Personally this book was a bit too romance heavy, but I enjoyed the mystery.
Katrina has been talking to a chat bot that mimics her recently deceased husband. When it tells her that Jason thinks he was murdered, Katrina will do anything to find her husband's killer and what her husband has gotten into.
The mystery here was really fun to unravel. I enjoyed how it included current technology as well as a beautiful, small town feel.
There is a lot of romance in this book, so much so that it felt like this is a romance with a little mystery. I often felt that the dialogue was cheesy, but at the same time the characters are sweet. This book gave me some Hallmark movie vibes.

It’s been a rough year for Katrina Berg, and things are about to get rougher. Her husband, Jason, died in a car accident a year prior, and now her beloved grandmother has died. She left Silicon Valley to head to Northern California where her family is, and finds out she inherited Bestemor’s, her grandmother’s Norwegian waffle restaurant.

She’s not sure if she wants the restaurant though; she’s a high-powered attorney at a company called Talk, Inc. Well, at least, she WAS, until the FBI raided their offices and the CEO left the country. Katrina wasn’t involved in the embezzlement that was happening, but she’s pretty shaken and worried she’ll be indicted. Maybe staying with her family would be for the best. She’s still lost without her husband, though she does have one way of keeping in touch…

Talk is a prototype of an app that lets you speak with dead people. By downloading the contents of her husband’s phone, she can text with him, and the responses are pretty accurate. One day, she asks him to tell her more about his accident, and she gets a creepy reply: “I think I was murdered.” This gets her searching for more answers, with help from an old high school friend, Seb.

Talk is definitely the most interesting part of the book, and the reason I wanted to read it, but that was actually a small part of the story. This turned into a mystery/action book, that oddly is also a Christian romance book, unbeknownst to me when I chose to read this ARC. Most of the book was pretty good, but the ending got really cheesy with the romance and religious parts. I don’t mind religion or romance, but not in my fiction books, and definitely not in a book I thought from the synopsis was a sci-fi thriller.

I thought the writing in this was great, and the parts where Katrina communicated with her dead husband were also really good. Towards the end, it just got overly dramatic, and that, along with the unrealistic love story and the sudden and constant mentions of God that weren’t in the rest of the book, left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. If you like Lifetime/Hallmark movies with happy endings and a bit of a thrill, this is your book. If you like thrillers with lots of twists and craziness, this one isn’t for you. Your rating will depend on how much cheese you can tolerate, and unfortunately, I’m lactose intolerant. 3.5 stars, rounded down.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson, Colleen Coble, Rick Acker and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on November 12, 2024.)

What would you do if an AI chatbot told you, a loved one was murdered?
A young widow grieving. This artificial intelligence program allows her to continue talking to her husband. A message she never expected: “I think I was murdered.”
Katrina Berg was at the top of her career just a year ago. An AI chatbot start-up star with an adoring husband, she had more money than she knew what to do with. Suddenly, her world blew up. Jason, her husband, was killed in a fiery car accident. In the aftermath of her CEO’s indictment, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds come after her office. Her grandmother’s passing is the final blow.
Her most prized possession is a beta prototype for a new, ultra sophisticated chatbot she has downloaded to her phone. Katrina loaded Jason’s email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find into the bot, and she has been chatting with him every day since October. She is amazed at how well it works. Even the bot’s syntax and words sound like Jason’s. There are times when she imagines he is right beside her and isn’t really dead. While she knows it’s slowing her grief recovery, she can’t stop pretending.
During a particularly bad day, she taps out: Tell me something I don’t know. After several moments of blinking and freezing, the reply flashes rapidly onto the screen: I think I have been murdered.
Discouraged, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the redwoods of Northern California, where she enlists the help of longtime acquaintance Seb Wallace to discover what happened. They must navigate complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has over them. Both of them hadn’t imagined how difficult it would be to survive long enough to accomplish that.
I give I Think I Was Murdered five out of five stars!

The talented team of Coleen Coble and Rick Acker have created a fascinating story encompassing AI, chatbots, and Bitcoin. I knew these technologies by name only and enjoyed learning how they could be incorporated and affect modern day life.

Structural engineer,Jason Foster had searched for the mythical, most likely fictitious, Satoshi eggs for over a decade. Then he found it and now he’s fearful for his life. Strangely the very valuable Satoshi egg looks simply like a faded, plastic Easter egg, but inside is a USB drive with valuable information to those hunting for treasures and are frantic to find it. Some desperate enough to kill.

