Thank you Kensington Books, #partner, for the advanced copy of Guess Again in exchange for my honest review.

Somehow this is only the 4th book I’ve read by Charlie Donlea and really need to change that…I just love his books…especially this latest one. OMG…talk about twisted and binge-worthy! I did a buddy read for this one that was supposed to last a week and we all ended up flying through it in 2 days!!⁣
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This book kept me on my toes the entire time. The cold case trope is a favorite of mine and the way it comes into play here is so masterfully done. Old secrets come to life as this case is dug back into, loyalties are tested, lies that have held for years are uncovered, making you question everything that is revealed.⁣
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The short chapters and shift in timelines propel this story into high gear from the get-go and I found myself constantly switching my guesses. ⁣
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I cannot recommend this one enough! And you better believe I’ll be reading the rest of Donlea’s backlist ASAP!

Loved it. The ending was everything, especially what Francis reveals to Ethan. That had to be the most shocking part of the book. Ethan Hall, detective turned ER doctor turned detective, is the best person to solve the ten year old Callie Jones mystery. Unfortunately, the case also brings him into contact with Francis Bernard. Francis is not only the Black Heart Killer, but he's in prison for killing Ethan's father. There are so many twists and turns and somehow everything comes together. Every time I thought I figured something out, something else happened and everything I believed got turned upside down. I couldn't wait to find out what happened to Callie. Was her disappearance linked to the Black Heart Killer? I never guessed who was behind her disappearance, this person never crossed my mind. When you need to use a prepaid cell phone to hide your relationship, nothing good is going to happen. It was easy to see Francis had ulterior motives and was plotting something. I do not understand his appeal and why people would carry out all his requests. "Eugenia" confused me at first. I guess it's hard to believe more than one woman would be obsessed with Francis. At least Kai's fishing spear was put to good use.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't wait to find out who was behind everything. Loved the story, characters and writing style. I can't wait to find out what's next for Ethan Hall. The next book can't come fast enough. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Charlie Donlea is definitely one of my favorite authors!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea was a psychological thriller, that kept me turning the pages from start to finish. Once a former federal agent now Ethan Hall, is a doctor. Exchanging one nerve wracking job for another. Asked to help solve the case of a missing teenager who's father is now governor of the state, what follows is an amazing read. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing, I am leaving my review voluntarily I gave this book 5 stars even though I can't get that part of this site to work.

Charlie Donlea is one of my all-time favorite thriller writers, and this one did not disappoint! In Guess Again, we follow a former detective turned ER doctor who is brought back to the force to solve a decades old cold case. I loved this premise and especially loved that this was set in Wisconsin as that is where I grew up! I never knew where this book was going to go and while it was a little unbelievable at times, I still flew through it and enjoyed it immensely!

More popcorn thriller than sophisticated crime mystery... which I found disappointing after the high rating and glowing reviews that made me have high expectations. Hype and marketing can work against a good novel, unfortunately.

This was a propulsive page-turner, aided by the fast pace and extremely short chapters. Can't say the same for the writing that was jumbled up at times, or the clumsy storytelling. The reader is also expected to just accept twists, motivations and explanations even when they aren't wholly convincing.

While this was a fun and twisty ride, it just peaked and then went downhill all the way. The more you go along, the more the book relies on cheap tropes and lazy storytelling, including the lame tell-all monologue.

I was expecting a multi-layered, well-crafted and emotional thriller in the vein of Sam Holland, but there's none of that here.

I’ve just finished this book and I’m not sure how I feel about the ending.
The rest of the book, however, was soooo good! Twists I didn’t see coming. Relationships that blind sided me. This book was a constant rollercoaster of suspense and I did not want to stop. There were a few different perspectives. I would have liked if they had been labeled but it didn’t take much reading to figure it out. Past, present, different people. I do enjoy those types of books. Gives it more depth I think.
I also listened to the audiobook version of the along with reading the ebook. The narrator did a good job. I loved how she voiced the different characters.

A former detective turned ER doctor is pulled into a cold case as a personal favor to the Governor, and quickly finds himself deep in a mysterious disappearance that goes far beyond anything he could’ve ever imagined. A cold disappearance becomes a race against the clock to save another, figure out how these cases are related, and keep those closest to him safe.

