A Solid Suspenseful Thriller

This was a gripping thriller with plenty of tension and twists. The dynamic between Dara and Merry kept me hooked, and the story had some genuinely suspenseful moments. However, the multiple POVs felt unnecessary, and a few parts were a bit over the top or cliché. That said, it was an enjoyable read overall and worth picking up!

Thank you, NetGalley & Level Best Books, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was definitely a crazy roller coaster ride, was it my favorite, no it wasn't, it was confusing at times, somewhat predictable and some things just felt like they didn't belong. There were just some things missing to make it more intriguing for me. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

This one didn't work for me. I wanted to like this, as I ultimately do when requesting an ARC, but this one fell flat. The MC was so annoying; she kept ignoring red flags left and
making the stupidest decisions – I wanted to punch her. The 'big twist' wasn't that surprising, at least not to me. One the plus side, the cover of Deadly When Disturbed is stunning and it is a quick and easy read. 2,5 of 5 stars.
Thank you, Netgalley and Level Best Books, for the chance to read a copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was one hell of a roller-coaster ride! An absolute thriller packed with non-stop, heart-pounding drama. The story follows Dara, a savvy realtor, as she faces off against Merry, a fraudster trying to infiltrate her life and take it over. But Dara is no pushover because she’s a baddie in her own right, and the battle of wits between these two women became incredibly intense.

It’s somewhat addictive in a way bingeing one of those ‘is-there-a-next-episode?!’ Netflix dramas, which is always a good thing. That said, there were some frustrating loose ends / subplots that just didn’t make sense to me. Fair warning - spoilers ahead:

- Celeste’s backstory? Completely hella confusing until the literal last page, and even then, it’s crammed into a single paragraph.
- Merry’s POV felt unnecessary given how little it was used. Honestly, sticking to Dara’s perspective would’ve been more impactful.
- Oh hooooo and don’t get me started on Jason. His loyalty to Merry over Dara was so, so, so anger-triggering to me! Discussing family matters with Merry behind Dara’s back? Making decisions without consulting his wife??? I COULD NEVER. Fiction or not, I was ready to divorce him myself. But credit where it’s due, the author for sure knows how to evoke strong emotions about her characters.

Some plot points didn’t make much sense either - like Dara’s clients calling her about their Visa card issues? Too random to even unpack here.

All in all, this was super, SUPER fast-paced and best way for me to describe it is that it’s a Scooby-Doo-style thriller (in the best way). While it didn’t fully satisfy me with to its unresolved threads, it was still 100% super engaging.

***

Many thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for making this Advanced Review Copy available!

I did not see the ending coming! I love psychological thrillers that revolev around someone inserting themselves into someone else's life as you get to catch a glimpse of both lives and I think this book did that really well.

D.M. Barr’s *Deadly When Disturbed* is a wild psychological thriller that mixes dark humor with nail-biting suspense. It follows Dara Banks, a top realtor in Rock Canyon, who thinks she has everything under control—until she brings in her seemingly perfect assistant, Merry Rafter. What starts as a regular work arrangement quickly turns into a tense game where both women start uncovering secrets they'd rather keep hidden.

Barr’s writing is sharp and funny, making the story move fast with twists that keep you guessing about everyone’s true motives. The chemistry between Dara and Merry is intense, and both characters are so flawed yet captivating that it’s hard to fully trust or hate either of them.

For anyone who loves thrillers that blend sharp satire with deep psychological elements, *Deadly When Disturbed* is definitely a pick. It dives into themes of power and deception and shows how far people will go to protect their carefully built lives. It’s clever, unsettling, and completely addictive, ensuring you'll be hooked until the very last page.

This was such a fun, exciting read. Plenty of twists and turns and I didn't quite know what to expect. This one was definitely a page turner and kept me on my toes. I am not sure if I should love or hate Dara but let's just say "it's complicated".

Every time I thought I knew what was about to happen, there were events and information revealed that showed a twisted, darker side of the main characters that I did not expect. Unlike other psychological thrillers and mystery novels, I was unable to predict the ending. This book really kept me on my toes!

As soon as the main character hired an assistant without really doing proper checks, I knew this was going to be a wild ride and it did not disappoint with so many tricks and twists! The author manages to maintain strong pace without seeming to rush the events or sacrificing the detail needed to build, the characters and make you really care about what happens to them. A great idea and very well executed.

The writing style is easy to follow, there are a ton of twists and turns, and I had no idea what to expect.

This was a really good read and I am excited to check out the other books this wonderful author has published!

This book was crazy lol which I love the main character was a character in itself if I must say I loved the storyline I will be reading from this author again

I love domestic thrillers and Deadly When Disturbed by D.M. Barr did not disappoint. Dara Banks, Rock Canyon's leading Realtor, has her hands full. Not only with work but with her personal life. Looking to lighten her load she hires an assistant, Merry, without running a reference check. At first Merry's help is invaluable but then things start to go too far. When Dara begins to question Merry’s motives and actions things really start to get scary. This cat and mouse game will keep you on the edge of seat, unsure of where things will go next.

I'm glad it was not 500 pages because it took hold of my life the entire read. I could not put it down. Literally, it stayed in my hands and I stayed on the couch. I asked my husband for nutrients. I need more thrillers from Barr. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastically twisty domestic thriller!