Jason’s fears were merited because he has died in what appears to be an innocent car accident during heavy fog, leaving behind his beloved wife, Katrina. Since her husband’s death, she has become obsessed with chatbots, where she has combined all her husband’s former messages and his social media information into an app. Talking to Jason’s chatbot voice gives her the impression she is still in communication with him using her phone app Talk. While conversing with her deceased husband’s, Jason-like voice, he announces “I think I was murdered.”

Katrina, an attorney, and her best friend, Liz, the Chief Technology Officer, work at Talk, Inc., a tech company in Palo Alto, with a unique AI app. And here’s another strange occurrence… CEO of the company, who also was the boyfriend of Liz, appears to have vanished. He’s not been heard from nor is he responding to any phone calls. The FBI is now looking into their business dealings.

I Think I Was murdered is a fast-paced, action-packed story that includes many likable and relatable characters, although some that prompted me to question their true character.

Katrina is left to examine the intricate clues Jason left behind that includes the code for $30 million dollars of Bitcoin.

Get ready for many unexpected twists and turns to this captivating story. I defy you to guess the shocking conclusion of this most fascinating story.

This theiller is also of the Christian genre where Christian ideas are aptly placed throughout the many conflicts. The authors demonstrate how a persons of faith use their relationship with God to help them in difficult situations.

I highly recommend this thrilling adventure which is a smart read encompassing rich vocabulary and Norwegian culture.

I Think I was Murdered is Colleen Coble’s most intriguing novel thus far with her using the subject of AI in her newest novel. The story has the perfect blend of the use of technology to solve a mystery and suspenseful romance.
Katrina Berg’s husband was killed a year ago, but she is still communicating with him through AI bot in her phone. When he “tells” her she thinks he was murdered, she starts looking for his murderer. Due to her tech business being investigated by the government, she heads home to her small town in Northern California. While there she finds she’s not safe from the killer and her childhood friend Sebastian joins her in her hunt for the murderer using clues from the bot.
I am loving the co-authoring team of Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. While I guessed who the person was behind the murder, I enjoyed the plot and hope for more books by these two!
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing and Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

Hohhh boy, this was an incredible ride!

I met Coble and Acker on a book tour following the release of their joint effort What We Hide, and told them I'd been quick to pick this up off NetGalley as I thought it a sequel. They immediately told me a sequel is indeed coming for _What We Hide_, but it's not this read--they'd pitched this one to their publisher and been directed to drop everything and write it first. LOL! And good to know I could rest easy; that had ended on a heckuva cliffhanger, and I took my time in starting this one accordingly.

To my knowledge, it's standalone; certainly not _everything_ was tied up with a neat bow by the end, but the vast majority was, and I closed the book satisfied. It really was nonstop action from page 1, and I was excited to see I'd been tracking/guessing correctly as some events unfolded.

And of course, AI, chatbots, and the like (not to mention the ethics of each) are hot topics right now, so much of the book read like it was ripped straight from today's headlines.

While I'm bummed to have to wait for _What We Hide_'s sequel, this absolutely tided me over in the process. It's gripping (obviously, as I read it in a day and a half!) and everything I hoped it would be. Coble and Acker work seamlessly together; not all joint book endeavors are created equal, but this one is near the top of my list. Very well done.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker is a thrilling romantic suspense novel. I was skeptical of reading a book involving AI because it just isn't something I'm interested in at all but it was actually a really great novel. It certainly kept me guessing and I had no idea who the culprit was going to be. It was a book that was very hard for me to put down. The characters were well written and the involvement of a deceased husband via AI was an interesting touch and unlike anything I've ever read before. I would recommend picking this up for a different sort of read.

This exploration of AI and it’s effect on one grieving woman is quite fascinating. I found it a bit “creepy”, the way it answered Katrina’s questions. When the bot (of her husband’s voice & thoughts) on her phone tells her he thinks he was murdered, Katrina starts trying to investigate and understand what might have happened to her husband. Was his death an accident or not. There are tie-ins with treasure, bitcoin, Chinese gangs and other unexpected twists. The story has plenty of suspense and a sweet romance. Even though I had figured some of the mystery out before the end, I hadn’t figured out everything, which made the book satisfying to finish.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is one of the best Christian suspense books I have read since my last Terri Blackstock. The aspect of AI in the story made it really interesting. The whole time I thought one character was the killer when it was actually someone else. I really didn't see it coming. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries and suspense stories. I hope Coble and Acker write a lot more books together!

In the wake of her husband Jason's tragic death, grieving widow Katrina Berg turns to an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that mimics his personality. But when the bot unexpectedly sends the message, "I think I was murdered," Katrina beings a search for the truth. With the help of local restaurarnt owner, Seb Wallace, she navigates grief, family dynamics, and the dark implications of technology as they unravel the mystery surrounding Jason’s death. The journey to finding the truth however is extremely dangerous.

