This is the second Allison Brennan book that I’ve read, I read the first book in this series and I enjoyed this book even more than the first one! This book had me gasping out loud and I couldn’t wait to see how it played out. I hope this series continues I will definitely be reading it!

I love anything Allison Brennan and have now fallen in love with this newer series. I love the characters and family dynamic. I can’t wait for more books in this series!

This is the second novel in the Angelhart Investigations series by Allison Brennan, which also includes a prequel and a novella between novels one and two. Ms. Brennan’s one of my very favorite authors and I have read every book in each of her series. None have failed me and this is no exception. Great characters and believable situations. I had an early guess as to who the top baddie was, but the accomplices were all a surprise. Satisfying ending and looking forward to more.

When 16 year old Elijah Martinez is found dead from an apparent overdose, the police quickly close the case. But his mother refuses to believe her son was just another statistic. Desperate for answers, she turns to Margo Angelhart and her brother Jack, a former cop, whose fledgling PI firm is already gaining a reputation for taking on cases no one else will touch. As Margo digs deeper into Elijah's life, she uncovers unsettling secrets hidden within his school and social circle.. bullying, drugs, and dangerous alliances that someone is determined to keep buried. But when witnesses start turning up dead and the investigation leads back to a powerful drug ring, Margo and Jack find themselves up against ruthless enemies who will do anything to silence the truth. The closer they get to exposing what really happened, the more personal and deadly the case becomes.

Allison Brennan is proving why she's a master of modern crime thrillers. Don't Say A Word takes a heartbreaking premise, the death of a teenager dismissed as an od, and spins it into a tightly wound mystery that keeps the tension razor sharp from start to finish. Margo is the kind of main character readers will root for, flawed but fiercely determined. The twists land hard, the stakes feel personal, and the pacing makes it nearly impossible to put down. More than just a crime story, it's a novel about loyalty, justice, and the courage it takes to speak the truth when everyone else wants it buried.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Brennan, and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for this eARC! Publication date was September 16th, 2025.

really enjoyed this. thrilling and downright addictive. i found the story to be fast paced and kept me intrigued all throughout. finished in one night and perfect for a quick read

I have been such a big fan of Allison Brennan and this Angelhart Investigation series does not disappoint! I loved the characters, it was very fast paced and totally enjoyable!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!!

4.5 Stars

Angelhart Investigations has been asked to look into the death of Elijah Martinez, a high school honor student. He wasn’t known to do drugs, yet the police have ruled his death an accidental overdose with little investigation. His mother and best friend, Angie, want answers.

Margo Angelhart dives right in as the case brings up a painful memory from her past. Her gut tells her there’s more to Elijah’s death, especially when she discovers a major drug operation was brought down at Elijah’s school a few years earlier.

Angie, Elijah’s best friend, was also a key character. She was a smart girl with her head on straight despite her deadbeat mother. Angie ends up in danger while pursuing the truth.

The whole Angelhart family work together at their private investigative firm, each one with a specialty that’s key in handling the cases. There’s some friction between Margo and her mother, but it’s clear they’re a close, loving family. The last installment, Out of the Shadows, was novella length with Margo’s brother, Jack, taking the lead in the investigation. He ended up gaining a girlfriend in the process. I loved the pairing, and it was nice to “see” them again here. We’re introduced to a potential love interest for Margo and I’m all for it!

Don’t Say a Word wrapped up in a thrilling conclusion, and I can’t wait for the next installment! I love this series, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of smart crime procedurals with complex, relatable characters and a bit of romance!

This was my first book by this author and I really liked it! It had a solid plot and it was the perfect thriller. I had no idea until after the fact that there was a first book in this series and I am definitely going to go back and read the first one. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything though. It is so worth the read!

Margot Angelhart is officially one of my favorite new characters! This should not be a surprise because Allison Brennan writes tough, strong female characters, and Margot is no different. 5 stars for the second installment of this series!

In this one, a high school student - Elijah Martinez - is found dead of what looks like a drug overdose. But Elijah’s mother and his best friend do not believe it. They have questions, and they want answers. Elijah’s mother hires Angelhart Investigations to give them closure.

