This was my first Charlie Donlea book, I had heard his books were good, and the hype is definitely real, what a great book for my first one. We listened to this audiobook on a weekend road trip and it was such a great book to listen to. The narrator did a great job with the voices and was easy to listen to. Hubby and I really enjoyed this book and there were some great twists to the storyline. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s works.

Ethan Hall is a former detective who retired because he needed to leave the horrors of his job in the kid crime division behind and move onto something else, something positive; so he became an ER doctor saving lives . Ethan’s old partner Pete, comes to him and asks for his assistance on the 10th anniversary of a missing case that has haunted him for all these years;17 year-old Callie Jones a star volleyball player went missing from her small quiet lakeside town. Her body has never been found and there has been no trace of her since.

Ethan agrees and signs on to help, but as Ethan re-examines the old evidence he realizes he needs a new way into the case. Ethan decides to interview the original characters and try to find something new something that will lead to Callie’s location, or if she is dead, her killers identity.

Meanwhile, Ethan, who has just appeared at the parole hearing for his late police officer fathers murderer, goes to visit the man, Francis, in jail after the hearing to tell him that he will never stop and that he will not be getting out of jail. But while visiting this man, Francis reveals that he knows something about the Callie Jones case. Ethan has to decide if this is a lead worth following and as he tries to solve the disappearance from ten years ago, he will find things aren’t always what they seem.

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media audio book, the narrator and the author for the opportunity to listen to a complimentary copy of this audiobook in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Charlie Donlea never, ever, ever disappoints and his latest novel, "Guess Again" was a killer of a book (get it, LOL)...the reader did a great job as well.

Cold case? ☑️
Creepy confession? ☑️
Small-town secrets boiling over? ☑️

Starts with a bang, ends with a possible sequel, and kept me on my toes the whole time.

Ten years ago, Callie Jones disappeared. No body. No answers. Just a whole lot of small-town gossip and dead ends. Now it’s 2025, and Ethan Hall, a former detective with a flawless solve rate turned doctor, is pulled back into the case when a chilling confession surfaces.

I will say initially I thought I missed a previous book because the characters had so much history, but nope, I think Donlea just throws you in and lets you catch up.

The story jumps between 2015 and 2025 with multiple characters and a strong sense of place. It’s broken into parts, which helps pace the story. I am an outlier here but I think I liked the first half better. To me, it had just a little more punch and momentum, but I stayed curious the whole time and thought it ended on a high note.

Not every part felt essential, but I was fully invested and maybe a little cocky thinking I could solve it before Ethan. (Spoiler: He definitely snuck a few by me).

The audiobook narration is strong, but I think the physical book would hit just as hard. If you like solving crime fiction and piecing together clues, this one’s for you.

Read it if you enjoy:
▪️ Dual timelines with strong characters
▪️ Police procedural meets psychological mystery
▪️ Charlie Donlea’s other books

Thank you to RB Media @recordedbooks @NetGalley and Charlie Donlea for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

It’s a yes for me! 🖤

DeAnn @deannsreadingriot

I didn’t want to put this down. It really hooked me in and made me keep questioning what was actually going on. Meeting with a serial killer in jail to try to help solve an ongoing crime was giving me Criminal Minds vibes. It was not my favorite mystery thriller of all time, but it was entertaining, and I did enjoy a couple of the twists.

The narrator did a great job of giving different characters, their own voice. She never made me feel weird that she was doing male voices in a way that sounded unnatural. It was very interesting to listen to and I enjoyed the audio experience.

Thank you Recorded Books for the alc.

This is a 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars.

Ten years ago a 17 year old Callie Jones vanished from her small Wisconsin town. Not long after, the case goes cold. Now Ethan Hall, a former detective with 100% solve rate and current ER doctor is recruited by his former partner to open the case back up. Ethan dives in and starts interviewing the people of Cherryview but his biggest help in the case is going to come from an unlikely source.

