A man in solitary confinement for killing a police officer escaped prison. How does he do this with help from the an accomplice. He’s a murder but at what stake will he go to get back to killing young women. This book you think has twists and turns because what starts out as the reopening of a 10 year long missing girls cold case leads to a prisoner in solitary confinement escaping. This book will keep you on your toes and locked in.

Absolutely devoured this one!
Charlie Donlea does not miss. Guess Again pulled me in right from the start and didn't let go. The twists were so good-l thought I had it figured out a few times but nope, totally wrong (in the best way).
The pacing was perfect, and the characters felt real without being overdone. I love how he builds suspense without it feeling too heavy. It kept me on edge but still fun to read. This one's definitely staying with me for a while. So if you think you've got it figured out- Guess Again
Thank you #NetGalley for this #ARC of the #GuessAgain

5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of Guess Again.

Ethan is working as an ER physician when he gets a surprise visit from his old partner Pete, they were detectives together before Ethan decided that he needed a change. Pete is sick and he needs a favor, a case from ten years ago has been haunting him and he wants Ethan to solve it. Ten years ago teenager Callie Jones vanished and no clues have ever turned up in her case. Her father is now the governor and would like to use his resources to try to get answers. Ethan agrees and he starts to investigate he is shocked to learn how twisted the case is.

This book had me absolutely on the edge of my seat until the very end. I was truly and honestly shocked by the twists and turns this story took! This is the way to do a mystery/thriller read!

4.5-Star Review for Guess Again

Guess Again was riveting right from the start—I was hooked immediately and could not put this book down! The twists kept coming, and just when I thought I had it figured out, the story took another unexpected turn. The pacing was spot-on, and the suspense never let up. A thoroughly gripping read that had me turning pages late into the night. Highly recommend for fans of thrillers who love a story that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Where and what happened to Callie Jones. She went missing between her junior and senior years of high school. Meet Ethan, who is now an ER doctor at a hospital after retiring from investigative work. He is asked by the governor and Callie's dad and an old friend to reopen the case. He meets with Francis who is a prison for killing Ethan's father over 30 years ago. You will also begin to wonder who the mysterious black haired woman is and what she has to do with everything. Once again, Charlie delivers with another great thriller!

Wow! What a ride! This book was packed with action, and I loved every minute of it. The fast-paced, twisty plot and short chapters made it an addictive read. I could not put it down. I usually roll my eyes when someone says a book is jaw-dropping, but this ending truly had my jaw on the floor. I've already recommended it to a friend. I can’t wait to read more from this author! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review: *Guess Again* by Charlie Donlea

Absolutely thrilling from start to finish! Guess Again had me hooked with its twists, sharp pacing, and gripping suspense. I was FLOORED at the ending and would have NEVER guessed it! Completely blown away!! One of those rare thrillers that keeps you second-guessing everything until the final page. I absolutely loved it!

Huge thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Guess Again by Charlie Donalea is another twisty thriller that I was unable to put down. I have read a few of his novels now and they are all a great rollercoaster ride. His books have all been gripping from start to finish with characters that I liked and cheered for. Every time I thought I had things figured out there was a new twist to leave me guessing.
Ethan is now a doctor who is trying to get away from his past as a detective who had a 100% success rate catching the culprits involved in crimes against children. While he was able to put away the criminals he could never help the victims except by getting the families justice.
Life for him and his girlfriend, a victim that escaped from a serial killer is good until he is asked by the governor to help solve a cold case involving his daughter that disappeared without a trace. His life is turned upside down as he unravels connections amongst his own past and the characters involved.
If you haven't read any of Charlie Donalea's books you need to add them to your tbr list, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.goodreads

FIVE STAR READ ALERT

To say I’m a fan of thrillers is a gross understatement. I’ve read books from nearly every author considered to be at the top of the genre.

With many of these heavy-hitters, the drama, suspense, and chills often don’t kick in until halfway—or even three-quarters—through the book. And honestly, that’s fine. Some thrillers earn their impact through a slow, tension-filled burn.

