A gripping and intricate thriller. The writing is tense and atmospheric with vivid descriptions of the small college town. The plot is intricately woven, with twists and turns that kept me guessing.
Many thanks to Grove Atlantic and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this for what it was. The suspense was done well and it kept my interest. I liked the writing style and will definitely be reading more from Harry Dolan. If you enjoy mysteries, I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Harry Dolan, Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Kate Summerlin was eleven years old, she climbed out her bedroom window on a spring night, looking for a taste of freedom in the small college town where she was living with her parents. But what she found as she wandered in the woods near her house was something else: the body of a beautiful young woman, the first of Merkury’s victims. And before she could come to grips with what she was seeing, she heard a voice behind her—the killer’s voice—saying: “Don’t turn around.” Now, at the age of twenty-nine, Kate is a successful true crime writer, but she has never told anyone the truth about what happened on that long-ago night. When Merkury claims yet another victim—a college student named Bryan Cayhill—Kate finds herself drawn back to the town where everything started. She sets out to make sense of this latest crime, but the deeper she gets into the story, the more she comes to realize that it’s far from over. Her search for the truth about Merkury is leading her down into a dark labyrinth, and if she hopes to escape, she’ll have to meet him once again—this time face to face. This is a good mystery as is everything Dolan writes. Lots of twists but there is also a lot and I mean a lot going on here. To the point that some of it is hard to keep track of. Too many sub plots and too many characters. But at the end it’s a satisfying mystery.

I have read all of Harry Dolan’s five previous novels and liked them well enough, some very well. The female protagonist Kate in this new one is competently drawn, and the plot starts off pretty compelling. Soon though there seem to be a few too many subplots and side stories, some not explained well. Still, it’s readable, fairly exciting. Overall, there was some telling that should have been showing, a couple of unexplained plot pieces, - and more dead bodies piled up at the end than I expected.

Published by Atlantic Monthly Press on April 2, 2024

Eleven-year-old Kate Summerlin snuck out of her bedroom window at night, took a stroll in the woods, and came upon the body of a young woman named Melissa. Her killer had written the work Merkury on her body. The killer had planned to hang Melissa's body in a tree, but Kate came along while he was retrieving the rope. He told her not to turn around. Then they had a little chat that Kate has always kept to herself. The reader won’t learn the full details of that encounter until the final pages. I’m not sure it is worth the wait.

Kate is now in her late 20s. She supports herself by writing true crime stories. Merkury went on to become a serial killer. He has racked up nearly a dozen victims when the story resumes.

As an adult, Kate’s a bit of a mess. She likes to have rough sex, but only when she is the rough one. The guy needs to be gentle and follow her instructions. Unfortunately, that’s the only character trait that makes Kate interesting, and she doesn’t have enough sex to sustain a reader’s interest in her kinkiness.

Kate is now living rent-free at a relative’s home in rural Ohio. She receives a visit from Vera Landen from Alexander, New York, where Kate lived with her father when she found the body. Vera bothers Kate periodically, hoping she will reveal a new detail that will help her catch Merkury. This time she tells Kate that Merkury, who has killed people across the country, has returned to Alexander.

Bryan Cayhill’s body was found by a film student, Lavana Khatri, as well as two other students who were helping her make an extremely low-budget horror film. Kate’s agent convinces her that her career as a true-crime writer isn’t going anywhere and that she can only give it a boost by writing about Merkury. Kate returns to Alexander, where she plans to interview the students who found Bryan’s body. Lee Tennick, who has a true-crime podcast, is there ahead of her.

Clay McKellar, one of the actors who found the body, seems to be freaked out by the experience. Tennick befriends Clay, perhaps to induce Clay to appear on his podcast, but becomes concerned when Clay disappears. Did Merkury do away with him?

Shortly after Kate arrives in town, Sam Wyler asks her to look into the disappearance of his 19-year-old daughter Jenny. Since Kate isn’t a detective, the request makes little sense (neither does Kate’s agreement to investigate), but Harry Dolan needed to send the story in a new direction so there you have it. Perhaps Jenny ran away from her controlling father and, if so, she should have done it when she turned 18, but perhaps she’s been abducted, car and all. Naturally, Jenny’s disappearance will connect with one of the murders because that’s how crime novels work.

Who is Merkury? Could it be Sam Wyler? Could it be Devin Falko, a therapist who turned up at Kate’s book signing and became her on-again, off-again lover? Could it be Lee Tennick? Could it be Travis Pollard, a seemingly creepy guy who played the killer in Lavana’s movie? Could it be Kate’s father? More death ensues before the reader’s questions are answered. A bit more than midway into the novel, Kate kills someone, more or less in self-defense, and learns how it feels to form the intent to take a human life. It doesn’t seem to bother her much.

