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Ladykiller
When an heiress goes missing, her best friend races to unravel the secrets behind her disappearance using clues left behind in an explosive manuscript…
Gia and Abby have been best friends since they were girls, forever bonded by the tragedy that unfolded in Greece when they were eighteen. In the aftermath, bookish Abby threw herself into her studies while heiress Gia chronicled the events of that fateful summer in a salacious memoir.
Twelve years later, Gia is back in Greece for the summer with her shiny new husband and a motley crew of glamorous guests, preparing to sell the family estate in the wake of her father’s death. When Abby receives an invitation from Gia to celebrate her birthday in September beneath the Northern Lights, she’s thrilled to be granted the time off from her high-pressure job. But the day of her flight, she receives a mysterious, threatening email in her inbox, and when she and Gia’s brother Benny arrive at the Swedish resort, Gia isn’t there. After days of cryptic messages and unanswered calls, Abby and Benny are worried enough to fly to Greece to check on her.
Only, when they arrive, they find Gia’s beachfront estate eerily deserted, the sole clue to her whereabouts a manuscript she wrote detailing the events leading up to her disappearance. The pages reveal the dark truth about Gia’s provocative new marriage and the dirty secrets of the guests they entertained with fizzy champagne under the hot Mediterranean sun. As tensions rise, Gia feels less and less safe in her own home. But the pages end abruptly, leaving Abby and Benny with more questions than answers.
Where is Gia now? And, more importantly, will they find her before it’s too late?
Gia and Abby have been best friends since they were girls, forever bonded by the tragedy that unfolded in Greece when they were eighteen. In the aftermath, bookish Abby threw herself into her studies while heiress Gia chronicled the events of that fateful summer in a salacious memoir.
Twelve years later, Gia is back in Greece for the summer with her shiny new husband and a motley crew of glamorous guests, preparing to sell the family estate in the wake of her father’s death. When Abby receives an invitation from Gia to celebrate her birthday in September beneath the Northern Lights, she’s thrilled to be granted the time off from her high-pressure job. But the day of her flight, she receives a mysterious, threatening email in her inbox, and when she and Gia’s brother Benny arrive at the Swedish resort, Gia isn’t there. After days of cryptic messages and unanswered calls, Abby and Benny are worried enough to fly to Greece to check on her.
Only, when they arrive, they find Gia’s beachfront estate eerily deserted, the sole clue to her whereabouts a manuscript she wrote detailing the events leading up to her disappearance. The pages reveal the dark truth about Gia’s provocative new marriage and the dirty secrets of the guests they entertained with fizzy champagne under the hot Mediterranean sun. As tensions rise, Gia feels less and less safe in her own home. But the pages end abruptly, leaving Abby and Benny with more questions than answers.
Where is Gia now? And, more importantly, will they find her before it’s too late?
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2024
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January 8, 2024
✎𓂃
“‘His stories were good because he imagined them intensely, so intensely that he came to believe them.’ -Patricia Highsmith, The Talented Mr. Ripley”
☆Summary:
Childhood best friends Abby and Gia were born of polar opposite circumstances–Gia, a rich heiress, and Abby, the daughter of the family’s chef. As Gia’s father had grown fond of Abby, he generously paid for her schooling, bringing the two girls closer together.
Twelve years after a tragedy at Gia’s family’s summer estate in Greece (detailed in Gia’s memoir), the girls and Gia’s brother Benny are reuniting in Sweden for Gia’s birthday. When Gia doesn’t show, suspicions grow, causing Abby and Benny to race back to Greece for answers. What they find at the house is chilling: an unfinished manuscript in which Gia unveils the ominous summer events leading up to her disappearance, involving her husband and two additional guests. But where is Gia now? Is what she wrote in her manuscript true? And the threatening emails Abby has been receiving–could someone out there know her secret? The truth will out, whether these characters like it or not 🔪
☆The Pace and Writing:
The first 70% or so of this book toggles between the present day in Abby’s POV and chapters of Gia’s unfinished manuscript. After reading the blurb, I didn’t expect to be immediately hit with Gia’s manuscript. It ended up taking up a larger portion of this book than I expected and tbh, I felt it took too long for Gia’s story to get to the point. Conversely, I wanted Abby’s storyline to catch up. All of these aspects made this a slower pace than I would have liked 😴 At the 50% mark however, the mystery and suspense *finally* picked up and I flew through a handful of chapters! And then proceeded to lose its momentum.
Personally, I preferred Abby’s POV over Gia’s, as Abby felt much more personable. Gia’s POV didn’t read as naturally for me, as she lacked dimensionality, but this did aid in further reinforcing her character’s demeanor.
☆My Thoughts:
I was SO EXCITED for Ladykiller!! The title, the cover, the synopsis, like come on!! I saw “Greece” and immediately needed to read this, like plz take me away on a Greek vacation asap (preferably where there might be some attractive Greek men, never hurts lmao 😎)!! It sounded so interesting and unique, exactly the kind of thriller I’ve been craving.
Overall, this did and didn’t deliver. The setting? 10/10, take me there now! Gia’s POV had me wishing I was a rich heiress having the time of my life, soaking up all the sun in Greece without a care in the world.
The mystery? While suspenseful, I was hoping for more. I think the plot had so many opportunities to take readers down the twistiest of roads, however most of them I was able to guess. When looking at the title, I was expecting something gruesome, but this gave off a weird what-if vibe instead. For that reason, though very catchy, I’m not sure the title is fitting.
Gia is the definition of a clueless rich person. Stuck in her ways, in her ego–she has all the blinders on and can’t tell when she’s making a stupid decision (which was all the time!! 🤬). She falls too hard and is extremely apathetic towards others. I despised this character more as the book progressed.
Abby is the realist of the bunch–understandably as she was not brought up the same and has a better grasp on the world. She was much more relatable, being the practical one, the voice of reason. I also liked how most of her chapters were quick and to the point!
Would I recommend this?
ONLY if you like ambiguous endings. I felt like I was left with so many questions at the end, so if that’s your jam, have at it!
A very special thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Netgalley for sharing this advanced copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!! Quotes used in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy, and as such are subject to change in its final version.
Ladykiller is expected to be published on July 9, 2024.
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just approved for this arc and so excited to dive in! 🩵
the title!! i am so intrigued 👀
☆Summary:
Childhood best friends Abby and Gia were born of polar opposite circumstances–Gia, a rich heiress, and Abby, the daughter of the family’s chef. As Gia’s father had grown fond of Abby, he generously paid for her schooling, bringing the two girls closer together.
Twelve years after a tragedy at Gia’s family’s summer estate in Greece (detailed in Gia’s memoir), the girls and Gia’s brother Benny are reuniting in Sweden for Gia’s birthday. When Gia doesn’t show, suspicions grow, causing Abby and Benny to race back to Greece for answers. What they find at the house is chilling: an unfinished manuscript in which Gia unveils the ominous summer events leading up to her disappearance, involving her husband and two additional guests. But where is Gia now? Is what she wrote in her manuscript true? And the threatening emails Abby has been receiving–could someone out there know her secret? The truth will out, whether these characters like it or not 🔪
☆The Pace and Writing:
The first 70% or so of this book toggles between the present day in Abby’s POV and chapters of Gia’s unfinished manuscript. After reading the blurb, I didn’t expect to be immediately hit with Gia’s manuscript. It ended up taking up a larger portion of this book than I expected and tbh, I felt it took too long for Gia’s story to get to the point. Conversely, I wanted Abby’s storyline to catch up. All of these aspects made this a slower pace than I would have liked 😴 At the 50% mark however, the mystery and suspense *finally* picked up and I flew through a handful of chapters! And then proceeded to lose its momentum.
Personally, I preferred Abby’s POV over Gia’s, as Abby felt much more personable. Gia’s POV didn’t read as naturally for me, as she lacked dimensionality, but this did aid in further reinforcing her character’s demeanor.
