Member Reviews

I loved this one and binged in ~72 hours! A very creative plot, twisty, and well written. I didn’t love the ending, but I also didn’t see it coming. I really enjoyed the alternating perspectives between Vicky, Suzanne, Mike, Davis, and Kristin.

There were a few typos and grammatical errors I saw that I’m sure were caught and fixed prior to publication.

This was my first Hendricks novel but look forward to reading more from her in the future!

Thank you to Penzler/Scarlet, Jaime, and NetGalley for the e-galley in exchange for the honest review!

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What a fun and cozy thriller! I loved the unique setting and loved to hate characters! We get multiple POV’s from some unreliable people with a few twists and turns. It was really interesting to see the world of publishing written about. I had no idea it was going to end that way. It completely surprised me. As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, it was so cool to see how thriller authors think and how they would write about it in a book.

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If you haven’t read Jaime Lynn Hendricks yet, that needs to be changed ASAP! Ashley Winstead calls her the queen of the page-turner and I couldn’t agree more! I finished this one in two sittings but it would have been one if life didn’t get in the way.

Last year, I heard about Thrillerfest for the first time and I am determined to attend one soon! All of my favorite thriller authors at the same conference discussing tricks of the trade and signing books?! Ummm, yes please! This book MORE than makes up for the fact that I can’t attend this year since it’s (𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑑𝑙𝑦!) based on this event.

All of the main characters are thriller authors at different stages of their career. When an author is murdered at the event, four of them are thrown together to determine the real-life answer to the ultimate thriller novel twist, whodunnit?

The plot spans roughly a day and a half but is packed with secrets and twists! I never would have guessed the ending and even got chills during the last 30 pages!

Pick up a copy if you’re a fan of:
- multiple POVs
- revenge plots
- stalker vibes
- fast-paced thrillers
- a quick, unputdownable read

I received an advanced copy, all thoughts are my own.

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When an author is found dead at a writer's conference, four of her fellow authors and attendees are drawn into the mayhem as they are targeted by an anonymous twitter account that says they might be next. The four try to sort out each other's motives while attempting to keep their own secrets, even as more information is revealed. None of the characters are particularly likeable, but they are engaging and keep the reader invested in finding out who is behind the events. Overall, a fast-paced mystery that pokes a bit of fun at mystery tropes and writers.

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A digital copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley, Penzler Publishers and Scarlet. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Murderpalooza Thriller of the Year Awards

People are nominated for the best Thriller of the Year at Murderpalooza, a conference in New York. When one of the nominees is found murdered in her hotel room, 5 other authors receive a message on Instagram telling them they could be next. The 5 authors quickly meet to determine if 1 of them is behind the message. Their secrets are revealed to the group, and one of them does not want any information leaked to the others.

This is a fast-paced read, that keeps you guessing and there are a few surprises.

Thank you NetGalley, Penzler Publishers and Scarlet.

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Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers Scarlet for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Jaime Lynn Hendricks - 5 stars!

Murderpalooza is the big thriller writer convention held in NYC. When a Kristin, nominee for the top prize is found dead at the hotel, four rival authors start receiving private Twitter messages threatening that they could be next. All four have connections to Kristin and possible motives for wanting her out of the picture. The four get together to try to figure out who is behind the threats, but soon find themselves turning on each other.

This was such a fun book! Reminiscent of Knives Out or Clue, the reader is introduced to all the characters in alternating first person chapters, while we learn their secrets and try to figure out the mystery. In addition, I loved the behind-the-scenes peek into the world of authors, publishers, and those of us who just love to read. I never saw the ending coming but loved every minute!

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This was such a fun thriller!

I really enjoyed the multiple povs and the fact that this takes place during a thriller conference was such a fun detail.

I had so many theories throughout and I was pleasantly shocked with the twist at the end. Most of the characters were unlikable so it was a little hard to find motivation to keep reading at times, however, the plot was fast paced and I did really enjoy the ending. Can't wait to read what Jamie Lynn Hendricks writes next!

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A quick and twisty cozy-style mystery of a murder at a thriller conference! I liked this because it was quick, but there were a lot of characters to keep track of, so reader beware!

