
Member Reviews

Fast paced thriller! I first read this authors romance books and loved them and was given the opportunity to read this book. I didn’t even read what it was about before requesting it.
There’s some romance so it’s not a strict thriller and has more of a romantic suspense feel which isn’t bad and doesn’t take away from the story itself.
Fast paced, somewhat predictable, complex characters, and a book you can sit down and read in a single day.

This book was so good it gave me chills. Elizabeth was so brave. I felt so bad for Jocelyn. The plot twist was fascinating. No spoilers. I kind of want Noah to have his own book. I was given a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

I enjoyed this venture by the author from romance into mystery. I have not read the romance by Keeland but this has a good dose of it. Elizabeth is the narrator and she has a big twenty year old secret. When she receives chapters featuring her story she goes home to Louisiana to find the truth. Along the way there are some peripheral characters who aren't quite developed. I love Noah and found myself rooting for him. A somewhat predictable but enjoyable read, I am onboard for Keeland's next mystery.
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Unfortunately I didn’t love it. It was a quick read but the main character isn’t very likable. Elizabeth uses sex and alcohol as a crutch and her choices were very confusing. It kept me engaged and guessing and I wanted to see how it ended but over all just meh.
Thank you Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC.

First thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis: Elizabeth is a professor in New York but originally from a small town in Louisiana. She escaped from there right after high school and never goes back or have long term commitments. Now one of her students is sending her chapters that relate to her past. She needs to figure out what this person knows before it is too late.
What I liked: I love her thrillers. They are the perfect size to binge quickly and have the right combination of action and suspense to keep you turning pages. Plus she throws a little spice in there too. I also love how she keeps you enthralled until the very last sentence.

Thank you, Netgalley and Atria Books, for the early copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
This was a solid thriller that, from the outset, dropped one heck of a bomb that made me spend the entire rest of the book sifting through the wreckage of. And boy was there wreckage. Both emotionally and physically. On the surface this was a different kind of whodonit where you were trying to get to the bottom of quite a few things and as the main character went down the rabbit hole of trying to figure everything out, I thought the author did a great job placing us right there alongside her. I thought one of the more unique aspects of this book was the addition of the "chapters" which turned the plot on its head and having someone out there who knows the main characters secret added another level of suspense that I wasn't expecting. There were several twists throughout that left me guessing as I made my way through the book, and by the end, I can say I was satisfied with how things played out. I'd definitely recommend this to those who want something a bit different from their thrillers.

So I didn’t love this one. It wasn’t all bad. I liked the concept of it quite a bit. I always love the story-within-a-story device, so I was happy to see that here and thought it was done well. The writing wasn’t great, but the stylistic choices made coupled with the short chapters worked perfect for this type of book, and kept me invested in the mystery.
My issue is that it heavily relied on a trope I just don’t care for. Trying to keep this spoiler free, so I won’t elaborate too much, beyond saying that the twist in the middle of the book is what ruined this story for me. It’s just rarely done in a way that is believable to me and it always feels like a cop out.
Additionally, the ending felt rushed, and I just didn’t think everything wrapped up in a way that made sense or was fully explained. I think if the author had slowed down to really hash out all the details it may have been more effective.
Overall, this was fine and I probably would have liked it a lot more if it wasn’t for that trope.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley for this ARC. Someone Knows is our 6/17
2.5/5 stars

