Thank you to the Publisher for my arc!

Can we as a society stop writing massively long and super predictable thrillers? i was deeply intrigued by this until i got to the 50% mark and immediately figured out the ending. stop writing super long thrillers for. 0 reason. the rest of the story was just filler and i grew bored immediately.

WOW , just WOW!! 4.5 Mysterious Stars !

"I'm starting with the lie. My name is not my name. My life is not my life. It is time for you- for the world - to know the truth."

A Very Bad Thing is an explosive mystery, that eludes the reader to keep following the bread crumbs laid before you .With multiple red herrings, lots of secrets and so many twists & turns it will keep your head spinning !

With out giving too much away as you need to read this little gem for your self. A Very Bad Thing is a captivating psychological thriller that keeps you guessing to the very end, although there is the off little exaggerated scenarios it totally works for this story.

Told from multiple POV's we start off meeting Columbia Jones a world renowned author who is on a book tour . As she is presenting a speech to her fans on stage, when a gentleman in the audience stands and gives Columbia the death stare and she faints in front of everyone. After being treated in the hospital Columbia resides back at their hotel with her daughter Darian. The next morning when Riley a hired journalist goes to meet Columbia for their final interview she is met with a cold stare and a LOT of blood!! Has Columbia been murdered or did she take her own life ??

Through out the story with the persuasive writing style and great pacing we are introduced to a novel called The Legacy which we are shared bits and pieces of here and there which only heightens adds to the mystery in this intense gripping novel and leaves you questing everything and every character . Do you really know anyone ?? So may lies !

"Love makes people do awful things"

This was my first read by J.T. Ellison and she just gained a new fan, I truly loved her writing style and appreciate a mystery that keeps me guessing and is full of surprises!

I really think fans of Verity , Yellowface and The Housemaid will devour this mystery very quickly !!

Thank you Netglalley , Thomas & Mercer and J.T Ellison for this digital ARC!!

𝑴𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒚, 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒐, 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕. 𝑶𝒉, 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝑰 𝒑𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕.

A book within a book is one of my very favorite plot devices, and it was beautifully executed in A VERY BAD THING. Columbia Jones is a bestselling author who is universally loved and adored. She has penned over twenty best-selling novels, her book tours are packed, and the VIP tickets sell out in seconds. She truly cares about her readers and gives them the experience of a lifetime when they meet her.

But a plot twist Columbia was not expecting was for a lone man to stand up in the crowd while she's on stage, commanding her audience. At the sight of him, she grows pale, faints, and is rushed to the hospital. Chalking it up to overworking and jet lag, no one could have anticipated finding her dead in her hotel room. Who would want her dead?

Lots of people, it turns out. Because when your whole life has been a lie, you're going to make some enemies.

This book has a dizzying array of characters, but I had no problem keeping up with them as each one was perfectly described. Every character had a reason for existing, and you will realize as more of Columbia's life comes out that just about all of them had motive.

Two characters who command attention are Riley, the journalist who was hand-picked and paid a ridiculous sum of money to go on to tour with her and document Columbia's rise to fame, and Darian, Columbia's daughter, who handles everything connected to her mother's brand. Upon her death, some notices start arriving to people, summoning them to the reading of the will. But it's when Riley discovers an old story penned by Columbia that the narrative is completely flipped. Trust me when I say things get wild! The ending turned into a locked room thriller, and I was 100% there for it as it worked perfectly for the plot.

I inhaled this in just a few hours, and it was a fun, twisty read, but with all of this author's books, there are some heavy themes present. Highly recommended to thriller fans! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for the early copy. This book will publish September 3, 2024.

A Very Bad Thing is a very good thing to read if you like a book you can sink into and one that keeps you guessing. This was so great, and I found myself saying "no way" so many times! The twists and turns just kept coming right until the end. A very satisfying read.

As usual, JT Ellison knocks this suspense thriller out of the park! Great and complex characters, unpredictable and creative twists, skating on the edge of what could be possible. This is another un-putdownable page turner. Highly recommend!

Columbia Jones is a famous author who has been harboring a secret for years. During her month long tour she invited Riley to write her memoir. On the last day of the tour Columbia faints while speaking on stage. Riley was getting ready to conclude her questioning and write her article when Columbia was found murdered in her hotel room. The clues Columbia left behind put Riley in danger as well as a few other people close to her.
…
Columbia was a beloved mother and author who wrote fictional romance stories. She was a private person who told many stories to her daughter, but she always kept one story a secret.
…
Darian is Columbia Jones daughter and publicist. She’s helped promote her books and supported her mother every step of the way.
…
Riley traveled with Columbia during her month long book tour. Riley was writing Columbia’s memoirs. The morning of her death she was about to reveal a secret. Riley unknowingly uncovered something in Columbia’s past and is now a target.
…
Kira is a super fan whose husband treated her to a VIP meet and greet with her favorite author Columbia Jones. Kira and Luke stayed at the same hotel as Columbia Jones that was part of the package deal.
…
The concept is interesting, yet I’m finding it difficult to stay connected with the story. This is my first time reading JT Ellison and this was a test to see if her writing voice lines up with my reading style. The stories told from multiple points of view which allows readers to explore all the various characters and how they relate to Columbia Jones.
…
Storyline’s about secrets seems to be trending lately. Building a compelling concept takes effort. Building a story off the theme of secrets is tricky because the entire story is based off these secrets. Readers will have to wait until the end to learn the secrets which means your time and patience is of essence. The story is driven by numerous character introductions creating suspicion in each and every one of them. A snippet of backstory will follow to give readers a sense for how the relationship between the characters relate to each other.
…
Open one door and find a secret clue. Open another and the same thing happens until you have a collection of secret clues and the one person with the key to unlock the code is dead.