☆My Thoughts:
I was SO EXCITED for Ladykiller!! The title, the cover, the synopsis, like come on!! I saw “Greece” and immediately needed to read this, like plz take me away on a Greek vacation asap (preferably where there might be some attractive Greek men, never hurts lmao 😎)!! It sounded so interesting and unique, exactly the kind of thriller I’ve been craving.
Overall, this did and didn’t deliver. The setting? 10/10, take me there now! Gia’s POV had me wishing I was a rich heiress having the time of my life, soaking up all the sun in Greece without a care in the world.
The mystery? While suspenseful, I was hoping for more. I think the plot had so many opportunities to take readers down the twistiest of roads, however most of them I was able to guess. When looking at the title, I was expecting something gruesome, but this gave off a weird what-if vibe instead. For that reason, though very catchy, I’m not sure the title is fitting.
Gia is the definition of a clueless rich person. Stuck in her ways, in her ego–she has all the blinders on and can’t tell when she’s making a stupid decision (which was all the time!! 🤬). She falls too hard and is extremely apathetic towards others. I despised this character more as the book progressed.
Abby is the realist of the bunch–understandably as she was not brought up the same and has a better grasp on the world. She was much more relatable, being the practical one, the voice of reason. I also liked how most of her chapters were quick and to the point!
Would I recommend this?
ONLY if you like ambiguous endings. I felt like I was left with so many questions at the end, so if that’s your jam, have at it!
A very special thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Netgalley for sharing this advanced copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!! Quotes used in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy, and as such are subject to change in its final version.
Ladykiller is expected to be published on July 9, 2024.
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just approved for this arc and so excited to dive in! 🩵
the title!! i am so intrigued 👀
July 29, 2024
While I normally include the publisher provided synopsis, I felt as though this one gave too much away. Plus, after going into Ladykiller blind, I strongly recommend you do so as well. There were just so many delicious twists and turns. So give it a go. If, however, you’re one of THOSE people, scroll to the end of my review for the blurb…
A twisty, twisty plot scattered with deftly obscured clues, Ladykiller was immersive storytelling at its best. With vivid descriptions and evocative prose, I felt transported to the sandy beaches and whitewashed buildings of the Greek Isles. But it was the finely layered plot that kept me reading. Peppered with suspense that only ratcheted higher and higher, the buildup had my fingers flying as my brain worked doubletime trying to see behind the skillfully woven curtain. No matter what I came up with, however, I just couldn’t do it.
The characters easily matched the storyline step for step. From the complex group dynamics to the addictive narrative cocktail, a dark history was masterfully interwoven by dual alternating timelines and POVs. Told via Abby in the present and Gia’s manuscript of the past, this tale of metafiction was compelling to be sure. Especially given their realistic personas and true-to-life verve. Altogether, they painted a gripping portrait right up until the end. At least, very nearly.
See, my biggest hang up with this breathtaking psychological thriller was the finale. Without a true conclusion or even a hint at a clue, it was left almost entirely open ended. There could have been so many ways to give the same feel while also providing some answers. So despite the possibility that it could work for others, it left me relatively frustrated even if it was what the author was going for all said and done.
Just the same, the compelling intrigue, thought-provoking drama, and complicated friendships means that this book is sure to stay alive for me long after closing the gorgeous cover. From the dark secrets to multiple suspicious individuals, Wood’s debut novel will surely make quite a mark in the genre. After all, it had it all with rich people behaving badly, a judicious dose of spice, an enigmatic mystery, and underhanded motives. So here’s hoping there’s a book two in the works because I would happily follow Ms. Wood back into this stunning world in a heartbeat. Rating of 4 stars.
As promised, here’s the synopsis…
Gia and Abby have been friends since childhood, forever bonded by the tragedy that unfolded in Greece when they were eighteen. Now thirty, heiress Gia is back in Greece with her shiny new husband, entertaining glamorous guests with champagne under the hot Mediterranean sun, while bookish Abby is working fourteen-hour days as an attorney. When Gia invites Abby on an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden to celebrate her birthday, Abby’s thrilled to reconnect.
But on the day of her flight, Abby receives an ominous email that threatens to unearth the skeletons of her past, and when she and Gia’s brother, Benny, arrive in Sweden, Gia isn’t there. Worried, Abby and Benny fly to Greece, where they find Gia’s beachfront estate eerily deserted, the sole clue to her whereabouts the manuscript she penned, detailing the events leading up to her disappearance. Gia’s narrative reveals the dark truth about her provocative new marriage and the dirty secrets of their seductive guests, a story almost too scandalous to be believed. But the pages end abruptly, leaving more questions than answers.
How much of Gia’s story is true? Where is she now? And will Abby find her before it’s too late?
Thank you to Katherine Wood and Random House Publishing Group - Bantam for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 9, 2024
Trigger warning: gaslighting, infidelity, mention of: kidnapping
A twisty, twisty plot scattered with deftly obscured clues, Ladykiller was immersive storytelling at its best. With vivid descriptions and evocative prose, I felt transported to the sandy beaches and whitewashed buildings of the Greek Isles. But it was the finely layered plot that kept me reading. Peppered with suspense that only ratcheted higher and higher, the buildup had my fingers flying as my brain worked doubletime trying to see behind the skillfully woven curtain. No matter what I came up with, however, I just couldn’t do it.
The characters easily matched the storyline step for step. From the complex group dynamics to the addictive narrative cocktail, a dark history was masterfully interwoven by dual alternating timelines and POVs. Told via Abby in the present and Gia’s manuscript of the past, this tale of metafiction was compelling to be sure. Especially given their realistic personas and true-to-life verve. Altogether, they painted a gripping portrait right up until the end. At least, very nearly.
See, my biggest hang up with this breathtaking psychological thriller was the finale. Without a true conclusion or even a hint at a clue, it was left almost entirely open ended. There could have been so many ways to give the same feel while also providing some answers. So despite the possibility that it could work for others, it left me relatively frustrated even if it was what the author was going for all said and done.
Just the same, the compelling intrigue, thought-provoking drama, and complicated friendships means that this book is sure to stay alive for me long after closing the gorgeous cover. From the dark secrets to multiple suspicious individuals, Wood’s debut novel will surely make quite a mark in the genre. After all, it had it all with rich people behaving badly, a judicious dose of spice, an enigmatic mystery, and underhanded motives. So here’s hoping there’s a book two in the works because I would happily follow Ms. Wood back into this stunning world in a heartbeat. Rating of 4 stars.
As promised, here’s the synopsis…
Gia and Abby have been friends since childhood, forever bonded by the tragedy that unfolded in Greece when they were eighteen. Now thirty, heiress Gia is back in Greece with her shiny new husband, entertaining glamorous guests with champagne under the hot Mediterranean sun, while bookish Abby is working fourteen-hour days as an attorney. When Gia invites Abby on an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden to celebrate her birthday, Abby’s thrilled to reconnect.
But on the day of her flight, Abby receives an ominous email that threatens to unearth the skeletons of her past, and when she and Gia’s brother, Benny, arrive in Sweden, Gia isn’t there. Worried, Abby and Benny fly to Greece, where they find Gia’s beachfront estate eerily deserted, the sole clue to her whereabouts the manuscript she penned, detailing the events leading up to her disappearance. Gia’s narrative reveals the dark truth about her provocative new marriage and the dirty secrets of their seductive guests, a story almost too scandalous to be believed. But the pages end abruptly, leaving more questions than answers.
How much of Gia’s story is true? Where is she now? And will Abby find her before it’s too late?
Thank you to Katherine Wood and Random House Publishing Group - Bantam for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 9, 2024
Trigger warning: gaslighting, infidelity, mention of: kidnapping
July 11, 2024
Ladykiller started off strong and it was great until the ending! The ending was a total letdown. It didn’t leave me with any closure at all or bring the book together. It left me with so many questions. It was really a bummer. I really loved the setting, and the author did a wonderful job making you feel like you were there. The pacing and the storyline were great, and I was fully invested until the ending. This wouldn’t have been 4 stars if the ending would have been full circle.
