Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. The setup hooked me right away: five of the most prominent book influencers in the country gather for their exclusive monthly virtual book club, sipping cocktails and trading stories about publishing buzz. But in the middle of one meeting, their screens freeze, and they hear the horrifying screams of one of their own being attacked. When the call finally drops, they’re left shaken, terrified, and desperate to uncover what just happened.

Firstly thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for this digital advanced copy. This book was like the real housewives of BookTok! This was a twisty and gripping who dunnit thriller. I loved the multiple POVs of the booktokers. I enjoyed all the twists including the ending and didn’t see any of it coming! Would highly recommend!

Thanks for the advance reader copy!

I loved this book and actually didn't predict the twist in the end. This was a 5 star read for me.

The Deadly Book Club was a unique read that piqued my interest right away. The shifting perspectives and all the character drama slowed me down at times. I occasionally had to flip back to remember whose chapter I was in. Some of the drama felt a little over the top, and I even wondered how these characters became friends in the first place. But the ending pulled me back in, and I flew through the last few pages to see if my suspicions were right. Overall, a solid and engaging read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love a good book club murder mystery. Unlikeable character and their toxic behaviors pulled me in. Some parts were slower than others. The twist at the end that I didn’t expect.

I absolutely could not put this book down! Butler has so many twists and turns in this book and every character is so flawed and deranged you won't know what hit you! A definite rollercoaster, psychological thriller that will grip you until the very last page! Thanks for the ARC!

This was a fun one for bookstagrammers as long as you go in knowing the characters are going to be over the top dramatic and extra.

Clever premise with a murder that takes place during a virtual book club meeting.

I will warn you that I repeatedly found myself thinking “maybe you should let the police handle it?” and giving raised eyebrows at the outrageous backstabbing but I did keep racing through the book because I was curious to find out what happened.

10/10 for the cover art 🤩

This book was really slow for me and it just seemed like a lot of drama and not a lot of thriller. I couldn’t enjoy any of the characters either. A miss for me.

What a ride. The vibe of this book reminded me of a satirical telenovela because the characters and happenings were a bit over the top, but in a way that was wholly entertaining. There was just one moment around the 20% mark that gave me pause. I wonder if, instead, money isn't exchanged and the couple could have stalked/made threats for payment? Just a thought! The mystery in this one was a lot of fun and as the novel progressed, the layers really came together and I was flying through the pages. Definitely a book worth picking up for a quick and exciting read!

The Deadly Bookclub

Lynn Liao Butler

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Completly gripping!

From the diverse range of flawed charachters, each with their own secrets to the twists and turns of the plot, this story had me gripped from the beginning.

A group of high profile book influencers from different locations in the US belong to the same book club and collaborate on promotions, events and posts. However, each of them have secrets and when they are thrown into the position of investigating a murder, the secrets begin to unravel.
Such an interesting idea for a storyline and even better charachter creation, with each of the characters having their own depth and issues! Gripping right to the end!


Thank you Netgalley for Lyn Liao Butler for this ARC read.

The Deadly Book Club is a thrilling, modern mystery that combines social media intrigue with classic whodunit suspense. Lyn Liao Butler keeps readers hooked as secrets, jealousies, and hidden resentments surface among the book influencers. The tension builds with every twist, making it impossible to guess who will be targeted next. Fast-paced, clever, and utterly engaging, this is a must-read for fans of contemporary suspense.

The book is told in multiple perspectives. It has some interesting characters who make this a good thriller.

Loved the premise of a set of suspicious characters coming together for a book club. They all have their storylines which makes it intriguing. An interesting read that kept me guessing.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

This was okay, an average thriller. Really wanted to read this book as thought was based around a book club. It's really not. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for ARC

As I am part of a book club, I thought this book would be a fun mystery/thriller. But other than the 5 main characters being part of a book club named the Bookers who held their monthly meeting over zoom, there wasn't much about the book club.
Even though the main characters were all adults, this book felt like a lot of teen/rich kid drama. Thankfully each chapter was titled with the name of the character whose point of view it followed which did help, but there were a lot of names to keep track of.
If you like a quick, easy to read mystery, this book might be for you.

