My first book by this author, and I quite enjoyed it! For the life of me, I’ll never understand parents who manipulate their children for their own amusement. Gertie has the patience of a saint and the determination of a dog with a bone, as she is adamant that her estranged father was murdered and did not accidentally fall down the stairs. Dealing with her half-siblings’ antagonistic behaviour, she makes an admirable main character. It’s a story full of family secrets, betrayals and mind games. The title is so clever, and it wasn’t until the end of the book that I fully understood it. The writing is engaging and makes it difficult to stop reading!

It was giving suspenseful, drama, bad family vives, trust issues, secrets, and more!!

The setting was good, one big lonely house, greedy family members, and secrets that were all there. You’ll be guessing from start until end.

Perfect thriller book with just about everything you can ask for!

I loved this book!!! I loved the writing style, was easy to read, and I finished it quickly. While it started off slow for me, it ended in a good way. Would recommend

Love it when the house in a book becomes a character in and of itself! Hard to put down once I was more than a third of the way through and had a good grasp of many of the characters. I will be telling my patrons who like Freida McFadden and Shari Lapena about this one!

A tense and engaging thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. The characters are well-drawn, with motivations that add depth to the mystery. Its setting amplifies the suspense, making every twist feel even more unsettling.

🌵🔍 Loved the desert vibes and the main protagonist, Gertie! She was very likable and easy to root for. Mrs. Phan was also a character that I really enjoyed. She added some warmth and kindness to an otherwise tense story.
That said, the pacing was a bit on the slow side for me. If you like your mysteries fast and plot twisty from page one, the suspense on this one feels more like a slow burn.

She Didn't Stand a Chance by Stacie Grey
368 pages, Paperback, Published August 12, 2025

Similar to Knives Out, this family is cut throat and out for blood. Lies, stealing, murder, and several suspects in this mystery thriller. 

Twenty-five year old Gertie got a summons from her estranged father's lawyer to go back to his home that she hasn't been to since she was three. She was requested to witness the reading of her fathers will along with her half brother and sisters who she also has not seen since before her parents split and divorced. The only contact she knew was the child support he sent to her mother to care for her which was enough to support them both, barely. 

Her father was wealthy, and her siblings had been sucking money from the family business for years. When the lawyer announced what everyone was getting from the will and find out not only did Gertie get more shares in the business, but also the Palm Springs mansion they were in hearing his last wishes. 

Needless to say, her siblings were angry as well as her fathers girlfriend who lived in the house, didn't work and lived off his money. When all his credit cards were canceled, so was the money she was living off. As Gertie hears about the "accident" that took her fathers life, it looked suspicious. The more she looks into it, the more it seems like her father was murdered. As she uncovers more of the truth, the more danger she puts herself in and more people connected to the mansion have "accidental" deaths. She may not live long enough to fight for her inheritance if she can't find out the truth.  

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Poisoned Pen Press for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After loving She Left, I was excited to dive into this one. It didn't disappoint--in fact, I loved this one even more! Grey does a wonderful job keeping the pace up and filling the book with twists, and the claustrophobia of the situation is intense. Absolutely loved and highly recommend!

Who doesn’t love a thriller, with twists at every corner & that has you guessing thru the whole story? What a twisty family drama filled thriller, that you definitely won’t be able to put down! It’ll have you hooked from start to finish! This was so well written, loved the dual POV and this story will truly keep your attention! The twists will have you on the edge of your seat! I loved the whole creepy glass house, desert theme & the mysteries of this story! And everyone is a suspect in this story! Oh, and Gertie is a badass! Enough said!

Looking for your next best thriller, this is for you! A must read!

Easy 5 ⭐️ from me!

⭐ 3.75/4

She Didn’t Stand a Chance by Stacie Grey is a fast-paced family thriller that keeps you guessing until the final reveal—a true whodunit wrapped in jealousy, betrayal, and scorching desert heat.

The story follows Gertie, who hasn’t seen her siblings since she was a toddler. Summoned back to the Palm Springs family home for the reading of her father’s will, she’s shocked to learn she’s inheriting a significant share of the family business and the prized estate. Her siblings? Equally shocked—and furious.

What starts as an awkward reunion quickly spirals into something far darker. Isolated in a home that doesn’t feel like hers, surrounded by family who act more like enemies, Gertie uncovers hints that her father’s death may not have been natural. And when a staff member dies and Gertie narrowly survives a suspicious accident, the tension spikes—someone clearly doesn’t want her there.

Grey crafts a setting that feels as suffocating and tense as the dry California air. It’s a gripping ride full of shifting suspicions, buried secrets, and family drama that could turn deadly at any moment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of She Didn’t Stand a Chance by Stacie Grey.

This twisty domestic suspense novel had me hooked from the first chapter. Grey does a fantastic job of blending the sun drenched glamour of a modern California home with a creeping sense of unease that only grows as the story unfolds. The writing pulls you into the characters’ lives flawed, secretive, and unpredictable and keeps you wondering who you can trust.