Margot and her siblings along with their mother dive deep into this case. I love following Margot’s thought process throughout the story. She keeps you on the edge of your seat. We also get a glimpse into the other characters’ thoughts too. This story did not go in the direction that I thought it would - it was original, with an incredible ending.

I also listened to the audiobook of this one. Hillary Huber does an amazing job with this series. If you prefer to listen, this one is amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and MIRA Books for the digital review copy! This one is out now, I highly recommend starting with the first book - you will be hooked in no time. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

If you are a police/thriller/mystery reader, this is the book for you. I could not put this book down. I was invested in Margo’s investigation into Elijah’s death. I knew that she would find the answers that she was looking for. What would be the fall out of finding those answers?

Margo is quite the character. She is not afraid to step up to those in charge, whether it is her mother or the police. She takes charge and follows the clues. She does not walk away from danger. I really enjoyed her and look forward to more. Margo’s family is wonderful. They are in her business but more so to be helpful and protective. I look forward to learning

The tragic result of the death of young Elijah Martinez has a domino effect. The high school student’s death was ruled an accidental overdose, but his history proved otherwise. When Margo Angelhart takes on the case what she finds is utterly devastating as drugs and secrets that have affected local teens are facts coming to light.

Sadly, Elijah’s death is not the only murder connected to this case, and Margo is determined to find justice for him all while trying to stop the drug scene that has permeated his school. Margo’s determination to solve this case as quickly as possible matches her brother Jack’s concern.

As a grandparent, it is difficult to read stories as serious as this one - teens and drugs. Allison Brennan handles this serious story with care, as it is written in such a way that pulls the reader in right from the start. The Angelhart family always works hard when it comes to their cases, and Margo is no exception. Her care and concern for the teens involved keep her fully invested the deeper her investigation grows.

This is an exhausting case for Margo, and her care and concern for everyone involves shines through. She is a great part of the investigative family. This book follows You’ll Never Find Me, the first book in the series, as well as the novella, Out of the Shadows. Each book has its own story and thus can be read as standalones, but for the sake of continuity, it is recommended to read the series in order.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The way that Brennan uses her characters to peel away the layers of this story is just wonderful. I loved the family interactions, the give and take of working together in their business and how Margo is coming to see that as a very good thing. Margo had her disagreements with the family in the past but this time they were all united to figure out what really happened. I have four grandkids in high school and the plot hit close to home for me. With drug use rampant it was truly scary. This was a mystery, but I enjoyed the little, very little, fantastic love zinger at the end. I can't wait for the next book.

With Private Investigator Margo Angelhart now working for the family business and not on her own, she is coming to see the advantages of having partners. Her sister Tess is fantastic with research and her brother Jack, a former Phoenix police detective, is solid and dependable. Her mother, a former county attorney and prosecutor, adds her expertise to the mix. With extended family also in various aspects of law enforcement they all make a formidable team and provide solid backup.

When a heartbroken mother who has lost her son comes to Angelhart Investigations, Margo is compelled to investigate and get to the bottom of what really happened to Elijah Martinez. The police ruled his death an accidental overdose, but the honor student had no history or known involvement with drugs. Police closed the case without a thorough investigation, leaving a lot of unanswered questions.

Every angle Margo explores only leads to more questions and more angles, but no clear path to what really happened to Elijah. Elijah's best friend, Angie, is so angry at the police and just angry at the world, but she is also determined to get to the truth. Margo is nothing if not tenacious and she is determined, exploring all aspects of Elijah's life leading up to his death. His friends, his job, his school, Margo looks at it all and finally emerges with a gut feeling of what happened, but no proof. Now the real fun begins, but it puts both Angie and Margo in danger.

My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Angelhart Investigations series is fast paced and the investigations are gritty but smart. Margo has plenty of less than normal sources of information. Plus she stakes out some things or plays a role when interviewing witnesses and suspects. She rarely gets into trouble with the law because of all her connections, but the bad guys don't hesitate to go after her. I've read both novellas along with the first book and I love the family.

