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.

🎧ALC REVIEW🎧

Pub Date July 29th

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This one solidifies Charlie Donlea as one of my absolute FAVOURITE thriller writers. Criminally UNDERRATED. I LOVED this. Perfection. The narrator was incredibly talented and a pleasure to listen to. If you think you’ve got this one figured out… Guess Again. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend for my thriller girlies 🖤

Thank you for the gifted ALC @kensingtonbooks @netgalley @r__bmedia

#thrillerbooks #thrillerbooksaddict #thrillerreads #thrillerbookstagram #netgalley #guessagain #charliedonlea

The title could not be more fitting — I was guessing again and again… and again… right up to the very last page. 😵‍💫 This is my second book by Donlea and won’t be my last!
This twisty thriller unfolds across multiple timelines and a large cast of characters, and just when I thought I had a handle on things — another curveball! I loved the short, quick chapters, which made it super bingeable. Lately I’ve had a hard time binging anything — summer is such a busy season — but I literally could not stop listening to this one. It completely hooked me.

I usually tandem read (audio + Kindle) and this would’ve been a perfect book for that — especially with all the timelines and reveals. Since this was an advanced audio copy, I couldn’t flip back easily, and I definitely found myself wanting to. That said, the narration was excellent and really brought the story to life.

The last 25% gave me whiplash in the best way — and I think that ending leaves the door cracked open for a sequel? 👀

Thank you Net Galley and RBmedia for the ALC of Guess Again by Charlie Donlea.

4.0 ⭐️ | Beach Bag Worthy

At last! All summer I’ve been searching for that mystery/thriller that keeps me guessing and not wanting to stop my book. Thank you Charlie Donlea for GUESS AGAIN, because finally I found it! This book is for you if you enjoy twists, turns, a bunch of suspects – and don’t mind a serial killer being in the mix.

I am blown away at the narration talent of Vivienne Leheny! If I didn’t know she was the sole narrator, I’d be convinced I had just listened to a full cast performance. The audio was crisp and clear with strong production quality.

I am so thankful to NetGalley and RB Media for access to an advanced listener copy of this audiobook. I’ve found a new author in one of my favorite genres! Look for more Charlie Donlea reviews from me, and I hope this isn’t the end of the story for the cast of Guess Again! I’ll also be starting a read-along of the physical copy with a group, so I can’t wait to see how this reads vs. the audio! To my lovers of a good thriller – grab this one!

thank you so much for allowing me to listen to this one early!!

the narration was great and kept me engaged in the story. i had no trouble keeping up with the shifting dates/locations which was nice! Pete's "voice" was a little weird though, but he didn't have many talking parts.

this was my first read from Donlea even though i do own most of his books! i can't wait to pick up some of his backlist.

the positives :
-highly entertaining, fast-paced, very twisty-turny, and it reminded me a lot of The Silence of the Lambs which is one of my favorite movies. Francis was very creepy. i also liked the "cold case" aspect of it and how Ethan took it on despite being an ER doc.
-action-packed
-small town Wisconsin setting

the negatives:
-i get turned off when i'm really into the story and then several things happen where i have to suspend disbelief a little too much/too frequently (the prison transfer scene specifically and how a few other things were handled by the "detectives")
-it got a little too chaotic at times
-i thought the twists were never going to end LOL it's like we got one reveal, then another and you're like ok whew and then they kept coming -- idk i was a bit over it

i will still recommend this one to my following! its a binge-able thriller if you don't care about minor details and if you're able to suspend disbelief a few times. looks like there may be a sequel from how it ended?

thanks again!! 3.5 stars for the story; great audiobook though!
i will post a review to my page on pub day.

I was excited to receive an ARC of this book to review because I'm a huge Charlie Donlea fan. While this isn't my favorite of his (that honor goes to The Girl Who Was Taken), it's another solid thriller book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I read this in two days because I was dying to find out what happened and how two seemingly different cases were connected. To be honest, I didn't love the way they eventually came together.... it didn't feel clear or organic. That said, there were a few big plot twists I didn't see coming, and I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging thriller with a fast pace (and multiple timelines, which I always love)!