I loved how the tension built steadily, with layers of deceit and betrayal slowly peeling away to reveal the truth. The pacing was strong overall, though there were a few moments where the narrative lingered a bit longer than necessary before delivering its next shock. The setting was especially vivid, with the sleek, poolside luxury acting as the perfect contrast to the dark undercurrents running through the plot.

The ending delivered a satisfying payoff without feeling rushed, tying together the twists in a way that felt earned. This is a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers who enjoy a blend of psychological tension, unexpected turns, and a cast of characters you’ll love to question right up until the final page.

A fast-paced thriller you won't want to put down!
When Gertie returns to the family home she hasn’t set foot in since childhood, and reunites with her siblings she barely knows, she doesn’t quite feel at home. She’s there for one reason only – she’s been invited to the reading of her father’s will. But Gertie isn’t the only one surprised to learn that she has inherited a substantial portion of the family business and her father’s Glass House – something that especially infuriates her siblings. Things become even more complicated when Gertie discovers her father may have been murdered. Not long after, a member of the staff dies, and Gertie realizes she’ll be lucky to survive this reunion...
The book reads so well. What I really liked about this book was the “investigative” aspect – it’s not like other thrillers I have read. Throughout the story, we follow Gertie’s thoughts as she wonders what might have happened and how she will continue her “investigation” – we get to see exactly what’s going through her mind. I was also really intrigued by the book’s setting – a glass-walled house where all the siblings are gathered together, with Gertie exploring every corner.
However, I had expected the story to be more suspenseful and mysterious, and the resolution didn’t feel like a complete twist to me. While the story kept me engaged, I missed those truly unexpected plot twists that would have made the ending more impactful.
3 stars

This was a great book. There were numerous potential suspects, each with their own motives, which kept the reader questioning throughout the book. I loved the glass house and the Palm Springs atmosphere. I always love a family feud, throw in angry siblings and an inheritance, and I am in! Thank you, NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the free copy of She Didn’t Stand a Chance by Stacie Grey in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by Grey, and it definitely won’t be my last. The setting added a tense, atmospheric backdrop to this twisty family drama filled with jealousy, lies, and dangerous secrets. I enjoyed the mix of suspense, intrigue, and isolation, and it kept me hooked until the final reveal.

Really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. I have recommended it to many people for when it’s out. Thank you for letting me read it

I quite enjoyed this book from new to me author Stacie Grey called She Didn’t Stand a Chance. I binged it in a day and I’m not embarrassed to say that.

Gertie goes back to her childhood home after her father dies (under suspicious circumstances) for the reading of his will. Her four half siblings are anything but nice and aren’t afraid to show their true colors. Lots of twists and turns, trying to figure out who was behind everything. I definitely recommend this one!

Thank you @NetGalley @poisonpenpress and especially @staciegreyauthor for my eARC.

Last week, I binge-read a novel from a new-to-me author. She Didn’t Stand a Chance by Stacie Grey is such a popcorn thriller! The family members were so entitled and so unlikable that I want them all cut off from their inheritance!!! I really enjoyed trying to guess which one of the siblings could have offed their father — they all had the means, motive and opportunity!

The only character that I loved was Gertie. She’s strong-willed, independent, and definitely more conscientious than her family members! I just wished her character was fleshed out more. Oh, I also liked Mrs. Phan (their household manager) and the other household staff. They are more of a family to Gertie than her blood relatives.

The ending was just how I like it: no cliffhangers, everything explained and the guilty gets their comeuppance!

Thank you @poisonedpenpress & @staciegreyauthor for my digital copy.

Thank you for the advanced review copy.

Although the premise was promising I think there was a lot lost in the execution for She Didn't Stand A Chance. I can't say I was surprised by the ending, the title can really give a lot away the more you think of it as you read the novel. I enjoyed the pacing of the novel, even though there were some slower sections, it felt in keeping with the entire book. I wished that some of the siblings had more character development in more than just dribs and drabs from other side character slipping in information that didn't feel exactly natural, more that the author wasn't exactly sure how Gertie could obtain information about her siblings.

This is a novel that is good, but doesn't cross the line into great. I wish I could've found connection with the characters more and that is probably why this is a 3 star novel to me.

I was not able to get into this one unfortunately, I really tried but it read more like a mystery than a thriller. I wanted a thriller so it was missing the thrills and the fast pace for me. I had to DNF, just wasn't for me!

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen and the author for the arc!

After Gertie’s estranged & very wealthy father falls down the stairs & dies (accident or murder?) … nothing will keep this brave outsider from finding out the truth of what happened … not even a bunch of spoiled rotten half siblings who try to stop Gertie, whatever it takes!

I absolutely loved Gertie’s character … she was one smart & tough cookie who refused to be intimidated! The rest of ‘em … not so much! Awful. Just awful. But rich people behaving badly is just so darn delish … this whole story sucked me right in!

All the way through I was trying to guess the whodunnit and even tho the ending wasn't as jaw dropping as I would have liked, it was still pretty satisfying with some good twists! Fast paced family drama, secrets, greed, lies and lots of shade … I thought this was a pretty solid atmospheric popcorn thriller!