But I say all of this because Charlie Donlea’s newest release, Guess Again, doesn’t wait around. It launches straight into heart-pounding action that’s impossible to look away from. My pulse was racing from the start, and I felt that all-consuming urge to KEEP. READING. Every distraction pulled me away like it was a personal offense—I had to know how it all ended.

And what an ending! Just when I thought the final twist had landed, another bombshell dropped—and then another. I didn’t want to put it down for a second, and the moment I finished, I wanted to immediately start over knowing what I now know. I’m already planning to revisit this one, possibly through the audiobook when it’s released.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea hits shelves on July 29th from Kensington Publishers. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the chance to take this wild, chilling ride in exchange for an honest review.

GUESS AGAIN - This is an enjoyable, immersing read with good characters and interesting story lines. I had a hard time putting this book down since it was so intriguing. Some things were predictable but there was an unexpected kicker. Good pace and good dialog. Well done. Source: Netgalley. 5*

This was my first time reading a Charlie Donlea novel, and I was excited to dive in after hearing so much praise for his other work. From beginning to end, the mystery was impressively well-crafted. I had no idea how the story would bridge the gap between Francis Bernard—a convicted cop killer imprisoned for 32 years—and the case of the missing girl, but the way it all unfolded was incredibly satisfying. I would’ve liked a bit more depth to Maddie’s backstory, but overall, the characters were likable and easy to root for. The real highlight, though, was the final twist—I absolutely did not see it coming.

Another twisty thriller from Charlie Donlea! A few twists in here that truly had my jaw on the floor. Love his novels - especially loved the setting in Wisconsin in this one!

“How do I know all of this? I’m stuck in a cell 24 hours a day with no access to the outside world. But you see, the guards here offer certain information in exchange for… 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘴. Sometimes those favors leave a bad taste in my mouth, but this last time was worth it.”

In short: I can always count on Charlie Donlea (@charliedonlea) to yank me out of a reading slump. This is one you won’t want to miss!

My initial thoughts were WTG Ethan Hall…this guy had a whole career as a Special Agent/detective with a 100% solve rate and then at 36 years old he goes to med school because he was burnt out with all of the crimes against children he saw on a daily basis.

This book sucked me in right away, I love Charlie Donlea’s writing. I don’t know what it is, his writing is just so captivating and all consuming.

He also effortlessly nailed the time jumps from before & after Callie Jones went missing.

I enjoyed the Billy Joel “Piano Man” reference…clever way to tell time 😉

This book was such a blast, although it had a lot of moving parts everything knit together seamlessly.

I’m more of a standalone book person BUT I would love to see more from Ethan and more from Francis if Charlie makes this a series. There was so many good villains and people you couldn’t really trust. The characters were all perfect in their designated roles and I absolutely loved rooting for Ethan and Maddie.

I 100% recommend this one…it’s a perfect pare turning thriller. Charlie Donlea has earned himself a spot on my #autobuy author list.

New To Me Vocab: Hybristophilia (attraction to a criminal offender).

I LIKED but didn’t LOVE this latest offering from Charlie Donlea, and I think that is because of the style the book is written in. The story jumps around A LOT, with short chapters that always list the DATE and the Wisconsin location that the chapter takes place in, moving from PAST to PRESENT and LOCATION TO LOCATION at will. While the dates are important, I feel like the locations bogged down the pace and were not a necessary detail.

It just felt TOO BUSY.

By the second half, I got into the swing of things, and the pace picked up. It was interesting to discover the role that each of the characters would play, and I enjoyed all of the shocking twists, EXCEPT FOR ONE.

It would appear from the denouement, that Ethan Hall, may have to put his career in medicine on hold-as a sequel just MIGHT be in the works. While, I did find this story entertaining enough to read a second book with these characters, should the author choose to go there, I prefer stand-alone books to series, so I am okay if the story ends here as well.

