Abby receives an invitation from her longtime best friend Gia to join her in Sweden to view the Northern Lights. Abby quickly accepts, eager to reconcile with her friend, as Abby still struggles with a tragic event that occurred when both were 18 years old. Yet when she arrives at the resort, meeting Gia’s brother Benny, Gia is nowhere to be found, and she’s not answering her phone. They both fly to Greece to try and locate Gia, finding only a manuscript that Gia was writing that may hold clues to her disappearance. Ladykiller is a suspenseful, at times salacious thriller that will keep the reader guessing. Cleverly told in alternating time frames between present day Abby and Gia’s manuscript, the story comes together nicely (if a bit slowly) as Abby and Benny try to decipher Gia’s writing. Perfect beach read, no heavy lifting and an enjoyable read, although I found the ending unfulfilling. I received an ARC Of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I greatly appreciate it!

“Ladykiller” is definitely a wild and uncertain ride. It’s the type of story that twists and turns so much that once it all converges you don’t know which is up and which way is down. Even its ambiguous title gives proof of what to expect from this narrative—was Gia the murderee or the murderer? That’s ultimately the very lure of this book, and Gia’s own manuscript.

Personally, I enjoyed the story a lot more than I originally believed I would. My only complaint is the number of sex scenes throughout the book. Was all of it entirely necessary? Probably not. However, it might’ve been intentional. A justification for their demise after their careless and scandalous living, and their willingness for adultery. As for its undefined ending, I believe it gives the overall story a sense of realism. It inevitably points to the uncertainty of the human mind and its perception of things.

Well that was certainly interesting!! What is it about rich, vapid, clueless people that make it so easy and so much fun to root against them...maybe I'm a bit jealous???? Yeah that's probably it. This sad little privileged woman couldn't make a good decision if her life depended on it. The writing is all on the wall in front of her and she just doesn't see it or doesn't want to see it. I wanted to smack her upside the head so many times and send her money to buy a freaking clue!! Wow...I guess I have big feelings about this one. There isn't much of a thrillery aspect to this, but it was a good, engaging story.

I loved the atmospheric setting of the book! The story centers around Abby and Gia, who have been best friends since childhood. Gia is a wealthy heiress, while Abby is from humble beginnings. They plan to meet up in Sweden, along with Gia’s brother, to celebrate Gia’s 30th birthday. No spoilers! The story is written in different perspectives and timelines, and was easy to follow. I really like this author’s writing style. Recommended!

In Katherine Wood's Ladykiller, readers are transported to the sun-soaked Greek Islands where childhood friends Gia and Abby find themselves entangled in a web of secrets and deception. When Gia mysteriously disappears, Abby embarks on a desperate quest for answers, uncovering clues in Gia's salacious memoir and navigating a labyrinth of twists and turns. Wood masterfully builds tension through alternating perspectives and vivid descriptions of the Mediterranean setting, but the novel's pacing occasionally falters, leading to a mixed emotional response. While Ladykiller offers a compelling exploration of friendship and betrayal, its ambiguous ending may leave some readers craving closure, despite the lingering intrigue surrounding its enigmatic characters.

I loved love loved this! It was witty, fast paced, and had a killer twist. I can't wait for my fellow thriller lovers to get their hands on this buzzy read!

This was a wild ride! It is a psychological thrill from beginning to end. The plot is filled with lots of lies, and crimes - but the reader isn't really sure which ones actually took place. The story reads quickly, and while it does alternate between characters and past and present, it was very easy to follow. My only disappointment was the ending. I felt it was a little too lacking in closure. I am not a fan of being left with more questions than answers.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ladykiller delivers a captivating blend of heiress intrigue set against the backdrop of Greece's mesmerizing landscape. The storyline weaves a tantalizing web of mystery, leaving readers hooked from start to finish. With its gripping plot twists and rich character development, this novel is an absolute must-read for fans of suspenseful thrillers. Prepare to be enthralled!

What a read! I loved the writing style of this one and it was paced so well that I did not want to put the book down!

A truly captivating mystery—loved the setting, the dual timelines, and the mystery felt truly fresh!

I accidentally started reading this on a Friday night and could NOT put it down until I finished it Sunday morning. What a propulsive, dark, and sexy book! I love Wood's other books, so it wasn't a huge surprise to discover this book was JUST THAT GOOD, but the Greek sunshine particularly hit the spot in the middle of winter!

Book description: 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.

I loved this book! It may not be for everyone, but the characters, the setting, the story-telling, the twists, I loved it all. It’s a fast-paced thriller that will have you glued to the pages. And at the end I was like… what? It leaves you guessing, what is really true?