This is a twisty, turny, edge of your seat thriller. In true Donlea fashion, you never quite see what is going to happen next. I pride myself on being able to solve mystery books before the end but a few of these twists certainly got me.

The novel overall, however, felt too busy. It took me quite a while to get into the swing of it and figure out who is who with the myriad of characters.
The narrator of the audiobook was great with her delivery and inflection. She made me feel the anxiety of moments. I wish there were more distinct voices to help out with all the characters though. But I know that is asking a lot of a single narrator in a book with this many.

Overall a solid twisty thriller!

I was lucky enough to receive both an ebook and audiobook version of Guess Again by Charlie Donlea & although I already have most of his other books on my TBR this was actually my first time reading one of his novels. It absolutely will not be the last. This book exceeded my expectations & his other titles will be fast-tracked to the top of my list.
From the very first page I was completely engrossed. Guess Again is everything I look for in a thriller; sharp, fast-paced & full of twists that kept me constantly second-guessing (& sometimes third-guessing!) everything. Just when I thought I had things figured out Donlea threw in another curveball.
I really loved Ethan’s character I thought he was brilliantly developed, complex, and believable. I absolutely loved the ending I’m desperately hoping it hints at the start of a new series because I’d return to this world/these characters in a heartbeat.

I listened to the final 50% of the book on audio & thought Vivienne Leheny delivered an excellent performance. Her pacing was perfectly judged, making the listening experience smooth and engaging. She subtly differentiated the characters’ voices in a way that felt natural. She kept me completely engaged & I’d happily listen to more of her narration in the future.

★★★★.5 ROUNDED UP⭐️⬆️

This book was a thrill ride. Didn't start off how I was expecting but the book did end up keeping me interested. Lots of action. This was my fist Charlie Donlea book so I didn't know what to expect going in.

The twist at the end was insane.

Guess Again kept flipping every expectation I had—just when I thought I had it figured out, Donlea threw another wrench in. The 10‑year‑old disappearance of teen volleyball star Callie Jones pulls former detective-turned-doctor Ethan Hall back into a murky investigation filled with sinister inmate leads and buried secrets The heat‑soaked setting, psychological mind games, and Ethan’s ties to the case made it impossible to look away.

Loved this book. What a surprise at the end. I was not expecting that confession. This is a dual timeline and slow burn thriller. I had to pay attention to the time lines to follow along and really see where things were going. You also had multiple points of view as well. But it all comes together in the end. Well worth the wait and listen. Great narration. Great job by the author in building up to that surprising ending. Loved this audiobook.

Wowza! That was a ride with many unexpected twists at the end. CD has become a must-read author for me and this latest did not disappoint! Super narration as well.

I would very much welcome a sequel or more books in the series with the MD/detective

Thanks netgalley!

SUMMARY: midlife ER doctor was a cop before he decided to go into medicine to save lives before they are lost. His old partner is now dying and asks him to look into a case he never solved: 10 years ago the now governors daughter went missing. When the governor offers to pay off his student debt in exchange, he agrees.

Meanwhile, the man who murdered his father (also a cop), who was/is also a suspected serial killer, is up for parole and knows things about the missing girl case even though he was behind bars for 20 years at the time of her disappearance and couldn’t have been involved.

Told through multiple narrators, the book primarily follows the ER doc ex-cop as he investigates the missing girl and finds out how it is connected to the serial killer.

4.5 stars!

Guess Again is a great name for this book because if you think you know wtf is going on, guess again!

Donlea never fails to entertain me and that still rings true in this latest book of his. Twisty and tricky are two words I’d use to describe it. Multiple “wait, what” jaw dropping moments here. A good wrap up at the end and room for a possible sequel. One of my favs by Charlie. The narration was done well also!

Thank you to the author, RBmedia, & NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

10/10 ⭐️ This book grabbed me right from the start and didn’t let go. The ending completely caught me off guard, and there were so many twists along the way that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The way the author brought everything and everyone together was just so well done—seriously impressive. I can not recommend this book enough.

