Wow wow wow! Thanks to NetGalley for the early read. I was invested from the beginning, trying to figure it out. Just when I was sure I had figured out the twist and that the story was predictable, the whole thing blew up in my face making me realize I am not so clever. To the very last paragraph, I was caught by surprise again and again. Another fantastic read from Charlie Donlea.

An Intense narrative from the start, I was engaged and on the edge of my seat throughout.
The writing is impressive and the plot is quite intricate, with characters that feel real and well-crafted.
I loved how the story uses different perspectives that all tie together in unexpected ways. The ending blew my mind…Highly recommend listening while reading too!
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read and listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Charlie Donlea certainly is a hit or miss author for me, and what I've learned over his many books is that you have to suspend disbelieve - and then some. But his writing style is addictive and if you want a whirlwind story, short chapters and a "good old story" without too much fuss, and he should be on your radar. He certainly is on mine!

Now, for "Guess Again", you will have to suspend disbelieve again - I have raised many eyebrows and I might even have uhu-ed a few times - but if you are willing to do that and just move on, than it is a thrill ride. A hunt for a serial killer that goes every other way, putting you on the wrong foot again and again, and end with a bang. And I mean ... what the hell just happened BANG?!

It certainly paved the way for further installments and I would be very disappointed if there wouldn't be any follow-up. So forget about the plotholes the cookie-cutter characters, and the average prose and just take a jump for a very entertaining and addictive story.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington, and the author for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is the eighth book I've read by the American author. I'm conscious that Donlea's not a household name but certainly a go-to author for me - offering up consistently good thrillers. Here we've got a likeable lead in Ethan Hall - a cop-turned emergency room doctor convinced to return to try to solve one last case and maintain his (former) 100% solve-rate. It helps however that he's being given clues by a prisoner - who killed Ethan's police officer father 32 years earlier.

Ethan left the police before he burned out. But he agrees to take a look at the 10-year old case involving a missing school girl at the request of his former partner and the girl's father (an American politician Governor... as opposed to English boss-like Guv'nor!) who offers to wipe his student debt. He's also motivated by the fact that Francis Bernard, imprisoned for the murder of Ethan's father but a suspect in multiple rapes and murders, seems to have information - including access to the missing girl's phone and knowledge of her movements before disappearing.

Ethan's great lead with a strong backstory, partnering up on the case with Maddie (a cop and his lover) who escaped Francis years before. It's glaringly obvious Francis has a nefarious agenda that we're forced to wait and discover, also learning Maddie receives regular letters taunting her as the one who got away but still has not been forgotten.

We go back and forward in time through old evidence and those who knew the high-achieving student at the time of her disappearance. As is often the case with Donlea's novels, this is character-driven (and I note he writes about his characters on his website), but it's the pacing that's the star here, and the fact that Donlea is able to misdirect us a number of times (almost bumping this to a rare 4.5 star read). Something seems obvious until it no longer is. This is a great read with some huge twists... and interestingly it seems Donlea may be kicking off a series here as it finishes in a way that suggests there's more to come.

WHAT did I just read?? Wow! This book grabbed you by the arm and threw you into chaos!! I'm shocked by the ending that I never would've guessed!! The suspense just kept coming and coming until the end and left your jaw dropped!!

WHOA! This was a ride. As usual, I am duped by the twist and turns of Donlea’s plot lines. I was sucked in from the start and as a super fan of Charlie Donlea books, I was mentally prepared to try to figure out what was happening. Nope. Lots of layers and very intense. Donlea fans will not be disappointed.

Something I have come to appreciate about Donlea is his books are not laced with constant profanity or spiciness. This plot line involves more “spice” than normal for him. So, not my preferred subject matter.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

3.5 but rounding up to 4.
Let me preface this - my first and only previous Charlie Donlea book was twenty years later - I am not a super thriller reader and that was the type of thriller I was expecting. This is not it and will probably be enjoyable for most thriller readers. In this case - it was really me, not Charlie.

Carry on:

If you are looking for a twisting, hard to solve thriller - this is it. For me, there were so many moving parts that it was overwhelming and I felt confused and like I missed pieces. Didn’t love, probably wouldn’t read additional if there is more in this book line. Also, the ending was zero stars.

This was a solid police procedural. It starts right in the action in a way that makes you feel like maybe it’s part of a series. Solid mystery, solid characters, overall a solid read.

