I'm a big fan of #KelleyArmstrong, especially her Rockton/Haven's Rock contemporary mystery series and her Rip Through Time time-travel mystery series. Her latest, published as K.L. Armstrong, is this standalone thriller featuring true crime podcast host and PhD student Amy Gibson. Inspired by her mother's death (she was killed by her boyfriend), Amy focuses her scholarship and podcast on crimes against women committed by their partners. Amy is a dynamic character and I really enjoyed this twisty ride. The last part felt slightly rushed to me, but I'll take too much plot in a thriller over too little. I most appreciated that while there is an educational piece to this book, sharing lot of facts, data, and (fictional) stories about partner violence, it's also a compelling mystery. Armstrong is one of the best at entertaining, but I appreciated learning so much too.

I've loved this authors paranormal stories in the past so thought I'd give her thriller a try. I wasn't disappointed. While the AHA moments, the twists that usually gives thrillers their sparkle weren't gasp worthy, some still surprised me. Others were less surprising and the outcome of the story, obvious at an early stage for me. I would absolutely read more in this genre from this author in the future.

This was one of my favorite thrillers of the year. I really like the way that Armstrong writes and how the mystery unfolds. The characters are great and the plot kept me on my toes.

cool! cool! read this one it's definitely not groundbreaking but it does goodwork within the context of a thriller

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Known to the Victim.
A young woman, Amy,is a podcaster. She is very good at discussing victims who are under control. Those gaslit, those who have been abused and controlled. That’s her audience. But soon Amy begins to have to look in the mirror because she is confronted by a woman who tells her the family secrets and that’ she is a hypocrite. Why because Amy’s brother is now accused of exactly what she talks about in her podcast. But is Amy blind or is she now a victim or is is just all coincidence.
Soon Amy will have no alternative but to face herself and those around her and a past she has desperately tried to avoid for many years. And now she’s going to have to face herself for once and for all.
Good read. Lots of dialogue which is not my favorite part of the plot.
3.4 stars

I love novels by KL Armstrong and this one was no different, An addictive and enjoyable read right through to the end.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this book. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


We are following Amy Gibson who has started a podcast called Known to the Victim after she lost her mother her second year of college. Amy is studying for her doctorate and one day when she is giving a talk at a library a women starts talking about her brother and how is a manipulator and gaslights women and her killed his wife by drowning her and had an ex in college that committed suicide. Then Amy finds out that her brother was questioned by the police because they had new evidence that someone anonymously sent. Amy starts to look into things when her brother’s girlfriend is shot and she named him as the shooter until she remembers that the person that shot her was wearing a mask. She befriends Dean an investigator that works with her friend that she normally gets to do investigative work for her. Amy gets kidnapped by Laura, her brothers ex-wife who found out that Amy and her brother are not actually related and wants money to keep quiet. Then Amy is drugged and someone kills Laura and she is arrested until they corroborate her story. Dean helps Amy figure out if Laura was telling the truth. Amy also finds out that her brother is a trustee for her trust fund and has been manipulating things and gaslights her. Then when Amy goes to Dean’s apartment her brother draws her out by pretending to be his girlfriend that was shot and she confronts him and he admits to killing Laura and doing all sorts of things and is arrested. Amy and Dean do go on a date in the epilogue of the book. This book was very interesting and I didn’t know what to believe and what was real and what was fake. I am definitely glad that I read this book.

Such a great book! The story was fast-paced, there were a lot of unexpected twists, and it was hard to know who to trust - all things I love in a book. I also really, really appreciated how "fun" facts about domestic abuse were added in, helping the readers to know what kinds of red flags to look for in real life. Some of the events may have been a little far-fetched, but it was a fun read that I highly recommend.

I received your complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

The book follows Amy whose life is a never ending heartache -her mother is murdered by her boyfriend and grief knows no bounds but she is saved but Oliver her half brother. But the chain of bad events follow her when her brother is accused of a crime . How far does one go to clear their loved ones.intriguing ,fast-paced and surprising.

