Charlie Donlea does it again! I have never read a book by him that was not 4 or 5 stars. This one was no different. I loved the Midwest vibe and the story line kept me intrigued and wanted answers throughout the whole the book. I did not see the twist coming and what truly happened was what happened. Crazy! Then he leaves me hanging at the end! There better be a second book and soon!

Guess Again holds true to its title - this book will keep you guessing! I can tell you I didn't see that ending coming and there were a couple of twists that left me feeling sick to my stomach and speechless. Charlie Donlea has cleverly woven together a cast of characters and a few different story lines. The book is told from multiple POVs and timelines. Ethan Hall is a former detective (a very successful one at that) turned ER doctor. His former partner turns up to request he pause his ER career to look into the disappearance of Callie Jones who disappeared 10 years ago. Callie is the Governor's daughter and he has made a big plea for Ethan's help. There were some investigative things that Ethan did that I did not agree with, nor do I think the legal system would be happy with, but I'm willing to overlook this because the plot moved along quickly, kept my entire attention, and kept me guessing. Like I said, very appropriate title for this book. I liked the characters, finding them to be realistically flawed with some easy to like and others easy to hate! I'm crossing my fingers that we'll see more of Ethan Hall in the future!

I listened to the audio book version and I thought the narrator was awesome! For example, she had techniques that made it obvious when Ethan was talking to someone on the phone, and I always knew which character was speaking by the tone of her voice.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Charlie Donlea is one of my all-time favorite authors, and Guess Again is yet another example of why I keep coming back to his work. I’ve devoured all of his previous books, and each one delivers a masterclass in suspense, tightly woven plots, and jaw-dropping twists—and this latest installment does not disappoint.

From the very first chapter, Guess Again pulls you in with its fast-paced storytelling and well-drawn characters. Donlea has an unmatched ability to plant subtle clues while keeping readers constantly guessing, and just when you think you have it all figured out—boom!—another twist hits you out of nowhere. It’s the kind of book that keeps you up late saying, “Just one more chapter…”

The audiobook narrator was phenomenal. Their performance added another layer of tension and depth, bringing the characters and plot to life in a way that fully immerses the listener. Every emotion, every shocking moment, and every secret felt even more vivid through their voice.

If you’re a fan of smart thrillers with unexpected turns and a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish, Guess Again is a must-read. Donlea has done it again!

I’ve rated all of Charlie Donlea’s previous books 3 stars, mostly because they’re readable and engaging despite their flaws. But with Guess Again, I’m officially stepping away. The issues that have plagued his earlier works—poor structure, implausible plotlines, and lack of payoff—are not only present but amplified here.

The story leans heavily on coincidences, with every character somehow conveniently tied to past crimes. Ethan, the protagonist, is frustratingly reckless and shows poor judgment throughout. There’s no real detective work—just a series of improbable events, including a prisoner in a high-security facility somehow calling the shots. Ethan keeps everyone out of the loop for no reason, and the logic behind his decisions is flimsy at best.

The structure is particularly jarring. Chapters break mid-scene, even when the date and setting remain unchanged. It disrupts the flow and feels unnecessary. Add to that gratuitous sex scenes that serve no narrative purpose, and the book starts to feel more like a patchwork than a polished thriller.

There are glaring plot holes too. Ethan is reinstated as a special agent due to his 100% solve rate, and while his hospital dean objects, that conflict is dropped without resolution. His ability to moonlight is brushed off with a vague mention of calendar adjustments—hardly convincing.

The ending is open, suggesting a series, but I won’t be continuing. The narration by Vivienne was okay, though her portrayal of male characters made them sound decades older than they were—especially the tech guru, who came off like he was in his 80s.

If you’re looking for a tightly plotted, well-structured mystery, this isn’t it. I’ve given Donlea multiple chances, but the standard hasn’t improved, and I’m done waiting.

3.75 ⭐️ | Detective turned Doctor, Ethan has been dragged into a decades old cold case investigation. He has already done a complete career change as seeing these brutal crimes committed, (especially against kids) was beginning to take a toll on his mental health. I found this story intriguing & well written. I enjoyed the length of the chapters, I’ve never been a big fan of super long chapters and these were the perfect length. The narrator did a really good job in the audiobook and this was overall and enjoyable read. This was my second Charlie Donlea book and I’m interested in more of Charlie’s catalogue. Thank you RBMedia and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

I frequently have this dream where I get an urgent call from the fast food restaurant I worked at 20 years ago, saying they really need me to come in, I'm the only one who can do the shift. That is basically the set up for this book, except that Ethan was once an ace detective and they need to bring him back to solve this case that no-one else can solve. This is the level of believability carried throughout the book. I could expand on the things I found annoying in this book, but it's not necessary. It wasn't a bad book, just required some suspension of disbelief. There were plenty of twists and lots of excitement and mystery. The focus is very much on action and violence, whereas I prefer my thrillers to be driven by more complex and nuanced characters. Judging by the many rave reviews for this book, I am in the majority and I suspect it is just my tastes. I have been wanting to read Donlea for a while, and I will definitely give him another go.

3.5 stars – a dark, twisty read that ends strong but starts slow.

