Title: A Killer Motive
Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: eBook
Publication Date: 9th September, 2025
Publisher: MIRA Publishing

**Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA Publishing for the eARC of A Killer Motive in exchange for an honest review.**

A Killer Motive is a dark, twist-laden psychological thriller that expertly toys with your trust and keeps you on edge until the very last page.

Stella Dixon has never quite forgiven herself for their brother Max's disappearance years earlier—an event she feels directly responsible for after sneaking him out to a beach party that night he vanished. Now, as a true-crime podcaster, she uses her platform to revisit cold cases, but one live radio segment changes everything. A seemingly offhand comment about Max's case ignites a dangerous game against a shadowy adversary. When Max's childhood best friend, Kenji, also disappears, Stella finds herself caught in a web where every move is anticipated, and every misstep could be fatal.

McKinnon crafts an atmosphere that's as chilling as it is addictive, layering tension through tight pacing, unnerving character dynamics, and unexpected twists. Stella is a multi-faceted and deeply human protagonist driven by guilt, grief and fierce loyalty. Her determination to uncover the truth is admirable, even it borders on self-destructive, and her vulnerability adds an emotional gravity that pulls you in. The supporting cast—each with their own secrets and questionable motives—keeps the reader second-guessing their allegiances at every turn.

One of the most captivating elements is the addition of short, unsettling chapters from the perspective of the adversary. These glimpses into the mind of Stella's unseen opponent ratchet up the suspense and make the stakes feel razor sharp. McKinnon's writing strikes a perfect balance between psychological depth, and propulsive plotting, with an atmosphere that hums with unease.

While the ending is undeniably creative—and genuinely caught me off guard—it felt slightly disconnected from the book and its early thematic promises. I found myself wanting a deeper dive into the "why" behind the twist, a final layer of motive that would have made the conclusion as inevitable as it was surprising. The abruptness of the final act also tempered some of the momentum McKinnon had been building so beautifully.

That said, A Killer Motive is still a throughly engrossing, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse that blends sharp plotting, strong character work, and an eerie atmosphere into a taut, singable thriller. It's a fast, tension-filled read, perfect for those who crave unpredictable twists, morally complex characters, and a narrative that refuses to let you catch your breath.

This psychological thriller is engrossing and unpredictable. The story follows Stella, a true-crime podcast host haunted by her teenage brother Max's disappearance six years ago. Her guilt from sneaking him out to a party where he vanished drives her to help other families find answers for their missing loved ones. After a radio interview, she gets caught in a sinister game by an unknown person who claims to have information about Max, leading Stella into a desperate and dangerous search for the truth.
While listening to the audiobook, I could feel Stella's intense emotions. The story led me to suspect each character at different times and the ending was unexpected.
I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing a complimentary advanced copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wow! This was pretty good! I really enjoyed the storyline, the twists and turns, especially at the end! The killer’s motive, didn’t see it coming!

Some discoveries I was kind of like “oh really?” But I really liked the spin from one suspect right to the true killer! It was a great time close to the end and raced to find out what was next!

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

thank you to Harper Collins, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this arc!

i had so much fun with this book! i haven’t read a thriller where the main character was true crime podcaster and i really liked that element! it gave stella (the main character) knowledge of police procedures and connections in the field she was able to rely on and use to her advantage. while some of her decisions i didn’t love, i couldn’t help but root for her to beat the kidnapper’s game!

there were some discoveries that were a bit “really? 🙄” but i was able to get past them quite quickly because of how much i was enjoying the story.

i had a lot of different theories while reading, some i was excited about! but the actual who was a bit lackluster. i’m pretty sure i audibly said “oh okay”. i loved everything about the reveal except the who!

one thing i loved that genuinely gave me the creeps were the chapters we got from the kidnapper’s perspective. i won’t say too much, but i read the first one at night before bed and needed to immediately turn on a light and watch cat videos for a bit 😅

i haven’t read too many mystery or thriller books recently, but A Killer Motive reminded me how much i love them and how happy they make me as a criminal minds fan and a criminology major graduate 🫶🏻 this was my first read by Hannah and won’t be my last. i really enjoyed her writing!

This was so twisty and creepy! I loved the layered plot and the narrations with the killer definitely added to the tension! I also didn’t see that ending coming!! This story was so captivating, and a solid twisty thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end! I also loved the author’s note at the end!

Release: Sept 9, 2035
Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon
Publisher: Harlequin Trade

Rating: 4 ★ 

Six years ago, Stella Dixon snuck her younger brother Max out to a beach party—only for him to vanish without a trace. Since then, her family has been shattered, and Stella has carried the weight of guilt ever since. Now, she pours her energy into A Killer Motive, a true crime podcast where she helps others find the closure she never got.

