WARNING: it's another unexpected unpopular opinion review!!

I have a weak spot for a serial killer thriller, and especially when it gives us a glimpse inside the head of one (or more) twisted minds. I guess it's easy to understand why I was drawn to How To Read A Killer's Mind as soon as I saw that title and read the blurb... The premise sounded like a perfect match for me and I loved the promise of dark humor as well as the main character trying to get inside the murderers' minds. Sadly, I ended up being in the minority and I can't exactly say that I had a great time reading it.

Don't get me wrong: I still absolutely love the premise of How To Read A Killer's Mind. The special prison designed to get convicted killers to confess where they hid the bodies, the unorthodox methods to do so, the focus on the personal angle as well as getting closure for the family of the victims... This story had SO much potential, but sadly this potential wasn't exactly met for me. I know I'm the outlier here though, and I think this is probably partly a case of 'it's not you, it's me'. I'll try to explain why below.

The thing is... I really clashed with the writing. There was just something about the writing style and tone that simply didn't work for me, and as a result I struggled considerably to find the motivation to keep reading. In fact, it took me a lot longer than usual to actually make it to the final page... The pace is surprisingly slow especially in the first part, and to make things worse the promised dark humor was a total dud for me. Sure, I could see where the story tried to be funny, but the humor used just wasn't for me and it mostly made me feel frustrated instead of causing even the tiniest chuckle.

I think the fact that the main characters are just so extremely hard to like doesn't really help either. Sure, even Emy Rose admits she is 'rude, disparaging, impatient, cynical, dry', and she uses being herself as a tactic to get the killer's to give up their secrets... But does she really have to treat the other people around her so badly? And better question: do I really want to have to put up with her behavior? That would be a no for me. A lot of the humor is both blunt and crude, and I just never cared about whether Emy would find the answers she was looking for to be honest.

That said, I also wasn't a fan of how things were wrapped up in the end. It was just both way too farfetched and underwhelming at the same time, and not the ending I was hoping for after such a long build-up. True, there were some interesting moments along the way and it shows the author spent a lot of time researching to make the interviews and the psychology behind the way the killer's react to the questions credible. That part was without doubt fascinating, but for me it was overshadowed by the fact that I couldn't stand the writing, humor nor the characters in play. I know this is mainly a personal reaction though, and I do seem to be in the minority so far... So don't give up on my account if you think this story is your cup of tea. Make sure to brace yourself though as this story can get pretty dark and gruesome!

"How to Read a Killer's Mind" by Tam Barnett offers a unique and gripping experience. It follows Dr. Emy Rose, a psychologist who uses an experimental program designed to elicit confessions from serial killers. The narrative takes readers on a psychological rollercoaster, prompting them to question their understanding of morality and justice.
From the start, I was struck by how much Barnett packed into this story: ethical dilemmas, profound psychological insights, and the burden of family ties all intertwine in a gripping thriller. The exploration of grief and trauma delineates how our moral compasses can skew under pressure, and quite frankly, I found myself entranced by this darker aspect of human nature.
However, Emy Rose is not an easy character to warm up to. In fact, she’s designed to be intentionally abrasive—she describes herself as "rude, disparaging, impatient, cynical, dry," and I found that to be a double-edged sword. While her unlikable nature makes sense in the context of her turbulent background, it also created a distance that made me struggle to connect with her for a good portion of the book. The first half felt more like trudging through treacle than racing through a thriller, but then something miraculous happened around the 50% mark: the tension escalated, and I found myself unable to put the book down.
Barnett’s writing is seamless, drawing me in with smooth prose while remarkable moments of darkness left me breathless. I often had to pause and gather my thoughts after particularly harrowing scenes. The emotional depth within the narrative surprised me; Dr. Emy Rose isn’t just a cold psychologist; she’s a deeply flawed individual, grappling with her own demons. This layer of vulnerability added complexity to her character, making her journey even more compelling.
As I neared the end, I was fully invested in the gripping cat-and-mouse game, even if I wished for a more impactful conclusion. After such a feverish buildup, the ending felt like a missed opportunity to deliver the gut punch I was yearning for. Still, I believe that the extensive character development and dark themes remained poignantly engaging throughout the book.
If you have a penchant for psychological thrillers, I urge you to give "How to Read a Killer's Mind" a spin—but do check the trigger warnings beforehand. Barnett doesn’t shy away from the grittier aspects of human nature, and her story is as absorbing as it is unsettling.
Ultimately, despite a rocky start and a climactic letdown, the experience was a vivid exploration of the human psyche that will linger in my thoughts for a while. Whether you love thrillers or not, there’s something in this book that urges you to confront the dark corners of your own mind.

