A bunch of girlfriends get together to celebrate one of their friends most recent breakups.
The police show up at their brunch and inform them that this ex-boyfriend was found dead, possibly murdered.

To be honest this was not suspenseful or a thriller to me
it was more a murder mystery with Practical Magic vibes,
it's a very slow burn with not enough going on for me where I did some skimming.
I love Lisa's books and writing but I needed more action vs a story telling mystery.

3.5 stars

This book was so good. Freaking love Lisa Unger books and this one didn’t disappoint. Love the multiple different perspectives of this book and story just flowed together well. Overall another hit by the great Lisa Unger and can’t wait to read this again next year.

Served Him Right is a twisty thriller that kept me hooked from the start. Lisa Unger delivers l believable characters and a fast-moving plot full of secrets and betrayals. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story surprised me again. A quick, read perfect for fans of psychological suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Sisters Vera and Anna lives unravel after tragedy, betrayal, and secrets from their past resurface. Vera, a devoted mother of two, and Anna, still raw from heartbreak with her ex Paul, become entangled in a chilling web of his murder, voodoo rituals, and the shadowy women’s herbalist circle known only as the Cove. But when the truth finally surfaces, will it destroy them or set them free?

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the book for me. The beginning of the book had me hooked but from there it became confusing and the pace really slowed down. There were too many characters to keep track of and I often had to go back and try to find out who the person was. Also, the plant names became excessive and made me want to skip right over that part. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

2.5 stars. This started out so strongly and devolved into such a mess. I couldn’t keep the characters straight. The pacing seemed disjointed. It had the potential of being a possible practical magic, but without the likable characters. This was just not it for me.

This one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The premise was fresh and different from what I usually read, and I expected a fast-paced, twisty thriller. Instead, it moved pretty slowly, and I never felt fully pulled into the story. A few moments grabbed my attention, but overall, I struggled to stay invested.

The biggest hurdle was the characters. Most of the focus is on sisters Ana and Vera, but their sharp, unlikable personalities made it hard to connect with them. Add in some choppy pacing between past and present and a few wordy chapters, and the momentum often stalled.

That said, I really liked the atmospheric touches—the old-world herbal remedies, whispered rituals, and the supernatural undertones. The opening was strong and had me excited, but the middle dragged, and some side characters (like Iggy) felt underused. The good news: the last quarter finally picked up, with a satisfying resolution and a few reveals that landed well.

The eerie vibe and strong finale saved it from dipping lower, but it wasn’t as sharp or engaging as I hoped.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for the digital review copy!

Another hit out of the park for Ms Unger
Toxic men, vengeful women What more could you ask for?
Brilliant characters with magic garden and herbal remedies thrown in
Perfect for family history fans
Lots of drama, plot twists, and surprises
Readers will love the atmosphere and the portrayal of the bonds of sisterhood

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for an ARC of Served Him Right.

This story started out strong for me and then promptly took nose dive off a cliff. I'm just going to go ahead and make a list of the things I didn't like about the book because there is a lot.

- I did not enjoy the supernatural/witches/wiccan plot. I wish this would have been made clearer in the description so I could have passed from the beginning.
- There are ENTIRELY too many characters...I should have kept track but I'd guess something like 30 "main" characters we are supposed to remember by first name only. The number of characters made the plot so convoluted and tedious that I didn't end up caring who the murderer was.
- I was put-off by the preachy political messages inserted into the story. While I am one thousand percent of the same political view point as the author, I read to forget how fucked up the world is, not to be reminded of it.
- If I had to read another instance of one of the characters using the word "Gawd" I was going to throw my kindle across the room. Seriously, who talks like that?!

Definitely putting this on the "recommend to skip" list.

2 stars

Toxic men, vengeful women, what more could you want? The book has a long cast of characters that you have to pay close attention to follow. It also enters some unexpected yet plot-welcome territory for me. Can't say much without giving big parts of the book away, but I will say I don't think the cover or title rightfully captures the adventurous spirit this book takes on. Like other Unger books, prepare for some unhinged chaos to take place and plenty of twists and turns, but know this isn't your average suburbanites-gone-wild story. I loved this one -- she has captured female wickedness in the best possible way.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lisa Unger!!! Her latest book, "Served Him Right" was just what this ole gal needed! What a thrilling ride of a book!!! She never disappoints!

Lisa Unger is an auto-buy author for me so I was super excited to get approved for this. I was not disappointed! I ate this one up: I couldn't put it down. I loved the multiple POVs and the mystery of who killed Paul and who did the poisoning of the friend. Timothy was probably my favorite character. The book kept you guessing and on the edge of your seat. I recommended it to my sister who also uses NetGalley and will get a copy for my mom to read when it comes out. Highly recommend.

