An electric, action packed mystery thriller worth every second. It's the kind of book you won't want to put down until you finish. Perfect for summer reading.

Tess Sharpe has risen to be one of my favorite author's in the last years.
This is again a great book - intense, exciting, suspenseful, smart, and a little bit funny and romantic.

What was missing for me a little bit is that in the chapters from the past, we didn't get to read the actual events of the night when everything happened and after. I would have liked to experience the shock and emotions of the girls in the woods, and how they went from this shared trauma to falling in love.
It might have been too much for the lenght of the book, and I assume that the author maybe just didn't want to put the focus of the book on their past, but rather on the events of the present. Which makes sense, but I want to know more!
So maybe ... if she would write their backstory as a prequel book, I would be very happy about that ;)

When I started this book, I was instantly locked in. It was intriguing and mysterious and so easy to get lost in. I was invested in the characters, their relationships, and the various mysteries set up at the beginning of the story. If all books had all this intrigue, a sapphic central relationship, and such flawless pacing, I would be a very happy reader.

The cover of this is gorgeous and I was really excited to read this based off of the description. It did not meet my expectations but maybe they were too high to begin with.

When I first started this book, I kept getting confused as the timeline jumps back and forth. I eventually decided to just let it go and try to piece it together as I read, which did work out.

The villains in this book were pretty cartoonish, and so altogether the book felt like a silly adventure/crime film you'd start halfway through and feel like you didn't really miss anything. Because the villains were so cartoonish, I felt like the major plot point of the character running away, and any heartache because of this, was unnecessary and slightly ridiculous, so there wasn't as much emotional impact as there could have been.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, it was just not my favorite. There were a lot of funny lines, though.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for this ARC.

I got really lucky and received an arc of this book. Let me begin by saying that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Tess Sharpe's work and was super excited to read this!

This is a wonderful thriller novel, and actually kind of funny too. In classic Tess Sharpe style, the novel is written with different timelines/flashbacks, so you get little pieces of what happens several years ago at Chloe's 16th birthday party and what's happening in the present time. This is a fun thriller where I was eager to know what happened next. There were several plot twists that I didn't see coming and several that I did see, and the ones I did see, I think I only saw because I've read Tess Sharpe before.

The main characters are fun and you can't help but root for them, even if they do make some dumb decisions sometimes. The friendships they have with each other are also very sweet. I love how they're always supportive and have each other's backs.

I also LOVEDDDDD rooting for the main ship. Chloe and Mel are really a power couple. They come from different backgrounds and are smart and strong in different ways. They also have similar characteristics of being extremely loyal and willing to do anything for the people they love, which I actually think is a hallmark of any Tess Sharpe main characters. The side characters are similar. I think it does a great job of emphasizing their deep friendships, whether they grew up together or are trauma bonded.

There were really only 2 things that keep me from giving this the full 5 stars:
The first is that I felt like some of the character decisions were sometimes kinda dumb? Or like some things could have been solved with better communication or if a character didn't just go off on their own to solve a problem, though I also understand from the character's perspective of "I am gonna go do this alone and solve everything to protect this other character." It just felt like some decisions were to keep the plot rolling along.

The other thing was that there was more telling/talk of feminist values like women being strong/scary, rather than showing. For example, one of the the villain characters, Rick, talks about how women are too strong and scary these days. And while it gave some insight into the how the villains view the protagonists, it felt too much like telling the reader that the protagonists are strong/powerful, rather than just letting their actions speak for themselves. It also kind of felt unrealistic that a villain would actually think these things lol. I should clarify that there wasn't a ton of this in the book, but just enough for me to think it could benefit from a tad less.

Overall, I highly recommend this if you're looking for a fun thriller with good friendships and fun protagonists! The plot twists were fun to read too. I will for sure be purchasing a hard copy when this book officially releases to add to my shelf. I'm always looking forwards to the next Tess Sharpe book!

Oof, this is was a massive source of adrenaline from start to finish. I could not read it right before bed because it took me awhile to calm down after reading. For those reasons (among others), it was truly a fantastic thriller. Throughout the whole book, every time I thought I was about to get a question answered, I ended up just having more questions. But it was never in a frustrating and confusing way. It was always in an exciting and mysterious way. This was one of those books that I was to read as fast as I can to find out what happens, yet read slowly so as to savor it!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

i’m feral for anything tess sharpe writes, so i obviously jumped at the chance to read this the second it dropped into my inbox

this was GREAT! it had everything a great tess sharpe book usually has - badass women, scary men who have funny incompetent moments, strong friendships and a lesbian love story that knocks you on your ass

the characters in this were so well developed. and it was FUN!

kudos to the peacocks for being iconic gay allies

A cute and quirky action packed thriller perfect for a holiday read.

You got sapphics, murder, missing people, revenge, plots and plot twists, peacocks, etc.

If you're going into it as a popcorn read you will have a great time but otherwise I was a bit disappointed.

The beginning felt very disjointed with so many different timelines being introduced every chapters. Then the two main characters feel like the same people. If there was not their name next to the chapter number I couldn't have told you if it was a Mel or Chloe chapter.