When the puzzle seems to be solved with a hundred pages remaining, the reader knows that the solution is either partial or false. The unfolding truth becomes a bit convoluted and is not remotely credible — Kate knows a shocking number of people who harbor a murderous intent — but such is the way of the modern thriller. Implausible stories might still be enjoyable, but I never warmed up to Kate and the other characters tend to be lifeless, even before they’re murdered.

Most of the story proceeds at a steady pace, although it drags a bit as it nears its final revelation. The story ends with some decent action scenes. They aren’t particularly suspenseful, but Dolan at least makes an effort to satisfy the thriller reader’s appetite for thrills. A couple of suspense-building tricks are cheesy — someone we think is dead miraculously turns out to be not dead — but some readers find dramatic cheese to be tasty. The story hinges on a final reveal, the big mystery that defines Kate’s life. That plot detail is too contrived for my taste but again, some mystery fans might think it is sufficiently shocking to make it worth the wait.

I’ve enjoyed other Dolan novels more than this one, but the story does just enough to earn a recommendation for mystery fans who have finished all the top-shelf novels on their reading list. On a five-star system, I would give it 3.5, a half star above a Recommended with Reservations rating.

RECOMMENDED

Harry Dolan has done it again. A book that will keep you guessing on who the killer is and why the lead character is so focused on the time when she was a little girl who witnessed a murder. Why did she keep the secret of the murderer’s identity, and why was she allowed to live? Unputdownable!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the shadowy world of true crime, where secrets fester and killers lurk, Harry Dolan weaves a spine-tingling tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. His latest novel, "Don't Turn Around," is a rollercoaster ride of suspense, deception, and dark revelations.

The protagonist, Kate Summerlin, is a true-crime author haunted by a chilling childhood encounter. When she was just eleven years old, she stumbled upon the elaborately posed body of a murder victim in the woods near her home. The killer, still at the scene, whispered a command that would haunt her forever: "Don't turn around."

Now, years later, Kate is a successful writer, but she has never revealed the truth about that fateful night. When the elusive killer, known as Merkury, strikes again, Kate is drawn back to the town where it all began. As she delves into the latest crime, she uncovers shocking secrets and faces her own demons.

Dolan's writing is a masterclass in suspense. He cranks up the tension until it sizzles, leaving readers breathless. The plot twists are relentless, and just when you think you've figured it out, Dolan throws another curveball. Implausible? Perhaps. But the adrenaline rush is worth every wild turn.

The characters are flawed, complex, and utterly human. Kate's internal struggle, her hidden past, and her connection to Merkury make her a compelling protagonist. The killer himself is enigmatic, leaving breadcrumbs for Kate to follow. And Chief Vera Landen, the no-nonsense investigator, adds a layer of authenticity to the story.

"Don't Turn Around" is a dark labyrinth of secrets, lies, and danger. Dolan's prose is sharp, his pacing relentless, and his storytelling skill unmatched. As Kate races to uncover the truth, readers will find themselves racing alongside her, heart pounding, breath held.

So, dear reader, heed the killer's warning and Don't turn around. Dive into this gripping thriller, and prepare for a ride you won't soon forget. 📚🔍

Kate Summerlin (29) is the author of two crime mysteries. Her publisher wants her to write a third mystery but this one feels too personal. As a child, Kate had liked to sneak out of her bedroom window after dark, just to feel her own independence. At age 11, in the middle of the night, she came upon a dead woman in a field behind their house. The victims body was in an unusual position and on her stomach was printed “Merkury”. Shocked and having never seen a dead body before she stood, mesmerized. Behind her came a man’s voice, “Don’t turn around” he said. She asked the voice if the woman was dead, he acknowledged that she was. She asked a couple of questions and then he told her that it was time for her to leave, again directing her not to turn around. At home she told her father what she had seen and the police were called.


Since that time there have been other murders of men and women, most with the same writing, most in the same odd position. Kate still wonders about the killer, now known as “Merkury”, whose true identity remains unknown. She has tried to learn what she can of him by looking into each subsequent murder. A recent murder of a student at a local college beckons Kate to the town where it all began.


The Chief of Police calls upon Kate periodically, she believes that Kate knows more than she has said about the first murders and she is frustrated by Kate’s amateur sleuthing which leads to continued interference in the new cases. Kate does have a secret, in fact, more than one. Still, she is determined not to tell what she knows. She believes that to end the killings, it will be up to her to find Mercury.