Think this is another run of the mill thriller?

<b>GUESS AGAIN</b>

Charlie Donlea spins another startling story! His writing shows a knack for building momentum at a breakneck pace while the revelations keep the plot fresh making for a propulsive reading experience.

Ethan Hall is a successful detective turned ER physician. He retired from the force to preserve his mental health and attended medical school. His former partner Pete makes a dying request Ethan can't turn down. Pete asks Ethan to pit his 100% solve rate against a haunting cold case. A decade ago, 17-year-old Callie Jones was last seen driving away in her family's boat. Small town Cherryville, Wisconsin hasn't been the same since. Callie's father is the new governor willing to put his clout behind the investigation. The biggest break in the case comes from an unlikely source proving nothing is as it seems.

Smart and intricately woven together this is an addictive read! It may sound cliche, but it is unputdownable. I can't imagine the number of notes necessary to have kept this story straight during the writing process. I imagine one of those white boards with strings attaching the different plot threads. The narrative switches from past to present and different perspectives. The short punchy chapters make the back and forth easier to roll with. It did take me a bit to acclimate to the layout. The editing was fantastic nothing felt extraneous. It is A LOT to track but so worth it! The ending leaves an opening for a sequel which I usually don't like in thrillers BUT in this case, I would dive back in.

Twisted and riveting <i>Guess Again</i> is a must read for thriller fans.

*Sensitive readers be aware that this novel is full of dark content.*

Thank you to Kensington Publishing for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Guess Again had me in full detective mode, convinced I was piecing everything together right up until Charlie Donlea pulled the rug out from under me. Again. This book is like a masterclass in misdirection, with just the right balance of chilling twists, layered characters, and that signature slow burn suspense that keeps you flipping every page while telling yourself ‘just one more chapter’ (spoiler: liessss). This book is seriously impossible to put down until you’ve reached the last page. TLDR: Charlie does it again, and I’ll never learn. Bravo 👏

Guess Again releases July 29th.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is a medical drama thriller chock full of action and constant motion. Ethan had been a criminal investigator but decided to become an ER doctor. He thrived on chaos. When approached by the governor to help solve a cold case as Ethan's crime solving success rate was 100%, he was reluctant. But his skillset made sense so he agreed, especially as it meant teaming up with his former colleague, Pete, who suffered from ALS. The cold case intertwined with a missing woman in the present. To add another layer of interest, a woman fell in love with a male prisoner who wasn't exactly upstanding. A lot was going on but it did not feel over the top.

Some of the story was predictable, some was not. It was definitely a page turner but it didn't grab me emotionally. The characters didn't, either. For some reason, I didn't feel invested or absorbed. However, I did enjoy the ending.

A ten year old case of a missing teen is reopened and an ex-detective takes the case. While visiting a dangerous murderer in prison, it seems there’s a connection but how?

This author has never done me wrong so I
was excited to read this one. It’s a page turner that you won’t be able to put down. At first I was thinking that I had it figured out and would be predictable. I don’t know why I even thought that because of course it wasn’t! Total red herring! I never would have been able to figure it out, although it all made sense and all the pieces fit together. There’s room for a sequel, despite closure to the story.

“Months of planning had shrunk to weeks. Weeks to days. And now mere hours stood in the way of their new beginning together.”

Guess Again comes out 7/29.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read Guess Again by Charlie Donlea.

This story is a multi-dimensional tale with a variety of interesting characters.
Th story reminds me of a kaleidoscope with varying pieces that come together to create a pattern. When the kaleidoscope twists, the pieces scatter to form a new pattern. The twisting and turning of events and personalities in this story keeps the reader totally engaged.

Guess Again is the perfect title because that is exactly what the reader does throughout the entire story. I have read all of Charlie Donlea’s books and this one is my favorite. It is a wonderfully compelling thriller.

My first book by this author but hope to read more! This was hard to put down, drew me right in and was a great way to pass the day on the beach!