My first Charlie Donlea book and it certainly won't be my last. The pace and the twisty plot were perfection 👌

I’ve been a fan of Charlie Donlea’s books for some time now, and “Guess Again” does not disappoint. It’s a tense thriller with some nasty twists, particularly towards the end.

Ten years ago a teenage girl, Callie Jones, disappeared, with no sign of her or of what happened to her ever found. Her father has now become politically powerful, and wants the case reopened. He’s pressuring Ethan Hall to take on the investigation.

Ethan is an emergency doctor, but in a previous life he worked in law enforcement, with a 100% solve rate. He’s reluctant to return to that world, which he left burnt out and depressed. But pressured by his old partner and offered inducements by Callie’s father, he eventually agrees.
It soon seems that Callie’s disappearance has a link to the worst part of his past, and before long his investigation is as much psychological game as re-examining the evidence.

One of the things I really enjoy about Donlea’s novels is his plots. They draw you in instantly, and keep you engaged on every page. Here there are multiple strands to interest the reader: what happened to Callie, of course, but also what happened in Ethan’s past, and the current investigation. There were ups and downs and exciting moments aplenty and I just kept reading, wanting to know what happened next.

Yes, there were a few predictable plot moments. But as always, Donlea both keeps the tension high regardless, and saves a few nasty twists to keep you off balance. He subtly misleads you – partly because he’s thrown in just enough predictable moments that you think you know where the plot is going, and you’re wrong – but also has some really original moments. I was completely engaged and riveted to read the solution.

If there’s a weakness here, it’s that some of the peripheral characters aren’t well fleshed out and feel shallow. However, the central characters are well rounded and will generate strong emotions – whether it’s support, revulsion, or suspicion. I’m not sure that it really matters that some walk on characters don’t feel as real.

Every one of Donlea’s novels that I’ve read to date has been clearly a stand alone. This is the first I’ve read where I thought “there could be a sequel in that”. Sure, the important things here are resolved, and Donlea could leave it right here with no problems. But there’s also a possible path to a sequel, and it will be interesting to see if Donlea produces one. I’d certainly read it if he writes it!

It should be pretty clear, but let’s say it anyway: I recommend this highly to both thriller and crime readers. The plot is complex but easy to follow as it unwinds, and pretty much every reader is likely to be surprised by at least one twist. It’s an absorbing and highly satisfying read.

I WILL PUBLISH THIS REVIEW CLOSER TO PUBLICATION DATE AND WILL RETURN TO ADD LINKS THEN. Thank you.

Charlie is one of my alltime favorite thriller writers. This was absolutely such a standout. It gripped me right off the bat and never let me go until the end. Filled with twists and turns. The short snippy chapters just kept me saying just one more. Such a good thrilling ride.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Guess Again!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🌪️ love a twisty mystery
🔀 have ever switched career paths
🕵🏻‍♀️ ever dated a detective
🤥 are a great liar

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Ten years ago, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community. A highly publicized search followed but her body was never found. The case went cold, but the echoes still linger.

Ethan Hall, a former renegade detective turned ER doctor, 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 Kramer, makes a desperate request. Pete is the veteran detective who originally investigated the case. Now he’s dying, and to ease his conscience and get closure for the Jones family, he needs Ethan to return to the haunting work he left behind—and solve what happened to Callie, once and for all.

Word soon spreads and everyone in the small town of Cherryview feels a rush of hope that answers will finally be found. Amid a sweltering heatwave, Ethan’s investigation gains momentum, but reexamining old evidence won’t be enough. He needs a new way into the case, no matter how dangerous or unconventional. And it comes from the least likely of sources—an inmate in a maximum-security prison. 

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.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Another fantastic mystery with tons of twists and turns that I simply never saw coming! The one concerning Ethan’s dad? What?! I love how Donlea takes two (seemingly) different cases and connects them in a coherent and meaningful way. It always astounds me. This was a fast paced read with short chapters, which I love. You’ll find yourself second guessing who’s who often as the story goes on, and in the end, I hope you’ll find yourself as pleasantly surprised as I did with the amount of twists! Definitely add this one to your wishlist or preorder it now!

I loved this suspenseful mystery about a decade year old crime that gets reopened. Even though there were a lot of different characters and minor plot lines, they all came together in a dark, twisted way. And the surprise ending that I did not see coming made my jaw drop!! The author has set this up to be a series which I look forward to reading more of!

'Guess Again' - Publication date 29th July 2025.