Someone Knows is yet another incredible mystery-thriller by the talented Vi Keeland. I love that she's continued in this genre giving us the story of Elizabeth Davis and the 20-year-old crime that can't seem to stay in the past. The story gets right to it as we get a brief summary of what occurred to befall a supposed well-regarded high school teacher. Keeland doesn't waste any time in jumping right in which I appreciated immensely and soon I was hooked on why Elizabeth's closely guarded and somewhat regimented life was suddenly upended. Thus starting one wild journey to finding out more than just the truth.
The book is really well-paced as Elizabeth is not only thrown right back into her difficult past but soon has to face more than just the presumed guilt she has carried. Her time in her former hometown in sweltering Louisiana is filled with doubt, unease and hesitant regret. With her devout mother close to death, she tries to use her time wisely while visiting, desperate to find out why an assumed Pace University student of hers, is currently writing the story she'd rather forget. How Hannah Greer seems to know way too much about what transpired with the late teacher, Mr. Sawyer, writing a chapter at a time and stirring up painful memories for Elizabeth.
Keeland tries to throw us off the track quite brilliantly, with old school friends and new acquaintances all possible suspects for the real Hannah Greer. My own theory was shaky at best and I couldn't wait to find out just who was trying to gaslight the well-established college professor with each new chapter submitted.
But what makes this book more than just a whodunit, are the revelations and long-buried secrets that Elizabeth has to come to grips with, almost losing her mind in the process. I was exhausted for her as sleep evades her almost nightly while also being beyond intrigued as to all she endured in her horrible childhood. Her shock at who she was in this whole tangled web was quite the revelation and only fueled my curiosity that much more to get to the eventual truth of why someone was seemingly out to get her. Someone who wanted her to remember, to regret and to suffer once again.
The big reveal is written in a subtle way, with less surprise than I was expecting but still quite perfect. In fact, the clever extras as Elizabeth is back in NYC, moving on and trying to have a real connection for the first time in her life had me wishing that there would have been 50 more pages or so to see how she'd fare once the guilty party messed with her carefully-crafted life once more.
Someone Knows kept me riveted from beginning to end and I was glad I took my time dissecting every passage wearing my novice detective hat again. It's well-written and well thought out and I am thrilled to have been able to read it. Vi Keeland has clearly found yet another clever way to entertain her readers and I happily give this great book a huge 5 stars!

Someone Knows grabbed ahold of me from the jump and did not let go. Riddled with secrets and deception, I loved watching the narrator’s spiral into paranoia. But is it really paranoia if everyone actually is out to get you?
The pacing of this one was incredible and I could not stop listening. I started this on my commute and ended up sneaky listening to it all day. The narrators, Leslie Howard and Aiden Snow, absolutely killed this one and I highly recommend checking this out on audio.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC of this title!!**
Check this one out if you love thrillers, small town drama, suspense, and twists!

I had a lot of fun reading this book, finally an original story. There are several twists that surprise. I will continue to read any book that this author writes.

Thank you Atria Books & Vi Keeland for this read!
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I was totally hooked from start to finish. It was mysterious in the best way - the author had me questioning the story, our narrator and all the characters surrounding them! They cleverly threw some twists our way and they were really unpredictable and brilliant.
The ending chapter was the ICING ON THE CAKE.
This book was stick in my memories for a while and has put the author in the spotlight for me! Can't wait to read more from them!
This book is perfect for thriller lovers who want an unpredictable twisty read - it will have you literally unable to stop reading until you find out what is going on!
Highly recommend 4.5/5
OUT 17TH JUNE

Wow Vi Keeland does it again!! I have always been a fan of her steamy romances, but when she shifted and released The Unraveling last year- I was hooked even more! “Someone Knows” immediately grabbed me just by the title and getting an early copy was something I just had to do!
Elizabeth is a professor in NYC with roots and a traumatic past in Louisiana. That trauma comes back to haunt her in the form of a student turning in a story about her exact situation which lead her to leave home- right down to the correct names and discussion of items that correlate only to this one moment! She is thrown right back into the stress and terror of finding out who knows of her crime. Along the way, she meets Noah who has a connection to her victim…leading to a struggle of her internal conflict yet again. Sexy, suspenseful, and engaging- Someone Knows keeps you flipping pages and then picking your jaw up off the floor with that ending!!!

This wasn't portrayed correctly at all. I can understand thriller but a "sexy" thriller no. It was kinky and weird and I felt icky just reading it. Definitely not what I was expecting from this author and won't be recommending it.

What if your student started writing the story of the murder you committed 20 years ago? Yeah. This one grabs you like that.
Read if you like: dark academia, buried secrets, morally gray heroines, slow-burning dread, twisty thrillers
📚 A college professor with a past she thought she’d buried is forced to confront it when a student submits a writing assignment that hits uncomfortably close to a decades-old murder she was part of. Vi Keeland delivers a chilling, sexy psychological thriller where secrets don't stay buried—and someone definitely knows.
👨👧 Elizabeth is sharp, damaged, and layered with guilt. You want to trust her, but... should you? Watching her unravel and try to keep control is like watching a lit match drift toward gasoline—tense and impossible to look away from.
💞 There’s romance, but it’s threaded into the tension rather than softening it. The chemistry is palpable, but this isn’t a love story—it’s a story where love complicates everything, including survival.
👧 The supporting characters feel like shadows in a fog—just clear enough to unsettle you. Especially that student. You’ll question everyone’s motives until the very last page.
✍️ Keeland's writing is taut and gripping. From the first chapter, it’s clear this isn’t just a thriller—it’s a psychological mind game. That said, if you like neat endings… fair warning. The open-ended finale left me yelling at the last page (and eyeing my bookshelf like it betrayed me).
🌟 Someone Knows is popcorn-level addictive, with tension that coils tighter with each chapter. It's the kind of book you inhale—only to sit in stunned silence afterward, wondering what just happened and who you can talk to about it.

