I absolutely loved this book. Charlie Donlea is a master of twists and turns, but he also really did his homework on Wisconsin. Lots of small details like Culvers, New Glarus, etc. really made the difference for me. The mystery kept my attention, and I'm dying for a sequel. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.75⭐️

I’ve listened to two others by this author which I either really enjoyed or loved, so I was keen to try this book.
I had the audiobook read by Vivienne Lehney who provides distinct voices for the main characters, but I wasn’t keen on the one for the older detective.

Ten years ago Callie went missing and was never found.
Ethan Hall was a detective, but switched to medicine becoming an ER doctor. Pete is his detective partner seeks him out to help get closure for Callie’s family.

There are a couple of storylines covering different time frames and perspectives. It’s a slow start in the first half. I like Ethan, not sure how authentic I found his career swop.

Overall I enjoyed it, the ending is very good. It looks like it could become a series, personally I prefer standalones.

So much! Took me on a journey bringing the past and the present together. So many parts that kept me engrossed and trying to figure out what was going to happen next.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea.

Charlie Donlea does it again! As a huge Charlie Donlea fan going in, I have the bar set high for all Donlea’s books and this one lived up to that standard. 5 stars ⭐️

This suspense/thriller is a fast-paced, page-turning, heart pounding book you won’t be able to put down from the first pace until the last.

On the 10th anniversary of a cold case of a young teen girl’s disappearance, the case is broken open by a former veteran detective turned E.R. doctor, Ethan Hall. Ethan is drawn deep into this case and it’s unsolved mysteries again to help his former partner solve this case, who now is sick with cancer and needs his help in the investigation.

There are so many jaw-dropping twists and turns you won’t see coming that make this book shocking, as Donlea is known for.

The narration was fantastic from Vivienne Leheny.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

This was such a gripping read & I was hooked from the very beginning! The mystery of Callie Jones’s disappearance, mixed with small town secrets created the perfect atmosphere. It’s dark, emotional, and full of tension.

Ethan is a great main character as he is flawed, haunted, and completely believable. As he digs into the cold case, the twists keep coming, and the deeper he goes, the more personal it becomes. I couldn’t stop listening to this book and absolutely loved how everything tied together in the end!

Thank you NetGalley & RB Media for the gifted ALC.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 7/29
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I have read quite a few Charlie Donlea books now and one thing I can say about his work is that - all of the books are incredibly unique and Donlea has such a was of weaving such intricate stories that you will be in awe at how he connected each piece by the end. Guess Again is no different. This book is absolutely fantastic and will have you turning the pages long past your bedtime. 
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Throughout the book you will be wracking your brain on how each character is connected; but I must say Ethan Hall is hands down the best character in the story. Think you will be able to figure out the twist? Hahaha good luckkkkk. Donlea throws in so many twists and red herrings by the time you get to the ending your head may explode because of how well everything Donlea maps out his stories. This is the perfect thriller; it has it all, murder, drama, mystery, FBI/police procedural and more and it all flowed so well together. I ate this up so fast.
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I was lucky enough to listen to this one while reading my physical copy. I loved having the physical copy to help me with all of the different characters. Vivienne Leheny was the narrator for this, and I won't lie, I was worried, especially with the main character being male, but Vivienne absolutely knocked this one out of the part. She did a fantastic job creating the perfect atmosphere for this book. I highly recommend the audiobook!!
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I would love to see this turn into a series. Please please please Charlie - give us some more Ethan!! Anyway, everyone needs to check out this book because it is phenomenal. This will without a doubt be a favorite of 2025!!! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Charlie Donlea, Recorded Books Media and Kensignton Books for the ALC and finished copy in exchange for my honest review!

Due out July 29!

Ethan, son of a detective, has left law enforcement and become a physician, where he feels like he makes more of a difference.
When his former detective partner confides that he's terminally ill, Ethan agrees to investigate a case that went cold, in the hopes that a new view will find more evidence.
So begins a very convoluted, fast-paced investigation that will test Ethan's abilities.

This was a wild ride with several twists I could never have guessed!
The narration was nicely done by Vivienne Leheny.