I really liked the ending and feel like it suited the tone of the novel perfectly. I could see this becoming a cute series but it also holds its own as a standalone.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

You can find my reviews on Goodreads, The StoryGraph, and Fable

➥ 5 stars ⋆˚࿔

this was SO good omg. it was my first tess sharpe novel but it definitely won’t be the last!

➥ things i liked :

- the characters!!!!! literally all of them. they had such interesting backstories, i was so invested
- the multiple povs. i had never read a book that had more than two povs but it worked SO well for no body no crime. that one mystery pov with no name? i was caught off guard for sure but i loved it!!
- the plot twists!!!!! so so so good
- the dual timeline. i know not everyone likes dual timelines but it made me want to keep reading even more!

and there are basically no things i disliked 🧚🏻‍♀️

── .✦ so overall i had a really great time reading this, i recommended it to my friends before i even finished it lol

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. The writing style just didn’t gel well with me and I think the dual timelines was a disadvantage for a good plot

HOLY. SHIT.

BEST BOOK I’M GONNA READ ALL YEAR. HANDS DOWN.

Have I lost all composure? Yes, but let me be whimsical. I have never read Tess Sharpe before now, but boy howdy am I going to be looking into her backlist. This book is so great. Dual timelines, multiple perspectives, and quick-witted writing that snags you right from the beginning—what more could you want? Some might be concerned with moments of funky pacing, but it didn’t bother me at all, I was too enraptured. Mel and Chloe are such badass women and the way they interact had me giggling and kicking my feet. This narrative reminded me of Lost and The Wilds and had all the pining of the first season of Heartstopper, except it was two women trying to figure out if it’s worth getting back together again despite all of their demons. There is murder and mystery and secrets and lying, and—look—these women are most certainly not perfect. They are kind of a feral pair, actually, but I think they fit together so well and fit this narrative so well. If I could hold the story in my hands it would be made of red dirt and pine needles and broken nails and blood straight from the heart. I also really love that it centers an established couple (well, before the disappearing act), because so many love stories are about two people finding each other for the first time, not the second.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw the cover and read the blurb I was immediately captured-the story about Mel and Chloe being bound together by a big secret, falling in love and making sacrifices for each other and one of them suddenly running away and disappearing to protect the other. However, I hate to say it but the story wasn’t as good as it should’ve been.

I really enjoyed the start and the back and forth with the past, but when Mel and Chloe reunited, it really fell off. The scene where they reunited was really good, but when they both started thinking of how much they were in love with each other immediately, it took out the angst.

The story was also a lot of tell and not show. Everything about Mel and Chloe’s big secret love affair in a small town we were told of it but never actually got to know them or what were they like and how they connected. The past chapters never really focused on their bond except the crime they committed. This would not have bothered me as much if we at least got to see them connect over the crime, which again was not show just tell.

We even got to see one of the bad guys’ pov, which frankly added nothing to the story. That time could’ve been used to given us proper flashbacks about Mel and Chloe’s relationship or even the crime they committed instead of just constantly being told how much they loved each other but never actually seeing them in love

The thriller aspect was very predictable and it was quite obvious what would’ve made Chloe run away and why the bad guys were after her. This could’ve still worked if we didn’t find out the truth about Mel and Chloe having a misunderstanding about the dead body. The whole build up was very underwhelming only to find out more disappointing reveals.

However there was one reveal that I did not see coming and it was actually really sweet. That combined with a nice reunion at the end was the only thing I enjoyed. I was really looking forward to this book but I was sorely disappointed.
I wish we got to know the characters a bit more and bond instead of their present romance being rushed.

.

2.5 i really like tess sharpe's books, but this book just didnt do it for me. i enjoyed the beginning, but i had to force myself to continue this after mel found chloe. i also found it really odd when the two of them would have an emotional conversation right in the middle of a dangerous situation. their dialogue was also not realistic at all to be honest.

I haven’t been this enthralled by a book in a while. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t put this down! I read the whole thing in just two days. I love books about queer women, and there truly is not enough adventurous, unhinged, sapphic rep out in the world right now. I so genuinely loved all the characters, including the side characters (and excluding the villains of the novel). I rarely get to read about women who are about my age, so having both Mel and Chloe be 24 was perfect for me. I loved how they were both tough but not “cool girl” tough (aka they passed the “could this character be replaced by a man and have the exact same story” test). The multiple timelines and the twists had me on the edge of my seat. I laughed, I nearly cried, I consumed this in record time. Would highly recommend to anyone in a reading slump!

If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers, this book is for you! Two teens take care of a known drug dealer. Chloe goes on the run and Mel. starts working for a private investigator and tries to find out where Chloe has run off to. What Mel uncovers is beyond what she could imagine. Twists and turns and people trying to kill the Chloe and Mel will have you on the edge of your seat.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I can't wait until I can read the next book by Tess Sharpe. Four out of five stars from me as some things could have been better, but still a great book.

First of all, many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for this ARC.

