Gia and Abby have been best friends forever. They were bonded by a tragedy that happened to them in Greece when they were eighteen. Twelve years later, Gia is back in Greece with her new husband for the summer, getting ready to sell the family estate after her father’s passing. Abby receives an invitation from Gia inviting Abby to celebrate her birthday with her in September beneath the Northern Lights. Abby is thrilled to get time off from her stressful job to go to Sweden. However, on the day of Abby’s flight, she receives a mysterious threatening email. Then, when she and Gia’s brother Benny arrive in Sweden, Gia is not there. After receiving several cryptic messages from Gia, their phone calls go unanswered. Abby and Benny decide to head to Greece to see what is going on with Gia. When they arrive in Greece, the only clue to Gia’s whereabouts is a manuscript Gia wrote about the events of the summer. Will Abby and Benny be able to find Gia before it’s too late?

This was my first book by Katherine Wood. I enjoyed the atmospheric read. The details of the Greek estate made you feel like you were right there on the beach with the characters. The book alternates between Abby’s point of view and Gia’s manuscript. I really enjoyed the first three-quarters of the book there was a lot of intrigue, suspense, and salacious details. Then, a twist happened that left things pretty ambiguous at the end. For this reason, I give it 3.5/5 stars. I recommend it to people that like atmospheric reads!

The tragic secrets kept between friends, whose bond has been forged tightly as a result, resurface when one goes missing and the other races to find her in Katherine Wood’s Ladykiller.
Becoming friends when they were young girls, Gia and Abby became close despite the differences in their backgrounds and they became even more closely bonded by a tragedy they experienced and kept secret together in Greece when they were eighteen. Twelve years later, Abby has worked hard in her studies while it seemed that Gia, as an heiress, focused more on having a good time but with the death of Gia’s father, she’s now preparing to sell the family’s estate in Greece with the help of her new husband. To celebrate Gia’s thirtieth birthday, she’s invited Abby to Stockholm for the Northern Lights but when Abby departs she receives an anonymous, threatening email about her lying and past so when she and Gia’s brother Benny arrive at the resort and Gia’s not, with cryptic messages that don’t sound like her, they become concerned enough to go to Greece to check on her. They find an eerily deserted estate upon arrival and the sole clue left behind is a manuscript that Gia wrote of events leading up to her disappearance; however, are the details of her new marriage and the guests they entertained true or had she embellished for dramatic effect, and just where is Gia and can they find her before anything drastic happens?
Moving between Abby’s perspective in the present and Gia’s perspective of the past through the manuscript of a memoir she’s writing, the tension builds as the narratives develops, with the slow surfacing of lies that have lurked and been obscured through various means, relationships that form and fracture, and fictions that blend with versions of the truth to forge the reality that’s presented into a murky and unreliable thing. The power of the wealthy’s ability to manipulate and influence to protect and maintain their status is thoroughly demonstrated throughout the stories told with Gia’s family’s influence to cast eyes toward a different truth about the tragic events that bonded her and Abby as teens and the antics of Gia’s new husband and friends during their time in Greece, which showcases the attitudes and priorities that some may have in relationships. The pacing of the narrative is generally slow and then whiplash fast as events come toward their conclusion, in an end which leaves several questions unaddressed and open to the reader’s imagination.
Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ladykiller is a messy, sexy, destination thriller that will grab your attention from the beginning and refuse to let go.

Gia and Abby have been best friends since they were kids, when Abby's mom became Gia's wealthy family's chef, and they moved into their home. When they were 18, a traumatic end to the summer left the girls going in different directions: Gia wrote a salacious novel about the ordeal, and Abby got to studying to become a lawyer. Twelve years later, Gia asks Abby to come on a trip with her to see the Northern Lights, which have been on their bucket list forever. Abby reluctantly agrees and makes the journey with Gia's brother Benny, who she had confusing feelings about that last summer they all spent together.

When they arrive, Gia doesn't show up, and they start to become concerned about what happened to her, until they find a manuscript in her Greek summer house that starts to clear up some of their questions, but not all of them.

This book screams summer beach read, and its beautiful, broken and lethal characters will mesmerize you just as much as the white hot Grecian setting.

I'm a sucker for books set in Greece especially ones with a missing heiress! I absolutely had to read this book when I had the opportunity. Unpopular opinion, however, I was not a fan of this cover as much as everyone else seems to be! But that's a minimal issue!

I was very intrigued with this book and it sure started off good. Unfortunately, I felt like it fizzled out fast...which was a little disappointing for me. I didn't think this ended as strong as it began. I felt like so much buildup happened throughout the story, but it wasn't leading to anything big. I had many questions about things that never got answered. With a different ending, this book would have been an easy five star read!

Many thanks to Novel Suspects Insiders Club, Penguin Random House, and Netgalley for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

In this book we are following Abby and Gia, who are best friends that haven't spoken since Gia eloped with Garrett after her wealthy father passed away. We are following Abby in the present and Gia in the past through manuscript pages. Abby and Gia have been friends for years when Abby's mother cooked for Gia's family until Gia's mother is but in a sanatorium. When Abby and Gia were 18 years old Gia dates Noah, who we are told was obsessed with Gia and tried to have sex with Abby mistaking her for Gia and Gia knocked him in the head with a lamp killing him and her family covered it up. Gia surprises Abby with a trip to Sweden to finally see the northern lights along with her brother Benny who has had a crush on Abby for years. Abby and Benny arrive and Gia emails saying that she is sick when in reality she's not and when a family friend goes over to check on her that friend finds the house empty and the locks changed. Through Gia's pov we learn that her and her new husband Garrett meet some new friends Timeo and Emelia. Timeo and Emelia stay with them and when Benny comes to stay with his girlfriend Camilla things are brought to the surface like Garrett not being who he says he is and threatening to kill her once the money for the house sell goes through. Timeo goes to Sweden to warn Abby and Benny and once they go back to the island that they spent summers going to growing up Timeo tells them that Gia killed Garrett and Emelia because they were stealing money from Gia. Emelia turns out to be Noah's sister who wants revenge for his death after getting the back page to a novel that Noah loved that his father gave him before going to jail. Abby admits to sending it at the end of the novel. Gia denies everything and gets upset with Abby and writes a book about what happened and not writing about Abby except to say that she was write about Garrett not being a good guy and not to marry him. Abby and Benny end up engaged 18 months later and Gia hasn't been seen since leaving the island. Abby and Benny take over Benny's fathers charity that Gia wanted but that Benny's fathers ex-wife ended up with but gave to Abby and Benny. This book is perfect for the summer. I haven't written everything that happens but this book was so good. I can't wait to see what this author writes next.

(3.5 stars) Gia and Abby are childhood friends forever bonded by the tragic events that occurred the summer they were 18 at Gia’s dad’s house on a remote island in Greece. In advance of her 30th birthday, Gia invites her brother, Benny, and Abby for an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden to celebrate. When Benny and Abby show up in Sweden, Gia isn’t there. And more suspiciously, she texts that she’s sick and isn’t able to make the trip. Concerned that something isn’t right, Benny and Abby head to Greece to find Gia, but when they get there, they find a deserted house. After they discover Gia’s latest manuscript, they set out to find her. The manuscript leads us to expect the worst as Gia depicts a life that wasn’t as charming as it seemed. Where is Gia? And does her disappearance have anything to do with the events of that previous summer? Abby has to figure out how much of the manuscript is true and piece together what happened to Gia, before it’s too late.

This book was a wild ride and gave serious Gone Girl vibes. I can’t say I love novels with an unreliable narrator, but if you do, Ladykiller nails that. The ending also left me a little unsatisfied, but I can’t say it was predictable. I flew through it because I had to know how it would end and let’s just say lust, greed, and dirty little secrets will lead people to do crazy things. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book follows two best friends Abby and Gia. Gia gets into a troubling marriage with Garrett and they live in Greece.
On a night out with Garrett, Gia makes some new friends and invites them back to the mansion to stay. Then things get a little out of control and Gia starts questioning everything.
Abby is worried about Gia after she doesn’t show up for a planned vacation.
I felt this was a unique plot line and really enjoyed the book.

