3.75 rounded ⬆️
And, by the way, I think the book blurb gives away too much!

Opening Sentence: When he unclasped the button on her jeans, she knew she would lose her virginity that night.

How’s that for an opening line to hook you?

Ten years ago, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community, and to this day, her body has not been found.

Now, Ethan Hall’s former partner, Pete Kramer, has asked him to come out of retirement to help him solve this Cold Case, before Lou Gehrig’s disease claims his life. Ethan is now an ER Doctor, having decided that the job of investigating crimes against kids for Wisconsin’s Division of Criminal Investigation was taking too much of a toll on him, emotionally, despite his 100% solve rate.

He reluctantly agrees to re-examine the evidence, for his friend, having no idea that there will end up being a personal link to the crime which took his own father’s life.

Or that reopening the case could still bring danger to himself and to those he cares about.

I LIKED but didn’t LOVE this latest offering from Charlie Donlea, and I think that is because of the style the book is written in. The story jumps around A LOT, with short chapters that always list the DATE and the Wisconsin location that the chapter takes place in, moving from PAST to PRESENT at will. While the dates are important, I feel like the locations bogged down the pace and were not a necessary detail. It felt too BUSY.

By the second half, I got into the swing of things, and the pace picked up. It was interesting to discover the role that each of the characters would play, and I enjoyed all of the shocking twists, EXCEPT FOR ONE.

It would appear from the denouement, that Ethan Hall, may have to put his career in medicine on hold-as a sequel just MIGHT be in the works. And, I did find this story entertaining enough to read a second book with these characters, should the author choose to go there.

Available July 29, 2025

Thank You to Kensington Publishing for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

I didn't love this book.

The sexual aspect in the beginning, was awkward. I've only read one of his books, and it was okay for me. But I really loved the premise of this book. It just fell short.

* Tropes/themes:
* Multiple POV
* Short chapters
* Flashbacks
* Cold case mysteries
* Serial killers
* Small town vibes
* Cat and mouse chase
* An addicting and action-packed thriller.
* SO MANY twists and turns- I was constantly shocked.
* The amount of suspense and tension was insane.
* Had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
* Complex, well-developed, and likeable characters.
* A great and subtle Bell’s Palsy representation.
* There were so many moving parts that never became hard to follow, only adding to the mystery, and they all came together flawlessly.
* The ending was perfection.
* I truly hope we get another book from this one, if not a full series.
* Content warnings:
* Murder
* Death
* Violence
* Kidnapping
* Torture
* Injury/injury details
* Adult/minor relationship
* Abortion
* Teen pregnancy
* Toxic friendship
* Death of a parent

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy! Charlie Donlea has quickly become one of my go to authors and this book solidified it. The plot unfolded at just the right pace to keep me guessing right up until the end. The way the characters stories were slowly weaved together was masterful and I loved every page of it!

Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my first book by this author and I will definitely read more . A great thriller with lots of twists and turns and kept me guessing throughout . 3.25⭐️

While all of Donlea's books have been riveting reads for me, I was blown away by "Guess Again." This one truly had me double and triple guessing until the jaw-dropping resolution.

Callie Jones, a beautiful and popular high school student, disappeared without a trace one hot summer night, ten years prior. Her father, now the current Wisconsin governor, never got over her disappearance. When he approaches Ethan Hall, a former investigator with the police department, to re-open her case, Ethan is hesitant at first. Being an investigator had taken its inevitable mental toll. and Hall is now an emergency room doctor, leaving his detective past behind. Ethan agrees to give it a shot, and is immediately wrapped into a mystery as devious as it is depraved.

With the help of Lindsay Larkin, Callie's former best friend and a successful online psychologist, Ethan returns to the events of that summer. While the town of Cherryview looked idyllic from the outside, it harbored secrets and dark pasts from many of those who lived there. When another young woman disappears, Ethan begins to explore the possibilities that the cases could be tied together, even with ten years separating them. As he races to hopefully discover the missing woman before time runs out, he receives a threat from someone in Callie's past. Someone who knows what happened to Callie. Someone who may be responsible and was never caught.