Absolutely amazing! I was hooked from the start. The premise os so original and the writing style so natural that you get completely absorbed in the plot. The characters were well written and realistic, the twists were perfectly done, and overall I just couldn't put it down. Absolutely a must read

#KnownToTheVictim #NetGalley
Shocking read.
When Amy Gibson's mother is brutally murdered by her boyfriend, Amy's world is completely undone. Overcome with grief and heartache, she withdraws from everything around her—college, her friends, her entire life. Until her estranged half-brother, Oliver, saves her, pulling her back into her life and giving her family. Giving her a home. Eight years later, she's picked herself up and has worked hard to move forward. She’s the host of a popular true crime podcast that focuses on crimes against women committed by their partners and is finding purpose and healing through helping women in ways she couldn't help her mother. And then Oliver is accused of the unthinkable—something that is so unlike him. Something that horrifies Amy. But desperate to save the only family she has, she sets out to prove her brother's innocence. But as the days pass and more information about Oliver and his past slowly comes to light, Amy begins realizing that nothing is ever as it seems—especially when it comes to family.
I loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for giving me an advance copy.

From the very beginning, this book had me completely hooked. The narrative was thrilling and fast-paced, with a sense of urgency that made it impossible to put down. The plot twists were skillfully executed, and the suspense was palpable, keeping me guessing and eagerly turning pages. It’s a masterclass in suspense and storytelling, and it’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a gripping, high-energy thriller.

Known To The Victim follows Amy who lost her mother tragically at the hands of her boyfriend. Eight years later, she is the host of a popular true-crime podcast whose main focus is on crimes against women committed by their partners to help women in ways she couldn't help her mother. Amy finally believes she has found her purpose until her brother, Oliver is accused of the unthinkable and the more information she finds out about Oliver and his past, the more she realises that she might not know her brother as well as she thinks.

I knew from the moment I read the premise that this was going to be a book that I picked up and enjoyed.

I had so much fun with this book and I truly found myself completely immersed in the story from the front and beginning. It was engaging, well-planned and had me on the edge of my seat.

This was my first time reading this author but it definitely will not be the last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Great story with a thrilling pay off. I was drawn in immediately and excited to see what happened. The characters were well written and engaging. This is an author who can write in multiple genres and is good at all of them.

** I received a copy of this book through NetGalley so thank you, NetGalley and K. L. Armstrong for this opportunity.**

Amy Gibson's life is shattered when her mother is murdered by her boyfriend, leading her to withdraw from everything until her half-brother Oliver brings her back to life. Years later, she finds purpose as the host of a true crime podcast focused on helping women facing violence. When Oliver is accused of a horrifying crime, Amy fights to prove his innocence, only to uncover unsettling truths about her family.

Rating: 5/5

Breakdown:
1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 5/5 This was my first experience with K.L. Armstrong's writing, though I've loved her books written as Kelley Armstrong. I absolutely loved this thriller. The plot was well-planned and excellently paced, with completely enthralling storytelling.

2. **Characterization:** 5/5 The characters were fascinating, very real with their flaws and strengths, and they grew throughout the story.

3. **Writing Style:** 5/5 I'm a huge fan of Armstrong's writing style. I'm fairly sure she could write a menu and I'd love it.

4. **Originality:** 5/5 I read a lot of thrillers, and this one was completely original. It was detailed, complicated, and made for a very interesting story.

5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 5/5 This book had me completely enthralled. I loved the emotional connection I made with the main character and felt like I was on the journey with her. The twist blew my mind, and the ending was very satisfying, wrapping up the story well while leaving room for more adventures with these characters.

Known to the Victim is a chilling account of how dangerous even those we love can be even if we are hyper aware of safety. In the thriller our MC Amy is very aware of violence against women by know abusers. Her mother was murdered by an ex and she has spent her life coping with the loss and educating others to see the signs through a true crime podcast. However, what if someone is so good at hiding their true intentions even a savvy, smart woman who knows the signs can miss them.

I truly could not get enough and I really hope to see this become a series as I absolutely love the characters and how they came together even through their misunderstandings and found the truth. 20 out if 10 if I could give it. Get the book it’s amazing.

I absolutely loved this book! It was wild and a little over the top but it was a fun, easy read that kept me guessing.

Reeling from the brutal murder of her mother, Amy sinks into a deep depression. Her estranged half brother, Oliver, is the one who drags her out of the darkness and gives her life again. Years later, Amy has become a popular podcasting advocate for female victims. Oliver, a wealthy businessman, is her biggest cheerleader and closest family. When Oliver becomes a suspect in the past disappearance of his wife, more questions arise about other women from his past and Amy must decide between sticking by her accused brother or sticking by the victims, women who she’s made a career off of defending and supporting.

