On the tenth anniversary of star athlete Callie Jones’ disappearance, former detective turned ER doctor Ethan Hall is pulled back to Cherryview, Wisconsin, to finally uncover what happened to her. As Ethan digs into the cold case, his unconventional investigation unearths dangerous secrets tied to his own past, proving that some truths are still worth killing for.

First, I have to say that Charlie Donlea can do no wrong and this book is proof of his twisty thriller chops. The short chapters and breakneck pace had me locked in from the very start. I listened to the audiobook and can’t get enough of his narrator, Vivienne Leheny. She knows how to deliver every ounce of suspense, emotion, and tension these stories demand. She is truly top tier. Normally, I pair audiobooks with chores or activity, always in motion. But during some of the most tense or jaw-dropping moments, I was frozen in place or literally yelling out loud, “WHAT??” This book is the definition of what we crave when we say we love a twisty thriller, and Donlea nails it. It is suspenseful, shocking, fast-paced, and full of those moments where you think you’ve figured it all out only to be completely blindsided. I was fully immersed in the case and couldn’t get enough of watching the mystery unravel. And that ending? A master class in leaving me saying, “What the hell?” It’s clear this isn’t the last time we’ll see Ethan and Maddie, and I can’t wait for more. I rarely hand out five stars to thrillers, but this one deserves them all. Thoroughly entertaining and an absolute must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An Intense narrative from the start, I was engaged and on the edge of my seat throughout.
The writing is impressive and the plot is quite intricate, with characters that feel real and well-crafted.
I loved how the story uses different perspectives that all tie together in unexpected ways. The ending blew my mind…Highly recommend listening while reading too!
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read and listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Charlie Donlea is one of my favorite authors. His latest, Guess Again was a five star listen for me. It’s available next week and is one you won’t want to miss.

This was my first by this author. And I enjoyed it! It did lag a little in the middle but the end made up for it x10!! I highly recommend

3.5 but rounding up to 4.
Let me preface this - my first and only previous Charlie Donlea book was twenty years later - I am not a super thriller reader and that was the type of thriller I was expecting. This is not it and will probably be enjoyable for most thriller readers. In this case - it was really me, not Charlie.

Carry on:

If you are looking for a twisting, hard to solve thriller - this is it. For me, there were so many moving parts that it was overwhelming and I felt confused and like I missed pieces. Didn’t love, probably wouldn’t read additional if there is more in this book line. Also, the ending was zero stars.

The narration was excellent - it is a solo narrator but I did not feel that that too away from the story.

Charlie Donlea delivered AGAIN!

A locked up serial killer, a former cop becomes an ED doc but gets dragged back into a cold case of said serial killer?

This. Had. It. All.

OMG the way I binged this in under 12 hours. I couldn't stop. I did part kindle and part audio and absolutely loved it. I absolutely loved the way Donlea wove these characters, all seemingly unconnected, together. Francis is a true psycho and that ending?! WTF. We need more Ethan stat.

I'll never be able to look at a black heart the same way again. IYKYK.

I sense a sequel brewing on the horizon! As a newcomer to this author’s work, I’m not entirely sure if this book is part of a series, but it certainly stands on its own. However, with its tantalizing open-ended conclusion, I can’t help but speculate that more is on the way—and I’m thrilled about it!

On the 10th anniversary of Callie Jones' disappearance in Cherryview, Wisconsin, her cold case is revived. Callie, a high school volleyball star, vanished a decade ago, leaving no trace. Former detective Ethan Hall, now an ER doctor, is asked by his dying ex-partner Pete to help solve the case for closure. As Ethan reinvestigates amid a heatwave, he uncovers dangerous connections tied to Callie's disappearance and his own past, drawing him into a high-stakes psychological game.

This captivating tale unfolds across two timelines and a few POVs, expertly weaving together the threads of the past and present. It’s one of those books that demands your full attention, as every detail plays a crucial role in the grand tapestry of the story. The array of characters is introduced gradually, allowing you to form your own opinions about who you like and who you don’t. Of course, the main character, Ethan, is the quintessential likable protagonist—a former law enforcement officer turned medical professional. It’s a curious transition, but somehow, it works brilliantly in this narrative!

