3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4)

By the Time You Read This was a solid thriller and a strong way to wrap up the series. I didn’t read the first two books, but I was able to follow along just fine—there was enough backstory woven in without it feeling like an info dump.

I really liked the use of multiple POVs—it kept things moving and gave the story more layers. Raisa is such an interesting character, and the whole forensic linguist angle was a refreshing twist. The dynamic between her and her sister Isabel added a lot of tension and emotional weight, which I appreciated.

That said, some parts felt a little repetitive, and the timeline jumped around in a way that was a bit confusing at times. A few of the side characters also didn’t stand out much, but overall, the pacing worked, and the character development kept me invested.

If you like thrillers with some emotional depth, true crime vibes, and complex sibling drama, I’d recommend giving this one a shot—especially if you’ve been following the series.

Brianna Labuskes' "By the Time You Read This" promised a gripping dive into the mind of a forensic linguist entangled with her serial killer sister, but ultimately delivered a somewhat muted experience that struggles to live up to its intriguing premise. While the core concept is compelling, the execution often falls short, leaving the reader wanting more.
The initial hook is undeniably strong: Raisa Susanto, an FBI forensic linguist, receives a chilling message from her psychopathic sister, Isabel, proclaiming her imminent death. When Isabel is indeed found dead, Raisa is pulled back into a dark orbit involving true-crime fanatics obsessed with Isabel's horrific past. This setup immediately raises the stakes and promises a psychological thriller with high tension.
However, the narrative quickly loses some of its initial momentum. The investigation into Isabel's death and the hunt for a new killer mimicking her methods feels somewhat paint-by-numbers. While Raisa's internal conflict and her struggle with Isabel's legacy are present, they don't always translate into the visceral emotional impact one would expect from such a personal story. The exploration of the "true-crime worshippers" also feels a bit underdeveloped, never quite reaching the unsettling depth it could have.
The partnership between Raisa and FBI forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny is functional, but their dynamic lacks the crackling chemistry or profound intellectual connection that could have elevated the investigative aspects. The linguistic elements, while unique to Raisa's profession, aren't consistently woven into the fabric of the mystery in a way that feels truly innovative or integral to solving the case.
Ultimately, "By the Time You Read This" is a book with a fascinating concept that doesn't quite fulfill its potential. It's a readable thriller, but it lacks the sustained tension, character depth, and surprising twists that would make it a truly memorable entry in the genre. It's a two-star read that hints at a more compelling story beneath the surface, but doesn't quite manage to unearth it.

I absolutely LOVED this book and this series! I had never heard of this author until I requested this audiobook on NetGalley, and I went back and read the first two books in the series (which you MUST do), and it turned out to be one of the best thriller series I’ve ever read! This third book was probably my least favorite of the three, but they honest are ALL phenomenal! I loved Raisa and Killkenney, and each book is full of genius plotting! Also, the audiobook is fantastic!

This thriller had me hooked from the first chilling letter. By the Time You Read This is dark, gripping, and full of suspense. Raisa, an FBI forensic linguist, is a strong, layered character dealing with the trauma of having a serial killer sister. When Isabel dies mysteriously in prison, Raisa is pulled back into her twisted world, and things only get more intense from there. The idea of a killer’s protégé on the loose added even more tension. I loved the forensic linguist angle, it felt fresh and unique.
The audiobook narration by Caroline Hewitt was excellent and really brought the story to life. Even though this is the third in a series, it works well as a standalone.
If you enjoy smart thrillers with emotional depth and a fast pace, this is one to check out.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

2.5 stars, rounded up

"By the Time You Read This" by Brianna Labuskes is a crime thriller that, while readable, didn’t do much to distinguish itself from the crowded field of similar novels. I went in without having read any of the other books in the series but was still able to follow the story easily—Labuskes does a good job of providing enough background for new readers.

That said, this book had several issues that kept me from fully enjoying it:

The audiobook narration:
I listened to the audiobook and really didn’t care for the narration. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough, but she would do far better narrating informational/non-fiction book. In her voice, every character sounded the same, which made it confusing to know who was speaking at any given time. This lack of vocal distinction took me out of the story and made it harder to connect with the characters.

Repetitive writing:
Another thing that bugged me was the frequent repetition of words and phrases throughout the book. It felt like certain descriptions and expressions were used over and over, which became distracting and made the prose feel less polished. At certain times, it was obvious the repetition was intentional (to establish timeline, which I discuss next), but even that bugged me. It was always a really clever phrase that was repeated, so it felt the author was just really proud of herself for thinking of something so interesting and wanted an excuse to repeat it.

Timeline confusion:
The timeline was also a sticking point. For the first half (or more) of the book, the chronology was confusing and hard to follow. While everything eventually lined up by the end, the early disjointedness made it difficult to stay engaged or fully understand what was happening.