This story was an interesting and suspenseful book - the perfect summer read!! Thank you to NetGalley and DoubleDay Canada for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I'll be honest, I'm feeling a little conflicted about this one. I instantly added it to my TBR when the book was announced because of the premise as well as it being a release from one of my all-time favorite authors, so I was excited to read it. And yes, it was an enjoyable experience, I started and finished the book on a train ride, but now that I've had some time to think about it, there are a few things that stop me from giving it a glowing review.

Known to the Victim follows Amy Gibson, a true crime podcaster who focuses on domestic abuse cases, crimes where the perpetrator is "known to the victim". Before she became successful, she struggled after her mother was murdered by an ex-boyfriend until her half-brother, Oliver, helped her put her life back together. Now, Oliver's been accused of exactly the sort of crime Amy covers on her podcast. She's desperate to prove his innocence, but as she starts compiling the evidence things get more complicated…

Let me start with what I loved about this book. First and foremost, some of the twists had me gasping; it was extremely well-done. In general, the mystery dimension was spectacular, it's more the characters and ending that I had issues with. Of the characters, I'm a big Dean Castillo fan, not only because he reminds me of Eric Dalton from the author's Rockton series, but because he adds spice where the other characters lack it. I don't really have strong feelings about any other characters, all I can say is that they served their purposes but I was here more for the plot than for them.

Regarding the ending, I suppose this is partly a criticism of the book's central thesis? The idea that you see what you want to see, even when people aren't who they appear to be. It felt unresolved, and without going into the details let me just say that while I understand why it was left open-ended, to me it was unsatisfactory because the entire book was sort "are they good or bad" and then all we got in terms of resolution was "you decide for yourself" without any super concrete evidence pointing either way. But maybe I'm interpreting it wrong! I also need to add that for an entire character/subplot, we never really got to learn about the motivation behind their actions?

Maybe this review seems overly critical of the book considering my rating, but I did have a good time reading it. I'd recommend you check it out if you're into true crime, ambiguous endings, and mystery, even just to see what you think. It reminds me a little of the entire genre of psychological thrillers, which I've determined definitely aren't for me, but lots of people clearly like them, so if you fit in that camp this might be a good one for you as well. Known to the Victim was certainly a fascinating read; I just can't say for sure that I loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

K.L. Armstrong’s latest thriller, Known to the Victim, is a gripping exploration of familial bonds, secrets, and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones. This novel is a masterclass in suspense, weaving a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The story centers around Amy Gibson, whose life is shattered when her mother is brutally murdered by her boyfriend. Overwhelmed by grief, Amy withdraws from her life until her estranged half-brother, Oliver, steps in to support her. Fast forward eight years, Amy has rebuilt her life and hosts a popular true crime podcast focusing on crimes against women. Her world is upended once again when Oliver is accused of a heinous crime. Determined to prove his innocence, Amy embarks on a quest that reveals unsettling truths about her family and herself.

Armstrong excels in creating complex, multi-dimensional characters. Amy is a compelling protagonist whose journey from grief to empowerment is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Her relationship with Oliver is portrayed with nuance, capturing the intricacies of sibling bonds and the shadows of past traumas. Oliver himself is a fascinating character, whose layers are peeled back gradually, keeping readers guessing about his true nature.

The novel delves deep into themes of trust, betrayal, and the often murky waters of familial loyalty. Armstrong’s writing is sharp and evocative, painting vivid scenes that draw readers into Amy’s world. The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter ending on a note that compels you to keep reading. Armstrong’s ability to blend emotional depth with a fast-paced plot is truly commendable.

For those who enjoy audiobooks, Known to the Victim is a treat. The narration brings the characters to life, adding an extra layer of immersion to the already captivating story. The narrator’s performance enhances the tension and emotional weight of the narrative, making it a highly recommended format for this book.

Known to the Victim is a standout thriller that combines a compelling plot with rich character development and thought-provoking themes. K.L. Armstrong has crafted a story that is entertaining and emotionally resonant, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Armstrong or new to her work, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression.

An intense psychological thriller with interesting twists and turns.

One thing that got annoying really fast was the stupid decisions Amy keeps on making, like girl, please, you're supposed to be smart!

Even though I saw everything coming from miles away, I still enjoyed this read.