This such a fun and sexy thriller! The setting of the Greek islands is exotic, as are the characters. I devoured the plot and lapped up the suspense like a hungry pup. The twists and misdirections had me desperate to find out the truth. In short, this was a deliciously twisty book and a genius debut. I feel lucky to have gotten an advanced copy, so thank you to Bantam and NetGalley! I eager.y await the author’s next book and hope this one is wildly successful!

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood #fortysixthbookof2024 #arc #ladykiller

CW: death, murder, drug and alcohol use, rape, blackmail, assault

This book alternates between the perspectives of Abby and the manuscript of her childhood heiress friend Gia. Gia invites Abby to meet her for a vacation but when she doesn’t show up, Abby needs to find her and also keep a hidden secret from their past from resurfacing.

The setting of this novel is so well written. I felt like I was sitting in a Greek villa and now I need to plan a trip. Abby and Gia were fleshed out characters and didn’t feel like caricatures of the usual spoiled rich brat and moralistic poor hanger-on friend that you often see in thrillers. It was a pleasant surprise.

I was kept on my toes for the entire novel and didn’t suspect any of the turns. There were some questions left unanswered but it didn’t detract from the story. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I will say the cover is a bit boring and kind of commonplace but not the fault of the author. If you like thrillers and really fun settings, I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

Thank you to @penguinrandomhouse - Ballantine and @netgalley for the advance copy. (pub date 7/9/24)

Gia and Abby have been friends since they were girls. They kind of separated until recently when Gia invites Abby to Greece for the summer. Abby gets a mysterious email and when Abby and Benny arrive in Greece, Gia is missing. They find a manuscript detailing events leading up to Gia's disappearance and with more questions for Abby and Benny. I only read 1/2 of this book and then gave up on it. If you like books like this, then you would love it. But I didn't feel the book was for me.

I really enjoyed Ladykiller! It's a great beach read, is an intriguing mystery, takes place in the Mediterranean on a Greek island, and features a wild cast of characters who keep you guessing. I would have rated this one higher but I'm not sure how I feel about the ending - it's open, up to the reader's interpretation. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review. 3.5/5 ⭐️

A story of money, sex, lies and secrets; too many lies and secrets. When Abby goes to Sweden to meet her best friend Gia for Gia's birthday Gia doesn't show up but her brother Benny does. Benny says he saw Gia on the Greek island where the family has a house and she was looking forward to Sweden. A strange man approaches Abby needing to tell her something but disappears. Abby and Benny go to the island to look for Gia but find the house empty. They do find an unfinished manuscript that Gia was writing. It seems to be the story of what has been happening in Gia's life but is any of it true...it doesn't seem like it could be. Some things just don't fit. Could the lies from twelve years ago be coming back to haunt the best friends or is one of them a cold blooded killer out to get the other one...

I rate this book 4 stars. There two narratives: Abby, a friend of Gia, since childhood, when her mother was hired as a housekeeper by Gia's father. Gia's father Hugo, seeing how much his daughter liked Abby, enrolls her in the same private school and pays for her education through college.
Gia's manuscript: a journal she has kept which she hopes to turn into a book. Gia's family is very wealthy.
Most of the book takes place on the small Greek fictional island of Miteras. There are many twists and turns in this mystery, filled with con artists, a murder or two, a fair amount of sex(not graphic sex), greed and and an extremely wealthy family. There is also a romance or two.
One other important character in the book: Benny, Gia's brother. I did not figure who did what to who until near the end. I liked the ending.
The author's note mentions that the book has been adapted for television. I suspect a Lifetime movie.
#Ladykiller #NetGalley. Thank You KATHLEEN QUINLAN at Penguin Random House for sending me this eARC through NetGalley

This story started off promising. I enjoyed the atmospheric descriptions of the Greek islands, as well as the Swedish resort. But every aspect of the plot got a little too obvious towards the conclusion and the ending just fell flat for me.

