Thank you for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts on this book. The review will appear on episode 16 of the podcast which will drop on July 10. The review will also appear on the website that same day and I will also share a brief review on Instagram that same week.

Review:
I think I mentioned in an earlier episode that until recently, a friend and I had a weekly true crime podcast. We did it for almost three years - it was pretty successful, but then it ended up really wearing on us. Reading about murders and disappearances and the effects it had on the families really took a toll. While I’m happy to be away from true crime, I love reading about fictional crime and as soon as I read the synopsis for this one on NetGalley, I knew I wanted to give it a shot. While I liked the book, I didn’t love it - mostly because I felt the revelation was a little “meh”.

When we hear the words true crime, we tend to think of serial killers - or at least that’s where my mind goes. I think maybe it’s just that I am an 80s kid raised on threats of being kidnapped and ending up on a milk carton, and/or being murdered by a serial killer. What I learned while doing the podcast is statistically we’re more likely to be murdered by someone we know than by a stranger - let that sink in. Our next most likely murderer would be a stranger who wasn’t out simply to kill us for fun, but more likely because of an altercation, robbery or in connection with some other crime.

All that to say, I really liked how the plot in this book was contained to a single crime that rocked a small Kansas town. Police caught the guy who did it - in fact he even confessed to doing it. He was sentenced and eventually executed, so when two more teenagers are murdered in the same way 14 years later, Greer Dunning returns home to find out what is going on. Her sister Eliza was one of the victims fourteen years ago and Greer has always felt as though there was more to the story. She’s had this nagging feeling that the killer wasn’t working alone, so she leaves her job as a school counselor in Ohio and returns home to poke around.

Greer has a difficult relationship with her parents. After Eliza’s death they all grew apart and things are still strained between them. Upon returning home, she immediately reconnects with her childhood BFFs Ryan and Cassie and it’s not long before she also connects with Dean Matthews - the brother of Roy Matthews who was convicted of murdering her sister and her sister’s boyfriend all those years ago. She figures Dean is her only hope in figuring out what was going on with Roy before he murdered her sister, and this information could help her figure out who Roy may have been working.

The author does a great job of creating the small town vibe. I also really liked the character of Greer and the complex relationships she had not only with her family, but also with several people from her past - including Cassie and Ryan.

The book is a good read and unravels much like a classic true crime case, but it lost me toward the end when we find out how the murders were connected and why they occurred. It was way too much of a stretch for me to fully get behind. I ended up giving this one 3 stars.

In I did it For You we follow Greer, it’s been fourteen years since her sister got murdered and Greer and her family has never been the same. Even though they long ago caught the killer something about that night has never felt right.⁣
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I was beyond excited at getting a chance to read Amy Engel latest novel. While her books are usually slow burn thrillers, I promise you they are so worth it. Amy really knows how to stick a knife into your heart and twist until you feel the most gut wrenching pain and this book was no different.⁣
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By, the end of this novel you will feel so many emotions at once and finding out what really happened to Eliza will absolutely break you! If you want an intense novel with a great ending read I Did IT For You.

I was confident that I would love I Did It For You having been blown away by Engel's previous novels. And I'm happy to say I love this one too! Amy Engel is such a good writer, her books are insanely readable and captivating.

In I Did It For You, we follow Greer Dunning who returns to her small hometown many years after her sister was murdered. The man that killed her and her boyfriend was executed for the crime. But now two other teens have met the same fate. Greer always had questions about what happened to her sister and now she's determined to get answers.

It's obviously hard for her going back. Her parents still aren't handling things well. Add to that being in a small sad town where everyone knows everyone's business. And people know things they're not telling, Greer included. At least she has her two best friends who continue to be fiercely loyal despite the fact she's stayed away all this time.

In the midst of her investigation, she forms a tenuous bond with an unlikely ally. They are the last person she should be hanging out with so she keeps it a secret. Together they're able to interview everyone that knew her sister and the killer. They start getting closer to the truth endangering them both.

What I loved about I Did It For You is the slow burn style of writing that was in no way slow paced. Things take their time to unfold but I had no problem zooming through and was never bored. It's also worth mentioning I Did It For You isn't half as dark as her previous novels, The Roanoke Girls and The Familiar Dark. I personally love dark and disturbing but it's obviously not a requirement.

