Set primarily in the beautiful Greek islands, this spicy, psychological thriller will keep you turning the pages. Told in the alternating voices of the two female protagonists, you will be swept up in the relationship and shared tragedy of Abby and Gia. Abby, a stressed single attorney living in Atlanta receives an invitation to join her wealthy, newly married childhood best friend Gia for Gia’s thirtieth birthday celebration in Sweden. Joining the two women is Benny, Gia’s successful screen writer brother who was Abby’s childhood crush. On the day the women are to meet, cryptic messages, mysterious emails and entries revealed in a personal manuscript Gia is writing, set the stage for this steamy thriller that will keep you in suspense until the very last page. Ms. Wood’s beautiful descriptions of the several locales of the story along with her in-depth psychological characterizations, provided the background for a very enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam and Katherine Wood for allowing me to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.7
So, you're a "wealthy" idiot with no money and a somewhat tenuous grasp on the basics of social interactions, but instead of addressing the constant red flags you're practically suffocating under, you're like - wait, can't talk, orgy time. Mkay.

Abby and Gia have been friends for ages, but they couldn't be more different. Abby is the daughter of a single mom living on the edge, while Gia is a socialite who stands to inherit a fortune. When Abby's mom is hired to work as a private chef for Gia's family, the two become fast friends. But how close can two people with such different lives be, especially when one of them is dependent on the other for schooling, housing, and social status?

The two share a dark secret from their past, and when Gia disappears, Abby and Gia's brother travel to Greece to try and find her before it's too late. But what they do discover will change everything they know about Gia.

This may be the perfect thriller. It has everything I love--rich people behaving badly, scammers, and a dual timeline that tries to get the reader close to the truth while leaving them guessing. Abby must race against time to figure out if Gia is actually the friend she thought she was.

A book filled with twists and turns, the complex dynamics of female friendship, AND it's set in Greece? Yes, please!

This book reminded me a bit of The Villa by Rachel Hawkins (which I also enjoyed!) because they both feature a wealthy brat of a best friend who provides a lot of the drama of the storyline.

The moneyed best friend in this one (Gia) is a bit more likable, and the situations she finds herself in as a newlywed are quite interesting.

I love a book with more than one timeline and the fact that the second timeline is actually Gia's manuscript makes things even more mysterious.

The book's ending felt somewhat rushed and unfinished, but overall it was an entertaining thriller that I would recommend!

Thank you to #netgalley for this ARC of #Ladykiller

Welcome to the perfect life of Gia who is celebrating her newly married life with her gorgeous husband Garrett on a beautful greek island. Sounds picture perfect, right? Well unfortunately all is not what it seems and Gia finds herself in the middle of what seems to be a conspiracy between her hausband and some new friends. Told from the viewpoint of Gia and her longtime but currenlty estranged friend Abby, these novel pulled me in from page 1 and I flew through it!

Ending left me a bit confused as I like books tied up with a neat bow but overall what a exciting read!

What a fun thriller! Ladykiller was not on my radar but when I received an ARC I decided to dive in and I'm so glad I did. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Twisty, mysterious, and loved the gorgeous setting! Add this to your TBR if you love a good thriller.

For starters, I do love the cover, nice and clean but grabs the eye. I enjoyed this novel quite a bit. Fast paced, with no sections that drag you down with an overly slow build up. The author did draw out the meal descriptions a bit, but instead of becoming bored with it, I became hungry so I have to give props there. It's a nice escapist read with no emotional tugs.

Ladykiller by Katherine Wood is much more spicier than I usually read, but it works with this book.
It wasn’t exactly up my usual reading alley of murder mystery without the spice, but it was an interesting departure for me.
Ladykiller is where love, money, twisted minds, machiavellianism come to ahead and explode in a fascinating way!
At the end of the boom, you will still be trying to figure out who did it!
Brilliantly wicked!

#KartherineWood
#Ladykiller
#BamtamBooks
#netgalley

"Ladykiller" takes readers on a thrilling and suspenseful journey into the dark secrets and hidden truths of a seemingly idyllic world.