Thank you to RBmedia | Recorded Books, and NetGalley for an audiobook ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars

This book was pretty mixed for me. The beginning took me a while to get into, and some parts were quite odd to read. A twist at the end was also very confusing. I legitimately could not keep some of the characters straight, and really struggled to follow some of the twists. It didn't help that I was listening to the audiobook, and so I couldn't quickly turn back to review sections or check to make sure I was thinking of the correct character. Once I got into the story, I did enjoy most of it. I was interested to see how the mystery turned out, and I was satisfied with the conclusion. The story was very engaging, and I found myself actively wanting to read it any time I put it down. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was good. Her voice kept me engaged, and was pleasant to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley for an audiobook ARC.

Best Charlie Donlea I’ve read to date.
Super appreciative that the publisher and NetGalley provided me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved all the turns this story took. While I thought I knew what was happening in 2-3 instances, there were another 10 I didn’t suspect. Guess that’s why the book is called Guess Again!?

I don’t even know where to begin this review except that I’m so glad I went in completely blind! When this book opened I was immediately sucked in from the very start. A cold case being investigated after 10 years with no answers , sign me up! As I continued the book I was in shock by how the story unfolded. So many secrets and questions that went unanswered I just became so invested to learn the truth and what really happened all those years ago. The twists were so good and I didn’t see them coming! I really enjoyed the writing and felt that it was a well rounded story. It flowed very well and it was high paced which is what I love from a thriller! I will continue to read anything this author puts out! Highly recommend it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and RB media for the advance listeners copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

MY JAW IS ON THE FLOOR!!!
i absolutely loved the girl who was taken so i was so excited for this one and charlie did not disappoint 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

When Ethan's dad was killed in the line of duty trying to solve a serial killer- he follows in his dad's footsteps to help catch bad guys. After years of bad he decides to switch things up and go to medical school and help people in a different way. Francis- the serial killer was eventually caught and put in a maximum security prison. when he is up for parole Ethan does everything he can to make sure he is never released. When Ethan's old partner reaches back out to have him look at a 10 year old cold case of a missing 17 year old girl, chaos ensues. With now another missing woman and Francis is somehow connected Ethan is sent on a wild goose chase to save the women and get the answers on the cold case. I absolutely ate this one up and was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

I was given an ARC of the audiobook, and I must say the narrator does a fantastic job! If you're looking for a book full of twists and turns, this is definitely for you. There were multiple times when I was surprised about what was revealed and really enjoyed my time listening! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea dives into a cold case that's anything but forgotten. Ten years ago, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community, and her body has never been found. Now, Ethan Hall, a former investigator for Wisconsin’s Division of Criminal Investigation, is pulled out of retirement by his former partner, Pete Kramer. Pete, facing a terminal illness, wants Ethan's help to solve Callie's disappearance before his time runs out. Ethan, now an ER Doctor after his previous job took too much of an emotional toll despite his 100% solve rate, reluctantly agrees to re-examine the evidence for his friend. He has no idea that reopening the case will uncover a personal link to the crime that took his own father’s life, or that it could still bring danger to himself and those he cares about.

This book was okay, but I found it hard to follow at times. That could have been due to the audiobook format, but it felt like it jumped around quite a bit between settings. I think I'm personally just over the whole detective perspective type of books and that particular style, though I will say the writing itself was good for the type of book it is. The pace definitely picks up in the second half, and there are some really good twists that kept me guessing. I could easily see this main character, Ethan, having a returning role in future books.

Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 7/29/25.

Thank you NetGalley, RB media and Charlie Donlea for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Vivienne Lehany didva great job narrating and beimg to life the characters.

This novel is dark, sharp, and totally absorbing. Charlie Donlea never misses when it comes to gripping, twist-packed thrillers—and Guess Again is no exception. I tore through this book.

What I love most about Donlea’s storytelling is how nothing is ever quite what it seems. You're constantly trying to piece things together, and just when you think you have it figured out—boom! Everything connects in the most unexpected, jaw-dropping way. The conclusion was shocking but felt so right—an unforgettable finish to an intense ride.

If you're into smart thrillers that keep you guessing and gasping, Guess Again needs to be on your radar. It’s a wild ride from start to finish, and I loved every minute of it.

This is a masterclass in psychological suspense.

Wow… just wow. What starts as a seemingly familiar game of cat-and-mouse game between a former detective and a serial killer behind bars, turns into something so much deeper, darker, and utterly jaw-dropping. Guess Again delivers a twist-filled rollercoaster that left my jaw on the ground - and begging for a sequel. Charlie Donlea, you cannot leave us hanging like that!