When she makes a public plea on a radio show, saying she could solve Max’s case if she just had one clue, someone unexpectedly takes her up on it. She receives a chilling invitation to play a game—with the promise of answers about Max if she wins.

At first, she thinks it’s a cruel prank. But when Max’s best friend suddenly disappears and new threats arrive, Stella realizes the stakes are real—and deadly. Now, she’s trapped in a high-stakes game with a faceless enemy who’s always one step ahead, and she must follow their rules if she wants to survive… and finally uncover the truth about what happened to her brother.

I was instantly hooked by this one. The story kicks off with a chilling premise—Stella sneaks her younger brother Max out to a beach party, and he vanishes without a trace. Six years later, Stella is still carrying the guilt, now channeling her pain into a true crime podcast called A Killer Motive, where she helps other families find closure for their cold cases.

But things take a terrifying turn when a mysterious invitation arrives, offering her clues about Max in exchange for playing a dangerous game. When Max’s best friend disappears, Stella realizes this isn’t just a cruel prank—someone is watching, and the stakes are deadly.

This book had everything I love in a thriller: a true crime podcast element, a haunting cold case, and a fast-paced plot full of tension and twists. I especially enjoyed the short, eerie chapters from the villain’s perspective—they added a creepy edge and kept me on edge. McKinnon does a great job balancing suspense and emotion; Stella’s guilt and desperation felt incredibly real.

The setting in Maine added a great layer of atmosphere—isolated, moody, and perfect for a story like this. And just when I thought I had it figured out, the ending completely blindsided me in the best way. If you’re a fan of dark thrillers with secrets, red herrings, and a protagonist you can root for, don’t miss this one.

Favorite Quote:
"when I woke up a while later... The world's axis tilted, everything spinning from the buds I'd drunk and the puffs I'd taken from a joint going around."

I'm always a fan of Hannah's books and this one was so good! It kept me on my toes the whole time. Every single time I thought I had a theory and could sense where the story was going, something would happen that would make me question everything. And yes, the final twist got me! I love when a psychological thriller can keep me guessing.

This was a super quick, fast paced read and I couldn't put it down. It had my interest within the first few pages and kept it until the end. It featured a true crime podcast, grief, trauma, a missing person's case, unsolved crimes, relationship troubles, family troubles, multiple timelines, some interesting characters that were tough to get a read on and sooooo many secrets and lies. Loved it and highly recommend reading!

Dark, creepy and a good twist. Read over one sleepless night, I had so much fun with this book. It slowed down a little towards the middle, but the ending was very well done.

This is the third book I've read by Hannah Mary McKinnon and it won't be the last. She creates vividly drawn characters, fast paced plots, and an abundance of unexpected twists. At times I wished the main character wasn't so flawed, but overall I found this an unputdownable read. I blew through it in one day. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for an advanced reader copy.

A cat and mouse thriller that I read in just two days because it was so addicting.

However, this was a case of loving a book until the ending. Unfortunately the reveal blew the story for me in how unbelievable it was. There were multiple red herrings throughout the book that would have made for a more satisfying conclusion in my book.

Thank you Mira and Netgalley for the advance reader copy.

Hannah Mary McKinnon has done it again! Another compelling, twisty thriller that you won’t want to put down.

Stella was a strong female lead, easy to root for. Paired with our second anonymous POV (whose chapters were absolutely chilling), I was dying to get to the bottom of it all.

Honestly I’ve tried to write this review a few times but decided it’s best to leave it at telling you to trust me and pick this book up. Especially if you’re a fan of suspenseful cat and mouse chases. The conclusion at the end of this suspenseful ride is so satisfying.

Read if you love:
🤫 Twists and turns
🐭 Cat and mouse
🎙️ Crime podcasts

Thank you Harlequin, Hannah and Netgalley for my review copies! ❤️

A Killer Motive
By Hannah Mary McKinnon

Pub date: 9/9/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

WHAT DID I JUST READ?!

Oh my gosh the twists and turns this book took me through… I feel like I ran a marathon after reading it!

There were a couple times I felt it was *a little* bit unbelievable.

But as an older sister to a deceased brother, I can completely emphasize with the unhinged behavior. So while I wouldn’t necessarily go that far, I get that the main character, Stella, did.

This book was so good. Add it to your TBR if you like the sharp plot and wild adventure of a dark psychological thriller.

Hannah Mary McKinnon! You made my blood pressure rise, my heart rate spike and my anxiety explode! Never before have I read something so gripping. The best psychological thriller I have read in a long time.
I love the dangerous dance between Stella and the antagonist. The family drama, the connections between Stella’s family, friends and neighbors. The full circle of events and how it all comes together. You’re a true artist and this is a masterpiece.
5+ Stars

Thank you NetGalley, Hannah Mary McKinnon, Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks for letting me be a early reader for A Killer Motive by Hannah Mary McKinnon And who can go wrong with a Mystery Thriller!? Esp in the summer time. I tend to read more of them in summer.

