Charlie Donlea doesn't miss! Guess Again is another great thriller from an author I have come to love. He is an auto-buy author for me. I went back and forth between reading and listening to this novel. The narration on the audiobook was great.

I can't honestly imagine someone becoming an ER doctor at the age Ethan did it after a very successful career in law enforcement, but anything is possible. But as content as Ethan is in his ER doctor life, he gets pulled back into a ten-year-old cold case of a missing teenager. As part of that case, he gets embroiled with the inmate who murdered Ethan's dad years ago, a serial killer who went to prison well before this girl went missing. So why does he know so much about the case and actually leads Ethan to clues to help solve it?

I was engrossed from start to finish. It was a good mystery with lots of thrills and a few twists that were jaw-dropping. I would recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller.

I couldn't resist picking this book up as soon as I saw it listed. I really enjoy this author and the blurb really caught my attention. The book starts with a fast pace. We meet Ethan and are quickly introduced to his former partner as well as why Ethan has made such a dramatic lifestyle change. The case of Callie Jones really caught me - what happened to a 17-year-old girl who seemed like she had her entire life ahead of her 10 years ago?

I didn't love the deep dive into Eithan's past and demons or really the whole Francis character. This is coming from a cozy mystery reader so it could be that he's just too creepy for me - he definitely made me uncomfortable! There's a lot of back and forth both to different POVs and to different timelines which at times gave the book a bit of a choppy feel and was a little distracting.

I had no idea how everything was going to come together or wrap up and I was definitely along for the ride to see how it would come to an end. Even though this was a bit higher on the terrible people scale than I usually enjoy and the at times choppy feel I did enjoy the story and was hooked from beginning to end.

I'm looking forward to reading more from Donlea and will pick up his next book even though this wasn't a total win for me.

This is probably one of the BEST mystery/thrillers I’ve ever read! 🔍✨ I hate to admit it, but this book has been sitting on my NetGalley shelf for a while 🙈 and I just didn’t feel like reading it… but the joke’s on me because it was SOOO GOOD! 🤯🔥

I could not put it down. 🫣 The story takes you back ten years, gives you all the current plotline, plus takes you a year into the future 🗓️. The characters were fantastic and the plotline was super intricate but still easy to follow.

I had SO many theories about what was really going on, but I honestly didn’t expect the ending 😳👏🏼. It gives you closure but also just enough "wait what??" action to keep you wanting more... and by the way, I really do want more and see sooo much sequel potential for this book! This is my second book from this author and I will definitely be reading more! 💥📖

Thanks to NetGalley, RB Media, and Kensington Publishing for the digital copy of this book and audiobook; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Content Warnings mentioned by readers on Storygraph: Torture, Gun Violence, Trafficking. Murder, Sexual Content, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship

I have this mystery/thriller groove that I keep returning to. It’s when the novel contains a cold-case or decades-old disappearance. Yet, at the same time, I don’t appreciate fully detailed blood and gore. The reason I really wanted to check this particular thriller is because of the Wisconsin setting.

This Midwest-set whodunit relies on a lot of shock twists that will scratch that mystery-loving itch. While I do admit that this book is a lot more dramatic and graphic than what I normally read, if you can get past the gore, it is also a good mystery.

The audio version is narrated by Vivienne Leheny, who is someone I don’t recall listening to before. She does an admirable job of matching the pacing of Charlie Donlea’s prose, and most importantly, pronounced all the real Wisconsin cities and towns’ names correctly! I would definitely listen to another book narrated by her.

A big thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

All I can really say is woah. A binge-read, twist, mystery thriller that weaves in a cold case with several other storylines in such a captivating and smooth manner. Definitely a book that will keep you guessing and shocked to the very end.

I like Charlie Donlea and this one did not disappoint. It was a bit darker than previous books by him, but I like it. It is very twisty and the title is well chosen. Some of the twists I saw coming but there were a couple that caught me by surprise. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a good job. I thought there were a couple of different choices that were obvious that people could have made, but it was still a fun and wild ride. Ethan gave up a life of investigating to return to school and is now and ER doctor. He and his partner Maddie bonded over all that the same killer took from them both. The governor approaches Ethan to investigate an old cold case that has ties to Ethan he could never have imagined.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is everything you want in a psychological thriller—and more. From the very first page, Donlea pulls you into a chilling mystery that refuses to let go. The pacing is razor-sharp, the characters are rich with complexity, and just when you think you’ve figured it all out… guess again.