Charlie Donlea delivered AGAIN!

A locked up serial killer, a former cop becomes an ED doc but gets dragged back into a cold case of said serial killer?

This. Had. It. All.

OMG the way I binged this in under 12 hours. I couldn't stop. I did part kindle and part audio and absolutely loved it. I absolutely loved the way Donlea wove these characters, all seemingly unconnected, together. Francis is a true psycho and that ending?! WTF. We need more Ethan stat.

I'll never be able to look at a black heart the same way again. IYKYK.

I sense a sequel brewing on the horizon! As a newcomer to this author’s work, I’m not entirely sure if this book is part of a series, but it certainly stands on its own. However, with its tantalizing open-ended conclusion, I can’t help but speculate that more is on the way—and I’m thrilled about it!

On the 10th anniversary of Callie Jones' disappearance in Cherryview, Wisconsin, her cold case is revived. Callie, a high school volleyball star, vanished a decade ago, leaving no trace. Former detective Ethan Hall, now an ER doctor, is asked by his dying ex-partner Pete to help solve the case for closure. As Ethan reinvestigates amid a heatwave, he uncovers dangerous connections tied to Callie's disappearance and his own past, drawing him into a high-stakes psychological game.

This captivating tale unfolds across two timelines and a few POVs, expertly weaving together the threads of the past and present. It’s one of those books that demands your full attention, as every detail plays a crucial role in the grand tapestry of the story. The array of characters is introduced gradually, allowing you to form your own opinions about who you like and who you don’t. Of course, the main character, Ethan, is the quintessential likable protagonist—a former law enforcement officer turned medical professional. It’s a curious transition, but somehow, it works brilliantly in this narrative!

What I enjoyed most about this book was the clever writing. The author seems to have plotted everything at least ten steps ahead, and trust me, none of the twists and turns are predictable. I dare you to try and guess what happens next, but even if you do, you won’t see the rest coming! This unique storytelling style kept me on the edge of my seat, making it impossible to put the book down.

I was fortunate enough to experience both the audiobook and eBook versions, which elevated the overall experience to new heights. The narrator did an outstanding job, making it nearly impossible to hit pause—even when I desperately needed to!

This book has a little something for everyone, so no matter your literary preferences, you’ll find elements that will keep you turning the pages. With police procedurals, obsession, a cleverly executed plot, and a web of lies and deceit involving some rather innocent individuals, the vivid descriptions make everything feel incredibly believable. You’ll find yourself exclaiming “What?!” more times than you can count! Happy reading, and I hope you devour this!

Thank you, RBmedia and Kensington, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received a gifted copy of GUESS AGAIN by Charlie Donlea from Kensington Books as part of the Donlea's Detectives team!

Publication Date: 7/29/2025
Rating: 4.5 / 5

GUESS AGAIN centers on a cold case, that of a missing teenage girl Callie Jones. Ethan Hall was once a detective working on crimes against children, but the work was dragging him down so he shifted gears and went to medical school. When his former partner walks into his ER looking for help on this cold case, Ethan can't say no to this man's dying request. It has been ten years since the 17-year old Callie went missing, but new information comes to light from an unlikely source and Ethan is drawn into a psychological game in the search for answers.

I went into this book with high hopes as I have really enjoyed Charlie Donlea's writing before and I was not disappointed. The book really captured my attention quickly and the pace kept me hooked throughout. This is a book made up of very short chapters that absolutely keep you hooked for 'just one more'. If it weren't for the need to work and sleep, I likely could have finished this in one sitting.

The content in this book does get a bit dark and I would suggest checking out trigger warnings if there are things you would want to be warned about. This is a case involving a missing teen, so there are discussions about her relationships with both adults and fellow teens in her life. I think the author handles things well, including talking about Ethan's history with solving crimes against children and his burnout.

This book comes to a solid conclusion, but it does leave enough room for a potential sequel which I'd happily pick up!

I couldn’t put this one down. I read it in just a few hours! It’s fast-paced and packed with action. The story kicks off with Callie’s disappearance ten years ago, a cold case that her father is desperate to reopen. Enter Ethan, a former detective with a flawless track record, who’s pulled back in to take on the case by his old partner. Twists, tension, and emotional depth are all wrapped into this exciting story.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing | Kensington for my advanced e copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publish date: July 29!!