Thank you for the opportunity to read How to Read a Killer’s Mind by Tam Barnett!

I absolutely love the title but the book wasn’t quite my style.

This was a gripping read  and I read it in a sitting. There aren't many books that grab me like that.

It is a dark book that keeps you guessing and then having to re-guess because the red herrings are everywhere, and what you thought you had figured out, you hadn't.
It is very well written, although you do need to suspend some belief as some procedures are far too outlandish to ever be sanctioned.  I hope.
There are some disturbing parts, but there's also a lot of humour and sarcasm, and the relationship between Emy and her mother is just so endearing.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

‘The mind never truly finishes one chapter unless you give it a new one to read.’

What a fun read this was! Straight away I loved the dark humour woven in throughout the chapters, making it a real joy to read! One line was so funny but I won’t spoil! 😂

I did find this one to be a slightly different style (psychological suspense) to the thrillers that I’m used to reading, and it was fairly medium paced throughout the majority of the book. I loved the little twists along the way though which kept me gripped!

I did also struggle to visualise some of the characters and the storyline at times. However, it was still enjoyable to read and I think this could have just been because this book wasn’t my usual style.

I absolutely loved the ending though, I couldn’t turn the pages on my kindle fast enough 😂 It really ramped up the pace which I loved. The epilogue was a nice touch too and left me wanting more! 😍

Highly recommend this one! Looking forward to reading his first book soon too!

Huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC copy.

This was such an interesting read! It was disturbing in the best way, and I couldn’t stop reading. I also loved the characters!
The only thing I didn’t love was the writing. But overall, I really enjoyed it! Lately, I’ve been struggling with books where I figure out the plot too soon, but this one was unpredictable, which made it even more exciting.
I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this!

The title of this really captured my attention. I was enticed right from the start! I found it to be paced well and I really could not believe the plot twist - make sure you're seated when you get to that point. There are darker topics covered in this book so be sure to check the trigger warnings before starting it.

How to Read a Killer's Mind is a novel with so many twists and turns. It is similar in vein to Mindhunter and was an entertaining book. Some things were far-fetched but on the whole this book was very enjoyable.

This book is a really good example of a psychological thriller. It’s dark, suspenseful and thrilling. I enjoyed the characters and the relationships between the characters. This book had a lot of good aspects to it as well. It was definitely not what I was expecting, and I mean that in the best way. There were some really great twists and I loved how the author left a lot of cliffhangers at the end of the chapters. I would definitely recommend it.

My TBR list did not need any more books added, but with a title and cover like this one, I just could not resist! A dark and twisty novel for sure. I felt the plot was intriguing and different than any others I've read. The writing style was a little difficult for me to get used to, I think in large part because I am used to American English. If you like books dealing with serial killers, this is one not to miss.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

How to Read a Killer’s Mind follows Dr. Emy Rose, a psychologist running an experimental program designed to get serial killers to reveal where they’ve hidden their victims. But for Emy, it’s not just about research—she has her own reasons for wanting to get inside a killer’s mind.

This book had all the ingredients for a gripping psychological thriller: ethics and morality, the psychology of criminal minds, the weight of family bonds, and the lengths we’ll go to for answers—no matter who we hurt along the way. The exploration of how grief and trauma can reshape a person’s moral compass was fascinating. But while the themes were strong, the execution didn’t fully work for me (unfortunately).

Emy is intentionally difficult to like. She even admits, “So I was myself: rude, disparaging, impatient, cynical, dry.” And while that characterization makes sense within the story, it also made it hard to connect with her. I never felt fully invested in any of the characters, which made the first half a struggle to get through. That said, once I hit the 50% mark, the tension intensified, and I flew through the rest. The writing is smooth and easy to read, but the darkness of the story took me by surprise—I had to put the book down a few times.

Ultimately, I wanted more from the ending. After such an intense buildup, it lacked the final gut punch I was hoping for.
Still, if you love psychological thriller, give it a try. Just check the trigger warnings first.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

How to Read a Killer’s Mind…wouldn’t it be amazing if we could?

Dr Emy Rose had developed a pioneering experiment in which serial killers are questioned over long periods of time in order to find out where they left their victims’ bodies and help to give closure to their searching families.

The inspiration for the experiment? Her brother Sam has been missing for over 10 years, and his killer is in custody. Unfortunately, the experiment might be losing its funding due to a meddling government official who wants to change the purpose of the experiment. As Emy races against the clock to find her brother’s remains she comes up against journalists, co-workers, and of course, killers. How far will she go for the answers she seeks? Oh, you have no idea!