I haven't read many books written by more than one author but I couldn't tell there were 2 which speaks volumes of their skill. The story is captivating with so many twists and turns. Some of the characters were not who I expected them to be and I really enjoyed the unpredictability. I was genuinely shocked by the ending, I didn't see it coming. The story is so thought provoking especially in regards to digital technology (AI and cryptocurrency), grief and complicated family history/relations. I loved the Norwegian influence, especially the talk of all the food. I found the way the romance was intertwined with the story extremely palatable. Towards the end there were some mentions of faith/God that I wasn't the biggest fan of it, I think the story would have been just fine without it.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with an early copy of the novel in exchange for a review.

Lately I really come to enjoy techno-thrillers a lot! This one features a AI chatbot made for a fascinating purpose which kept me intigued!
Katrina is likeable character and I could very well connect with her.
For me the AI aspect in the story felt authentic, as one can mention this definition in terms of artificial intelligence!
At the beginning it was a bit difficult to keep pace with all the characters but keeping on paid off well!

Thank you #NetGalley #Thomas Nelson for this ARC

WOW! Another winner by Colleen Coble!

With all the publicity about AI this tear, I found the story about a widow talking to an AI of her husband who had died to be quite an interesting idea. Add in all the information about Sastoshi eggs. The details were so realistic I had to Google to see if there was such a thing. The results were intriguing to say the least. These two authors built an original story adding in some recent technological achievements, which really added to what a great book it was.

Besides the well-thought-out plot, the authors added some characters with a mix of personalities. Some of them are a bit flawed, and some have been through difficult times. This is, in my opinion, Christian fiction at it's best. Especially when you throw in edge-of-your-seat scenes. 5 stars!

I love anything by Colleen Coble and then when you throw in Rick Acker it was AWESOME!! I was captured from the very beginning. I listened to audiobook at first but decided just to read the book and I love that better. I always feel the emotions in every book that Colleen writes. Thank you!!

Wow! What a fun and intriguing read. I love how Colleen Coble & Rick Acker creates situations out of the norm. And this one definitely gets you really thinking!!! So man twists and turns that keeps you constantly guessing and reading long into the night.

What an interesting storyline! The AI aspect was really entertaining and slightly scary about how close it was to mocking an actual human.

Katrina's husband died in a car accident and she's having a hard time moving on. She has worked for a company that developed an AI program that lets her continue to "talk" to her husband by typing in messages on her phone and getting his responses. It tells her he thinks he was murdered and she goes on a trek to find out if it's true or not. Lots of intrigue and it kept me interested.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This was an interesting look into Artificial Intelligence and the effect it can have on our lives. As many people are so obsessed with their phones, so is Katrina. She is relying on what her deceased husband is telling her through a a chatbot that her company developed.. Grief keeps her glued to what he is saying even when it puts her in danger. This book is a good lesson for us to put our phones down and talk to real people in real time.

I Think I Was Murdered was an excellent story! I found the title intriguing, and was immediately hooked.

Katrina has been grieving her husband, Jason, for a year. To help her cope, she’s been using a chatbot that has all of her husband’s media information, so she feels like she’s actually talking to him. This was created as a prototype for her company, which is now in bankruptcy. But suddenly she’s called home for her beloved grandmother’s funeral. Katrina inherits her Bestemor’s restaurant, which causes hurt feelings and unpleasant family dynamics.

Feeling heartbroken, Katrina chats with Jason. While they are “talking”, he tells Katrina that he thinks he was murdered. She shares this information with her best friend, Liz, who helped create this Chatbot. Katrina also discovers that Jason believes he was killed because he found something extremely valuable. Katrina follows the clues, rediscovers old relationships, and realizes that not everyone close to her deserves her trust. Somebody is willing to go to any lengths to claim what Jason has hidden.

I highly recommend this book! I don’t know much about bitcoin or chatbots, but found this interesting. I loved the characters and found myself cheering for new love. #IThinkIWasMurdered #NetGalley

#IThinkIWasMurdered #NetGalley

A page turner that kept me guessing. Katrina lost her husband Jason
in a tragic accident after two years, she wonders if someone murdered
him. As she puts the pieces together and finds out what could have
caused his death, she learns who she can trust. The descriptive writing
style made it easy to put pictures in my head.

This is an interesting twist to new technology. A mystery revolving around an AI app and bitcoin. The story was good with an u expected twist at the end. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This gripping psychological thriller masterfully blends grief, AI, and a murder mystery. Tension builds throughout the book leaving you questioning the boundaries of human control and machine power. A compelling read.