A good mystery thriller with plenty of surprises and twists and turns. The story line, at times, feels overly complicated as there are a lot of subplots and it feels disjointed. Also, Kate doesn’t have any personality, she’s very flat. She’s the protagonist but she’s not especially likable (or dislikable). ⭐️⭐️⭐️


Thank you to Harry Dolan and NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: April 2, 2024


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WOW! WOW! WOW! Harry Dolan’s latest thriller DON’T TURN AROUND was a twisty, dark tale with characters who were relatable, well-drawn and very interesting.

When Kate Summerlin was 11 years old, she snuck out one night to wander the woods, only to discover a body. Before she even had the chance to run a voice behind her said, “Don’t turn around”. Eighteen years later, Kate is a true crime author when another body is found and she returns to her father’s home to investigate. Also investigating is Lee Tennick, a photographer and part-time true crime blogger. Since Kate found the first body, there have been a total of 18 deaths connected to Merkury who has a very strange signature to his kills. When Kate is contacted by the Chief of Police, Vera Landen about that long ago night, she too is trying to get more information about this killer. The victims do not seem to be connected in any other way, only in so far as they are connected by their suspected killer and his calling card.

Kate is also dealing with stalking behavior by her ex-boyfriend, who she walked out on after he struck her. Is he following her to try to win her back? Or for other nefarious reasons. Meanwhile, a group of local students find yet another body while in the woods filming a movie. The body count continues to rise. Along her investigative track, Kate, learns of Jenny Wyler whose father had reported her missing months ago. Just what is going on in Alexander, New York?

This is my first Harry Dolan novel, but if he writes like this in all of his others, it will certainly not be my last. His writing is clear, concise, and had me on the edge of my seat. I could hear the twigs breaking as I snuck through the forest and felt my breath catching during certain spots. I will definitely be adding Mr. Dolan‘s name to my list of authors to watch.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read and review Don't Turn Around by Harry Dolan. All opinions are my own.

We start off with a young girl who discovers a body after sneaking outside at night. She is surprised to also find the killer still present at the crime scene. The killer, we soon find out the police will call him Merkury, tells her "Don't Turn Around." This begins a journey for Kate over many years trying to find the truth of what happened that night and more about Merkury, who has continued to kill and not be apprehended by the police.

Pro: Twists and turns throughout the book that will leave you guessing, multiple plot lines that eventually all come together and make sense, good action scenes that propel and enhance the reading experience, and interesting characters. The author gives you tidbits of information to form conclusions up until the very last few pages.

Cons: At times it felt like the multiple plot lines were a bit too much and the main character Kate kept making horrible decisions.

Even with my dislike of the main character, I still enjoyed this book very much. It was truly a ride. Don't Turn Around is available now, published April 2nd, 2024. Happy Reading!

After coming across murder victim Melissa Cornelle and having an encounter with her killer, Kate Summerlin grew up damaged. Superficially she appeared normal. She wrote two true-crime books that were published and can take care of herself. But she’s bad at relationships, spends a lot of time on her own, and her mind can’t get escape her past. She’s a complicated character who does some stupid and risky things, not because she’s stupid but because she’s damaged.

When another college student is murdered in Kate’s old home town, she returns to her father’s house and begins to look into what becomes multiple murders. At about halfway through, there is a heart-pounding series of events, but it’s just a part of this multi-stranded plot. Prepare to suspend your disbelief, because there are quite a few things that require it.

This book is a reminder that just because a book has unlikely events doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a failure. The bottom line for me was that I felt like I was hardly blinking my eyes for the last half, I was so anxious to find out what was going to happen next. Another plus is that the Kate character is appealing, despite her occasional frustrating moves. There are a few cracks in her tough shell. In particular, she opens her heart and protects a young woman she encounters through her investigations.

An encounter with a serial killer forever altered her life.

When she was just eleven years old, Kate Summerlin snuck out of her house one hot summer night and stumbled across the body of a young woman. Worse still, the killer was still nearby, and while she never saw him she heard his voice when he told her, “Don’t turn around”. Years later she has become a writer of true crime books and still grapples with the trauma of that summer evening long ago. When another dead body turns up in that same town where she lived as a child, most assume that it is the work of the killer, (who came to be known as Mercury) whom she encountered long ago. Her publisher wants Kate to center her next book on Merkury’s killings, and Kate reluctantly heads back to the town where her nightmares began. How many other lives will be ripped apart or lost? Kate remembers more about that fateful summer night then she is telling….what does she know, and why has she kept it a secret all these years?