The story revolves around the intertwined lives of two friends, Gia and Abby, who share a traumatic past in Greece. Now in their thirties, their lives have taken drastically different paths. Gia is a wealthy heiress living a life of luxury, while Abby is a hardworking attorney. When Gia invites Abby to Sweden to celebrate her birthday, it seems like a golden opportunity for them to reconnect.

However, the story takes a sinister turn when Gia mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a disturbing manuscript that reveals shocking revelations about her marriage and the enigmatic guests at her estate. As Abby and Gia's brother, Benny, dig deeper into the secrets hinted at in the manuscript, they embark on a quest to unravel the truth and find Gia.

The narrative skillfully weaves together multiple timelines, alternating between Gia's manuscript and Abby's present-day investigation. This dual perspective adds layers of complexity to the story and keeps readers engaged as they piece together the puzzle alongside the characters.

The characters are well-developed, and their motivations and vulnerabilities are explored in depth. Abby's determination and unwavering loyalty to her friend make her a relatable and compelling protagonist. The supporting cast, including the enigmatic guests at Gia's estate, are equally intriguing and contribute to the overall sense of unease and suspense.

The author's writing is evocative, creating a vivid sense of place, from the luxurious settings of Greece and Sweden to the eerie emptiness of Gia's deserted estate. The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing, and the tension escalates as Abby races against time to uncover the truth about Gia's disappearance.

"Ladykiller" is a roller-coaster of a novel that explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. It's a page-turner that will keep you enthralled from start to finish, and the final revelations will leave you stunned.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. "Ladykiller" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful storytelling that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Taut, mysterious, twisted and thoroughly engaging, #ladykiller by Katherine Wood is a very enjoyable read that kept me up at night. I enjoyed the setting in the Greek isles and Ms Wood did a great job describing it so you felt you were there. I enjoyed the back and forth between Gia’s manuscript chapters and Abbey’s actions and thoughts. Thank you to #netgalley and #bantamdell for this ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Be transported to the exotic Greek Islands and live the life of a carefree, newly married woman. However things aren't exactly what they seem. In this thrilling, thriller, Gia is newly married and is renovating her Greek home left to her by her father. She is getting ready to sell it so that she will have some money after being left nothing when her father passed. She hopes to get together with her best friend Abby and brother. Abby is excited to see Gia since they haven't spoken since a falling out she and Gia had after Gia said she was getting married. There is so much history between these two. When Gia doesn't meet Abby in Sweden, Abby is worried something is wrong. Luckily Gia has left a manuscript that will shed light on what has been happening.

The novel gives Abby's view point and Gia's through her manuscript. There is so much to delve into and you won't want to stop reading this novel. I loved that it was a thriller but also a mystery rolled into one. The setting also makes this book one you won't want to miss. I actually felt like I was on a Greek island as I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. My only critique is I wanted more from the ending. I feel like I still need to know more. Overall, a good thriller.

Thank you to Random House/Bantam Dell for this ARC.

Ladykiller is a debut novel by Katherine Wood, but it is executed so skillfully, the reader would never guess it is a first novel. I learned this trying to find other books by the author after finishing the novel in two sittings.

Abby is the daughter of the chef at a billionaire’s Montecito estate. She becomes good friends with the two wealthy children, and the billionaire educates Abby since she appears to be a good influence on his daughter. Still, the power dynamics of being the help influence what is to come. Is Gia, the heiress, a victim or criminal? Is she really conned by her husband? Is she Abby’s best friend or a world-class manipulator?

There is romance, murder, and other mysteries as layers are pulled away from each of the main characters perceptions and memories. Most of the action takes place on a Greek island. I enjoyed descriptions of that as well as literary allusions sprinkled throughout the book, often with a theme mirroring the action of the novel, such as The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Definitely unputdownable!