Donlea is the ultimate in thriller/suspense novels, and this one may have been his best work yet. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

🌟🌟🌟💫
Ethan Hall gave up his job as a successful police detective for the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation-crimes against kids. In fact, His success rate was actually 100%. But that perfection took a heavy toll on his psyche. So what’s a fella’ going to do? Well, how about heading off to med school. And now in his forties, is practicing medicine as an ER physician. Hmm…ok?

Out of the blue, his former partner, Special Agent Pete Kramer comes calling. He’s asking Ethan to put his medical career on hold to help close a case that’s been haunting him for years. Ethan couldn’t have ever imagined how saying yes would change his life forever.

I really enjoy Charlie Donlea’s writing. He always creates an intricate and twisty tale, keeping you reading late into the night, as all the pieces start to come together. And then that ending! Ooh! Definitely didn’t expect that!

But…there were too many things that just didn’t add up or completely make sense for me to give it all the stars. (Maybe I’m just nitpicking.)💁🏼‍♀️
🔻There were certain characters that were introduced in the beginning, yet their relevance seemed but a footnote to the storyline in its entirety.
🔻I tried my hardest to understand why he needed to be an ER physician? It didn’t add up or really add anything to the storyline.

Overall, it was still an enjoyable read by one of my go to authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Guess Again by Charlie Donlea!

Charlie Donlea has become an auto buy author for me and Guess Again did not disappoint. I was literally guessing until the very end.

I love Charlie Donlea and I love how he intertwines storylines and timelines seamlessly. This book hooked me from the start and I finished it quickly. I certainly didn't see the ending coming, which I absolutely love in a thriller.

*Guess Again* by Charlie Donlea is a thrilling and cleverly crafted mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. With a unique premise centered around a cold case being revisited through new, unexpected clues, Donlea masterfully weaves a story filled with suspense, twists, and engaging characters. The pacing is impeccable, and each chapter builds tension, leaving you eager to turn the page.

What stands out in *Guess Again* is the depth of the characters. The protagonist is both relatable and intriguing, and their journey to uncover the truth is a rollercoaster of emotions. Donlea's skillful writing draws you into the world of the novel, making it impossible to put down. The plot is full of unexpected turns, making it hard to predict what will happen next.

Overall, *Guess Again* is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful mysteries. It's a fast-paced, thought-provoking novel that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Thank you, Kensington Publishing for providing the copy of Guess Again by Charlie Donlea. I always know a Donlea book will be a great read, so I was excited to read this. What did I just read? I have read hundreds of thrillers and this one had more shocking reveals than any of them. Whenever I started to think I knew what was happening I was wrong! If you’re confused, trust me it all comes together and makes sense in the end. I was on the edge of my seat, my mind reeling, and I couldn’t put the book down. I wish I could read this book again for the first time. You have never read a thriller like this, and it will keep you guessing again. 5 stars

Good lord, Charlie Donlea does it again. This book was action packed, twists and turns abound, and I could not put it down. A cold case with new leads has Ethan Hall (detective turned doctor) starts looking into the case of Callie Jones, a 17-year-old volleyball player who went missing. Lindsay Larkin, Callie's high school best friend is also looking into these as new leads emerge. This book was fast paced, and true to Charlie Donlea books, it is absolutely fantastic.

Guess again…a case is reopened into the disappearance of Callie Jones’s after she’s been missing for 10 years. Chapters go between a serial killer in prison, an abducted girl and an ex law enforcement officer (now a Doctor) on the case and the run up to what happened in 2015. It comes together at the end in a suspense filled way and it doesn’t end there. I’m hoping there will be a second one?! I would certainly be eager to read it. It was such a thrilling read. This is my second book my this author and I really look forward to reading more.

