I get the Charlie Donlea hype. I loved this tightly wound crime thriller. Multiple timelines intersected crimes from the past and present, with one detective turned ER doctor on the case. I guessed one major plot twist right at the start but that didn't stop me from enjoying the great writing. I'm hoping for a sequel.

Guess Again AUDIO by Charlie Donlea is a police procedural/thriller and quite good, until the end. I feel like the author was too intent upon creating a sequel and destroyed his character to do it: one opinion. Ethan was a police detective with a 100% solve rate who had decided the darkness was too much for him and at thirty-five went to medical school and now is functioning as an emergency room physician. One night, his former partner appears, now in the throes of ALS and requests that he attend a meeting at a hotel. At the hotel Ethan is surprised to be introduced to the governor who wants his help in reopening the case of his missing daughter, an investigation Ethan had not been a part of. Ethan was not convinced he wanted to re-enter this world. He liked his life as it was. But, this seventeen year old girl had just disappeared, no clues left behind. At about the same time Ethan attended the parole hearing for the man who killed his father, who had also been a policeman.

Ethan is a terrific character; the book is well-written. His nemesis, Francis, is a psychopath, but a brilliant one, as he leads Ethan to clues on this closed case, which he had decided to pursue, the incentives being too great to refuse. As it turns out, Francis had nothing to do with Callie’s disappearance but is being used by the one who had. Two evil geniuses in one book. It is an intriguing investigation, surprises galore, which would lead to so many repercussions for Ethan. Hard to go much further without spoilers. Please listen to or read this book. It is worth it. There is so much more.

Vivienne Leheny who did a fabulous job. She calm and cool during all parts of this book, from investigating to the inevitable violence, and “downfall” of a good man.

I was invited to listen to Guess Again by RBmedia. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RBMEdia #CharlieDonlea #GuessAgain

*ARC review*

Guess Again is another gripping thriller from Charlie Donlea, full of twists and sharp pacing. The mystery kept me guessing, and the emotional layers added real depth. Overall a smart, satisfying read for fans of psychological suspense. Loved it!

This listen 🎶
WOW. Just WOW.
This was my first read by this author, and it absolutely blew me away. The writing was sharp, immersive, and the twists? Bomb after bomb after bomb — each one more jaw-dropping than the last. There was so much happening, but it was all executed so flawlessly that I never felt lost or overwhelmed. Every thread was intentional, every character dynamic compelling. I truly hope this becomes a series because I’m not ready to let go of these characters.

Ten years ago, 17-year-old Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake town. Her body was never found, and the case went cold—until now.

Former detective-turned-ER doctor Ethan Hall thought he’d left that world behind. But when his dying ex-partner, who led the original investigation, begs him to reopen the case, Ethan reluctantly returns home to seek long overdue answers.
Old secrets resurface and new leads emerge from an unlikely source: a maximum-security inmate. But the deeper Ethan digs, the darker the truth becomes. Because solving what happened to Callie means confronting a past that won’t stay buried -and someone will kill to keep it that way.

I am SUCH a huge fan of Charlie Donlea for so many reasons. He does such an exceptional job of establishing the groundwork required for so many different characters. I had the chance of listening to this book as an ALC via Netgalley. It was narrated by Vivienne Leheny and she did an incredible job of narrating the different characters and really drawing you into the story. I am always in awe when I listen to a psychological thriller and can actually visualize what’s happening - but Vivienne’s narration of this book along with Charlie Donlea’s writing style really did that for me!

This story follows Ethan Hall, a doctor who was previously a detective with a 100% case solve rate. His father died in action after confronting a potential serial killer (Francis - who was only convicted for the crime of killing Ethan’s father). Ethan struggled with the lifestyle of solving children crime cases and decided to pursue medicine as a way to save lives instead of solving cases of children who were already dead. Ethan is in a relationship with a previous victim of the same serial killer who murdered his father. Maddy (the previous victim) is also a cop and eager to make sure Francis stays behind bars. Ethan’s friend, Pete, requests his help to re-open a cold-case filed of a previous murder victim, Callie Jones, to see if he can close this case before Pete succumbs to his diagnosis of ALS.

For some reason, Francis (the serial killer who also killed Ethan’s father) has some information regarding the death of Callie as well as a newly abducted woman. Ethan is forced to work with the man who killed his father in order to save a woman who may still be alive as well as uncovering the truth to Callie’s disappearance.

Charlie Donlea once again sends his readers on an epic goose chase to figure out WHAT is actually happening here, who killed Callie, and what really happened with Francis’s killing spree. This book is not for the light-hearted. It left me thinking about it for days afterwards. I highly recommend listening to this book because Vivienne really brings it to life and does such a wonderful job with helping readers really FEEL the emotions of the characters as well as designating different voices to the characters so the listener really feels they are IN the actual scene. I highly recommend this!!

