With each book I read by this author, I like her more and more. I loved the complexity of the story and the structure of the plot. The characters are rich and unforgettable. It was an excellent read

Pulled in from page one, it was a long night as I could not put “I Think I Was Murdered” down! You would never know this book was written by two people. The amazing characters, intriguing plot and fast moving action keep you reading till the very last word.

I expect we will see many books now with AI being a big part of the story. This one makes a credible attempt to infuse AI into a decent storyline.

Jason is being followed by a car. He loses control and goes over, losing his life. His wife Katrina Foster works as a general counsel at Talk Inc, a tech company which has developed an innovative AI app. It is now a year since Jason died. Katrina has trained the AI app of her company with Jason’s background and voice with permission from the company CTO Liv Tompkins; and speaking to it makes her feel better. The company is struggling though. The CEO David Liang (in relationship with Liv) is missing, and the FBI is investigating the company for fraud. Katrina’s grandmother (Frida Berg, called Bestemor) is serious, and she leaves the bustle of Silicon Valley to visit, but reaches only after she passes away.

As the family – Katrina, her mom, dad and brother Magnus attend the funeral, Katrina meets many people she has known for many years. One of these is Seb Wallace, who runs a restaurant 'The Beacon' and is grateful for the help Bestemor has provided him. Dylan appears on the scene claiming to be Seb’s half-brother, and a DNA test proves that to be correct. As Katrina continues to speak to the AI Bot, it tells her one day “I think I (Jason) was murdered” and spews out some Japanese characters. Seb's dad who lives in a trailer on a 3-acre land remembers a car racing across his farm around the time Jason was to be visiting. A suspicion enters Katrina’s mind that Jason was probably murdered, and she might be in danger as well.

I found the plot to be interesting. The writing is average though and does not really create enough tension. In the afterword, the authors provide a background to the AI and Bitcoin elements of the story. While probable, the reasoning is sketchy – nothing wrong about that for a story such as this. I would have liked to see better character development and procedures in the story.

Overall, a decent story, but falls well short of potential.

Hold onto your seat for a truly unique and thrilling story! Collen Coble and Rick Acker team up again to bring a genuinely thought provoking story based on AI and delayed grief. Katrina is not ready to let go of Jason and with his information loaded into the chatbot, she does not have to. She can “talk” to him everyday. When her world turns upside down and she needs answers more than ever, she has to rely on other people for help and truth. As the heat gets turned up and mounting pressure surrounds her, she partners with Seb on a journey that is both painful and cathartic. There are significant twists and turns that made it impossible to put this book down. I love how modern and relevant this story is; it is so near to possible it is not a stretch to imagine how it all came together. The writing is fresh and seamless. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy thrilling, thought provoking stories with a little romance and a lot of second chances.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This technology-centered story could have been ripped straight from the headlines! Colleen Coble is one of my favorite authors because her books are always different and keep me on my toes. But this was a departure from anything she's done before, and I loved it.
The main character, Katrina Berg is a young widow who works as an attorney for an AI startup. To test their new chatbot, Katrina uses an app that helps her "talk" to her deceased husband, Jason.
Then, Katrina receives a message from the app stating, "I think I was murdered." Suddenly, Katrina's life is turned upside down. She's determined to find out who murdered Jason, but she has no idea how much danger she's in--and it's getting closer.
When Katrina returns to her hometown in northern California, she requests the help of an old friend, Seb Wallace. Together, they'll plunge into mystery, danger, and even new love.
I fell in love with the atmosphere in Katrina's hometown, even before I fell in love with Seb! This book left me craving waffles, ice cream, and crab cakes.
The story had lots of twists and turns and plenty of action. I thought the characters were great, and I loved the chemistry between Seb and Katrina.
I've never read anything like this before. The AI chatbot and all of the technology made this story so unique and took the mystery to a whole new level for me. This book is perfect for people who love technology--even if they're like me and don't understand it all! You should read this if you're a fan of Colleen already, but if you aren't, this book is the perfect place to start!
I'm so excited to see this new direction from Colleen and Rick Acker, and I can't wait to see more from them!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The title is an immediate grabber and so the expectation is that this will be a thriller. To some degree it was but after the opening chapter starts off with a bang, things slow way.... way down. There are a LOT and I really mean a LOT of different angles that get thrown all over the place (possibly to throw you off the scent of who is doing what to whom) but it really just makes my head spin. I am not at all versed in AI or bitcoin and there is a good amount of this predominately in this story. I will say that the main characters are likeable and sometimes that can make a story easier to continue reading even when it's bogged down by a lot of technical jargon and use of foreign words (Swedish and Japanese).