A woman has lost her son to a drug overdose. She comes to the Angelharts, along with his employer, to seek their help in solving why he died. Margo looks at the police investigation and finds it lacking. She talks to his friends, and co-workers. She looks for his phone and backpack, and gets access to his phone records and texts through his mother.

He had some strange things happening but wasn't taking drugs. There are some odd things going on at his workplace too. I figured out the bad guys pretty quickly but while Margo figured it out, she needed evidence. One of her interviews gets the DEA following her and she meets a new guy, Cal, who is something. I wonder if he will be a love interest.

Allison Brennan is a talent with character and world building. Her earlier books seemed to focus a bit more on the romance although there was always a mystery. Now the mystery seems to be the focal point with sometimes a romance in the background. I like the combination either way. Don't Say a Word read quickly because it was so enjoyable.

I've lost count of how many times I’ve spotted Allison Brennan’s name on book covers in both cozy bookstores and the sprawling expanse of the Kindle store. There have been moments when I’ve almost caved and bought one of her titles out of sheer curiosity. I know she’s quite popular, but I can't help but wonder: Why? So when I had the chance to get an eGalley of her latest release, Don't Say a Word, I jumped at it. Sure, it’s not the most original title—there are plenty of books out there sharing the same name, including that old Michael Douglas film. But hey, it’s catchy enough to grab your attention.

Dont Say a Word pitches us straight into the world of murder detective fiction—a classic police procedural, to be exact. I know what you’re thinking: “Not another procedural!” Trust me, I'm right there with you when it comes to TV shows or streaming dramas that seem stuck in the same ol’ rut. But with books, I tend to keep an open mind. The beauty of reading is that I can conjure vivid images of the story in my mind, shaping it as it unfolds. Sure, I can’t tweak the author’s narrative style, so if there are some clichés sprinkled throughout, I just have to roll with it. Still, I like to believe there’s a little magic in using my imagination.


Cover of "Don't Say a Word" by Allison Brennan featuring a dark, suspenseful design with bold title text.

Now, let’s delve into the core of the plot. The police have ruled Elijah Martinez’s death an accidental drug overdose, but his grieving mother is unconvinced. With the case officially closed, she turns to Angelhart Investigations, hoping they can uncover the truth. Margo Angelhart, ever the determined investigator, thinks this is going to be a straightforward case—interview some friends, chat with Elijah’s boss, retrace his final steps. Simple, right?

Except, with each conversation, Margo finds a tangled web of disbelief among Elijah’s friends; they insist he wasn’t involved with drugs. And just when things couldn’t get murkier, the very teacher who raised a ruckus about the police’s handling of the case winds up dead. It appears that every lead she pursues circles back to a sinister drug ring that once thrived in the school’s shadows.

Margo’s brother, Jack—a former cop—tries to pry some answers from the police, but their reticence leaves him questioning whether it’s due to an ongoing investigation or something more sinister, like a cover-up. One thing Margo knows for sure: she has to unravel the mystery of Elijah’s death before more teens become unwitting players in a dark and twisted game.

This is the second installment in the Angelhart Investigation series. I’ll admit, I normally shy away from sequels without knowing the previous story, in this case, You'll Never Find Me. But to my surprise, Don't Say a Word stands tall on its own, even with a few returning characters; I had no trouble jumping right in.

The narrative weaves a murder mystery with its share of predictable beats, although none of these detracted from my enjoyment. I devoured this book in one sitting; it was a lifeline on a rough day when I desperately needed some escapism. It’s not without its flaws—clichés abound, and it often sticks to the safety of the familiar procedural formula. Honestly, I yearned for more risks, more unexpected twists. But then again, I have explored numerous stories, so discovering something that truly surprises me is increasingly rare.

Despite a little nitpicking, Don't Say a Word delivers an engaging murder mystery that diligently adheres to the genre without ever straying outside its lines. If you’re searching for something groundbreaking, you might leave feeling a bit let down. However, I believe that steadfast fans of Allison Brennan will not be disappointed—and perhaps, in the end, that's what truly matters. ╌★★★★✰

Solid Second Stage. The easiest way to describe this series, for those who haven't read the first book, is to imagine the TV show Blue Bloods... but instead the family is Hispanic and lives in Phoenix. If you're even vaguely familiar with that show (and to be clear, I've never watched a single episode of it, just seen several ads and a few clips over the years), that gives you a reasonably solid idea of what to expect in general with this series.