This book is gripping, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns. I couldn’t put it down. Were there things that felt wildly impossible? Sure… but the pace was fast and the suspense was high. Worth suspending a little belief here and there!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so so so fun.

Guess Again hooked me from page one with its smart plotting and a premise that’s as chilling as it is compelling. The story blends true crime obsession with an investigative edge, pulling me deep into the mystery and making me question every single character.

I loved the layered timelines and how each reveal was doled out just when I thought I had it all figured out. Donlea’s pacing is perfection—tight chapters, just enough detail to sink into the scene, and cliffhanger chapter endings that made “just one more” impossible to stop at.

The characters are well-drawn, and the true crime element felt authentic without being overdone. I especially appreciated the way he tied together the investigative journalism with the personal stakes—it added emotional weight alongside the puzzle-solving.

I’m annoyed when books are left open ended but also- a sequel COULD be fun? MAYBE.
Also. This would be a five star for me but I haaaateee when a reveal/twist is a surprise character we didn’t even know existed. Sillyyyyy.

Whiplash. Another fun Charlie Donlea book

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an appropriate name for this book, because it absolutely kept me guessing throughout! I don't even know how to try to summarize it because there's so much happening. A missing girl 10 years earlier, a woman in the present day being held captive, a man who's been in prison for 30 years for killing a cop is somehow connected to these crimes, even though he was in prison when it happened, a spree of killings 30 years earlier that was never solved, lots to keep track of!
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At first I wasn't sure about this. It seemed like one former police officer was getting credit for solving crimes when the evidence just falls in his lap, or a tech guru he's befriended hacks his way to the answers. But everything ended up being much twistier than that, and some of them completely surprised me.
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The ending was probably the most obvious part of the book, but that doesn't mean it wasn't satisfying.
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This seems potentially set up for a sequel? If so, I'll definitely read it!

A very well-written and decidedly captivating read. Ethan is very likable character and a former detective with an incredible success record. It’s easy to understand his reluctance to re-enter the dark world of homicide investigation after having chosen a career in medicine. Especially since it means cooperating with his father’s killer, who seems to to know something about the case. The mystery surrounding Callie’s disappearance is compelling and the plot is complex and fast-paced, with an abundance of twists. Prepare to be surprised as the tale unravels. This one kept me up way past my bedtime.

I don't believe I have read anything by this author in the past, but I sure do anticipate reading more of Donlea's books in the future!

I was hooked from the first page. There were so many twists and turns! Just when I thought I had things figured out, I discovered I was wrong. I hated to put the book aside! The pace is perfect for the genre. I enjoyed the multiple POV's, as it gives the reader a well-rounded view of the storyline. Characters are believable, and the ending was unexpected. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, this is one to check out, as it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is a gripping thriller that follows a web of deception, crime, and shocking revelations. The story centers on a high-stakes investigation filled with unpredictable twists, as characters navigate a world of secrets and danger. It kept me on edge until the final pages.

I loved the action and suspense. It made this book unputdownable. Donlea is a master of weaving numerous plot twists that kept me guessing until the end.. Each turn became more surprising than the last.

The large cast of characters is well-developed, with distinct personalities that make them easy to differentiate from one another. However, the ending was a disappointment, falling short of the buildup and leaving me wanting more closure. Without this letdown, Guess Again would have easily earned 5 stars. Still, it’s a thrilling ride for fans of suspense, despite the lackluster finale.

I received a DRC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

I have really enjoyed standalone thrillers by Charlie Donlea in the past and overall, I found this one entertaining as well. The story starts out with a hook and then the author creatively engages readers with a scenario that realistically turns an ER doctor into a return homicide detective. No spoilers but the circumstances are complex and compelling. The writing is excellent and the style draws readers in especially as the complexities are slowly revealed. The whodunnit reveal towards the end of the book was unexpected but then Donlea adds another twist that is more personal and powerful to Ethan, the protagonist that left my head spinning.
So, overall, this is another well written and engaging read by this author. Lovers of crime and action thrillers will love it. The characters are well developed and their individual complexities make them more interesting. There is lots of action which makes the book a little hard to keep up at times but mostly just added to the storyline. The only reason that I didn’t rate this book as a 5-star read is that I am not a fan of action/crime thrillers that turn into series and I am disappointed to see this book headed that way. The ending definitely sets up a sequel and probably even a series. I won’t be going down that rabbit hole but for those of you who read these types of series, this author could become your favorite. I’ll be looking for more standalone books by the talented and creative Charlie Donlea.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

Rated 4.5 stars. Guess Again is a twisty, dark, gripping mystery with highly unlikeable antagonists, protagonists you can’t help but root for, and twists and turns I did not see coming.

