You know what I love about this author? She isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She always seems to pick the less obvious choice.

While I’ve never listened to a podcast, ever, I love reading about them. I related to Stella. She’s such a great character with a strong backstory and I just wanted to know more about her and her family.

There are a lot of characters and that means lots of potential suspects. I know that sometimes sounds daunting but they are introduced slowly so you get time to know them. And suspect them in both Stella’s current mystery but also the disappearance of her brother. Stella might be the only person I didn’t suspect at some point in the novel. Well and the culprit. lol

I was a little sad that the story ended up so complicated that some of it had to be explained to me at the end. I’m always a fan of a thriller unspooling instead of a character explaining things. But overall I was all in until then.

A full cast of narrators made listening easy and enjoyable. Once I had it playing, I didn’t want to stop.

If you’re looking for a fast paced, unpredictable thriller, you need to pick this one up.

WOW… this book absolutely delivered!⁠
⁠
Here’s the setup:⁠
🔪 Stella sneaks her brother out for a beach party.⁠
😱 He vanishes without a trace.⁠
⏳ Six years later she’s running a true crime podcast, giving families the closure she never got.⁠
🎙️ A live radio appearance + a shocking claim = someone takes her words as a dare.⁠
📜 Suddenly a twisted new game begins… & people start disappearing again.⁠
⁠
From start to finish I was hooked. The tension never let up, the twists kept me on edge, & that ending… 👀 let’s just say I’m satisfied but also really hoping this story isn’t done.⁠
⁠
If you’re in your audiobook era (or thinking about it), this one is an easy yes. Dark, bingeable, & impossible to stop once you start.⁠

Thank YOU so much to @htp_hive & @htpbooks & @netgalley for this audio as a part of your influencer program! I am so thankful to be a part of The Hive! 🐝

This was dark, creepy and the perfect book to get me into some fall reading. I always love a podcast aspect and while this was more a side storyline I enjoyed how it allowed Stella to have some knowledge of serial killers. I loved the red herrings throughout as it kept my guessing jumping around. I listened to the audio for this and the serial killer narration was pretty creepy so if you’re listening late at night prepare for some chills.

I absolutely LOVED this!!! I was instantly hooked and I couldn't get enough of this audiobook!!! The storyline was SO great and the plot twist was FANTASTIC!!!! I must now read everything from Hannah Mary McKinnon!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC copy of this new cat and mouse thriller.
This one is out now and available!

Unfortunately it was a mixed bag for me. The premise pulled me in right away, and I liked how the story played with the idea of hidden motives and how far people will go to protect themselves. The podcast aspect also really appealed to me, but we just didn't really get much of it and that bummed me out.

That said, parts of the book felt a little drawn out, and I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I hoped. Some twists landed, but others were pretty far fetched. It wasn’t a bad read by any means—just not one that blew me away.

If you enjoy cat and mouse type thrillers with secrets and shifting perspectives, this might still hit the spot. For me, it was more of a solid okay read than a standout.

The audio was done well & did give a little more life to the characters, but not enough to blow me away with the overall story.

🎙️5 ⭐️ narration: 𝗔𝗺𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹; 𝗠𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻; 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻; 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲; 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿
🗣️:
The audiobook was enjoyable to listen to!

I liked having the “villain”’s PoV. I found that it added to my listening experience.

I felt that each of the narrators, no matter how minor their part, were effective in building a connection with the story.

💭:
I really liked A Killer Motive. This novel just kept getting better and better every time I turned the page. The last half of the book was just amazing! 🤯

What I liked:
I’ve read a lot of the podcast trope lately but felt in this case that it wasn’t cliché - it was done in a way that set the mood for a compelling narrative, which deepened the impact of the story.

Themes of: grief, hope, fear, loss, and perseverance.

Six years ago, Stella and her brother, Max, went out to a party, despite her mother not wanting him to go. Following the party, Max was nowhere to be found. Stella would not rest until she found Max, but each year he was gone made it hurt more. She started a true crime podcast with her best friend, Vivien, in the hopes of learning more about solving cold cases. While promoting the podcast, Stella starts getting cryptic messages about finding Max. And when Max’s best friend goes missing too, Stella involves herself in finding him.

I loved HMM’s last book, so I was super excited to dive into this one. The story was interesting enough, but when it swapped to the POV of the perpetrator, I was hooked. The perp’s narrator was so creepy - like ghostface. I was hooked and had to know more. About halfway through, it really ramps up with twists and new information that makes you second guess everything you thought about who the perp might be. I was stressed the whole time, but loved every minute. The whole audio narration was fantastic and I definitely recommend!

Thank you netgalley for the ARC! This was a truly addictive thriller and I could not put it down. For those who like books like none of this is true or listen for the lie with those podcast elements I definitely recommend both! Went back and forth from ebook to audio and enjoyed both.

