By The Time You Read This - Brianna Labuskes
Pub Date - 5/27/25
Rating - 3/5
Pacing - Slow/Medium
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley, Brianna Labuskes, and Thomas & Mercer for this gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is the third installment in the Raisa Susanto series, which I didn't know before starting. You can most definitely read this as a standalone, as I did. Raisa is an FBI linguist who's big sister Isabel is locked away for commiting 25 murders. Raisa finds a note left on her front door stating "by the time you read this, I will be dead". She instantly knows that it is Isabel and she gets a call from the prison saying just that.

Meh, this book wasn't for me. I found myself drifting in and out and not focused on the story. It was very slow paced and the ending wasn't fulfilling. It was a near DNF, but I pushed to the end. I don't know if I'll read her other two books, but this was average and you may like it if you're a fan of slow burns.

I love a good procedural series that goes outside the box with their main character. Unlike most procedurals (my own included), the main character is usually the typical law enforcement agent. But in this series, Raisa Susanto is not only an FBI agent, she’s a renowned forensic linguist. I love her character because she’s so unique. As a person who loves patterns and puzzles, her character is so intriguing to me! This book, like the previous ones, was an absolute page turner. And now with Isabel out of the way, we got to have a deeper look at the relationship between Raisa and Susanto. I would have liked a little more puzzling and time with Callum in the story, but of course that was part of it! I had to keep reading to find out what happened because this one could have gone so sideways! The only thing I had trouble with was keeping track of the timelines. Even though each chapter had a day heading, I still found myself getting lost. Things that I was reading I thought happened months ago, even though I knew the perspectives shifted. It got pretty confusing sometimes. Otherwise, it was an awesome story and I can’t wait to read the next one!

Huge thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

I had a hard time trying to articulate my feelings about this. There are quite a number of things that I don't like in this.

I like the premise. It's really interesting. But, at 40% of the book, I became bored. Nothing much was going on and I feel that the plot keeps going round in circles.

The non-linear timeline doesn't help too. What seems to be Day 5 for Delaney is Day 2 for Raisa. I find it hard trying to keep up with the timeline.

The introduction of too many characters added to the confusion. I was no longer invested after the introduction of Essi.

Too many questions unanswered. I feel like the author is trying too much, leaving more holes and questions than answers.

Additionally, Raisa pisses the hell out of me. As an FBI, her deduction and problem solving skills are BAD!!! Her EQ is also bad for an FBI.

Overall, a disappointing read.

This was a great book! I had an amazing time reading this and would be suggesting this to anyone looking for their next read

By the Time You Read This 📝

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Suspense
Pub Date: May 27, 2025

This is the third book in a series following FBI linguist, Rasia. I would highly recommend reading the other two books first as you’d be pretty confused getting dropped into this story here. You’d also be missing out on two really fun books as well!

I was thrilled to get back into this world with some characters I’ve grown to enjoy. The premise sounded fun, someone is out replicating a serial killers style, and somehow even got away with the murder of the original killer. Who is in jail.

This sadly was my least favorite in the series. I found myself having a hard time with the first half of the book. The disjointed story timelines really threw me off. I was also sad to not get a lot of time with FBI agent Kilkenny. During the final stretch of the book I finally understood the approach to the disjointed timelines. And I did enjoy how everything finally wrapped up. I was satisfied with the ending and I overall liked the series.

I’m always amazed about the author’s creativity to create twists and puzzles that eventually lead to all the answers. We have two different timelines for two characters, starting in different places but eventually merge to the same timing. Three sisters, one an incarcerated murderer, one the middle child and tech genius and the last an FBI agent with a specialty. Growing up separated was a blessing and a curse, the first book dives into that more clearly. Following the mind of Raisa is a challenge yet satisfying that I could understand her thinking. The way she and her partner work through all the possibilities while thinking about what Isabel would do, was just plain amazing. Highly recommend reading the books in order to fully understand the dynamics of the siblings. I was able to read an early copy and have written my review voluntarily.

All in the Family......

Brianna Labuskes presents the third book in the Raisa Susanto Series. I'd say to go back and at least pick up the first book in this series in order to get a feel for these characters. They are definitely not gumby stamped figures. There's a lot of backstories to be filled in with individuals who walk along sifting sands.

Raisa Susanto is an FBI forensic linguist who specializes in speech and written patterns that are forthcoming to clues about perpetrators and their crimes. Raisa knows this all upfront and personal. She's the youngest member of a family riddled with psychopaths. When you've grown up elbowing in next to unsettled minds, you can pick one up in a crowd in nano seconds.

Raisa arrives home late one evening exhausted as usual. There's a letter addressed to her with only sentence: "By the time you read this, I'll be dead." She knows immediately that it's from her sister Isabel, an imprisoned serial killer. A follow-up phone call validates the news. Raisa will take on the task of investigating her sister's death. Suicide or murder?

Next to walk in is Callum Kilkenny, Raisa's professional partner who is an FBI forensic psychologist. They've worked together on many cases. The last book had a developing storyline with these two in regard to their relationship. This time Kilkenny will be sidelined in a major way (sorry......not gonna give that away.) And this duo and this relationship suffers because of it.

Up next is Raisa's sister, Delaney, who adds some spark to this campfire. Her storyline is an interesting one. Delaney is seeking answers, too. Then we have the addition of podcasts lighting their way seeking the same answers as well. When a body is found, it has all the markings of an Isabel killing. Is this a copycat killer or a protege in the making? Stay tuned and buckle up for a rough ride.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Brianna Labuskes for the opportunity.

