I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

I’m always skeptical when regular people are trying to solve murders in books but this one was kind of believable.

Gertie receives a letter asking her to attend her estranged Father’s funeral. Once she arrives the circumstances of his death and the attitudes of her estranged half siblings have her questioning what really happened. Did her Father really pass from a freak accident or was foul play involved?

She sets off in search of answers but the further she digs the closer to danger she is. With more people meeting their end she’s running out of time to find the truth and the murderer.

Fast paced and an easy read, I read this in a day! Perfect for fans of murder mystery and crime thrillers.

Family secrets. A suspicious will. A house full of danger.

Gertie hasn’t seen her siblings since she was a kid, and honestly, she was fine keeping it that way. But when she’s summoned to her late father’s estate in Palm Springs for the reading of his will, she quickly learns the desert heat isn’t the only thing simmering. Shocked to find herself inheriting part of the family business and her father’s prized home, Gertie realizes fast that her greedy siblings aren’t exactly thrilled with this turn of events. As tensions boil over and accidents pile up, Gertie starts wondering if her father’s death was no accident... and if she’s next.

Spillin’ the Book Tea:
Let’s just start with this...I love Gertie. Watching her character grow through the pages gave me something to root for. She’s relatable, grounded, and the kind of FMC you want to survive the chaos. Her siblings though? Yikes. Greed, jealousy, secrets... this family brought it all to the table and none of it felt warm or fuzzy.

This book does an incredible job with tension. The claustrophobic setting, one big, lonely house in the oppressive desert heat, amps everything up. It had that classic closed-in, isolated vibe where you start questioning who you can trust and what’s lurking around the next corner. The pacing kept me locked in, and the suspicion just kept building until I needed to know how it was all going to end.

It’s suspenseful, sharp, and exactly the kind of family drama meets thriller I enjoy. Big thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

The Vibes It Brings:
🌵 Claustrophobic Desert Setting
🏚️ One House, Too Many Secrets
👩 Strong, Relatable Female Lead
🤑 Greedy Siblings with Bad Intentions
💀 Suspicious Deaths
👀 No One Can Be Trusted
🎭 Dysfunctional Family Drama
🔥 Tension That Keeps Building
🚪 Locked Room Energy

TL;DR:
She Didn’t Stand a Chance delivers exactly what you want from a tense family thriller. Sharp, suspenseful, and packed with secrets, this one keeps you guessing until the end. Perfect if you like your thrillers served with betrayal, greed, and a strong woman fighting her way out.

The well-paced suspense and claustrophobic setting gives this book the payoff you’ll be hoping for. The protagonist, Gertie, is gritty, relatable and resilient, while her half-siblings are greedy and predictable.

Gertie was only 3 years old when she and her mother had to leave their home due to an unhappy marriage. Gertie’s father is extremely wealthy and has four other children, all of whom Gertie has been estranged from. When her father dies, Gertie is invited to the reading of the will. Her life will never be the same going forward.

This book is full of suspense and intrigue. How did her father die? Everyone seems guilty of something and Gertie needs answers. There is a perfect blend of family drama and whodunit with a few really great characters, a few not so great, and a satisfying ending.

Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC of this 4-star book.

Gertie hasn’t seen her siblings since she was a little kid, but now she’s back at the family home for the reading of her father’s will. She’s shocked to find out she’s inheriting a huge part of the family business and their Palm Springs house, and her siblings are definitely not happy about it. Stuck in a house full of people she barely knows, Gertie quickly realizes something isn’t right when she suspects her father was murdered, a staff member turns up dead, and she barely survives an accident herself. Soon, it becomes clear that making it out of this family reunion alive is going to take everything she has. This book was such a fun and wild ride and I loved all the drama, lies, and murder. I really felt for Gertie and how terribly she was treated by her family, estranged or not, but I loved her determination to stick around and solve the mystery. The twists kept coming and I didn’t see that ending coming at all. Such a great read that had me hooked the whole way through.

Family secrets, greed all come together in this book. You know who the suspects are but not sure which one is the guilty party. The story grabs you from the first page and keeps you guessing. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy

She Didn’t Stand a Chance is a tense, atmospheric thriller packed with family secrets, betrayal, and simmering suspense. From the moment Gertie returns to the family estate in Palm Springs, you can feel the heat—not just from the desert air, but from the unspoken tensions between her and her estranged siblings.

The story unfolds like a slow-burning mystery, with jealousy and resentment bubbling just under the surface. Gertie’s unexpected inheritance puts her in the crosshairs of her bitter family, and as accidents start happening and the truth about her father’s death comes to light, the stakes escalate fast. The isolation of the remote desert setting makes everything feel even more claustrophobic and dangerous.

This book kept me hooked as the lies and twists unraveled. The suspense builds steadily, leading to a satisfying and chilling conclusion. If you enjoy family dramas with a dark, deadly edge and a strong sense of place, She Didn’t Stand a Chance is a must-read.

This was such a fun, fast-paced read! The setting was super atmospheric (the heat practically radiated off the page), and I loved the family drama layered with mystery. Gertie is a great main character—easy to root for. The twists kept me guessing, and the ending was really satisfying. Definitely recommend reading this book!

Fab thriller that brings the suspense! Mrs Phan is brilliant and Gertie clearly has her work cut out for her but at least she's not alone.

The Glass siblings are a mixed bunch but Gertie is the only one I could stand which is the way it's meant to be I'm sure. Arnolds death does bring up a huge amount of drama and i like how nothing is as clear cut as it seems.

I did wonder if the culprit would be thrown in as a shock twist and it's actually mixed in a way. I wasn't surprised but I felt we were also led to consider other oiss so it did keep me on the fence.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book. This was my first book written by Stacie Grey and I will definitely be reading more. The level of detail that was given to set the scene was great, it really made me feel like I was right there with Gertie. I thought I had an inkling of who might have been “the person” but then the more I read I thought of someone else. But kept going back and forth. I would definitely recommend reading this book if you like twists and trying to figure things out as you read.