What I enjoyed most about this book was the clever writing. The author seems to have plotted everything at least ten steps ahead, and trust me, none of the twists and turns are predictable. I dare you to try and guess what happens next, but even if you do, you won’t see the rest coming! This unique storytelling style kept me on the edge of my seat, making it impossible to put the book down.

I was fortunate enough to experience both the audiobook and eBook versions, which elevated the overall experience to new heights. The narrator did an outstanding job, making it nearly impossible to hit pause—even when I desperately needed to!

This book has a little something for everyone, so no matter your literary preferences, you’ll find elements that will keep you turning the pages. With police procedurals, obsession, a cleverly executed plot, and a web of lies and deceit involving some rather innocent individuals, the vivid descriptions make everything feel incredibly believable. You’ll find yourself exclaiming “What?!” more times than you can count! Happy reading, and I hope you devour this!

Thank you, RBmedia and Kensington, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is an absolute rollercoaster of a thriller that had me hooked from the first page. Ethan Hall is a former detective turned ER doctor, who wants nothing to do with his past until a cold case from his hometown drags him back in. Callie Jones vanished without a trace years ago, and now Ethan is tangled in a mystery that’s way more dangerous than he expected. As he digs deeper, he turns to an unlikely and super sketchy source, a convicted inmate who might have the key to unlocking the truth. The author nails the suspense by combining dark secrets, eerie small town vibes, and crazy twists! I really liked the audio narration by Vivienne Leheny. She made the story so easy to get into and gave the characters a lot of personality.

I went into this blind and not really knowing much around the synopsis. It started off really strong and had me hooked. I do feel the story took some turns that I just was losing interest in. I know it all connects in the end, but I really wanted more focus on everything that occurred in the beginning.

I did find this story fast paced and I finished in one day. The narration was great and helped keep my interest in the story.

Overall, this ended ok for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Recorded Books Media for gifting me a physical, digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Charlie Donlea, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Vivienne Leheny. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

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. The case went cold but the original investigator, Pete Kramer, never let it go. Pete turns to Ethan Hall, his former partner who left law enforcement to become an ER doctor, to help him solve the case. Ethan turns to his nemesis, currently in a maximum-security prison, for some assistance, but he may get more than he bargains for.

Wow! As typical with Donlea's books, this one had me flipping the pages as fast as I could, and when I couldn't read, I was listening to the audiobook. Told from multiple POV and timelines, we learn of multiple cases - from Callie's disappearance, to a serial killer's conquests, to Ethan's father's murder, to another missing girl The plotting is perfection and I was blown away with how all these multiple plot lines came together in such a twisty fashion to keep me totally on my toes. The best part? The open ending that leaves hope that this isn't the last we will hear from Ethan. The audiobook production was great - the narrator voiced all the characters so well and I appreciated the way her voice took on the qualities of different effects, to really immerse the reader in the experience. Don't miss this one!

Guess Again is possibly Donlea's best book and has a jaw-dropping twist - a definite "WHAT?!?" moment.

"Ethan Hall was a detective with a hundred percent close rate. He left law enforcement for med school to escape the horrors of the kid crime division. Now he's an ER doc helping people. His old partner wants him to look into a cold case - one of a missing girl - a high school volleyball player who disappeared and was never found. Now her father is the governor and is hoping to reopen the case. Ethan has no idea how his life will collide with the case...and the horror that is waiting for him."

Donlea takes you for a wild ride. He's trying to find answers for a ten-year-old cold case and also trying to help keep his father's killer behind bars. You think (as a reader) "I've read thrillers and crime fiction and watched crime shows - I know how this will go. But don't look for the expected outcomes in this book. Donlea is going with his own brand of crazy twists. You will not see them coming.

Great job on the audio by Vivienne Leheny especially the intensity of that jaw-dropping reveal.

This is a fast-paced read - Good luck putting it down. There's no cliffhanger but there is a setup for another book. How long do we have to wait, Mr. Donlea?

Thriller fans should get this book as soon as it comes out. Great summer thriller from Donlea. All the stars.