Sometimes I crave a thriller that I hope hits just right and this one absolutely did!

Stella Dixon’s younger brother Max disappears six years ago after she helps him sneak out to a beach party with no trace of him and no suspects. Guilt haunts her and to channel that guilt and help others, she runs a true crime podcast called A Killer Motive.

At some point, she says on-air that she’d give anything for a clue, and someone takes that promise literally. She gets a mysterious invitation to play a “game” that might yield info about Max—if she wins. We get a missing-person cold case, personal guilt, amateur sleuthing, a manipulative villain, rising stakes, red herrings, and twists galore.

Stella was a complex and perhaps reatable character but she also irritated me often. I think she made some poor choices on her part in regard to her marriage that was not necessary and it irked me.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this one. It was thrilling and I had no clue which way it was going to play out so the ending took me by surprise.

🎧 The narration was stellar! It was practically a full cast with Amy Hall, Mel Benjamin, Nick Thurston, Bernadette Dunne, and Carol Schneider. They did a fantastic job with instilling that emotional depth in the characters and the killer’s POV was thrilling. Very “Saw—Let’s play a game” to me but not as brutal physically just psychologically.

4.5 stars

A Killer Motive was a chilling, twisty ride I could not put down. Six years after her brother vanished, Stella Dixon is still haunted by guilt and clings to her true crime podcast as a way to help other families find answers.
.
But when she’s dared into a dangerous game that promises the truth about Max, the past collides with the present in a relentless cat-and-mouse chase.
.
This book was everything I want in a thriller- fast-paced, packed with red herrings, layered with secrets, and full of suspects I was sure were guilty… until I wasn’t.
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Stella is a flawed but compelling heroine, and the tension builds until the explosive ending that left me completely breathless.
.
Dark, sinister, and unpredictable, this one solidifies McKinnon as an auto-read author. If you love thrillers that make you second-guess everyone and everything, A Killer Motive belongs at the top of your TBR.

A KILLER MOTIVE puts a true crime podcaster in the middle of her own crime(s) to solve.

I’m in the minority on this one. The story was entertaining, but I didn’t love it.

My problems:

➛I didn’t like any of the characters.
➛Stella behaved too erratically, especially for someone with so much true crime knowledge. She could have gotten help. I kept yelling at her to do obvious things, and yet…
➛Pacing was inconsistent.
➛The villain was too cartoonish for me to take seriously.

The full cast of narrators make the audiobook an immersive experience.

*Thanks to HQ Audio for the free audiobook download.*

Six years ago, Stella's brother disappeared from a beach party that she snuck him out to attend. Now, Stella has a podcast and is determined to find out what happened to Max. When she starts receiving letters from someone who seems to know way too much about Max to be an outsider, the "game" is really on.

This was an interesting story with some good twists. I enjoyed it.

Holy smokes!!! I am speechless at this one!!! Never would I have guessed that twist!!! I had so many suspicions, second-guessing every character in this book.. The cast of narrators were absolutely amazing! This is a must add to your TBR!!!

Thank you Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A KILLER MOTIVE by @hannahmarymckinnon
audiobook 🎧 review
pub week! out now!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! She really knocked it out of the park with this one! For all the fans of podcast thrillers, PICK THIS ONE UP!!

Narrated by: Amy Hall; Mel Benjamin; Nick Thurston; Bernadette Dunne; Carol Schneider
Length: 9h 52m

Stella is the host of a true crime podcast- A Killer Motive- but there is one unsolved case she refuses to cover- the missing person that is her younger brother Max. After going on a local radio show, Stella receives a mysterious invitation to play a game, and if she wins, she gets information about what happened to Max. She doesn’t fully take it seriously until another boy, Max’s friend, also goes missing.

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻this one will have your heart racing and aching all at the same time- I loved Stella’s character and her drive & determination to solve her brother’s case. The last few chapters had my head SPINNING 🤯and I will be recommending this one a lot because this story will stick with me over time.

Huge thanks to @htp_hive , @htpbooks_audio for my ALC

This author always delivers a good thriller. This one is her latest and it's so good. This book was a true edge of your seat thriller.

There are five female narrators and one male. They all did a good job of bringing this book to life but the females, with the exception of Charlene's pov, sounded the same to me. I honestly could not tell them apart. The male was just ok. I felt he dragged out his part a bit to much. He did pull you into the scenes though. Just took his time about it.

When Stella Dixon's younger brother goes missing she blames herself. She let him sneak out for a night of partying on the beach. She dedicated herself to finding out what happened to him. Stella and her best friend started a podcast that involves helping people find loved ones. It's Stella's goal to find out what happened to Max through this podcast. Finding clues and possibly help.

