"Ladykiller" ended up not being quite what I went into the story expecting.
The premisis surrounds two long life friends with unreliable narrators throughout.
"Ladykiller" took a little bit to get into, but overall a good read.

3.5 stars
The first 90% of this book was 4 solid stars.
The setting is gorgeous.
The characters are flawed.
The story is mysterious.
Once this plot began unfolding it was hard to put down.
Then we reach the last 10% of the book.
There is no closure.
There is too much mystery.
I was left with far too many questions.
Wish the ending had given a little more to the reader, but I would still recommend it.

"Ladykiller" by Katharine Wood is a new thriller set on an idylically beautiful Greek island. It is peopled with beautiful, charismatic, RICH folks who may just possibly be a teeny tiny bit...DANGEROUS. Yes, there are plenty of shady people here who possess, shall we say, some questionable moral character. Folks whose alliances shift faster than the white sand beaches of the Mediterranean Sea that surround that luxury hilltop villa where all sorts of shenanigans and schemes are playing out. Deliciously wicked voyeuristic moments abound!

A more perfect setup for a *spicy* thriller could not be imagined. And for much of this novel, this carries the story well, helping to build anticipation and allowing clues to be dropped and possibilities to be spun so that the reader remains engaged and entertained.

This novel was published on July 9, 2024. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced galley proof of "Ladykiller" by Katharine Wood.

This book was a bit too slow for my liking, but it was definitely an interesting story, just not a wow moment!

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP-BALLANTINE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The stunning cover of Ladykiller helped me visualize the Greek oasis where Gia lives in this book. However, I found Gia’s character to be so obnoxiously spoiled that I nearly DNFed this one. While I predicted some of what took place (as a reference to The Talented Mr. Ripley should do for any reader), I was surprised by a few things - but I don’t know if that is reason enough to recommend this book to others. The ending wasn’t clear enough for me to feel one way or another, so I’ll just say if you want to read it for the *vibes* or because of the cover, I totally get it. For the plot? I’d look elsewhere.

I liked how we flipped between Abby and Gia’s manuscript but it was way too slow for me. It felt like not much was happening for majority of this one!

A twisted little number full of secrets, deception, an heiress, and perhaps even a few who aren’t exactly up front with their true identities. Katherine Wood’s Ladykiller is a perfect vacation read. I stayed up late in bed, but I could picture it poolside with a cold glass of chenin blanc and my toes warming in the sun!

I’m going to keep my review over here where we are spoiler-free a bit short. I’ll put the publisher synopsis at the bottom because it is juicy! But I also kind of thought it gave a bit more away than it needed to. I don’t mind things like that, but this is a book that has so many twists and reveals as it unfolds, that it could be fun to go in a bit more blind. Don’t worry, I’ll get into the spicy details on my spoiler review.

The story is completely immersive, centering around two friends, Gia and Abby. Abby is a bookish girl who has always been grateful for the benevolence of the vivacious Gia—an heiress who’s always shared with her best friend. Their friendship started at a young age, and solidified even deeper after a tragedy that happened when they were visiting Greece at the young age of eighteen. What was the tragedy? You’ll find out, but not for some time so just go ahead and order that second cocktail!

It's been twelve years since that tragedy, and Gia is back at her family’s estate with her new husband in tow, while Abby is working as an attorney. Gia and Abby have had a bit of a falling out over Abby’s concerns about Gia’s new husband and the quickness of their marriage. Gia extends a Greek olive branch from the family estate (lol) and Abby and Gia’s brother Benny agreed to come visit for Gia’s birthday. When they arrive, Gia is missing and isn’t answering her phone.

Told in two narratives, Abby narrates present day and the time leading up to her disappearance are chronicled in Gia’s memoir. If you think that is strange, it makes some sense after we learn that Gia had also published a popular memoir several years earlier about her own life. The novel is dominated by Gia’s perspective, and that worked perfectly because until the end it is the far-more compelling narrative. Abby comes off as the much more level-headed of the two friends. Gia is impulsive, vivacious, and slightly self-centered. Despite her upbringing, though, she’s doesn’t act as privileged as you’d expect. She is very “what’s mine is yours” with those she loves.

Gia’s memoir is a trail of breadcrumbs leading towards the answers Abby and Benny are seeking. Where did she go? Is Gia ok? It looks grim, but then again, Gia is a bit flighty. The guests at Gia’s estate were an interesting crew. Her husband Garrett honestly does seem a little bit slimy at times, but we are also colored by Abby’s view of him. The staff are gorgeous, as are their wealthy friends. There is so much drama surrounding Gia and the whole crew at the Greek estate that I was totally hooked.

