Wow! Twisty, creepy and fast paced- all the best things you want in a thriller. I was so pleased to get this advanced reader copy and I have flown through it.
Ethan is a detective turned emergency room doctor who is thrust back into police work ten years after a young girl went missing in the hopes of finding what happened to her. From there, there are some dual timelines, narration by unknown characters, police work and prison visits.
A fantastic thriller - and I already can’t wait to see what’s next from Charlie Donlea!

So so good. Thank you for letting me read in advance. Kept me hanging on the edge of my seat. I was obsessed with the storyline.

WOW! Charlie Donlea is an autobuy for me , I’ve loved every single book I have read. Summit lake was my absolute favorite but now it has been replaced by Guess Again. This book is so fast paced, short chapters, dual timelines , and AMAZING STORY! Suspenseful and twisty , this is the exact example of what I look for in a book . Thank you SO MUCH!

This was the second book I read by this author the first one had me staying up late and I couldn’t put it down. This one felt similar, and I would definitely read more by this author. A good thriller if that’s your thing.

My first book by Charlie Donlea. Guess Again is about a cold case of, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones. She disappeared 10 years ago and her body was never found. Enter Ethan Hall, once a member of the police force, now ER doctor. Ethan is contacted by his former partner, who now happens to be dieing of ALS, he has been working on this case for the last 10 years, and wants Ethan to take over and find Callie. The story jumps around A LOT, which could be the way this author writes. It had lots of short chapters that always list the DATE and the Wisconsin location that the chapter takes place in. It moves from PAST to PRESENT and LOCATION TO LOCATION. I came to discover that the places and dates are very important. The book had lots of twists, and some that I didn’t see coming. The ending was…………..let’s just say, that Ethan may have to put his career in medicine on hold-as I’m hoping a sequel could be in the works.

#netgalley

Guess Again was my first read by Charlie Donlea, and it delivered just about everything I love to see in a thriller: a decade-old cold case, a small town filled with secrets, suspense, action, and shocking twists that kept me hooked from start to finish.

At the request of the Mayor, and as a last favor to his dying former partner, former superstar detective turned ER doctor Ethan Hall is pulled back into the world of investigation to tackle a cold case that has haunted a small town for a decade. As he investigates, Ethan begins to unravel the tangled web surrounding Callie’s disappearance ten years ago. What starts as a reluctant favor quickly snowballs into a dark, twisty investigation that had me flipping pages late into the night.

There’s just something irresistible about a cold case set in a small town, and Charlie Donlea completely nails the atmosphere in Guess Again. The sweltering summer heat, the hushed whispers of long buried secrets, and that tense feeling that everyone knows more than they’re saying, absolutely brillant.

And the twists? The title couldn’t be more fitting. It fit just as perfectly as a hardcover dust jacket. I kept guessing and second guessing, and Everytime I thought I had the mystery solved,Charlie Donlea yanked the rug out from under me with another unexpected twist.

Let me not even get started on that cliff hanger ending. I just know there’s gonna be another book soon and I can’t wait to see Ethan’s smarts in action again.

Whoa, did not expect the twists in this book! Every time I feel like I figured out what happened, my mind got blown. This is a fast-paced thriller involving multiple cold cases, survivors, and interviews with a potential serial killer. Due to its fast pace, multiple POVs and lots of names, it was occasionally hard to remember who was who. I am glad to know that there will likely be another book based on how this one ended!

I definitely think this might be my favorite book by Charlie so far! I was hooked right from the beginning and Could not stop reading it. The story was so suspenseful and intense and the SUPER SHORT chapters helped a lot to make the read go quicker. The chapters too left you on a cliffhanger that you just had to keep going.
Like I said, this story was insane. I had to know what happened and through the whole story you are second guessing yourself and then of course Charlie throws in that crazy twist that you wont expect and leave your jaw shocked with a "NO WAY" Moment.

This story was everything I needed for an amazing, suspenseful mystery thriller. You must grab this one when it hits the shelf in July.

Charlie Donlea writes perfect thrillers. The pace is perfect. The charcters are perfect. The twists are perfect. In Guess Again, we meet a former detective (now an ER physician) being pulled back into a decades old case about a missing girl, but honestly, you don't need a plot synopsis to pick this one up. Just pick it up because Donlea is the master of thrillers.

Please tell me there will be more books with Ethan and Maddie and this storyline. What a ride this book was and all the twists, turns, red herrings, and suspense. Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is a suspenseful read that I had a hard time putting down. The story centers around the ten-year-old mystery of Callie Jones, a high school volleyball star who vanished without a trace in a small Wisconsin town. The author weaves together the past and present, exploring the lingering effects of a tragedy that has haunted a community for a decade. The story is told from various perspectives, both in the past and the present.

The character of Ethan Hall is a former detective turned ER doctor, and his internal struggle and desire to resolve the case, driven by his own demons and the emotional weight of his past, add to the narrative and move the story along. The dynamic between Ethan and Pete Kramer, the detective and Ethan’s former partner who initially investigated Callie’s disappearance, brings a sense of urgency and camaraderie to the story. As Pete’s health declines, the stakes feel even higher, creating a race against time. But wait, what happened to Pete at the end? That was never resolved.

As Ethan digs deeper, the twists and turns become increasingly unpredictable, leading to several shocking conclusions of the narrative in a satisfying yet thought-provoking way.

Overall, Guess Again is a well-crafted thriller. I would recommend this book. It had so many gasp-out-loud moments and a good mystery with flawed but well-developed characters.

#GuessAgain #NetGalley @kensingtonbooks

Such a great read!! Charlie Donlea is a fantastic author that never disappoints! I will always recommend his books. Keeps you on the edge of your seat and impossible to put down!