Despite these frustrations, the book does have the hallmarks of a standard crime thriller—twists, red herrings, and a protagonist you can root for. It’s not a bad read if you’re looking for something familiar, but it doesn’t bring anything new or particularly memorable to the genre.

If you’re a die-hard crime thriller fan, you might enjoy it, but for me, it was just okay.

A very nice ending to the series!
For those that love procedurals crime shows, the Raisa Susanto series is perfect.
Part thriller, part crime, By the Tme You Read this follows up where the The Truth You Told ends.

While I believe this could stand alone, the story will mean much more if the first two books are read.

Raisa is confronted once again by her past when a letter arrives from her sister. Her sister Isabella, a known serial killer is behind bars. When an ominous letter arrives stating " By the time you read this I'll be dead" comes from Isabella, Raisa knows she will be pulled back into the chaotic world his sister created.

And so a cat and mouse is started once again.
This head my interest the whole time, though I had some issues with keeping newer characters straight. I loved that it had a few jaw dropping moments, and even some red herrings.
Overall it was enjoyable and well plotted.

I read this book as a standalone, having not read the previous 2 books in the series. That made it bit difficult to get into the backstory of the characters, so I would recommend reading the first two before starting here.
Reisa is the sister of a prolific serial killer who is still pulling strings from behind bars. Their middle sister is *somewhere* and her character could go to either side- is she psychotic and murdery too, or is it just the older sister? This book follows the remaining two sisters as they try to solve the murder of their older sister and see who else is involved in the crimes going on. It is definitely a fast-paced popcorn thriller that is very entertaining.

thank you to NetGalley, the author Brianna Labuskes, and Brilliance Publishing for my ARC of this audiobook.

This story is full of twists and turns; I did not expect the ending. I enjoyed the psychological and linguistic snippets the author added to the story and also it was interesting to read about how society has obsessed with true crime. It was a fast-paced read, and every chapter had something to keep you wanting to continue reading.
Here is my view on the audio part of the book. The narrators did an excellent job with different voices. I liked the fact that each news article, blog post, and podcast conversation felt so real. The audio made it feel like I was watching a crime show. This read is better as an audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC.

I liked the narrator but I really didn’t like the story. I was happy when it ended. I think there was one or two things that didn’t annoy me but for the most part I couldn’t wait for it to end

I am extremely picky when choosing any ARC/ALC to read, and the synopsis was right up my alley, so I was excited to read it. Unfortunately, it felt slow, scattered between the characters, and hard to get invested in the story, so it bothers me to say I could not get into this book. The slow pace caused me to lose focus, and I did not feel the thriller factor from other books of this genre. If I avoid reading and do other things instead, it's a problem. I have not read any other books by this author, so I cannot say if it's her writing style that I have an issue with or just this book in general. This might only be a personal opinion since many popular books have been 5-star reads for others, but are not my cup of tea. I hope it works well for other readers, but this wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The rating has been rounded up to a 3 from a 2.75

This is my first book by Brianna Labuskes.
I thought it was a pretty good book
This was a quick read for me, and I enjoy a nice, quick palate cleanser book periodically.
There are several plot twists, which I can appreciate. The MC has a cool job as a forensic linguist.
It gets predictable in some areas of the plot. I also felt the timeline blurred for me, so the structure needs a little bit of work. With a multi-POV and short multi-timelines, the structure has to be almost perfect to get it right. I was able to push through it in the problematic areas and still engaged enough to read the book.
Characters are fairly well developed. I have not read the other books in this series, and I did fine reading it. I do think some of the background from books 1 and 2 would have been helpful, but required; you can read this as a standalone.
The pace of the book was decent, but it did start to feel as though it dragged on a little with the twists, particularly in the second half of the book. However, again, you can push past that pace issue.
I think it gives you enough suspense and thriller.
Again, quick read, and the author did a decent job putting the pieces together for us!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this ARC for a review!
Happy Reading!

By the Time You Read This pulled me in from the first chilling letter and didn’t let go. Raisa is a badass with baggage, and watching her navigate the dark legacy of her sister had me on edge the whole time. The forensic linguist angle was super cool and different, and the mix of murder, sisterhood, and true-crime obsession was chef’s kiss. If you’re into smart thrillers with a dark edge, this one’s a must-read.

Thank you Brianna Labuskes, Brilliance Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#bythetimeyoureadthis #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime

Unfortunately, I think my lower rating is largely due to the audio format. With only one narrator for a dual POV story and a large cast of characters, it was often difficult to follow. A physical copy would likely have made the experience more enjoyable and much easier to track.