No Body No Crime tells the story of Chloe and Mel, a sweet sixteen party that ends with the death of Tony Dunne, which triggers a series of events that, years later, has Mel as a PI looking for Chloe, the love of her life.

Tess Sharpe is so good at pushing you to turn just one more page. No Body No Crime can be a little confusing at first — it takes a moment to catch the rhythm and understand what’s happening. Just like in Far from You, as you move forward, the story takes shape, and once you’re hooked, it’s impossible to put down. Every chapter ends with a powerful line that won’t let you stop.

The angst — of course there’s angst with Tess. Chloe and Mel love each other so much it hurts. There’s everything: rage, passion, and that fury that’s always present in her books. That’s what always makes me come back and keeps her as one of my favorite authors.

The story itself has everything: crashed planes, guns, bow and arrows? Two (or more) badass women fighting to keep themselves and the people they love alive. It’s a constant in Tess’s characters and something I love about her books. Chloe and Mel clash all the time, but the love is there — you feel it in every line. I must say I even found the villains fun; they felt straight out of an old western novel, which doesn’t take away how realistic they are.

I couldn’t recommend this book more. Tess Sharpe never fails, and it would be a sin to deprive yourself of what she writes.

"I am who I am because of you! Because I love you!"
"Don't say it like a death sentence."
"Isn't it?"

Me and a cheeky Tess Sharpe book gang...

Don't get me wrong, girls murdering boys for the simple fact that they're arseholes will never not get me to read a book, and even more so if Sharpe's name is attached to it, in concept, it is naturally fun.

It was, however, my mistake for not acknowledging that Tess will always make it her goal to give every character the most tragic, upsetting, terrible backstory known to man: Mel is the victim of childhood domestic abuse and was lowkey groomed into becoming a PI, Chloe had the crushing weight of the Harper name (the literal town is named after her family) to uphold, and the single time she tried to be just and good almost got killed, and that isn't even touching Gigi and Whitney.

All in all I very much adored this story and cannot wait to see what Sharpe comes up with next <3

Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux & NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this book- all opinions are my own.

Having loved Tess Sharpe’s other releases, including the amazing 'The Girls I’ve Been', I was immediately drawn to 'No Body, No Crime' (the Taylor Swift reference definitely helped too!). The latter adopts a similar non-linear narrative to 'The Girls I’ve Been'. By shifting between various timelines in 'No Body, No Crime', Sharpe masterfully builds suspense around the two protagonists’ motives, and keeps us guessing about what Mel and Chloe did to end up where they are. Whilst I loved the pace of the novel, I did find myself wishing for a few more chapters dedicated to the earlier development of their relationship (but that may be because I am a romance girly at heart!).

I also occasionally found the non-linear structure and the web of character relationships a bit difficult to follow, despite normally being a huge fan of Sharpe’s narrative style, . There were moments when the connections between the characters, and how long they had known each other, became unclear, prompting me to refer back to earlier chapters to determine how certain characters were connected.

Chloe’s backstory also lacked depth for me. It was almost like there were missing parts to the intricate web Sharpe had created over the various timelines. I loved the resilient and bold nature of her character in the present timeline, however there seemed to be a rapid shift in her characterisation. She seemed to go from a naive, ribbon in her hair wearing 16 year old, to an expert survivalist living out in the woods in the middle of nowhere. I also found the shifts between serious and humorous moments somewhat jarring. The “three Dicks” mentions and the peacock moment felt a little out of place, and I could barely get past the antagonist being referred to as "Big Daddy". I know Chloe was using his nickname in a tongue-in-cheek way, but I cringed every time!

All in all, I did enjoy this book. I love a high-stakes plot and 'No Body, No Crime' certainly has one! The characters were both courageous, resilient women who were wholly suited to one another and had incredible chemistry. Although I would have loved a more indepth exploration of their connection, and a clearer idea on Chloe’s character development throughout the story, I thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend it to others.

First, I want to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

4.5☆

This was amazing. I read this in a single day and had such a good time with it. It was incredibly entertaining and, just in general, a fun read.
The characters in this are incredibly loveable and are a big part of the humor of this book. I found myself enjoying following them through the story and couldn't wait to discover what they would do next.
The romance was perfect. It fit well with the plot of the book and developed with an amazing natural feel to it, which definitely catched me and had me invested with it every step of the way. Mel and Chloe are perfect for one another!

I think the book would have benefitted from being a little longer. Some parts of it felt rushed, and I found myself wishing that the author would have spent more time on some of the scenes. Especially the parts where they were out in the wild, running for their lives, just fighting for survival were really lacking in length for me and could have done well with a bit more detail. Not only was that part so much fun, but it went by too quickly to feel realistic.
Personally, I thought the story was a little predictable and therefore didn't have any shocking plottwists. They also got away with everything too easily.

To sum it up, I would say this book is perfect if you just want to have a great time. The characters are amazing and make you laugh. It had a sapphic romance to root for and a lot of action that keeps you hooked and entertained in an unserious-action-movie type of way.