4.25 stars

I really enjoy Charlie Donlea's writing and stories, and it overall translated well to audio. My one major complaint was that each chapter began with a date and location. Given that the chapters were mostly short, the constant chapter number, date, and location sometimes disrupted the flow. I think there could have been a "now" and "then" instead that would have served a similar purpose. Still, this one definitely held my interest, and I liked how he decided to end it. There are definitely a lot of threads to keep track of, but it all ultimately becomes clear.

Wow, this one had me hooked from the beginning, but the ending truly shocked me. I am normally pretty good at figuring out "who done it", but this one co.pletely blindsided me.

Callie Jones, 17 years old vanished 10 years ago from her small Wisconsin town. Now on the 10 years anniversary, Ethan Hall, former DCI agent turned ER doc is tasked to help solve her case.

As Ethan goes back to look into Callie’s disappearance he uncovers more than he ever thought he thought he would.

Buckle up for a rollercoaster of twists and boy does it not disappoint!

I was hooked from the first sentence. This is the 2nd book by Charlie Donlea that I have read and I will be reading all of the others that is for sure! The plot twists are one after another and though I could predict something’s I could not predict them all!

I was granted and ARC of the audiobook for this book from Negalley and RB Media. Thank you for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is my honest review.

I thought the narrator did a good job and was easy to listen to.

This book is to be released July 29th 2025

Thanks to RBMedia and NetGalley for this audiobook arc. I absolutely love anything that Charlie donlea writes and this wasn’t any different. The narrator did an excellent job of telling the story as well!

3.5 stars. I am a big fan of this author and was excited to read this one. This was a fast-paced read that kept you guessing. I liked the main character, Ethan Hall, a lot and hope this becomes a series. I did wish that the beginning of this book gave a little more back story of Ethan and his girlfriend Maddie's experience that brought them together. It kind of felt like this was the second book. Although I did enjoy reading this book, but didn't find it as riveting and thrilling as previous reads. I really enjoyed the narration of this story.

As a proud member of #DonleasDetectives, I’m thrilled to report that once again, Donlea delivers a binge-worthy read! His writing is consistently brilliant—packed with twists, turns, and all the edge-of-your-seat intensity you’d hope for.

I’m always drawn to a gripping cold case, and this dark, intelligent psychological thriller did not disappoint. Fast-paced, emotionally layered, and impossible to put down—it’ll have you flipping pages well into the night.

With short, punchy chapters, you’ll fly through this one. Don’t miss out on this chilling, cat-and-mouse game that proves Donlea is at the top of his game.

Guess Again, written by Charlie Done and narrated by Vivienne Leheney, is one of those audiobooks that grabs you from the very first minute. Dr. Ethan Hall (former detective specializing in crimes against children) is fantastic main character- heroic but also very real. He has piles of school debt, procrastinates about things he doesn't want to do, is hyper focused when his interest is piqued. Donlea has created a perfectly suspenseful jigsaw puzzle of a novel- and I absolutely loved listening to Leheney describe every single piece! Highly recommend!!!

I've read a few books by this author, and he has the tendency to put characters from other books into new books without them actually being a sequel/series. Because of the way this was written, I spent a long time thinking I had missed the beginning of Ethan's story. Once I figured out that was not the case, it made a lot more sense to me.

There were multiple times I actually had my jaw dropped because I didn't see something coming. The way that everything came together in the end was absolutely insane and I almost want to go back and read it again knowing what I know now.

I’ve just finished listening to the audiobook of Guess Again by Charlie Donlea. It took me just over 48 hours from start to finish, any opportunity I had, I was listening. It is that good.