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

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I DIDN'T DO IT invites the reader to attend a thriller writer convention in which murder isn't confined to the page. Told from multiple view-points (writers and literary agents), Hendricks gives the reader a behind-the-scenes glimpse into rivalry kindled by doubt and desperation, with plenty of twists and surprises along the way. Allegations against suspects are made via Twitter, and the online writing community acts as a threatening force. Using Twitter as a significant plot device felt a little dated, but all-in-all this was a fun read!

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It’s time for the Thriller Writer Convention, Murderpalooza and when a dearly loved writer turns up dead, everyone’s talking, or should I say tweeting! But who better than a group of writers to solve a murder mystery? Four random authors are thrown together when they each get a tweet saying maybe they’re next, they are frightened, but decide to try to work it out on their own. Each has a reason to kill Kristin, but if one of them did, then who’s the tweeter? Fingers are pointed in every direction as each tweet exposes another secret, but we get even closer to the truth when a second author dies. This was a cleverly written whodunnit with just enough snark, twists galore, a host of suspects and an ending that was perfection. Brisk and full of fun this is a book that will have you turning pages quickly because no one is safe at Murderpalooza! Thank you to Scarlet and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

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For a group of authors at a thriller writers convention, life imitates art when one of their own, Kristen Bailey, is murdered at Murderpalooza. Four authors with ties to Kristin and secrets to hide find themselves targeted and taunted by an anonymous Twitter account. They initially band together to try to find the culprit, but as the Twitter attacks become more vicious, they start to turn on each other. Maybe one of them is Kristin’s killer?!

This is a thoroughly entertaining, completely engrossing popcorn thriller of the best kind! Twisty and turny with suspects and motives galore, I devoured this behind-the-scenes peek into the suspense publishing world. The multiple POVs are really well done, with the characters so fully developed with distinct voices and personalities. Best of all, I adore a twist you never see coming, and this murder mystery definitely delivers on that front!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for providing me an advance copy of this book.

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"I Didn't Do It" is a mesmerizing masterpiece that skillfully intertwines a love for suspense novels with a brilliantly crafted murder mystery. From the very beginning, readers are captivated by the author's ability to keep them on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn.

The premise of the story is truly captivating: a murder takes place at Murderpalooza, the premier thriller writers conference, throwing the esteemed gathering into disarray. The victim, Kristin Bailey, a beloved bestselling author, leaves behind a trail of literary rivals who find themselves not only under suspicion but also targeted by an anonymous social media account. As tensions rise, these rivals—a mid-lister, an egomaniac, a has-been, and a newbie—unexpectedly form a bond, united in their quest to uncover the truth.

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Thank you NetGalley and Scarlet Suspense for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I LOVE Jaime's books! Finding Tessa was my absolute favorite. I was so intrigued by the description of this book. Murderpalooza? A murder during a thriller writing convention?? Yes, please!

I Didn't Do It was dark and twisty. The suspense was so good and had me guessing. The plot was so captivating. Such fun characters and loved getting to know all of them leading up to the murder. I love it when chapters jump around to each character's POV. The ending --- definitely didn't see coming!

Jaime will always be one of my auto-buy thriller authors!!

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I Didn’t Do It takes course over just a couple of days at the popular “Murderpalooza”, a thriller author convention that writers attend for workshops, networking, and an awards ceremony. There’s always plenty of excitement and surprises, but nobody expects this year’s event to kick off with… a murder!

This is such a fast-paced, wild ride. It’s told in first-person, present tense from FOUR character POVs. These are four authors who came to the convention, each possessing a unique voice, a compelling backstory, and a potential motive for murder. After Kristin Bailey, a famous author who’s up for a prestigious award, is killed, all four of them are suspects. They each have mysterious connections to the deceased. Not only that, but they’re all receiving mysterious text messages from someone who claims to know all their secrets. They have no choice but to unite and work together to try to figure out who the killer is, before one of them is targeted next. But what if the killer is one of them???


I already said this, but there are so many twists and turns in the plot. It might seem like a lot for there to be four first-person POVs, but all four of them are different enough that I was never confused. The plot is incredibly compelling, though I found it did lag a little in the middle. It felt a little repetitive at times, because we’re following four characters, and sometimes they’re reacting to information that the reader already learned while reading another character’s POV.

