Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I love thrillers and mysteries but this one had a lot of smut in it and I was not expecting that. I am not a fan of smut so that just really turned me away from this one. I don't feel like the mystery was compelling and I didn't like the characters.

I hope others love this one but it wasn't for me.

I went into Ladykiller blind, and boy was I glad that I did. This was a very captivating book that held my attention until the very end. The end was a bit of a letdown, however everything leading up to that was filled with mystery, betrayal, and the constant question of where is this story going to take us.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

The premise of this book sounded very intriguing and right up my alley. Unfortunately, I found that the execution of the book took away from the plot and that over the course of the book the plot became too far fetched to make for a good story. The setting on an isolated island in Greece was excellent and I thought that the overall plot idea was good. I found all of the characters, however, to be very unlikeable and the story went on for too long. I was disappointed at the end and will most likely not read another book by this author.

Greek island with your best friend. Wealth and opportunity at every corner. A past that has come to call. This sets up for a fabulous premise! There is love, jealously, murder, kidnapping, bribery, and friendship - but there just seems to be a little something missing to make the story really resonate. The entitlement that is shown is excessive and the ending left me wanting for more of a conclusion. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

Thank you Ballantine/Bantam for my free ARC of Ladykiller by Katherine Wood — available now!

» SYNOPSIS «
Gia and Abby used to be the best of friends, but they had a small falling out and neither has reached out to repair it in several months. Until Gia invites Abby to celebrate her birthday, but disappears from the remote Swedish resort before Abby even arrives. Where did Gia go? Is her new manuscript fiction, or is it detailing something sinister happening to her in real time? When Gia starts to get threats herself, the plot only thickens...

» REVIEW «
Sadly, this one didn't really hit for me. It felt a bit unpolished and too salacious for salacity's sake, and none of the reveals really thrilled me. What I did love were the descriptions of the settings (Sweden and Greece), which made me feel like I was actually standing in these luxurious locales! I didn't care enough about the main characters to get invested in their mysteries, and the bit been Abby and the brother gave me major ick. ALAS, you may have a better time than I did!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved the blurb on this one and couldnt wait to read. I did enjoy it but the ending left me someone underwhelmed. I loved the storyline and the characters. Overall a good read and I would read another from this author.

I adore a great plot twist! What captivated me about this book was that the hints were all in plain sight, yet I was so absorbed in the narrative that I completely switched off my brain and immersed myself in the storytelling—ultimate escapism!

Admittedly, when I reached about three-quarters of the way through, I felt the book was dragging on. I wanted to escape. But I persevered, and I'm thrilled I did because the final ten chapters gripped me entirely. This is exactly why I find it hard to give up on books—what if there's a twist waiting to pull me back into the fray?

Discussing the most significant "a-ha moment" without revealing spoilers is challenging, but it reinforces my earlier observation: the clues were always there.

For those craving a riveting thriller, this is one I'd recommend checking out.

My best advice is don't read the blurb! Go in knowing as little as possible and just let this fun, propulsive story wash over you as the summer months wind down.

It's been about a week since I finished and I still don't know how I feel about this book. It was entertaining and I had a good time BUT I didn't like the characters and thought they were absolutely stupid. That's why it was entertaining! You can safely watch people mess up their lives and get what they deserve without having to get messy yourself. It's like telling your best friend about how your common enemy from high school is going through hell lol. We hate her.....but tell me more.

It was supposed to be a fun trip to Sweden to celebrate Gia’s thirtieth birthday. Abby and Gia had been best friends since childhood, but their friendship had been strained ever since Abby's disapproval of Gia's whirlwind marriage. This getaway together would be a chance to fix that. For studious Abby, it didn’t hurt that Gia’s handsome brother Benny would be there too. But a tragic event that happened in Greece when the girls were eighteen still looms heavy in her mind, particularly after she receives a threatening email the morning of her departure.

But that's just the start of the trouble. When Gia fails to show up in Sweden, Benny and Abby frantically try to make contact with her by phone. When they're unable to reach her and Abby receives another ominous message, they race to her home in Greece to find her before it's too late. Arriving to an empty house and no sign of Gia, they turn to her memoirs that she'd been writing before her disappearance for clues. Gia's clearly been keeping secrets neither Abby nor Benny knew about, but she's not the only one. As sparks start to fly with Benny, Abby struggles with her own secrets about what really happened in Greece when they were teens. The truth could cost her Benny. It could cost her her life. Did it already cost Gia hers?

Dripping with sex, scandal, and tons of suspense, "Ladykiller" by Katherine Wood is this summer's twisty poolside read for those who prefer unreliable narrators and lethal secrets over romance or chick lit. Starring Gia, the beautiful heiress, and Abby, the bookish attorney, it's a story of two best friends who've let time and secrets come between them to the point that Gia's life might be hanging in the balance -- and Abby's in danger. Despite the ominous emails that foreshadow danger and Gia's disappearance, the book is filled with opulence and lust. From Gia's extravagant home to the sparkling Grecian beaches to her handsome husband and guests, sex soaks the pages. "Lady Killer" is a pulse-pounding thriller in more ways than one. It's fast paced with a steady rhythm to the story that increases as the tension does. Think Danielle Steel meets "Gone Girl".

