I was pulled into this story from the very beginning. A popular author is killed during her book tour and secrets are revealed after her death. Columbia Jones is a popular author and after her death her daughter learns that she filed a new will and that three other people are named as beneficiaries. The story shifts between multiple perspectives. I was intrigued by the premise of the book and didn't want it to end but also had to find out how everything connected. I appreciated how the author tied everything together in the end and even left us with a bit of a cliff hanger. I don't want to spoil anything but there was one part of the ending that I felt really needed more explanation, it felt rushed and left me with questions.
Overall JT Ellison did not disappoint and I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My darling daughter,
I’m not going to hide this from you anymore.
Many, many years ago, I did a very bad thing.

Read if you like:
🖊️ short chapters
🖊️ who-dun-it mystery
🖊️ multi-POV
🖊️ dual timelines
🖊️ family drama

I really like going into books blind, so I barely ever read the description before I read. This one was a little bit confusing in the beginning I have to be honest, but once I was about 50 pages in it finally clicked what was going on and who was who, and then I was completely invested from then on 🤪
I always appreciate when a book uses different formats to tell this story. This one included narrated storytelling as well as excerpts from the author’s (murder victim) books. I love when authors include extra things like this because it just shows the extra effort they went to: almost having to write two stories really.
I love a multi point of view story!! I love being able to see multiple people’s side of the story, and having to figure out what information is important, and slowly put the pieces together myself. I do NOT like it though when there are an overwhelming amount of POVs. This book was juuuuuuust about there… There were so many people’s view I have to admit I definitely did get lost and confused at times about who’s point of view I was currently reading 👎🏻
The one negative I have to say about this book is just there are wayyyyyyy too many characters! I had such a hard time trying to remember who everyone was, it definitely took away from the enjoyment of the story that’s for sure. I got to the middle of the book and a whole slew of new characters came in that I had to add to my mental notebook 👎🏻
I was going to take a ⭐️ off because of the character confusion, but I am going to put it right back on for the ending 🤪 The twists just kept on coming! I definitely did not expect any of them!

This was my first read by J.T. Ellison and I definitely will be reading more by her. This book was fast-paced, a mystery, family drama, and a thriller.
Columbia Jones is a beloved, best selling author. At the end of her current book tour she is murdered. The question is why. What secret has Columbia kept all these years? We get to know many interesting characters including her daughter, a reporter, and a fan. All will be revealed in the end at the reading of her will, or will that be the end?
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Columbia Jones is a world-famous novelist at the top of her game. She collapses in shock when she sees a face in the crowd on the night that she celebrates her most recent book in front of a large crowd. Hours later, she is dead.
The world is shocked. Her daughter and publicist are dazed and confused. How could this happen to her mother, who had it all? When the police begin their investigation into the murders, they uncover the details of Columbia’s past life and identify several suspects who had a motive to kill her. Soon, social media gets details of the shocking, long-buried secrets of her past, and the truth comes out, potentially shattering the lives of those associated with her past.

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison,.is my favourite book so far this year. From the beginning to the end, the story of Columbia Jones unravels. She is the #1 mystery writer in the country, and she has been going across the country doing book signings and talks. All of this is handled by her daughter, Darian, as she is the manager for all of her Mom's bookings Columbia has just recently .hired Riley, a journalist to write her Memoir. But this booksigning, that particular night was a little different. Columbia spots someone in the audience, watches him leave and collaspes on stage. She is checked out at the hospital, then proceeds to go back to the hotel . The next morning, Columbia is found dead.in her bed, by Riley. So this is when things start to get more complicated. Who Killed her? Why was she killed? Secrets are about to come out. Many people becomee suspects. You, the reader, about to go on a wild ride! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. It was a solid 4 out of 5.

I could end up being the outlier with my opinion on this book, but I’ve enjoyed previous books by this Author and this just didn’t do it for me.
Columbia Jones, is a famous author on tour with her newest book. During a performance a guy in the audience spooks her and she faints. The next day she is found dead. All of her secrets from her past are about to come out and everything is so intertwined in the messiest of ways! The “main” other characters we hear from throughout the book are her daughter, Darian, Riley, an author who Columbia has convinced to come on tour with her to eventually write her biography, Sutcliffe, the detective, trying to piece this all together…. And this is where it gets to be wayyyyy too much . There are WAY too many characters, back stories, connections, and alternating chapters it starts to get extremely confusing. Also I felt that the twists that come out especially in the epilogue are head spinning the book drags on entirely too long. This book could have been much more concise and gotten everything across. The ending was messssyyyy !!

Thank you to the Author, Netgalley, and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

Famous author Columbia Jones is found dead after a book signing under mysterious circumstances. As word spreads of her death, details start to emerge, and apparently Jones had some past secrets that threaten to tarnish her legend. A Very Bad Thing completely consumed me from start to finish. The plot is utterly compelling, and the author’s storytelling pulls you in, with hints of Jones’ past cleverly sprinkled about, keeping the reader off balance and hungry for more details, and that propels the book right up to the whiplash final chapters. Absolutely loved this one, couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! A no-doubt 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

J.T. Ellison has become an author I read when I want a GOOD page turning thriller. I’ve enjoyed the majority of what I’ve read by the author. While this story was original and interesting I struggled to get through some of the non essential parts. I think the book could have been shorter , more concise, and still given us what we’ve come to know and love about the authors story telling.