There wasn't anything I disliked but I think the ending was a bit rushed compared to the rest of the story. I also got the killer and their motive right but that obviously didn't take away from my enjoyment overall. In fact, I will say I'm pleasantly surprised a cliché thing didn't happen. No spoilers here!

It's safe to say Amy Engel is an auto-read author for me. I Did It For You is a perfect mystery/thriller. And since it comes out in July, it's also the perfect beach read!

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

Thank you so much Amy Engel, Penguin Group Dutton, and Net Galley for this wonderful ARC!

I loved "I Did It For You" so much! It hooked me from the beginning and was an easy and addicting story.

Greer moves back from Chicago to small town Kansas after a murder takes place that was eerily similar to that of her sister, Eliza's, and her boyfriend, Travis. Back when the initial murder took place, Greer became obsessed. Although they caught the killer, Greer was convinced there was more to the story. This feeling became even stronger since the second murder took place days after the execution of the original killer. Once home, Greer begins to poke around in everyone's business to figure out what actually happened, befriends the most unexpected ally, and finds hidden secrets that might have been best left secret.

This murder mystery had a lot fun and unexpected twists. It had me guessing the entire time. While I was able to figure out a few clues, some of the others caught me off guard. Besides the thriller aspect of the book, I really enjoyed the setting and backbone of the book. I felt like it perfectly portrayed small town midwest in the fall from the seasonal details and activities to the personalities of all of the characters. No one was particularly nice or charming, but due to their close proximity, they were forced to put up with each other. The realistic aspect of that made the book that much better.

Thank you again for the opportunity to read this ARC.

It’s been 14 years since Greers older sister was murdered in their small town in Kansas. As soon as Greer was old enough, she ran to Chicago. When a copycat killer returns, Greer finds herself being drawn home. She is determined to find out what happened to her sister once and for all. She never believed the man on trial, and now put to death committed the crimes. Now she is forging unlikely bonds in hopes of figuring this out. But when danger is close, Greer can’t help but wonder if she will be next.

This is a slow burn, low action thriller set in a small Kansas town. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this one, and I felt like I was right there with the characters in Kansas. This was told from the single point of view of Greer. I felt that while she was engaging, she was also distant, and the story would have been great if told from another or several others point of view as well. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Greers family. Just how her parents dealt with the grief of losing their eldest daughter was so heart wrenching and believable. The pacing on this one is slow, and despite some reviewers saying it picked up, I didn’t find that to be the case. This was a slow burn for the entire time for me. I did enjoy reading this one and making the discoveries right alongside Greer.

While I do gravitate towards enjoying quicker paced reads, this one was still rather enjoyable despite my issues with the pacing.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Penguin Group Dutton, and Netgalley, @netgalley, for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Additional Links will be added once posted.

Thank you to Negalley & Dutton for an advance copy in exchange for my review!

First, can I get a round of applause for this COVER??? Obsessed.

Second, this kept me hooked the whole time. I love a book full of uncovering family secrets. This one also tugged at my heart in so many ways. Going back and forth between how to feel about the killer and others. A dilemma, truly.

I'm ultimately satisfied with the way it ended. It's an easy, quick, weekend read!

If you’ve read from this author before and enjoy her writing style, you’ll enjoy this read also. We follow Greer as she returns to her hometown upon the murder of two high schoolers, in the same manner her sister and her boyfriend were killed years prior. A copycat killing, perhaps? Greer was never fully satisfied with the conclusion to her sisters murder investigation, so now she’s come back to find the truth. This book is definitely a quick read, just under 300 pages. I had to give it a 3 star rating because while it was a quick and suspenseful story, there wasn’t anything that shocked me. I felt like it was a story I’d read before. The conclusion didn’t fully satisfy the mystery. Overall I would recommend the book, but not if you’ve read a lot of revisiting small towns investigations books lately.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC.

Amy Engel girl you did it again! I LOVED The Roanoke Girl’s and have been looking forward to her next novel.