Guess Again took me a minute to settle into since the beginning felt a bit slow and it took a while to really hook me. But once the momentum picked up, ooh I was all in. The story had that bingeable crime drama energy with layered secrets, shifting motives, and just enough psychological tension to keep me flipping pages.

The ending delivered in a satisfying way, but I do wish it had gone a little deeper. It left me with questions that I hope a sequel will answer and based on how things wrapped up, I definitely see the door open for one.

If you like dark vibes, a steady build up, and characters who are clearly hiding something, this is a solid pick.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Charlie Donlea, and Kensington Publishing for letting me dive in early!

I have read every single one of Charlie Donlea's books. I really like his style and this one does not disappoint. The storyline follows Adam, a ER room doctor.. previously detective). He had a 100% solve rate as an investigator so as the anniversary of this young girl's disappearance draws near, her father who is the new governor pulls strings to get Adam on the case. He starts receiving clues from an inmate who is incarcerated for Adam's dad's murder. This prisoner, Francis, was in jail at the time of the girl's disappearance yet he has evidence and information about it. This story is quite a ride and leaves off for a sequel which I will be anxiously awaiting.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea
Phenomenal suspense! Brilliant twists!
Callie Jones, a 17-year-old volley ball star disappeared, unravelling her small town.

On the tenth anniversary of the case, Ethan Hall takes on the case, He’s a former detective who changed careers to become an ER doctor. His old partner shows up with a death-bed request to solve this case that has haunted him for a decade.

As word spreads that the case is active again, Lindsay Larkin, Callie’s best friend assists the investigation after a client anonymously confesses.

The audiobook was well executed, the characters were well defined and given individual characteristics, very well done!
I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of the audiobook of this novel.

This has so many twisty layers, you will stay glued to the story. The characters are well developed and relatable. Just phenomenal writing!
I love all of Charlie Dpnelea’s books and each new one is better than the one before! 5/5⭐

I have really enjoyed standalone thrillers by Charlie Donlea in the past and overall, I found this one entertaining as well. The story starts out with a hook and then the author creatively engages readers with a scenario that realistically turns an ER doctor into a return homicide detective. No spoilers but the circumstances are complex and compelling. The writing is excellent and the style draws readers in especially as the complexities are slowly revealed. The whodunnit reveal towards the end of the book was unexpected but then Donlea adds another twist that is more personal and powerful to Ethan, the protagonist that left my head spinning.
So, overall, this is another well written and engaging read by this author. Lovers of crime and action thrillers will love it. The characters are well developed and their individual complexities make them more interesting. There is lots of action which makes the book a little hard to keep up at times but mostly just added to the storyline. The only reason that I didn’t rate this book as a 5-star read is that I am not a fan of action/crime thrillers that turn into series and I am disappointed to see this book headed that way. The ending definitely sets up a sequel and probably even a series. I won’t be going down that rabbit hole but for those of you who read these types of series, this author could become your favorite. I’ll be looking for more standalone books by the talented and creative Charlie Donlea.
I listened to the audio version of this book and in the bulk of the book around the main character, the narration was good. The voice inflections and accents of the secondary characters was not so good and actually distracting and irritating to me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the RBmedia for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

Guess Again ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5/5)
Ethan Hall left his detective job with a perfect solve record in favor of a medical career. But now, his ex-partner is begging him for help on a ten-year-old cold case to find a missing girl. When a clue comes from the man responsible for the murder of Ethan’s father, he must decide whether or not to play along with an inmate’s game to solve the case.

Listen… I know it’s not a high star rating but I did like this story. It just didn’t live up to Charlie’s other books for me. The “guess again” element is well done and I had no idea where this story was going to take me for like the first 75%. I love when the author can keep me guessing and hooked in to what comes next. There are multiple murders unraveling, a serial killer, and small town politics making for an action packed plot. The narrator, Vivienne Leheny, did such a great job too holding down a very complicated story structure!

The timeline is jumping between the present and 2015, plus the added element of different cities across Wisconsin and many different POVs. Personally, I would’ve preferred if the chapters that aligned with a change of POV, or city, or time. Instead they are haphazard and sometimes only 2-3 minutes each. I know some people love their bit size chapters though so maybe this is the perfect scenario for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia, and Reocrded Books for this ALC. Guess Again hit the shelves on July 29th!

Listened on Audiobook
#bookstagram #bookreview #bookish #charliedonlea #thriller #suspensenovel #netgalley #guessagain

WOW WOW WOW! I absolutely love Charlie Donlea's books and writing style. This book will definitely keep you guessing! Just when I thought I had something figured out, then BOOM some other twist in the story would happen...right up until the very end. The book did end in a way that you know there will be a second book and I cannot wait! The MC was a detective turned ER doctor and I would continue this series, if it became one! The narration was great as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC for exchange for my honest opinion.

I had the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio of Guess Again by Charlie Donlea, thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia. This gripping thriller follows Ethan Hall as he attempts to move forward from a haunting past involving child abductions and murder.

This was my first book by Donlea, and I was immediately drawn in by the compelling writing and well-woven characters. The pacing, suspense, and unexpected twists kept me hooked from start to finish. I’m excited to read more from this author—Donlea has a real talent for crafting a tense, layered story that stays with you.

