This was a wild ride that I really enjoyed once I got into it. It centers on Mary, a freelance crime writer who receives a diary/planner that just has a name and location on 4 different days. The first day has already passed and someone with that name and in that city was murdered. As if that isn't scary enough, Mary's own name is 4th on the list. The story alternates between Mary's POV in the first person and that of the various police detectives working on the case, in the 3rd person.

The story itself is sound- it's fast paced with many different twists, some which were huge surprises. Mary was a belieavable character and the things she did, while not always being the right things, made sense. I did figure out the motive for the killings before the characters did, but didn't figure out the villain themselves until quite late.

It did take me a little bit to get into the book, and I think it was due to the writing style- the switch between voices from chapter to chapter was somewhat jarring and I felt that the early chapters involving the police detectives had somewhat stilted dialogue that didn't cleanly flow for me. I don't know whether I just got used to it or if the style changed, but that didn't bother me anymore after the first quarter of the book.

Overall, I thought this was a fun mystery and love when I am stumped on who did it. I'd recommend this to those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers, with a little taste of police procedural. Thanks to Netgallay for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the first 80 percent of this novel. Mary receives a journal for Christmas, which is a common gift given to a colleague, so she doesn’t even look at it until a month after the holiday, when she’s about to throw it out but realizes she should know who sent it so she can send a thank you card. Instead, what she finds is four names, dates, and places. It says “January 1, murder Lisa, Oxford.” There are two more names and then April 1, murder Mary, Cheltenham.” When she learns a woman named Lisa was murdered on January 1 in Oxford, she takes the book to the police.

The first part this moves so quickly as the police try to figure out what the three people before Mary have in common. For me, I didn’t love the ending, and I can’t tell you why without giving things away.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 31.

This is by far my favorite Jackie Kabler book. There wasn't just one, or two, or three, or four, but five twists! They were all great! This was by far the twistyest book of the year!

Well this book was an absolute treat from start to finish. Jackie never fails to write a book that doesn’t hook you from the first chapter and this was no different. Told in a dated timeline which I loved and it had me guessing all the way through, who was the murderer. Would highly recommend to anyone that loves a bit of murder!

Freelance crime writer Mary Ellis receives a diary for a Christmas present. It isn’t until a month later that she opens it to find it isn’t blank. Instead there are four entries; murder, first name, city. The date of the first entry has past, and everyone heard about the murder on that day. The details all matching the diary entry. It’s almost the date of the second entry, is it just a weird coincidence or a serial killers plan?

This was a really unusual thriller that kept me guessing who the serial killer was throughout. I pretty much suspected everyone but the killer! It was full of red herrings and twists (some of which I suspected, no spoilers though). I did find the authors obsession with female characters hair colour and style a bit unnecessary. I don’t need to know some police officer we meet once has a blonde pixie cut. Other than that I enjoyed this story.

This was a really easy book to read. It was engrossing and engaging. It was also addictive and I swallowed it up greedily.

This was absolutely amazing! It kept me completely engaged from the start. The plot was so simple but so unique. The characters were really written and had their own individual voices and personalities. You can't help but to care about what happens to everyone. The book keeps up a good pace and has you wondering about literally everyone. There is this sense of doom and an eerie undertone the entire way through. I thought I knew what was coming but I had mo clue and the twists were just perfect. Such a well executed novel by every standard. I can't wait to read more from from Jackie Kabler

I stayed up way too late reading this book! It felt like I should be able to predict what would happen, but I did not see any of the twists coming and felt genuinely surprised, even while simultaneously feeling like the characters were complex and fully developed and I knew them well. The sense of time and impending doom or disaster were conveyed really well, but in a fun suspenseful way, not a stressful one. I felt like the main character was relatable, but realistically flawed and her thought process and internal monologue were written really well.

This is my third Kabler novel, and it most definitely won't be my last.
Jackie is a wonderful writer and she can sure keep her readers on their toes.
With her amazing storytelling and with characters that are superbly played, she kept me hooked from.the beginning to end with The Murder List.
This story is probably my most favorite out of her list.
Lots of twisty turns that kept me guessing till the end.
A brilliant captivating read that I didn’t want to put down!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

One More Chapter,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Jackie Kabler is fast becoming one of Britains leading authors. You now your in for a solid read when you get one of her books.
The thing I loved about this one was that I thought I’d guessed the murderer. I was wrong. Lots of twists and your interest is held.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC.

The murder list by Jackie Kabler.
When Mary receives a blank diary as a present, she thinks nothing of it. Until she opens the diary, and sees it’s not blank after all…
I really really enjoyed this book. Great story and characters. Kept me gripped. I liked Mary. Pete I wasn't sure. What a twist. Didn't see that coming. 5*.

This is an awesome thriller that kept me entranced from the beginning! Mary receives a "gift" that is really a list of first names and the date on which they will be murdered. Since she is a freelance crime writer, this appears to be a coup for her until she sees the name "Mary" on April 1st. And of course she realizes it may be coincidence, but since the gift was specifically for her, she turns it over to the police and hopes they can get to the bottom of it. But when murders begin happening, she realizes she may be next as there is nothing connecting the victims to one another. Creepy good with lots of atmosphere and tension, this novel kept me up late into the night (with all my doors locked and the lights on)! Part thriller, part romance, part detective story, the book cemented my fandom with Jackie Kabler. Loved it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

The Murder List by Jackie Kabler is the latest riveting page-turner from this must read author. I was immediately engaged with the unique premise and found myself giving in to the mounting tension as the narrative progressed.