In this installment in particular, we get what appears at first glance to be just an accidental overdose... except, well, it comes to the Angelharts' attention and Margot in particular smells a rat.

Over the course of 400+ pages, Brennan never really lets the story drag at all. There is enough mystery and danger here to carry the tension, and enough familial interaction to give the tale depth, heart, and even a touch of humor at times.

This noted, the 21 Jump Street (both movie and, at least according to my understanding - the show came out when I was still a young kid - the show) parallels are so obvious here in this particular mystery that Brennan actively leans into them, openly having her characters talk about the show at a point or two.

Overall this really is a solid second outing for these characters, and it will be interesting to see what Brennan comes up with for them next.

Very much recommended.

This is the new book in the Anglehart series. This one is mostly Margo but her brothers ,sisters and Mother show up. Margo has joined the family business as a PI and this case involves family friends. Elijah a young teenager has died from an overdose but no one who knows him believes he did it to himself. it’s up to Margo to find the truth. I suspected the bad guy from the very beginning but it didn’t ruin the mystery for me. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for more.

Margo operates on gut feelings and takes a pro bono case to find out exactly what was going on with Elijah, the teenager who was found dead in the park of an overdose after his shift at the convenience store. Elijah was a straight A student who according to his friends and family never did drugs. After interviewing a few people she realizes that it is not adding up and enlists the family detective agency to assist as more unanswered deaths occur. Allison Brennan knows how to weave a mystery and keep you totally engrossed until the conclusion. I’m loving the Angelhart Detective series!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is, as always by this author, a page turner. Mystery and suspense…family and friends…live and romance….mysterious deaths…criminals…drugs and teenagers…the red herrings kept me guessing for a long time…the realistic characters kept the story moving quickly. Many inner stories of romance and dysfunction in families…thanks Netgalley.

DNF @ 40%

I really wanted to like this but the characters felt like repetitive caricatures of mystery characters. Right off the bat Margo annoyed me and when I found myself rolling my eyes everytime we switched to her POV I knew this wasn't the book for me.

Thanks Netgalley and Mira Books for providing this ARC to me!

Don't Say a Word by Allison Brennan is a very highly recommended investigative procedural. In this second book in the Angelhart Investigations series they are looking into the death of a teen to determine if it was an accident or murder. Even though this is the second book in the series following You'll Never Find Me (2024), it can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Elijah Martinez’s death was officially ruled an accidental drug overdose, but his mother doesn't believe it. Elijah was an honor student and had no history of drug use. She thinks the investigation was perfunctory, and asks Angelhart Investigations to look into it. Private Investigator Margo Angelhart agrees to do so. After talking to his friends, a school counselor, and his employer, Margo also thinks something more was behind the death. When another murder happens during her initial investigation, Margo begins to suspect a connection to the drug ring that previously ran through the school.

Don't Say a Word presents a well-written, compelling, complicated, and intricate investigation in a fast paced plot. It's always enjoyable to read an investigative procedural that logically follows clues along the way while uncovering more areas of inquiry to explore. There are plenty of clues to follow and Margo realizes quickly that the danger to herself and those she is questioning is also increasing. Elijah's death is clearly connected to something sinister.

All the characters are realistically portrayed as complicated individuals with strengths and some flaws. As a family business, Angelhart Investigations consists of Margo, an experienced P.I., her brother Jack, a former police detective, her sister Tess, who excels at research, and her mother, Ava, a former county attorney and prosecutor. Margo is tenacious, intelligent, and very intuitive. She has plenty of discernment and can really read people when talking to them. Elijah's best friend, Angie, is a well portrayed teen.

Don't Say a Word would be an excellent choice for everyone who enjoys intricate investigations featuring a tenacious P.I. Thanks to MIRA Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.