10 years ago, Callie Jones went missing. There were no leads, no evidence, no traces of her left behind. She just vanished. But now, her father is the governor of Wisconsin, and he calls in a special favor to reopen the case and see if former DCI Agent Ethan Hall can find anything regarding Callie's disappearance. But Ethan has retired from the DCI and is now an ER doctor. He has no interesst in re-entering the dark world of crimes against children. As a special favor to his former partner who is dying and wants closure, and to give Governor Jones a chance at peace, Ethan says yes.

As Ethan investigates the evidence from that night, interviews Callie's old friends and family, and retraces her steps, he is led to the prison cell of a seriel killer named Francis, who's been incarcerated for 35 years...and Francis was responsible for killing Ethan's father. There's no way a murderer who's been in prison for 35 years could orchestrate Callie's disappearance from 10 years ago, or could there be? As much as Ethan loathes Francis, he becomes dependant on Francis for information on Callie's case. But what he doesn't expect is to be sent on a psychologically-mind bending, twisty hunt for answers.

HOLY CRAP !! What a book!! I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't put this book down. The way it ended?! I need more ASAP.

Mind. Blown. Again

Charlie Donlea has a gift of three or more moves ahead. It is simplistic that you as a reader can follow along but with chilling details that spin you out with an ending that left me no! Don't do that. But there is hope as I am sure another book is in the works with Ethan Hall.

Ethan Hall's character is complex as his nemesis Francis Bernard. Francis has been prison for 15 years for the murder of his father. Francis has come back into his life in the most unprecedent circumstances. Ethan's life was low key being in the medical field. Away from the cruel work of working in crime, he now saves lives. Because of his record, he has been asked to solve a 10 year old crime that went cold. What makes it more alluding is that the man who murdered his father 15 years ago seems to know about this case. Francis taunts Ethan at his parole and just like a cat playing with a mouse, plays a cruel came with Ethan that ultimately leads to who was responsible for the disappearance of Callie Jones- daughter of the current governor.

Donlea gives you complex characters and plot that leaves his readers breathless. Highly recommend.

A special thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

𝙂𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘼𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙚 𝘿𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙖 is a twisty thriller that lives up to its name from start to finish. The story begins when Ethan Hall, a former detective turned ER doctor, is called back into a case. His old partner, Pete, is dying and asks Ethan to revisit a cold case.

What starts as a reluctant favor to an old friend quickly turns into a relentless investigation that forces Ethan to confront buried secrets, tangled loyalties, and the kind of lies that have had years to grow roots.

The short, tight chapters shift between timelines and perspectives. Each turn of the page feels like an invitation to suspect someone new, and just when you think you have figured it out, another revelation proves you wrong. The twists are sharp, timed perfectly, and every single one reinforces the title! You really do have to “guess again.”

Thanks @kensingtonbooks and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me hooked immediately. If you're into cold cases, small-town secrets, and jaw-dropping confessions, Guess Again is everything you want in a psychological thriller, and then some.

Ten years after star athlete Callie Jones disappeared, the case is ice cold. No body. No leads. Just a town full of people who can’t let go. Enter Ethan Hall, former detective, now a doctor with a dark past who gets dragged back into the case thanks to a dying request from his old partner. And honestly? That’s when everything explodes.

At the same time, Lindsay, Callie’s old best friend turned successful online therapist, is pulled in from a whole different angle. When an anonymous client logs into her therapy platform and casually drops “I killed Callie Jones”, I swear I audibly gasped. And from there, the tension does not let up.

The dual POVs are perfect. Ethan and Lindsay both have serious baggage, but watching them circle closer to the truth from totally different directions made the whole story so addictive. And the heatwave setting? You feel it. Sticky, oppressive, and perfect for the rising paranoia.

And yes, there are twists. So many. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, Donlea hits you with something new that makes you question everything. The last third of the book? Wild.

If you're a fan of Riley Sager, Alex Finlay, or anything that messes with your head while ripping through your emotions, Guess Again needs to be on your list. Creepy, layered, fast-paced....and that final twist? Chef’s kiss.

This was my second Charlie Donlea novel, and I continue to enjoy his knack for crafting compelling characters and twisty mysteries. The story kept me entertained throughout, and I found myself having strong opinions about several of the players—which is always a good sign. However, the ending felt a bit repetitive, and I figured out the culprit fairly early on, which dulled the impact of the reveal. Still, it was an engaging read overall, and I’m looking forward to diving further into Donlea’s backlist.

