I am so grateful for the copy, unfortunately I could not stay interested. I found it moving slow and boring. 500 pages is wild for this.

The mystery in this book was incredibly engaging, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey it took me on. My buddy reader and I had a great time discussing theories and unraveling clues together. We took our time piecing everything together, and while we suspected the right character, we still felt a bit lost about some key details until the end.

One of the highlights was the story within the story, written by the deceased character. It centered on something she did, and I found myself wondering why she waited so long to reveal it. The depth this added to the main narrative was captivating. However, the resolution caught me off guard and felt like a bomb dropped from a clear sky. While many might appreciate the twist, I found myself wishing for more hints along the way. Despite that, I genuinely enjoyed the intricate layers of the mystery.

I did not love this book. I actually didn’t finish it, which is rare for me. I know a lot of people loved it so still give it a try!

A classic whodunit that you just can’t put down. The story starts off slow allowing you to understand the characters and allows you to realize just how many secrets everyone is keeping. The twists keep you guessing until the very end. One of the best dramatic thrillers I’ve read this year!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

📖 B L O G T O U R review 📖 featuring “A Very Bad Thing” by JT Ellison!

Today is my stop on the blog tour for “A Very Bad Thing” which releases on November 1, 2024!

Columbia Jones is THE biggest author and has a loyal fan base of readers who are totally devoted to her! She has written her twentieth novel and has a movie adaption in the works and is at the peak of her career!

But then on the final night of her book tour, Columbia collapses on stage when spotting a man in the crowd who stuns her to the core. She is released from the hospital and tucked safely into her hotel room … or so everyone thinks. The next morning she is found murdered in her bed covered in blood ☠️!

As the news of her death explodes all over the world, so do the secrets of Columbia’s past. NO ONE knows her true identity and the very bad thing she did all those years ago. There are many people out there who have a sinister motive to kill her and no one in her life is safe 🚨!

Thank you kindly to @thrillerchick @otrpr @amazonpublishing and Thomas & Mercer for my #gifted copy in exchange for my honest review and a spot on this blog tour! I absolutely LOVED this book and was totally hooked from the first page!

On the last night of her book tour, bestselling author Columbia Jones has been murdered. As the police start the investigation into her death, secrets long buried are starting to unravel and Columbia Jones may not be the person anything thought she was.

I love a good J.T. Ellison book, and this was no exception. This is something I would normally be able to binge in an evening; but having newborn twins and a toddler has me reading less and less. I did think that this book was taking me quite a while to read regardless of my schedule, and since I read a digital copy, I didn’t realize it was just under 500 pages long! That explains why I felt the story was quite long, because it is!

Don’t let that deter you from reading though. With multiple POVs and plenty of twists this was such a fun read. Though some of the story felt a bit far-fetched, the tension and storyline kept me engaged even in my sleep deprived state. While the ending leaves this book open to be a series, I felt that there was enough conclusion to really tie the whole thing together. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for it being a tad longer than it should have been. Otherwise, it was a page turning thriller.



A Very Bad Thing comes out November 1, 2024. Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for my advanced copy in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

JT Ellison never fails to deliver a page-turning thriller filled with tension and twists that keep you reading long past bedtime. Highly recommend this latest thriller - it might just be her best yet!

A master of slow burn. The reason slow burn doesn't work for me - I figure things out too early, and it is a drag to see if I'm right. In this case I was almost right, but for the last chapter. I don't know if it made sense in the totality of the book, or was there just for the shock factor. Overall a very masterfully woven tale, a lot of layers and twists, though nothing much surprising. It wasn't tense though it had momentum moving things along.

It could have been a tad shorter IMO.

Thank you to the publisher and the OTRPR for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

A Very Bad Thing is a very good book. This is a story that is well told and held my attention throughout. At times I was confused as some secrets were revealed. However, much became clearer with more revelations. A good read.

If pressed, I would say this is my favorite J.T. Ellison book so far, and I have read most of them. It was intriguing, it was well-plotted, and it kept me guessing to the end and wondering who could be trusted.

