Wow! What a debut novel! I would have devoured this had life not gotten in the way! This book was so well written that it sucks you in from the beginning. I cannot believe the ending and I thought I had it figured out! I was completely thrown off by the twists of this book. My head is still spinning! The plot is well developed and the characters have you liking yet hating them at the same time. I am excited to read more by this author!

As an Amazon First Reads pick, Lights Out has gained a lot of attention and for very good reasons. It is a fantastic debut novel and the first in a series. Kate is a former soccer star turned sports reporter. Her best friends husband, a star basketball player, is found murdered in his home. Kate is confident her friend has nothing to do with the murder and uses her reporting skills and connections to prove it.
This book is a suspense novel told from Kate’s POV. I liked Kate and want to see what adventures she finds next.

From my blog: Always With a Book

Thank you to ThrillerBookLovers Promotions, Thomas & Mercer, #partner, for an advanced e- copy of Lights Out in exchange for my honest review.

I love discovering debut authors and when they happen to also be starting a new series it’s just icing on the cake for me! It’s so hard to stand out in the thriller market these days and I think Elise Hart Kipness has done a remarkable job with her sports thriller and I cannot wait to see where things so next in this series!

This is such a fast-paced, layered story that kept me completely engaged from start to finish. I loved our main protagonist, Kate Green. There is so much going on in her life – both professionally and personally – and I’m excited to really get to see how her character develops over the course of this series because I think we’ve only just scratched the surface on getting to know her.

There are a lot of characters introduced in this first installment, and yet they all play a part no matter how minor. This makes for a lot of suspects in trying to found out who the murderer is and I have to say, I was all over the place with who I thought was the guilty one right up until the final reveal. I love being truly stumped and this one really got me!

Blending equal parts crime fiction and thriller, this one is not to be missed. The twists and turns it takes kept me glued to the pages and I totally flew through it…and am now desperate to get my hands on the next book. Not only was I surprised by who had done it, but that final last bit really has me eager to see what happens next! For a debut novel, Elise Hart Kipness has a slam dunk on her hands for sure!

What a FANTASTIC debut novel! This one was a binge-worthy whodunnit with a female MC you will absolutely love! In this book, NBA superstar Kurt Robbins is killed, and the prime suspect in his murder is none other than his wife….and Kate's (MC) best friend. Kate knows that Yvette's marriage wasn't exactly stable, but her friend is no murderer, and Kate is determined to prove it with her own investigation. While she tries to salvage Yvette's life, Kate's own continues to unravel. Her career is in limbo. Gossip columns speculate about her future.
Her children are battling their own demons. And her estranged father suddenly reenters her life as a detective assigned to Kurt's homicide case.

I was sucked in from the start and couldn’t put this one down. I LOVED Kate! She was relatable, determined, strong, and loyal AF! There were so many characters in this one, but they are all so important and play a role in everything. Books with too many characters tend to be confusing and overwhelming but the author handled this one perfectly! I didn’t find myself forgetting who anyone was or mixing characters up.

This one had me suspicious of so many people and had multiple big reveals! I loved how everything ended… BUT THAT VERY LAST PART?!?! IYKYK!!! I am beyond excited for the second book in this series.

Thank you to Elise, Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of Lights Out.
Lights Out is book 1 in the Kate Green series.

Kate is a former Olympian and currently works as a sports reporter for one of the biggest sports outlets around. When a filming incident inaccurately shows Kate losing her cool on a pro basketball player as a retaliation for something that he said, she is put on leave for some time to cool off. Unfortunately there is no time to cool off, when another pro basketball player is murdered and the main suspect is his wife - Kate’s best friend, Yvette.

Kate has to admit that the evidence is not stacked in Yvette’s favor, but she’s determined to find something that will take the heat off of her friend. Juggling being an amateur investigator, her teenage kids and their own struggles, her ex-husband and his new wife, her FBI agent father reappearing after god knows how long, and her career hanging by a thread…Kate has a lot on her plate.

Secrets begin to come out at an alarming rate and Kate is faced with decisions she never imagined having to make.

If you read that synopsis and thought “damn, there’s a lot going on in this book” then you would be absolutely correct. However, it is not a book that is too convoluted to be good. There are so many moving pieces to this novel, but they all flow seamlessly and are all given equal attention culminating into an explosive final act.

There is a lot of moving pieces to this book, but there is also a lot of plot and character development - it’s not just surface level quick hit after quick hit.

Kate was a fantastic female main character. She was very ‘real’ struggling with real mistakes, and real life situations that so many of us are familiar with, and beyond that she handled them in a realistic manner. There are a lot of head vs. heart scenarios in Lights Out and they’re approached how I feel myself and the people that I know would also handle them. Kate was strong with moments of weakness. I really can’t say enough about her character and how much I enjoyed her.

