A Death in the Gym is a lean, engaging mystery that pulls you straight into the double life of Josh Stern—personal trainer by day, private investigator by night—and wastes no time blurring the line between the two. When a body turns up in the very gym where Josh works, the shock is immediate, but the real intrigue begins when the case stirs up an old disappearance he thought he’d finally put to rest.

Josh is a wonderfully grounded protagonist, the kind of character who feels instantly familiar: observant, quietly determined, and just stubborn enough to keep digging even when every new clue complicates the picture. As he’s drawn deeper into the investigation, the story widens into a web of long‑buried secrets and decades‑old lies, each revelation darker than the last.

What I loved is how the novel balances pace with atmosphere. The gym setting gives the opening a sharp, modern edge, but the heart of the mystery lies in the past—a missing student, a case that never quite settled, and the unsettling sense that someone has been waiting for the right moment to strike again. The tension builds steadily as Josh unravels the threads, and the author handles the shifts between timelines with a light, confident touch.

A Death in the Gym is a smart, satisfying mystery about the weight of old secrets and the danger of assuming the past is finished with you. A compelling, character‑driven read perfect for fans of contemporary crime with a nostalgic, slow‑burn twist.

With thanks to Patrick Hardy, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

A tense, modern thriller set in an everyday space that quickly turns sinister. Hardy builds suspense through a web of secrets, rivalries, and hidden motives, proving that even the most routine environments can hide something deadly. Fast-paced and twisty, it’s an engaging read that keeps the tension high until the final reveal.

This was a great read for the weekend! It keeps you guessing and it is very entertaining. The cover could use a tiny bit of work, but overall a great piece.