I love the style of this book, Emy is a sharp tongued protagonist but her heart is in the right place & she kept me laughing. I read this in one sitting & recommend to fans of Bella Mackie, Katy Brent & Sarah Bronner. I look forward to reading more by Tam Barnett!

Tam has absolutely smashed this one out the park!

I REALLY liked his debut… I absolutely LOVE this follow up!
Tam is absolutely going to be an auto buy author for me now.

When I started reading this I didn’t have much time so only got to read a little here and there but once my week calmed down and I could dedicate time to read this properly I couldn’t put it down.

Tam writes with such detail and knowledge you truly know how much research must go into these books.
The psychology element of this book and the way it’s written… I should think Tam could pass for a psychologist now 😂

Dr Emy Rose is easily my favourite character in this book. But they are all written to a high standard and the scenes described so well I could actually picture everything as I was reading.

It’s hard to write reviews without giving too much away but I’ll say if you want to read something you’ll be impressed by, that will keep you turning the pages, be shocked at the twists then don’t hesitate to pick this one up!

Thank you Netgalley, Boldwood Nooks and author Tam Barnett for the ARC of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was quite dark and twisty. I really enjoyed it and was gripped until the very end. It gave Mindhunter vibes in a way but the procedural parts were much more far fetched. Theres no way a psychologist would be allowed to do any of what Emu did, but that’s ok, I was still on the edge of my seats through the end item book.

really entertaining and gripping to read

Don't let the cover fool you, this is a great thriller! I enjoyed the plot a lot and felt like it was well written

Tam Barnett's book, "How to Read a Killer's Mind," is a gripping psychological read. That delves deep into the the intricacies of a killer's mind.

A criminal psychologist Emy talks to serial killers in order to find out where missing bodies are located. She has had some success in the past and has her own personal reasons for doing the job she does.

Barnett's storytelling hooks you from the first page and the suspense never lets up. It is dark and twisty in all the right ways.

The narrative is both engaging and thought-provoking, offering a chilling yet fascinating glimpse into the minds of those who commit the most heinous of crimes.

The characters are well-drawn, and their complexities add depth to the story, making it all the more compelling. The relationship between Emy and her mother is especially touching and relatable. Emy is a force of nature, Will we see more of her in future novels I wonder?

As well as the tricky subject matter, there is also humour scattered throughout the book, which stops the book being too dark.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and just when you think you have figured it out, another twist leaves you reeling. The pacing is perfect, maintaining a balance between tension and revelation, ensuring that you are constantly engaged.

"How to Read a Killer's Mind" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, captivating from start to finish.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

Tam Barnett’s How To Read a Killer’s Mind is a psychological thriller that doesn’t just pull you into the depths of the criminal psyche, it drags you in, kicking and questioning everything you thought you knew about morality, justice, and obsession. It’s dark, sharp-witted, and utterly absorbing, making it a must-read for fans of The Silent Patient and Mindhunter.

I think what makes How To Read a Killer’s Mind stand out isn’t just its premise but its execution. Barnett’s writing is razor-sharp, balancing tension with humor in a way that feels effortless. The pacing is relentless, but never rushed. Every revelation lands with impact, every interaction crackles with psychological intensity. And yet, amidst the mind games and power struggles, there’s an emotional depth that lingers. Dr. Emy Rose isn’t just a profiler, she’s a person haunted by her own past, and that vulnerability makes her all the more compelling.

Emotionally, this book is a rollercoaster. It taps into the uneasy fascination we have with true crime, making us complicit in the hunt for answers. But it also asks deeper questions: How far would you go to unearth the truth? Can you ever truly outthink a killer? And at what cost? The psychological cat-and-mouse game is gripping, but the novel’s true power lies in its exploration of control, trauma, and the fine line between justice and obsession.

The blurb:

I’m psychologist Dr Emy Rose, but that’s not my real name.
I work with serial killers who've hidden their victims. My job is to find the bodies - and I'm kind of awesome at it.
The trick is to get inside these murderers' minds. And there's one in particular I'm hellbent on breaking.
Why? None of your business! Just know, I'll stop at nothing to read that killer's mind...


What I thought?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. The pacing was great all the way through and had me hooked from the beginning.

Although the subject matter is slightly dark, the book still manages to be humorous and enjoyable.

Will definitely be checking out Tam Barnett’s other work.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. It wasn't the greatest in terms of writing but the plot felt unique to me and I thoroughly enjoyed Emy's character. If you're a fan of true crime, you'll like this one!

I really enjoyed this it was deliciously dark and cram packed full of wit and sarcasm, I laughed out loud several times. It was so well paced, really fast and I couldn't put it down nor did I want to. I can't wait to read more by the author