The setting is a major draw for this book. What better locale for thriller authors to turn on one another in a fit of paranoia and fear than at a thriller author convention? I’m a writer myself, and it’s clear that Hendricks, the author, is writing from experience, as the book reeks of authenticity, poking fun at some of the (many) quirks of traditional publishing, and making numerous references to true-to-life publishing themes and drama.

While I did predict the final twist of the book early on, there are so many jaw-dropping plot developments in this book, and diving deep into the minds of these great minds was so fun! (particularly one of the authors, who’s quite unhinged!)

I recommend this book to someone who wants to read a fast-paced, short thriller with numerous twists and WTF moments.

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Meh

I really wanted to like this one. It has every element that appeals to me in a book: thriller writers, a writing conference, people behaving badly, secrets, and blackmail. Yet in the end, it just took me SO long to get through and I had guessed nearly all of the twists and figured out what was happening long before it was revealed.

The main premise is: a group of writers has gathered for Murderpalooza, a conference for thriller writers. One of the most famous writers, Kristin Bailey, is found dead and four people are pinpointed as possibly responsible. And one of them might be next.

I didn't like any of the characters and didn't think that any of them were particularly well thought out. We had all of their points of view, and that served to muddy the waters because there were just too many people, too many relationships to follow. I lost track of whose agent was whose and how people were connected to each other. I couldn't be bothered to care about any of them, and we didn't even get to know Kristin before she was killed so her death was kind of a non-issue.

I suppose the commentary about Twitter (and social media as a whole, but writers really love Twitter) is interesting and fairly accurate. People are tried and found guilty in the court of public opinion online every day, despite the actual truth being something different. Yet in this book, if this was the overall message it got lost in so many of the other things the author was trying to do.

Lots of people have really enjoyed this book, so don't necessarily take my word for it. Give it a try if it sounds interesting.

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What a great fun thriller read, there is honestly not a dull moment in this book. It starts off with a bang and ends with a bang. Very fast paced and hard to put down. This is a great popcorn thriller, go pop yours !

I really loved the setting the whole thriller writers event, and the language that she used is the same as we use everyday regarding reading and authors. I loved the shortness of the chapters, the lingering effect after each one and the multiple POV's of each author, it made it so much more intriguing.

There were so many secrets that kept coming one after the other, the link between each characters. So much drama. There was also some great twists. Very Scream with a killer at the covention but instead of phone calls it's a Twitter account. Also soap operaish and I'm here for it, it was like reading a movie.

If you're looking for a fast paced, non stop secrets based on an authors world don't miss out!

✨️Thank you @netgalley, @penzler & @jaimelynnhendricks for my free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the kind of book that should really be catnip for readers who love books about books and writers and the bookish world. Set at a conference at which a popular author is murdered the morning of the big award ceremony where she's nominated for the top award, it features the perspectives of four authors at various stages of their careers who all have a connection to the murdered author. It's quick and quippy, and the ending is worthy of a book about thriller writers.

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Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for providing this wonderful book for my honest review. This was such a fun and unique setting. I love reading about writers and the publishing world and add in a murder and I am completely sold! This is such a fun and fast paced twisty ride! I loved every minute and can’t wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book! Thank you again for allowing me to review this wild ride!

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A murder at a book conference with thriller authors? Sign me up! I really enjoyed Jaime Lynn Hendricks previous book so I was excited to get an ARC of her newest book. This book worked for me in the fact that I did not see the twists coming and it was not a domestic thriller (pretty over those.) I was continously wondering who done it and what was actually happening. The biggest issue I have with this book is there are a ton of characters that we follow and it took a bit to get there back stories and who belonged to who. I wish we didn't have as many characters to follow and the ones that we did were fleshed out a bit. Overall a good thriller that I suspect most won't see the end coming.

3.5 stars.

**Thank you to NetGalley for an Advance Review Copy. All opinions are my own.**

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I really liked the premise of this novel, but I did find the multiple characters slightly confusing. I couldn’t wait to pick this book up so overall I liked it!

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