I think I'm winning the lotto with all the good books I've read this year. Vi Keeland might be known for her romance, but in Someone Knows, she proves she can play with the psychological thriller pros and still turn up the heat. This book is bingeable (I read in less than a day). The setup? English professor Elizabeth is doing her usual grading gig when she stumbles on a student manuscript that isn’t fiction—it’s her past. One she’s buried deep and locked tight… because it ends in murder. And she knows, because she’s the one who did it.
The way Keeland unspools this story is masterful. Short chapters, escalating tension, and just enough steam to keep the pages flying—it’s a twisty ride from New York to Louisiana, and the ghosts Elizabeth left behind aren’t happy she’s back. I had so many theories and was still blindsided againa and again - AND the ending! I damn near sh*t. The romance, while a subplot, was steamy, mysterious, and filled with red flags.
Trigger warnings include grooming, child sexual abuse, and (obviously) murder.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC!

🏫📚ARC Review: Someone Knows by Vi Keeland🎓🏫
This romance queen dips her pen in the inky waters of psychological suspense and nails it!
If this is what Keeland’s thrillers look like, sign me up for every single one. "Someone Knows" is addictive and clever. It's definitely one of my top reads of 2025!
From the stunning cover to the haunting final word, "Someone Knows" is a razor-sharp psychological thriller that proves Vi Keeland isn’t just dipping her toes into the genre; she’s making a splash! With magnetic characters, simmering tension, and a past that refuses to stay buried, this book grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.
Elizabeth has a past that’s messier than a teenager’s bedroom, with secrets lurking around every corner and a shocking mistake that haunts her. Throw in some relationship drama that could put reality TV to shame, and this is a book I couldn't put down!
Clearly, Keeland isn't ready to say goodbye to the romance genre just yet! She’s sprinkled in some sizzling scenes that turn up the heat, but don’t worry—there’s no sappy romance bogging it down. It’s all the good vibes without the cheesy stuff!
Thank you to the author and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing this gifted eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria and Vi Keeland for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t read a lot of thrillers so my detective brain might not be as sharp as others but this one kept me guessing!
Elizabeth is a writing professor in NY who left her Louisiana home without looking back. All is well until someone registered in her online course starts sending her a story that no one should know - of what led up to her killing her former teacher. As she’s reading the chapters she’s trying to figure out who could be writing this and how they know.
With a growing list of suspects she’s left with no choice but to go back to Louisiana and try to track down this mystery student.
Along the way, Elizabeth pieces together a lot of things but so much is still a mystery. Elizabeth is a flawed human and there were a few scenes I struggled with rooting for her.
The book wraps up but also doesn’t…not sure I love how much was left unwritten but I enjoyed the book.
There are some triggering topics so check those out if you can.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.
This is my second Vi Keeland book and I couldn’t put it down. So twisty and dark. I loved the way this story unfolded. I predicted parts but others left me stunned. I loved it.

This story was very twisty, and I enjoyed that for most of it. It pulled me right in and kept me hooked until about halfway through.
It’s a story of an English professor, Elizabeth, who regularly reviews creative writing assignments. She receives the first chapters of her students’ writing assignments during summer sessions. One of these chapters sounds very familiar. In fact, it sounds exactly like what happened to her friend Jocelyn when they were in high school. But how can that be? And as more chapters are delivered, she realizes someone knows what she did that summer to protect her friend. Elizabeth needs to figure out who is sending the chapters, so she returns to her hometown in Louisiana to figure it out, where she also has to deal with her alcoholic mother.
I hoped this story would be different, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. Like I said, it kept my interest for the first half, but then some events were so obvious and predictable that they turned me off. That carried through to the end when I figured out who was involved and literally rolled my eyes at the very end. It was such a bummer.
Thank you to #netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

I've always loved Vi Keeland's books, but these thrillers she's been writing as of late are just as amazing. This book had several twists and turns, keeping you guessing on what would happen next. Really enjoyed it!