This book reads like a thrilling blend of The Following and Mare of Easttown - both of which I loved. The atmosphere is tense, the pacing relentless, and the reveals? Let’s just say some I saw coming, but one twist in particular completely blindsided me in the best way.

The story revolves around Ethan Hall, a former detective turned ER doctor with a haunted past and a strong moral compass. He’s dragged back into a cold case on the 10th anniversary of 17-year-old Callie Jones’s disappearance - a mystery that shook their small Wisconsin town to its core. As Ethan reluctantly reopens the investigation, he finds himself caught in a dangerous web of secrets, lies, and deeply buried trauma - both his own and the town’s.

Donlea doesn’t just write thrillers - he constructs them, piece by piece, like an intricate psychological puzzle. The dual timelines, shifting perspectives, and unreliable memories are handled with expert precision. Each POV is compelling, and Ethan’s character in particular is beautifully fleshed out - his personal journey adds a layer of heart and humanity to a gripping narrative.

What really sets Guess Again apart is its emotional depth. It’s smart, suspenseful, and packed with twists, but it also explores themes of justice, redemption, and healing. Ethan’s efforts to make amends for his ancestors’ wrongdoings - offering free healthcare to the Indigenous community - was a powerful, grounding detail that made me admire and root for him even more.

This is the kind of thriller you finish and immediately want to talk about. And trust me - you’ll want answers, a sequel, and maybe a moment to breathe after that ending.

Add Guess Again to your TBR immediately. You won’t regret it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Vivienne Leheny does a fantastic job narrating this story and making it come alive!!!

I love Charlie Donlea and his books are always on auto-buy for me but holy smokes! This one is his best! Ten years ago, Callie Jones vanished from her small Wisconsin lake community. Now, the lead detective is dying of ALS, and he enlists his former partner, Ethan Hall, for help for the cold case. Ethan walked away from law enforcement and became an ER physician, but something about the case draws him back in.

This is a fast paced, psychological thriller that will have you so engrossed that you will lose track of time! Great characters, great story and a wonderful, suspenseful read!! Highly recommend!!

Thank you Net Galley and RB media for this Audio ARC of Guess Again.
I was overly excited when I was approved for an early listen to a Charlie Donlea book. I've had read 4 other books by this author and couldn't wait to devour this one as well. I couldn't listen fast enough to find out what was happening. I was hooked from the first chapter.

This was absolutely entertaining! I would love more of the Main Character Ethan who is a Detective turned ER doctor that is summoned to return to his detective role for his expertise on the vanishing of the governor's daughter he ends up getting help with the case from an unlikely, upsetting source. Everyone seems to be outsmarting each other through the story in ways that were hard for me to guess. The plot here is fast moving and suspenseful, the narration is smooth and there is nothing annoying about it. I blew through this and didn't see the twists coming. I can see this becoming a series, Ethan is a very very likeable guy and it seems his story could have multiple layers and multiple cases.

I really liked this book. It's my second by this author and I really appreciated the twists that this story took. I had my suspicions about where it was going but I was really shocked at some of the ending. Worth the read.

Fast paced and convoluted psychological crime thriller.

3.5 stars rounded up

A teenage girl disappeared 10 years ago and detectives in Cherryview, Wisconsin found no clues so the case went cold. Ethan Hall, previously a detective, currently working as an ER physician, is called back into law enforcement by a former partner who is dying and can’t let it go. The situation is complicated because an inmate at the local prison (convicted and incarcerated for murdering Ethan’s father who was also a detective) seems to know something about Callie Jones and wants to make a deal.

This was twisty but quite predictable despite the red herrings and diversions into other points of view and shifts in time. I love Donlea and will always want to read his new books despite the need to often suspend disbelief. How is it that everyone (but me) casually knows a fantastic hacker who can give them tons of information? I liked the main character ok, but honestly none of the cast was fully fleshed out and I never related to any of them. Multiple threads unwound for the big climax and reveal. The themes in the story are familiar ones of friendship, relationships, loyalty, revenge, and murder.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Vivienne Leheny, did an acceptable job of voicing the characters but the choice of a female for the voice seemed wrong as so much of the book was male point of view and the story would have been well served with a male narrator instead. I find that listening while reading allows for a more immersive and enjoyable experience with a book.