I'm not going to give too much away with the storyline as the less you know about this one before diving in, the better. Charlie Donlea never disappoints and his new book, Guess Again, is sheer proof of this. From the start, I was gripped. The story was explosive and I just had to know what was going to happen - it was so hard to put down! My heart was beating tenfold during the last few chapters as things got to a dramatic crescendo. What a book! Huge shoutout to the narrator of the audiobook too - she knocked it out of the park. This book gets all the stars from me and I highly recommend adding this one to your list ASAP.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
Story: 4 stars Narration: 5 stars Overall: 4 stars

Guess Again is a standalone thriller with mystery, suspense and very interesting characters. There are a lot of secrets and some stunning revelations. Many things are happening all at once. The book goes back and forth between the past and the present. The ending…is there going to be a sequel? Listen and enjoy.
The solo narration by Vivienne Leheny was phenomenal. She portrayed each and every character perfectly. I highly recommend listening.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ALC.

Guess Again is a twisty, fast-paced thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. The investigation into Callie Jones’s decade-old disappearance leads to a complex web of deception that was cleverly layered and shocking to unravel. I especially appreciated how the story slowly revealed long-buried secrets and connections that added tension and depth to the mystery.

While I found the characters and storyline compelling, something about the writing style—possibly the dialogue—didn’t quite align with my usual reading preferences. That said, this was my first time reading Donlea, so it may just come down to personal taste.

I listened to the audiobook and felt the narrator gave a solid effort, though I think a male voice may have been a better match for the lead character and some of the male roles, which didn’t always come through as naturally.

Still, the smart plot and steady suspense make this a worthwhile read for fans of psychological thrillers and cold case mysteries.
3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book I have read by Donlea, and I will finish his bibliography by the end of 2025, LOL. I love how he starts with events or quotes that really reel you in and keep you hooked the entire time. I also like the style of thriller where it bounces around from POV and setting -- leaves you hanging with certain plot points and then revisits later. I also love how Donela throws in details that turn into twists that you can't even begin to think might arise. The story unravels in such a fun way and was impossible to put down. This would have been 5 stars for me except the very end felt a tad frantic, but I would still highly recommend!

This was absolutely fantastic! Every time I thought I had something figured out, I didn't. I listened to this in one sitting because I HAD to know. Narration was also great, highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great book with many twists, none that I saw coming but all that made sense! Callie has been missing for 10 years and a new search is being started by her very powerful father! He enlists a Dr who is a former police officer hoping this will get things moving along! Great read! Love Charlie Donlea!

Charlie Donlea has done it again! Guess Again is a completely unpredictable and twisty thrill ride about Ethan, a detective-turned-doctor tasked with investigating the cold case that has haunted him for a decade.

Callie was a 17 year old volleyball star who fell in love with her coach and then disappeared. Ethan worked the case with his partner Pete, who turns up ten years later asking for Ethan's help as his dying wish. Ethan has a close personal connection to the case and can't turn down the opportunity to make sure that the killer stays behind bars. The cast of characters in Guess Again is unforgettable, from the lunatic in prison who will do anything to maintain control to the woman who loves him and will do anything he asks...

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this phenomenal audiobook. The narrator perfectly nailed the tone of each character and had me hooked from the very first sentence. This is definitely one of Donlea's most gripping and suspenseful novels yet. I'm hoping for a sequel!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and RBmedia for this ALC! This was my first by Donlea and I loved it so much, I’m already thinking of which backlist book to read next. Typically with thrillers, I find that there’s a lull in the pacing or the storyline feels repetitive. I did not get that feeling once while reading this. It was action packed and twisty and every chapter seemed to end on a cliffhanger which made it impossible to put down! I truly had no idea who was involved or where the story was headed which is always a pleasant surprise. Add this to your TBR immediately!!