Thank you, Net Galley and Random House- Ballantine, for a copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you, Net Galley and Random House- Ballantine, for a copy in return for my honest review.
December 27, 2023
How could I turn down reading this book with a cover (and title) like that?! When I was offered a widget for this book I immediately accepted! The synopsis took my breath away. A rich heiress on a Greek island. Yes, please take me there! A longtime best friend coming to the rescue- what could possibly go wrong?
This story started off super intriguing with two very interesting characters. We have Gia, who is newly married into a hasty marriage to Garrett. Her best friend, Abby, tried to stop Gia from this marriage but to no avail. This story goes back and forth between Gia’s manuscript (what she started writing while in her marriage to Garrett), and Abby’s present and past day recollections.
Gia and Garrett lived in her family mansion in Greece to renovate it for its near future sale due to Gia losing some of her family fortune when her father passed away. They meet some new friends while out having dinner, and invite these new friends, Emelia and Timeo to come stay with them. That’s when things start to go downhill for Gia. Gia starts to question everyone around her, even her own husband. Is there anyone out there that she can trust?
Abby, on the other hand is worried about Gia when she doesn’t show up for their planned vacation together. Can Abby make it to Greece in time to find out what’s wrong? And are things what they appear to be?
While this story started off super strong, it unfortunately lost its way somewhere past the halfway mark. We are left to assume to know what happened towards the end, but for me I would have liked this story to be wrapped up in a nice pretty red bow. I am left with way more questions than answers, and rather unsatisfied with the ending. I also started off liking Gia and Abby pretty strongly, but by the end I didn’t care much for either one of them (although I definitely liked one more than the other).
This book might be a better read for those who don’t mind stories that take sudden twists and turns of action, and have an open ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 9, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
This story started off super intriguing with two very interesting characters. We have Gia, who is newly married into a hasty marriage to Garrett. Her best friend, Abby, tried to stop Gia from this marriage but to no avail. This story goes back and forth between Gia’s manuscript (what she started writing while in her marriage to Garrett), and Abby’s present and past day recollections.
Gia and Garrett lived in her family mansion in Greece to renovate it for its near future sale due to Gia losing some of her family fortune when her father passed away. They meet some new friends while out having dinner, and invite these new friends, Emelia and Timeo to come stay with them. That’s when things start to go downhill for Gia. Gia starts to question everyone around her, even her own husband. Is there anyone out there that she can trust?
Abby, on the other hand is worried about Gia when she doesn’t show up for their planned vacation together. Can Abby make it to Greece in time to find out what’s wrong? And are things what they appear to be?
While this story started off super strong, it unfortunately lost its way somewhere past the halfway mark. We are left to assume to know what happened towards the end, but for me I would have liked this story to be wrapped up in a nice pretty red bow. I am left with way more questions than answers, and rather unsatisfied with the ending. I also started off liking Gia and Abby pretty strongly, but by the end I didn’t care much for either one of them (although I definitely liked one more than the other).
This book might be a better read for those who don’t mind stories that take sudden twists and turns of action, and have an open ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 9, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
August 15, 2024
I just loved this book. Also, its in Greece.. My favorite place that I've never been.
It is a story that seems to be popular among other authors who follow trends...but as trendy as this was? I still enjoyed it..
May 25, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Gia, an heiress, and Abby, the daughter of Gia's family chef, are the protagonists of this novel. They have known each other since childhood, and the plot centers on their friendship and the ways in which it will impact their lives.
The celebration of Gia's birthday was supposed to take place on a remote Greek island, but unexpected events occurred! There is no sign of Gia. In an effort to unravel this mystery, Abby and Gia's brother will read Gia's manuscript, which contains a comprehensive account of the occurrences that occurred prior to Gia's disappearance.
The narrative is told in the first person, from the point of view of both of the women, with Gia's narration taking place through the words that she has written in her manuscript. Despite the fact that the story appears to be interesting and the writing is also of high quality, I did not feel completely invested in this tale or the characters.
Recently, I finished reading an advanced reader copy of a book with a broad concept comparable to this one. One of the characters went missing, and the narration style was comparable to this one! The difference lies in the fact that the two women in this story are childhood friends, whereas, in the previous book, they were mother and daughter. Of course, the stories and circumstances are totally different, but the concepts are very similar.
The twists in the story were undoubtedly intriguing and had the potential to elevate the narrative. I think there will be many readers who will enjoy them. However, the execution left much to be desired. The buildup to these twists was insufficient, resulting in a lack of context and emotional investment, at least from me. The twists seemed to come out of nowhere, which I felt disturbed the flow of the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Gia, an heiress, and Abby, the daughter of Gia's family chef, are the protagonists of this novel. They have known each other since childhood, and the plot centers on their friendship and the ways in which it will impact their lives.
The celebration of Gia's birthday was supposed to take place on a remote Greek island, but unexpected events occurred! There is no sign of Gia. In an effort to unravel this mystery, Abby and Gia's brother will read Gia's manuscript, which contains a comprehensive account of the occurrences that occurred prior to Gia's disappearance.
The narrative is told in the first person, from the point of view of both of the women, with Gia's narration taking place through the words that she has written in her manuscript. Despite the fact that the story appears to be interesting and the writing is also of high quality, I did not feel completely invested in this tale or the characters.
Recently, I finished reading an advanced reader copy of a book with a broad concept comparable to this one. One of the characters went missing, and the narration style was comparable to this one! The difference lies in the fact that the two women in this story are childhood friends, whereas, in the previous book, they were mother and daughter. Of course, the stories and circumstances are totally different, but the concepts are very similar.
The twists in the story were undoubtedly intriguing and had the potential to elevate the narrative. I think there will be many readers who will enjoy them. However, the execution left much to be desired. The buildup to these twists was insufficient, resulting in a lack of context and emotional investment, at least from me. The twists seemed to come out of nowhere, which I felt disturbed the flow of the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
June 20, 2024
"Ladykiller" delves into the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy heiress who vanishes from her family's Greek Island mansion. Using a typewriter, she leaves behind a salacious tale chronicling the events preceding her absence. As her childhood best friend and brother embark on a quest to locate her, the narrative unfolds amidst the backdrop of scams, lies, and deception. While the novel's title suggests various interpretations within the story's context, I found myself occasionally disengaged. I particularly did not enjoy the focus on the sexual exploits of all of the characters. I wouldn't call it a full open-door, more of a cracked-open door.
March 3, 2024
Thank you to Bantam Books and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Unofficial Synopsis:
Gia and Abby have been best friend since they were young girls. Abby is from a humble background, Gia is an Heiress.
Years later, they had a falling out over Gia’s sudden marriage and then Gia goes missing. Abby and Gia’s brother, Benny set off to find her. When they arrive in Greece, they find a manuscript detailing the dark truth behind Gia’s new marriage. Now Abby and Benny race to find Gia as tensions rise. Will they find her before it’s too late?
Review:
This was a fun book told through Abby’s perspective and the perspective of Gia’s Manuscript. This story started really strong and continued to be strong up until about the 75% mark for me. The writing was vivid and descriptive and you truly felt transported to the beautiful places with the characters. I really enjoyed the build up and the anticipation that the author created. There was so much intrigue and suspense, so much wonderment. But then things started to unravel. Rather than provide the reader with a conclusion she left so many things ambiguous that I was just frustrated. I’m all for a few loose ends but in this case, I felt like I got zero answers, and I was just upset that I spent my time reading this book for it to end this way. I’m still annoyed thinking about it!
I recommend this book to readers who are okay with wide open endings but enjoy a twisty journey.
Unofficial Synopsis:
Gia and Abby have been best friend since they were young girls. Abby is from a humble background, Gia is an Heiress.