💙”Guess Again” by Charlie Donlea💙 A fast-paced twisty thriller, I had so much fun reading this one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ten years ago, 17-year-old volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community. The case went cold. Ethan Hall, a former detective turned ER doctor, left law enforcement with a vow to never return. But on the 10th anniversary of Callie’s disappearance, his former partner makes a desperate request that Ethan return to help solve this case once and for all. Soon Ethan is drawn deeper into a twisted psychological game because there is much more to Callie’s disappearance than he could have ever imagined!

This wild goose chase takes us all around Wisconsin. Taking place mainly at the end of July through the beginning of August, “Guess Again” is the perfect end of summer read. The dual timelines and various characters make this such a suspenseful read. The ending shocked me and was such a satisfying payoff!

I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it. I got a tiny bit nervous initially that maybe this would be too confusing to solely listen to with the various timelines and characters, but it translated perfectly on audio due to clear transitions and excellent narration by Vivienne Leheny. I really enjoyed her narration! I will definitely seek out other books she narrates.

If you enjoyed “Look Closer” by David Ellis, which both Col and I LOVED, I think you will enjoy this one, too. I’ve only read one other book by Charlie Donlea but will definitely be reading more of his backlist. He’s an excellent writer!

Thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the advanced listening copy. “Guess Again” published July 29th and would make such a great addition to your August reading list. This book is perfect to read right now to bridge the end of summer (when it takes place) with thriller/mystery season (fall)!

Charlie Donlea writes books exactly how I want to read them!

No notes! This was engaging, twisty, exciting and will definitely keep you guessing!

The audio was fantastic! The narrator did a fantastic job with different voices and even did different styles based on the writing (muffled in a recording/talking on the phone) Very impressed!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The narration was very good. Highly recommended audio.
This book is literally a whole bunch of guessing left and right! Everything is connected in ways that you would not expect this book. It’s a wild ride.

Multiple POV that will have your running in all directions! I’m

Charlie Donlea could write the phone book and I would read it. Guess Again was no exception.

This has a dual timeline and multiple POV's. In true Donlea fashion it has you guessing who, when and where throughout the story.

We receive most of our story through reliable narrator Ethan Hall, former detective turned trauma doctor. He was on a case 10 years ago of missing volleyball star Callie Jones who went missing during her senior year of high school and shortly after Ethan calls it quits.

Callie's Dad and the police force approach Ethan to reevaluate and open the case. We get intertwined kidnappings, failed relationships and murder. I read many thrillers and it's been a while for me to be this shocked and intrigued by the story. The way Donlea weaves the characters was truly spectacular in this one!

WHAT A STORY!!

Whew. Where do I even begin?

Charlie Donlea has officially cemented himself as one of my go to thriller authors. Guess Again had me by the throat from the prologue. If you love books that deliver twists you don’t see coming, layered mysteries, and characters that actually stick with you after you close the book you’re gonna want to read this.

We’ve got a convicted serial killer, a detective turned doctor, a long-cold missing person’s case, and secrets so dark they practically bleed off the page. The way Donlea weaves dual timelines and multiple POVs together is seamless and just when you think you know what’s going on? Guess again.

The pacing? Perfect.
The tension? Constant.
The twists? One had me clapping like a maniac and whispering “NO WAY” at 2am.

Don’t read the synopsis, go in as blind as possible. Trust me, it’s better that way. If you’re into fast-paced, high-stakes thrillers with just enough emotion to punch you in the gut, this one’s for you.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the early copy. This is easily a top-tier thriller of 2025 for me!!!

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea delivers a tightly wound, twist-filled mystery centered on a cold case investigation of the disappearance of Callie Jones, a promising teen athlete from a quiet Wisconsin community. It's a propulsive narrative, expertly woven through multiple timelines, viewpoints, and clever red herrings that keep readers guessing at every turn.
Particularly notable among a cast of interesting characters are a serial killer who seems to know much more than he should about a crime that was committed while he was behind bars and a woman on the outside who is obsessed with him.
Donlea’s writing balances suspense and clarity well and will keep readers turning pages eagerly. However, while most of the journey is enthralling, the final few pages ultimately undercut that momentum a bit. Had it delivered a more resonant conclusion, this would have been a 4.5- or 5-star read for me. Even so, it’s certainly worth the read!

Charlie Donlea doesn't miss! Guess Again is another great thriller from an author I have come to love. He is an auto-buy author for me. I went back and forth between reading and listening to this novel. The narration on the audiobook was great.

I can't honestly imagine someone becoming an ER doctor at the age Ethan did it after a very successful career in law enforcement, but anything is possible. But as content as Ethan is in his ER doctor life, he gets pulled back into a ten-year-old cold case of a missing teenager. As part of that case, he gets embroiled with the inmate who murdered Ethan's dad years ago, a serial killer who went to prison well before this girl went missing. So why does he know so much about the case and actually leads Ethan to clues to help solve it?

I was engrossed from start to finish. It was a good mystery with lots of thrills and a few twists that were jaw-dropping. I would recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller.