3.5 stars, actually.

Despite an abundant supply of truly unlikable, mostly unrelatable characters, this story grabbed me from the beginning and enticed me to hang in there right to the end - if only to see which of them finally got their comeuppance. Then I got to the end, and well, that didn't exactly happen - quickly deflating my bubble of anticipation.

But let's back up: Central to the story are Abby and Gia, who became best friends as children at Gia's family home in Greece. When they were mostly grown, some kind of tragedy occurred during the summer before college that resulted in a bit of a rift between them. Abby ended up in Atlanta after finishing law school, but the two haven't been close in recent years. Abby is surprised, then, to be invited to a fancy resort in Sweden to help Gia celebrate her 30th birthday and see her younger brother Benny and, most important, her new husband, Garrett. Given Gia's custom of going off the rails whenever and wherever she is, Abby is taken aback - but not surprised - to learn they married within a scandalously short time after meeting each other.

Besides the party, Gia is preparing to sell the family home - mostly out of financial necessity; she's still rolling in dough, but the inheritance left by her late father is meager is comparison to the amount he gave away so it won't last forever. Amid all this, Gia says she's decided to write another memoir (her first book was a modest success). The manuscript, which reflects major events in Gia's life, then becomes chapters in this book that are interspersed with snippets from Abby's perspective. Soon, it becomes clear that much of the plot hinges on what awful thing happened that summer more than a decade ago mingled with the awful goings on in Gia's newly married life. And for sure, there's a lot - including a mysterious couple and an abundance of fairly graphic sex scenes (I offer this as a warning to those who don't like to read about such things).

Gia's birthday party, meantime, takes a surprising turn; when Abby and Benny arrive, in fact, Gia isn't there. They get no response at first to text messages and calls to Gia in Greece, followed by messages from Gia that don't quite ring true. Something's gone wrong for sure, so Abby and Benny head for Greece in hopes of setting matters straight - with Abby continuing to hope her friends never find out what really happened in that summer long ago. As an aside, I'll note that readers learn the truth - which in my opinion turned out to be much ado about nothing.

Of course, the story is more complicated than that - but you'll have to read it for yourself to find out the details. There are several interesting and, dare I say, dangerous twists, though most didn't come as a big surprise to me. What WAS surprising is how gullible an otherwise worldly grown woman can be. Then came that ending, which I eagerly approached thinking all the loose ends would be tied up. But that was not to be, leaving me disappointed (but with a vague thought that perhaps there's a sequel in the works).

Still, there's plenty to like here, so overall I'm happy for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy (for which I thank the publisher, via NetGalley).

This is a great book for readers who love stories about rich people behaving badly, and for those who enjoy thrillers with ambiguity. Unfortunately, I'm not a huge fan of either of those types of stories, so this was a bit of a miss for me, despite good writing and an intriguing plot. Definitely a case of "It's not you, it's me." The book alternates between two storylines. In the present, Abby is traveling to Sweden for a vacation with her rich childhood best friend, Gia, and Gia's brother Benny. When Gia doesn't show up, Abby and Benny travel to her holiday home in Greece to find out what has happened to her. Interspersed were entries from Gia's diary in Greece in the months before her disappearance. As with all thrillers, it's best to go in with as little foreknowledge as possible. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a digital review copy.

Summer is the time I reach for suspense/thriller books… and obviously Ladykiller’s cover had me adding it quickly to my summer TBR.

I started this one on my kindle… which I only read at night but because I’m a huge scaredy cat… the audio during the day was the route I needed to go! Thank you PRH Audio!

This is a fast paced… summer drama/thriller. You will soak up the atmosphere… located on a tiny island in Greece… and entertaining guests at a beachfront estate on the Mediterranean while the sun is warm and the drinks and food are plenty.

TBH that’s all I needed to know before diving in. Told through the POV of two friends… Abby, the attorney… and the later is Gia, which you will see is told through manuscripts. Gia is an heiress as well as author and is writing her 2nd novel… both girls together have a past which you see unfolding throughout the story.

Reading the synopsis now it really sets you up for what happens deeper into the pages. I really enjoyed this one the characters you never knew who to trust… and you could feel the stakes and sunshine abundantly.

Thank you Bantam & PRH Audio
Releases 7/9/24

This sounded like a promising book, and although it didn't meet my expectations, it was good.

Gia comes from a privileged background, but when her father dies and leaves his fortune to charity, she unexpectedly needs money. To solve her problems, Gia decides to sell the one thing of value: a villa on a Greek Island. Newly married, Gia and her husband are at odds about what improvements need to be made to sell the house. Tension develops in the newlywed's relationship. Gia's best friend, Abby, whose mother worked for Gia's family, is working hard to become a partner at her law firm. When Gia, decides to celebrate her birthday in Switzerland with just her brother Benny and Abby, Abby drops everything to go to Switzerland. Gia fails to show up, so Abby and Benny head to Greece, only to find Gia has vanished.

The book started quickly but slowed down just as fast. I found the descriptions of the characters lusting after each other and the sex descriptions distracting. They didn't move the story along, and I wondered why so many romantic scenes were needed. The mystery surrounding Gia was good, and there were some twists, but overall, this falls short of being a thriller. 3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bantam, for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 9, 2024.

I was immediately drawn to this book from the description and cover. I feel though that for me it didn’t quite measure up. The setting and characters were good but the story and ending were not really what I was expecting. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

Ladykiller Katherine Wood is a highly recommended debut mystery that has strong melodramatic soap opera sensibilities.

Gia and Abby became friends as children, along with Gia's younger brother Benny, because Abby's mother worked for Gia's very wealthy family. The family accepted Abby as one of their own, paid for her schooling including college, and opened up new experiences and opportunities for her. The two became even more bonded together after a tragic incident that happened when they were 18 on the family's beachfront estate on a Greek island. Gia's father, Hugo Torres, recently passed away, and left the Greek island estate to Gia.

Abby and Gia have become estranged recently, when Gia, undeterred by Abby's suggestion of caution, married Garrett after knowing him for just three months. Gia and Garrett are living on the island estate now, preparing it for sale. Abby is working fourteen-hour days as an attorney. When Gia invites Abby and Benny on an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden to see the Northern lights and celebrate her 30th birthday, the two arrive, but Gia doesn't, texting excuses that leave them suspicious. The two set off to Greece to find Gia.

The narrative unfolds in alternating chapters that present the perspectives of both Abby and Gia. Abby's perspective is told through chapters set in the present and past. Gia's story is presented through a manuscript she is writing which purportedly describes events on the island estate leading up to her disappearance. Gia's story is of an entitled heiress living a lascivious life style. The real question becomes clear early on: Is Gia, as depicted in her manuscript, a trustworthy character or reliable narrator?

Ladykiller is a well-written debut novel that held my attention throughout. There are plenty of secrets and scandals unfolding throughout the plot. Expect some twists that may stretch credibility but should not deter you from reading. The ending, which doesn't offer a complete conclusion, will either offer readers an entertaining opportunity to form their own opinions, or, alternately, slightly disappoint those who like closure. That, in itself, could start a lively book club discussion. Thanks to Bantam Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Thank you Bantam Books and Netgalley for a copy.

🖤Atmospheric setting in Greece
🖤Drama!!
🖤Missing Person/ Murder
🖤Twists
🖤Spice🔥

Gia and Abby have been best friends since childhood. Gia comes from a rich family and Abby’s mom worked as their cook.
After a traumatic event struck both of them at the age of 18, things were a little different going forward.
Gia disappears from her family’s Greece mansion and leaves behind “Gia’s Manuscript”. Which is from her typewriter and tells a story of her life and new husband troubles leading up to her disappearance.
Abby and Gia’s brother, Benny, are on a journey to discover where she is and what happened for her to vanish.
Who is telling the truth??
A thrilling summer novel that will pull you in.

3 stars

This book has a fantastic title and cover. The contents are good but, unfortunately, for me, they did not live up to the external messaging.

Gia and Abby are best friends, and while Gia is a wealthy heiress, Abby comes from a different background altogether. When Gia goes missing, Abby puts herself on the case.

While there are promising plot points and scenery that is tailor made for a light summer read, I struggled with the pacing and the interjections of Gia's manuscript. I also found the descriptions of various amorous thoughts and actions more awkward than intriguing. This became a strange mix of losing track of the storyline and feeling jarred by these aforementioned moments. The mystery and thrills were overshadowed by these challenges.

I'd give this author another shot, but this was not as big of a thrill as I anticipated.

"Everyone has a story. But not everyone's story is true.

When a young woman vanishes from her remote Greek island estate, her best friend races to find her, using clues found in the explosive manuscript she left behind.

Gia and Abby have been friends since childhood, forever bonded by the tragedy that unfolded in Greece when they were eighteen. Now thirty, heiress Gia is back in Greece with her shiny new husband, entertaining glamorous guests with champagne under the hot Mediterranean sun, while bookish Abby is working fourteen-hour days as an attorney. When Gia invites Abby on an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden to celebrate her birthday, Abby's thrilled to reconnect.

But on the day of her flight, Abby receives an ominous email that threatens to unearth the skeletons of her past, and when she and Gia's brother, Benny, arrive in Sweden, Gia isn't there. Worried, Abby and Benny fly to Greece, where they find Gia's beachfront estate eerily deserted, the sole clue to her whereabouts the manuscript she penned, detailing the events leading up to her disappearance. Gia's narrative reveals the dark truth about her provocative new marriage and the dirty secrets of their seductive guests, a story almost too scandalous to be believed. But the pages end abruptly, leaving more questions than answers.

How much of Gia's story is true? Where is she now? And will Abby find her before it's too late?"

The dark gritty reboot of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants I've longed for!

Thank you @netgalley @bantambooksuk @randomhouse for this #gifted e-galley!
Gia and Abby, childhood friends bonded by a tragic event in Greece at eighteen, now lead very different lives. Heiress Gia lives a glamorous life in Greece, while Abby works long hours as an attorney. Gia invites Abby to Sweden for her birthday, but Abby receives a threatening email just before her flight. When Abby and Gia’s brother Benny arrive in Sweden, they find Gia missing. They return to Greece and discover Gia’s estate deserted, with only a manuscript revealing dark secrets about Gia's marriage and guests. The story ends abruptly, leaving Abby to question its truth and race against time to find Gia.

Truth, lies, and everything in between. What I enjoyed most about reading this novel is that there’s so much uncertainty going on. Never knowing what’s the pure truth or the ratio of lie to truth. Everything surrounding the characters and the circumstances of the events is all jumbled up. It just makes you want to keep reading to figure out what it all leads to because of how invested you become. This was a quick and fun suspense novel!
4 stars

The title, cover, and synopsis of this book is everything! I was more than intrigued; downright edge of my seat excited to start in. The story begins strongly with introductions to Gia and Abby. I thought it was super odd the wealthy father disinherited his children for no better reason than giving money to charity, BUT he provided for his ex-wives??? I digress…

A crime was committed a decade ago. Abby believes Gia knew more than she has admitted and she has been harboring guilt. Gia, atypical rich girl, has been flitting her way through life from one destination to the next. Problem is the money is running out and her brand new husband is off to filch what is left.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for a complimentary copy of this novel!

Abby and Gia are best friends and have known each other since childhood. When they were 18, an incident occurred while in Greece and since then, it was left in the past. Now, Gia is married and enjoying a lavish life and Abby is working as a lawyer. Since that incident, they have not kept much in contact. So, Gia invites her brother Benny and Abby to Sweden so they can rekindle their friendship. However, Abby begins to receive threatening and suspicious emails that may very well expose what occurred in Greece when they were both 18. Benny and Abby arrive in Sweden, but Gia is nowhere to be found. And the only clue to where she may be is a typed manuscript by Gia. But how much of it is true? With so much going on and unreliable narrators, you don’t know who is telling the truth in this story until the very end.

I really enjoyed reading this novel!!! This author is new to me and look forward for more of her works!!! It was fast-paced and kept you guessing and second guessing what the truth is and what is not. Definitely recommend!!!

I enjoyed this book. It has romance, drama, thriller. I thought it was very well-rounded. I did wish that the ending would be a bit more sinister like how I normally want my books. I think there was a potential to give it a better twist. What I did like was that it opens up the possibility for a sequel.