Years later, they had a falling out over Gia’s sudden marriage and then Gia goes missing. Abby and Gia’s brother, Benny set off to find her. When they arrive in Greece, they find a manuscript detailing the dark truth behind Gia’s new marriage. Now Abby and Benny race to find Gia as tensions rise. Will they find her before it’s too late?
Review:
This was a fun book told through Abby’s perspective and the perspective of Gia’s Manuscript. This story started really strong and continued to be strong up until about the 75% mark for me. The writing was vivid and descriptive and you truly felt transported to the beautiful places with the characters. I really enjoyed the build up and the anticipation that the author created. There was so much intrigue and suspense, so much wonderment. But then things started to unravel. Rather than provide the reader with a conclusion she left so many things ambiguous that I was just frustrated. I’m all for a few loose ends but in this case, I felt like I got zero answers, and I was just upset that I spent my time reading this book for it to end this way. I’m still annoyed thinking about it!
I recommend this book to readers who are okay with wide open endings but enjoy a twisty journey.
December 28, 2023
Abby and Gia have been friends ever since they were kids. Gia is newly married much to Abby’s dismay. Gia invites Abby and her brother to a mountain retreat and doesn’t show. Abby and Gias brother leave to look for Gia and find her house abandoned and they suspect foul play. This was a twisty thrilling read and I hope to read more by this author. Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC that will be released July 9, 2024!
May 12, 2024
As featured on www.mysteryandsuspense.com
Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is a sensual, evocative and exotic suspense novel where everyone has a story to tell- but not everyone’s story is true.
Gia and Abby have been best friends since childhood, and their bond only grew after tragedy struck Abby when the girls were eighteen. But since Gia married someone Abby did not approve of, and Abby boycotted Gia’s wedding, Gia and Abby have grown apart. So, Abby has some hesitation when she receives an invitation to Gia’s thirtieth birthday- just Abby, Gia and Gia’s brother, Benny, celebrating in a high-class Swedish chalet, but she decides to attend anyway, hoping to repair the relationship. However, when she and Benny arrive, Gia is nowhere to be found, and no one can reach her. With Gia missing, Abby begins to really fear for her former best friend; Abby knew Gia’s husband was bad news, but is he dangerous?
Ladykiller is narrated by both Gia and Abby, before and after Gia goes missing. Before, Gia’s story is told through snippets of her memoir and after, Abby takes over as narrator, for reasons that are deliciously twisted and unexpected. As a spoiled rich girl, Gia is not an easy character to like, and her motivations toward Abby have always been slightly cloudy. That being said, I was drawn into their tense dynamic, desperate to find out what happened to Gia and what role (if any) she played in her fate.
The majority of this novel takes place on a small island in Greece, so expect beautiful scenery alongside the hot drama. Wood delivers a sensational escapist journey, taking readers on a highly suspenseful thrill ride, packed with unexpected twists. What surprised me the most was that Ladykiller is Wood’s debut! I was blown away by the expert level plot and character development, storyline connections and descriptive setting.
The ending is multi-faceted, with many plot questions needing to be answered, but Wood pulls it off, managing to tie up all (but one, intentionally) loose end. Wood allows readers to form their own assumptions with the biggest question of all, which means Ladykiller will sit with you long after the final page.
Ladykiller is a unique, carefully crafted novel about female friendships, jealousy and the dangerous ends some people will go to in order to maintain their power and status. A tantalizing page-turner with surprises at every turn, Wood has written the must-read for summer 2024.
Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is a sensual, evocative and exotic suspense novel where everyone has a story to tell- but not everyone’s story is true.
Gia and Abby have been best friends since childhood, and their bond only grew after tragedy struck Abby when the girls were eighteen. But since Gia married someone Abby did not approve of, and Abby boycotted Gia’s wedding, Gia and Abby have grown apart. So, Abby has some hesitation when she receives an invitation to Gia’s thirtieth birthday- just Abby, Gia and Gia’s brother, Benny, celebrating in a high-class Swedish chalet, but she decides to attend anyway, hoping to repair the relationship. However, when she and Benny arrive, Gia is nowhere to be found, and no one can reach her. With Gia missing, Abby begins to really fear for her former best friend; Abby knew Gia’s husband was bad news, but is he dangerous?
Ladykiller is narrated by both Gia and Abby, before and after Gia goes missing. Before, Gia’s story is told through snippets of her memoir and after, Abby takes over as narrator, for reasons that are deliciously twisted and unexpected. As a spoiled rich girl, Gia is not an easy character to like, and her motivations toward Abby have always been slightly cloudy. That being said, I was drawn into their tense dynamic, desperate to find out what happened to Gia and what role (if any) she played in her fate.
The majority of this novel takes place on a small island in Greece, so expect beautiful scenery alongside the hot drama. Wood delivers a sensational escapist journey, taking readers on a highly suspenseful thrill ride, packed with unexpected twists. What surprised me the most was that Ladykiller is Wood’s debut! I was blown away by the expert level plot and character development, storyline connections and descriptive setting.
The ending is multi-faceted, with many plot questions needing to be answered, but Wood pulls it off, managing to tie up all (but one, intentionally) loose end. Wood allows readers to form their own assumptions with the biggest question of all, which means Ladykiller will sit with you long after the final page.
Ladykiller is a unique, carefully crafted novel about female friendships, jealousy and the dangerous ends some people will go to in order to maintain their power and status. A tantalizing page-turner with surprises at every turn, Wood has written the must-read for summer 2024.
July 21, 2024
This was an interesting domestic thriller, and I wonder if I had read it at a different time if I would have enjoyed it more. The naive woman who marries a monster and finds out once he “changes” gets old to me, but I understand how it played into this book. I just didn’t enjoy it and it made me want to the book down on Gia’s chapters. I also didn’t love the ending. I would have liked it to be a little more solid. I also didn’t think that Benny’s plan of having it both ways was going to work out. The book is told in two perspectives Abby’s in current time and Gia’s new journal she calls her manuscript. Abby and Gia were as close as sisters when they were young, despite Abby’s mother working for Gia’s family. They drifted apart after a traumatic incident in their early adulthood but Gia has reached out inviting Abby and Gia’s brother Benny to Sweden for Gia’s birthday. Despite misgivings Abby goes, but what promised to be a fun weekend turned to worry when Gia appears to be missing. The hunt to find Gia leads down a path of secrets Abby wasn’t expecting to find.
March 21, 2024
4.75. Thank you to Bantam Books, Katherine Wood and NetGalley for the ARC. Absolutely loved the cover of this book and it immediately caught my attention and I wanted to see what the book was all about.
The book opens with a funeral of a very rich man and you learn he had 3 wives, several children and a huge fortune he left to a Foundation that he and his second wife started, a wife currently in a sanatorium in Switzerland. Yep, this book sucked me right in.
I absolutely devoured this deviant and deliriously insane book which quotes The Talented Mr Ripley and totally does it justice. I didn’t know who to believe and I kept second guessing myself. This book had it all, a Greek island, salacious sex scenes, way too much money, murder, mystery and so much fun.
I loved the somewhat ambiguous ending as it stayed with me for some time as I kept turning things over in my head.
If you love a good head game book then this is for you! I loved it.
The book opens with a funeral of a very rich man and you learn he had 3 wives, several children and a huge fortune he left to a Foundation that he and his second wife started, a wife currently in a sanatorium in Switzerland. Yep, this book sucked me right in.
I absolutely devoured this deviant and deliriously insane book which quotes The Talented Mr Ripley and totally does it justice. I didn’t know who to believe and I kept second guessing myself. This book had it all, a Greek island, salacious sex scenes, way too much money, murder, mystery and so much fun.
I loved the somewhat ambiguous ending as it stayed with me for some time as I kept turning things over in my head.
If you love a good head game book then this is for you! I loved it.
April 14, 2024
I wanted to love this book so much. That cover, that title, that description, Katherine St. John under a new name... what's not exciting about that? But I wasn't wowed. Slow but decent first half, and then it did pick up around page 200 (enough so that I flew through the last 150 pages) but then the ambiguous ending fell flat.
