Hannah Mary McKinnon delivers another knockout with A Killer Motive. From the very first chapter, I was completely drawn into the tension and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. McKinnon’s ability to craft layered, complex characters with believable motives is unmatched—every twist felt earned, every revelation kept me guessing, and the pacing was pitch-perfect.

What I especially appreciate is how she balances suspense with emotional depth. The characters aren’t just pieces on a chessboard; they’re fully realized, flawed, and compelling, which makes the unraveling of the mystery even more satisfying. By the time I reached the final pages, I was both stunned and completely satisfied.

This is a sharp, clever, and utterly addictive thriller that fans of psychological suspense will devour. McKinnon is quickly becoming a must-read author for me, and A Killer Motive is easily one of her best yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Years after Stella's brother's disappearance, his best friend also goes missing, and Stella gets caught in a game of cat and mouse trying to connect the two cases.

I get so excited when I see a new release by this author. This is definitely in my top 3 of hers. It kept me guessing from start to finish, I suspected everyone at one point though I didn't know why. So many red herrings were thrown in this book full of backstabbers and twists and turns and I couldn't put it down once I started. Stella wasn't the most likeable and definitely annoyed me at times, but I'll let that go. One thing I love about McKinnon is how she can write an ending that packs a punch. They are rarely perfectly tied up with a bow, yet still incredibly satisfying. I loved trying to piece this one together and highly recommend it.

"Let's play a game..."

This book was SO GOOD! It was so captivating, I listened to it in one sitting since I couldn't put it down. I had so many theories about what was going on, didn't trust a single person, and I was wrong about all of it.

Six years after her brother disappears, Sadie is co-host of A Killer Motive, a true-crime podcast she runs with her best friend. When she goes on a radio show to promote the podcast, a caller asks why she isn't pursuing her brother's case and next thing she knows, she's receiving eerie messages from a mysterious source and her brother's best friend is missing. What happens next is a tangled web of secrets, unhinged "games," and a race against time and a monster lurking in the dark.

Written in dual POV's, A Killer Motive is like watching both sides of a cat-and-mouse game. I loved getting the insight into both POV's, it was eerie and haunting. I loved the true crime elements, and the many twists and turns.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, true crime podcasts, and / or fascinated by the serial killers, this book is for you!

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.

A can't-put-it-down psychological thriller that will leave you suspecting everyone along with the protagonist right up to the end. Plenty of twists and turns and interwoven lies, quite a maze of intrigue.

I wasn't crazy about this book, I had hopes in the beginning - a lost brother, guilt for her part in it, Stella becomes true crime podcaster.
But as the book went on and the phone calls and all the strange names that were really the abductor, it was too much. The pinky, wrapping the father in as the suspect - I feel it went off the rails - it would have been a great story had it just stayed simple. Too many threads and too much to try to believe.

This book was intense from the start and kept raising the stakes. Stella is easy to root for because she is torn between guilt, grief, and determination. The podcast angle made the story feel modern and realistic, while the radio challenge gave it a chilling twist. I liked how the “game” made everything unpredictable, since you never knew what would happen next. The tension grows with every chapter, and it is hard to stop reading once you begin. It also shows how far someone will go when family is on the line. The mix of mystery and psychological suspense worked really well. Overall, it is gripping, emotional, and perfect for fans of thrillers that keep you guessing.

A captivating cat and mouse thriller that keeps you guessing. This book had me hooked, especially towards the end when the twists and turns continued to surprise me and pull me in.

Stella is a true crime podcast host of A Killer Motive, digging in to why people do the crimes they commit. Her life of true crime was 'inspired' by the disappearance of her brother Max 6 years ago. She was the one that took him to a party as a teenager, and Max never came home. He disappeared without a trace. While on another podcast promoting her show, a listener calls in and asks about Max, then she gets a follow up email from someone called "AL" telling her she needs to keep digging into Max's case. Since we also get the POV of the mysterious "AL", we know that the person is serious sinister and is goading Stella, warning her to keep her mouth shut.

Although the book starts off a little slow as it builds, once secrets start being revealed, I was captivated. Stella did some stupid stuff in the hopes of helping others and possibly finding her brother, but I still liked her as a character. Overall, it was so addictive, I found myself not wanting to stop reading once I got to the 80% mark. It kept me on the edge of my seat!

Everything seemed fine the night Stella Dixon sneaked her younger brother Max out of their parent’s house for a beach party, and it was until he disappeared.

Six years later she still carries guilt. Though unable to find her brother, she has helped other families with her true crime podcast – A Killer Motive.