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is a fast-paced thriller packed with twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story unfolds in the present day, interwoven with flashbacks that reveal the characters’ complex connections. Set in Wisconsin—a place I’ve visited several times for work—I especially enjoyed the local references, with my favorite being the mention of drinking Spotted Cow.

Vivienne Leheny does an excellent job narrating, truly bringing the story to life with her performance. Based on how the book ends, I really hope a sequel is in the works!

Thank you to NetGalley & RBmedia | Recorded Books for letting me read this ARC.

Charlie Donlea continues to prove why he’s one of my favorite authors with Guess Again. This gripping thriller pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go until the end. The pacing was perfect—I read it in about a day—and the twists kept me guessing the entire time.

Donlea’s signature style of sharp plotting and compelling characters is on full display here. While not quite my all-time favorite of his, it still delivered everything I want in a smart, suspenseful read. Fans of fast-paced mysteries and layered storytelling won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book!

This book was amazing! I was sucked in right away with the first few sentences. There were so many twists and turns, none of which I saw coming! I loved the storyline and how interconnected every character was. Many not even knowing it until later in the book. It was a fascinating story and with the way it ended, I’m hoping there’s a sequel! I loved Ethan’s story, he tenacity he had for both of his careers was awesome to see. What great story telling. I am making my husband read this next, it’s right up his alley! The narrator was great as well!

Charlie Donlea knows how to write a twisty, smart thriller. The narrator was great and kept the story moving along! Looking forward to see what he does next.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea had me hooked from page one (or what I assume is page one since this is an audiobook). I was intrigued by the premise of a detective turned ER doctor being pulled back into a decade's old cold case to investigate a missing teen. As his investigation progressed it kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next and whodunnit. I really enjoyed this thriller from start to finish. The pacing was fast enough to keep me entertained but not so fast that I got lost in the shuffle of characters, locations, and dates (I really enjoyed how this book has chapters that start with a date and location).

On the topic of chapters, I absolutely love how short the chapters are! When I read a book I hate to stop in the middle of a chapter whether it is for 20 mins or overnight so having short chapters makes it so much easier to pop back into real life and quickly return to the book. I love being able to squeeze in a quick chapter here and there whenever I can.

The narrator in this book was great! I did feel like she was a bit stiff in the first couple of chapters but then she seemed to get into it and she hit her stride! I also enjoyed the voice effects such as the filter used when two characters were having a phone conversation that gave this audiobook a bit more oomph. I truly enjoyed this book and I am definitely adding Charlie Donlea to my list of must buy authors and I will certainly keep an eye out for audiobooks narrated by Vivienne Leheny and add her to my list of enjoyable narrators.

Thank you so much for this ARC of Charlie Donlea's Guess Again. I loved this book and I can't wait for the physical book to be released to add to my collection!

This book was amazing! It was addicting to read and hard to put down. The characters were great, the plot was so intriguing, and the twists were excellent. I really hope there is a follow up book!

Seventeen years ago, Callie Jones disappeared. She was never found. However, Ethan Hall's old partner begs him (because, in part, he is dying) to help him solve this case. Ethan left law enforcement because it was getting too heavy and got his medical degree. Now, he is pulled into the past where doors begin opening that no one anticipated. This was a fast paced, interesting thriller that kept you guessing. I won't lie, one reveal near the end blew my mind. The book has multiple timelines, as one would guess given the series of crimes occurred 17 years ago. There are multiple POVs which also help to aid in understanding what had been going on. Guess Again is a great title because just when you think you know...guess again ;)

A cold case that had me in its hooks! This was an addictive listen and I binged it in a day! Unputdownable read. It has a bad guy that you will love to detest. A good mystery and I honestly didn't see that twist coming. The story is a dual timeline from past to present, but I found it very easy to follow. I dived in blind and I would recommend doing that. Check for TW. The narrator, Vivienne Leheny does a wonderful job portraying Ethan, Maddie, Callie, and many other characters in the book. It was very easy for me to distinguish the characters, and that's always a huge plus for me. If you're looking for a twisted summer thriller to read, be sure to check this one out.

A very special thanks to Recorded Books and Netgalley for the ALC.

Guess Again will have you guessing again and again as you try to keep straight who and how all of the characters are involved not only in the current investigation of a missing woman but also in the disappearance of a teenager 10 years earlier. You have among the many characters, all of whom are very important to the story, a burned out detective turned ER doctor, his girlfriend a current detective and also the only survivor of the WI massacres 30 years earlier, a convicted killer who has been in prison for 30 years for the WI massacres, A world renowned psychiatrist who was the missing teens best friend, a onetime high school volleyball coach, a kidnapped woman who was the coach’s last girlfriend, and the current Gov. of WI. Together these characters interact in ways you could never imagine giving a chilling and suspenseful tale of pure evil.

