Ladykiller is a salacious tale of who's sleeping with whom, and who's lying or telling the truth. I don't trust any of these privileged narcissists. In the wake of her father's death, it chronicles Gia's whirlwind relationship with - and extremely fast marriage to - a man she barely knows, and her longtime friendship with Abby (who has a complicated relationship with Gia's brother, Benny). Seeing how people use Gia for her money makes me almost glad I'm not rich. Set primarily in Greece, there are lots of references to mythology.

I recommend this book for people who like reality shows and gossip columns: the gritty underside of human behavior, simulaneously both gripping and repulsive.

Thanks to Random House for providing a complimentary Advance Reader Copy through #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This turned out to be a predictable book.
I had a hard time really getting interested in the story.
There were a few surprises so there’s that.
It had a good bit of heat so if that’s your thing definitely check it out.
This just wasn’t my favorite book of the week but it might be yours

Ladykiller was not what I expected at all. But I enjoyed the book. The mystery of what and who Gia was kept me entertained. I didn’t know who to believe. Gia? Abby? Noah? This book has two different POV’s between Gia’s manuscript and Abby’s in the present day. I did not like Gia nor Abby but I enjoyed them as characters. 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A dark and twisted novel of friendship, family and betrayal with complicated but ultimately flat characters.

I did love the sumptuous descriptions of the settings the premise. However, while the intrigue keeps you interested, the resolution is lacking in answers and satisfaction. Unfortunately a disappointing end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

If you are look for a suspense/thriller to transport you to the lush beaches of the Grecian Islands then dive into this one.

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is told by jumping between the two protagonists POV’s. Abby being the present and Gia’s being told via her manuscript of a recent past. The author did such an amazing job delivering on building the lush setting that I could smell the salty sea air. However, of the two POV’s I looked forward to Abby’s chapters. Gia’s, although sexy and fun, never felt fleshed out fully to me and they felt slow in progression. The first half of the novel took a long time to grab my attention.

Was the book suspenseful? Sure, in a slow burn kind of way. I didn’t hate the book but I also didn’t love it. Would I recommend it? I would definitely recommend it to someone looking for a beach read who likes unreliable narrators and doesn’t mind endings that aren’t wrapped in a pretty bow.

Thank You Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC for my honest review

Happy Reading!

I feel like the ending didn't quite deliver, and I expected a little more of a ~team manuscript vs letter~ debate. Instead, we only get the story the manuscript provided and partially Gia's story.. but the ending was really ambiguous. I enjoyed reading both Abby's POV and Gia's manuscript, but it took a while for the suspense to kick up (and even then there was potential for lots of twists that didn't quite happen).

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

I will admit I was intrigued by the title and publisher's synopsis. Unfortunately, for me the book was a bit of a disappointment. It started out strong, Gia, a young rich woman, fails to show up for a planned vacation with her best friend, Abby and her brother, Benny.

The story unfolds through Gia's manuscript and Abby's point of view past and present. Gia is married to Garrett, someone Abby warned Gia about. Garrett has a shipping company that needs financial help which Gia provides. When he asks for additional funds, Gia's banker refuses to do the transfer without speaking to Garrett. Why is Garrett's company in financial trouble? The couple live in a mansion in Greece. One evening they meet another couple, become friendly and then ... ( no spoilers).

There are past secrets and things are not what they appear to be. The author tries to keep us interested with some twists and turns. I did not find Gia or Abby very likeable. The book's ending left me unsatisfied.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bantam, for an ARC. The review is my own.

Gia and Abby have been friends since childhood. Abby's mother worked for the family and Gia's family paid for her schooling at a private school. They are bonded by a tragedy. But what really happened. Abby has always felt guilty. Gia has a whirlwind romance and marries quickly. Is this a mistake? When Abby, with Gia's brother Benny, is invited to Sweden to celebrate Gia's birthday, Gia does not arrive in Sweden, so Abby and Benny go to Greece to look for her.

This is a thriller where the tension increases as you read. What is really going on and who is lying. Where is Gia and did her husband do something bad to her? You will definitely be trying to figure out what is real and what is a lie. The ending may be a surprise since it is open ended. This did not bother me as there may be a sequel or I can make up the ending. Readers can think and are capable of imaging what happens next. This book is different and I enjoyed reading it. I look forward to the next book.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #KatherineWood and #Bantam for a copy of this book
#Ladykiller

Gia and Abby have been friends since Abby’s mother came to work for Gia’s family when they were kids. They went to school together, vacations, shared everything with each other. One night Gia saves Abby from being assaulted by Gia’s ex-boyfriend and stalker, Noah and ends up killing him. Or so that’s the story. Twelve years later Gia invites her brother Benny and Abby to Sweden for a vacation to see the Northern Lights. When Gia fails to show, Benny and Abby start to worry. Gia says she’s sick but when a mysterious stranger shows up at the hotel, accompanied by threatening emails to Abby, they travel to Greece, where Gia and her husband Garrett live to find out what’s going on. The past doesn’t always stay in the past.


