I love a book about rich people behaving badly especially when you add in an exotic destination. This one had lots of twists and turns but the ending was a bit open ended. I have so many questions!

LOVED this. This book had twists at every single corner that kept me on the edge of my seat with enough intrigue to keep me reading.

When Gia is missing, nowhere to be found but documents and manuscripts of the events leading up to the incident, leave it to her childhood best friend Abby along with Gia’s brother to break the mystery down to find her.

This slowburn mystery was packed full of drama that lead to a ton of tension that kept the story moving.

"Ladykiller" by Katherine Wood was an exciting, suspenseful, sexy novel. Full of twists and guesses, definitely a fun read. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Gia and Abby have been best friends since they were young, with a bond that was solidified by a tragedy that happened when they were 18. Twelve years later, Gia is back in Greece where the tragedy happened, living her best lift with her new husband, and invites Abby to celebrate her birthday with her. When she arrives, Gia is nowhere to be found, so Abby and Gia’s brother Benny go to Greece to find her. In Greece, they find her home deserted but see a manuscript that details the events before her disappearance. Abby and Benny team up to find Gia.
This book was a perfect summer pool read (and yes, I really am 6 months behind on reviews, don’t come for me). This is a bit of a slow-burn drama with layers of secrets and tensions bubbling up until it all comes to the surface. There are a lot of twists but the setting is what really makes this book special.
Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I hate to say it but I did not enjoy this book. It is not a thriller, I honestly don't know what to classify it as but just not something I would recommend.

Thank you Net Galley for my ARC.

Gia and Abby have are childhood friends bound by a secret they share from the last time both were at Gia's family home in Greece. Gia wants Abby and her brother, Ben, to meet up in Sweden, Gia doesn't show up. Abby receives a cryptic email right before she boards the plane. Worried about Gia, Ben & Abby fly to Greece to see if they can find her but they find a diary she had been keeping of her life on the island. Will they find her before it's too late?

I'm going to be real here, I did not read all of this book. I read about 80% and then read the back to see what happened. The characters were just not compelling enough to care and finish it.

This book was very suspenseful in what would happen. Gia and Abby have been friends since childhood. Gia is an heiress that impulsively marries her husband. When Gia goes missing Abby is determined to find her and figure out what happened.
3.75-4 stars

Ladykiller is a beach read-meets-mystery that I devoured in less than a day. Gia and Abby have been best friends since childhood— their friendship forever forged by a tragedy in Greece that happened when the pair was 18. Now, glamorous Gia's back in Greece with her brand new husband and invites workaholic attorney Abby on an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden to celebrate her birthday. When Abby and Gia's brother arrive in Sweden for the celebration, they're surprised to find that Gia's not there. The two fly to Greece to investigate, and discover that the estate's been deserted– with only Gia's unfinished manuscript as a clue to where she's gone. This novel reminds us that everyone has a story— but not every story is true...

This was an okay book and one I could read again. But it felt too much like other books I have read. I had moments where I was really into it but at the same time I was bored at times too.

Everyone has a story. But not everyone’s story is true! Which is so true!
Gia and Abby are best friends who decide to reconnect and meet up at Gia’s place in Greece! When Abby arrives, Gia is nowhere to be found! Where could she be? We learn so many interesting things about Gia. This book was like a wild lifetime movie. It was so interesting, I couldn’t stop reading. The ending was a little disappointing but aside from that I enjoyed the book!
Thank you NetGalley, Katherine, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC!

I was immediately captivated by the characters, plot, and location. Loved it straight through to almost the end. The ending fell a bit flat, but I’d still highly recommend reading this!


Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

As I've spent the better part of 2024 cleaning out neglected mystery/suspense ARCs from my Kindle, I have managed to learn one thing: I really need to stop getting sucked in by promotional NetGalley emails. Lady Killer by Katherine Wood is one of those debut novels that's not really a debut - the author having published three previous books under the name Katherine St. John. It came out in July, has a cover and blurb that screams beach read, and I'm nothing if not predictable. Of course I downloaded it, only to curse my one-click finger the minute I finished the final page.
Gia and Abby have been BFFs since childhood. Gia, a poor little rich girl with a distant father and mentally ill mother and Abby, the daughter of the cook. Gia's father, seeing the good influence that Abby could have on his impulsive daughter, pays for her schooling - an opportunity that Abby does not take for granted as it wasn't until this particular job that she and her mother were able to crawl their way out of poverty. Further bonding Gia and Abby together is a tragedy that occurred on a tiny Greek island (Gia's father owns a villa there - because of course he does) when they were 18, when a young man ends up dead. The incident was deemed as justifiable homicide and of course Gia goes on to publish a pseudo-memoir about the incident that gained her some notoriety, which has since faded into Where Are They Now? territory.

Then, Gia's father dies and ultimately leaves the bulk of his fortune to charity. Abby is a fledgling new attorney working 16-hour days while Gia continues to drift through her life until she falls head over heels in love with Garrett. They marry just a few short months after meeting and when Abby doesn't drop her life to fly to Europe to attend the quickie nuptials but also has the gall to say to Gia that she might want to slow down just a wee bit - the friends don't speak again for months. That is until Gia talks her into going on a bucket-list vacation to see the northern lights in Sweden. Abby is all set to say no again (work, work, work) until she finds out Gia's brother, Benny, is also coming. Naturally there's unrequited, complicated feelings there, but Abby shuffles some things around at work, digs out her passport, and hops a flight to Sweden. Except once she and Benny arrive, there's no Gia. Benny was in Greece a month ago visiting Gia, Garrett and some new friends staying with them. Between the weird scene that Benny experienced on his visit and the fact they can't get ahold of Gia now? Yeah, they change plans to fly to Greece to find out what's going on. Where is Gia?

