Guess Again is a must-read for fans of Charlie Donlea. This gripping story will keep you guessing until the very end. An ex-cop turned doctor visits his father’s killer in prison after his denial of parole. When his old partner asks him to investigate an old cold case that has been haunting him for years, he feels compelled to help.

The killer, who shot his father in the face years before, becomes entangled in a web of deception and lies. The doctor must race against time to unravel this tangled mess before another life is lost.

A standalone crime mystery tale, Guess Again (2025) by Charlie Donlea is a riveting, slow burn cold case. In 2015, teenager Callie Jones disappeared one night, and the case has never been solved. A decade later, Emergency Doctor, Ethan Hall, a former investigator with Wisconsin Criminal Investigation Unit is asked by the new Governor to review the file. Initially reluctant, Ethan’s own personal family connection to jailed killer Francis Bernard whose offer to help cannot be overlooked. An enthralling multi-layered crime story unfolds as a ten-year-old cold case has gripping present day consequences and impact for various characters. Each chapter is clearly timed, dated and place marked at the beginning, enabling a clear switch back and forth between events in 2015 and 2025. A riveting five star read rating ensues, with possibly more adventures to come. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Kensington Publishing and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
4.5 stars (rounded up)

Charlie Donlea is one of my all time favorite, auto-buy authors. I have loved everything I’ve ever read by him. I randomly read a standalone of his and then went all the way back and started with his Rory Moore and Lane Phillips series. I was excited when I saw that he has a new novel releasing this year.

Ethan Hall is a former detective for Wisconsin’s Division of Criminal Investigations and crimes against children. Despite a 100% solve rate Ethan walks away from his career in a bid to save his mental health. Ten years later he is an Emergency Room doctor trying to help people by saving lives rather than helping families after lives were already lost.

His old investigative partner, Pete Kramer finds him and requests his assistance with reviewing a ten year old cold case, one that Pete was never able to solve. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, Pete is desperate to close this one last case. Ethan doesn’t want to return to and be reminded of his previous life but agrees to review the case files…

There is a lot of time and location jumping, from past to current, place to place but the story is plot heavy with short chapters and plenty of momentum to make this an easy, quick read. There are so many twists and turns that make the Guess Again title entirely appropriate. Ethan is a well-developed character and I enjoyed most of the support characters. The very end was predictable and left open ended. It could end there as a standalone OR could this be the beginning of a series featuring Ethan Hall?

Overall, a fantastic read. I’ve yet to be disappointed by a Charlie Donlea novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington publishers for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

“Guess Again” is the perfect title for this twisty-turny thriller and one to add to your TBR if you enjoy storylines that include intelligent criminals taunting law enforcement. Ethan Hall left his job as detective with a 100% success rate to become an ER physician. Wisconsin Governor asks him to use his detective skills to come back to work on one final case: his daughter that went missing 10 years earlier. Lucky for Ethan, he has a source providing new clues to the cold case. Unlucky for Ethan, that source just so happens to be a prisoner who murdered Ethan’s father and (assumed) attempted murderer of Ethan’s now girlfriend. Ethan must play along to have any hope of closing the cold case and saving a recent kidnapped victim.

This felt like it was part of a series. The beginning didn’t grab me initially. It felt like a recap of previous books instead of a new introduction of characters. At first I just couldn’t get over how over-the-top Ethan’s character was. He has a 100% detective rate, flies a plane, and on a whim, decided to go back to school and become a physician, which he also does flawlessly (besides the fact that he give a patient a ride home at the end of his shift…). There’s almost nothing he can’t do.

The beginning also includes many characters, dual timelines and several settings. As soon as I was getting into the story, it felt like a whole new story was introduced. But with time I came to enjoy this smartly written novel that brings all the chaos together. The ending seemed like a setup for another book.

I found some aspects of the writing style distracting, but overall appreciated the heart pounding thriller that had me turning pages at max speed towards the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jul 29 2025

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley- thank you!

This book was a wild ride. Just when I would think that I figured everything out, another twist would come and surprise me. The ending was crazy, and I'm hoping there will be a sequel.

