A well crafted and paced thriller that sees old secrets come rocketing back at Ethan, a police officer turned physician. He worked the original case of Callie who went missing at 17. Now, years later, his former partner has persuaded him to take another look. What did he miss and what does the benefit of time change about it? No spoilers from me. There are some implausibilities here but there's also a plot that kept me reading. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A page turner.

Charlie Donlea continues to prove why he’s one of my favorite authors with Guess Again. This gripping thriller pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go until the end. The pacing was perfect—I read it in about a day—and the twists kept me guessing the entire time.

Donlea’s signature style of sharp plotting and compelling characters is on full display here. While not quite my all-time favorite of his, it still delivered everything I want in a smart, suspenseful read. Fans of fast-paced mysteries and layered storytelling won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book!

3.5 Stars – A Twist-Filled Thriller That Trips at the Finish Line

Charlie Donlea’s Guess Again sets up a compelling premise: ten years after high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her small Wisconsin lake town, a disgraced former detective turned ER doctor, Ethan Hall, is reluctantly pulled back into the case. With secrets buried deep and a new lead emerging from the confines of a maximum-security prison, the novel builds a tangled web of twists, lies, and long-buried trauma.

The pacing is strong throughout, with chapters that push you forward relentlessly. Donlea excels at creating a chaotic momentum—numerous characters, multiple mysteries, and several parallel storylines keep you guessing at every turn. The atmosphere of a community still reeling from an unsolved disappearance is palpable, and the blend of psychological suspense and procedural investigation is engaging.

But while Guess Again had the bones of a 4-star read (or higher), a few too many implausible plot points dulled the impact. There were just too many coincidences—Ethan’s link to Callie’s case, his random meeting with the tech guy, the relationship between the plotlines—that felt unrealistic and detracted from the tension. Moments that required significant suspension of disbelief (e.g., Ethan trusting Francis, who literally murdered his father—what?) made the characters’ choices hard to accept.

I also struggled with the fragmented structure: all the place, time, and date chapter headings broke the flow and caused confusion more than clarity. The dual timelines and perspectives were interesting but didn’t always mesh cohesively, and the “big reveal” at the end—especially the father twist—felt underwhelming and a little lazy. It also dragged on well after it should’ve wrapped up.

There’s a lot to like here: snappy pacing, high-stakes drama, and a unique protagonist in Ethan. But it’s weighed down by loose ends, too-convenient connections, and unanswered questions—like Harriet’s role or why key characters (like Ethan’s sisters or Callie’s) were sidelined entirely.

Thank you to Charlie Donlea, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This book was amazing! It was addicting to read and hard to put down. The characters were great, the plot was so intriguing, and the twists were excellent. I really hope there is a follow up book!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Guess Again by Charlie Donlea

Such a great book, first one I've read by this author, but he's got lots that I'll be putting on my TBR.
Plot is amazing and characters are great. I love how the story progresses, and twists and turns keep happening. So we'll written. Not a dull moment in this book.

I just could not put this novel down, the more I read the more I wanted to know who dunnit, but I didn't want it to end.

Totally recommend this novel if you love psychological thrillers

This is another of my go to authors who I don't even have to read the blurb to decide whether I want to read their latest book! And he has never disappointed me. It beggars belief that he is not better known in the UK despite all my efforts at banging on, and on, and on about him and his books.
So, we start in the past, ten years ago 17 year old Callie Jones vanished without trace. Despite a highly publicised search neither hide nor hair was found and her case went cold. Back in the present and we meet Ethan Hall who quit his law enforcement job to retrain as an ER Doctor and it is to him that his former partner, who is not long for this world, begs for help to re-open and solve Callie's case and finally bring closure to those who love her. And to ease his own conscience. Faced with this, and despite really not wanted to go back to those days, Ethan has no choice but to return to the job that nearly burned him out, albeit as a part time consultant.
And so he starts his investigations in earnest, re-examining all the evidence, re-interviewing witnesses, but it is all same old, same old, and so he needs something new, a catalyst if you like, something to kick start things... and this comes from a very unlikely source, and adds a whole new spin on his investigation... but is he fighting fire with fire or will the end justify the means, danger and all...?
I said I love this author, I guess it's probably cos he never fails to keep me guessing all the way to the end and then, when delivering the bombshell, never making me feel like I've been duped or that the solution has come out of left field. No matter how hard I try I always miss things along the way and kick myself with hindsight. You'd think after so many books I'd have learned by now!
But obfuscation doesn't make for a good book on its own. There needs to be a credible storyline played out by real characters who you can really connect to as a reader. And this author excels in these things too. Throw in a no-nonsense attitude to waffle and padding - there is none - and you get a compelling read that really grips along the way and wholly satisfies at its conclusion.
Talking about conclusion, Ethan Hall is a cracking character and, although the author is better known for delivering stand alone stories (apart from the Rory/Lane two books) I would really really love to reconnect with him in a future book. I feel he has way more to give as a character and I am not ready to say goodbye to him just yet.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Absolutely loved this one! I am hoping it’s part of a series because of the ending?! I love all of Charlie’s books because they all follow the same formula Ila with the dates and short chapters and this one was just so good. The ending though,

I really enjoyed this thriller! Guess Again pulled me in right from the start and kept me guessing the whole way through. The mystery surrounding Callie Jones’ disappearance was so compelling, and just when I thought I had it figured out, Charlie Donlea delivered a twist that totally threw me. The ending baffled me—in the best, most jaw-dropping way!