2025 marks the tenth anniversary, of the unsolved disappearance of 17 year old Callie Jones. A young woman who was destined to have it all. Extremely bright, with a planned medical career ahead of her; while being one of the star players on her volleyball team. Her father is a state senator, destined for a higher office, giving her status within the community. Inexplicably, she vanished without trace, despite an extensive investigation. Ten years later, the case is reopened, which is where our story begins.

I really enjoyed the narration, provided by Vivienne Leheny. There was a relatively large cast, all of whom sounded distinct. The characters are complex, the further you read, the more complicated their histories become; which served to draw me in deeper and deeper. The story is intricate, and extremely well plotted. The twists and turns are so sharp, you could easily suffer from whiplash!

The ending was completely unexpected, and quite the bombshell. I think I was as stunned by this revelation, as the character involved. I defy anyone to work out this complex puzzle, and fathom out all that had happened, before it is revealed to the reader. We are then left with, what feels to me, an open door for a second book, which I would love to read, sign me up now please. This is a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️➕ highly recommended read for me.

This was such a gripping and unpredictable read, with one of the best plot twists I’ve come across in a long time, impossible to second guess, in all the right ways.

Ethan Hall is a rare and compelling character, having been both a detective and now a doctor. When his former partner asks him to consult on the cold case of missing girl Callie, he’s drawn back into the world he left behind. What follows is a fast-paced, cleverly layered and entirely believable story that had me hooked from the start.

The narrator added real depth to the audiobook, helping me stay immersed in the characters and the twists. A totally engrossing thriller – I’m a recent Charlie Donlea convert and will be adding the rest of his books to my TBR without hesitation.

What a wild ride and easy read. Goodness Donlea knows how to write a thriller. He’s become a quick favorite for me in the past year. I don’t know how he does it, but those twists are twisty and not in the lazy way of some authors.
Callie Jones vanished 10 years ago. When her cold case reopens with former detective turned doctor, Ethan Hall, hopes are high for the mystery to be solved.
Y’all. So good. Loved it. Ate it up!

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

I absolutely love this narrator. I have listened to 4 of Charlie’s books and it’s always been this narrator and she’s just so so good. I loved the special effects with being on the phone and stuff it really elevated it.

Ten years, one vanished girl, and a town full of secrets that refuse to stay buried. Charlie Donlea delivers another gripping, twist-filled thriller as Ethan Hall returns to Cherryview to reopen Callie Jones’s haunting cold case. The mix of past and present, the sweltering tension, and the dark secrets hiding in plain sight make this impossible to put down. Packed with lies, shocking turns, and a finale that will leave you reeling, Guess Again is perfect for fans of twisty small-town suspense.

Thank you Charlie Donlea, RBMedia, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#GuessAgain #NetGalley #NetGalleyARC #ARCReview #BookReview #WhatImReading #BookRecommendation #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #InstaBook #Bookish #AdvanceReaderCopy #ReviewCopyProvided #BookishThoughts #ReviewersOfInstagram

Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for the advanced audiobook

Ten years of solving crimes against children, as a federal investigator, was enough for Ethan Hall. He hung up his gun and badge, and set up a new life for himself as an ER physician (in a small town in Wisconsin) and with his girlfriend, Maddie. But, when his old partner comes to him asking him to help close the unsolved murder of the Wisconsin governor's daughter (who's been missing for a decade), Ethan can't help but get pulled in. Chasing leads to find out what happened to the governor's daughter will mean getting entangled with the man who killed Ethan's father; this entanglement may help Ethan solve this cold case but will undoubtedly upend everything else.

The only thing I'm angry about after reading this book is that I'll have to wait another year for the follow-up, after some big twists were revealed at the end of GUESS AGAIN. Charlie Donlea is an underrated master of smart thrillers that have seemingly disparate storylines that somehow weave together perfectly by the end. Since his other books weren't as directly connected, I'm excited to see where the sequel to this one will go. Donlea is great if you like fast paced thrillers often set in small town locations.

*The audiobook narrator is great at differentiating the characters and using inflection to move the pacing/suspense.

Guess Again is out July 29, 2025