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

This is my first book by author JT Ellison, and it won't be my last. There were so many twists and turns, and it kept me captivated until the end. I'm excited about the potential for a follow-up book to answer those lingering questions.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This one comes out in September, and you won't be disappointed!

Amazingly, this is my first JT Ellison book, and it was a fast-paced mystery that kept me guessing. The characters were mysteries themselves that unfolded themselves gradually, and it was well-written. I'll definitely be adding more books by Ellison to my list :)

#NetGalley #AVeryBadThing #JTEllison

What if your whole life has been a lie? You’ve written the narrative to suit your needs. Literally.

Meet Columbia Jones, a New York bestselling author who is most loved. She has over twenty best selling novels during her lifetime. She’s most loved, fans who adore her and is a household name. Imagine Colleen Hoover. Everyone has heard of Colleen Hoover, RIGHT?

Columbia is about to wrap up her most anticipated book tour in the US. The last night of her book signing, she faints at the sight of an approaching man. She’s rushed to the hospital. All her tests appear to be jet lagged. Later that night she is found shockingly murdered in her hotel room of the event.

Who would want Columbia Jones dead?

Riley is the journalist who has been hired on to tour with her, interview and write up a story of Columbia’s fame and fortune. Darian, her daughter, handles everything connected to her and the Columbia Jones brand. These two women are the ones that have spent the most time with the author in her final month. Could it be one of them? A crazed fan? Someone from her past?

J.T Ellison does a phenomenal job laying out her characters. Even the ones I disliked starting to grow on me. You get to see the good and bad in everyone’s roles. I didn’t have to question the decisions they made. I could feel a genuine sense of motives, whether intentionally good or bad. I loved feeling connected to them.

FOLKS, I lost a lot of sleep over this one. This is the true definition of a unputdownable psychological thriller! Hanging off the edge of my seat! Quickly turning the pages. A wild ride of whodunnit and one heck of a story.

The only con is you just have to role with it towards the end. This turns into a crazy locked room madhouse and of course the narrative becomes a bit far fetched. However, it was highly entertaining!!!! This one’s going to be a hit! Add to your TBR now!

Massive thanks to Storm Publishing, NetGalley and J.T Ellison for the opportunity. All opinions are my own. Publication date September 3, 2024
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this book, with my honest review below.

A Very Bad Thing was a very entertaining mystery that kept me engaged throughout. Following the mystery of an Oprah-level of adoration writer Columbia Jones, we see the final moves she made before she is murdered to try to make peace with her mysterious past. The players that are part of these moves don’t even know it, and we follow their investigation into what happened, why it happened, and of course - the discovery as to who Columbia was.

I was on tenterhooks throughout as this was well written and well paced. I read the Author’s Note as well which gives visibility to the events that unfolded as J.T. Ellison wrote this book, the notable one I knew of as Salman Rushdie being attacked during his tour, which mirrored some of the starting conflict in this novel. That would have had to have been eerie in writing a novel along the same vein but I’m glad Ellison continued and imagine it reinforced or made more realistic some of her writing around fans’ reactions as the book felt like an insiders view on what would happen if a widely renowned author or figure met their tragic end at the peak of their career (forgetting the mysteries which were unique to the book and which in and of themselves were fascinating). Final note for future readers - the twists - one in particular - my goodness!

Highly recommended for those who enjoy smart thrillers!

Riley Carrington is writing the story of her career. Best selling author, Columbia Jones, has invited Riley to join her on tour for her new book Ivory Lady. Riley is thrilled to be a part of it. Columbia has dozens of books, this tour should be no different, until it is. When a face in the crowd shocks Columbia, she faints on stage. By the next day, she's murdered in her bed. What will follow will reveal shocking revelations for Columbia's daughter, Darian and a few others.

Riley is digging. She's been looking into Columbia's past and something is just not quite adding up. While Riley searches so do the police. It's a collision course for all involved to get to the bottom of this murder. Who is Columbia Jones and what is she hiding.

This book is a shockwave. J.T. Ellison has been a longtime favorite author. She writes family drama with murder/thriller vibes. At the base of every story is a family dynamic teetering on the brink of collapse. This story is no different. Ellison's writing is descriptive and compelling. It is immediately engaging and immersive. This has officially taken over Tear Me Apart as my new favorite. I cannot wait to for this book to be out in the world.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read A Very Bad Thing by J. T. Ellison, a VERY good book! Loved it! Full of twists and surprises, right up to the end. Bravo!

This was such an addictive ‘who did it’ murder mystery thriller that i read it in one sitting! We follow the life, murder and mysteries surrounding a famous author who recently turned up dead on her book tour. The author, Columbia, had recently hired a journalist named Riley to accompany her on her book tour alongside her daughter Darian, to write a profile of her life for a magazine. Riley quickly becomes the first suspect in Columbias murder and we follow the web of lies and chaos that unravels from there! I won’t say too much more because this was so much fun to go into blind! So many interconnected stories, questionable narrators, and puzzles to piece together. This was my second JT Ellison book, and I’m already downloading another! She has such an addictive writing style with her thrillers that keep me “one more chapter”-ing until I’m nearly late for work!
Thank you Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!