3.5 stars rounded up
3.5 stars rounded up
July 7, 2024
A young Atlanta lawyer named Abby receives an invitation and a ticket to fly to Kiruna, Sweden in September to celebrate her wealthy friend Gia's 30th birthday and see the Northern Lights. Also invited is Gia's brother Benny, Abby's teenage heartthrob. The lifelong friends haven't spoken for a few months, actually since Gia's hasty marriage to Garrett Torres that Abby cautioned her against, so maybe this is also an olive branch of sorts. But when Abby and Benny arrive at the incredible hotel in Sweden, Gia is a no show....
Gia's side of the story is told through a manuscript she's currently writing. She's already had one successful memoir about a death she and Abby were involved in as teenagers and this steamy writing could be a blockbuster as it's about the newlywed life she is leading with her sexy husband Garrett on an idyllic Greek island. But all is not going well in paradise.
And poor Abby has begun getting notes that she worries are preludes to blackmail--notes that hint at knowing the truth about what really happened when a young man died.
I was thoroughly enjoying this thriller up to a certain point but then twists took the plot in a direction I didn't care for. Sort of a head-scratching 'whoa--wait a minute--what's really going on here?' feeling which never really goes away from that point on. I wasn't comfortable with the 'anything goes' sexual exploits of the rich and famous depicted, turning what should be a loving, intimate act into something repulsive and degrading. Yuck.
I was invited to read an arc of this new thriller by the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Gia's side of the story is told through a manuscript she's currently writing. She's already had one successful memoir about a death she and Abby were involved in as teenagers and this steamy writing could be a blockbuster as it's about the newlywed life she is leading with her sexy husband Garrett on an idyllic Greek island. But all is not going well in paradise.
And poor Abby has begun getting notes that she worries are preludes to blackmail--notes that hint at knowing the truth about what really happened when a young man died.
I was thoroughly enjoying this thriller up to a certain point but then twists took the plot in a direction I didn't care for. Sort of a head-scratching 'whoa--wait a minute--what's really going on here?' feeling which never really goes away from that point on. I wasn't comfortable with the 'anything goes' sexual exploits of the rich and famous depicted, turning what should be a loving, intimate act into something repulsive and degrading. Yuck.
I was invited to read an arc of this new thriller by the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
July 11, 2024
This book was chosen because it was set in Greece (a place I've always been intrigued by) and because stories about missing people draw me in most of the time. Katherine Wood is a new author for me, and I'm always on the hunt for new authors.
Description:
When an heiress goes missing, her best friend races to unravel the secrets behind her disappearance using clues left behind in an explosive manuscript…
Gia and Abby have been best friends since they were girls, forever bonded by the tragedy that unfolded in Greece when they were eighteen. In the aftermath, bookish Abby threw herself into her studies while heiress Gia chronicled the events of that fateful summer in a salacious memoir.
Twelve years later, Gia is back in Greece for the summer with her shiny new husband and a motley crew of glamorous guests, preparing to sell the family estate in the wake of her father’s death. When Abby receives an invitation from Gia to celebrate her birthday in September beneath the Northern Lights, she’s thrilled to be granted the time off from her high-pressure job. But the day of her flight, she receives a mysterious, threatening email in her inbox, and when she and Gia’s brother Benny arrive at the Swedish resort, Gia isn’t there. After days of cryptic messages and unanswered calls, Abby and Benny are worried enough to fly to Greece to check on her.
Only, when they arrive, they find Gia’s beachfront estate eerily deserted, the sole clue to her whereabouts a manuscript she wrote detailing the events leading up to her disappearance. The pages reveal the dark truth about Gia’s provocative new marriage and the dirty secrets of the guests they entertained with fizzy champagne under the hot Mediterranean sun. As tensions rise, Gia feels less and less safe in her own home. But the pages end abruptly, leaving Abby and Benny with more questions than answers.
Where is Gia now? And, more importantly, will they find her before it’s too late?
My Thoughts:
I loved the setting - Gia and Benny's home in Greece sounds like a gorgeous place. So idyllic on this beautiful island. When Gia doesn't show up at the hotel to see the Northern Lights it had to be shocking for Abby and Benny. Gia wanted the trip so badly - it had to be an omen of something bad happening. There are secrets here and quite a lot of decption which held my interest. The story unfolded with some unresolved issues from the past coming to light bit by bit. The ending left me with a few questions though and didn't tie up as well as I would have liked. Overall a good story for mystery lovers.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
When an heiress goes missing, her best friend races to unravel the secrets behind her disappearance using clues left behind in an explosive manuscript…
Gia and Abby have been best friends since they were girls, forever bonded by the tragedy that unfolded in Greece when they were eighteen. In the aftermath, bookish Abby threw herself into her studies while heiress Gia chronicled the events of that fateful summer in a salacious memoir.
Twelve years later, Gia is back in Greece for the summer with her shiny new husband and a motley crew of glamorous guests, preparing to sell the family estate in the wake of her father’s death. When Abby receives an invitation from Gia to celebrate her birthday in September beneath the Northern Lights, she’s thrilled to be granted the time off from her high-pressure job. But the day of her flight, she receives a mysterious, threatening email in her inbox, and when she and Gia’s brother Benny arrive at the Swedish resort, Gia isn’t there. After days of cryptic messages and unanswered calls, Abby and Benny are worried enough to fly to Greece to check on her.
Only, when they arrive, they find Gia’s beachfront estate eerily deserted, the sole clue to her whereabouts a manuscript she wrote detailing the events leading up to her disappearance. The pages reveal the dark truth about Gia’s provocative new marriage and the dirty secrets of the guests they entertained with fizzy champagne under the hot Mediterranean sun. As tensions rise, Gia feels less and less safe in her own home. But the pages end abruptly, leaving Abby and Benny with more questions than answers.
Where is Gia now? And, more importantly, will they find her before it’s too late?
My Thoughts:
I loved the setting - Gia and Benny's home in Greece sounds like a gorgeous place. So idyllic on this beautiful island. When Gia doesn't show up at the hotel to see the Northern Lights it had to be shocking for Abby and Benny. Gia wanted the trip so badly - it had to be an omen of something bad happening. There are secrets here and quite a lot of decption which held my interest. The story unfolded with some unresolved issues from the past coming to light bit by bit. The ending left me with a few questions though and didn't tie up as well as I would have liked. Overall a good story for mystery lovers.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam through Netgalley for an advance copy.
August 26, 2024
murder books are BACK BABY
January 24, 2024
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What in the flying fuck did I just read here? I mean, it's a good thing to start things off like that because you shouldn't trust a single soul in this entire book. Well maybe like one person but don't hold your breath.
From the very beginning, I was completely hooked on Ladykiller. Gia and Abby's friendship seemed interesting enough, but the overall mystery kept the pages turning. Don't even get me started on all these fabulous places that were casually visited throughout this book either. If I could be in Greece, on an island, while reading this book - well, it would have been the freaking cherry on top.
Back to the mystery, it's hard to put down a book when you truly don't trust anyone. If they were acting suspicious, then I automatically didn't believe a single word that was being said. I was happy when questions started to form around certain people, but in the end, I'm still left with so many unanswered questions. Which irks me so much.
So many things are revealed towards the end which definitely had me gasping. Heck, even the little reveals along that way had me screaming, "I KNEW IT. I FREAKING KNEW IT!" Like I mentioned before, this book had me hooked and I wasn't going to put this down until I read the very last page.
In the end, I'm really happy that I dove into this mystery thriller. I'm (sort of) with how things ended but ugh, I just want to know - is she a killer? It will be on my mind forever and ever.
What in the flying fuck did I just read here? I mean, it's a good thing to start things off like that because you shouldn't trust a single soul in this entire book. Well maybe like one person but don't hold your breath.