Thank you for sending me an ARC to enjoy. While it is a cold winter where i am located, it is always fun reading a book located in an island setting. This story took place in a Greek Island setting and the atmosphere really made you feel like you were there. The story itself was a wild ride and I enjoyed it. You never quite knew who to trust and had lots of twists and turns I never saw coming.

This was a fun mystery/thriller with a few twists and turns. The storyline falls apart in a few places..but still an enjoyable read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199236713

Beautifully written with evocative descriptions of Greece and Sweden. The story is complex and tangled with an ambiguous ending that was completely different from the one I saw in my head. I loved this book and found it hard to put down. The writing was refreshingly elegant. The point of view switched from individual storylines to an unreliable manuscript written by one of the characters.

3.5 stars. Gia and Abby are best friends and spent most of their childhoods together when Abby’s mother was hired to cook for Gia’s wealthy family. Years later, the two are grown up and living countries apart as their pursue very different lives. A birthday trip promises to bring them back together after a recent falling out, but it soon becomes apparent that Gia has gone missing.

This book is an excellent vacation read as it’s set predominantly in the Greek isles as well as in lux resort in Sweden designed to showcase the Northern Lights. The chapters alternate between Abby’s present and what we are told is a manuscript of a new memoir written by Gia. The unreliable characters, rich locations, and cast of interesting characters make this a compelling read but I’m not quite sure the author figured out the ending. I actually thought I knew where this was going about 60% of the way through and weirdly found myself disappointed by the more straightforward and weirdly ambiguous real conclusion.

Overall, this is still a solidly diverting read when you need an escape. Also I do feel that the title is strangely misleading as this is far more a tale of deception and duplicity than overt violence and murder.

Many thanks to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

While I enjoyed the fast pace of the book and the twists and turns it leaves you on a cliffhanger of sorts and never really fully explains what happened to some of the vital characters the author spent so much of the story setting up. Did the soon to be ex husband Garrett die or run away? What really happened to Emilia? Is Gia really a cold hearted person and killed Noah out of spite and then years later kill again? While I love that Abby and Benny ended up together in the end, the end just left me with so many question’s.

When someone tells you who they are, believe them. Excellent advice, yes, but those tells are riddled with so many variations, so many caveats, sometimes so tempered with love that we just don’t know what the real truth is. Bookish Abby grew up with super rich Gia and Benny. Abby’s mom was part of their household staff but Abby ended up being gifted an education along with them. Abby and Gia are besties and Benny has always been silently in love with Abby. Now Gia invites Abby and Benny to a Swedish holiday to celebrate her 30th birthday. Gia is newly married but will be coming alone. But then she doesn’t show up, and calls to her are not returned. They do. get a few return texts but nothing that sounds like Gia. Concerned they travel to Gia’s house in Greece only to find it empty and the locks changed. So what has happened to the heiress Gia and her new husband? The more they find out about the new spouse the shadier he becomes and the more worried they become for their friend.

Is he as the title suggests a lady killer? Or who can really be trusted in this bunch? There are lots of twists and turns in this great summer beach read.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review
Wow what a read!
Gia is writing a book about her life, she married, lives in a beautiful home, has wild parties, and an active sex life but she is worried her husband always needs money- is he telling her lies? Where is the money going? And when Gia goes missing her friend Abby with Gia’s brother go looking for her. Abby begins to follow the clues in the book but are they true or just writing? Where is Gia? Was her husband abusive? Was he stealing from her?
And where is her husband? You won’t want to miss this book!

Ladykiller is a fast paced book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It's a mystery with a lot of red herrings to keep you guessing til the very end which will have you saying "WOW, really?!".

The beginning of the book sets the stage by giving you insight into the dynamics of the 3 main characters - Gia, Benny, and Abby- then alternates between Gia's and Abby's point of view. All 3 have secrets which come out as the book moves along. Just when you think you've figured it out you learn something new and you're back to square 1.

I will definitely be reading more from Katherine Wood.

**I did receive this advance copy for my honest review, which this is.