I absolutely loved how the book ended, seeing how we can continue in Kate’s world and I felt it a genius move by Elise. It stands out to me as a unique segway that I don’t recall ever seeing in thrillers in the past.

Cannot wait to read more!!

3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5) The husband is always the killer, right? But this time the husband is found dead. Could it be the wife?

Kate is best friends with Yvette. Her NBA husband has been murdered and of course she’s a suspect. Kate, a sports reporter is determined to prove her innocence. She gets wrapped up into the investigation and puts herself in the path of the detectives way too many times, placing her in a precarious position in the investigation.

Twists and turns were placed throughout the book. As soon as I thought I knew what was happening, another twist would carry it in another direction. I love an ending I cannot predict!.

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for the copy!

The book releases November 1, 2023.

Lights Out is a captivating whodunnit! It’s book one in the exciting new Kate Green series! When NBA star, Kurt Robbins is found murdered in his home, the police have one suspect in mind but Kate Green, a suspended sports reporter, has her own thoughts. Kurt may be a great at basketball but that’s not the only game he’s playing. Kate knows the victim and his family and wants to support them but is conflicted with her own personal family issues. To make matters worse, the detective on the case is her estranged father.

The list of characters is long but they are all well integrated into the storyline. There is never a dull moment in this book! There are many angles to consider as to who may have wanted Kurt dead with each chapter offering a little more insight into Kurt’s secrets. Be prepared for a shocking twist when the killer is finally revealed! I’m already anticipating the next book in this series!

4.5 ⭐️

This is a fast paced , hard to put down debut novel. I really enjoyed the story and the main character . Kate is a great character and I look forward to reading more in this series

4.5 ⭐️

It’s hard to believe this was a debut novel ! I read it in one day - it was hard to put down ! I definitely enjoyed following along with Kate as she tried to find out who killed her best friend’s husband - I certainly didn’t guess the final outcome of the story which is always a good thing when reading a mystery ! I look forward to the next book in this new series.

As a sports fan, someone married to a person in the news business, and thriller lover, Lights Out was destined to be well received. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

This novel is fast-paced, exciting, and layered. Because it's the start of a series, the character depth is fantastic and I'm so excited to see how these relationships develop and where the storyline goes.

Lights Out takes stereotypes and assumptions and flips them on their head. For example, when a wife is murdered, we're always quick to blame the husband. Is the same the case when a husband is murdered?

The focal point of the novel is definitely solving who killed Kurt Robinson, but I appreciated that there was so much more going on. Kate's relationship with her father, her career, and the difficulties with her children all made this book multifaceted and had a little something for everyone. It also ended on a bit of cliffhanger so there's no question I'll be grabbing the second in the series as soon as I can!

While some of the mystery may be a little bit predictable for the seasoned thriller reader, it was still a fun and wild ride getting there. I loved how everything played out. I'm really impressed this was a debut and I'm very excited to read more by Kipness.

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions and Thomas & Mercer for the copy.

This is how you write a debut! I absolutely loved this one.

When Kate's friend Yvette is the main subject of her husband's murder, Kate does everything in her power to get to the true story.

There are so many possible suspects, yet the main detective only has his eyes on Yvette. As the story unfolds, there are more and more suspects, plenty of people with an ax to grind.

This was addictive and fast paced and I absolutely loved Kate. She was such a great character, dealing with her own tough circumstances. Although there were numerous characters, they were well developed and easily distinguishable, a remarkable feat.

It's an expertly crafted whodunit!

Thank you @thrillerbookloverspromotions @elisehartkipness for the #gifted copy of this e-arc!

What it’s about:

Kate and her best friend Yvette have quite the loyal relationship. They’ve been best friends through thick and thin…especially when things have gotten to be very difficult. Being in the eye of the media makes it even more tricky. Yvette happens to be married to an NBA star and although their relationship wasn’t perfect Kate knows that when Yvette’s husband turns up murdered, Yvette couldn’t possibly be responsible. Kate herself was recently thrown into the spotlight by her own personal drama and as she struggles to stay out of the public eye it seems to get harder by the minute trying to prove Yvette’s innocence.

Thoughts:

This was such a fun, fast paced great debut. I really enjoyed the sports angle of the book and am excited to know that this is the start of a new series! Kate is easy to love with her determined attitude and loyalty to her loved ones. One of my favorite moments in the book is when she stays true to her mama heart and puts her foot down to her boss at work in regards to her son. (Sorry for being vague but I don’t want to spoil anything.)