Gertie’s father, Arnold Glass, whom she barely knew dies from a fall down the stairs and invites her to the reading of his will as well as his memorial service along with his 4 other children from his first wife.

Gertie’s siblings are entitled, unlikable and not happy that she is present. The reading of the will leads to further dislike from the 4 older Glass siblings regarding Gertie.

Gertie nor the police are convinced that her father’s death is an accident like the Glass siblings seem to think it is or want everyone to think that it is. Gertie is very intelligent, stubborn, determined and rather witty which all helps her in her drive to find out what really happened to her father. But will the cost be worth the reward?

I read this book in 2 days! I loved to hate the unlikeable characters and really enjoyed Gertie, Mrs. Phan and Eddie. Such a propulsive read!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was well written and had me gripped from the start. The family mystery murder dynamic reminded me of Knives Out which I loved!

Agatha Christie meets Succession in this absolute page-turner of a book. I stayed up way past my bedtime — not just to find out who did it but because I was fascinated by the world the author built. The messed-up family dynamics alone make it well worth a read, and the characters are all constructed for maximum “Oh my God, I can’t believe they did that!” effect. But my favorite thing? The way the author manages to subtly weave wry humor into a thriller that hit my perfect sweet spot of suspenseful and engaging.

I enjoyed this book, it felt like a modern day Agatha Christie. The plot was good and I kept changing my mind as to who the murderer was. It kept me guessing right up until the end.

SHE DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE BY STACIE GREY.
Release day set for the 12th of August 2025.
This is my first book by stacie and I've deffo pick up another one of hers.
Great main female character. Loved her character development.
I didn't like any other characters within the book.
Love the cover for this book aswel.
Solid 4 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s from me.

This mystery thriller is set in the desert, with the perfect eerie backdrop: a literal glass house in the middle of nowhere. Gertie returns to her biological father’s home after his sudden death (a fall down the stairs... or was it?). She’s thrown into the mix with siblings she never grew up with — and they’re not thrilled she’s part of their wealthy father’s will.
It’s not long before Gertie starts to suspect her father’s death wasn’t an accident… and now she’s trapped in the house with a killer. Fast-paced, full of jealousy, lies, buried family secrets, and lots of money at stake — what’s not to love?

If you're into twisty family dramas with a side of murder, you need to read this book. Gertie returns to a creepy, unfamiliar family estate for her father’s will reading and surprise! She inherits way more than anyone expected, which instantly puts a target on her back. The siblings are bitter, the vibes are tense, and the plot thickens fast with a suspicious death, a shady accident, and a looming question: was her dad murdered?

Big thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this great book!

Gertie Glass hasn't seen her father, Arnold Glass, or her older half-siblings since she was a toddler. Her parents separated when she was three, and the only connection she has had to her father since then has been the child support payments sent to her mother and her college tuition that he covered.
At one point during her childhood, Gertie reached out to her father with a request, and when he came through for her, she sent him an "IOU" note. However, that was the extent of their contact.
Now, Gertie's estranged father has passed away, and she is returning to his home for the reading of the will. While at the estate, she discovers that he has left her his house and 12% of his business. Interestingly, he held onto Gertie's "IOU" note all of these years, and now his death appears to be suspicious. Why would her estranged father leave her such a significant inheritance after being absent from her life? What about his other children? What really happened to Arnold Glass?

࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪ ˖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖⊹ ࣪

This was a slow-burning story that repeated itself excessively, making it much longer than necessary.
There wasn't much of a twist; it was easy to guess who would be responsible for the murders. Despite this, the characters were well-developed and enjoyable to dislike. Gertie was the only tolerable character until we met Chef Edward and Mrs. Phan. The descriptions of the estate and the gardens were beautifully depicted and were easy to visualize the layout and appearance of everything. The author is fantastic at including as much detail in her descriptions of people, places, and the small details. However, the story ultimately fell flat. The ending was somewhat predictable, lacking the suspenseful twist that one might hope for.

If you enjoy stories that involve family secrets and sibling rivalry, this may be the book for you.

When her father dies,Gertie is summoned to Palm Springs for the reading of his will. Her half siblings are not at all happy to see her. Gertie, who has not seen her father since she was a toddler cannot imagine what he might have left her. The way they react to seeing Gertie is nothing though compared to the looks on their faces when she inherits much more than they expected. Oh, and did I mention that Arnold Glass died under suspicious circumstances? Everyone from his ‘loving’ family (except Gertie) had motive and opportunity and may have wanted Arnold dead.
The question is which one of them did it? Gertie is the only one who seems to want the truth. However, if she gets too close to exposing the killer(s), she might be the next victim.
I read most of this at the beach and it was a really good page flipper. I liked Gertie and very much despised her siblings. Oh, and the final words by Arnold……. Perfect.

Stacie Grey's new thriller burns hot and fast. Set in a remote California mansion, it follows Gertie, who returns home after 25 years for a will reading. She barely knows her siblings, and soon discovers they're all hiding something deadly.

Grey builds tension masterfully. The desert heat presses in as family secrets surface one by one. Each character could be the villain, and Grey keeps us guessing until the final page. The plot occasionally feels familiar – wealthy family, shocking inheritance, suspicious servants – but Grey's sharp writing and clever twists keep it fresh.

This is a book you'll finish in one sitting. It's smart, tense, and satisfying, proving Grey deserves a spot alongside thriller heavyweights like Ruth Ware and Liane Moriarty.

4.5/5 stars

Perfect for: Anyone who loves family secrets, isolated settings, and endings you won't see coming