Every time I see that a new Charlie Donlea book is coming out I know I’m going to be in for a treat. You can always count on his books to be fast paced, suspenseful and chilling. His newest is definitely not to be missed. Once you read this one go back and read his past books, if you haven’t already, you will not be disappointed. When asked for a book rec, Donlea is at the top of the list.

Ethan Hall, DCI agent turned doctor is thrown back into the game when asked to help on a case about a missing girl from 10 years ago. Everyone in town soon learns that he is looking into what happened, including the man that has been is prison for 30 years for killing Ethan’s father. What follows is a twist filled investigation that doesn’t let up until the unforgettable ending. You may think you have the answers but, Guess Again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a roller coaster. Just when I got to the end and thought everything was tied up, another twist. There were lots of characters to keep up with, but a solid storyline and a great read. My only complaint is that the ending felt very abrupt, and I hope that there will be a sequel to this book because the stage was definitely set.

This was my first book by this author but I will definitely be picking up more!

Thanks to NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for my advanced copy to review!

Wanted to love but felt a bit forced/contrived. I couldn't get into the characters or their development. Felt a bit soapy compared to this author's previous books.

Ten years after a teenage girl disappeared, Ethan (former detective turned ER doctor) is contacted by his old partner with a dying wish of sorts for Ethan to look at all the evidence again. Unfortunately the serial killer who murdered Ethan's father is also somehow involved. There was a lot going on here. There were parts of the ending that I did not love, but it was also not really obvious what would happen. It seemed to be left pretty wide open for a sequel too, and I would probably read it. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

*A breathtaking new thriller from one of the best at the top of his game.*

Charlie Donlea's books have quickly become must reads for me over the past years, and with one notable exception ("Those Empty Eyes"), I have enjoyed them all. "Guess Again" finds the author at the top of his game delivering another breathtaking thriller.

Ethan Hall - a renegade special agent with Wisconsins' Division of Criminal Investigation with a one hundred percent solve rate who left law enforcement ten years ago to become an ER doctor instead - gets a visit from an ailing former colleague hoping for help with a cold case. In the summer of 2015, seventeen-year-old Callie Jones, popular volleyball star and daughter of an ambitious politician, vanished without a trace from her quiet Wisconsin lake community.

As has become his trademark, the author alternates between different timelines and POVs, expertly weaving together the case's backstory, Callie's last weeks before her disappearance in 2015, with a present-day plot entailing a seemingly unrelated prisoner who was convicted for killing Ethan's father. The complex setup involving many side characters comes together seamlessly in a gripping, fast-paced thriller.

Ethan Hall is an absolute standout as a compassionate, skilled, but flawed protagonist. The final chapter makes it clear we will be seeing more of him in the future, and I for one cannot wait.

Overall, this made for a highly enjoyable, engrossing, layered read that kept me on the edge of my seat. One of the best thrillers I have read in a while!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Guess Again" is slated to be released on Jul 29, 2025.

Holy sh*t!!! Prepare yourselves for one of the greatest novels of our time. I'm not just saying this. This book is absolute GOLD.



A former detective turned ER physician is pulled back into his old life for a chance to provide insight into a cold case that has haunted his former partner and the truths he unearths will leave him shook to his core.


This book has everything you could want: a serial killer playing cat and mouse games behind bars with his former victim's son, secret romances, and white knuckle suspense that will have you tearing through the pages.

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing for this chance to review #GuessAgain by Charlie Donlea coming to shelves near you July 29th!!!

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Wow! WOW! What a book! Ethan is an ER doctor after burning out in his detective job. His dying friend from the force asks him to open the cold case of Callie, a 17 year old VB star. There is a deep mystery to her disappearance that. Is shocking. When visiting the jail of the man who murdered his father he receives information about the murder. How can this be? How could he know? What he is asking for the information is not good but Ethan needs to know. Will Ethan find the girl? A hair raising read to the finish!