I loved the use of multiple points of view and the dual timeline—it added so much depth and tension, and kept me fully engaged from beginning to end. Each perspective revealed just enough to keep me hooked while building toward the bigger picture.

Ethan Hall was such an interesting lead—haunted, reluctant, and deeply human. His connection to the case added another layer of suspense, and I thought the small-town atmosphere and the oppressive heatwave really amped up the intensity.

If you’re into cold cases, psychological suspense, and endings that will leave you stunned, Guess Again is a must-read.

Oh my Goodness this book was perfection! It’s a favorite book of my now and I will forever recommend it to everyone. I loved it all the twists the characters and the story it was beyond my expectations. I couldn’t stop reading it because it was that good and when I wasn’t reading it I kept thinking about it. I now need to buy a physical copy for myself.

Fast‑paced, twisty, and impossible to put down—this psychological thriller pulls you into a decade‑old disappearance that never stopped haunting a small Wisconsin town. Former detective‑turned‑doctor Ethan Hall returns to investigate the cold case of Callie Jones, the governor’s daughter, only to uncover chilling secrets—and a prison inmate who knows more than he should. Every chapter kept me guessing until the very last line. If you love puzzle‑like mysteries and murder games you can’t win… this is it.

4 🌟 upcoming thriller!! (Release expected July 29th)

10 years ago, 17-year-old Callie Jones went missing. With her case long cold and the lead detective, Pete Kramer’s quantity of life rapidly dwindling due to a terminal diagnosis, he feels he has no choice but to elicit the help of his retired former partner turned Emergency Medicine Doctor, Ethan Hall. As Ethan begins his investigation, he is forced to confront a notorious serial killer from his past, as the man, Francis Bernard, starts feeding him information from the case, despite being imprisoned for over 30 years.

This story had a lot going on in it, if you couldn’t tell by the brief overview. It was action packed and there was an undercurrent of suspense running throughout the novel. Something I really appreciate about this author is that the twists always have an element of surprise for me and yet, still make sense with the overall storyline. The novel was well written and fast paced, making it a quick read for me.

The main drawback for me was how short the chapters were. I think there were many spots that could have had page breaks and then continued with the same POV, instead of being split into separate chapters, especially as each chapter starts with the city, state of Wisconsin and the date in day, month, year format. So if the setting and date hadn’t changed, it felt redundant. I know a lot of people like short chapters and since this is also a great novel, definitely check this one out, if that’s your vibe!

This was SOO good! I loved how twisty this novel was and the layers and layers of surprises just kept coming…but somehow it didn’t feel like it was too much. The serial killer angle, mixed with the case of a missing girl (but seemingly unrelated to the serial killer), was so captivating and I definitely didn’t guess the full ending! While this story fully wraps up, Donlea definitely left this story open for a Part 2 and I can’t wait to read more!!

Ethan Hall works as an ER doctor. He left his job as a detective because handling cases involving crimes against children for Wisconsin’s Division of Criminal Investigation became too much for him. His former partner, Pete, has been struggling with a cold case and reached out to Ethan, who had a perfect record of solving cases, to revisit the disappearance of Callie Jones, who vanished at the age of 17 years old a decade ago. Given that Callie's father is the governor, Ethan is compelled to help. Ethan had previously experienced a traumatic event when his father, also a detective, was murdered many years before by a man named Francis, who is in jail for the crime. Ethan uncovers a seemingly impossible connection between Francis and Callie Jones, who went missing years after Francis was incarcerated. When another woman disappears, the situation becomes more complicated, leading to a race against time.

Author Charlie Donlea writes terrific thrillers that are hard to put down. With its short chapters that create a quick pace and multiple timelines, Guess Again is packed with action and clever twists. And what a great cast of characters, led by good-guy Ethan and evil personified Francis. Jump on board this entertaining ride.

4.5 stars.

I absolutely loved this book! This was my first time reading this author, and I realized I have been missing out. He is a fantastic storyteller!