Mary Ellis receives an unusual gift from an unknown sender, a diary with four entries already added. Four specific dates offer up the murder dates, identities, and locations of victims, ending with her own name on April 1. Who has sent such a chilling warning, and what is Mary's connection to it all? I was completely floored by the reveal, and felt that the last few chapters could have been fully fleshed out novels in their own right. Recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC.

Mary Ellis is a journalist / crime writer who prefers to work from rented office space - The Hub - with other self employed people. Her father was a famous crime novelist who died in a house fire that also killed Mary's best friend, and left Mary scarred both mentally and physically, although thanks to her grandmother she has received the best care to heal her wounds.
The story begins with the Christmas holidays about to begin and Mary is home with her best friend and housemate, Pete Chong. After New Year, Mary begins the task of clearing out things for the charity shop and finds an unopened gift she'd been given - a diary - which she assumes came from one of the publishing companies she works with. She looks for a sign as to who it is from and finds the disturbing reference to the murder of someone called Lisa in Oxford on Jan 1st. The date has already passed, and to make it more disturbing the TV news is covering the murder of a woman named Lisa on New Year's Day in the city of Oxford. Further entries - each a month apart - suggest more victims, including one called Mary on Apr 1st in Cheltenham - where she now lives.
She has to tell the police. Will they take her seriously? Might they even suspect her?
Well, the answers are in the book ...

The premise of this pulled me right in and it was compelling reading throughout.
What if Mary hadn't read the diary before she planned to donate it to the charity shop? There were so many ways in which this story could have collapsed and not been as twisted or surprising as it was, yet the author had it all under control, even throwing out spurious red herrings like confetti. But, boy, was it engaging and hugely addictive. No wonder so many characters came under suspicion. As a reader, I formed an opinion early on, but my ideas were soon quashed when along came Mary's big secret - could she really use it to thwart the killer come April 1st? It was difficult to imagine how that scene would unfurl, but it did ... and it was completely out of the blue. Kudos to Ms Kabler for a fabulously suspenseful read.

Further review links to follow for blog tour in June.

A solid 3.5/5 thriller. Mary Ellis is a crime reporter who lives with her best friend Pete. One day just before Christmas, she receives a weird package in the mail, but doesn't end up opening it until the New Year when she is sorting through things to donate. It turns out to be a diary that is blank except for four ominous lines. Each line contains the word Murder, then a name, then a place. Mary is a little spooked because the last name on the list is Mary and the city is the city she lives in. Then she sees on the news that the someone with the first name on the list was murdered on January 1 in the same city as on the list. Is Mary actually on the list and is going to be murdered?

This was a pretty good thriller. Some of the twists were not super dramatic for me (like I had guessed that), but the ending was more of a twist than I saw coming. It was still enjoyable overall.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Ellis receives an anonymous gift of a planner. Before she donates it she flips through and notices that on the 1st of January, February, March and April there are notes.."Kill (name, town)". She realizes that a murder of the Jan 1st name/town combo has actually happened a few weeks ago and takes the planner to the police. The book switches from Mary's point of view and what is happening with the police investigation. I liked this set up and enjoyed all the secrets that came out. I thought the romance aspect was unnecessary and the reveal of the killer a little unbelievable, but otherwise really enjoyed this mystery.

I truly had no idea who the killer would be until they were revealed at the end, which is impressive. Towards the end, there are some other twists, too, that were really great. The book has a cool premise and great execution, plus I love when a thriller novel feels unpredictable. I’d recommend this to all fans of fast-paced mysteries.

Wow is all I can say about this book!

It’s the 3rd book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. She’s now up there with my go to authors.

I read this book in 2 sittings. I loved it from the very beginning. Fast paced throughout. It kept drawing you in with new twists throughout.

It was one of the very few books I had no idea who ‘the killer’ was until the very end.

You think the story is all wrapped up then the author throws in yet another big twist.

Loved it! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

When crime reporter Mary Ellis opens a diary gifted from someone unknown, her heart drops. Because it's not empty. There are four entries:

1st January MURDER LISA, OXFORD
1st February MURDER JANE, BIRMINGHAM
1st March MURDER DAVID, CARDIFF
1st April MURDER MARY, CHELTENHAM

She can't be *that* Mary, can she? Surely it's a joke? But by the end of January, a Lisa is dead. Now Mary must fight to uncover what's going on before April Fool's Day--before she becomes the next victim on the killer's list.

This book was fantastic! The plot is clever, the pacing is quick, and the author adds just enough red herrings to make you question everything. I have to admit, I didn't have the ending twists pegged correctly. I'll be looking forward to more books from this author for sure.

Thanks so much to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a review through Netgalley.

Fast, paced, suspenseful, mysterious and atmospheric. It is well written with a gripping storyline and well developed characters. I couldn't put it down, full of twists and unpredictability, I loved it.