Fast paced and convoluted psychological crime thriller.

3.5 stars rounded up

A teenage girl disappeared 10 years ago and detectives in Cherryview, Wisconsin found no clues so the case went cold. Ethan Hall, previously a detective, currently working as an ER physician, is called back into law enforcement by a former partner who is dying and can’t let it go. The situation is complicated because an inmate at the local prison (convicted and incarcerated for murdering Ethan’s father who was also a detective) seems to know something about Callie Jones and wants to make a deal.

This was twisty but quite predictable despite the red herrings and diversions into other points of view and shifts in time. I love Donlea and will always want to read his new books despite the need to often suspend disbelief. How is it that everyone (but me) casually knows a fantastic hacker who can give them tons of information? I liked the main character ok, but honestly none of the cast was fully fleshed out and I never related to any of them. Multiple threads unwound for the big climax and reveal. The themes in the story are familiar ones of friendship, relationships, loyalty, revenge, and murder.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Vivienne Leheny, did an acceptable job of voicing the characters but the choice of a female for the voice seemed wrong as so much of the book was male point of view and the story would have been well served with a male narrator instead. I find that listening while reading allows for a more immersive and enjoyable experience with a book.

3.75/5 stars.

I’m a big fan of Charlie Donlea’s books. I’ve read 7 now, including this one. The story here begins on the 10th anniversary of Callie Jones’ disappearance. She was just a teenager with a promising future ahead of her when she vanished one night. Her father is now the governor and has asked Ethan Hall, a former detective turned ER doctor, to take a look into the case. His connections prove interesting.

This story moves around from past to present and from varying perspectives. At times, this was a little confusing, and I wasn’t sure who the narrator was in some sections. I realize this was a plot device. Got to keep you guessing… 🤔

It is a bingeable thriller, although some aspects felt just too implausible for me. Watch for a twist you likely won’t expect and a pretty crazy ending. 

An interesting feature in the book was the inclusion of a Little Free Library, which I quite enjoyed. 

CW | Contains some sexual content and violence. 

[Thanks to the publisher, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley, for the advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

This is my third book by this author and has officially rooted Charlie Donlea as one of the most consistent thriller authors for me. Like both of this author’s other books, this one had me engrossed from the very beginning when we are introduced to the cold case at the heart of this and also meet the interesting lineup of characters involved.

In the wrong author’s hands, a story like this could become overly convoluted and confusing. This story involves two cold cases - one at the heart is an unsolved disappearance of a teen girl but with the involvement of a convicted killer, we are also looped into the happenings of a decades past serial killing spree. And then another local woman is declared missing, bringing the stakes up a notch. But Donlea handles each case with the proper care and attention they deserve while also tying them together through the characters that he so painstakingly introduces the reader to over the course of the novel.

If anyone else was a fan of the show Cold Case, certain aspects of the book really reminded me of that show which I absolutely loved. My roommates and I would actually come home on Friday afternoons because our classes all ended early and would watch a couple of episodes together, so that show is really special to me. There is also the trope of a killer in prison helping the police with the investigation in a quid pro quo situation (this is my wink at Silence of the Lambs). I really enjoyed the mind games involved with this situation, particularly since our lead detective, Ethan, had a personal vendetta against the killer for killing his father, the cop investigating him decades back for slaying multiple women.

If you are someone that enjoys thrillers, particularly police procedurals and cold cases, this book is a must read! I wasn’t bored for a single minute while reading this, and I can’t say that about many thrillers these days.

I was lucky enough to receive both an ebook and audiobook version of Guess Again by Charlie Donlea & although I already have most of his other books on my TBR this was actually my first time reading one of his novels. It absolutely will not be the last. This book exceeded my expectations & his other titles will be fast-tracked to the top of my list.
From the very first page I was completely engrossed. Guess Again is everything I look for in a thriller; sharp, fast-paced & full of twists that kept me constantly second-guessing (& sometimes third-guessing!) everything. Just when I thought I had things figured out Donlea threw in another curveball.
I really loved Ethan’s character I thought he was brilliantly developed, complex, and believable. I absolutely loved the ending I’m desperately hoping it hints at the start of a new series because I’d return to this world/these characters in a heartbeat.