This was my first Charlie Donlea book. I listened to it on audible. The narrator was great. The story was fantastic. It was fast moving, didn't see the twists coming and kept me engaged. I finished it in a day. Would recommend and looking forward to reading more Charlie Donlea stories

Guess Again is now my favorite Charlie Donlea book. I devoured it in one sitting. The story alternates between past and present, and I was completely hooked trying to figure out how everything connected. The pacing was spot on, the tension kept building, and the plot twist was clever—I genuinely didn’t see it coming. Donlea nailed the suspense in this one. The narrators were great.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

What a great mystery/thriller. And the ending! Very fast-paced - very twisty - very worth the read!

Release: July 29, 2025
Author: Charlie Donlea
Publisher: Kensington

Rating: 5 ★ 

A decade after high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished without a trace from her small Wisconsin lake town, her case remains unsolved and the community still haunted. Ethan Hall, once a detective in the child crimes unit and now an ER doctor, is reluctantly pulled back into his old world when his former partner—now terminally ill—asks him to reopen the investigation for the sake of the family’s closure. As word spreads through Cherryview, hope is reignited. But in the middle of a brutal summer, Ethan quickly realizes that solving the case will take more than revisiting the past—it will require digging deep, taking risks, and confronting painful truths, including a disturbing link to his own past. The closer he gets to the truth, the more dangerous the game becomes.

Charlie Donlea continues to prove why he’s one of the best in the thriller genre. Guess Again is a fast-paced, twist-filled mystery that grabbed my attention right from the start and didn’t let go. The story follows Ethan Hall, a former detective turned ER doctor, who is pulled back into his old life when asked to solve a cold case involving the missing daughter of Wisconsin’s newly elected governor. With a 100% solve rate in his former career and a deeply personal connection to the case, Ethan’s return to investigating quickly becomes more than he bargained for.

The plot is layered and intricate, full of red herrings and shocking twists—some I saw coming, but many completely blindsided me. Donlea does a great job weaving past and present timelines while maintaining the suspense throughout. I appreciated the short chapters and fast pacing, which made this a super quick read despite its complexity. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and while not all of them felt deeply developed, the sheer momentum of the story kept me engaged.

The final twist is one of the most memorable I’ve read in a while—Donlea really leans into the title here. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out… guess again. The ending was intense and left the door wide open for a possible sequel, which I’m definitely hoping for.

If you’re into cold cases, serial killers, or thrillers with a psychological edge and a touch of emotional depth, Guess Again should be on your list. It’s easily one of the most compelling thrillers I’ve read this year.

Favorite Quote:
"she found a bench near the water, took a seat, and pretended to scroll through her phone while she looked for anyone who might have followed her. She saw no one. Finally, she stepped back onto the walking path and made her way to a little free library. The stand looked like a large birdhouse.. The triangular structure was perched on an oak pole and housed a variety of free books for anyone to take."

“How do I know all of this? I’m stuck in a cell 24 hours a day with no access to the outside world. But you see, the guards here offer certain information in exchange for… 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘴. Sometimes those favors leave a bad taste in my mouth, but this last time was worth it.”

In short: I can always count on Charlie Donlea (@charliedonlea) to yank me out of a reading slump. This is one you won’t want to miss!

My initial thoughts were WTG Ethan Hall…this guy had a whole career as a Special Agent/detective with a 100% solve rate and then at 36 years old he goes to med school because he was burnt out with all of the crimes against children he saw on a daily basis.

This book sucked me in right away, I love Charlie Donlea’s writing. I don’t know what it is, his writing is just so captivating and all consuming.

He also effortlessly nailed the time jumps from before & after Callie Jones went missing.

I enjoyed the Billy Joel “Piano Man” reference…clever way to tell time 😉

This book was such a blast, although it had a lot of moving parts everything knit together seamlessly.

I’m more of a standalone book person BUT I would love to see more from Ethan and more from Francis if Charlie makes this a series. There were so many good villains and people you couldn’t really trust. The characters were all perfect in their designated roles and I absolutely loved rooting for Ethan and Maddie.

I 100% recommend this one…it’s a perfect pare turning thriller. Charlie Donlea has earned himself a spot on my #autobuy author list.