From the very beginning, I was completely hooked on Ladykiller. Gia and Abby's friendship seemed interesting enough, but the overall mystery kept the pages turning. Don't even get me started on all these fabulous places that were casually visited throughout this book either. If I could be in Greece, on an island, while reading this book - well, it would have been the freaking cherry on top.
Back to the mystery, it's hard to put down a book when you truly don't trust anyone. If they were acting suspicious, then I automatically didn't believe a single word that was being said. I was happy when questions started to form around certain people, but in the end, I'm still left with so many unanswered questions. Which irks me so much.
So many things are revealed towards the end which definitely had me gasping. Heck, even the little reveals along that way had me screaming, "I KNEW IT. I FREAKING KNEW IT!" Like I mentioned before, this book had me hooked and I wasn't going to put this down until I read the very last page.
In the end, I'm really happy that I dove into this mystery thriller. I'm (sort of) with how things ended but ugh, I just want to know - is she a killer? It will be on my mind forever and ever.
May 19, 2024
Blurb Beware: The blurb gives away a lot of the book and isn’t quite accurate. In fact, the first line of the blurb doesn’t happen until 80 percent into the book, and that conflict is resolved pretty quickly. So avoid.
I also can’t tell what’s on the cover. Maybe it will be clearer in print. It looks at first glance like someone swimming a butterfly stroke. But maybe it’s someone doing a backstroke. Then again, maybe it’s a landscape shot? My vision is not good enough to decipher it.
The construction of the story is a little weird. We have Abby in the present, being invited to visit her best friend, Gia, in Greece. This is interspersed with Gia’s “manuscript” of her newlywed life in Greece, backtracking several months. It takes about 75 percent of the book for the manuscript to catch up to the present. This made it feel like the book hadn’t really started yet. Then it’s all Abby’s POV for the rest of it. The manuscript is all present tense (groan) and most of Abby’s POV is in past tense (but some is in present tense). I HATE narratives in present tense. Only five percent of writers can use it effectively.
The beginning really confused me. In the prologue, it talks about a zoo animal that escapes and eats another animal, then switches mid-paragraph to a funeral. I thought the funeral was for the animal for a long time but it was for a person totally unrelated to the zoo. I still have no idea what the point of the zoo tale was, and I am still recovering from the whiplash of the non sequitur. Maybe it was copy and pasted in by mistake in the ARC.
The atmosphere of the book is full of suspicions, with characters and actions that feel a bit off, and secrets waiting to be revealed. So it has a great buildup, if a tad slow. Then the ending was a letdown. It’s just ambiguous, no clear answers. I hate that. It’s not a bad book by any means — if it sounds appealing, you’ll probably like it. Still a good book but could be better.
Language: Steady amount of strong language
Sexual Content: Lots of sleaze and sex scenes, moderately explicit
Violence/Gore: domestic violence briefly shown; gun violence off-page
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
I also can’t tell what’s on the cover. Maybe it will be clearer in print. It looks at first glance like someone swimming a butterfly stroke. But maybe it’s someone doing a backstroke. Then again, maybe it’s a landscape shot? My vision is not good enough to decipher it.
The construction of the story is a little weird. We have Abby in the present, being invited to visit her best friend, Gia, in Greece. This is interspersed with Gia’s “manuscript” of her newlywed life in Greece, backtracking several months. It takes about 75 percent of the book for the manuscript to catch up to the present. This made it feel like the book hadn’t really started yet. Then it’s all Abby’s POV for the rest of it. The manuscript is all present tense (groan) and most of Abby’s POV is in past tense (but some is in present tense). I HATE narratives in present tense. Only five percent of writers can use it effectively.
The beginning really confused me. In the prologue, it talks about a zoo animal that escapes and eats another animal, then switches mid-paragraph to a funeral. I thought the funeral was for the animal for a long time but it was for a person totally unrelated to the zoo. I still have no idea what the point of the zoo tale was, and I am still recovering from the whiplash of the non sequitur. Maybe it was copy and pasted in by mistake in the ARC.
The atmosphere of the book is full of suspicions, with characters and actions that feel a bit off, and secrets waiting to be revealed. So it has a great buildup, if a tad slow. Then the ending was a letdown. It’s just ambiguous, no clear answers. I hate that. It’s not a bad book by any means — if it sounds appealing, you’ll probably like it. Still a good book but could be better.
Language: Steady amount of strong language
Sexual Content: Lots of sleaze and sex scenes, moderately explicit
Violence/Gore: domestic violence briefly shown; gun violence off-page
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
July 9, 2024
An heiress goes missing and her best friend and brother stop at nothing to find her.
This will be a short and sweet review. It kept my attention, was full of unreliable narrators and con artists. No one could be trusted. There were twists and turns and I loved the part of the book told from Gia (the heiress)’s manuscript. The first half is slower than the second, the ending a bit ambiguous. You may have some questions you wish were answered.
And this cover!! How gorgeous?! It really drew me in and made me want to request this book on netgalley.
Also- fun fact: Katherine St. John wrote this under a new pen name!
This will be a short and sweet review. It kept my attention, was full of unreliable narrators and con artists. No one could be trusted. There were twists and turns and I loved the part of the book told from Gia (the heiress)’s manuscript. The first half is slower than the second, the ending a bit ambiguous. You may have some questions you wish were answered.
And this cover!! How gorgeous?! It really drew me in and made me want to request this book on netgalley.
Also- fun fact: Katherine St. John wrote this under a new pen name!
July 8, 2024
2.5/5
I was very into this one right from the start, the setting in Greece, the possible toxic friendship between Gia and Abby, the secrets and lies, so much to enjoy. I also loved the structure here, you get Abby’s perspective in the present day and Gia’s via her manuscript as she details the events leading up to her disappearance. It was a very immersive read with a steady pacing that kept me engaged and I assumed it would be a four or maybe even a five star read for me most of the time. But then the ending was just sooo disappointing for me, I hate when things are ambiguous and that’s what happened here. I don’t want to have questions about what really happened, I want answers and I don’t want to come to my own conclusions. So overall this one wasn’t for me, no matter how good the rest of the book was a weak ending will ruin it for me.
I was very into this one right from the start, the setting in Greece, the possible toxic friendship between Gia and Abby, the secrets and lies, so much to enjoy. I also loved the structure here, you get Abby’s perspective in the present day and Gia’s via her manuscript as she details the events leading up to her disappearance. It was a very immersive read with a steady pacing that kept me engaged and I assumed it would be a four or maybe even a five star read for me most of the time. But then the ending was just sooo disappointing for me, I hate when things are ambiguous and that’s what happened here. I don’t want to have questions about what really happened, I want answers and I don’t want to come to my own conclusions. So overall this one wasn’t for me, no matter how good the rest of the book was a weak ending will ruin it for me.
January 5, 2024
I thought this was a pretty fun read, centered on best friends Gia and Abby who plan a fancy trip (along with Gia’s brother Benny) for which Gia doesn’t show. This takes us on a journey of alternating timelines between Abby trying to figure out where Gia is and a manuscript Gia wrote a month before that may or may not be autobiographical. I enjoyed the alternating timeline and I love an unreliable narrator!
The setting is on a Greek island and was atmospheric; I could easily picture myself there. I was very fascinated by the abandoned island nearby as well. I felt that Gia’s character was a little bit of a caricature but I still enjoyed reading about her. Abby was more believable, but both made a few decisions that I thought seemed out of character. The twists were somewhat predictable for the most part, but were still fun to read, and there was one that did catch me off guard. I thought the ending was interesting; though it didn’t leave me super satisfied, I appreciated where the author was going.
Overall, fun read that held my interest throughout and had interesting characters - would recommend to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The setting is on a Greek island and was atmospheric; I could easily picture myself there. I was very fascinated by the abandoned island nearby as well. I felt that Gia’s character was a little bit of a caricature but I still enjoyed reading about her. Abby was more believable, but both made a few decisions that I thought seemed out of character. The twists were somewhat predictable for the most part, but were still fun to read, and there was one that did catch me off guard. I thought the ending was interesting; though it didn’t leave me super satisfied, I appreciated where the author was going.