After reading "Twenty Years Later' by Charlie Donlea, I immediately added him to my 'must-read' author list. So when I saw 'Guess Again' available for ARC review, I grabbed the chance to read it...and I'm happy to say I was not disappointed at all!

The plot tells the story of retired policeman Ethan Hall. After experiencing burnout at his stressful job, Ethan makes a drastic career change, ironically to another hectic job, that of an ER doctor. He spends his free time with his girlfriend and closest friend, finally achieving some semblance of peace in his life, especially after the brutal murder of his father.. This all comes crashing down when his old partner asks him to reinvestigate the case of teenager Callie Jones, who disappeared a decade ago. Told from multiple POVs, and set both in the past and present, readers are taken on a twisty and thrilling ride as Ethan's hard-earned peace is shattered, endangering the lives of the people he cares most about.

I can honestly say I have not read a psychological thriller that I enjoyed so much in a long while. This novel started with a bang and ended with a bang. I was engrossed from beginning to end, there were no lulls or moments where the writing felt like filler. Donlea used techniques such as flashbacks perfectly, allowing for a natural sense of mystery between chapters. Narrated in the third person, the multiple points of view gave a well-rounded story, even those coming from the antagonists. But what sold this book for me - those twists! Those turns! It is so rare for me to be caught off-guard with thrillers, as they are oftentimes very formulaic. However, every time I thought I knew where the plot was taking me, I had to - GUESS AGAIN.

Honestly, I had no issues with this one. Donlea continues to show me why he captivated me from the first moment. 5 stars all around!

*A great many thanks to Kensington Books, Charlie Donlea, and NetGalley for this ARC. It is important to note that I was not committed to providing a positive review; all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*

AMAZING. There's such an engaging and exciting web that Charlie Donlea weaves. It leaves you wanting more and more!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I can't believe I read this in two days! I barely accomplished anything else because I couldn't put it down,

I am thoroughly wrung out from being on the edge of my seat, hoping my favorite characters are still alive at the end. Charlie Donlea is one of those great story tellers who get you to care about the people in his books. I appreciate that degree of characterization. It's definitely top of the line!

The story was a masterpiece of carefully plotted suspense that had as many twists and turns as a roller coaster!

**GUESS AGAIN**
By Charlie Donlea
Release Date: 07/29/2025

I haven’t read a Charlie Donlea book below 5🌟s yet. This novel was phenomenal! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
In 2015, 17-year-old Callie Jones, the mayor's daughter, was a star volleyball player who had been accepted early into medical school. She was also juggling her chaotic home life while secretly dating her coach. One summer night, during a lake party, Callie went missing and was never seen again.

Serial killer Francis Bernard has been accused of her murder, but he is currently serving time in a maximum-security prison for another crime in the present day. Ethan, a former child crime detective who has since become an ER physician, left the force due to trauma from his job but is asked to return to reopen Callie Jones's case.
The dynamic between Ethan and Francis is tense—their chapters were my favorites in the book.

Eugenia Morgan has more issues than Vogue. (See the #2 picture in my post.) There's no need to elaborate on that.

This book alternates between the past and the present and is told from different points of view. I read it in one sitting without moving once. It was so good! 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars.

{Side Note ~ this book needs a sequel!
If anyone agrees, drop me a comment !! }

#chaliedonlea #kensingtonbooks #donleasdetectives #guessagainbook #thrillerreads #pageturner #bookrecommendations #2025bookreview
#netgalley

A psychological thriller with a great storyline that is steeped in suspense. Definitely delivers with the title..Guess Again! The last half of the book was fast paced and kept me up until I consumed the whole novel! The only drawback for me was there was a few too many "it just so happens" in the characterization. Overall pretty good! Will read this author again. #guessagain #charliedonlea #netgalley #goodreads

Another fantastic release by Charlie Donlea. I was hooked from from the very first page and the momentum did not let up. Very addictive read that pulls you in and doesn't let go . With a twist you never see coming!! Highly recommend this awesome thriller.