Some plotlines didn’t quite make sense and felt underdeveloped. There were so many characters and moving parts that it became overwhelming at times. In this case, less would have been more, a tighter focus could have strengthened the overall impact of the story.

While the writing had potential, this book ended up being just okay for me. I recommend reading a print or digital version rather than the audiobook if you’re considering this title.

I went into this one without reading the previous books, which usually isn’t my style. I was listening to the audio and almost stopped to find the earlier ones first.

Despite not being familiar with the characters, I still enjoyed the story. The author did a good job including enough backstory to make it work as a standalone.

The narrator did a great job too, but I did get a little tired of hearing some of the characters’ last names repeatedly — they were a bit wordy and felt overly repetitive at times.

There were also a few aspects of the story that felt odd. It seemed like there was a lack of other characters. Raisa and her FBI partner set out to find out who killed Raisa’s sister, but aside from a brief mention, we never hear about them needing permission to be away for days. Then there’s an accident involving Kilkenny (one of the names I was getting tired of hearing), and it felt strange that no one in his life seemed to be informed — not a coworker, family member, or friend. Even the police department seemed to consist of just a single detective. It just felt a bit unrealistic.

Towards the end, the story took a weird turn, and I thought we might be heading toward a multiple personalities twist. I was about to be annoyed, but thankfully it didn’t go that route. Still, it felt unnecessary and could have been left out.

Overall, I think the author did a good job wrapping up the story, and it was an entertaining read. I’d definitely check out the other books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this.

This is the third on the series and the latest psychological thriller by Brianna Labuskes. I’ve enjoyed the entire series so far and recommend reading the first two even if this one can be read as a stand alone. Having the background makes it even more enjoyable.

Raisa’s story continues as a forensic linguist, only
This time she and Kilkenny, her partner at the FBI, are investigating the death of her serial killer sister, Isabel. It grabs you from the start and completely draws the reader in. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was perfect for the story. There are many twists and turns along the way and those edge of the seat moments that kept me listening late into the night.

The story flows well and maintains thrills and intrigue to the finish!
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the arc. I leave my review voluntarily.

4.5 rounded up.

This book starts and finishes strong! That’s a win in my book. We meet Raisa as she learns that her serial killer sister is dead. Talk about a gripping beginning!

The book quickly turns from that first moment to an on the go mystery that I was very curious to see how it would end. I had not read the other books in this series but it didn’t matter. This one functions as a standalone book but I was thinking I may want to read the other books, too!

The audio of this book is very good!

Advanced reader copy provided by Brilliance Audio and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

honestly, I did not know that this was part of a series, and I did not know that there was events that unfolded prior to where I started this book at.

I did a little bit more research into this and found out that there was two books I should’ve read prior because I am 100% sure that if I would’ve read the prior books this book would be rated a lot higher. However, I do feel that I was able to piece everything together quite easily and because of the fact that I didn’t know the prior events that led up to this moment, it was much more of a thriller and suspense for me.

Overall, I thought this book was very good. The twist and turns were on point. I was not confused at all. The conclusion of the book was very good.

I had the audiobook for this one, and I thought the narrator did a very good job. She did a really good job for trying all of the different female characters that were in this book. Specifically the three main characters, the sisters.

Honestly, I’m shocked because it was good being thrown into the next. I can imagine how I would’ve thought of it reading the other two.

This was a twisty thriller that had me on the edge of my seat!

Regardless of this being book three and not reading the 1st few books, It was very easy to follow and felt like it wasn't the 3rd book in the series at all. I feel like this could be read as a standalone but also know that this book would be devoured by those that are waiting for this book to drop.

A serial killer sister, who was locked up decided to play out her siblings like a chess game, leaving trails for them to find and follow, has both siblings racing against the clock to track down each piece of the puzzle in hopes to find the copy cat killer. Could it be one of the sisters stepping up to take their serial killer sisters place?

This was thoroughly planned out, the little intricate details created such a web that leaves you guessing right until the last 20% of the book and the end game could have taken not one but three lives.

This book was highly enjoyable. My only lil niggle was sometimes, it was hard to follow who's pov was who's. Other than that, it didn't take much away from the experience.

Thank you netgalley for giving me the opportunity to recieve an ALC.

This book was a quick and easy thriller! While it is technically the third in a series, this is the first one I’ve read and it was easy to follow the plot without reading the first two! The author does a great job of giving enough information that you can follow through lines from the first two books without info dumping!

I loved the dynamic of the two sisters working both toward and against each other. Follow along as the sisters of a psychopath work to untangle the web she set forth for them!

The narrator absolutely crushes doing two different sisters in her reading! I listened to this entire audiobook in two days! It’s a perfect story if you like to try and work through multiple storylines all overlapping to truly find a killer!