This one involves a girl name Stella who decided to take her brother Max out for a party but somehow her brother goes missing and she has no idea what happened to him. Stella has her own true crime podcast that she runs to help others find answers to what happened to their missing family members & Stella really wants to find her brother. Out of nowhere she receives an invitation that if she plays and wins this game she will get answers to what happened to him. And then something else happens sadly and then the rules change…. Geesh what a crazy story this was but yet good!

I’m not sure what kind of deal Hannah Mary McKinnon made with the thriller gods, but whatever it was, it’s working. Every. Single. Time.

A Killer Motive is an absolute knockout: razor-sharp, breathlessly paced, and emotionally loaded. This isn’t just a thriller. It’s a story about grief, guilt, obsession, and how far someone will go for the truth, even if it costs them everything.

Stella Dixon might be my favorite character HMM has ever created. Haunted by her brother’s disappearance, she’s raw, relentless, and so achingly human. She’s a true crime podcaster with heart and purpose and when her latest investigation turns personal, things spiral into a cat and mouse game that had my pulse racing and jaw dropping. I devoured this book in one sitting and canceled plans to finish it (no regrets).

The setup? Genius. Stella goes live on air and practically dares someone to come forward with a clue about her brother Max’s case. And someone does. But not with answers, oh no. They come with a sinister game, rules she never agreed to, and stakes that keep rising with every terrifying twist.

It’s deliciously dark, eerily timely, and full of McKinnon’s signature suspense: you’re not just reading this story, you’re trapped inside it, second guessing everyone, even yourself.

This book shook me. And when that final twist landed? I gasped. Out loud. Like a character in the book. If you love novels where grief and obsession collide with a ticking clock and morally gray choices, A Killer Motive is your next five-star obsession. Hannah Mary McKinnon does not miss.

My feelings on this book are all over the place. I absolutely love Hannah Mary Mckinnon!! I have read and loved all of her books and was over the moon to receive an advance copy of A Killer Motive. Well, sadly I could not connect with Stella. At first. The culprit was SO obvious, I was really worried I might be right. At first. The plot just seemed ridiculous. At first. All of a sudden, a few things happened and WOW!!!! I could not put this book down!!! And of course, absolutely nothing that I was so sure was going to happen, happened. This story is insanely ridiculously, but in all the right ways! Hannah Mary McKinnon is still most definitely at the top of her game with this one! And I am embarrassed that I even entertained the thought, however briefly that she could ever write a stinker!! Now I have to live with the disappointment that since I read an advance copy, I have that much longer to wait until another new book comes out. BOOOO!!!!

Thank you to Hannah Mary McKinnon, #NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for this much appreciated ARC! All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of September 9, 2025.

Stella’s brother went missing during a party she took him to six years ago. Driven by guilt and a desire to help others, Stella now runs a true crime podcast. When a mysterious invitation to play a game for clues on her brother arrives, she knows she can’t trust anyone.

Anyone who loves true crime and true crime podcasts will like this one. It has a lot of amateur investigation and is wrought with suspense. It’s not really one you’d be able to “figure out”. The ending is surprisingly and done very well.

“We’re all shades of gray. It serves no purpose pretending otherwise. The question is what we do with our darker parts - suppress or embrace..”

A Killer Motive comes out 9/9.

This was a pretty mild but enjoyable thriller. The pace does pick up about a third of the way through. I thought I had the killer nailed down early, but I was pleasantly surprised to get it wrong.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story had so much potential and I loved it at times, less so at others. It had all the right ingredients, but the MC/storyteller didn’t work for me. It felt like trying to solve a crime with an unqualified investigator — which is what she was (a true crime podcaster) to be fair — and as a result, I found that her choices and approaches frustrated me a bit. Following her train of thought down every new theory and twist and turn was a little exhausting, especially for the ultimate outcome, which I found to be a little underwhelming and incomplete. I suspect this might be more fun as an audiobook, given the podcaster storyline and the conversational/casual style of writing. If I were to read it again, I’d definitely try audio!
Thanks for the ARC @netgalley & Harper Collins!

I wanted to love this one after completely enjoying several others by McKinnon.

This one didn’t work as well for me because…

Though I finished it over a couple of days, the pacing was detailed until about the half way point.

There were a couple of important characters that were downright detestable and made it hard to engage. I just wanted to throat punch them.

There were some convoluted sub plots that were, idk, just out there.

When it came down to it I couldn’t buy into the final reveal without suspending disbelief.

With thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins/HTP Books, Mira Books and Hannah Mary McKinnon for the advance digital copy.