Overall, fun read that held my interest throughout and had interesting characters - would recommend to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2024
3.5 stars.
This is a story about friendships and relationships, as well as rich, entitled and greedy adults behaving badly. In this debut adult contemporary fiction/mystery novel readers are given an expose filled with steamy sex, lust, and seduction (and that's just in the first half).
Abby and Gia were as close as sisters while growing up, even though Abby's mom was employed by Gia's highly successful family, who paid for Abby's education. The girls drifted apart after a traumatic even occurred when they were young adults, but many years later, Gia invites her brother, Benny, and Abby to Switzerland to celebrate her birthday. Told from Abby's POV, and Gia's via an unfinished manuscript, the story takes readers on a roller coaster ride of suspense and deceit.
The plot definitely gave me the feeling that no one was actually who they seemed to be, everyone was lying and hiding secrets, and no one could be trusted.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to read a DRC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is a story about friendships and relationships, as well as rich, entitled and greedy adults behaving badly. In this debut adult contemporary fiction/mystery novel readers are given an expose filled with steamy sex, lust, and seduction (and that's just in the first half).
Abby and Gia were as close as sisters while growing up, even though Abby's mom was employed by Gia's highly successful family, who paid for Abby's education. The girls drifted apart after a traumatic even occurred when they were young adults, but many years later, Gia invites her brother, Benny, and Abby to Switzerland to celebrate her birthday. Told from Abby's POV, and Gia's via an unfinished manuscript, the story takes readers on a roller coaster ride of suspense and deceit.
The plot definitely gave me the feeling that no one was actually who they seemed to be, everyone was lying and hiding secrets, and no one could be trusted.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to read a DRC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 9, 2024
2.5⭐️ The title Ladykiller didn’t seem to fit all that well, and if I would suggest a new title I would choose Gaslit. That captures the relationship of the characters, but also how we are treated as a reader.
Summary: Heiress Gia goes missing while living at her home in Greece, which she is getting ready to sell following her father’s death and end of her simple gravy train. (Don’t get me wrong, she’s still immensely privileged and has money, but daddy willed all his money to charity and she can’t blow through money like she did when he was alive.) She is also newly married to Garret, who she met 4 months ago. Gia invites childhood best friend, Abby, and Gia’s brother, Benny, to meet her in Sweden, but never shows up. Abby and Benny team up to find her and the truth.
The book begins with an introduction of characters/family tree at Papa Hugo’s funeral. After that prologue the story is told during present day through Abby’s perspective. In between Abby’s chapters are chapters from Gia’s manuscript to get Gia’s perspective and information from the past couple months. The lines blur between manuscript and Dear Diary.
The writing itself was good. I felt compelled to keep reading. I don’t know how to describe this, but at times I felt like the flow was really good, but then suddenly it felt so disrupted. I’ve been trying to think of specifics, but really it was just a reoccurring feeling I had throughout. Almost like there were several good separate stories, but felt too forced altogether. Maybe if the book was organized in another way it would have felt better. For example: The actual plot mystery (Gia going missing) is not revealed until a third into the book. I actually forgot she would even end up missing until I randomly re-read the summary when I was around 22%. Ultimately the manuscript is meant to help solve the mystery but we start reading it before knowing that-it takes up most of the book instead of what I would have assumed would have been focused initially on Abby and building the crux of the story. I prefer to be pulled in from the beginning with at least an inkling of what the mystery will be.
The last third of the book was thrilling and page turning, but the ending was a dud for me. There is no confirmed conclusion. I have no idea what was real and what was fabricated and each possibility opens up another dozen questions/possibilities. I ended the book feeling gaslit. And not in a good “my head is spinning/I’m blown away” way that I like or in an intriguing “hmmm” way.
This had a lot of potential for me. The great writing is there and with some restructuring and a definitive ending this would have been a 4⭐️.
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Wood, and Random House Publishing Group for providing this ARC. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date 09 Jul 2024
Summary: Heiress Gia goes missing while living at her home in Greece, which she is getting ready to sell following her father’s death and end of her simple gravy train. (Don’t get me wrong, she’s still immensely privileged and has money, but daddy willed all his money to charity and she can’t blow through money like she did when he was alive.) She is also newly married to Garret, who she met 4 months ago. Gia invites childhood best friend, Abby, and Gia’s brother, Benny, to meet her in Sweden, but never shows up. Abby and Benny team up to find her and the truth.
The book begins with an introduction of characters/family tree at Papa Hugo’s funeral. After that prologue the story is told during present day through Abby’s perspective. In between Abby’s chapters are chapters from Gia’s manuscript to get Gia’s perspective and information from the past couple months. The lines blur between manuscript and Dear Diary.
The writing itself was good. I felt compelled to keep reading. I don’t know how to describe this, but at times I felt like the flow was really good, but then suddenly it felt so disrupted. I’ve been trying to think of specifics, but really it was just a reoccurring feeling I had throughout. Almost like there were several good separate stories, but felt too forced altogether. Maybe if the book was organized in another way it would have felt better. For example: The actual plot mystery (Gia going missing) is not revealed until a third into the book. I actually forgot she would even end up missing until I randomly re-read the summary when I was around 22%. Ultimately the manuscript is meant to help solve the mystery but we start reading it before knowing that-it takes up most of the book instead of what I would have assumed would have been focused initially on Abby and building the crux of the story. I prefer to be pulled in from the beginning with at least an inkling of what the mystery will be.
The last third of the book was thrilling and page turning, but the ending was a dud for me. There is no confirmed conclusion. I have no idea what was real and what was fabricated and each possibility opens up another dozen questions/possibilities. I ended the book feeling gaslit. And not in a good “my head is spinning/I’m blown away” way that I like or in an intriguing “hmmm” way.
This had a lot of potential for me. The great writing is there and with some restructuring and a definitive ending this would have been a 4⭐️.
Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Wood, and Random House Publishing Group for providing this ARC. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date 09 Jul 2024
June 21, 2024
The title, cover, and synopsis of this book is everything! I was more than intrigued; downright edge of my seat excited to start in. The story begins strongly with introductions to Gia and Abby. I thought it was super odd the wealthy father disinherited his children for no better reason than giving money to charity, BUT he provided for his ex-wives??? I digress…
A crime was committed a decade ago. Abby believes Gia knew more than she has admitted and she has been harboring guilt. Gia, atypical rich girl, has been flitting her way through life from one destination to the next. Problem is the money is running out and her brand new husband is off to filch what is left.
Somewhere in the middle the story falls apart. One unrealistic plot twist after the next and it lost the modicum of excitement that had been built. Major bummer…the last 100 pages read like three decades worth of content. I was so bored and just wanted the story to end. Which it did, uneventfully.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my personal review.
A crime was committed a decade ago. Abby believes Gia knew more than she has admitted and she has been harboring guilt. Gia, atypical rich girl, has been flitting her way through life from one destination to the next. Problem is the money is running out and her brand new husband is off to filch what is left.
Somewhere in the middle the story falls apart. One unrealistic plot twist after the next and it lost the modicum of excitement that had been built. Major bummer…the last 100 pages read like three decades worth of content. I was so bored and just wanted the story to end. Which it did, uneventfully.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my personal review.
February 29, 2024
Overall, I really enjoyed this psychological thriller. A beautiful setting that was very descriptive. It kept my interest and I read it within a few days.
I do feel as if the synopsis almost gives too much of the story away. I wish I had gone into this one blind or perhaps with a more brief and vague synopsis.
I really enjoyed the ending, and I didn’t mind that some things were left open.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing July 9, 2024
I do feel as if the synopsis almost gives too much of the story away. I wish I had gone into this one blind or perhaps with a more brief and vague synopsis.
I really enjoyed the ending, and I didn’t mind that some things were left open.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing July 9, 2024
April 29, 2024
This book was so slow.
It’s painful to get through.
Unreliable narrator for one of the perspectives.