This psychological thriller had me hooked from the very first chapter. The tension, the pacing, the unexpected twists—I couldn’t stop listening. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story veered in a different direction that I never saw coming. The final reveal was completely unexpected and left me wanting more—I'm seriously hoping for a sequel!

The audiobook narrator was fantastic & the story to life. If you're looking for a gripping, twisty thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is it.

I have seen Charlie Donlea’s name popping up all over my social media feeds. Rumor has it, he is the writer of some really good thrillers and the book cover, well, it screamed “read me!!” Boy I am glad that I did!!

Guess Again is filled with all kinds of twists and turns that will keep you guessing from start to finish. Every time I thought I might have figured it out, guess again. With so much happening in the story, I finally threw in the towel and decided to stop trying to solve the case and instead, just sit back, enjoy the ride and see where it ends up. There were so many characters at one point I started writing them down so I could keep track! And the ending…..strap in folks. It is wild!

This was an intense, crazy, thrilling, fast paced, page turning ride that I did not want to step away from. I can say that this is just the first of many Charlie Donlea books I hope to devour in my future.

Narrator Vivienne Leheny and the RBmedia production team did a wonderful job bringing this story to life. Thank you so much for the ALC of this audio book. It was one I had my eye on for the longest time. This presentation did not disappoint!

Guess Again by @charliedonlea ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

RELEASE DATE 👏🏼 07.29.2025

BLURB ✨ Ten years ago, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community. A highly publicized search followed but her body was never found, and then the case went cold.

Ethan Hall, a former detective turned ER doctor, left law enforcement to escape the horrors of the kid crime division. But on the tenth anniversary of Callie’s disappearance, his former partner, Pete Kramer, makes a desperate request. Pete is the veteran detective who originally investigated Callie’s case. Now he’s dying, and to ease his conscience and get closure for the Jones family, he needs Ethan to return to the haunting work he left behind and solve what happened to Callie, once and for all.

Word soon spreads and everyone in the small town feels a rush of hope that answers will finally be found. Amid a sweltering heatwave, Ethan’s investigation gains momentum, but reexamining old evidence won’t be enough. He needs a new way into the case, no matter how dangerous or unconventional. Soon Ethan’s methods draw him deeper into a twisted psychological game. Because there is much more to the nightmare of Callie’s disappearance than he imagined, including a connection with his own past... and secrets that are still worth killing for.

💭 YES. This book is so good! Twisty, dark. Kept me guessing and I just had to finish it. Packed with action, past to present to past to present. But easy to follow and a “No fucking shit” moment when it all comes together. I enjoyed the characters, even the creepiness of a particular one. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to @netgalley + @recordedbooks for this advanced audio copy! 💕

#netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreview #guessagain #booknerd #bookstagram #audiobookstagram #audiobookreview #audiobooklover

Great book. Just when I think I had something figured out I was so wrong but I love it. A cold case and a new case overlap. But the person connecting it all together has been in prison since before the cold case took place. How does he manage to control things from inside prison in a solitary confinement cell?!? Ethan a detective turned ER doctor turned back to a detective! There is so much going on but never once do you get confused. If you love a good crime mystery this is the book for you.
The narrator does an amazing job also. The way Francis’s voice is done is as creepy as one would expect!
Thank you RBMedia and NetGalley for my advanced audiobook.

Audiobook

This twisty psychological suspense novel features Ethan Hall, a former detective turned ER doctor, as he is drawn back into helping investigate an unsolved cold case. Little does he know the case is much closer to him than he can imagine!

Wow! I have seen Charlie Donlea's name mentioned on many lists, but this is my first book by him. Wow! An absolute page-turner or fast listen! I read A LOT of thrillers, so it’s not easy to really keep me guessing, but Charlie did! Twist after twist, expertly crafted. Fans will be thrilled with this new book, and newcomers like me will be hooked and start exploring all his other books!

Advanced reading copy provided by Kensington Books Publishing and RBMedia. All opinions are my own.

Dark, twisty, and fast paced. And a twist I don't think anyone saw coming.

Retired detective turned ER doctor, Ethan is sucked back into police work at the request of his old partner. He had a 100% solve rate and they are desperate. Who could have guessed that Ethan would need the help of an inmate- the same inmate that murdered his father- to unravel this mystery?

I really enjoyed this for the most part. The biggest issue I had is hard to talk about without spoiling, but to put it generally, too many red herrings when it came to one particular issue. Euguenia. That is all I will say.

Vivienne Leheny narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.