Gia, wealthy woman, has married her soulmate Garrett and is in the process of selling her Greek island home for a large sum. Eager to reunite with the two people she loves the most, her brother Benny and her childhood friend Abby, she organizes a trip to witness the Northern Lights together. The two meet but Gia is a no-show. Thus begins the search for Gia, her husband and the guests who had stayed with her before her disappearance. They have one principal clue which is shared with the reader: a memoir manuscript she has left behind, describing what happened to her or at least what she wants them to know. Katherine Wood’s novel is a thriller from start to finish. Everyone lies or avoids the truth and with so many twists it is difficult to trust anyone, knowing their motives. Many have been deceived. Will the reader be one such victim?

This was a fun one! A perfect beach read for the start of summer. It kept me on my toes and the mystery was unexpected. The ending is a bit vague, but I still had fun deciding what I thought happened and going with that. Not really a thriller, but still a quick read with multiple POVs, an unreliable narrator, and a super swanky Greek setting.

I don't want to give too much away about the plot, since this one is fun to dive right in, but here is the first sentence of the official plot description: "When an heiress goes missing, her best friend races to unravel the secrets behind her disappearance using clues left behind in an explosive manuscript…"

Sounds amazing right? It's perfect summer page turner!

Ladykiller
By Katherine Wood
Review 4

LadyKiller reads from different points of view. Abby was raised by a single mother who worked for a wealthy family. They lived on the family property, and she became best friends with the family’s daughter Gia. Abby was embraced by the family and received many privileges that she enjoyed immensely. The vacations in Greece, private school and university education made Abby feel as part of the family.

Gia tells her side of the story through her manuscript. Grieving from her father’s death, she impulsively marries a wealthy businessman with temporary cash flow setbacks. Her book tells tales of their drug and alcohol fueled hazes, promiscuity, and hints of possible adultery. Irresponsibly spending her inheritance, she decides to sell the villa in Greece to hold on to her money. While they are renovating the villa prior to the sale she starts to question the character of the people in her life. Is it autobiographical? Or is it fiction?

Abby is frantic to find her best friend Gia, who is missing after she failed to show up for the birthday weekend in Sweden that Gia planned for herself. She and Gia had been estranged recently because Abby did not approve of Gia’s reckless decisions. Right before leaving New York to meet Gia, Abby receives an anonymous e-mail that she fears will bring to light a secret she has kept since she was a teenager.

Their friendship is complicated and even though Abby was treated like family, you can only wonder if Gia sees her as equal. Abby the achiever is a likable character, Gia is an annoying, unlikable women who thinks she can manipulate anyone. The story finishes with a few unanswered questions, and I can only wonder if some characters will always be looking over their shoulder for the rest of their life.

The descriptions of the Greek island and the food made me want to plan a trip to the Greek islands to see it for myself. I read this book in a day while sitting at the beach, it was just what I needed to start my vacation.

Thank you @netgalley @bantam @randomhouse @thekatwritesbooks #LadyKiller #NetGalley #arc #AdvancedReaderCopy #KatherineWood

"Ladykiller" by Katherine Wood is a sensual and suspenseful novel where not everyone's story is true. Gia and Abby, best friends since childhood, grew apart after Gia's marriage, which Abby disapproved of. When Abby receives an invitation to Gia’s thirtieth birthday at a Swedish chalet, she hesitantly attends, hoping to mend their relationship. However, upon arrival, Gia is missing, raising Abby’s fears about Gia’s dangerous husband.

Narrated by both Gia and Abby—Gia before her disappearance through memoir snippets and Abby after—this novel keeps readers hooked with its complex characters and twisted mysteries. Set against the beautiful backdrop of a Greek island, it offers a thrilling escapist journey filled with surprising twists.

As a debut novel, "Ladykiller" impresses with its expert plot and character development. The ending ties up most loose ends but leaves one big question open for readers to ponder, making it an unforgettable read. It's a must-read for summer 2024, exploring female friendships, jealousy, and the lengths people will go to maintain power and status.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

How can two friends who are total opposites survive being friends after so many lies were told and one friend is a possible cold blooded killer. This the story of Gia and Abby two totally different women whose lives were intertwined from a young age.