Really great thriller! Kept me interested and in the edge of my seat the whole time! Had me guessing until the end and I’m still not sure what the truth is!! Loved it!

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is available next week on July 9th. You need to go and grab it.
Thank you to @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for this early release.
This was a great, twisty book. It starts with a rich family, the patriarch dies and leaves everyone scrambling to pick up the pieces. Gia, our rich heiress, finds she has to sell her island home to maintain the lifestyle she has become accustomed to. Her new husband of three months seems to good to be true. Her best friend Abby actually tells her that. They have a falling out, but Gia has invited Abby and her brother Benny to meet her in Switzerland to see the northern lights for Gia's birthday to make amends. Benny and Abby show up, but Gia sends a text message saying she's sick. Then so sick she can't make it to see them. Benny and Abby go to the island home she has been renovating to sell, so they can find out what is going on with Gia. They find a manuscript that Gia started writing while there and use it to try to piece together her disappearance. This just brings more and more questions!
Twisty and dark thriller. I loved it.
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The cover of this book stopped me in my tracks and then the synopsis pulled me in! Ladykiller is a suspense/thriller that; overall, I really enjoyed.

The story is told in dual POVs of best friends Abby and Gia. Abby is told in present time (mostly), while Gia's story is told through her manuscript... until the two timelines finally catch up. I loved the pacing. I felt this story flowed so fast and I was intrigued early on to just fly through the story. The suspense built fast, and I honestly was not quite sure where it was going to go. In the end, we are left with and open ending... which I LOVE! An ending that leaves me questioning someone's true character sits just fine with me.

The one thing that bothered me was Gia's character. In her manuscript, she seemed like the 30 year old she claimed to be albeit a spoiled heiress that wasn't quite in touch with reality. However, Gia in real life seemed like a petulant teenager despite her age. I think she could have been written just as unreliable without coming off as immature as she did. It was like the Gia in the manuscript and real-life Gia were two incredibly different people.

Overall, the book was great and I would still recommend it. I look forward to more from Katherine Wood.

A twisty, twisty plot scattered with deftly obscured clues, Ladykiller was immersive storytelling at its best. With vivid descriptions and evocative prose, I felt transported to the sandy beaches and whitewashed buildings of the Greek Isles. But it was the finely layered plot that kept me reading. Peppered with suspense that only ratcheted higher and higher, the buildup had my fingers flying as my brain worked doubletime trying to see behind the skillfully woven curtain. No matter what I came up with, however, I just couldn’t do it.

The characters easily matched the storyline step for step. From the complex group dynamics to the addictive narrative cocktail, a dark history was masterfully interwoven by dual alternating timelines and POVs. Told via Abby in the present and Gia’s manuscript of the past, this tale of metafiction was compelling to be sure. Especially given their realistic personas and true-to-life verve. Altogether, they painted a gripping portrait right up until the end. At least, very nearly.

See, my biggest hang up with this breathtaking psychological thriller was the finale. Without a true conclusion or even a hint at a clue, it was left almost entirely open ended. There could have been so many ways to give the same feel while also providing some answers. So despite the possibility that it could work for others, it left me relatively frustrated even if it was what the author was going for all said and done.

Just the same, the compelling intrigue, thought-provoking drama, and complicated friendships means that this book is sure to stay alive for me long after closing the gorgeous cover. From the dark secrets to multiple suspicious individuals, Wood’s debut novel will surely make quite a mark in the genre. After all, it had it all with rich people behaving badly, a judicious dose of spice, an enigmatic mystery, and underhanded motives. So here’s hoping there’s a book two in the works because I would happily follow Ms. Wood back into this stunning world in a heartbeat. Rating of 4 stars.

Thank you to Katherine Wood and Random House Publishing Group - Bantam for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Real Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

Are you looking for a great book to sit by a body of water with and read? Maybe with a cold drink in hand? Some salacious, soapy, and thrilling? Then you might be looking for Ladykiller.

Ladykiller is author Katherine Wood’s debut novel, and even if it’s pretty obvious this is a debut novel, it’s a pretty good shot for a debut thriller beach read being published smack dab in the middle of summer. Set mostly in the sublime Greek islands and filled with sun, food, drink, sex, and secrets, there is nothing about this book that doesn’t meet the criteria needed for something fun and diverting to read when it’s hot outside and you just want to drink your daiquiri and be left alone.