Desperate for help, super-realtor Dara Banks impulsively hires Merry Rafter to fill the position of her assistant, even though there’s just something “off” about the woman and her slim resume. What with her disabled husband sinking deeper and deeper into depression since his accident, a teenage stepson withdrawing from the family and leaning more toward undesirable companions, and a young stepdaughter with autism, Dara has her hands full; she’s stressed and certainly doesn’t have time to vet the woman’s past. But happily, Merry proves to be a quick study, a willing worker, and amazingly resourceful, even if she tends to sing her own praises a little too much. As she becomes indispensable at the office, her helpfulness begins to extend to the Banks’s household, with her winning over each one of the family members with elaborate and studied measures. When Merry copies Dara’s hairstyle and color and always seems to be taking her place at events or with clients, Dara realizes Merry’s real goal may be to take over her entire life.

Deadly When Disturbed is a twisty new domestic thriller by author D.M. Barr, and it kept me on the edge of my seat from its shocking opening to its surprising, gasp-inducing resolution. With its clever characters and cunning, complex plot, this is one heck of a pageturner!

The story unfolds from two points of view, Dara’s and, eventually, Merry’s, so readers get the inside track on what both of these women are thinking. From the start, Dara refers to “Celeste,” who is her psychological inner voice, guardian, and protector, and, at times, the one who is actually calling the shots. However, Dara was such a sympathetic character that I tended to forget about “Celeste” until Dara brought her up. Dara stepped into her marriage with Jason to help him after a work accident damaged his hands beyond use. She’s also the guiding light for a successful children’s autism non-profit in honor of her stepdaughter and devotes any free time she has to fundraising and volunteer work. She’s the top-producing realtor in her area for a good reason, though, as she’s absolutely ruthless in her dealings with buyers and sellers alike, with “Celeste” often pulling the strings.

Merry Rafter is an odd character, and Dara is right when she senses something is “off” with her. She wears designer clothes, but they’re all either too tight, too short, or too low-cut, and she chooses to accessorize with gaudy or inappropriate baubles. Merry takes on any task, nothing is too menial, as she ingratiates her way into Dara’s life. But her background is a little murky until Dara starts looking into it, already regretful she didn’t do her due diligence.

The plot is fast-paced and complex, with Merry always several moves ahead of Dara as she manipulates Dara’s and her family’s perception of what she’s up to. When Dara begins to question Merry’s motives and actions, her research into the other woman’s background reveals surprise after surprise. However, the women have a lot in common, and it is the way they choose to deal with their pasts that differentiates the two. The story becomes a race between the two to see who will come out on top.

I recommend DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED to readers of domestic or psychological thrillers.

"She knew uncovering Merry’s game wasn’t enough. She needed blackmail ammunition. Celeste, vindictive and shrewd, wanted more. Her protector wanted Merry’s head on a Thanksgiving platter."


An intense, wild ride of mystery/suspense/thriller, it gave me whiplash. Just like my previous read, there's a character who is an interloper and wants to usurp the MC's life. We follow Dara Banks, the town's leading real estate professional. She's also the driving force behind Autism Vanguard and all the good they do for children on the spectrum. Then there's Merry her too perfect assistant who has made life easier for her and saved her too many times until she was slowly taking over her life, usurping her role as stepmother, right down to her coif. Dara is on a
mission to finally extricate Merry from their lives.
This book touches on DID and although it was a bit slow in the middle, it picked up and had a shocking ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the arc 🖤

Firstly thank you to the publishers for my early access in exchange for a review.
I’ve reviewed a few of this authors books and this is definitely one of their strongest .
Thought provoking and well written

First the cover is soo beautiful.

This book hooked me up from the start. I couldn't put it down, the plot and twists was so jawbreaking good,

Definitely recommended to put on your TBR for 2025.

This book was definetley an addictive ride, I couldn’t put it down. It had me turning the pages late into the night, eager to see what would happen next. The story had plenty of drama, suspense, and moments of dark humor that kept it entertaining.

That said, I found it a bit predictable. While it delivered some shocks, many of the twists were easy to see coming, which lessened the impact for me. Still, the pacing and intriguing premise made it a solid read.

Overall, I’d rate it 3 stars. If you’re looking for a quick, suspenseful thriller with a compelling game of cat and mouse, this one’s worth checking out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Deadly When Disturbed!

Deadly when Disturbed by D.M Barr is an intense, page turning psychological thriller. Rock Canyon's leading realtor Dara Banks is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Trying to take care of fixing her relationship with her husband, being a good mother and stepmother and dealing with pretty ignorant parents, she needs help. Hiring a new assistant Meryl (Merry) seems to be the best decision. Merry is super helpful and absolutely on top of everything. And eventually that "everything" includes everything in Dara's life. From her relationship with her husband to her friendships Merry has her hand in everything. Is Merry truly just wanting to help Dara, or does she have some sort of ulterior motive?
This book was a wild ride! I found myself infuriated in the best way with the characters but that just goes to show how well these characters are written. It was a pretty quick paced and an easy read but it definitely made an impression on me. I will definitely want to check out more work by D.M Barr.
Thank you to NetGalley, D.M Barr, and Level Best Books for this ARC. Expected publishing date is January 14th 2025.