Columbia Jones is everyone’s favorite writer. Talented, charming, and warm, it is no wonder her book tour sells out. It is also no wonder how shocked everyone is when Riley, the writer covering the tour, discovers Columbia, murdered in her hotel room. Who could have wanted her dead?

As Riley and Columbia’s daughter (and publicist) Darian reel from her untimely demise, they start to uncover the many secrets she was harboring before her death. The mysterious life of the writer was far more complicated than anything they could have imagined.

The story is told from different perspectives, mainly focusing on Riley and Darian, and each chapter helps to unravel the many secrets Columbia was concealing. It is a shame Columbia is murdered so early on in the book, as it would have been interesting if the author had chosen to explore the dynamic between Columbia and Darian more. The reader is given a glimpse into a tumultuous relationship, but it is not explored as fully as it could have been. Columbia’s past is what drives the plot, but it would have been interesting to have more of her leading up to the murder.

This is a fun read overall, with plenty of drama and several twists, though some are a little convoluted and Columbia’s connection to Riley is a bit predictable. This would be a solid choice for a beach read.

A Very Bad Thing by JT Ellison. Pub Date: September 2024. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. If you’re into murder mysteries with lots of suspense and multiple POVs then this book is for you. Columbia Jones is a famous author who turns up dead while on book tour. Who killed her and why? This book goes into multiple POVs from family to detectives to a reporter who was hired by Columbia to follow her on her book tour. All the characters have a stake in figuring out who murdered Columbia, but as details emerge the stakes get higher and the risk is more. I really enjoyed this novel and was shocked at how fast I read it considering its length. I highly recommend this novel! Thanks to #netgalley and #thomasandmercer for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #bookstagram #bibliophile #averybadthing #jtellison #igreads #bookworm

A famous, best-selling author collapses at a book signing event. A brutal tour schedule?

When the next morning finds her dead in her bed, everyone is a suspect.

Is it the daughter? The reporter? The mysterious man who showed up last night at her signing?

How does such a beloved writer have so many people wanting her dead? Or at least seem to want her dead. Secrets, threats, murder, it’s all here.

Because Columbia Jones isn’t really Columbia Jones. But who is she? And how did she come to be Columbia?

This was such a twisty story! In the best of ways. And it all came together deliciously!

Always a great story from Ellison.

NetGalley/ Thomas and Mercer September 03, 2024

A Very Bad Thing is an excellent book that engrosses the reader from the first page. JT Ellison has a way of weaving the characters together that keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what happens next and believe me you’ll never see it coming until the very end.

Columbia Jones is a New York Times bestselling author from England. She is loved by her huge fan base, daughter and publisher. She is on a book tour of her latest novel, The Ivory Lady and on the last night of her book tour, she has fainted during her book reading. Taken to the hospital and being told she is okay but to get checked out upon her return to New York, she goes to the hotel to rest. But when Riley, a journalist hired to be on the tour with Columbia to write an article finds her murdered everyone has questions.

This was such a fun, thrilling and exciting read. I did not want this story to end. With multiple POVs and different timelines, it looked like it would be a lot but it’s not. Everything flows, reads and is written so wonderfully. I could not put this book down! The epilogue had me shocked but in a way, I am glad she put it in…more suspense! This is a longer book but I enjoyed every page and honestly, can this book become a movie or TV show…it would be perfect.

Thank you to JT Ellison, Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: September 3, 2024

When a bestselling author at the top of her game is found in a pool of blood in her hotel room, nobody in her inner circle can fathom the hidden secrets she’s been carrying that led to her demise. Even her daughter, best friend who is a lawyer, agent, and the reporter she hired to write a special piece, and later her memoir, have no idea about the fatal circumstances she's been involved in that compelled her to reinvent her entire life story. What if the bestselling author not only crafted best-selling fiction but also constructed a convenient new life story for herself consisting of a web of lies?

During her latest book tour for 'Ivory Lady,' which has already been adapted into a high-budget movie by Spielberg’s team, Columbia Jones is full of energy as she meets with her fans, signing books while accompanied by her 29-year-old daughter Darian, who handles PR, organization, and editorial tasks simultaneously. Alongside them is the young but aspiring and creative reporter Riley Carrington, in her late twenties, attending each event and following Columbia's steps like a hawk.