While I love a good thriller, this one just didn't do it for me. The described Greece landscape did take me there and helped me imagine the setting very well. In the beginning, the story started strong, with that usual intrigue of what could happen. Halfway through, that fell off. The story started lacking and it was left open-ended, with not a strong middle to be able to put it together by the end. I enjoyed this story and appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and Random House, it would be a good beach read or airport time killer!

My thanks to Net Galley and Random House/Ballantine for allowing me to review this book.

Unfortunately I did not care for this book. The premise of what happened to Gia intrigued me to read this , but that didn't seem to be the big focal point. Instead I got fraud, embezzlement, erotic sex, and 2 back and forth time lines with a manuscript that did not flow. It took so much time to really build up to what happened to Gia that I didn't know really what to believe. And the ending just left me hanging. Can't recommend.

This is a new author to me and I eagerly jumped into reading the book. It is a wonderful description of Greece and really makes me want to go there. The story deals with sex, greed, crime, mystery and unlikeable characters, and the lives of the wealthy. I honestly never got into the story and about midway I decided that the book was simply not for me.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine - Bantam for allowing me to read a copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I found "Lady Killer" by Katherine Wood to be an addictive & well written mystery/thriller that pulled me in right away & didn't let me go until its final page.
There were alot of unexpected twists & turns to keep the me interested.
I would love to read another book by this author.

This story started off strong with intriguing characters and multiple POVs, but I was losing interest at the halfway point. I had to push through to finish. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

"Ladykiller" delves into the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy heiress who vanishes from her family's Greek Island mansion. Using a typewriter, she leaves behind a salacious tale chronicling the events preceding her absence. As her childhood best friend and brother embark on a quest to locate her, the narrative unfolds amidst the backdrop of scams, lies, and deception. While the novel's title suggests various interpretations within the story's context, I found myself occasionally disengaged. I particularly did not enjoy the focus on the sexual exploits of all of the characters. I wouldn't call it a full open-door, more of a cracked-open door.

I received a digital advance copy of Ladykiller by Katherine Wood via NetGalley. Ladykiller is scheduled for release on July 9, 2024.

Ladykiller follows two women, Gia and Abby, who have been friends since their childhood, despite the tragic event that occurred in Greece when they were eighteen. Gia dealt with the tragedy by writing a memoir, while Abby turned her attention to becoming a lawyer. Now they are thirty and Gia is newly married. She has invited her brother and Abby to join her in Sweden. Abby and Benny make the trip, but Gia does not appear. Strange messages via text and email lead to the realization that Gia has gone missing, forcing Benny and Abby to return to the house in Greece in search of the missing Gia. At the house, they find nothing but a manuscript left behind that seems to detail the events leading up to Gia’s disappearance, triggering a search for the missing woman that will raise questions about both her new relationship and the event of the past.

This story is told in alternating points of view. We get most of the story from Abby in the current day, with some flashbacks to the past. Other chapters are taken from the manuscript Gia left behind, giving her version of events in the house. Almost immediately, there are questions about the reliability of Gia’s manuscript. While it presents itself as a factual recounting of events, some aspects seem to have been polished, or even completely made up. With no Gia present to vouche for her words, both Abby and the reader are forced to question everything in Gia’s version of events. This gave the story a sense of instability that worked well. There was clearly something very wrong, but we had to gather clues to figure out what had happened and who was to blame.

This sense of uncertainty kept me reading and engaged with the novel. While I did predict a couple of the twists and reveals before they happened, I was able to appreciate them within the story. I don’t think these were obvious and predictable, more that I have recently read and seen other stories that put in the right mind set to read the clues we were given.

The uncertainty worked less well for me in the end, however. While some questions are answered within the novel, at the end of the day, many of the big questions remain unanswered. While I don’t need every thread to be tied, this story had so many unanswered questions that it felt like an unended story. I was left with questions about both events in the novel and the characters involved in a way that left things feeling incomplete. While I think the author intended for some uncertainty to remain, it was a bit too much uncertainty for me.

Overall, Ladykiller is a mystery/thriller that leans hard into the mysteries of the story. I recommend it for readers who are okay with very open endings, as there are no clear answers here!