From start to finish this book grabbed my attention with its quick pace, constant turns and building suspense. I did feel the end wrapped up quickly but still enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what detective work Kate solves next. This is a perfect crime fiction thriller that was filled with hidden secrets! It will be out soon so make sure you don’t miss it!

What an outstanding debut novel Lights Out is!

A murder in the suburbs, albeit a rich suburb. NBA star Kurt Robbins is murdered in his own home, and of course all fingers point to the wife. Kurt was known for his wandering eye, so did Yvette, his wife finally have enough? Her best friend, Kate Green doesn’t believe her friend could kill anyone and sets out to prove it. Kate is currently on leave from her job as a sports presenter, and is a former professional soccer player. Determined to make the police see the truth, Kate stats asking the tough questions, putting herself and her family in danger,

Now you don’t have to be a sports fan to love this book. I was hooked from the very beginning of this book and couldn’t wait to see how it would end. It has been left wide open for a second book which is exciting too. Kate is a great character, loyal to those she loves, and holds grudges when she has been wronged. I can’t wait to read more from her.

Thanks so much to Thriller Book Promotions, NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on November 1st

•Homicide Investigation
•Fast Paced Thriller
•First Person

•Greenwich, Connecticut

The book is gripping and unputdownable. It’s a domestic suspense thriller. The author takes us deep inside the world of sports. Kate Green, a former Olympic Athlete and sports reporter gets tangled in a deceptive world of secrets and murder mystery. She investigates Kurt Robbin’s Murder where Kurt’s wife and Kate’s best friend is the primary suspect. She is trying to piece it all together but will she be able to prove Yvette innocent? Will she get to the bottom of the mystery?

The author has covered psychological aspect by masterfully weaving a murder mystery with female friendship, hidden secrets, truth, twists, suspense, and mystery.

Thank you Netgalley, Author and Publisher

After a successful career as a professional soccer player, Kate Green has managed to reinvent herself at the end of her time on the field as a sports reporter. Ten years later, following a disastrous televised interview, she may be on the cusp of losing the very job she loves so much. Currently suspended, Kate wonders how much more difficult her life can get when the rug gets pulled out from under her following the heinous murder of NBA superstar Kurt Robbins in his very own home.

As the investigation into who could’ve been behind the renowned sports hero’s death gets underway, all sights seem to be set on none other than his longtime wife—and Kate’s best friend—Yvette. Admittedly, her marriage was anything but smooth sailing, but every time Kate had seen them together, the love was as plain as the nose on her face. No matter what, Kate just can’t align that image with her friend slaying her husband—no matter what the rumors might say.

Believing that the police have gotten it all wrong, Kate sets about to investigate the murder herself. But as she works to rescue Yvette from the clutches of prison, Kate is horrified to watch her own life begin to circle the drain. With her already injured career up in the air, she’s alarmed to see her own name printed blatantly in the gossip columns of the New York Post’s Page Six.

Even worse, however, are the very real battles her children are facing and the fact that her estranged father has just reappeared in her life. Assigned to assist the relatively inexperienced Greenwich Police’s homicide department, her NYPD detective father is to be front and center in Kurt’s murder investigation.

As Kate’s carefully constructed world begins to fray, plenty of devastating secrets, well hidden lies, and ulterior motives start to bubble to the surface. If she chooses to help Yvette, just what might Kate lose? After all, every choice comes with a cost. Will hers be even greater than even she can imagine?

Holy cow! I absolutely love finding books that manage to knock my socks off and Lights Out, Elise Hart Kipness’s debut novel, did just that! From its attention grabbing start to the heart stopping climax, I was well and truly won over hook, line, and sinker. And the fact that this was just book one in a brand spanking new series? Well, sign me up because I’m totally game!

A compelling mix between crime fiction and thriller, this is one story that should be shortlisted for any fan of either one. After all, with a plot that delivered one riveting twist after another, it kept me on the edge of my seat until a mind-blowing climax that had my fingers racing through the pages. On top of all of that, however, the storyline was well-written and easy to follow as well as wonderfully addictive from the very first word.

But what really had me from hello was the impeccable character of Kate Green. From her strong-minded attitude and clever investigative skills, I, for one, would not want to be between her and the truth. An original character who was exceptionally well-developed, I look forward to seeing how her future continues to unfold in book two. That’s in addition, of course, to my curiosity in what she manages to investigate next.

While there was certainly plenty of crime fiction bits and pieces including the following of hunches and tracking of clues, this one also had plenty of plot curveballs and rising suspense sure to please any thriller lover through and though. I mean, I couldn’t, for the life of me, work out who the killer could possibly have been. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, had my suspicion at some point. Even, I dare say, the very trustworthy Kate herself.