I don’t know if every reader will agree but I actually liked Gia the most out of any character. She was dynamic, compared to the purity of Abby and Benny. We need those goody good characters, but are they the most interesting? Never. The trouble with Gia is that we (and Abby) are reading the events in a memoir, so there’s always the question of how accurately she portrayed things.

The ending was good but it did leave many questions unanswered. Everyone has their secrets exposed… but not all of their secrets. I didn’t mind the lack of definition at the end. I felt I was able to infer exactly what Katharine Woods was implying without the specifics. A dazzling beachy thriller about rich people, living lavishly, and the people they attract.

Thank you Net Galley for my arc. Every time I thought I had this book figured out, it took a left turn!

Originally, I found Gia to be vapid and two-dimensional, but she turned out to be much more than originally thought!

It’s taken me a long time to write a review on this one. The writing isn’t the reason, it’s the characters. Gia is a spoiled, entitled rich woman. Her best friend Abby is beholden to her because Gia’s father financed her law school education. They’ve shared a secret from the age of 18. Now, at thirty years old Gia impulsively marries a questionable man that Abby disapproves of and has refused to attend the wedding.
To celebrate Gia’s birthday, she invites Abby on an all expense paid trip to
When Gia invites her brother Benny and best friend Abby to celebrate her thirtieth birthday in Sweden on an all-expenses-paid trip. Abby jumps at the chance. When they arrive, Gia is no where to be found. Gia's disappearance leads to Benny and Abby's search for her and the truth about what has happened to her.
This ARC was provided by Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This will be a short and sweet review. It kept my attention, was full of unreliable narrators and con artists. No one could be trusted. There were twists and turns and I loved the part of the book told from Gia (the heiress)’s manuscript. The first half is slower than the second, the ending a bit ambiguous. You may have some questions you wish were answered.

And this cover!! How gorgeous?

Not ready to say goodbye to summer? This steamy mystery underneath the hot Mediterranean sun is the perfect read for those still longing for beach weather.

Gia & Abby survived a trauma in their late teens, & now twelve years later Gia’s looking to have some facetime with Abby. Gia’s been busy enjoying her new husband & privileged lifestyle with no responsibilities (until the recent passing of her father), & Abby’s been working nonstop to get ahead in her career, so a trip to see the Northern Lights is the perfect opportunity to catch up in person. But just before hopping on a plane, Abby receives a message that leads her to believe something from their past might be a present-day problem, & when Gia is nowhere to be found, she’s left with more questions than answers…

I really enjoyed the back & forth in this story from Gia’s manuscript of the recent past to Abby’s current situation in Sweden & then Greece looking for Gia. The characters all had multiple motives, & there were so many secrets & manipulations mixed in with the sexual tension. I’ll be interested to see what this author works on next.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

No one writes a thriller like Katherine Wood (some of you may know her as Katherine St. John because Ladykiller is the first book she has written under her real name),

When Gia doesn’t arrive to her luxe birthday celebration in Sweden, her best friend Abby and her brother Benny, embark on a journey to their family home in Greece to find her. A manuscript that Gia was working on filled with troubling actions about her new husband is the only clue they have — and their only hope at finding Gia alive.

I fell hard for Gia and Abby’s story’s and the landscapes -from Greece to Sweden — that St. John artfully added to this superb book, Interspersed with mythology and prose that is so beautifully captivating, I was smitten with (and slightly terrified of) Ladykiller.


Five stars. Forever a Katherine Wood Stan! (Do people still say that??)

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. first of all, what a great title and cover! i really enjoyed this one and it keep me reading until the very end. some parts went a bit slow but that may be just me. the Grecian setting was a nice change to the cozy state settings i've been reading lately.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and Bantam books for my honest review.*

Gia and Abby are best friends, but Gia's family had the wealth and Abby's Mom was the chef. Hard to wonder if Gia was just friends out of necessity, but the girls grew up together and Gia's parents put Abby through private school. Abby worked hard to become a lawyer and to take advantage of the gifts Gia's family had to offer including spending time in Greece at their home there. And then someone is killed in Greece for seemingly attacking Abby and Gia is the one who killed him. But was he really attacking Abby?