The story toggles between Abby’s present-day point of view, and Gia’s unfinished manuscript. The setting of Greece is just stunning and I wish I could vacation there! Gia’s character seemed like a typical spoiled heiress, but I really enjoyed Abby’s character. She’s relatable and practical and I loved how she handled her rich friend.

There isn’t a lot I can talk about without spoiling the book, so you’re just going to have to read it!

Ladykiller is expected to be published on July 9, 2024.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for this ARC.
#LadyKiller #NetGalley

This was an interesting read utilizing two different perspectives and timelines told individually through the eyes of Gia and Abby. Gia's portion is told through her manuscript while she is in Greece fixing up her family home for sale. Abby's portion is told with about the same pacing and timeline but across several countries.

I let myself get absolutely sucked into this thriller. I was trying to piece the actual events together the entire time but never quite got it exactly right. That said, it was an intense story that I couldn't put down.

I went with a 3.75 rating instead of a 4 because I really didn't like any of the characters (they were awful humans), and I'm not huge on ambiguous endings. I'm sure the characters were awful on purpose but sometimes it felt like I was hate reading their story. Still a fun summer read!

The best part of this book is every time I thought I knew where it was going, I didn't. This was a sexy whodunit with such well-written characters that are not who they say they are. There is something new at every turn, and the turns keep coming until the very end. Friendship, cons, romance, and murder - the perfect mix for an entertaining novel. Congrats Katherine Wood, you have hit this one out of the park.

This thriller set on heiress Gia's beachfront estate in Greece begins when our narrator, Gia's somewhat estranged best friend Abby, travels to meet Gia and her brother, Benny, in Sweden to celebrate Gia's birthday. When Gia never appears, Abby and Benny set off for Greece to track her down. There's no sign of Gia — only the manuscript she'd been working on, which Abby and Benny mine for clues. Gia's rushed marriage to her new husband, mysterious houseguests, and the dark past Abby and Gia share on that very island all come under suspicion — but what really happened to Gia is beyond Abby or Benny's early suspicions. There's quite a twist, which I enjoyed, although the ending fell a bit flat for me. All in all, an excellent choice for readers looking for psychological thrillers!

Dnf about 20% through the book. Just could not get into it. I tried really hard and realized I just kept rereading the same thing.

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you netgalley and Ballantine for this early read!

Ooooooooweeee! I LOVED this one! The beginning wasn’t as captivating as I’d have liked but once I got through the first couple chapters, I flew through this one.

Gia marries Garrett (who she just met a few months prior) against the wishes of her best friend Abby. But a few months later Gia, Benny(Gias brother), and Abby are all set to go on a trip to Sweden to see the Northern lights. When Gia doesn’t show, Abby and Benny grow pretty concerned. They’re put at ease when Gia emails and texts saying she’s sick. But it’s a once in a lifetime trip and things just aren’t adding up. Benny and Abby decide to go looking for Gia, but they find her home locked up and empty. When they are able to locate her she claims to have been kidnapped by her husband and 2 other people. The past is being brought forth where Gia is suspected of killing an ex lover in self defense.

Life Lesson: People aren’t always what they seem to be.

Ladykiller is a story told from 2 different points of view; one being Abby and the other from Gia’s manuscript. Abby is Gia’s best friend growing up but they are polar opposites. Gia’s dad paid for all of Abby’s schoolings and provided for her while Gia is a rich girl with a trust fund. Gia, Abby and Gia’s brother, Benny grew up together. This book, both a thriller and a murder mystery, has many twists and turns.
The story takes place on a Greek Isle where the rich and famous come to play. Gia is there to fix up the house to sell. While there she meets Garrett whom she marries after not knowing him very long. Abby, Gia and Benny are to meet up in Sweden but Gia never shows. What follows is the mystery of where is Gia and why?
The book does slow down in the middle and the ending was not the least bit satisfying.

What? WHAT? This was very unsatisfying and unsettling. After weeding through the entire story, I ended with a head shake.

Loved this fabulous novel as it's fast-paced and thrilling! Gia and Garrett have been married for 3 months and really know next-to-nothing about the other (except that Gia's rich after inheriting family money. Gia's best friend, Abby is invited to her 30th birthday and they have plenty to catch up on! Unfortunately, it's not all good as there are secrets involving them both from years ago, and each one harbors her own insecurities and suspicions about the other. It's a great, convoluted tale (my favorite kind) as we go back and forth in time and discover infidelities, kidnappings, drug use, but also beautiful islands and friendships that withstand the test of time. So dive right in and enjoy; you'll be ready to book a flight immediately!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!