Wow! Truly unputdownable! If you love action and the unrelenting pursuit of a killer, this is the book for you! The characters became real to me, and I felt like I was battling Frances alongside Ethan and Maddie! Loved it!

Guess Again
by Charlie Donlea

Charlie Donlea is an automatic read for me, I was so excited to get approved for this ARC!

The writing is brilliant, the plot twist was a complete shock and I am HOPING this is the beginning of a series because I need more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I DEVOURED this!! I love Donlea but I can tell you this did not disappoint!! Fast paced, no unanswered questions and a solid ending. 5 beautiful stars!

Charlie Donlea always seems to hit the top of my read list and he has not disappointed yet. The title says it all as Guessing follows all the way through. The concept of a job change shows that all changes don't always follow the way you want. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own, Thank you Netgalley for the introduction

If there’s one thing you can count on from a Charlie Donlea thriller, it’s a twisty ride—and Guess Again definitely delivers. That said, this one had me raising an eyebrow more than once… and still kept me flipping pages the whole way through.

Let’s start with the setup: an ER doctor offering to drive a patient home? Bold move. Not exactly textbook protocol, but sure—let’s roll with it. There are a few moments like this early on where you have to suspend disbelief a bit, but honestly, that’s part of the fun.

I have to say, I weirdly loved the dialogue in this one—especially Lindsay’s. It just felt real. Her voice came through so naturally in the way she spoke and reacted, and it gave the whole story a grounded, believable core even when things started spiraling into full thriller chaos.

Also… “Cramcase”? A very thinly veiled Dropbox reference and kind of hilariously on the nose, but I appreciated it. Sometimes a fake brand name just hits right.

And then somewhere around 30%—it takes off. I literally realized I hadn’t taken any more notes until I hit 70%, which is always a good sign. The pacing tightens, the stakes climb fast, and the tension stays sharp.

Now… about that ending. The river, the lightning, the tree? At first I was like… okay, this is a lot. Definitely a little over the top, maybe even borderline cheesy. But then Donlea does what Donlea does best and drops just enough of a final twist to make you pause and go, “Wait—what?!”

It did feel a little abrupt at the end, but I’ll forgive it for keeping me guessing until the final page. It’s not his strongest closer, but it is clever—and I’ll take clever over tidy every time.

Final thoughts:
Guess Again might stretch plausibility here and there, but the mystery is layered, the characters are strong, and the twists are vintage Donlea. A fun, fast-paced read that reminds you how easily the line between hero and villain can blur.

Definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of thrillers that escalate fast and leave you second-guessing your instincts right up until the end.

This pains me to write because I have previously really enjoyed Donlea's work, but man this one was a miss for me. It really seemed like too much of this book relied on coincidences and forced dialogue that felt like it was only there to explain stuff to the reader. Would someone in a relationship with someone for two years really say, "My cabin, through a loophole that's been assed down through three generations, is registered in a trust tie back to my great grandfather's copper mining company that no longer exists. No one is going to find us there because..."

The book was a quick enough read, but I was left a little confused more than anything with the big twist (though I didn't see it coming). I also rotated with the audiobook and I think the narration was okay. Some of the voices felt a bit over the top, but overall I didn't really have any complaints there. I do think because of all the moving parts and jumping around in the book, this one is more suited as an eyeball read.

Thank you NetGalley, Recorded Books, and Kensington for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is a tightly wound psychological thriller that grabs you from the first chapter and doesn’t loosen its grip. With short, punchy chapters and a dual-timeline structure, Donlea expertly layers a cold case with present-day urgency, creating a sense of creeping dread that builds toward a jaw-dropping reveal. I was hooked by Ethan Hall’s reluctant return to a town—and a past—he tried to escape, especially as old secrets resurface and new threats emerge. The emotional undercurrent is surprisingly strong, too, especially through the lens of loss, guilt, and the relentless pull of unfinished business. This is Donlea doing what he does best: twisty, fast-paced suspense that keeps you guessing right up to the last page.

Charlie Donlea never fails to deliver a suspenseful, keep you on your toes mystery. The opening chapter immediately caught my attention, and it never ended. I loved the characters of Ethan and Maddie. All characters had great chemistry and fit in the story perfectly. The plot was intriguing and just when I thought I had it figured out, the author caught me by surprise with another alternative. The ending was a surprise, and I hope it means what I think (not saying as I don’t want to give any spoilers). Run to the nearest bookstore and grab this book, you won’t regret it.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.