Abby seems to always have been at Gia's beck and call and Gia seems to always be frivolous about the wealth and once her dad died and the purse strings were closed, it's been harder for Gia to manage. But then she goes and marries a man after a very short courtship. And she starts writing about the marriage in Greece and invites Abby to join her in Europe to see the Northern lights but then never shows up.

The whole book seemed a tad convoluted from the family paying for Abby's education when she was young to Gia being so cavalier about the money and her status throughout her life, but especially once she married. And then they married couple invite another married couple to stay with them at the house in Greece.

Overall, the story wasn't bad, but the characters were awful. Easy to dislike - every one of them. A few twists that were mostly expected and a couple that were not. But with these characters, I really didn't care what happened to any of them.

100% binge-worthy.

I picked this up around 9pm before bed. Stayed up until 1 reading, and started again as soon as I woke up…didn’t put it down until I was finished.

The dual timeline that was only happening a month or so apart was so good. It was like separate POV’s but with a slight delay. The characters were written so authentically. The settings (Greece, Sweden) were some of the most picturesque anywhere. And the writing was so descriptive, I could picture every scene in detail.

Would recommend this to anyone who loves family drama and never knowing the truth.

DNF at 21%… I am sick of thrillers with one normal, down-to-earth MC and one wealthy, stuck up MC. and their messy relationship (or some Big Terrible Thing from their childhood) being at the center of the plot. let’s bring creativity back to the mystery/thriller genre!! pls!!

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. A beautiful newlywed couple meets another couple on a trip to their secluded private island getaway. Everything looks like perfection on the outside. Until you start to look a little closer. A mystery. Thriller. And unsuspecting occurrences with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Such a gripping mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story is filled with twists and turns, making it a thrilling read.
Wood’s writing is engaging, and she does a fantastic job of building suspense. The characters are well-developed, adding depth to the narrative. The setting in Greece is vividly described, transporting readers to the sun-soaked Mediterranean.
However, the ending felt a bit abrupt, leaving some questions unanswered. Despite this, the journey to uncover the truth was thoroughly enjoyable. If you love mysteries with a touch of glamour and intrigue, this is definitely worth a read. Thank you to NetGalley and bantam for an arc.

Well, what can one say? The publisher sets up a <i>Sabrina</i> retelling with added <i>Gone Girl</i> tropes. I'm no more than lukewarm to either story. I'm lukewarm about this one.

I think the author's gift is for pacing. Once launched, it's easier to keep going than quit...no matter that it's a well-trodden path.

Come for the concept, stay for the execution. If the author can make my cynical, seen-it-all self read the whole book, she can do even more for you.

Against the backdrop of the sunny Greek isles and the beautiful sandy beaches Katherine Wood offers a story of wealth and deception that questions just who can be trusted. Gia and Abby became friends when Abby’s mother was hired by Gia’s family as their chef. Living on the estate, the girls were inseparable, often accompanied by Gia’s brother Benny. In their teens, Gia saved Abby from an attack by Noah, a young man they had both been seeing, killing him in the process. Shortly after the attack Abby left for college while Gia continued in a string of relationships. When Gia meets Garrett they have a whirlwind romance and three months later she invites Abby to her wedding. Abby’s advice to not rush into marriage caused a rift in the friendship. Now she has received an invitation to Gia’s birthday celebration in Sweden and she hopes that this will mend their relationship. Benny and Abby arrive, but when Gia never shows they set off for her villa in Greece to find her. The locks at the villa have been changed. When they gain access they find a manuscript that Gia has been working on based on her life since meeting Garrett. Their loving relationship changed to one of jealousy, deceit and abuse, leaving Abby and Benny afraid for Gia’s safety.

Benny has loved Abby since they were kids. As they search for Gia they re-kindle their feelings for each other. Abby, however, is living with secrets that could destroy that. The assault was based on a lie and she is now receiving e-mails that threaten to expose her. When she is confronted by her accuser it raises questions about what really happened. Did Gia accidentally kill Noah or was it a deliberate murder. Abby is now a lawyer who is grateful to Gia’s family for their support as she grew up. When Gia disappeared she did not hesitate to offer assistance. Gia, on the other hand, has been manipulative and dependent on the family’s money. Alternating between Gia’s manuscript and Abby’s story, Wood fills her story with secrets and introduces characters whose friendship with Gia mask ulterior motives. While she reveals both Gia’s story and Abby’s questions regarding the actual events, Wood leaves you to decide who to believe rather than giving a solid solution. I would like to thank Random House - Ballantine for providing this book.