Good story but not sure it's my cup of tea.

This book was a gripping, good, spooky, interesting book, i couldnot put this book down. The story was very nail biting.

Katrina has lost her husband, her job, and now her beloved grandmother. Back in her small hometown she connects with old friends while discovering all is not as it seemed. A wonderful Christian suspense!

Be prepared for all the feels and a breakneck pace that keeps you up all night! This one's twisty from atmospheric start to toe curling finish! As a longtime fan of Colleen Coble, I've been waiting for the book that takes me back to her early Rock Harbor books like Haven of Swans. I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of I Think I Was Murdered from Netgalley while I was waiting for it to come out!

I Think I Was Murdered surpasses anything Coble has written before and it's exciting to see her explore new heights with author Rick Acker. The two take what could have been a sweet, small town romance, juxtapose it against Silicon Valley's dark underbelly, then christen it with an international flair that takes attains stylish heights in a tech savvy dream of a story! Every character draws you more deeply into Seb & Katrina's lives. Coble & Acker make nuance use of each to vividly bring to life a shared past while offering clues to their troubling present. The way Norwegian culture peppered throughout had me craving lingonberry covered waffles and Freia chocolate, but listening to the band No. 4 as Katrina fall for Seb and communicates with an AI bot of her dead husband left me too far on the edge of my seat to stop long enough to eat!

✨✨ Book Review ✨✨
📚 I Think I was Murdered
📜 By - Colleen Coble and Rick Acker ✨
Genre- Thriller
Ratings - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5⭐️

Pub Date - Nov 12 2024

--------------Book Review --------------

📎"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." I would like to thank the author for giving me an opportunity to be an arc reader for the book. Thank you @colleencoble , Rick Acker and @netgalley

📎The plot was so good , the book was kinda medium paced for me , and a bit slow to get into first but I loved the writing style , it was so easy to read and I couldn't predict the plot twist in the end ! You get dual Pov , I liked the characters in the story , even the AI !

📎The AI was so well done , honestly I felt it was a real human somehow , I loved little bit of romance in it too, also the authors used Japanese culture and few Japanese terms , which personally was my favourite . Overall I really enjoyed the whole experience and loved the book !

I would totally recommend this book if you want a quick read !!!

I think I was murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker was an enjoyable read. The characters were genuinely crafted and the authors definitely researched the AI concept thoroughly. That being said, the premis of the book sounded really interesting however, I think it started off abit slow and could have had a little more suspense overall.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Author's and publisher for an ARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars

Katrina Berg's life was turned upside down with the unexpected death of her husband in a fiery car crash and now the Feds are investigating her workplace. Using AI, she developed a chatbot that takes all the digital content created by her husband and allows her to "talk" to her dead husband. In the course of the conversation, the chatbot delivers an ominous message that indicates her husband suspected that he had been murdered. Coble and Acker have created a techno-thriller that will surprise and delight readers. As a librarian, I would put this book in the hands of tech-savvy readers as the AI parts might confound and confuse older readers.

Goodreads review:

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy!

This story is telling from the point of view of Seb, Dylan and Katrina - Katrina has just lost her grandmother and has been forced to confront her past, all while dealing with the loss of her husband the prior year. Seb is wrestling with himself & the past he’s tried to forget.. and Dylan is hiding something. I loved how the story ended up coming together. I would love to read more books by this author pair.

To the authors - WOW! Just wow! I loved it!