Stella is invited to a local radio program. She says that if she received even one clue, she would find her brother and make the kidnapper pay for hurting her family. Someone takes her up on it by suggesting a game. If she wins, he will give her information about her brother. He sets the rules, and one is that she can’t contact the police. The game becomes more sinister when her brother’s best friend is kidnapped. She thinks it’s a sick joke but finds herself pulled into the middle of a dangerous situation. Who wouldn’t do whatever you could to find a missing brother and his best friend?

This was a fast read. I enjoyed the tension that made it hard to put down. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author, but I doubt it will be the last.

If you like a traditional mystery with an amateur sleuth, this may be one you need to read.

Expected release date is September 9th.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mira for an advanced reader copy for my honest review.

Wow.. just wow! Hannah Mary McKinnon always amazes me with her dark and twisted thrillers, I don’t know how she does it. I probably say this every time, but they just get better and better every single time! A Killer Motive blew my mind. I wish I had been able to read this in one sitting, stupid adulting getting in the way!!

You might think you know what is going to happen in this cat and mouse story but you will be wrong. I was pretty sure that I had it sussed until I didn’t. This ending was brilliant, completely unexpected and so very clever. I love a podcast in a book, I bet this is amazing in audio so I may have to do another read!

So, we have Stella Dixon, a true crime podcaster who is living with the guilt of her younger brother Max going missing on her watch 6 years ago. She is still trying to figure out what happened to him,long after the police seem to have given up. After appearing on a local radio show, she gets a call from someone who knows what happened and will make Stella play a dangerous game to get her answers.

I loved the short chapters that kept me guessing and had me wanting to just keep reading. Stella is such a broken woman, not ready to move on with her life yet and making some bad decisions. I gasped so many times as this story got into my head. I could not stop thinking about this story and now it was going to play out.

Another easy 5 star read and one that will be a favourite for 2025. Thank you so much to Hannah for having g me in her early readers team, and HTP, MIRA for sending. Me this book to read.

Publishes on September 9th and you need this book. You can all thank me later.

This book is a dark, emotionally charged thriller that grabs hold and refuses to let go. Centered around Stella Dixon—a true crime podcaster still haunted by the disappearance of her brother—the story spirals into a dangerous psychological game that’s as suspenseful as you'd want it to be.

There are eerie moments and mind games that make it nearly impossible to put down. What sets this book apart is its ability to balance the sinister thrill of the mystery with human vulnerability

Perfect for fans of twisty narratives and complex characters. If you're looking for a gripping, unpredictable read this one belongs at the top of your list.

In this psychological thriller, we follow Stella Dixon, a true-crime podcaster who struggles to cope with the unsolved disappearance of her brother six years prior. She becomes a target in a deadly game orchestrated by a manipulative stranger when they promise information about her brother’s case if Stella follows the twisted rules of the game.

I am not typically a huge thriller fan, but I really enjoyed this one! I listened to this on audio while tandem reading the eARC, and it felt like I was listening to a full production thanks to the talented narrators! I binged this book in two days because I enjoyed it so much!

The twists in this one were fun, and the pacing was perfect for a thriller. I did end up guessing the twist though, which kind of took the surprise away from the end, but I still enjoyed the author’s reasoning behind the creation of the book!

Overall, this was a fun thriller, and if you enjoy them too, you should absolutely pick this one up!

A special thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Harlequin Audio, and the author for early access to this Audiobook and eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you @hannahmarymckinnon @htp_hive @htpbooks_audio @readmirabooks #partner for the gifted copies of this book!

You know when you’ve read a few books by an author, and somehow each one just keeps getting better and better? That’s Hannah Mary McKinnon for me, and The Killer Motive was an absolute knockout! I’ve been craving dark, stressful reads lately, and wowza...this one delivered.

We follow teen siblings doing exactly what teens do best: rebelling, not listening, and doing whatever they want (haha). Stella sneaks her younger brother to a beach party their parents had strictly forbidden…and, well, what could go wrong? Turns out everything. Her brother vanishes without a trace and is never seen again.

Years later, Stella is still deep in the throws of her guilt. She’s created her own podcast, The Killer Motive, to help other families solve crimes. But when she blurts out on-air that she’d do anything to solve her brother’s case, someone takes her seriously. Too seriously. Suddenly, Stella is caught in a terrifying race against time game with someone who seems to know more than they should about her brother and her curiosity gets the better of her. She feels she has no choice but to play by their rules.

Talk. About. Stress. This book had me on edge the entire time. The pacing is warp speed, the podcast angle was done so well, and the tension is super stressful the whole way through. Just how I like it! I loved how dark and unsettling it got, and as someone super close to my own sibling, that “I’ll stop at nothing” feeling hit me right in the heart.

Secrets, lies, guilt, twists, and turns...I devoured every bit of it. If you pick this one up (and trust me, you should), clear your schedule because you will not want to put it down. Hannah, you’ve done it again! You never miss!