A masterfully devised story full of the perils of female friendship, deftly hidden secrets, and the evils that perpetrate even the most wealthy of neighborhoods, Kipness has easily added herself to my auto-buy author list. And that was all before the shocking turn of events right there in the very finale. All I can say is that if you haven’t seen this one around just yet, don’t wait until you see it out on store shelves. No, you should definitely pre-order this puppy today. After all, it’s simply not one to be missed. Rating of 5 stars.

4.5 stars. I thought I might not like this book as much because of the sports angle but i loved it! It was a fast paced mystery thriller that was constructed really well. Kate Green was a former athlete turned sports reporter that could easily make a good detective. Her father was a detective so it’s in her blood. She asked good questions to help unravel the puzzle. I loved the pace and the chapters were the right length. I thought the ending wrapped up too quickly but it was good and satisfying. What a great debut! I would gladly read another book by this author.

Thank you Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, Thomas & Mercer and Elise Hart Kipness for an advanced copy! Lights Out comes out November 1, 2023.

Slam dunk thriller! Kate's life is falling apart. A well-known sports reporter since her soccer days ended, has been put on leave after a slip of her temper was caught on camera. Her very close friend's husband has been found murdered in their mansion, her estranged father has become part of the case and her children have secrets they've been keeping. This novel was a great fast paced read and I loved Kate's character even though she had a hot mess going on in her life. Besides the murdered husband being a well known basketball player, this novel was not sports oriented and focused on the case and Kate doing all she could to help find the truth of who killed her husband while trying to save face with her reporter career even though she was provoked. While her personal life is being used against her, Kate does her best to keep all in balance, while being cordial with her father to gain information as the case unfolds and still being that honest good friend. I loved the twists and as for the ending, hoping that is meaning more are to come. Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for the tour invite and to the author for the free ebook. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

All is fair in love and basketball 🏀🔫

Special thanks to @thrillerbookloverspromotions , @elisehartkipness , @amazonpublishing for the gifted ARC.

ꪑꪗ 𝕣ꫀꪜⅈꫀ᭙:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I've never read a sports thriller before, and I'm not one for soccer or basketball, but I really did enjoy this book. It doesn't have as much to do with sports as it seems. Minor references here and there, but enough for a great storyline.

This book was great and has so much drama - it's a must-have this fall!

• rich suburbia 💰
• famous athletes 🏀
• cheaters 🤫
• ⚠️ overdose references 💊
• vandalism 🎨
• police investigation 🚨
• family drama 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
• secret pregnancy 🤰

This story has so many twists and suspense at the end of each chapter, I stayed up WAY too late finishing this. It definitely was fast-paced, with shorter chapters.

Put this on your TBR 🅽🅾🆆, you won't regret it!

𝗣𝗨𝗕 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘:
Nov 1st, 2023

QOTD❓️⁉️❓️Did you ever play a sport? Which one?

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#thrillerbooks #suspensethriller #thrillerreader #thrillerlover #thrillerobsessed #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram #bookaholic #booklover #bookstagrammer #booklove #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #booksofig #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookishfeatures #tbr #tbrpile #bookbuzz #mysteryandthrills #BookstaBFF23 #thrillerbooklovers #lightsout #elisehartkipness #sportsthriller
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In a nutshell: Kate Green is a former soccer athlete who now works as a sports reporter in Greenwich, Connecticut. When the story opens we find that Kate’s life is somewhat turbulent at the moment, since she lost her temper after being provoked by NBA player Mason Burke, and has been suspended. She also has to contend with constant interference and aggravation from her ex-husband Tyler, who never hesitates to barge into her home and offer his opinions on how to raise their two teenaged children. On top of all this, a longtime personal friend, NBA athlete Kurt Robbins, is found murdered in his mansion. The prime suspect from the police chief’s perspective is Kate’s best friend and wife of the deceased, Yvette Robbins. Kate feels compelled to defend her best friend, and since she has time on her hands, she sets out to determine who the real murderer is, unwittingly endangering herself and her children.

Thoughts: This is a short and snappy thriller which moves at a lively pace. Kate Green is an interesting character – an independent and tough woman with initiative and a temper. She has put her ill-fated marriage in her rear-view mirror and is moving on with her reporting job and her close relationship with her two children. She is a realistically flawed character, losing control of her temper on the job and perhaps being a little too trusting of the people in her life. I found the rarified air of the uber-privileged, wealthy town a bit irritating, and there don’t seem to be any men in this novel with redeeming qualities. The absentee father is overbearing; the ex-husband is a philanderer and loudmouth; the police chief is a conceited camera hog seeking a promotion; and even the murder victim is a deceitful adulterer. Perhaps one decent man would have been a relief. Nevertheless this is a solid debut thriller which would appeal to readers who enjoy a good murder and a strong female protagonist.