Guess Again by Charlie Donlea
4.6⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up to a 5)
Spice: 0.3/5
Cursing: little
Format/Source: ebook & paperback ARC from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley
Genres/Tropes: Thriller, twisty, serial killer
Audience: Adult
Setting: Wisconsin
Characters: Callie, Ethan, Pete, Francis, Maddie, Lindsay, Blake, Christian, Eugenia, Harriet, Kai
👍 short chapters, multi POV, twists, medical staff rep, volleyball rep, little cursing, psych rep
👎 multi time frames

Description:
Ten years ago, 17 yo high school volleyball star Callie vanished. A highly publicized search followed, but her body was never found.
Ethan, a former detective turned ER doc, left law enforcement to escape the horrors of the kid crime division. But on the tenth anniversary of Callie’s disappearance, his former partner, Pete, makes a desperate request. He needs Ethan to return to the haunting work he left behind—and solve what happened to Callie once and for all.
Soon Ethan’s methods draw him deeper into a twisted psychological game. Because there is much more to the nightmare of Callie’s disappearance than he imagined, including a connection with his own dark past... and secrets that are still worth killing for.

Opinion:
Charlie pens another twist-filled thriller ride of a novel with intriguing characters. The very short chapters and multiple POV made for a brisk read. I always enjoy a novel with characters that work in the medical field, as do Ethan and Lindsay. The psychological rep and learning about hybristophilia was a fantastic addition to the book. I also loved reading female characters who are fabulous at volleyball. The very little cursing was awesome. The twists were unexpected, and some were quite shocking. I was thoroughly entertained by this story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys twisty thriller novels.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #thrillerbooks #twisty #booktok #charliedonlea #guessagainbook #donleasderectives
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea doesn’t just check all the boxes for a great thriller—it absolutely nails them. I LOVED this book! With short, punchy chapters, and an ending twist I never saw coming, it was impossible to put down. I flew through it in just a couple of sittings, completely hooked from page one.

Set against the haunting backdrop of a small Wisconsin town still shaken by the decade-old disappearance of 17-year-old Callie Jones, this story pulls you in with an eerie, slow-burn tension that builds relentlessly. The plot follows Ethan Hall, a former detective-turned-ER doctor, who’s pulled back into the case by his dying ex-partner. What begins as a reluctant favor turns into a full-blown obsession as Ethan uncovers layers of secrets, lies, and chilling connections to his own past.

Charlie Donlea does what he does best here: he keeps you guessing, keeps you thinking, and then pulls the rug out from under you in the most satisfying way. The alternating timelines give the story depth and momentum, while the short chapters make it incredibly bingeable. And just when you think you have it figured out? Guess again. You won’t.

The tension, the pacing, the complexity of the characters—everything about this book worked for me. It’s the perfect blend of police procedural, psychological thriller, and small-town mystery. If you're a fan of twisty, atmospheric thrillers that keep you up way too late, this one’s for you.

When Guess Again hits shelves on July 29th, RUN—don’t walk—to get your copy. It's that good.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

This was a fast paced read with short chapters that I devoured quickly! So many twists and just when you think you know, another curveball hits you! The characters were well developed. I could not put this down! Great read!!

Thank you to Charlie Donlea and Kensington Press for the ARC! What an honor to be a part of #DonleasDetectives!

Ten years ago, 17 year old Callie Jones vanished from her small Wisconsin lake community. The case went old, but a new development causes lead detective Pete Kramer to take one last look at things. With own future looking grim, Pete turns to his former partner, Ethan Hall for help. Ethan walked away from law enforcement and became an ER physician, but something about the case draws him back in. Before long, Ethan is invested and finding clues in the unlikeliest of places.

I love Charlie Donlea’s books, but this one may be my new favorite! The plot immediately drew me in and I read almost the entire first half in one sitting. I just couldn’t put this one down! Told over dual timelines, with multiple points of view, there are quite a few characters but it was easy to keep them straight. Each person played a role in the mystery surrounding Callie’s disappearance. But my favorite character was Ethan; he was unique and relatable in so many ways. I really found his situation captivating - how he left the police department to go into medicine - but then found himself pulled back in - and he was still great at it too!

There were a lot of moving parts but my gosh did it all come together beautifully, including a twist that made me “guess again”! This was easily my favorite read so far this year and I truly hope there is more to Ethan’s story!

”Guess Again” releases July 22, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

GUESS AGAIN
By Charlie Donlea

I discovered Charlie Donlea’s writing a few years ago and have really enjoyed his books ever since. Guess Again is no exception—it’s another gripping, fast-paced psychological suspense and crime thriller. This will have you turning pages nonstop, thanks to its short, punchy chapters that encourage “just one more.” The title Guess Again couldn’t be more fitting, with countless red herrings that will have you second-guessing at every turn. Some books are best experienced without knowing too much going in—and this is definitely one of them.

Ethan Hall, a former detective turned doctor, is approached by his old partner to solve the decade-old cold case of 17-year-old Callie Jones—the governor’s missing daughter. Things quickly spiral, pulling Ethan deeper into a twisted nightmare.

Donlea saves major reveals for the final chapters, leading to a satisfying conclusion and beginning of a possible series. I like his straightforward style of writing that makes for an easy and fast read. I look forward to reading more of his books and I’m always excited to see what he does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC ebook. Publishing on July 29, 2025

Wow! This book was amazing. Loved the short chapters, such a quick read. Did NOT see the final twist coming but was 100% plausible. Will definitely recommend to others and think this will be a must read for the year.

So good. I’m going to need a follow up to this book and I’m also going to need to read more by Charlie Donlea. I loved Ethan, and I need closure for him! This was so good. I love the short chapters and it was so fast paced! It was easy to sit down and get caught up in everything going on in the story.

