Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of My Darlings by Marie Still

Omg what did I just read, this book! It was awesome! The characters, I loved and hated them. Just wow, so well written. You will not want to put this book down, seriously! I hope there is a sequel.
I was hooked as soon as I started reading this book. It's told from multiple viewpoints and a bit of the book is told in the past.
Incredible plot and unfolding of events will keep any lover of psychological thrillers reading into the wee hours.
First book I've read by this author, certainly not the last.

My Darlings is a crazy, psychotic, addictive ride with some deranged housewives. It was definitely a fast paced read that kept me hooked. Told through multiple POV's and short snippy chapters, it truly makes for an unputdownable one. The storyline was definitely an interesting and diabolical one, but it being compared to Dexter, upped certain expectations for me, so I would remove that from your head prior to reading.

The characters are all pretty despicable. Their actions questionable, the lies, the secrets, the manipulations and the betrayals all made for a thrilling ride. I truly didn't know who to root for or truly care what happened to any of them as they were not likable. The storyline was very interesting in the first 50% for me, but then I did struggle with staying engaged a little.

Overall, an enjoyable fast addicting thriller that is easily bingeable. Definitely a fun and crazy ride !

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @risingaction & Marie Still for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been recommending this took to EVERYONE who will listen. I literally bought three copies so I’d have two to give out to friends. This is the sociopathic serial killer story I’ve been waiting for. Can’t wait for the show!

My Darlings by Marie Still is a dark, twisted thriller about Eloise Williams— a perfect suburban mom who's also a serial killer. As the secrets of her affluent inner circle unravel, the body count rises, and Eloise's control slips.

If you're into thrillers packed with suspense and morally complex characters, this one's a wild ride! But beware, it's not for the faint of heart with heavy content warnings (murder, abuse, child death, etc.)

Stay-at-home mom Eloise is the PTO president and a respected local philanthropist. In addition to being a doting wife and mother, she is also a serial killer. But Eloise isn’t the only lady in society playing a part. As the hidden lives of Eloise's inner circle are exposed, the body count rises. When the stalker becomes prey, Eloise desperately clings to control. Money and power can only buy influence and safety for so long. Eventually, the curtains lift, exposing the chilling reality hiding in plain sight.

MY DARLINGS is a thrilling tale centered around a complex character, Eloise, who leads a double life as a seemingly ordinary suburban mother and wife while harboring a dark and unhinged side. Despite her despicable nature and lack of remorse, Eloise's erratic behavior had me hooked. I loved to hate her. There is something about a female serial killer, especially when written well, that always captivates my attention. It's sad that her daughter was treated so badly by her mother, but the story does a good job of showing how one person can really affect the lives of the people around them.

Marie Still not only introduced a memorable serial killer, but her associates were equally intriguing. The constant drama and bickering provided great entertainment. Additionally, the "watcher" perspective kept me guessing about their identity until the very end. While the conclusion felt somewhat abrupt, it left me satisfied. I was captivated by the twisted mindset of Eloise and her minions throughout the years and wished the story could continue. Marie's writing style is truly remarkable, and I can't wait for her future works. A sequel to this book would be delightful, as I am eager for more of "darlings!"

Thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing for the eARC.

This was my first novel by Marie Still. It was an over the top, popcorn thriller in the best way. Really fun.

I loved this book! I do think it’s a mistake to compare it to Dexter though - so push that out of your mind prior to reading it.
It’’s about a rich, white woman serial killer in suburbia 👀

I saw another review compare this to The Desperate Housewives meets Dexter, and that is the absolute perfect description! WOW! Juicy and scandalous, set in DC, for fans of rich & powerful people doing bad things.

Wow! I was fully invested in this story, it did not disappoint.

There are so many twists and even though I guessed a few of them correctly, I still enjoyed the way they flowed with the intensity of the story.

It was so interesting yet creepy to read the POV of a female serial killer, Eloise, and I enjoyed the comedic take on it. She is very full of herself and finds humans to essentially be a waste of space in her mind.

We also get the POV of other characters that are close to Eloise and their opinions of her, her stalker outside of her inner circle(the Watcher) and her daughter.

I don't want to give too much away, but I highly recommend this story, although it could be very triggering for some. This is a very dark and twisted thriller that includes domestic abuse and lots of violence with gore.

This was a quick read that's heavy on the drama, psychological suspense, the shocking things even the rich and privileged do behind closed doors. Or, in Eloise's world, in the middle of the running trail... The world of the elite in a rich D.C. suburb are up to a whole lot of no good in Marie Still's murdery soap opera, My Darlings. You never can tell what's behind people's motives, and Eloise is one of the best at faking feelings and the perfect public persona. She lives to manipulate the world around her, including friends, family, and her victims. I loved the drama, the fast-paced plot, the multiple POV, and the subtly few flashbacks to help readers understand who "The Watcher" was and how psychotic Eloise truly was. My only issue is that there was all this build up but the ending was incredibly rushed. There's plenty of action to keep the plot moving and scenes that were so unexpected my jaw dropped (which really doesn't happen often), but then it was almost like the author hit a page count and had to wrap things up quickly. Gave me a bit of whiplash and left me wanting more, which may have been what Still was going for. A seriously good read for fans of Oxygen's true crime show Snapped!