I Did It For You by Amy Engel was a riveting story with well written characters and a gripping plot.
Engel has created characters that were so well developed and also very real.
This exciting novel is wonderfully written and crafted.
An atmospheric mystery that’s full of suspense and twists.
Such a well crafted, intriguing crime driven mystery with unpredictable twists, and a pitch-perfect story that is wonderfully consuming.
Once again, Amy as both met and completely exceeded my expectations of a thriller novel she never fails to enthrall with surprising twists.
This is why I love her stories. She can write such phenomenal tales that hook me almost immediately and never lets up.
My most anticipated read of the YEAR did not disappoint!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Dutton for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

14 years ago in the small town of Ludlow, Kansas, two teenagers were shot to death while parked in their car. The murder shocked and devastated the small town and things have never quite been the same. Greer Dunning’s sister was the girl (Eliza) who was killed and Greer left her hometown soon after vowing never to return. Although the killer, Roy Mathews, was found and then executed, there still remains a lot of questions as to a motive. Greer felt that he had not acted alone. Now, present day, a copy cat killing occurs in Ludlow, leaving two more deaths of a young couple. Greer sees this as a sign that her hunch was correct and decides to return to Ludlow in hopes of finding some answers and possibly the killer. But now that she is back, everyone seems to be hiding something and she isn’t sure who she can trust…In her search for the truth, Greer finds herself paired with an unlikely ally in Dean Mathew. Dean is also on a mission to find out who was his brother’s accomplice and who is also behind the latest murders. This was a dark and twisted novel about love, loss, guilt, and ultimately forgiveness.

It’s been 14 years since Greer’s sister Eliza was murdered with her boyfriend, Travis. Greer has moved away from their small town of Ludlow, Kansas but she hasn’t moved on. When she receives the call from her best friends Cassie and Ryan that another young couple has been murdered in the exact same way she knows that this is what she’s been waiting for. She feared that it would happen again, even though the killer had confessed and been executed long ago. This is a book about growing up in a small town where everybody knows your business and the secrets that you keep just to have something for yourself.

Oh gosh, dang. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the summer, and boy, did it follow through. I am so thankful to Dutton Books, Amy Engel, and NetGalley for granting me a digital copy and a physical advanced reader's copy of this slow-burn horror before it's projected to publish on July 25, 2023.

Greer Dunning is the gruesome murder of her sister Eliza that took place back in her high school days. Even though the killer has been tried, convicted, and executed, Greer still harbors a queasy feeling about the whole thing. When two more teens get murdered in the same fashion years later, Greer answers "the call" and heads back home to Ludlow to get to the bottom of these murders. Could the murderer be working with someone else? Is that second person still lurking around Ludlow and responsible for the latest deaths? This small town is securing the safety of so many secrets, and it's only a matter of time before they get dug up.

Greer teams up with her sister's killer's brother, Dean Matthews, to search for clues, and what they end up finding will make our MC wonder who she can trust and who has her best interests in mind.

"I knew he understood, more than anyone, exactly how love and hate for someone could form a perfect knot inside you, forever entwined" - Greer ( I Did It For You)

I have goosebumps as I sit here attempting to write a review just seconds after concluding, I Did It For You.

How far would you go to protect the ones you love?

This book is so much more than a thriller. It dabbles in family, friendship, small town secrets, forgiveness and redemption.

I obsessed over these characters, even the ones painted as being "flawed" I still loved them all the same. Everyone of them real and full of emotion... pain.

I Did It For You, has left me emotional and stuck in my head. I keep questioning "what would I have done?", "How would I have felt?" and the truth is, I don't know. Ryan, Cassie, Greer, Dean, Roy... they were just so much more than characters between the pages. They gave me so much to think about and I am craving answers to so many questions.

Don't take this the wrong why, the book ties EVERYTHING together but these characters feel so real that I need to know answers to the questions I have.

Maybe I need a support group?

Ok, now im starting to sound a little nutso.

This book right here screams "book of the year" and I am Amy Engel's number one cheerleader. I was completely moved by this book and I literally can not wait until Engel's next release (please don't make me wait too long!)

5 stars, actually, who am I kidding... this book broke our star ratings. 10 stars!

Here is a little teaser :

A twisty thriller from the beloved author of The Familiar Dark, in which a woman returns to the town where her sister was murdered and finds a presumed copycat on the loose

It’s been fourteen years since Greer Dunning’s older sister, Eliza, was murdered, and Greer’s family has never been the same. And now there’s been a similar killing in Greer’s small Kansas hometown. A copycat, according to the authorities, but Greer is convinced there is more to the story. That Eliza’s murderer had help all those years ago.

So Greer returns home after more than a decade away, desperate to answer the questions that have haunted her for years. And in her drive to uncover the truth, she forms a bond with the unlikeliest of allies. One that puts her in grave danger, as almost everyone in her small town becomes a suspect.