The mystery aspect of who’s sending Abby the emails is good. However, Gia being taken advantage of is so hard to read because it’s so obvious what’s happening. The twist at the end is predicable but still good.
It’s painful to get through.
Unreliable narrator for one of the perspectives.
The mystery aspect of who’s sending Abby the emails is good. However, Gia being taken advantage of is so hard to read because it’s so obvious what’s happening. The twist at the end is predicable but still good.
July 8, 2024
Want a sneak peek into the jet-set, exotic lifestyle for your next summer read? Katherine Wood’s LADYKILLER has us flying off to Sweden and the gorgeous Greek Isles. And what a trip. WOW.
This is a psychological thriller with dual POV’s, both past and present, that follows two main characters; -Childhood friends Gia, the heiress and Abby, the daughter of their chef.
With secondary characters; -Benny, Gia’s brother and Garrett, Gia’s new husband.
Then—As teenagers the girls were involved in a tragedy while vacationing in Greece that is now directly tied to the present, twelve years later.
Present, one month before—Gia has inherited her late father’s villa in Greece that she has been readying to sell. Staying with her at the villa is her new husband Garrett and other guests. Gia, Abby and Benny have planned to meet the next month at a Swedish resort for Gia’s birthday.
Now—Abby and Benny arrive in Sweden, but Gia has disappeared. They fly to Greece where Abby finds Gia’s unfinished manuscript, in it, is a juicy tell-all describing the last few weeks with her new husband, Bennys actress girlfriend, and these strangers she calls houseguests. Abby feels it will have clues into Gia’s disappearance. As Abby and Benny search for Gia, they realize everyone is hiding something.. their lies being revealed as the story plays out. This keeps the books momentum flowing, doubling the suspense. All these characters are extremely unlikeable.. not a nice one in the bunch, and there’s nothing better than how Wood describes the picturesque Grecian setting and the obnoxious wealth that accompanies it. Wood takes you down this path of crazy with even wilder twists and turns, red herrings.. and the level of greed insatiable. Finding out the truth was near impossible leaving you to question what’s really going on. Short chaptered, a suspensive edge-of-your-seat mystery thriller with an unreliable narrator.. this checked all the boxes for me. Katherine Wood previously wrote under the pseudonym Katherine St. John.
4 stars — Pub. 7/9/24
I received an advanced review copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This is a psychological thriller with dual POV’s, both past and present, that follows two main characters; -Childhood friends Gia, the heiress and Abby, the daughter of their chef.
With secondary characters; -Benny, Gia’s brother and Garrett, Gia’s new husband.
Then—As teenagers the girls were involved in a tragedy while vacationing in Greece that is now directly tied to the present, twelve years later.
Present, one month before—Gia has inherited her late father’s villa in Greece that she has been readying to sell. Staying with her at the villa is her new husband Garrett and other guests. Gia, Abby and Benny have planned to meet the next month at a Swedish resort for Gia’s birthday.
Now—Abby and Benny arrive in Sweden, but Gia has disappeared. They fly to Greece where Abby finds Gia’s unfinished manuscript, in it, is a juicy tell-all describing the last few weeks with her new husband, Bennys actress girlfriend, and these strangers she calls houseguests. Abby feels it will have clues into Gia’s disappearance. As Abby and Benny search for Gia, they realize everyone is hiding something.. their lies being revealed as the story plays out. This keeps the books momentum flowing, doubling the suspense. All these characters are extremely unlikeable.. not a nice one in the bunch, and there’s nothing better than how Wood describes the picturesque Grecian setting and the obnoxious wealth that accompanies it. Wood takes you down this path of crazy with even wilder twists and turns, red herrings.. and the level of greed insatiable. Finding out the truth was near impossible leaving you to question what’s really going on. Short chaptered, a suspensive edge-of-your-seat mystery thriller with an unreliable narrator.. this checked all the boxes for me. Katherine Wood previously wrote under the pseudonym Katherine St. John.
4 stars — Pub. 7/9/24
I received an advanced review copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 30, 2024
Wheweeee I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Spice ✅
Setting/Atmosphere ✅
Drama ✅
MURDER ✅
This book is the perfect summer thriller. I loved the Greece setting, makes me want an Aperol Spritz real bad. I loved the friendship dynamic between Gia and Abby, and I absolutely loved how you have no idea who is lying and who is telling the truth. This was so well done!
Spice ✅
Setting/Atmosphere ✅
Drama ✅
MURDER ✅
This book is the perfect summer thriller. I loved the Greece setting, makes me want an Aperol Spritz real bad. I loved the friendship dynamic between Gia and Abby, and I absolutely loved how you have no idea who is lying and who is telling the truth. This was so well done!
May 15, 2024
This was a relatively fast read. It pulled me in immediately and I was all in throughout the first half. There are time jumps and points of view swaps as well as a manuscript. All of this was a bit confusing at times but after a while I began to follow along with it and actually found myself intrigued as my imagination ran wild. I was excited to get to the end and it most certainly was going to give me a great bit twist with such an awesome lead up. Unfortunately, it did not. It fell flat and I was left disappointed and blah. Perhaps if a reader goes into this without high expectations they will find it to be enjoyable through the end.
Multi POV
Not a romance
Triggers
Multi POV
Not a romance
Triggers
May 29, 2024
Katherine Wood sure knows how to write a bitchy woman, and she does it well… One just might say it’s her specialty 🤔💙😜 Did you love THE LION’S DEN? THE SIREN? Or THE VICIOUS CIRCLE…? Well if you did, you’re in luck because Katherine St. John and Katherine Wood are one in the same; she has re-branded herself for the release of LADYKILLER on July 9th; and I hope all of her hardcore fans like me follow her to the new name.
It’s such a fun, wild ride: just like fans have come to expect in KSJ novels; they’re full of beautiful scenery, escapism plot-lines, and a little bit of sex and murder thrown in… LADYKILLER tells the story, in a dual timeline, of best friends Abby and Gia, who have a special bond from a traumatic incident in there past; in the present day timeline, Abby is invited to Greece to celebrate Gia’s birthday with her and her brother Benny; but when the two of them arrive, Gia does not… and the author truly takes the first 1/3rd of the novel as a slow burn to set that plotline up and lead a lot of clues and background material— but when it roars, it ROARS.
I was compulsively racing to the end once I reached that first big twist {that the jacket summary kind of spoils for you…} I felt like I wanted more from the ending, as a deep passionate thriller reader; I like my thrillers wrapped up more with a tidy bow than the several questions and theories you close LADYKILLER with… but it is truly one heck of a beach read; and for those that are comfortable with an open ended thriller this will be the supreme summer pick for you! 👏🏻 👏🏻
I can’t wait to see where Katherine Wood goes next; I will follow her anywhere! Thank you to Bantam for providing an ARC in exchange for a review.
It’s such a fun, wild ride: just like fans have come to expect in KSJ novels; they’re full of beautiful scenery, escapism plot-lines, and a little bit of sex and murder thrown in… LADYKILLER tells the story, in a dual timeline, of best friends Abby and Gia, who have a special bond from a traumatic incident in there past; in the present day timeline, Abby is invited to Greece to celebrate Gia’s birthday with her and her brother Benny; but when the two of them arrive, Gia does not… and the author truly takes the first 1/3rd of the novel as a slow burn to set that plotline up and lead a lot of clues and background material— but when it roars, it ROARS.
I was compulsively racing to the end once I reached that first big twist {that the jacket summary kind of spoils for you…} I felt like I wanted more from the ending, as a deep passionate thriller reader; I like my thrillers wrapped up more with a tidy bow than the several questions and theories you close LADYKILLER with… but it is truly one heck of a beach read; and for those that are comfortable with an open ended thriller this will be the supreme summer pick for you! 👏🏻 👏🏻
I can’t wait to see where Katherine Wood goes next; I will follow her anywhere! Thank you to Bantam for providing an ARC in exchange for a review.
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