The concept of The Deadly Book Club by Lyn Liao Butler grabbed me instantly: a virtual book club, a frozen screen, and a murder unfolding before the members’ eyes! Sounds like the setup for a fun ride. It promised suspense, twists, and messy secrets and, for a moment, it delivered.

Unfortunately, the story never quite lands. The characters are uniformly unlikeable, and their drama feels more over-the-top than thrilling. With so many similar personalities, it’s hard to keep track of who’s who, and the middle of the book drags with repetitive dialogue and unnecessary tangents. A few twists toward the end are surprising, but they don’t fully make up for the uneven pacing or the flat characters.

That said, the premise is creative, and the virtual book club setting has a lot of potential. Fans of chaotic friendships and dark secrets might enjoy some of the ride, but overall, this thriller feels more frustrating than fun.

The Deadly Book Club (imagine telling your IRL Book Club this is what you are reading haha) follows five women - Leigh, Jessie, Sidney, Kate, and Helena—whose tangled secrets make for a messy, twist-filled mystery told in a style reminiscent of a true crime documentary. The story hints early on that the killer is a woman, and each member of the group has plenty of motive.

Spoilers Ahead:

From Jessie’s double life as a part-time escort, to Sidney’s violent tendencies, Leigh’s infidelity, Kate’s stalker drama and tragic past, and Helena’s risky financial dealings, everyone’s skeletons are rattling loudly in the closet.

When Sidney turns up murdered (a shame, because she’s oddly likable despite her flaws), suspicion flies in every direction. The plot thickens with more deaths, shifting perspectives, and even glimpses from the killer’s point of view. Twists keep piling - Kate’s stalker subplot, Helena’s shady money moves, Mandy’s secret love for Sidney’s husband, and then, in a jaw-dropping reveal, Sidney is actually alive. She’s a female Dexter figure who frames, manipulates, and ultimately kills her own husband, convinced he was cheating (he wasn’t).

The ending delivers “happy” resolutions for the characters (well, most of them) - until the final chilling point of view from the real killer’s perspective, leaving their identity a mystery. While the layered motives and surprises are engaging, the sheer number of threads can feel a bit confusing at times. Still, the dark humor, unreliable characters, and final twist make it an entertaining, if slightly chaotic, ride.

I love the idea of a group of book influencers getting together and facing a high-stakes mystery. The setting was idyllic and, even though it took place in various locations, it still felt like a locked room thriller, which I love. The character reactions seemed a little over the top at times, but overall they were necessary to move the story along.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC of 'The Deadly Book Club' by Lyn Liao Butler - expected release date of 10/21/2025.

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprised to see this was written by a seasoned author. The writing was very amateur-ish, more telling rather than describing, and the language used was pretty elementary (EX: the amount of times some of the characters described others as 'mean', what are we, 10 years old!?) Also, there were too many POVs, from 5 main characters, with multiple secondary and tertiary characters, and a lot of different storylines and timelines to keep track of. This book was too chaotic and it was hard to keep everything straight. I don't mind unlikeable characters, especially in thrillers, but when every single main character (including the victim) is a terrible person, it's unbelievable. You need at least one person to root for! The ladies were also catty, back stabby and immature. The premise of the book was a good one, it just fell flat in execution. I really wanted to DNF but since it was an ARC, I had to finish. Which brings me to the end, the utterly ridiculous, implausible ending. What did I just read!?

I wanted to love this one but unfortunately, I didn't. I didn't connect with the characters. It was unrealistic and very predictable.

Overall I liked this book, but I did not like the characters. It was an interesting plot, and the online book club sounds great, but there was a bit left out with the writing to make this all fully make sense. Also - I would love to become rich and famous for my book love as well, so give your girl a call!

The thriller part of this book was well done, with me always changing my mind on who was the worst of the worst as well as the killer. There was a lot going on with each character, and some had redeeming traits while others just kept going further and further down. However, it was an engaging & fast read, perfect for the pool!