It’s always a challenge to review mystery/thrillers for someone like me who writes a wordy review. I never want to say too much and give away any important pieces of the story. There were multiple players involved in this one, and one of the reasons I found it so interesting was because I was trying to follow the breadcrumbs and work out how each one connected to the overall story. Some who seemed innocuous ultimately became very important.

Because of the complex cast, I did get a bit confused at times trying to keep things straight as I worked to unravel the mystery. This is one of the spots I don’t want to say why it was confusing, but names got complicated. All that to say, the motto quickly because “stay suspicious” because everyone was questionable. Even when you think it’s safe, you never *really* know.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Ellison's newest thriller, up-and-coming journalist Riley Carrington's new assignment could be just what her career needs. She has been invited by the beloved author Columbia Jones to accompany her on her book tour and write a story about the author and the tour. On the final night of the tour, someone in the audience seems to have really shaken Columbia, although she denies it. However, she is found killed in her hotel room the next morning, shocking everyone. This book includes multiple points-of-view, as well as excerpts from what may be an early manuscript of Columbia, and if so, could it hold a clue to her life and her death?

This is one of those books where a lot of people have secrets, which means there are plenty of motives and suspects in Columbia's death. The book is on the longer side and has some pacing issues, but overall is tense and suspenseful. Some of the characters are more likable than others, but I liked Riley as well as Kira who was one of Columbia's superfans who ends up playing an important role in the story. There are several plot turns, and things wrap up nicely for some of the characters. I have mixed feelings about the final twist which is clever but potentially sad for someone.

I was provided an advance review copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

I loved Ellison’s previous book and was excited to dig in to this one.

The story focuses on the death of Columbia Jones, author extraordinaire, and all of the secrets about her past that she has kept hidden for years. Multiple POVs include her daughter, the journalist writing a long form story about Columbia’s tour, a fan, and the detective in charge of her case as we slowly learn all of her secrets.

There is a ton to digest with this book. I struggled a bit with keeping the characters straight, as there were just so many of them and some of them have more than one name throughout the story. It reads a bit like a juicy behind the scenes story, finding out the gossip about what happened in the past. I found it to be on the slower side, with very deliberate reveals along the way.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the arc. All opinions are my own. I’m rating this one 3.5 rounded up to 4.

An intense slow burn! A Very Bad Thing is one of if not the best book I’ve read this year. An interesting premise done incredibly well. This is J.T. Ellison’s best book yet, and I love everything she writes.

This was probably the longest thriller I have read in a while but it had some of my favorite elements that made it a fast read. I loved the multiple POV and how they all seemed to have information the others were missing which made it hard to know who to trust. With Columbia being an author I loved that there was unpublished work involved. I did piece together how a couple things were related before the reveal but not all of it. There was one character’s POV I enjoyed a little more. There seemed to be more suspense and as they were more in the center of the aftermath than the rest. It was an entertaining read and the twists kept coming. This book would be great for an on screen adaptation.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the gifted ecopy.

If you’re reading this, I must be dead. I did a very bad things many years ago and it has caught up to me, I’m sorry, love, mother.

That’s the note Darian receives after her mother, a famous author dies in her hotel room on the last night of her book signing tour. Was she murdered? What happened. And what kind of secret was she keeping for all of these years.

We also follow Riley, the up and coming journalist who was on tour with Columbia before she died, writing an exclusive article. She receives notice that she is in Columbia’s will, hoping she gets her life story to write her memoir, but what else could it be?

I found this to be fun and well written. I was enamoured with the story and couldn’t put it down. The characters were deep, without being over bearing, and the story was captivating. Who was the real Columbia jones, and what very bad thing did she do?