Gia is the daughter of the powerful Hugo Torres who had given his daughter everything a girl could want. A good education, trips but mostly money. Abby on the other hand is a girl raised by a single mom who worked to provide for her daughter. It wasn't until Abby's mom got a job with the Torres family that life for Abby changed.Since Hugo loved the influence Abby had on Gia he gave Abby what Gia had. A beautiful home, paid education where Abby became a lawyer and a very rich life. This made the girls life long friends until they weren't. Through in a murder where Gia said she was protecting Abby from an attacker, or was she.? Was this the first lie and then you throw in Benny Gia's brother who has been in love with Abby since childhood..

Twelve years later Abby is a la wyer and Gia is still the free spirit spending her money and getting married. Until her dad dies and her life is about to change along with Abby who she really has not connected with in a long time. Until she asks both Benny and Abby to come on a trip with her to see the Northern Lights that both Benny and Abby feel that something is wrong. Gia is no where to be found. Strange text messages to them from Gia are very confusing. Plus Benny didn't trust Gia's new husband Garrett and these two new friends they made. Something isn't right. Can the incident from twelve years ago come back to haunt Abby? I Gia really the victim here or is she the murderer? Something is not right and Benny and Abby need to find out. NOW!!!

I love twists and turns in a mystery and Katherine Wood really put many in this novel. Ladykiller had me guessing at every turn.. If you like twists and turns this book is for you. There are many characters to follow which was a little hard at times to keep up with but the setting in Greece was amazing very descriptive and wanting me to go there. Gia was a twisted and complicated character which I truly enjoyed.She kept digging that hole for herself but seemed to always get out of it. Always blaming someone else especially Abby her life long sister who she no longer needed in her life The author also referenced many times to The Talented Mr. Ripley, which I felt was on point with this book. It kept me glued to the page.

Thank you NetGalley, Katherine Wood and the publishing company for the ARC. I would totally recommend it to anyone who loves twists and turns and a good thriller.

United States Publication: July 9, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Gia and Abby are unlikely best friends. Gia comes from great wealth, wealth that Abby benefited from throughout her childhood and college years. Gia's father paid for Abby to go to the same boarding schools that Gia did and then paid for Abby's college education. But Abby never completely fit into the world of wealth; she always was on the edge. When Gia and Abby are 18 and about to head off to their freshman year of college, a tragic event changes the course of the girls' future. A stalker of Gia attacks Abby, and Gia kills him. This event results in Gia becoming a published author and Abby dealing with the trauma of the event. Fast forward a decade (at least), and Gia's father has died. In a surprise move, he leaves none of his massive wealth to his various children and current or ex-wives. Gia is left "penniless." Within months of his death, Gia meets and marries a man who fits neatly into her life of wealth. She WAS left her family home in Greece, and in order to fund her life, she is forced to sell the home and property. She and her husband live at the house while making the required repairs and renovations in order to sell the home. Abby and Gia haven't spoken in months due to Abby's disapproval of this quick courtship and marriage, but as Gia is turning 30, she wants to meet Abby in Sweden to view the Northern Lights and reconnect. But Gia is a no-show to her own birthday celebration, and Abby, along with Benny - Gia's younger brother, becomes alarmed. Abby and Benny fly from Sweden to Greece to hunt down Gia - is she really missing or just playing a prank (that makes no sense) on her brother and best friend?

Hmmm. I almost decided not to read this title, as heiresses and rich people's problems aren't really my thing. But I did decide to read it, and as I started it, I felt pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. But then. It got to be too much. Gia and her husband had a toxic relationship with numerous red flags - no big surprise given how long they had(n't) known each other. And it turned into a disturbing interaction between them and the couple they invited to stay at the house with them. It honestly disgusted me. The story got tedious, and by the time the book ended, with a lot of mystery and unknowns still present, I was rather glad to be done with the book. All that being said, I did rate it rather high, given what I just said, because of the initial enjoyment I got from the story and various elements of the story, both past and present. But it isn't a book I would recommend to anyone.