This is my first Charlie Donlea book and I loved it. A fast paced crime thriller with great twists. Loved the characters, plot, everything . Will read more from this author. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for ARC.

4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

First of all love Charlie Donlea and this one didn’t disappoint. I was so excited to read it early! This one starts with a bang and ends with a twist! For sure a page turner I was hooked from the first page. The characters were likable and I had to keep reading to find out what happened! Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC!

Guess Again is a twisty, fast-paced cold case thriller with all the hallmarks of a Donlea novel including short chapters, clever misdirection, and a final twist that’ll make your jaw drop. This one follows Ethan Hall, a former detective-turned-ER doc, who gets pulled back into the case that’s haunted a small Wisconsin town for a decade: the disappearance of teen athlete Callie Jones.

The timeline jumps a lot from past to present and town to town which took some getting used to, but once the pace picks up, it’s hard to put down. Ethan is a solid lead, and the emotional hook of reconnecting with a dying former partner adds depth to the procedural beats.

The mystery has plenty of curveballs, maybe one too many, but Donlea keeps you invested until the final page. It’s not quite a five-star read for me, but it’s a solid thriller with serious series potential. I'll continue picking up any book Donlea publishes.

This is actually my first Charlie Donlea book and I wasn’t disappointed. If you’re looking for a fast, entertaining, and at times twisted read, you won’t be disappointed. If plot holes bother you and you can’t look past them, you may not enjoy the book as much. If you’re in it just for thrills, by all means read the book!


Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

This is actually my first book by Charlie Donlea. I have heard really good things about his writing and this book did not disappoint.

I really enjoyed the police procedural side of it, it wasn't too heavy on true police. Procedural, just enough to make it seem believable. The twists and turns throughout this book between different cases that need to be solved and how they intertwined was so well written and very interesting. It took me a little longer than normal to read this book, but not because it wasn't interesting or well written. I love a well-written serial killer or prison trope.

I think the thing that bothered me the most was that this guy, all those smart, spent 10 years as a detective then changed careers to go back to med school and 10 years later he's the head of the ER emergency medicine. Feel like years of med school and residency seem less believable if after 10 years he's already in charge. But I digress.

The characters were interesting and complex. I really did enjoy this book

Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Great book. So fast paced, intriguing characters and a really good ending. I couldn’t put it down and was very sad to come to the end!

I would say this is Charlie Donlea’s best book so far and I look forward to his next.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this advanced reading copy to review.

Seventeen year old Callie Jones vanished and her body was never found making her case go cold. Now the detective who worked the case is dying and begs his old partner, turned doctor, Ethan Hall to investigate. News of his involvement in the case is released and Ethan finds himself in a game of cat and mouse with a serial killer, meanwhile another girl goes missing.
The story grips you from the start and keeps you there until the very last page. The ending blew me away and I was stunned. What a story this was. The twists were surprising and had me glued to the pages. Thanks t netgalley and Kensington Publishers for the chance to review this taunt thriller. Charlie is now a go to author for me.

Charlie Donlea has a gift for writing thrillers that don’t just twist — they turn inside out. Guess Again is razor-sharp, emotionally precise, and unsettling in the best way. It’s not just about who did it — it’s about how easily the truth hides in plain sight when no one’s really looking.

This isn’t your typical popcorn thriller. Sure, it’s got the short chapters, the bingeable pace, the late-night “just one more” pull. But underneath all that is something more sophisticated — a layered exploration of justice, memory, and the slippery nature of truth. Every time I thought I had a handle on where things were going, Donlea pulled the rug out — but never unfairly. Every twist lands for a reason.

I haven't read this intricately woven of a thriller in a long time, I was impressed! I read and enjoyed TWENTY YEARS LATER by Donlea, so I was looking forward to reading another of his books. It took me until about the halfway point to really feel invested in this story, but once all the storylines started merging together, I realized what a smartly written novel it was.

Overall, I think anyone looking for a mystery that has you puzzling to put it together will really enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to reading more of his books!

This book had it all. Mystery, thrill, and intrigue were packed into each page. Told across multiple timeliness, this story will keep you captive from page 1. The ending left me shook.

A must read of the summer!

I mean, it's Charlie Donlea so of course it's a banger!

This is book #9 of his I've read so far and while isn't my new favorite it's still jaw dropping and so good!
(If you're curious about my fave it's 20 Years Later and Summit Lake respectively).

I don't even know what to say without potentially spoiling anything but if you are into cold case mysteries and wild ride thrillers with some heartfelt moments thrown in this book guys!!!

Charlie never fails to surprise me with his endings and this one definitely left it open for a sequel that I'm so excited to get my hands on!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy ! All thoughts are my own.

ARC Review. Thank you so much NetGalley & thank you Charlie Donlea! What an honor

Thrilling, gripping & anxiety inducing. This book had short chapters {which I love} and I read it in a day. It’s so damn good.

The writing is phenomenal and I LOVE the main character development.

A must read for anyone who loves plot twists in multiples, heart pumping cliff hangers, and a genuine classic thrill. I needed processing time after the twists. I never would have guessed all of them. Cudos to that.

This was fantastic! Bravo.

Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7663349294

You got me, Mr Donlea! Never saw that ending coming!

Okay, this book has lots of moving pieces, more than one storyline, and several twists. Told with dual timelines, past vs. present, it's a bit tricky cause you have to pay attention to the dates.

On top of it all, there are a lot of characters, and it isn't always obvious who is pertinent and how they tie into the overall story. More than once, I found myself thinking, "Who is this person again? Oh yeah, now I remember!"

All this to say, pay attention, and the author shall reward you for your due diligence!

Great pacing, keeps your guessing again and again, and could there be another book???? Fingers crossed 🤞

I recommend this one!