Honestly Charlie Donlea is one of those authors where I become very excited when I see a new book. This man really knows how to write and once again this was another fabulous book from him.

A cold case is reopened 10 years on from the death of Wisconsin volleyball star Callie Jones. Ethan Hall used to be a detective but after seeing so much death and devastation faced by victims’ families, he decides to change careers and become an ER doctor. Content with his new life his world is suddenly turned upside down when he is convinced by his former partner Pete Kramer to read the case file of Callie’s murder and accept his request to help him find the perpetrator. Ethan is initially hesitant but soon he is taken in by these events and the family’s total helplessness of not knowing what happened to their daughter.

Full of action and suspense, this is a gripping and exceptional book. Once I started, I could not put it down absolutely enthralled by an exceptional plot that races along and it is a wild ride. Many characters that Donlea presents us with ensure that you are completely engrossed while you try to decipher the rabbit holes you are taken down. Brilliant writing that has produced another book by this author that screams quality. Highly recommended

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

LOVED THIS ONE! Like always, Charlie is back with another puzzling, mystery. If you think you have this one figured out, GUESS AGAIN. Fantastic 5 star read!

Thank you to Charlie Donlea and NetGalley for allowing me to review an advanced copy of this book.

Another great read by a well established author, Guess Again follows a former special agent now ER doctor as he looks over a 10yr cold case. No one could possibly predict the Pandora’s box that this opens and the rollercoaster ride his life is thrown on.

Each page had me hanging for more and now I’m eagerly waiting for the next instalment.

Every book Charlie Donlea writes is better than the last one I think. I’m not sure how he keeps improving on these 5 star reads but somehow he does! In Guess Again, Ethan, a former detective turned ER doctor is tasked with helping solve the cold case disappearance of a teenager 10 years ago. Meanwhile, the man who killed his father sits in prison with the information Ethan needs.

In typical twisty Charlie Donlea fashion he takes multiple storylines that seem to have no connection and brings them together for one glorious novel. Excellent book! Wide open for a sequel which I hope we see.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Kensington Publishing for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date July 29, 2025.

This compulsively readable suspense novel, penned by one of my favorite authors, will keep you up late madly tearing through the pages. But keep the lights on as you do. Whew!

#GuessAgain #NetGalley
Charlie Donlea returns with another tightly plotted psychological thriller in Guess Again, a haunting story of a long-cold case, buried secrets, and one man’s journey into the darkness he thought he left behind. Ten years ago, 17-year-old Callie Jones vanished without a trace. Despite a highly publicized investigation, her body was never found and the case went cold. Now, on the tenth anniversary, Ethan Hall—an ex-detective turned ER doctor—is pulled back in by his dying former partner to uncover the truth and give a grieving family the closure they deserve. But the deeper Ethan digs into the seemingly quiet lake town of Cherryview, the more twisted the truth becomes. What starts as a case of a missing teen evolves into a chilling psychological puzzle with ties to Ethan’s own dark past—and a dangerous reminder that some secrets are still worth killing for.
What I Liked::-
1 Gripping Mystery with Layers: Donlea excels at peeling back layers of the story. Every clue feels like a breadcrumb leading to a bigger, darker revelation.
2 Ethan Hall's Character Arc: Ethan is flawed, haunted, and deeply human. His transition from detective to ER doctor adds depth, and his internal struggle makes the narrative more powerful.
3 Atmospheric Small-Town Setting: The sweltering heat of Cherryview adds tension, making the town feel both claustrophobic and suspicious.
Overall, Guess Again is a solid, well-written thriller that blends mystery with emotional weight. It’s a chilling reminder that the past never truly dies—and that some answers come at a deadly cost. Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben, Lisa Gardner, and true crime-inspired fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for giving me an advance copy.

Publishes July 29th and follows the 10yr old case of 17yr old Callie Jones whose disappearance was highly publicized and was never solved. Now Ethan Hall, a former detective turned ER doctor has been brought in by his former partner as a fresh set of eyes for the case.

This is my 7th Donlea book and I’m fully convinced that he can’t write a bad book. I think he’s totally underrated as a thriller author and deserves way more recognition for the bangers he puts out. Perfect for fans of Riley Sager or Loreth Anne White.

This book did a great job of having me where it wanted me. With misdirection and red herrings, I was wracking my brain on possible outcomes to no avail. The twists and turns kept me engaged throughout and the grand reveal got me good.

I think this might be my new favorite by this author. 4.5 stars

What happened to Callie Jones? Missing for ten years, no lead to her disappearance has ever been found.

At the request of the Mayor, former superstar detective turned ER doctor Ethan Hall is tasked with the request of taking on the cold case. A pro at problem solving and thinking outside the box, Ethan quickly begins unburying old secrets. Little does he know how dangerous that is for others, and for himself.

Another Winner from Charlie Donlea, who continues to impress.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the arc.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

“When he unclamped the button on her jeans, she knew she would lose her virginity that night.” Now that’s an opening line that grabs your attention—and the book keeps you on your toes from there.

Told through multiple POVs, the book is a little confusing at first, but hang in there—it all starts to click pretty quickly. I loved how the author revealed the connections between everyone but left a big surprise at the end.

The characters were relatable and well described—I found myself buying into their worlds and motivations easily. However, Ethan and Maddie’s relationship which begins after they meet in court after she was the final victim of a serial killer and his father was killed by this serial killer, I didn’t feel the connection between them as strongly as I hoped. Still, their individual arcs were compelling, and I appreciated the emotional threads running through the story. The book ended with the opening to a sequel which I would be happy to read to see if their relationship evolves more.