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

Eliose isn’t a regular mom, she’s a killer mom.

A great fast paced thriller, perfect for spooky season.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

My Darlings is a creepy thriller that’ll hook you from the beginning, and the “unlikeable” characters will keep you deeply invested. It is an unputdownable read you won’t want to miss, especially if you love dark thrillers with themes of lies, rich people doing bad things, and murder.

This story is multi-pov, which is cleverly done, layering in the drama of each woman in the story, and adding to the heightening tension. Each character is so unique and morally ambiguous in their own way.

Thank you NetGalley and Rising Action for this advanced readers copy.

A fast paced thriller about a housewife who seemed to have it all but not everything is all smiles and made up lawns because Eloise is a serial killer. Ugh! She is a villain I like to hate but I was rooting for her lol! I have never sided with a villain before since Gone Girl.
Also, congratulations to the author because this book just got a deal to be a series.

This book had me hooked immediately I love the sinister attitude of Eloise and how she really loves what she does. All of the women are out there but it really made for a great story. I felt like there is constant action so to speak where the ladies are doing something a bit off though we have a hidden character all through out as well.

My Darlings by Marie Still was just what I needed to get me out of this slump I’ve been in!
This book really captivated me from beginning to end. It had lots of twists and turns throughout the entire book
It was highly suspenseful and cleverly written with excellent plot development, interesting characters and a mystery that kept me guessing.
The characters Marie Still created are well constructed and have a lot to add to this brilliant thriller.
An intriguing thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat making it impossible to put down.

Thank You NetGalley and Rising Action for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Eloise Williams is the wife of a well-to-do corporate law attorney in the Washington, DC area. She is busy with being the PTO President, philanthropist, and serial killer. Her group of friends are also wealthy women with too much time on their hands. Some are alcoholics, and some are having affairs. They stay busy.

When Eloise was a child, her cold-hearted and evil tendencies began to surface and have carried over to today. Her daughter is totally under her thumb. Eloise thinks she has the girl where she wants her, oh but she doesn’t really know her.

When the murders of women running in a dangerous wooded area continue, the police are convinced it’s a male attacking these women. Eloise just laughs at them. She has perfected her killing technique and gets such a high when another victim is dead. But someone is watching her and knows what she is up to.

Oh, what a book! I don’t think I’ve ever read another one like it. Such cold-hearted deviousness and Eloise’s friends are all typical empty-headed, spoiled women easily led by her. This story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and if you can handle some blood and gore, then, go for it. I’m thinking you will really enjoy this fast-paced book.

Copy provided by NetGalley and Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.

📚 PUBLICATION DAY BOOK TOUR BOOK REVIEW 📚

My Darlings By Marie Still
Publication Date: October 8, 2024 (today! 🎉)
Publisher: Rising Action Publishing

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

👻MY SCARE RATING: 😳

📚MY REVIEW:

The premise of My Darlings was said to be Desperate Housewives meets Dexter... And it was a completely accurate summary. This chilling read was one of those books where you find out really early on who the serial killer is (even earlier if you read the synopsis), so you know THAT isn't going to be the mystery. But you soon learn that our female serial killer, Eloise, isn't the only person in this story who is hiding a creepy secret. Enter "The Watcher" -- quite possibly, one of the more foreboding character names in recent memory. The chapters from The Watcher's perspective raised the creepy factor up a notch and created some real angst about what was happening in the story.

Told in multiple POVs and across multiple timelines, My Darlings REALLY took us into the depths of Eloise's past, along with her present. This created a much deeper understanding of just who Eloise truly was, at her core. Deplorably twisted. If you enjoy books with main characters you love to despise, prepare yourself for the vile monstrosity that is the perfectly-coiffed, Stepford Wife character of Eloise. Seriously, she gave new meaning to the word diabolical -- and yet somehow, I still kinda liked her in spite of all her crazy.

This book kept me guessing about who The Watcher would turn out to be, as I saw Eloise become more and more unhinged. She wasn't alone though, as it seemed the perfect world of the wealthy friends around her became just as unhinged too. There were a couple of main character storylines that ended abruptly and didn't really get a lot of detail; I wished they'd have been given just a little more time. I can't say more without revealing spoilers, but parts of the book felt very sudden; like boom, it's done, it's over, next page. But just when I thought the book was reaching its conclusion and my adrenaline could settle down, we were given the cliffhanger ending that was foreshadowed in earlier parts of the story. Even so, I still gasped when I read it.

If you enjoy thrillers about female serial killers, with a cat-and-mouse storyline, this one will definitely be the right vibe for you! A big thank you to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, NetGalley, and Marie Still for this advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review. I was honored to be invited to be a part of the book tour!

#MyDarlings #MarieStill #RisingActionPublishing #CreepyBooksofOctober #creepyreads #thrillerbookloversthepulse #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

The perfect life on the surface versus darkness, danger and death below was very suspensful. Overall it had me hooked especially as there were so many deaths.

This fast-paced page turner is a wonderful read. The book has some very interesting characters and the mystery is very well plotted.

OMG! I could not turn the pages fast enough! Thrilling, edge of your seat, buckle up, and hang on for your life ride! One of those stories that feel so real because of the writing skills of the author.