I had the amazing pleasure of reading an ARC copy of Guess Again by Charlie Donlea. Ethan Hall used to be an investigator with the Division of Criminial Investigation and had a 100% success rate of solving the crimes he was assigned to . He had a change of heart to keep from losing his faith in humanity. He changed professions and decided to become an ER Doctor. His past creeps back up on him in the form of a visit from his old partner, Pete, whom he has been estranged from due to his change of career. Pete and the current governor Mark Jones are seeking Ethan‘s help to find his daughter Callie, who has been missing for over 10 years. Ethan’s decision to help catapults him into a web of not only Callie’s life but his own past as well. His father was a police officer killed in the line of duty and Ethan has made it a point to make sure that his killer remains in prison for the rest of his life. But his father’s killer Francis has an entirely different plan and has created a web for Ethan and his only living victim that escaped Maddie Jacobson who happens to be Ethan’s girlfriend. It’s when Ethan realizes that Francis has information about a current missing woman that things get even more interesting and twisted. How is it possible that Francis is connected with a kidnapping that is happening while he is already in prison? Now has Ethan lost the upper hand with Francis or will he able to solve these cases of the missing women?
This book was really good. I was definitely reading for hours and the plot twist was perfect as well as unexpected! I hope to get my hands on the next ARC! Charlie Donlea is a go to for mystery thrillers and honestly never disappoints. I have loved every book! Thank you to the author as well as Net Galley for this privilege of reading in exchange for an honest review.

Charlie Donlea never disappoints. The book starts off strong and wraps you in right away. Ethan Hall is a former detective turned ER doctor asked by the Governor to investigate the 10 year old case of his missing daughter, Callie Jones. With an offer of having his student loans forgiven, Ethan Hall reluctantly agrees to take on the case. At the same time, his father’s killer/potential serial killer Francis Bernard may be free on parole.
This book was a little different from the author’s previous works. There was not as much past flashback chapters and I didn’t recognize anyone from his previous novels. I still really enjoyed reading this one and following the case from start to finish. I loved how everything came together in the end witj a few twists thrown in there. I don’t want to spoil anything, but one of them I didn’t see coming! I felt the end did drag a little, but this is still a great book you will not want to put down.

Charlie Donlea returns with another gripping thriller featuring compelling characters and expertly crafted plot twists.

Ethan Hall left his career as a detective to become an Emergency Room doctor. However, when the governor asks him to investigate the cold case disappearance of his missing daughter, Ethan feels compelled to accept. It’s not selfless; there is a troubling connection between the suspect and his father's death he wants to solve. As he delves into the reopened cold case, he becomes ensnared in a sinister mind game that takes readers on a darkly intense journey.

In typical Donlea fashion, the book has unexpected twists and turns slowly revealed throughout. The buildup is great and creates plenty of tension, and fans of the author’s work will be happy with his latest.

Guess Again was a great story that wrapped up nicely. It jumped around a little too much with its super short chapters. This was my first book by Charlie Donlea but it won’t be my last.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Guess Again by Charlie Donlea due to be published July 29, 2025.

Ten years ago, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community, and her body was never found. On the tenth anniversary of Callie’s disappearance, Pete Kramer asks his former partner turned ER doctor to help solve her case. Will he be able to solve it after all this time?

Oh, my, this was a great thriller – fast paced with back-and-forth timelines to keep you guessing who was partners with whom – good guys or bad guys! And the twists – enough to keep my interest the entire time. It was a fantastic read!
#NetGalley #CharlieDonlea #KensingtonPublishing #GuessAgain

WOW now this was a thriller! I loved the heart racing moments and honestly it kept twisting in the best ways. So many different ways this book could have gone and it didn't go the way I guessed, which is also my favorite! This was such a great book to get me out of my thriller slump. I can't wait to read the rest of Charlie Donlea's catalog. I'll always remember the genuine, true thrill I felt while reading Guess Again.

Guess Again💠
By Charlie Donlea‼️

Review📝

The book gods blessed me with an advance copy of this, which I devoured as quickly as I could. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this book is perfect. My favorite thriller of the year, by far. I couldn't put the book down since it was so engrossing and fast-paced! I loved how the two timelines shifted back and forth. The story, characters, and overall plot were fantastic. Don't even get me started on the twists—they were amazing. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Mystery⁉️
Thriller🔪
Plot twists🌀
Murder🩸
Dual timelines⏰

5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The whiplash from page one to page two set the tone of this book- I knew I was in for an absolute ride.

I love Donlea’s writing style and I love that I’m guaranteed a twisty story with super likeable characters.

I just know that this story isn’t over, so I can’t wait to see what happens with Ethan, Maddie, and Francis next!

This is the second novel by Charles Donlea that I’ve read and, just like the other one, it did not disappoint.

Ethan Hall is a retired detective turned doctor. As a favor to the governor and his old partner he agrees to help with the 10 year unsolved disappearance of the governor’s daughter Callie Jones. The stakes are raised when this case and trauma from his past collide.

With plenty of twists and turns, Guess Again stayed true to its name by keeping me guessing until the end. Just when I thought things were wrapping up, he throws one last curveball.

This fast-paced thriller is a must read for anyone who enjoys the genre. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.