I listened to the final 50% of the book on audio & thought Vivienne Leheny delivered an excellent performance. Her pacing was perfectly judged, making the listening experience smooth and engaging. She subtly differentiated the characters’ voices in a way that felt natural. She kept me completely engaged & I’d happily listen to more of her narration in the future.

★★★★.5 ROUNDED UP⭐️⬆️

Guess Again proves yet again why I am a Charlie Donlea fan. It is intriguing, intense, and packed with psychological landmines you won’t see coming. Set in the stillness of a quiet Wisconsin lake town, The story revolves around the ten-year-old cold case of missing teenager Callie Jones, a golden girl turned ghost. Ethan Hall, a former detective turned ER doctor with his own haunted past, is forced to revisit parts of his past he tried to leave behind when his dying ex-partner pulls him back in to help him with the case.

Ethan is not only looking for answers but is also seeking his own personal closure–or maybe justice-but either way, this cold case quickly turns into a psychological ticking timebomb. The deeper into this case Ethan gets the more he realizes it isn't just about a missing teenager, but it has everything to do with him as well.

What makes this such a good story isn't just the tense unearthing of long buried secrets, short punchy chapters that keep you tearing through the pages trying to find out just how many truths were hidden in the first place. As the story goes on you learn in this small town, everyone is hiding something and will go to great lengths to keep the truth from being exposed.

While Donlea’s pacing fast and the cliffhangers keep the momentum up, there are some pieces I felt distracted me a bit and kept me from becoming truly immersed. The chapters place too much emphasis on specific place references and information that seemed unnecessary and occasionally over-explained.

If you are looking for your average good ‘ole who-dun-it or missing-girl mystery, this isn't it! While it's not quite perfect—it gets darn close. Guess Again is a dangerous game of truth or consequences where every secret wounds and no one is innocent.

This was my first Charlie Donlea book, and it won't be my last. It was fast-paced, twisty, and jaw-dropping. It had a satisfying (and shocking) ending while also setting up a sequel. I liked the relationship between Ethan and Maddie. I also really enjoyed the final twist regarding Ethan's father. Nothing was said at the end about Pete, Ethan's former DCI partner. The reader is left to assume, but I would have liked it to have been mentioned. Thank you, NetGalley, for this advance reader copy. This was a solid crime/mystery/thriller that I will recommend to my friends.

Charlie Donlea has written a series of tense, twisty thrillers and his new book Guess Again, while requiring a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, is no exception. The title itself may well be a challenge to readers as Donlea constantly pulls the rug out from underneath their expectations and understanding of what exactly is going on but in the most enjoyable ways.
Ethan Hall was a successful investigator of gruesome crimes with a 100% solve rate, but the work took such a toll on him that he quit and retrained as a doctor. Hall now works in emergency medicine but is brought out of retirement when his old partner asks him to help investigate a cold case that involves reopening the investigation into the disappearance of the new Governor’s daughter ten years before. At the same time, Ethan is still trying to stop Francis Bernard, the man who killed his father and almost killed his current detective girlfriend when she was a teen (and who may well also have been a serial killer) getting parole. When these two endeavours come together, Ethan’s life starts to spin out of his control.
Donlea does a great job of establishing Ethan and his world early on and drawing readers into the story before blowing everything up. At the same time, he is not afraid to switch to alternate points of view to both sew a little distraction but also up the tension. In particular, the view of inmate Bernard who, after being in jail for over twenty years, is playing a long game, and the woman on the outside who is helping him set everything up. There are definitely some heist novel mechanics at work in this thread of the plot but a lot of the tension comes from readers not cheering for this Hannibal Lecter-level mastermind to succeed.
Guess Again is a great thriller that combines a couple of seemingly unrelated tales into a single twisted narrative. As already noted, a little suspension of disbelief is required, but Donlea smoothly leads readers through that process to the point where the pages are almost turning themselves. And while Guess Again could be read as a stand alone, with a great central cast and its final twisty revelations, Donlea leaves enough threads dangling to suggest a follow up.