I devoured this book.
My jaw- still on the floor!
Charlie Donlea delivers another masterclass in suspense.
Guess Again is gripping, unpredictable, and packed with twists that had me questioning everything-and everyone.
The dual timelines, the emotional depth, and the cold-case mystery were all executed flawlessly.
One of my favorite parts? The short, snappy chapters.
They kept the story moving at lightning speed and made it impossible to stop reading. ("Just one more chapter" turned into the whole book!)
It's smart, twisty, and full of that signature Donlea intensity-perfect for fans of true crime podcasts, cold cases, and jaw-dropping reveals.
Drop your schedule, youre gonna love this!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This is a standout thriller of the year for me, no question.
I don't want to share the blurp cause I feel it gives away too much, just go into it blind like I did haha!!!!

Guess Again was such a ride! Charlie Donlea knows how to keep you guessing until the very last page. The twists were smart, the pacing was perfect, and I couldn’t put it down. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something new hit me. If you love thrillers that mess with your mind in the best way, this one’s a must-read!

This was a wild ride. Police procedural meets pulse pounding thriller. Clever, twisty, and a bit dark. It’s everything you want to keep the pages turning.

The title reflects the reading experience. You will be guessing until the final page. The characters are well developed and I really enjoyed learning about the protagonist, Ethan.

This has become a must read author for me, and Charlie Donlea should be must read for you too. This book will not disappoint. 10/10.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. I will be picking up a copy to have on my shelf.

I went in to this with the highest of expectations and was worried that I would be let down but thankfully that was not the case. I had recently experienced the author for the first time with one of his recent releases on audiobook but this thriller was very different in how it was presented.

I’m sure it’ll be hit or miss with some folks because of the very short chapters but for me it worked well. Being able to follow along with the date helped build som wood the suspense knowing that for certain things the clock was ticking.

Now personally I figured out the twists ahead of time except 1 of them but it didn’t impact my enjoyment. I liked the medical angle of things as well as ai haven’t been enjoying police/detective procedural thrillers but the atypical situation presented with our “detective” made be able to enjoy the investigation. The book as a whole actually dipped into several different genres so think it can be enjoyed by a wide audience.

It comes out July 29th from Kensington Books.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary physical ARC from Kensington Publishing to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as so don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again.

Charlie Donlea never fails to entertain! I’m a big fan of his work. His characters are always perfect for each story. But he has a real talent for creating twists and pretty much blowing up your whole world by the end. This one was a little different because we already knew who the bad guy was from the beginning. Or did we?… Forget about everything you think you know with this one! There were a lot of twists and turns in this story, but the ONE toward the end? I’m a writer and I didn’t even see that one coming! I generally don’t mind if I’m right or wrong with guessing the ending. Being right is pretty satisfying because it means I was able to follow all the clues. This happens more often than not. But being wrong is fun too because it means the writing was so good that I never saw the end coming. In this case, it was a little of both. When you get to the end, you’ll see what I mean! This one was a page turner from the very beginning and I almost wish I could read it for the first time again! I’d you’ve never read anything by Donlea, I highly recommend you buy everything he’s written. I only have a handful of auto buys, but Donlea is one of them!

Huge thanks to Kensington Publishing | Kensington and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

This book had so many twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting in the least. I like how the storyline let you keep thinking about what might happen and then boom. Would definitely recommend this book!

Charlie Donlea’s Guess Again delivers the kind of dark, layered mystery that fans of small-town thrillers will devour in one sitting. Centered around the decade-old disappearance of 17-year-old Callie Jones, the story plunges readers back into the haunting quiet of Cherryview, Wisconsin, as long-buried secrets threaten to resurface.

The novel follows Ethan Hall, a former detective now working as an ER doctor, who’s reluctantly pulled back into the case by his dying former partner. Ethan’s return to his investigative roots adds a gritty, emotional edge to the narrative, especially as he confronts both the trauma of his past and the haunting weight of Callie’s unsolved disappearance.

Donlea shines in building suspense and atmosphere. The oppressive summer heat, the town’s collective unease, and the steady unraveling of twisted secrets all contribute to a slow-burn intensity that builds toward a satisfying, if unsettling, climax. The psychological undercurrents—especially the ties to Ethan’s own history—add depth to what could have been a straightforward cold case revival.