Unfortunately this wasn’t one of my favorite reads. It was only moderately thrilling, at best. The premise was neat and interesting, unlike other books I usually read. I had high hopes for it to be a thrilling page turner, but I found myself not super invested in the story. There were a few parts that really had my attention, but overall, it was a fairly slow read for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Ana Blacksmith thought she was finally free when she gathered her sister, Vera, and her closest friends for a cheeky “exorcism brunch” to celebrate dumping her toxic ex, Paul. The party ends in a halt when the police arrive with the shocking news that Paul is dead. Suddenly, every guest at the table is both witness and suspect. Ana’s past, shaped by family secrets and an herbalist aunt, brings her to the spotlight.

Who is at fault? It is surely on the of the party goers! Read Served Him Right to find out!
#harlequintrade

Lisa Unger has long been one of my favorite authors and this book is another reason why. I raced through this one in one day. The cast of characters is rather large so at times I found myself making notes. There were some points in the story where I thought I knew what was going on and who was responsible for the victim's demise. Then a twist would come and I was totally thrown of course!
I enjoyed learning about the different flowers and herbs in Agnes' garden and the things that can happen to the human body when these things are combined and ingested. This was a unique premise and quite different from any other thriller I've read.
This one is sure to be another of Unger's best sellers.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own and freely shared.

"Served Him Right" by Lisa Unger is a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The characters are brilliantly crafted, with layers of complexity that add depth to the suspense. Unger's masterful pacing and unexpected twists make this a truly unputdownable read. A flawless blend of tension and intrigue—highly recommended!

Unfortunately this book wasn’t as good as I was hoping it would be. When I read the premise, it sounded like it would be a good, page-turning thriller, but it was just too slow for me and didn’t feel like there was much going on.

I’m a huge fan of Lisa Unger. I was unbelievably excited when I got notified that I was able to read this early in exchange for an honest review. This was so hard to put down. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. It was very fast paced

Unpopular opinion time: I adore this auto-approved author, but this one wasn’t my favorite. For me, it’s the least likable of her books, mainly because the cast is packed with difficult characters I struggled to root for. The story gives us many POVs, yet it orbits mostly around sisters Ana and Vera, whose prickly personalities never quite invited me in. Add to that some choppy pacing between past and present, and several wordy, momentum-light chapters, and I found it hard to stay fully hooked.

That said, the supernatural/coven/poisonous herbs thread is intriguing in concept. I loved the atmosphere of old-world remedies and whispered rituals; I just wished the execution were tighter and more central. The opening—anchored to an office harassment/#MeToo-adjacent incident—felt sharp and promising. But once we settle into the dynamic with wild, self-sabotaging Ana, coolly controlling Vera, and their “ex-orcism” brunch crew, my excitement dimmed. Iggy had sparks of potential, but she’s sidelined more than I’d hoped. The good news: the last quarter finally kicks into gear. The mystery resolves cleanly, and while a few twists are telegraphed, they’re still satisfying enough to bump my rating from 2.5 to 3 solid stars.

Quick recap (spoiler-light):
Ana Blacksmith hosts an “ex-orcism” brunch at Vera’s house to celebrate her breakup with Paul Hayes. Guests include college friend Iggy (now a new mom married to Ana’s ex), their mutual friend Esme, and workaholic lawyer Payton. Mid-toast, police knock: Paul is dead, and his sister names Ana a person of interest, citing Ana’s temper. Awkwardly, the lead detective, Timothy Bandeau, is one of Ana’s recent one-night stands. By day’s end, one brunch guest collapses—poisoned—after eating food Ana prepared. With Ana and Vera’s herbal know-how (learned from their guardian Aunt Agnes) and a murky family past, suspicion tightens. Did Ana act in a jealous rage…or is someone more dangerous stalking the sisters from the shadows?

Bottom line: I’m landing at 3 stars—credit to the eerie ambiance, the finale’s snap, and a few deft reveals. My expectations were higher (this author usually nails pace + character), but I’m still rooting hard for the next book to be a knockout.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am happy I had a chance to read a preview. The focus on herbalism was very interesting to me and not a subject I typically encounter in thrillers. The dynamic between Vera and Ana was one of my favorite parts; it felt like a genuine depiction of a normal sisterly bond and its challenges, all woven into the story.

While I thought the book was excellent and a definite must-read, I couldn’t quite rate it five stars because I would have liked to see the plot developed a little more.

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