Riveting, propulsive, creepy, and full of twists that kept me up way too late reading, but I just couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the fast pace and the short chapters. The plot is intriguing, with cleverly intertwined storylines. As the layers were peeled back, I constantly guessed and second-guessed, just as the title suggests. I love when a thriller surprises me with twists and turns that genuinely shock me, forcing me to reevaluate everything I thought I knew, and this book certainly delivered.

It's also suspenseful and action-packed, with very high stakes. It was hard to tell whether my heart rate or my mind was racing faster as I tried to piece everything together. I recommend going into this one mostly blind, but the basic setup is that Dr. Ethan Hall had left the police force, gone to medical school, and become an ER doctor to escape the horrors he witnessed as a detective. However, his old partner, who is dying, asks Ethan to help him solve one last cold case. Things take off from the first page, so get ready for some binge reading!

The characters and settings were vividly depicted, and it felt almost like watching a movie. Ethan is a compelling and well-developed character with an interesting backstory. The secondary characters are also memorable, though some are much less likable than Ethan.

Fans of smart psychological thrillers will want to add this to their TBRs. It's fantastic and well-written.

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the gifted eARC

Charlie Donlea does it again. A book so full of plot twists you don’t expect what really happened. Maddie, the only survivor, of a brutal serial killer becomes a police officer. Ethan, a former police officer turned doctor, is asked to rejoin the department after it was discovered he had 100% clearance rate and is asked to solve a cold case. Great novel. Thanks NetGalley for an arc.

I thought this book was a lot of fun. It kept me on the edge of my seat and second guessing all my thoughts. I love a book that makes me Think and gives me misdirections throughout to pull the rug out from under me when I think I figured it out.

Donlea is a master at plot twists, I can’t say I guessed a single one correctly from start to finish. I will admit, I felt a bit confused in the first few chapters trying to figure out who was who and who was talking, but it evened out and became understandable.

This is exactly how I love a thriller to make me feel. I’m never disappointed when I pick up a Donlea book, and this one is no different! The ending chapters gave me such anxiety, but I loved every second of it!

If you’re a thriller lover this should definitely be on your list to read this year!!

If you are looking for a fast paced thriller with twists and so layers to a story, you must read Guess Again.

Set in small town Wisconsin with Ethan, a former crime investigator turned ER doctor gets roped into solving a cold case of missing girl, Callie.

The story is told mostly in current day but we get glimpses of what happens to Callie before the disappearance.

I love that Ethan was so vested into solving the case and while having his own personal issues to deal with. There are a lot of characters in the book and they all play such an integral part to the story and I wanted to know what happens to all of them.

The story is fast paced and I could not put it down.

Thank you @kensingtonbooks for a copy of the book.

I say this almost never when it comes to thrillers but that was the best psychological thriller I’ve read all year. Maybe in the last 2 yrs.

It was bat shit crazy
Terrifying
Completely deranged
And I’m wondering how many nightmares I’m gonna have in the next week😂

Think crime + killer + Hannibal lector creepy + tight plot.

I may have guessed pieces of it along the way, but then the author blew that to shreds.

How this was crafted makes me worried for how it came out of one person‘s brain😂😳 and another wondering the amount of editing that must’ve had to happen in order that the reader can’t pick up on the final chapter

This is one of the few times I’ll give a 5 star to a thriller. But wow. Call me impressed. And then call a therapist to deal with the nightmares

Book: Guess Again by Charlie Donlea
Genre: Thriller | Mystery | Suspense

Publication Date: July 29, 2025

Charlie Donlea does not miss.

From the very first chapter, Guess Again had me completely hooked. The short chapters and brisk pacing made this one impossible to put down. It’s twisty, layered, and perfectly plotted. I’ve read several of his books now and I’m still surprised he’s not talked about more. He’s one of the most underrated thriller authors out there.

This one centers on a case involving a missing teen. It’s intense and emotional while staying grounded in smart storytelling. The dual timelines and multiple POVs added depth and suspense without ever feeling confusing. I thought I had it figured out more than once, only to be completely wrong. I was truly guessing again and again.

There are heavier themes here, especially around trauma and crimes involving minors, so I recommend checking content warnings if needed. I appreciated how thoughtfully Donlea handled these parts, especially through Ethan’s storyline as someone who is deeply impacted by the weight of his work.

If you like thrillers that are smart, fast-paced, and impossible to predict, this is the one to grab this summer.

A HUGE thank you to Kensington Publishing & NetGalley for this opportunity to review this in exchange for an advanced copy!

Charlie Donlea has become one of my favorite authors! GUESS AGAIN was excellent! It starts off rather quickly and had a lot of mystery and suspense. When I had read through most of the book, I thought I had it all figured out. However, in the end, I was wrong and the twist was completely unexpected. I love it when that happens! This is the reason thrillers are still some of my favorite books.

Many thanks to Kensington and RB Media for my gifted copies.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account @coffee.break.book.reviews soon.