I was intrigued by the premise behind the story….a young girl who encounters a killer and survives. Kate’s life was never the same, and she continues to suffer from the residue of the encounter. She will forever be linked with a serial killer, and lives with the fear that someday he will reappear. When the recent death draws her back to her childhood home, she starts investigating the crime with the help of a podcaster whose own career started with the original Mercury killing. She can relate to the trio of young people who found the latest body, and is able to get each to talk to her. Amateur sleuthing doesn’t always go well, and that becomes the case here. When another person related to the case turns up dead, it becomes clear that there is more is going on than it appears. The mystery is intriguing, and there are twists to the plot that help keep the reader’s interest. The character of Kate was hard to like or get a real handle on…..she is damaged, certainly, and keeps herself distanced from others emotionally, and perhaps that carried over to how I as a reader perceived her. It was a quick read with some surprising developments at the end. Readers of authors like Hank Phillippi Ryan, Addison McKnight and Phillip Margolin might find this something to add to their TBR pile. Many thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic/Altantic Monthly Press for allowing me early access to Don’t Turn Around.

This starts as a well crafted thriller about Kate, who has kept a secret for many years, but then it bogs down. There's a serial killer out there and she's the only one who ever saw him. Now she's a 29 year old crime writer struggling with writers block who decides she's going to find the bad guy. I've been a fan of Dolan but this one didn't quite do it for me- although it might for you. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'm hoping to see more from him in the future.

Very interesting premise: More than twenty years ago, 11-year-old Kate finds the victim of a serial killer, who is present at the scene and tells Kate “Don’t turn around.” Now, Kate has become a true crime writer, more victims of the serial killer are discovered, and Kate is forced to deal with many things she has kept hidden for decades.

I have enjoyed other books by Harry Dolan, but this one missed the mark a bit for me. I found the plot to be somewhat disjointed in points, and some parts of the storyline just seemed to go nowhere. Nonetheless, overall I found this to be a good and entertaining read, and I look forward to reading other works by Dolan.

This was a book that should have loved. Instead, it confused me.

Why was Kate interviewing people when she was adamant she wasn’t writing a book? There was an out of the blue sex scene that just made no sense to me. Everything just seemed to happen so fast, it jumped from one scene to another and it was jarring. I felt like we were just being told what was happening, there was no feeling or emotion, no character development.

Disappointed.

Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this one. Can’t love them all

Don't Turn Around by Harry Dolan had an interesting premise that caught my attention and had me excited for what was to come. I had a very hard time getting into this book right off the bat. The characters were very flat to me and didn't have much build-up to make them feel real to me. I found myself constantly distracted and just couldn't remain invested in the story. The ending did have my heart pounding a little bit and had a pretty good final reveal. Ultimately, this just wasn't a book for me, but I do think others will find it enjoyable.

This one just didn't do it for me. There was something about the third person present POV that made it hard for me to feel connected to the characters, I felt somewhat removed from all of them the whole time. Then, the circumstances just kept getting wilder and wilder to the point that it was hard for me to buy into the story. I really wanted to like this but I think it just wasn't my vibe. Doesn't mean it won't be a vibe for others!

I did like the idea of this one and thought the pacing was fantastic, the cast was perfect, and i got lost in the story for the first 30%. After that, I did feel as though the story took too many turns and had too many different plots active throughout the story.

Don’t Turn Around by Harry Dolan tells the story of Kate. When she was 11 years old she snuck out of her bedroom window in upstate New York and found a woman who had just been killed by a serial killer. The killer was still there and told her “don’t turn around”. Ever since then Kate’s life has been marked by darkness. Now 20 years later, more victims of the serial killer have turned up. She goes back home to live with her dad and try to figure out what is going on.
The plot was somewhat disjointed at times. The first half of the book and the second half of the book could be two different stories. While I enjoyed both of these, they didn’t necessarily go together. I did enjoy the backstory of Kate and her family. Overall, when I think back about the book as a whole, it was a great story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’m so torn on this review. I loved the idea of the story and have thought about writing something like it in the past. It also had great dialogue. The part I’m torn about is that I’m really surprised at the amount of telling instead of showing. The story was entertaining enough, but was more like a list of events that happened. Maybe that was his strategy? I don’t know. But it was enough to pull me out of the story a few times. Not necessarily as a reader, but definitely as a writer. I think the story would have packed far more of a punch had he been more descriptive than just telling me what happened. It made some parts of it fall flat for me. But again, it was entertaining enough for me to finish it, and I did like the story itself. The writing just was not at all what I expected.

Huge thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!