At once a riveting mystery and a deep exploration of guilt, loss, and the ways in which a violent murder transforms both the family of the victim and the family of the killer, I Did It For You will keep listeners captivated through the very last chapter.

I Did it For You is a book I would read again. There are three best friends, Greer, Cassie and Ryan who takes center stage. But the main story is about the murder of Greer's sister, Eliza. She was murdered with her boyfriend by a boy named Roy. The Greer always felt he had an accomplice. After the murder, Greer had moved to Chicago to get away from everything. When she found out that two more people have been murdered, she knew the murder was connected to her sister's murder and she knew she had to go back home.

Greer befriended Roy's brother, Dean, and together they wanted to solve the mystery of the accomplice. The book took me through all the ups and downs and ends and outs of their quest. Without giving away the ending, suffice it to say that it was a twist ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I gave it five stars.

I've read and enjoyed several of Amy Engel's books and her latest, I Did It For You is no exception. An engaging thriller with some twisty surprises, I was invested in this book from start to finish. Definitely recommend for thriller lovers.

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t read fast enough! Greer comes back to the small town where her sister was murdered years before. There has been a copycat murder and she wants to find answers. I’m pretty good at guessing endings to mysteries, but this one surprised me! Which I loved!

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 : Greer Dunning returns back to her hometown of Ludlow, Kansas, fourteen years after her sister was murdered, to find a copycat muder case. She'd stayed away from Ludlow because her sister's death tore her family apart and destroyed the life she once had. But Greer believes the new killings are somehow connected to her sister's murder, and she risks her life to unveil the truth, even if the truth is a very different answer from what she hoped to find.
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𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: I love me a good small town mystery with romance as a subplot🤭, and this book served that beautifully. It was fun to read I Did It For You because most of the book existed in this wide morally gray area of crime, punishment, and who to consider a bad person. It painted a bigger picture about forgiveness, grace, love, and hate, especially because almost every character had experienced their share of guilt and had a different opinion on who was right and who was wrong. I liked that it was fast-paced because that kept me engaged and helped me get through it quickly and not get tired.
Unfortunately, I did predict the culprit correctly early on while reading, due to subtle hints the author was sending, and this took out some of the surprise for me in the final reveal. I also thought the romance could have used more of a buildup where the reader could observe the characters' chemistry growing before it peaked.
However, I appreciated the way the author tied everything together at the end. It felt a little sad, but I was very satisfied. 📚🤍
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Special thanks to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for sending me this Advance Reader's Copy!🤗

Thank you to Dutton for sending me an arc in exchange for review.

I had never read a slow burn thriller before where the story moves at such a slow pace until a big reveal is made and then the story picks up abruptly. I'm not annoyed by it, i just wish this book was more character driven rather than plot driven.

Overall i did enjoy my time reading it but if you don't like plot driven thrillers than this isn't for you.

Amy Engel is a master of psychological suspense and reading this was pure pleasure. The characters are well-drawn and authentic and the mystery will keep readers guessing right up until the end. The author throws in several red herrings and the action and intrigue make this a total page-turner.

This was a fast paced, suspenseful thriller. I loved the author’s writing style and especially liked the short chapters that gave some insight into the victims and who they were outside of their tragic deaths. I do wish we got some more glimpses into the narrator’s relationship with her sister- at the end I didn’t feel like I knew Eliza as well as I could have. Some surprising twists as well! All in all, an enjoyable quick read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Initially this pulled me right in, as the main character Greer returns to her home town after a murder that’s very similar to what happened to her sister and boyfriend’s murders that took place when she was a teenager.

The murder of her sister was wrapped up with a defined killer, Roy, who was executed with the death penalty, so there’s no thought of the killer returning, but it’s clear that whoever did it was influenced by what happened many years ago.

Upon her return Greer connects with Roy’s brother, Dean, and a relationship starts to grow from their combined sibling losses. Together they try to piece together what happened to make Roy snap and they believe there was someone else involved. With the new murder there’s the incentive to figure that piece out.

There are a couple twists at the end that stimulated that thriller / mystery genre desire to go back and read again. But ultimately I didn’t have full buy in about the final twist and revelation or the reasoning behind it. So… still solid read, but honestly not fully satisfied with the ending.