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, Killer Crime Club and Harlequin Trade Publishing MIRA.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

What at the time seemed like a harmless act of fun leads to guilt even as time passes. Sneaking her teenage brother so he can attend a beach party turns into a nightmare when he disappears without a clue. She is barely hanging on turning to her true crime podcast hoping to help other families cope. Needing sponsors for her show she does an interview which will put her n daner. A deadly game as someone offers her information on her missing brother if she plays a game. But as she tries to inort the off her brother best friend goes missing and threats of people will end up dead if she does not play. T’s an emotional rollercoaster that you will not soon forget.

Thank you to @harlequinaudio and @mira for my gifted advanced copies! When I saw a full cast on audio, I was sold! It has been awhile since a book hooked me like this one!! I started it in the morning and finished it that evening, listening every second I had the chance! I just had to know what happened and the audio is fantastic! I am such a fan of Hannah’s and this only solidified it! This book is so much darker than I had anticipated, but I loved every second! I love the podcast element in this one and how it added to the story! I found it so fast paced, addictive and filled to the brim with tension! The twists are smart and well placed and I loved the dual timelines! This is one you need to prepare to binge!!

If you write a thriller, and I can't guess the ending. Then you've done a damn good job! I've been successfully stunned by the ending of this book, I had so many "inklings" about who I thought was the actual "bad guy" in this book, but I honestly never guessed it right and probably wouldn't have. This book had so many twists, turns, and betrayals, that i was on the edge of me seat the whole time reading it! I finished this book in like 5 hours because I could not put it down!

Masterful Thriller That Will Keep You On The Edge Of Your Seat. McKinnon has become a true master of the kind of suspense/ thriller where you're still on the edge of your seat and trying to figure out what comes next... when their suddenly is no more "next" to be had in the book.

Now, don't get me wrong, she tells a complete story every time. She's just also become a master of telling that story and then leaving *just* enough dangling *so* well that you want that story to continue, even though it has reached its final point for the story she was telling in this particular tale.

Arguably one "weakness" here - more something I've just never gotten into and don't really understand the "appeal" of - is the podcast base of this tale. McKinnon uses it particularly well to tell her story, both in featuring actual podcasts within the tale and in using the relationships of the various personalities that create and work on and around podcasts to great effect.

For me though, the strength of this tale really is the relational. McKinnon creates here a woman with several crucial relationships... and one she isn't aware of that is about to push her to her limits. Because the best relationship in this book isn't the marriage or the friend or any of the other usual suspects.

It is the antagonist our leading lady finds out through this tale that she has. While our leading lady is no (Sherlock) Holmes or (Aloysious) Pendergast or (Charles) Xavier or even (Clarice) Starling, our antagonist here absolutely is one that fans of Moriarty or Diogenes or Lensherr or Lecter will absolutely love. Because yes, the antagonist McKinnon creates here *is* that good.

And yet... if our antagonist *is* that damn good and one way to measure someone is by the strength and ability of their enemies... doesn't that mean that our leading lady actually *is* that damn good herself?

How about you read the book and write your own review on whatever platform you're reading this review on and let us know. :) Feel free to tag me in it, assuming that is possible on said platform.

Overall though, this book really is very well done, exactly as fans of McKinnon expect from her... and may even be her best yet.

Very much recommended.

If you love twisty domestic thrillers that keep you second-guessing every character, A Killer Motive delivers in spades. Hannah Mary McKinnon has such a knack for weaving together suspense, secrets, and messy relationships and this one hooked me from page one.

Stella's brother goes missing from a party and it's now 6 years later. Stella and her best friend Viven, whom I thought was shady, have started a podcast where they investigate missing persons cases.

The story explores how far someone will go when pushed to the edge, you find yourself questioning who can you trust with every chapter. The shifting perspectives and reveals kept me turning pages. I especially loved how Hannah Mary McKinnon digs into the emotional side of crime reminding us that motives aren’t always black and white

Read if you are interested in:
⚓️ Cat and mouse chance
⚓️ True crime podcast
⚓️ Missing brother
⚓️ Deception
⚓️ Lies

I loved The Neighbors by Hannah Mary McKinnon so I was excited to read an arc of A Killer Motive. Thank you @htp_hive for my copy. Going in, I thought the element of the true crime podcast would makeup the bulk of the story. However, most of the story was a cat and mouse chase between Stella and her brother’s kidnapper. I did not really care for the characters because they were flat. The book became juice at 75%. The secret and lies were stunning.

Book: A Killer Motive
Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Mira, for providing me with an ARC. I have read several of Hannah’s books, and I have found them all very enjoyable. Her books are binagle, thrillers full of twists and turns. I didn’t expect anything less from this one, and it delivered.

