3.5
A fast paced novel that held my interest all the way through.
I was intrigued by the idea of a chat box having never heard about them before. I could definitely see their appeal as there are people I would love to hear from again who are no longer with us. Though as shown in the novel, there is the danger of relying on them too heavily and not moving on, still an interesting concept.
I enjoyed learning a little bit about things I know little about, AI, cryptocurrency and Norwegian culture, it was refreshing to read a novel with different themes running through it.
The narration was excellent and overall I found the novel to be an enjoyable engaging read.
With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for my copy of the audiobook for review.

I Think I Was Murdered was such a fun read, blending mystery, sci fi and a dash of romance.

The central thread around AI made for an intriguing premise, playing off some of the ethical and technical elements to create suspense and sinister undertones. The characters were well fleshed out, and the themes of grief and moving on were well integrated in the story. I particularly enjoyed the development of Katrina and Sebs relationship. The Norwegian themed town was a surprise, but added such a warm and cosy feel which perfectly balanced the thrills and suspense.

The narration was well paced, and really brought the characters to life. I raced through the audiobook in one day, and really felt transported into the world of the story. The authors note at the end was also really interesting.

I’d highly recommend for anyone looking for an engrossing and enjoyable read.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I Think I Was Murdered
Colleen Coble, Rick Acker
This book deals with grief, death, love, mourning and moving on. The main character, Katrina Berg, turns too an advanced AI chatbot to stay in touch with her deceased husband. A year ago, Katrina’s world was satisfying. She and her husband deeply loved each other. She was very successful and wealthy. Her husband, Jason, died in a car crash. She was the general counsel at Talk Inc., a company that has created a sophisticated AI app. With permission from the company’s CTO, Katrina downloaded every piece of data she could find from Jason, pictures, emails, and social media backups. She trained the AI app to emulate Jason. The result was being able to chat with Jason every day. The chatbot even managed to pick up grammar and words that Jason would use. At times she could pretend he hadn’t died. The chatbot took over her life. She felt better having the Chatbot, but she also knew she wasn’t working through her grief.
The company had problems. The CEO David Liang disappears, the FBI is investigating the company for fraud. The CEO is charged, the FBI locks her out of her office.
She receives information that her grandmother, Frida Berg (Bestemor) is very ill, Katrina rushed from Silicon Valley, but Bestemor passed away before she arrived. During the funeral Katrina sees many people from her past. It had been years since she saw Seb Wallace. She finds herself attracted to Seb. His father remembers seeing a car speeding across his land. Katrina is suspicious. One day she asks the chatbot to tell her something she didn’t know; the answer sent her into a tailspin, “I think I was murdered.”
This is the first book I have read where AI is one of the main characters. Katrina is the main character. She pulls at the heart strings. She is grieving the loss of her husband and turns to AI. While it may seem romantic and sweet, I see it as dangerous. Katrina could not move on because of the AI; she became dependent on the AI. The plot of this book is fascinating. I enjoyed the romance; it is a slow burn. This book starts out slowly and then the excitement builds. Kudos to the authors Colleen Coble and Rick Acker.

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy.

I like Colleen Coble's writing and the addition of a Norwegian theme made this book all the more appealing since my ancestors are Norwegian. The team of Coble and Acker is a good one, lending suspense and thriller to the story. It was interesting to have A.I. featured prominently since it's the 'hot' thing now.

This is a very enjoyable book. The romance angle proceeded as expected, the mystery had some real twists. Narration was superb.

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker
Katrina, a grieving widow goes back to her hometown after the passing of her grandmother. For a year she has used AI technology from her company to connect with her deceased husband and pretend he’s still alive. She talks to him daily for comfort and advice. One day, she asks an unexpected question on a whim, and he states” I think I was murdered “.
Katrina relies on an old friend, Seb, to help her chase down the truth. There are elements of mystery, murder, espionage, betrayal and romance. This book has it all, maybe too much. Seb was my favorite character.
The characters were so well developed and the plot was fresh and current.

The audio book was so well done! The narrator Karen Peakes, did a phenomenal job and really enhanced the experience, by giving each character a voice. I think the audiobook added a relatable element of suspense with the narration that made the story just come more alive.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson publishing and Colleen Coble for the pleasure of reviewing an ARC copy.
I really enjoyed the epilogue too! Overall it was enjoyable and a great thriller! 5/5⭐️s

This book had so much potential, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver. While I enjoyed the cozy mystery and the touch of romance, several elements just didn’t work for me. The plotwas all over the place. The over-the-top gun usage was distracting; it seemed like every few paragraphs Seb, Dillon, or Magnus was pulling out a weapon. It left me wondering, are we in Texas (j/k)? It got to the point where one character was guarding a house with AK-47, and it just didn’t seem realistic or necessary for the story.

Katrina’s character was another sticking point. She seemed clueless about basic things—like asking the chatbot the right questions—yet Seb magically knew exactly what to ask? Also for a wlawyer she just didnt seem to know much about law. But she was quick to whip out that degree when talking to Seb about the restaurant. It didn’t feel consistent. Also, the casual mention of fentanyl bothered me, especially considering the real-world crisis surrounding it. Why not just say the character was given pain medication?

I want to acknowledge the hard work that goes into writing a book. Authors put in so much time and effort to create their stories, and I appreciate that. But with this one, I just couldn’t get behind the execution.

I was on the fence about giving this a 3-star rating, but I think I’m leaning closer to 2.5. I guess I was expecting a mystery more along the lines of Terri Blackstock or Randy Alcorn, and this just didn’t hit that mark for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy for an honest review.