The layers, connections, deceptions and revelations were so well done and the story is written in a way that draws you in and keeps you hooked to the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the e-ARC!

Charlie Donlea has done it again and this time, he's dragged us straight into the shadows of Cherryview, Wisconsin, where secrets sweat in the summer heat and grief hangs in the air like humidity.

Guess Again isn’t just a thriller, it’s a slow burn into madness, memory, and the murky waters of unresolved trauma. From the very first page, I felt pulled into something larger than a missing girl case. It felt personal. Intimate. Unsettling in the best possible way.

Ten years after high school volleyball star Callie Jones disappeared, the town has tried to move on, but no one ever really does, do they? Not when the body’s never found. Not when the whispers never stop.

Enter Ethan Hall: ex detective, current ER doctor, emotionally wrecked but still dangerously intuitive. I loved Ethan, not because he’s your typical hero, but because he’s not. He’s wounded. Haunted. He’s human. And when his former partner, now terminally ill, asks him to take one last look at the case that shattered them both, you feel the pull Ethan tries so hard to resist. And when he finally gives in? You buckle up. Because it gets dark. Fast.

Donlea masterfully builds a world where everyone seems to have something to hide, and no one, including Ethan, is untouched by the rot underneath the surface. The pacing is relentless, but what stood out to me most was the emotional gravity. This isn’t just about what happened to Callie, but why. And once those answers begin unraveling? I physically gasped. More than once.

There’s a scene midway through, no spoilers, that still lingers in my mind, where Ethan uncovers a link between Callie’s disappearance and his own past. It stopped me cold. The twist is so well-seeded, so psychologically taut, that when it hits, it doesn’t just surprise you, it reframes everything.

And the title? Let’s just say: you will guess again. And again. And again. And still, you’ll be wrong.

This book is everything I crave in a thriller: atmospheric, emotionally intelligent, tightly plotted, and bold enough to go to uncomfortable places.

If you’re a fan of layered mysteries that respect your intelligence while also breaking your heart, Guess Again belongs at the top of your TBR. Donlea continues to prove he’s not just a master of suspense, he’s a master of human complexity.

Charlie, if you’re reading this, how dare you (but also, thank you).

Wow! What a fantastic read!
Former federal agent turned doctor, Ethan Hall, is pulled back into a cold case homicide investigation by his ex-partner and the governor whose daughter vanished years ago.
At the same time a serial killer who has served 32 years for killing a police officer comes up for parole.
The twists and turns begin as the serial killer claims to have information on the governor's daughter and new victims begin to appear.
Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is a riveting, page-turning mystery/thriller that I couldn't put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

On the 10th anniversary of a teenage girl’s disappearance, her cold case breaks open in dangerous ways…and threatens to tear apart her small Wisconsin town all over again.
This was my first book by Charlie Donlea, and it did not disappoint. This book was fast-paced and cleverly written, and I couldn't put it down. I loved the dynamic between the characters and thought the twists were brilliant. I love psychological thrillers, and this was recommended for fans of Riley Sager and Stacy Willingham, who are two of my favorite writers. I was clinging to every word in the final chapters. This was perfectly written, and I can't wait to read more from Donlea.

5/5 stars

This was excellent. The story itself was great and there was a huge twist at the end that really surprised me. It was an excellent set up to what appears to be the start of the series. I am making a note to look for the sequels.

Fast paced, riveting, a true page turner! Short chapters had me saying “just one more chapter” propelling me through the book. Intricately plotted with several twists I didn’t see coming. I will definitely be reading his backlist!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Charlie Donlea for an advanced copy.

Charlie will always take the cake as one of the top thriller gurus! His books are magic and Guess Again was no different! This book reminded me of Twenty Years Later because in the midst of enjoying the story, I also had to attempt to put the puzzle pieces together and the ride was WILD. Loved loved loved it!!