was outside of my usual genre of books and wildly unrealistic, it was a book I couldn't put down and I'm glad I read it. The twists and turns were great and I didn't see the ending coming.

This book started super fast. Evie Gordon, the main character was pretty intense. There was action from the very beginning, including some absolutely graphic images of the murder scene. It really does start out quite frenetically, and I'm rooting for her because yeah, she didn't kill anyone. But even with the fast paced scenes, I found the interactions between the character a little contrived and wooden. I wish I could say I liked it but I was not too keen on the storyline and the world building.

Hannah Deitch’s “Killed Potential” has exactly that, but it’s squandered by odd pacing, incorrect marketing, and a one-note story.

The book follows Evie Gordon, an SAT tutor who stumbles upon the brutal murder of her wealthy employers at their Beverly Hills estate. Alongside the bound woman she frees from a closet, Evie quickly goes from bystander to fugitive. As the pair become the targets of a nationwide manhunt, Evie realizes that to clear her name, she must find the real killer. Throughout their journey across the U.S., Evie forms a deep bond with her mysterious companion, who refuses to speak but holds secrets of her own.

"Killer Potential" ultimately takes an interesting story of mistaken identity and makes it boring and one note. The main crux and foundation of "Killer Potential" is killer. I thought our main character, despite some irrational decisions, was an interesting lead. But she's unchanged from page one to its last, seemingly not learning anything. Without going into spoilers, our co-lead is fairly similar until act three, where the story shifts but at a point where it felt too little too late. 

I've read dozens of thrillers - some with a comedy spin - but "Killer Potential" is most definitely one of the more boring ones that lacks thrill and humor. I'm actually unsure why the author even included the comedy element so heavily in the book's marketing. It is not. Another issue lies with the fact that we only ever follow these two characters. It would have been great to have some parallel storyline of detectives on the case to mix it up. Again, there's a moment near the end where we have a POV change but at that point, it doesn't help the reader who may already be checked out. 

It's a shame because not only is the foundation good, the author has something interesting to say about the "American dream" and the 1% here but it doesn't help that both are in an underwhelming and boring novel. Thanks for the ARC NetGalley and William Morrow.

A fast-paced, thought-provoking thriller that puts a dark twist on the classic “women on the run” narrative. Think Thelma & Louise, but make it queer - with an edge of surrealism that blurs the line between self-discovery and self-destruction. As Evie and her unlikely companion navigate a world quick to judge and misrepresent, the story explores the slippery slope between innocence and darkness. How does someone go from an unfortunate accident to entertaining the idea of something far more sinister? Deitch doesn’t just ask the question - she dares you to sit with the discomfort of it. Engaging, intense, and laced with tension, Killer Potential is worth the read.

3.25/5 ⭐️s

Evie Gordon is former Gifted and Talented child, left with few employment options after completing college, and finds herself as a SAT tutor to the children of the wealthy in the Los Angeles area. Her regular Sunday appointment is with Serena Victor, but when she arrives one Sunday, instead of finding Serena waiting for her, she finds the corpses of Serena's murdered parents and mysterious woman bound in a closet. Together, this woman and Evie flee the scene after being discovered by Serena and her boyfriend Lukas, and they find themselves on the run from law enforcement on a cross-country trek. Over the course of several weeks, Evie and her mystery woman evade capture and develop a relationship.
This is a solid debut for me, and it was both well written and easy to read, and overall, it was compulsively readable. The pacing and character development as the book went on was enjoyable as well. I really don't feel that I can say all too much without potentially spoiling the plot, but for me this was a solid 4-star rating. I do think the ending was somewhat implausible and although the book itself was quite short, the last 20ish percent of the book kind of dragged and felt repetitive.
Thank you to William Morrow for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

what the!!???!? I really enjoyed this one. I felt that the book was well written and fast-paced. It was hard for me to put this one down.

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. I found the writing trite and the story not well thought out. Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity.

This was a great read; fast-paced, clever, suspenseful and sexy. Loved the layers to the characters and the twists near the end. Highly recommended. 3-stars because I found the spicy scenes and a bit gratuitous. Highly recommended if you like sassy writing and sharp adventure stories. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Pub Date: March 18, 2025

#KillerPotential

Easiest five stars I've given in a hot minute. This one was SO fun. The cross-country escapades, the romance between two ridiculous individuals, the former gifted kid vibes of wanting to be known? Loved it. Devoured it. It was fast-paced, which was just what I needed. Sorry to all the people out there who didn't like this and didn't find an emotionally stunted 30 year old to be realistic, because I had a great time.

It's a little bit Thelma and Louise, a little bit Parasite, a little bit Promising Young Woman, and a whole lot of fun. Excited to see what comes next from this debut author!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was beautiful in a way I didn’t expect. The writing is sharp and reflective, and the two main characters are heartbreaking. It gabe me Thelma and Louise vibes.

Thank you so much to the publishers for this copy.

I really am on the fence about this one, rating it between a 2.5/3 star. on one hand, the story ended up getting better and easier to follow through with; on the other hand, I thought parts of the story - mostly the sex scenes - were just very random and out of storyline. I did end up finishing it in a few days & didn’t hate it all together.

This amazing debut novel has it all--lesbians, crime sprees, blood, car chases, and a deeply relatable look into the psychological effects of gifted child syndrome.

I devoured this book in a single day. I could not put it down! From the moment Evie Gordon stumbles upon a gruesome crime scene and ends up on the run with a mysterious woman, I was hooked. Dietch's writing is so smart and quick-witted, with a surprising amount of emotional depth packed into her words. I was deeply invested in Evie's story. She is such a compelling character—smart, driven, and yet totally stuck in the limbo of unfulfilled potential (unfortunately relatable). Her journey from being a bright, hardworking scholarship student to a fugitive running across the country is captivating. I loved the way the novel explores her inner turmoil and disillusionment with the American Dream, while also pushing her into a world of danger and intrigue that she’s completely unprepared for.

And then there’s her companion—the woman she frees from the mansion—whose silence adds an air of mystery and tension. I never quite got into her head, but despite that, Dietch made me care about her deeply. The dynamic between the two main characters is fascinating.

What sets Killer Potential apart is its perfect balance of intensity and biting social critique. The way it skewers the myths of upward mobility, success, and class warfare is brilliant. It’s thought-provoking without being preachy, and it's wrapped in a rollercoaster of twists and turns that I never saw coming. I could not have predicted a single plot point, and that's truly remarkable for someone who reads so much and studies fiction writing.

If you’re a fan of books that combine sharp wit, deep character exploration, and a pulse-pounding plot, Killer Potential is a must. Highly recommend!

It has been a long time since I read a book like nothing I've ever experienced before — but hot dang, Killer Potential is a brand new thing! I'm frankly shocked this book got published. Shocked and thrilled. Fantastic. Brilliant. Compelling. Sexy. Queer. Hilarious. Infuriating. Absolutely biting social commentary in the best possible way. I was hooked from the first page and wasn't let down by even a single chapter. I'm going to push this book onto everyone I know for the rest of the year!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.