In this one, we follow Stella. Stella Dixon has been haunted by the disappearance of her brother Max, who vanished six years ago after she snuck him out to a beach party. The family was torn apart, and despite her efforts to move forward, Stella couldn't shake the guilt that it was her fault. The only way she’s found to cope is by hosting her true crime podcast, A Killer Motive, where she helps other families find closure. In a desperate bid to attract new sponsors and keep her podcast running, Stella agrees to appear on a local radio show. During the interview, she publicly confesses that if she had one solid lead, she could bring the person responsible for Max’s disappearance to justice. To her shock, someone takes this as a challenge. Soon after, she receives a cryptic invitation to play a game, a game that promises the truth about Max's fate if she wins. At first, Stella thinks it’s just a sick prank, but the situation escalates when Max’s best friend vanishes under mysterious circumstances. A new set of rules arrives with chilling instructions: tell no one, or people will die. As Stella’s world unravels and she finds herself playing a dangerous, high-stakes game against an invisible enemy, the lines between truth and lies blur. With her brother’s fate hanging in the balance, Stella must face the ultimate question: can she beat the game before more lives are lost?

As I started my review by saying, Hannah writes thrillers that are edge-of-your-seat and very difficult to put down. This one was no different. Stella started her podcast with the intent of finding out what happened to her brother. Her guilt drives her, because she is the one who snuck her brother out to a party that her parents had forbidden him from going to. He disappeared on her watch, and she blames only herself. It has caused tension between her family and herself as well. It is her drive to find her brother, Matt, that is the focus of the book. Yes, there are other things, but Stella never wavers from her mission to find out the truth as to what happened to Matt.

The book is twisty because, like Stella, you are trying to figure out what has happened. We pick up the clues and start to put things together. Many of the characters have a past, and it's one that they want to stay hidden. As secrets are uncovered, it becomes very clear that it could be anyone. After all, there are many people who, once their story is out there, would have had a reason to harm Matt. Then, we add in the other layer of Stella getting phone calls and messages from someone wanting to turn this whole situation into a game. Not only are secrets coming out, but we now have someone who is pulling the strings. We don’t know why or what their connection is to everything that is going on.

Stella also has her trauma to work through. As I have already stated, Matt disappeared on her watch after she took him to a party that he wasn’t supposed to be at. It’s all kid things, but this did happen. Her relationship with her mom is very strained because of it. Even though her father doesn’t blame her, Stella still senses some tension there. Plus, she blames herself, and it eats her up. Her husband, Jeff, has been nothing but supportive. While her best friend and podcast co-host is trying to get to her go bigger because the podcast is running out of money. Stella has a lot on her plate. However, it's almost like she has not allowed herself to work through everything. She dives headfirst into whatever is going on. She goes after whatever she wants, but often without thinking about the consequences. She does it all with good intentions, but these good intentions do end up costing her. Again, this all goes back to her trauma and guilt about what happened that night.

Stella is not perfect, and this is what makes her relatable. She is very human and very flawed. She channels all of her trauma and guilt into solving cold cases with the hope that it might solve her own. She strongly believes that if she can find out what happened to Matt, then everything will be better and go back to how things used to be. Seeing a character struggle and having to attempt to work through their trauma allows readers to latch onto her and cheer for her. Her reactions and how she handles what is being thrown at her are all very human. If she acted fine after what she had been through, her character would not have been real at all. To me, it is Stella who drives this book and makes me enjoy it a lot.

Now, while we do have an ending, there is enough there for a second book, which I would gladly read.

Overall, I did enjoy this one a lot. If you are looking for a bingeable thriller with relatable characters, then I highly encourage you to give this one a go.

This book comes out on September 9, 2025.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/G1sf49mgR4o

A Killer Motive by Hannah Mary McKinnon is a gripping cat and mouse thriller that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The story follows Stella, a true crime podcast host whose life has been defined by the disappearance of her brother six years ago. Blaming herself for his vanishing, she has channeled her grief into her podcast, exploring unsolved cases—but nothing prepares her for the chilling turn her own life takes when an unknown figure claims to have information about her brother.

The novel builds slowly at first, immersing you in Stella’s world and her emotional weight, but once the second half kicks in, the pace accelerates, and the tension becomes almost unbearable. McKinnon’s plotting is masterful, with reveals both big and small that keep you guessing. The suspense is perfectly balanced with Stella’s personal grief, making her journey feel both thrilling and heartbreakingly human.

I found myself biting my nails and racing through the pages, desperate to see what would happen next. A Killer Motive is addictive, compelling, and perfect for fans of true crime, psychological thrillers, and edge of your seat suspense. Highly recommended if you love a story that combines emotional depth with relentless tension.