Why not five stars? While the pacing keeps tension high, some of Ethan’s unconventional investigative leaps stretch believability, and a few characters felt more like plot devices than fully realized individuals. Still, Donlea pulls it off with sharp prose and enough twists to keep readers second-guessing their assumptions until the final chapters.

Guess Again is a smart, suspenseful read—perfect for fans of atmospheric crime fiction and those who enjoy a good puzzle wrapped in psychological tension.

Guess Again is possibly Donlea's best book and has a jaw-dropping twist - a definite "WHAT?!?" moment.

"Ethan Hall was a detective with a hundred percent close rate. He left law enforcement for med school to escape the horrors of the kid crime division. Now he's an ER doc helping people. His old partner wants him to look into a cold case - one of a missing girl - a high school volleyball player who disappeared and was never found. Now her father is the governor and is hoping to reopen the case. Ethan has no idea how his life will collide with the case...and the horror that is waiting for him."

Donlea takes you for a wild ride. He's trying to find answers for a ten-year-old cold case and also trying to help keep his father's killer behind bars. You think (as a reader) "I've read thrillers and crime fiction and watched crime shows - I know how this will go. But don't look for the expected outcomes in this book. Donlea is going with his own brand of crazy twists. You will not see them coming.

This is a fast-paced read - Good luck putting it down. There's no cliffhanger but there is a setup for another book. How long do we have to wait, Mr. Donlea?

Thriller fans should get this book as soon as it comes out. Great summer thriller from Donlea. All the stars.

I've been a fan of Donlea's books for a few years now and this one hit it out of the park for me. By far my favorite book from this author.

This book sucked me in from the first chapter and I was on the edge of my seat till the last page. I literally was guessing where this story was going and was mind blown!

There are so many twists and turns, you really are gonna need some popcorn for this one!

5/5 amazing stars!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I am a huge fan of Donlea’s books and this is no exception. What starts out as a slow burn, it quickly takes off and is action packed towards the end. I was constantly trying to solve the case even before Ethan could. Loved the characters in this book and the way the missing person case is explained and unfolds. Packed with suspense, I found it hard to put this book down and was reading it every spare minute I had. Great read!

Ten years ago- 17 year old volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her lake community and hasn't been seen since. This book opens with a bang! I've read several by Charlie Donlea and loved them all. I was thrilled to get an early copy of this and it did not disappoint. I gave this five stars and loved every minute of it.

Oh. My. GOD. I just cannot. I couldn’t put it down, I couldn’t think of anything else, and I just could have never guessed the twist.

I’m stunned at great this book was- for the first time in a long time, I didn’t guess what was going to happen, and I couldn’t figure out where it was going.

Serial killers, jealousy, red herrings, murder, it’s all here. Best thriller in a LONG time. Bravo!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC and privilege of reviewing this book!

Thank you Charlie Donlea and @kensingtonbooks for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! #guessagainmugshot

One of my all-time favorite thriller/mysteries is Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea, so I was beyond excited (and honored!) to get an early copy of his latest book, Guess Again. I love a good Donlea mystery—his books are always packed with clues, high-stakes twists, and fast-paced action.

This book is told through multiple points of view, which was both a highlight and a slight challenge for me. I found myself a bit confused during the first half, but that kept me invested and determined to figure out how all of the threads connected. One of the plot connections toward the end did feel just a tinsy bit far-fetched, but overall, I really enjoyed the storyline!

Donlea has a talent for creating gripping mysteries filled with such suspense and intensity that makes it nearly impossible to put the book down.

Read if you like:
-Multiple POVs (including detectives and criminals)
-Super short chapters
-Fast-paced action scenes
-Multiple interwoven plot points

Charlie has done it again! I just love this author’s style of writing. It’s twisty and dark and impossible to put down. I don’t want to spoil at all so I’ll just say if you love this genre, Charlie’s books, including this one, are must reads.

This is my least favorite Donlea book. Usually I can't put his books down, but this one didn't work for me.