Guess Again….a perfect title for a story they keeps you guessing throughout its entirety. It possessed all the elements of a perfect thriller such as Engaging characters, a unique/fast paced plot and numerous twists. It never ceases to amaze me the violence a person can inflict on another human being and move on with their life like it’s nothing. If you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you in a chokehold with its fast paced plot which is full of twists, pick up this one. However, be prepared to lose sleep because you need answers not sleep.
**Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review**

I'm not going to give too much away with the storyline as the less you know about this one before diving in, the better. Charlie Donlea never disappoints and his new book, Guess Again, is sheer proof of this. From the start, I was gripped. The story was explosive and I just had to know what was going to happen - it was so hard to put down! My heart was beating tenfold during the last few chapters as things got to a dramatic crescendo. What a book! Huge shoutout to the narrator of the audiobook too - she knocked it out of the park. This book gets all the stars from me and I highly recommend adding this one to your list ASAP.

I was hooked on Guess Again from the start. Set in a sleepy Wisconsin lake town, the story is two-pronged; the ten-year-old disappearance of Callie Jones takes center stage, but in the background is the murder of the main character's father and his killer's bid for freedom.

Former detective-turned-ER doctor Ethan Hall is a refreshing lead. Haunted by his past in the crimes against children division, he left police work to become a doctor. He’s pulled back into a cold case by his former partner, who wants Ethan's help to solve a case he's been working for a long time before his impending death. As the mystery unfolds, new twists gets added here and there to keep things interesting (and make it hard to figure out ahead of time what exactly is going on). Charlie Donlea masterfully layers in suspense, slowly peeling back truths that are more disturbing than expected.

What I loved most was how layered everything was. Every character had secrets, and just when I thought I had it figured out, something new would pop up and change the direction. And the heatwave backdrop added this constant feeling of pressure, like something was about to snap.

But honestly, it was the twist near the end that really got me. I did not see it coming, and it completely shifted how I viewed everything up to that point. It felt like the perfect setup for a sequel (fingers crossed!), because I definitely want more of Ethan and this creepy little town.

If you’re into smart thrillers with strong characters and a mystery that actually surprises you, this one’s worth picking up.

17 year old volleyball star Callie vanished one night after a party 10 years ago, now that her father is governor he wants the case reopened. Ethan is an investigator turned ER doctor whose father was killed while searching for Callie, and Ethan is who the governor (and his old partner) ask to look into Callie’s cold case. Now Ethan is dependent on his father’s killer to help him solve Callie’s case and that of a new active kidnapping. The story follows the twisted mind of a serial killer as well and dark secrets of all who are involved.

I love Charlie Donlea’s books, I am happy that I have many left to read from his backlist, but the two others I have read I really enjoyed - he is amazing at always throwing in a surprising twist that I didn’t see coming. I also have a weird love of serial killer books therefore I was very excited for this one. This aptly named novel had me guessing and rethinking my guesses the whole time, it is fast paced and a great ride to the end. The whole book makes you wonder which characters you can trust and who is and isn’t what they seem to be - this to me is the makings of a good thriller read. While I think I liked the other two better (I loved those) that doesn’t mean this one isn’t worth picking up. I loved to listen to thrillers on audio, but I always like to have the accompanying book in case I miss a detail or get confused - this audio was great but I did feel like I needed to read a bit of it to get my bearings (possibly because Donlea doesn’t want you to have your bearings). I’m happy I have a backlist author whose thrillers never disappoint.

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Holy amaze-balls, this book was so good! I was hooked from the first page and stayed glued to the story the entire time. This is my second read by Donlea, and both have been absolute binge-reads. One of my favorite things about his writing is how the threads don’t fully come together until just the right moment, and when they do? Chef’s kiss. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, Donlea pulls the rug out from under you. Trust me, you won’t see this ending coming!!