First book I have read from this author and won't be the last. This is such a good thriller and probably one of the best I've read so far this year. Hoping there will be another one to this series.
Meanwhile I will be going through the authors previous books. Great character development. Great plot lines. Loved it.

Callie Jones disappeared 10 years ago, but in present day her case is thrust back into the foreground. An ex-detective is brought back to help solve her case by an unlikely and untrustworthy source, a prison inmate.

This was so good! I LOVE Donlea’s writing. I’ve read all of his books except one and there hasn’t been one I haven’t liked! I really enjoyed Ethan and Maddie’s characters and hope this turns into a small series like a couple of Donlea’s other books.

This book was a page turner and a wild ride told from multiple POVs. There are dual timelines, however most of the story takes place in the present. This book truly had me Guessing Again a few times and I loved every second of it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel. I really enjoy Charlie Donlea's books, but this one fell a bit flat for me. I am not normally able to predict the killer but I did with this one. Also, it seems like this might be setting up for a continuation of this story, but the ending of this book left me feeling confused and PISSED OFF for Maddie. I'm not sure what that relationship is supposed to be, but Maddies ending felt disrespectful and hollow.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Recorded Books Media for gifting me a physical, digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Charlie Donlea, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Vivienne Leheny. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Ten years ago, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community. A highly publicized search followed but her body was never found. The case went cold but the original investigator, Pete Kramer, never let it go. Pete turns to Ethan Hall, his former partner who left law enforcement to become an ER doctor, to help him solve the case. Ethan turns to his nemesis, currently in a maximum-security prison, for some assistance, but he may get more than he bargains for.

Wow! As typical with Donlea's books, this one had me flipping the pages as fast as I could, and when I couldn't read, I was listening to the audiobook. Told from multiple POV and timelines, we learn of multiple cases - from Callie's disappearance, to a serial killer's conquests, to Ethan's father's murder, to another missing girl The plotting is perfection and I was blown away with how all these multiple plot lines came together in such a twisty fashion to keep me totally on my toes. The best part? The open ending that leaves hope that this isn't the last we will hear from Ethan. The audiobook production was great - the narrator voiced all the characters so well and I appreciated the way her voice took on the qualities of different effects, to really immerse the reader in the experience. Don't miss this one!

This was my first time reading Charlie Donlea, and it won’t be my last. Guess Again was fast-paced from the start, no dragging in this read! Just when one storyline started to wrap up, another thread kept things moving, and then out of nowhere, bang! A solid twist that caught me off guard.
It’s a quick read, but a good one. Tight, punchy, and easy to stay hooked. If you like suspense with layers that keep unfolding with a serial killer element thrown in, this one’s worth picking up.

I literally love all of Charlie Donlea's books - the absolute king of thrillers. This one was incredibly binge-worthy and kept me on the edge of my seats, I'm excited to read more of Charlie's works in the future!

4.25 stars
Ethan Hall is an emergency room doctor who has left his career as a criminal investigator behind. Even though he had a 100% solve rate, the stress and darkness of dealing with crimes against kids took their toll and now he's helping people in a different way. His former partner with Wisconsin's Division of Criminal Investigation comes to Ethan with a big favor. Pete asks Ethan to investigate the case he has never given up on - the disappearance of high school student Callie Jones ten years ago. Callie is the daughter of the man who is now the state's governor who also wants Ethan to investigate. Although Ethan didn't originally work on the case, he learns he has a tie to the case, which will take many unexpected turns.

There are two timelines in the story - one in the present and one in the time leading up to Callie's disappearance. There are several characters in the story and some will play an important part in Ethan's investigation. I've read a few prior thrillers by Donlea and he is a master at complex cases and unexpected plot turns. This book definitely has a complicated plot, and several surprising plot twists, some I liked and honestly some I didn't. Answers are given to most questions in the story, but one major cliffhanger is left hanging at the end. This surprised me, but I assume a sequel is planned. I like Ethan so if there is, I'd be interested in reading it.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the advance review copy of the ebook. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Grab a Map, or a piece of paper and a pencil, because you're going to need it to keep up with what character is where in the state of Minnesota. Guess Again has short chapters and is very fast paced. The Author does a fantastic job of grabbing your interest and keeping it. Keeping up with the places, characters and the locations of characters was the hard part to me. That being said, GO READ IT!