Once again I have enjoyed reading Collen Coble (& Rick Acker)' s mystery thriller. What's more, learning a little bit about Bitcoin and chatbots was interesting. Katrina, Seb, Magnus, Liv and Dylan along with Agent Hughs, all added further intertwined intricacies to keep me guessing as they raced to find the key to the Satoshi egg. Who would find it first! Besides being tense at times I found the narrative to have some fun elements. I also liked the touches of faith in God factor. I believe the discussion questions at book's end would help a thoughtful reader suss out their conceptions regarding issues brought up in the novel.

Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger
July 2024
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based the complimentary review copy sent by Net Galley and the publisher.

The idea was great! The book itself was a flop for me. My first book by the author so maybe this is just their writing style but it felt unfinished to me or like a really poor translation.

katrina works for an ai bot company but her husband was killed in a car crash and now the ceo has left the country . she goes back to help with the restaurant that was left to her but something else is going on she has an app on the phone that she can ask and get an answer from her late husband and one is that he thinks he was murdered this is a good suspense story will written if you like suspense and some romance you will want to read this story i was given a copy of the book by netgalley but this is an honest review

Everything about this book was fascinating! From the title that grabs your attention, to the multilayered storyline with AI technology, danger, and suspense themes, to the various family issues. It has great characters and a beautiful setting for the backdrop to this unforgettable mystery. Coble and Acker make a dynamic team!

Katrina finds herself back home after the sudden loss of her grandmother, her company job on the line, and less than a year after an accident claims the life of her husband. When her deceased husband’s voice through the use of an AI technology bot tells her, “I think I was murdered.” It sets off a series of danger and events that take the reader on a thrilling ride that they never know what is coming next.

This book is an excellent addition to this series books by this author team. I found the use of AI technology in this storyline absolutely fascinating and took it to another level. I found it hard to put this one down and waiting anxiously to be able to read it again. This story will not disappoint!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Katrina is the lawyer for a small tech firm, struggling with the death of her husband, when the CEO of the tech firm disappears. To complicate things further, the company is owned by her best friend Liv, who has been romantically involved with the missing executive; the tech firm is being forced into bankruptcy, and is being investigated by the FBI.

When Katrina’s grandmother dies the same day as everything happens at work, Katrina is forced to re-evaluate her priorities and take some time away. During this time, as she has done since her husband’s death, she turns to an AI app designed by the tech firm that mimics her husband’s responses. During one of her conversations with “Jason”, the bot tells her “I think I was murdered”.

This revelation sets her on a path seeking more information about her husband’s death, and what he was involved in at the time of the accident. Throw in an old friend, family, a new business, the FBI, violent criminals, and a budding relationship, and you have the makings of a great mystery and a lot of action. I would give this book a solid 4 stars. Lots of twists and turns kept me guessing till the end.

A murder mystery with a twist!
“She didn’t want to be that person who looked back on her life and realized she’d missed the best life had to offer because she was afraid.”
What a fun title! It really grabbed me and carried me along right to the surprising conclusion. Even though I knew it was coming, when I read “I think I was murdered” in the text it still gave me chills. I am glad that the authors did not just incorporate the concept of AI, but also the idea that while AI can be used for good, it can also go too far. Advancements in technology can actually hold us back, and just because we can does not mean we should. I love that the authors separated truth from myth at the end, and that most of the tech was based on truth. The only warning I have is for a brief mention of suicide.
Technology, a bit of romance, and Christian themes – I enjoyed this book from beginning to end! I liked it even more than What We Hide and Fragile Designs. These two authors worked together seamlessly on this novel and I am eager for more.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book courtesy of Thomas Nelson Fiction through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

A grieving widow learns through an AI chatbot that her dead husband thinks he was murdered. This sets her on a quest to find out how and why.
The novel has some mystery, romance, and suspense as well as some unique features. The AI chatbot and bitcoin mention captured my attention. The Norwegian village and restaurant added a charming element. And of course, not everything is as it seems, which adds some unexpected plot twists.
Even though Colleen Coble has partnered with Rick Acker, I found the storyline and characters to be true to her former books. If you are a fan of hers, you will love this new series where she partners with Rick Acker. I am grateful to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for this, my honest opinion.