A convicted killer holds the key to solving a cold case

Ethan Hall retired from his career as a special agent with Wisconsin's Division of Criminal Investigation where he investigated crimes against children. He had a 100% solve rate, but that only meant that he put perpetrators behind bars...he couldn't bring back any of the victims from the dead, and it was eating away at his soul. So at the age of 36 he retired from the force and entered medical school; he is now an emergency room doctor, still in a stressful job but one in which he can actually save people. Out of the blue his former partner Pete Kramer visits him with an unexpected request, one which Ethan will be hard put to turn down. Ten years earlier seventeen year old Callie Jones - pretty, star athlete, accomplished student - disappeared from the small town of Cherryview and the case remains unsolved. It is the one Pete can't forget, and he is now battling a disease that will kill him within the year. He wants Ethan, the former investigator with the perfect solve rate, to take a look at the case and see if he can succeed where Pete failed. If Pete's dying wish isn't enough of a motive, Callie's father has just become the governor...and has the power to make things happen. Ethan wants to say no, he has worked hard to put that part of his life behind him, but finds he can't refuse when the man convicted of killing his father, Francis Bernard, claims to have knowledge about the case. Is Bernard, recently denied parole in large part because of Ethan's objections to his early release, just making a bid for attention, or does he somehow possess information about a case that took place long after he was locked up? Ethan soon finds out that he has been drawn into a game in which he doesn't know all of the players...and the deck may be stacked against him.
To say that Guess Again has a few plot twists is a definite understatement. Ethan is an intriguing protagonist, smart but scarred both by his professional experiences and the murder of his father. His girlfriend is the sole survivor of Bernard's killing spree (the crimes that brought Ethan's father to Bernard's door in the first place) and now is in law enforcement herself. There are plenty of suspects in Callie's disappearance: her pushy mother, her ambitious but absent father, and the creepy stepfather, just to name a few. The more Ethan learns about Callie, the more possible suspects he uncovers. Bernard has Hannibal Lecter vibes (minus the cannibalism), manipulating people from behind bars to set his own schemes in motion. A few plot elements seemed a bit contrived and not all of the twists came as a complete surprise to me, but the pacing of the tale and continual plot twists kept me turning pages right up until the end. Readers of Thomas Harris, Karin Slaughter and Lucy Foley as well as those who enjoy suspenseful stories full of secrets and flawed characters should grab a copy of Guess Again and add it to their TBR pile. My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me access to this gripping read in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Charlie Donlea is an author who always gets my attention, as his books always have me hooked from the first chapter.

This book has tons of twists and turns, and the “bad guy” may not be who the reader is thinking it will be. Eddie is very likable in this book, both as a detective and a doctor and seems to just be a great person overall. I enjoyed the flipping back and forth of timelines, and it definitely kept me engaged in the story.

This book definitely left room for a continuation of Eddie and Maddie’s story, and I will certainly be eager to read if that is the case.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review!

I’m beyond thrilled to be part of Donlea’s Detectives! A huge thank you to @kensingtonbooks and @charliedonlea for the Advance Reader’s Edition, the finished hardcover, and the amazing Donlea’s Detectives mug! 🕵️‍♂️☕️
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Guess Again had me absolutely hooked. I could. not. stop. reading. This book is a masterclass in suspense. It’s layered, atmospheric, and full of jaw-dropping twists. Just when I thought I had it figured out, nope. Donlea got me again!!!
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Ten years after high school star Callie Jones vanished without a trace, former detective turned ER doc Ethan Hall is pulled back into detective work, which he never wanted to touch again. With a dying wish from his old partner and the haunting pressure of a town desperate for answers, Ethan must dig into buried evidence and his own dark past.
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What unfolds is a psychological mystery set in the eerie calm of a Wisconsin lake town during a brutal heatwave. Donlea excels at writing flawed but deeply compelling characters, and Ethan Hall is no exception. The tension is relentless, the twists are diabolical, and the final reveal is SO satisfying.
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The hybristophilia aspect of the book (the phenomenon characterized by sexual interest in and attraction to those who commit crime) was so interesting to me. Swipe to see the Hybristophilia Self-Assessment included with the book.
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If you love a smart, twisty thriller with emotional depth and a protagonist you can root for, Guess Again needs to be on your radar.