This was a great continuation in the Raisa Susanto series! Tons of secrets and unknowns, hard to put down with so much going on. The timeline was a little confusing at times. I recommend reading this series in order. I really enjoyed it!

Thanks NetGalley, Brianna Labuskes, and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!

Dark and twisty, this psychological thriller explores grief, guilt, and buried secrets. The dual timelines worked well, and the mystery kept me guessing. While the ending didn’t completely shock me, it was still satisfying. Labuskes writes flawed characters well, and I appreciated how the story handled trauma without overdramatizing it. Well worth the read.

I loved this series! dark, messed up, and well paced. this family, ooppppphhhh, gotta be glad they aren't yours!!
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This one was just okay to me. I wanted to know what happened and I kept the pages turning but it was pretty predictable so I ended up getting bored. It was an okay read, just didn't wow me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

I don’t know if there were too many names or what it was, but I thought this was confusing. Seemed like a lot of story.

This is the third book in the series and can be read as a standalone, but I do suggest you read the previous books before embarking on this one so that you understand the characters’ backgrounds as this will provide greater understanding and make it a much more enjoyable read for you.

Raisa Susanto is a forensic linguist, one of three sisters including Isabel and Delaney. In this book, Raisa receives a letter under her door with just a single line on it that states ‘By the time you read this I will be dead”. Raisa wonders that after numerous murders her psychopath sister has committed is she dead, she was finally locked up after all the death and destruction she caused to many people’s lives. Her death is soon confirmed. However, Isabel has achieved quite a reputation in the eyes of true crime addicts and her murderous antics have led several of them to become obsessed, pouring over her crimes.

Soon a body is discovered, and it has Isabel written all over it, but this cannot be true so is there a copycat killer out there and if so, what are their intentions. Raisa and forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny begin working together to try to uncover the truth and to stop this person in their tracks. But things are about to be very complicated, and this will not be an easy journey for either of them. Meanwhile Delaney is in the background and Raisa also has her own misgivings as to what her other sister may be up to.

The pace is fast and there is a lot of ram packed action which will grab the reader’s attention and characters that are realistic and believable. One minute you think you know where things are going and then you are thrown another twist that leads things in a different direction. The ending may also surprise you. The only negative for me was the issues with the timelines and this was quite confusing at different points in the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

This one kept me up late into the night. I couldn't put it down. Raisa and Kilkenny are such fantastic characters. I was just as invested in Delaney. I really enjoyed how everything involving Isabel has played out. There is so much suspense in this story. My heart kept racing. And that ending! Perfect.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto is back and again thrown into her serial killer sister's world. When she receives a note that says By the time you read this, I'll be dead, it isn't long after that Raisa hears the news that Isabel is dead. Raisa cannot help but wonder what her sister's last plans were and what part her other sister, Delaney, has to play.

I wouldn't recommend walking into this one without some background knowledge of the characters and the sister history. So, at least read book 1( The Lies You Wrote) before trying to read this one. The mystery of the killer trying to honor Isabel was interesting, but I felt something was missing.. The relationship between Raisa and Kilkenny wasn't as strong, and Raisa frustrated me a lot in this book. On the other hand, the Delaney chapters were fantastic, and I couldn't wait to read more from her perspective.

Overall, I liked the book, but I did feel that it was missing the magic of books 1 and 2.


#BytheTimeYouReadThis #NetGalley
Expected Publication 27/05/25
Goodreads Review 15/04/25

I really enjoyed reading this book . I will recommend it

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read it

Thankful to have received this early to read! The title and the cover alone I knew I was interested in reading it! I end d up loving it. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get into a book but this one had me pretty early on

I enjoyed this book! I did however read this book without realizing it was part of a series! Oops 🫢
I feel like I may have been able to connect more with the book if I would have read the others first! However, I still enjoyed it without reading the others!

I wanted to love this book, I really did. This is the third in a series about FBI linguist Raisa Susanto and her partner, Callum Kilkenny. Raisa is from a VERY disfunctional family, in fact, her oldest sister murdered their parents and their brother when Raisa was a child. The novel revolves around the apparent murder of her homicidal sister while she was incarcerated. Both Raisa and her sister, Delaney, are caught up in their sister's web of intrigue, and they are hunting each other, and their sister's murderer.. I have not read the previous two books, I wonder if it would have helped my understanding if I had. I found myself flipping back because I had somehow lost the timeline or the character. There was a lot of bouncing back and forth in the timeline, and with the name changes of both the surviving sisters, I was occasionally lost. But I hung in there, and found the ending to be satisfactory (and all the loose ends were tied up). It was, for me, a solid 3-star read.

Brianna Labuskes’ By the Time You Read This is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into family secrets and the weight of the past. The story follows FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto, who receives a chilling letter from her imprisoned sister, Isabel—a convicted serial killer—claiming, “By the time you read this, I’ll be dead.” When Isabel’s death follows soon after, Raisa is pulled into a web of mystery, deception, and dark family history.

Labuskes does a great job building suspense, crafting a tense, atmospheric story filled with twists and emotional depth. The dynamic between Raisa and her sisters is particularly well done, adding layers to the mystery. While the multiple timelines and perspectives can be a bit tricky to follow at first, they ultimately add to the book’s complexity and payoff.

This is the third book in the series, but it works well as a standalone. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with intricate family drama and a protagonist you can root for, By the Time You Read This is definitely worth picking up!