The book is told in alternating points of view - Abby's and through a series of manuscript pages written by Gia that details her life in Greece with Garrett. They're staying in the family villa for a few months, getting some renovations done, in preparation for selling the place to Gia's stepmother. Gia doesn't want to sell but she needs the money - apparently so does Garrett, who is in more financial trouble than he's letting on to his new wife. These manuscript pages eventually become the main clue in helping Benny and Abby find out what happened to Gia.

Rich people behaving badly, Greece, and a load of secrets - this sounds like a perfect beach read. Except, unfortunately, it is not. It's really slow to get moving along. It takes about half the book to really cook and by then you just want to scream at Gia for being such a trusting dumb bunny. You'd kind of expect Abby to be the moral center to take up the slack, except you'd be wrong. That incident that happened on the island when they were both 18 and a guy ends up dead? Yeah, let's just Abby doesn't come off looking real good there and I'll leave it at that.

But things do eventually heat up and Lord helped me I got sucked in once it's clear that Gia is missing. Unfortunately the whole thing is undone by my least favorite plot device in suspense novels and thrillers.

That's right folks, we have a "you as the reader decide" ambiguous ending.

Like a "romance novel" without a happy ending - these need to be lit on fire and shot into the sun afterward for good measure.

What did our "bad guy" know and when did they know it? Is our "bad guy" Machiavellian or just a delusional narcissist? Did our "bad guy" have intent?

No idea. Couldn't tell you. It's an ending without being an ending and I hate everyone here thanks for asking.

There's a reason I read genre fiction folks and ambiguous endings ain't it. If it wanted this kind of shit I'd spend a lot more of my leisure time reading general fiction.

So a book I wasn't madly in love with but was easily a "it's OK, YMMV may vary" ends up sinking like a stone with that ending. Oh well, one more off my catch-up pile I guess?

Final Grade = D

Thank you Bantam and NetGalley for the eARC of Ladykiller! All opinions in this review are my own.

I always look forward to a new Katherine Wood novel and Ladykiller did not disappoint! This thriller is full of twists and turns so you never know what to expect next. My only complaint is that the synopsis gives a little too much away. It's not surprising that the two storylines eventually connect, but I was waiting for the event that is mentioned so it felt like it took a long time for them to do so. Overall, this is an excellent, twisty thriller that you are never sure who you can trust!

Ladykiller is a dark, psychological crime thriller that explores themes of identity, trust, and the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator. Katherine Wood’s writing is tense and atmospheric, drawing readers into a story full of twists and intrigue. The complex characterization of Alexandra keeps the narrative engaging, as readers are kept guessing about her true nature. With its fast pace, gripping suspense, and unexpected turns, Ladykiller is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and crime fiction. AMAZING! 5/5 STARS!

Wood masterfully builds tension as Alexandra’s story unfolds. The writing is sharp and immersive, with a relentless pace that mirrors the protagonist’s own descent into confusion, paranoia, and despair. The novel explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the nature of violence, with Alexandra’s mental state often called into question. Is she the murderer, or is she being manipulated by someone else? The twists and turns are skillfully executed, and readers will find themselves questioning everything they think they know about Alexandra’s character.

The novel’s strength lies in its psychological depth and the complexity of its central character. Wood crafts Alexandra as a multi-dimensional figure, someone who is both sympathetic and deeply unsettling. This ambiguity creates a sense of unease throughout the book, leaving readers to grapple with their own judgments and assumptions. The suspense and unpredictable twists keep the tension high, making it a compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers.
Huge thank you to Katherine Wood, NetGalley, and RandomHouse publishing for this advanced copy.

Enjoyed this book, it left me on the edge of my seat thinking I had everything figured out and boom I didn’t not at all! it was a great read, and would recommend to everyone!

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood was a lovely mystery set in the world of the rich and elite. I am still not one hundred percent sure who the bad guy is. I call that a five star book.

Ladykiller offers an intriguing premise with its dual POV structure, alternating between Abby’s perspective and the explosive manuscript written by her best friend Gia. The story starts strong, with Gia's mysterious disappearance and the tension surrounding her glamorous life, leading Abby and Gia’s brother Benny on a race to uncover dark secrets from their past. The atmospheric setting in Greece and the Northern Lights creates an enticing backdrop, while the manuscript teases a web of betrayal and intrigue that promises to keep readers hooked.
For me the story lost momentum midway with unrealistic twists and a slow pace, especially in the final hundred pages, which felt drawn-out and anticlimactic. The characters were hard to connect with, and the open-ended conclusion leaves the story feeling unresolved.

I agree with other reviewers - the ending was not for me. Other than that, it was a decent book. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the multiple POV’s.

I loved this book up until the last 20 percent or so, it felt so predictable and unsatisfying. I enjoyed the characters and writing it was fast paced and engaging. I really enjoyed the two POVs the manuscript was salacious and felt like a bad reality tv show and the Abby perspective was more down to earth but the ending was just meh. This was my first book from this author and would pick up more from her in the future. I would like to thank net galley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, because this wasn't it. But... it also wasn't bad? In fact, it was still pretty enjoyable! Just not what I imagined at all.

I didn't really care for either Gia or Abby, and while I'm normally all for supporting women's rights AND wrongs, Gia PMO wayyyy too often for me to want her and Abby to rekindle their friendship.

The plot was decent, and there was a bit of a mystery/thriller aspect to it, but not enough that I would classify it as such. This book was a bit of an enigma for me to wrap my head around. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars. Would I recommend it? Maybe - I'd say just be open to it.