Ethan Hall is a former detective who has transitioned to an ER doctor. On the tenth anniversary of a girl named Callie’s disappearance, Ethan’s former partner, Pete Kramer, begs Ethan to help him reopen the case. Pete is the veteran detective who originally investigated the case, and now he wants closure for Callie Jones’ family. Soon, Ethan gets drawn into a twisted psychological game. There is way more to the disappearance of Callie Jones than anyone could have imagined.

I am a huge fan of Charlie Donlea’s writing and jumped at the chance to read and review this one. As always, Donlea delivers many jaw-dropping twists. I enjoyed the dual timeline and multiple perspectives. The ending left it open for a sequel, I hope. I highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys thrillers! I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I have not read a Charlie Donlea book that I haven't liked so far. Ethan thought he left his life of being a detective behind when he quit 10 years ago and went to medical school. He's now an ER doctor enjoying his life when his old partner pulls him in to an old cold case that is being reopened and reinvestigated. There are lots of surprises in this one, as Ethan keeps peeling back layer, after layer in the investigation and when it starts hitting close to home for him he has to figure out how much he can actually handle to solve this case.

4.5

I will read anything Charlie Donlea writes. He is a great twisty author of mystery/thrillers.

Ethan Hall, currently an ER doctor, formerly a detective, has been summoned by the governer to help solve a ten-year-old case of a missing girl. Things get a bit convoluted as he begins the investigation and needs the help of the one person he hopes to never see - the murderer on death row who killed his father.

I read the book while listening to the audio and was totally immersed in this book. Highly recommend!!

My thanks to Net Galley, Kensington and Recorded Books for advanced copies of the e-book and audiobook.

This is my first by Charlie Donlea and it won't be my last. I love a twisty thriller, and this one hooked me from the beginning and had me riveted through the end. I devoured Guess Again in one day.

Ethan Hall is an ER doc after switching careers from criminal investigation. His old partner wants his help to solve a cold case. Ten years ago, a star high school volleyball player went missing, and the mystery was never solved. Apparently Ethan was a hot shot with a 100% solve rate back in the day, and some bigwigs are pulling strings to get him on the case.

Throw in a serial killer, up for parole, in prison for a crime committed over thirty years prior, and we have ourselves a real puzzle.

With a copious cast of characters and alternating timelines, Guess Again is guaranteed to keep you guessing.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the Advance Reader Copy. (pub. date 7/29/2025)

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea  is a psychological thriller about a cold case  that gets re-opened with the father of the missing girl becomes governor.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Kensington Publishing, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.




My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Ethan Hall left his job as a detective when he knew that his health would suffer if he continued to see the depravity done to more children.  His partner, Pete. never forgave him for giving up.  But Ethan knew it was the right decision.  He took courses, and became a medical doctor.  Now he is saving lives.

But when Pete shows up, tells him he is dying, and asks him for a favour, Ethan finds it hard to refuse.  Pete has been working on a cold case.  Ten years ago, Callie Jones, a 17 year old high school volleyball star went missing.  Her father, now the Governor, wants to re-open the case, and offers some very good incentive for Ethan to come back, and he is considering it.

Meanwhile, Ethan visits the prison where the father's killer is being held. Francis Bernard has already served 32 years, and will be eligible for parole in another 8.  Although he keeps trying for parole, it has always been denied.  Ethan visits him shortly after the latest denial, and finds that Ethan seems to know what is going on in the outside world, more than he should.  He promises to tell Ethan where Callie is.  He also tells Ethan about another missing girl that it may not be too late to save.

As much as Ethan wants to stick to medicine, this case draws him back, and soon he will be running in all directions.

 

My Opinions:
Okay, it looks like I have found a new author to follow.  This book was really good...from start to finish.

I thought all of the characters were very well fleshed out, all had depth, and all had a purpose - although not all were likeable.  I mean, you have to have a villain or two, and boy, did we have villains.

The plot was really good, well laid out.  I like how the author threw in a few chapters of a woman being held in a basement, and a few chapters about Callie's story.

There was a major twist at the end, which I did NOT see coming, and it was a whopper.  I can understand why Ethan ended up on the island drinking.

So, overall, I really enjoyed the book.   My only fear....that this is the start of a new series.  I'm not sure, but it didn't really end with everything wrapped up in a bow, so....