The story is told from two different points of view and two different timelines. It's told from Abby's point-of-view in the present day. It's also told from Gia's memoir's point-of-view (if you can call it that) two months prior to her going missing when her life was all poolside, alcohol, and orgies with her husband and their guests. The way it's written creates some unbelievable suspense. What happened to Gia is hidden between two different timelines. The truth only rears its shocking head when the memoir's point-of-view ends, and Abby takes over the remaining chapters and delivers the conclusion.

"Ladykiller" by Katherine Wood is a captivating, enjoyable read. I found the ending to be a little bit of a let-down without any definitive answers as to what happened to Gia's husband and guests. However, I liked the rest of the book so much that I can get past it. I usually avoid books with extremely wealthy characters because (unfortunately) I can't relate, but I'm glad I picked up "Ladykiller". It was filled with enough tension (sexual and otherwise) to keep my palms sweaty and my heart racing. I hope there will be more books by author Katherine Wood coming in the future. I'll definitely be reading them.

DNF'ed this at 40%. I really wanted to like this because so many people gave it great reviews, but both of the main characters were a bit annoying, AND there's a little too much of EVERYTHING thrown into this suspenseful plot.

- Remote Greek estate setting near the sea
- A newly married wealthy couple who now have money problems and like to invite others into their bed
- A random couple that were shaping up to be con artists
- A young lawyer who's best friends with the newlywed bride - WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE RECEIVING THREATENING 'I KNOW WHAT YOU DID' style emails *gasp*

The thrillers I like best have more nuanced development. Not a kitchen sink approach.

I thought this book was going to be very different than what it was. That is probably partially my fault. I went in mostly blind, and was hoping for more of a thriller aspect than a drama filled book about upper class individuals. I was enjoying the plot and different POVs until around the middle when the two didn’t seem to mesh well with one another. It left me more confused than shocked. I wasn’t surprised by anything that happened, even though it was very unrealistic. I feel like there are some major plot holes and an unfinished ending to this book. I enjoyed the setting and I feel like if there wasn’t too many things going on at once, it would’ve been more appealing to me personally.

Thank you to Random House & PRH audio for the advanced copies.

Rich people behaving badly, sign me up!

Woods has written a sensually, salacious suspense novel. Every character has story that intertwines to the overall drama. Set on a small island in Greece, its lush landscapes provide the perfect backdrop to rich people problems. This story is packed with twists, turns in this slow-burn story. Woods leave the reader to form their own conclusion after a jaw-dropping open ending.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam

Unreliable narrator, unlikable characters, a couple of red herrings, and an unclear ending left me wanting a lot more. Perhaps if everything was tied up clearly without leaving me wondering what the truth really was, I may have enjoyed the book a little bit more. But alas, that is not what happened and I was not a fan. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

This was a serious mindf*ck and after a while, I just gave up on trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Abby's secret was also giggling at me too, like what could her secret possibly be?? This was a piece of great writing and mystery and anyone who likes drama, mystery, and a steamy summer read is in for a good time!

Very thrilling read. I loved the storyline and the characters. I loved the descriptions of the exotic places. The ending was was a little underwhelming but enjoyable.

Ladykiller draws you right in! Who could not resist a trip to the Greek Isle? So when Gia invites her long estranged friend Abby on an all expenses paid trip, she jumps at the chance. But…, Gia is missing!
This novel is full of twists, drama and mystery. Of. Plus a little romance too!

This book sucked me in but I was slightly disappointed with the ending.

I was engrossed in the mystery and the characters and NEEDED to get to the end to find out what exactly happened. However, the ending is open ended!! I’m sure I could technically deduce what happened but sometimes you want a book to just tell you.

This was a quick read and even if some of the parts of the book dragged felt dragged out, I still enjoyed the mystery and I really wanted to know what would happen next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this earc in exchange for my honest review.

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is a delicious destination thriller with wonderfully evocative descriptions of a small Greek island in the summer and a Northern Lights Hotel in Sweden. If nobody is out for my life l'd love to visit both places based on the descriptions alone but this book also created a tense sinister atmosphere and maintained it throughout the book. There are secrets in the past and in the present lives of friends Gia, a spoiled heiress and Abby, the former cook's daughter and Gia's best friend. I enjoyed this twisty story and following along as it unraveled but ended up a bit let down by the ending.
I am not going to expand on that since I really think this is the thriller you should go in blind and not even read the synopsis and you'll enjoy it much more !

I loved the books I read when Katherine Wood went by Katherine St. john so I was really excited for new one under her new name and the cover was also so good!!!! This story follows best friends Gia and Abby who are suppose yo reunite in Italy after years apart but when Abby gets there Gia is missing. Along with Gia’s brother Benny the two are trying to figure out what happened to Gia. The story is told in alternating time lines between Abby and a manuscript that Gia wrote shortly before her disappearance. This book was so good I couldn’t put it down! Thank you Bantam for my gifted copy!!