Stella and her husband have been married five years. After Max disappeared they got married. Before that fateful night they were dating. There are a few secrets between them. There marriage becomes strained when Stella starts getting emails from someone claiming to have knowledge about Max. Also Max's best friend has gone missing. If Stella doesn't do as she's told Kenji will suffer great harm. Possibly death. But is Kenji truly still alive? Is Max alive after all this time? Will Stella find one or both? Will she survive this. Can her marriage survive?

This book is well done. Well written and keeps you guessing. I did guess who the serial killer was. It just seemed obvious to me. I was hoping I was wrong.

The story takes you through the mind of a serial killer and the woman they decide to destroy. What could have happened to stop this person before now? Probably nothing....

Thank you Harlequin Books and Harlequin Audio for the arc.

4.25 stars...

Well! This book is intense. It may be a bit far fetched in my opinion. But, I have to say the intensity is spot on!

To Stella Dixon, sneaking her teenage brother out of their parents’ house for a beach party was harmless fun—until Max disappeared without a trace. Six years later, Stella’s family is still broken, and she can’t let go of her guilt. The only thing that keeps her going is helping other families find closure through A Killer Motive, her true crime podcast.

This story starts off strong and keeps you on the edge of your seat (cliché, I know! But it is true). When Max goes missing at the beginning of this tale…you are hooked.

There are a lot of moving parts in this tale. Stella and her husband, Stella and her mom, Stella’s dad, Stella and her best friend…just to name a few. And no, Stella is not necessarily the problem. You will need to read this to find out.

This is narrated by a wonderful team: Amy Hall, Mel Benjamin, Nick Thurston, Bernadette Dunne, Carol Schneider. Talk about amazing…this group nailed everything about this book.

Need a fast paced thriller to get your blood pumping…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

A Killer Motive has an absolutely killer mystery, and its cleverly plotted story had me hooked from the first pages.

Stella's younger brother Max went missing six years ago, and the trauma and guilt she feels from that push her to run a cold case podcast. When her brother's best friend also goes missing, Stella is contacted by someone who may know what happened to her brother, and she is pulled into some sick and twisted games.

The pacing was spot on in this one, forever ratcheting up the tension and never letting the reader take a breath. The phone calls and tasks that Stella is given had me full of anxiety and had my brain screaming DANGER. McKinnon masterfully spins a web of suspense and secrets, and it all leads to a shocking finale featuring a true psychopath. The motives and crimes carried out are twisty and dark, and this one is sure to stay with me!

I listened to the audio narrated by Amy Hall, Mel Benjamin, Nick Thurston, Bernadette Dunne, and Carol Schneider and it was absolutely chilling at times. The chapters from the criminal's POV gave me goosebumps and added so much to the listening experience.

Thank you to the publisher for the #gifted copy and HTP Books Audio for the gifted ALC via NetGalley narrated by an absolutely terrific cast including Amy Hall, Nick Thurston & Carol Schneider 🎧
——

✨Meet my favorite thriller of 2025!!!✨
Stella sneaks her brother, Max, out to a party against her parents’ orders and her boyfriend’s judgment. Max then ends up missing.

Fast forward 6 years, Stella is running a popular, albeit financially dwindling, true crime podcast that tracks missing persons. In order to find sponsors, Stella gets on a radio interview with specific directive that her brother’s topic not be brought up on air. However an anonymous caller does exactly that which sets off a series of events that make Stella’s life much worse.

Stella is now trapped with an anonymous caller/texter who not only has invaluable info of her missing brother, but now wants to play a game all the while holding her brother’s best friend hostage. Stella must follow every sadistic instruction in order to save lives while the family and career she built is crumbling.

My heart was RACING from start to finish, you guys! Without revealing too much, the anon caller is sick and will have you furiously turning the pages to see what their end motive is. This is one of the most cleverly written serial killers ever. The underlying question that we all have about serial killers is WHY they do it and Hannah knocked it out of the park getting into the head of a psychopathic serial killer’s thought processes on the WHY.

The audiobook cast was PHENOMENAL. The interactions between Stella and the anon were eerie on audio, to put it mildly, and the final pages from the serial killer’s POV gave me goosebumps.

Hannah’s A Killer Motive is certainly making it to my final list of favorite 2025 books!

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I can always count on McKinnon on writing twisty thrillers! I thought for sure I knew who was behind the kidnapping but I was so wrong. If you are looking for an unexpected thriller that will have you glued to the page (ear buds) add this to your TBR!

Thank you @htp_hive, @htp_audio and @netgalley for my gifted copy!

I read my first book from this author a few years ago, and since then I’m always excited for her new releases. This one was a wild ride from start to finish, non-stop tension, twists everywhere, and totally unputdownable. Believe me, you’ll be on the edge of your seat. Loved every single page!