When a mysterious man confronts her in the middle of her speech in front of her fans, she collapses in shock. Her hospital visit ends with a verbal altercation with her daughter, who insists her mother’s stalker may jeopardize her tour. The next day, reporter Riley, who insists on having her last one-on-one interview with Columbia to uncover her hidden past, finds Columbia dead in her bed, covered in blood, likely murdered. Simultaneously, Darian chooses that moment to enter the room, accusing Riley of murdering her mother.

As Riley tries to prove her innocence, lead detective Sutcliffe senses discrepancies in the case, leading him to consider the possibility that Columbia took her own life. A viral shaming campaign on social media tarnishes Columbia’s reputation as news about her changing will and the unexpected beneficiaries summoned to the will reading increases tension, intertwining the lives of Darian, Riley, and Kira, a young bakery owner and devoted fan of Columbia. What secrets has Columbia been holding for years that resulted in her tragic death? Who killed her? Why is Riley Carrington being targeted? Could anyone in their inner circle be leading a double life, deceiving them from the start? Expect the biggest twists and be shocked by jaw-dropping revelations! This action-packed, smartly executed mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat. While it starts a little slowly, be patient and immerse yourself in each narration; eventually, you will find yourself drawn into the big mystery. Especially after the first half, you'll become increasingly excited with the fast-paced story, constantly guessing the identity of the perpetrator as unexpected twists keep you guessing. The epilogue is a nice touch that surprises you one last time. It seems that great thriller authors always have the last laugh.

Although some twists may seem a little far-fetched, I enjoyed most of them and the pacing, as well as the increasing tension that kept me glued to the pages. The well-crafted execution pushed me to rate this mystery 4.5 out of 5 stars, which it highly deserves.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this unputdownable book's digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Another great read by J.T. Ellison. A famous author is murdered and it turns out a lot of people had reasons to kill her. Lots of twists and turns and a shocker of an ending. Loved it and I highly recommend this book.

A nice light escape and a good beach. read. Nicely written. Good luck with the book and thanks for the opportunity to read.

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison - publication date September 3, 2024

I have been a long time J.T. Ellison fan, and this book did not disappoint! It is fun to read about an author of many successful books and to wonder if the story has any real connection to the author who wrote the book about the fictional author - although, based on Ellison's acknowledgement, this is not really the case...right?

Columbia Jones is on a book tour when sudden sickness hits her and takes her out. Her daughter and her chosen reporter are two women very intertwined in the story, but not the most fond of each other. The shocking death of Columbia Jones garners many online speculations as to what happened, who murdered her, and details of this famous author's life that could be true, or just rumors. One of Jones' biggest fans was in attendance during the tour where she fell out on stage, leading to her death. In the section she was sitting in, a man had stood briefly and fled in the middle of the author's speech moments before the falling. In much deeper ways than one might imagine, the fan in attendance is connected to all of these people beyond just enjoying the books. Do we really know anything about the strangers next to us, in the same restaurant, movie theater, or concert?

Some parts of the story took a little time for me to get into, but once I hit around chapter 4, I was feeling that can't-put-this-down urge to find out what would happen next. There were some definite twists that took me by surprise, and all the way up to the very last page, I had parts of this story that shocked me to find out.

Look for this book to be published in September, and you will not want to miss out on reading this thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley, J.T. Ellison, and the publishers for allowing this to be read so far in advance of the publication date!

Absolutely loved this book!! I devoured it in one day. This may be my favorite JT Ellison book now! I loved the multiple viewpoints and how you get a perk inside what it’s like to be a successful author.

Who murdered Columbia Jones? The premise of this book had me instantly hooked and it turned out to be another solid thriller by J.T. Ellison.

I may be in the minority but I did struggle through parts of the story... while I wanted answers, after a while it started to feel a little TOO convoluted. The most likeable characters in the story seemed to have the smallest parts so the story dragged on a bit for me as a result. It was hard to care about Darian when a lot of the time she came off as a brat. I did enjoy the way the story came together in the end and the included epilogue was a great touch - definitely don't want to spoil anything but I knew there was more to that character!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read an early copy! #AVeryBadThing #NetGalley

What a wild ride!! I was completely engrossed in this book. JT Ellison is a master of her craft. There were so many pieces to this story and they were so expertly woven together. I did not want to stop reading at all. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going on, yet I did not want the book to end! The ending blew my mind and left a smile on my face!! Easily 5 stars!

This was definitely a very tense and suspensful read, it had me hooked right away and I didn't want to finish it until I knew the truth.

This is a fantastic premise - America's most beloved writer dies in the middle of a big book toru. Columbia Jones is a powerhouse with an entourage, long book list and movie tie-ins. Her adult daughter Darian handles her press and they have the typical mother-daughter realtionship... a little fight here and there and lots of love. Darian does not think much of the journalist that was asked along but. Riley has kept up with their pace and been a model guest.

When Columbia is discovered deceased in her hotel room everyone's world breaks apart. The police aren't sure what has occured, Darian is sure that Riley has a part in it. More than one person receives notification that they are to part of the reading of Columbia's will and that sets a series of events in motion that puts everyone's lives at state.

Lots of complex and likeable characters, super unique and fun premise and an all around rollicking great thriller! JT Ellison is a magical writer and I cannot recommend enough! Thonas&Mercer #averybadthing #JTEllison