This book is mostly told from two POVs: Gia is the scion of a wealthy family who is in the midst of divesting herself of the beloved family estate in Greece, and Abby is her best friend who was also the daughter of their family cook growing up. Abby’s story is told in first-person POV, while Gia’s is told in chapters from a manuscript she wrote for the majority of the book. Along for the ride as a narrative foil is Gia’s younger brother, Benny. If you’re thinking unreliable narrator, you got it. If you’re thinking “best friend’s brother” trope, you got it. Is it spicy? Not in my opinion. There’s titillation, but no explicitness. Nudity, but not smut. Fade to black, mostly.

This book isn’t heavy and it’s not meant to be; even so, there’s just so much of this book that seems to breeze by and so much stuff that seems to be a bit too incredulous. I can only suspend disbelief so much. Either that, or I’m more of a cynic than I thought I was. Either way, I just wasn’t as engaged as I’d hoped. I want to be swept away by my beach reads. This was fun, but not quite fun enough for me.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Beach Read/Psychological Fiction/Psychological Thriller/Suspense Mystery/Suspense Thriller

This book was enjoyable. The author put a surprise twist on the "con artist marries rich girl for her money" trope.

Gia, the impulsive rich party girl, was naive enough to marry Garrett after only knowing him a short period of time. I've read a few books with that premise and always felt frustrated with how much the mark was willing to put up with. Gia, however, was not a pushover. There was only so much she was willing to let slide and once she began standing her ground, things with Garrett went downhill fast. Her character almost felt contradictory at times: is she a rich, naive party girl or a conniving narcissist? Can she be both?

When Gia's brother, Benny, and best friend, Abby, can't reach her, they fear the worst has happened. They read Gia's manuscript for clues but realize not everything written is gospel. What happened in the month since Benny had last seen his sister?

There are two sides to every story, and then there's the truth. The ending does leave some things up to the imagination but in this case, the lack of tying everything up in a bow is satisfying.

Thank you for the advanced copy! Review posted to Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Instagram.

I could not put this down. I would have read it in a day if I did not need sleep. The mystery was so good. The ending is left for the reader to decide what really happened which is driving me crazy.

thank you netgalley for this ARC!!

ahhhhh this was so good.
i drank this UP.

"When an heiress goes missing, her best friend races to unravel the secrets behind her disappearance using clues left behind in an explosive manuscript…"

abby and gia are best friends, since forever. when they grow up and go their seperate ways, abby turns to studies and gia turns to writing about her fateful summer in her newest debut novel.

if you like white lotus, knives out, or anything tropical & murdeous, this is for you.

also giving desperate housewives energy.

the beginning of this book was a bit slow for me, but once it hit the middle it was a dash to the end.
i was so impressed with the author's ability to make me despise so many characters at once. each character had their own personality and once you think you had them figured out, you're wrong.

a classic whodunit, twisted with romance, lust, betrayal, and money money money.

i absolutely loved this and expect a book #2 from benny's POV.

if you liked nine perfect strangers, you'll LOVE this.

5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. This was a decent summertime thriller. The twists were pretty obvious but I have read so many thrillers at this point that I may not be the best barometer. I will say I despised the ambiguous ending, but this is a personal preference. It was well-written, but that type of non-resolution drives me bonkers.

This is my first Katherine Wood novel and it definitely won’t be my last! I was pulled in from page 1, so intrigued with Abby and Gia’s story and dynamic. I loved the back and forth between Gia’s manuscript (and the detail 10/10) and the present with Abby and the trip. Truthfully, I saw the twist coming from a mile away but loved confirming it. This was such a page turner, I stayed up too late to finish this because I could not put it down. The only reason this doesn’t get five stars from me is because I DESPISE ambiguous endings. I need my theories confirmed and not left up to interpretation (a personal bias). Other than that this would have been a five star read, I was hooked!

Thank you to Bantam Dell for an advanced readers copy of this title via NetGalley.

I had a good time with this book and it was the perfect summertime thriller. I'm always going to enjoy a book that centers a female friendship and I think this one had the perfect balance of twists and turns. I was able to figure out where it was going fairly easily but the ride was still enjoyable all the same!

Gia and Abby have been best friends since they were young girls. Abby's father worked as the chef for Gia's family. Years later, they had a falling out over Gia’s sudden marriage and then Gia goes missing. Abby and Gia’s brother, Benny, set off to find her. When they arrive in Greece, they find a manuscript detailing the dark truth behind Gia’s new marriage. Now Abby and Benny race to find Gia as tensions rise. Will they find her before it’s too late?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for this e-arc.*