Excellent in every way! As someone who works in the Book Community this was super fun and creeptastic. As a big fan of Ellison's, I was in deep right away and read in two sittings. Thriller lovers will really enjoy this one!

What the actual fuck? Your favorite author is dead…and everyone is a suspect - and everyone is trying to kill you next. This was a cat and mouse game with so many lies and twisted situations. Trust no one, believe nothing you’re told…

Wow, there was a lot going on here. The plot will keep you guessing until the end, and then still wondering what will happen next! Lots of suspicious and unlikeable characters as well as a handful you will be rooting for. A worthy addition to JT Ellison’s works.

Twisty, turny, and delicious, this is the type of book that will keep you up late turning pages. Columbia Jones is the kind of dead body to propel a story like this along, mysterious, full of secrets, and possessed of a glamour that brings everyone around her into its web. Part of the pleasure of a book like this is knowing where things are headed but also being surprised a bit along the way.

Thanks NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this ebook. This was my first J.T. Ellison novel, but based on what I read, it won’t be my last.

This was a joyride of a thriller that included some clever twists that I didn’t anticipate. I felt the story started off very strongly, and then decreased in intensity for a while, but it did pick back up for the later portion of the story. There were so many revelations surrounding the mysterious death of novelist Columbia Jones, and as more and more layers were revealed, the ending shocked me in more than one way! A must read for thriller fans!

Loved this book!

An famous author faints at the sight of a man in her book tour audience. The next morning she is found dead. Accident? Murder? Suicide? Natural causes? At first we dont know how she died, although her daughter is quick to assume its murder.

We hear the story from the daughter, the journalist who is writing a special piece on her and a random fan. (we later find out why this fan is important of course). The timeline has multiple POV which I love. It has multiple timelines - Bonus!

I spent half the book assuming I knew what was going on and what happened. Wrong!

The writing style and the story just sucked me right in. I read this in a day.

There were a few things that I was like "oh come on" and were not realistic, but who cares? This was a fun ride and I was bummed when it was over..

A solid 4.5 stars! I am only rounding down because of the unrealistic things that might have bothered me a tiny bit. I can't tell what they are, and spoil anything for you. But this is one that I would say you should absolutely read!

Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher #ThiomasandMercer for the ARC which did not impact my review at all.

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Columbia Jones is a famous author. On the final night of her latest book tour, a face in the crowd makes her collapse. The next morning she’s lying dead in a pool of blood.
There are a lot of suspects: her daughter Darian, a young journalist Riley, a young bakery owner and fan Kira, an IT man Liam, Columbias security Mason, a man who’s been in jail Knox

The story dragged. The pacing was slow. There were repetitive parts. There were a lot of characters introduced to create suspicion. There were many POVs. Secrets were revealed at the end where the twist was revealed. The relationship between the characters is unveiled but it took a lot of time to get there. The story did come together in the end and the twist at the end was pretty good

Thank you #netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC

A Very Bad Thing is a great thriller with multiple twists and turns that will keep you guessing, but it is very lenghty and I do believe it could have been shorter and still have had the same impact in the end.

Young journalist Riley landed the job of a lifetime when she is asked to follow a famous author on a month long book tour. She is supposed to write an article based on interviews with the beloved writer. During the trip, she gets very close to Columbia and is offered to write her biography. On the last event of the tour, however, Columbia is murdered and none other than Riley gets accused of killing her by Columbia’s daughter. All of a sudden, Riley’s own life seems to be in danger while Columbia’s daughter, Darian, is seeking the truth about her mother.
I have to say I loved this book! It was definitely a 5* read for me. The book started out with a BANG, and it kept going. We are digging deep into each of the characters present and past lives, and the story is being told from multiple POV’s. This book had me guessing, and about halfway in, I thought I’d figured it out. But then the author just added more layers to the story and had me captivated until the end. A beautiful and easy to read writing style. And let me say: the epilogue is quite a shocker!
This was my first read of JT Ellison but will not be my last. The author’s note at the end is just so sweet and touching. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. I sincerely enjoyed it and truly recommend it. This is my honest opinion and mine only.

This was a snooze for me. I feel like JT’s books are sliding downward. I used to enjoy her books and felt on the edge of my seat. But the last few I’ve read have me losing interest quickly. Hopefully the next one grabs me from page one.

A message from the @thrillerchick Stan account president: READ THIS!


I loved this book! The web of lies that unfolded was baffling, the twists were twisting, I loved the Tear Me Apart call back that was mentioned briefly. I also loved all of these characters and enjoyed finding out how they all connected.

Columbia Jones is at the top of her game. Her newest book tour is in full swing. She loves meeting her fans. But on the final night of her tour, she ends up dead. How did this happen? And who is to blame? When a group of people is invited to Columbia's will reading unbeknownst to her daughter, so many questions arise. As her daughter begins looking into Columbia's life, she realizes she never really knew her mom at all. Who are all these other people in her mom's life? Why is someone trying to kill her and others connected to her mom's life?
J.T. Ellison knows how to write a good suspenseful mystery. Ellison kept me guessing until the end and the twists and turns just kept going through the whole book. I found the book very enjoyable and easy to follow. The chapters were short enough to make for an easy break between chapters.
I would recommend A Very Bad Thing to my mystery loving friends and would love to read other work by J.T Ellison. Special thanks to NetGalley, J.T. Ellison, and Thomas & Mercer books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4 stars for me.
#AVeryBadThing #NetGalley