Celebrated author Columbia Jones is adored worldwide. About to finish her book tour, she collapses after seeing man in the crowd. The morning after, she’s dead

Journalist Riley has been documenting and interviewing Columbia for the past month and is compelled to discover the truth

I loved the thrilling start to this book and immediately warmed to the characters. Columbia Jones’s fandom is comparable to Taylor Swift’s, so her death is mind-blowing

As Riley investigates, so too does daughter Darian and Detective Sutcliffe. The multiple POVs allow us to get a glimpse of each persons’ discoveries and personal dramas

This book is truly non stop, with so many secrets being revealed. It’s a meaty length, but I found the pace consistently fast

I enjoyed that all the main characters are women, with men supporting them. Each woman cares deeply for her husband/partner but ultimately this is their journey and I’m always here for that

I adored the final scenes as we move into an Agatha Christie style gathering; on a private island for the reading of the will

The showdown was a little histrionic for me and I was disappointed by the reveal - however, the final twist took me by surprise

TW: the autopsy scene is more graphic than your average thriller

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to this eBook ARC in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it. Spicy thriller with a page turning plot.

A Very Bad Thing is an utterly delicious and diabolical whodunnit, where anyone is a suspect, everyone has a motive and no one can be fully trusted. It’s addictive, it’s hugely entertaining and it’s the perfect add for autumn TBR’s.

I’m a massive @thrillerchick fan and I would hazard to say this is probably her best work yet. Give me a chunky mystery, with a very famous, very murdered author as the victim, and a cast of characters who all conceivably could have done it and who are all just a little questionable, and I’m a very happy reader. It’s obvious that I loved Clue as a kid, because I just cannot get enough of murder mysteries - who killed the author, in her bedroom, and left a lot of blood behind?

Everything about this one is really tightly crafted - from the pacing, to the tension, to the secrets that are revealed like breadcrumbs as you move character POV’s and try to piece together how they are all involved. I so deeply appreciate a story that genuinely keeps me guessing, but that also then delivers absolutely DERANGED twists that are oh-so-satisfying. And @thrillerchick SERVED in this one.

This book is a must for autumn/winter reading piles. It’s the perfect genre and the perfect plot to cuddle in with as the weather changes and as you are searching for highly satisfying mystery thriller fun. Juicy, dramatic and impossible to set down. You just cannot miss it.

I always look forward to a J.T. Ellison book because she's so good at suspenseful, wild stories!

A VERY BAD THING is just that. Does it get a little crazy sometimes? Sure. But it's a complete page-turner that draws you into the world of famous author Columbia Jones, adored by her fans and both revered and slightly feared by her daughter/publicist, Darian. On the final night of Columbia's most recent book tour, she collapses on stage, and Darian is sure it's because her mother spotted someone in the audience. Then, that night, after Columbia and Darian have a fight, Columbia is found dead. The local police Detective Sutcliffe suspects murder. Darian is sure it was Riley, a reporter her mother hired to follow her on tour and report on her life story.

What follows is a bit far-fetched at times and often dark and brutal. We hear from the perspective of Darian, Sutcliffe, Columbia (in the past), Riley, and others. The book is long, but it's exciting and everything flies by, as Ellison keeps you guessing the entire time. There are even some ties to some of her other works, thanks to the case taking Sutcliffe to Nashville (side note: I would totally read another book about Detective Sutcliffe--I loved him).

This is an enjoyable, dramatic thriller with lots of twists and turns!

Talk about a delicious plot twist or 37 at my last count. This book kept me on my toes from the moment I opened to the first chapter. It is fast paced, engaging, the characters all have a past that is screaming to get out, and I was there for all of it. I also love when a book is based on an author. Especially one at the end of her highly anticipated book tour. Her latest book, which is already being turned into a movie by Columbia Jones. Columbia works her magic in front of her adoring fans. She is kind and gives her all to every single person who comes out to see her. She even added this last date in Denver, since it was cancelled during her last book tour. The very last night ends with Columbia being rushed to the emergency room and by the next morning she is dead.

The circumstances surrounding her death immediately begin to twist and turn. Changing on a dime. As the detectives dig deeper more questions than answers arise. Especially when more people who are connected to the people around Columbia end up dead. Who is behind this mayhem? I found myself flicking through the pages as fast as my eyes could take in the pages. The multiple points of view added an added urgency to the entire situation. Until finally the truth is uncovered, or so you I thought!

This is such a thrilling read. Family always coming into play at some point or another. The love of what a mother will do for her child. I will not go into anymore or I will give away the whole shebang. Thank you to J.T. Ellison, Thomas & Mercer, and Over The River PR for my #gifted finished copy of this toe curling read.