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.

Looking for an edgy and provocative yet appalling psychological thriller? You won't want to miss "My Darlings" by Marie Still.

Set in an upscale neighborhood, this gripping story reveals the dark secrets and forbidden desires hidden behind the veneer of wealth. As the plot unravels the characters' haunting pasts, shocking truths paint a disturbing and vivid picture of their inner struggles. And when a serial killer emerges, it's just the tip of the iceberg for these morally corrupt characters. Filled with characters you'll love to hate, you'll find yourself sinking to their level as you cheer on their downfall and get pulled into their twisted world!

Thanks to @mariestillwrites, #ThePulse, and Rising Action Publishing for this gifted ARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

#MyDarlings #MarieStill #NetGalley #RisingActionPublishing #GiftedArc #pageturner #reader #read #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #pulsepoint #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer #booktok #booktoker

Stay-at-home mom Eloise Williams is PTO president, a respected local philanthropist who sits on the boards of many distinguished charities, as well as a doting wife and mother. She is also a serial killer. Evil lurks behind the perfectly manicured lawns, ornate iron gates, and long winding driveways of affluent DC - the perfect cover. for her crimes. As the hidden lives of Eloise's inner circle are exposed, the body count rises. How long will she be able to keep this up without getting caught? And who is the stalker that has been threatening her. and what do they know?

This was billed as ABC’s DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES meets HBO’s DEXTER, and that is a very apt description. .Eloise was a very dislikable character, but then, she WAS a serial killer. Not even her inner circle liked her. She was someone who people feared, who used her wealth and power like a sword. Really, there wasn't anyone in her inner circle that was likable. They were all rich, entitled, and horrible. The chapters alternated between Eloise (with her story going back and forth between when she was growing up and present day), some of the other women in her inner circle, and someone called "The Watcher". You don't find out until almost the very end who exactly "The Watcher" really is. but they have been hiding in the shadows, watching Eloise kill all of these women and bury their bodies. She knows what Eloise is capable of, and she is the only one (besides Eloise) who knows the truth. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I did not want to put it down. If you are a fan of twisty thrillers, then this needs to be at the top of your TBR pile. You are going to love it!

A riveting thriller, My Darlings (2024) by Marie Still comes with a content warning even before the first page of the story. Set in Virginia, a group of women friends enjoy their wealthy lifestyle, despite several recent murders and a suspected serial killer at work. Narrated by the different characters, their idyllic lives unfold, revealing dark secrets, friendship tensions and numerous shocking revealations from the very beginning. The contrast between the glamouous, almost trivial existence of the friends, is graphically contrasted with the gory, bloodied murders. A difficult novel to rate as it requires a suspension of sensibilities to enjoy the gripping, if horrible specifics of a serial killer out for revenge. An uncertain, if somewhat fence sitting, three star read rating - it could have easily been one or five stars, depending on your horror tolerance. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.

My Darlings was a fantastic thriller, full of suspense, drama, betrayal, and twists.
I love a good serial killer thriller, and this definitely didn't disappoint.

Eloise was a great main character. I couldn't decide whether I wanted her to get away with it or not, she had me conflicted. She's a character you'll love to hate.

This is the first book I've read from Marie Still, but it definitely won't be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I highly recommend.

5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Rising Action Publishing Co., and Marie Still for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Darlings is a fast paced story filled with some interesting characters. I enjoyed the author's writing style and really enjoyed trying to figure this mystery out. I high recommend getting yourself a copy, this is a great book.

Pssttt…

Over here

I have a secret to share with you.

I found a book that will break the internet right here.

My Darlings

And it’s straight up horrifying. Think of your worst nightmare and then times that by 100.

Oh yeah, one of those

It’s been awhile since I read a really dark thriller (please read the trigger warnings) but gosh dang it, I’m about to start back up ! My Darlings, was everything I never knew I needed packed up between 336 pages.

My Darlings will be released just in time for “spooky season” and will be well loved by thriller book lovers🖤

Teaser:

No one was supposed to know. I’ve always been so careful. My Darlings, how did we get here?

Evil lurks behind the perfectly manicured lawns, ornate iron gates, and long winding driveways of affluent DC–but not for long.

Stay-at-home mom Eloise Williams is PTO president and a respected local philanthropist who sits on the boards of many distinguished charities. 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 stalkers 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.

This dark thriller has numerous content warnings: child death, suicide, hazing, bullying, murder, infidelity, brutal slayings, domestic abuse/violence, child abuse, torture

Official rating is 4.25 ⭐️.

This book was so chaotic in the best way. Every single character was a total mess. I really liked getting the flashbacks to Eloise's childhood. Some parts were very unsettling because how likely is it that human monsters like her are hiding in plain sight for real. I had a great time reading this. My only dislike was the ending. It was very abrupt and I just didn't care for how it ended. Still definitely worth a read though. Very much recommend!