Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. I enjoyed reading this one, the story about a mother and daughter and their relationship. The whole time, I had no clue on who to believe!! Lots of twists!

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

What an explosive book, start to finish, by Bonnie Kistler! This author has done it yet again in reeling you in, keeping you guessing, and ending with a punch.
A wealthy woman spends her wedding night hearing a shocking confession from her new husband. But what did he really say? It would have been impossible for him to commit the crime. Is she going mad? Her daughter struggles throughout the book to figure out the truth as she also wonders about the lies in her own marriage.
Sit down, and buckle up for a crazy ride!
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read!

What did I just read?!

This was BONKERS and wild and completely unpredictable I usually don't love a popcorn thriller only because it feels sort of lazy and full of things purely for shock value, but Shell Games was SO GOOD! This hooked me in with my coffee in the morning and I couldn't put it down until I finished it the same day!

Trust nobody. Questing absolutely everything. I absolutely was sucked into this story and loved the crazy ride it took us on!!

The relationship between a mother and her daughter can be a tricky thing. I loved reading about Julie and Kate. This book had some great twists and turns that took me by surprise. I found the ending very satisfying, however the very ending left me a tiny bit confused and I feel like the reader is left to make up their own mind about what happened.

Torn between 3 or 2.5 stars. I'm starting to think this style of thriller is simply not for me. There were way too many plots and subplots going on here - very much an everything but the kitchen sink type of plot. As part of this, characters were razor thin which made so many decisions seem odd. We have little backstory or development to go off. This book uses a 3rd person narration style but certain chapters seemed like they were supposed to be from different characters' POV which led to a strange reading experience.

The best part of this book is the very, very ending. Which is why I was conflicted on my rating... I'm not sure if they very end of this book hits the same if there wasn't so much going on.

Wow!! This book definitely had some wild twists and turns that I didn’t see coming! It had suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, a crazy who done it that I could not figure out! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for sharing this book with me!! A dazzling thriller about a young woman whose fabulously wealthy mother might be the victim of an elaborate con or might be losing her mind and the daughter can’t tell where the truth lies!

Kate Sawyer is a widowed mother, a real estate developer, a billionaire and a political socialite. She is also quite a formidable woman! She’s now seventy years old, and is marrying her high school sweetheart, Charlie. The book begins with their wedding, where many people gather, including her daughter, Julia and her son-in-law, Eric. It’s a normal (billionaire) wedding, but the first night of their marriage didn’t turn out exactly as planned…

Before leaving for their planned Tahitian honeymoon, Charlie tells Kate he has a secret he needs to get off his chest. He’s a murderer…specifically of the people who took that tainted Tylenol in the 1980s. Kate immediately calls the police, but Charlie tells them that she must have been too tipsy, and hallucinated the conversation. Eric steps in and says she has dementia; Charlie was stationed overseas in the military when those deaths took place in Chicago. The FBI clears him based on his records, and talk begins of what to do about Kate’s failing mind.

The only problem? Julie knows her mother, and knows she’s just as sharp now as she’s always been. She’s a shrewd businesswoman who doesn’t let anything get past her. Julie even starts watching her mother, but she sees no difference. She’s still running a huge company, she’s still sternly refusing to see Charlie, and she’s still the powerhouse everyone knows (but not necessarily loves). Then she remembers the prenup - Charlie will only get their main house in the event of death or divorce. But if she’s deemed incompetent, Charlie could easily take control of Kate’s company and her money. Is that the end game?

This is all a lot to unpack, but this is just the beginning of a twisty, suspenseful crime thriller. Plenty of things are to come, and reading about it all was a lot of fun! I loved that it had the Tylenol murders in it, a case that has never and probably will never be solved. I figured out the ending, but if had ended differently, I probably would have been disappointed. I love finishing thrillers with a laugh or grin, and this one definitely got the grin! A sequel would be okay, but if I could manifest it, I’d love a prequel to this book; I’d love to know more about Kate and Charlie when they were teenagers, their marriages in between, and how Kate built her empire. This was a fantastic and very entertaining read. 4.5 stars!

(Thank you to Harper Paperbacks, Bonnie Kistler and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on November 19, 2024.)

Shell Games is a thrilling story about Julie, a young woman whose wealthy mother, Kate, may be the victim of a con or suffering from dementia. When Kate's new husband, Charlie, is accused of a crime, Julie is torn between believing her mother or her stepfather. As she tries to unravel the truth, she also uncovers secrets in her own marriage. Set against a backdrop of environmental and societal issues, the novel keeps readers guessing as to who is deceiving whom.

This book was unexpectedly twisted, leaving me questioning what was true and what was deception. The writing was captivating and kept me engrossed as I delved deeper into the secrets slowly revealed throughout the story.

Approaching the book without reading the blurb was a perfect decision, as I enjoyed the element of surprise and not knowing what to expect. The characters were complex, each dealing with their own issues, and the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

The unexpected ending took me by surprise, leaving me impressed by the overall outcome. I highly recommend adding this book to your "to be read" list. I can imagine it being even more engaging as an audiobook, given its upbeat writing style.

If you appreciate a story that keeps you guessing from start to finish, then this book is definitely for you. Congratulations to the author for creating such a compelling and unpredictable read!

Thank you, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Paperbacks for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was completely captivated by this book from the very first chapter. The tension was immediate, and I felt like I was stepping into a world where nothing could be taken at face value. Each turn of the page kept me guessing, as the author expertly layered secrets and lies into the narrative.

As I dove deeper into the story, I found myself questioning every character's motives. Just when I thought I had a handle on who to trust, a new twist would emerge, leaving me reeling. The characters were so intricately developed that I couldn't help but get emotionally invested in their fates.

The pacing was relentless, driving me to read late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth. I loved how the plot twisted and turned, forcing me to rethink my assumptions at every turn. This book is a thrilling ride that kept me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who loves a good mystery.

wowzers! this book took me on a rollercoaster of rides. I was not expecting that ending what's so ever. such a good book. I definitely wondered about him and if it was true but I do think her mother was losing it.

The first few chapters of this book almost did me in...it read like a golden years romance. But luckily, things changed quickly, and I became absorbed by this twisty thriller. When dementia hits her real estate mogul mother, Julie must take over running things. But not everything adds up like it should, and Julie becomes suspicious someone is out to get her mother. I enjoyed the uncertainty in this novel...who to trust, who was gaslighting who.

A psychological thriller that follows julie as she tries to piece together whether her mom is the victim of an elaborate crime or suffering from dementia. for the majority of this book the main character is so frustrating and embodies so many of my pet peeves! she makes dumb mistakes, trusts very untrustworthy people, and believes obvious lies. at times it did feel like the author had just learned about gaslighting and decided to write a book around that concept. that being said, it all came together in the end and there some good twists throughout. overall, it was a good thriller and kept me guessing.

Very fun Evil Rich thriller! This lady is the kind of gal you love to hate, but you will feel for her and her family as you dive into their drama in this flinty, ice cold thriller. I read it all in one sitting – I had to see it to the end and find out the twist!

Shell Games by Bonnie Kistler could have been named "Gaslighter" and it would have made perfect sense.

Julie is the daughter of Kate Sawyer, a very famous real estate tycoon in Florida. Kate has recently married her high-school sweetheart when suddenly, her behavior starts changing. She makes plans to divorce immediately because she suspects him of being the 1980s Tylenol killer. Julie, of course, is worried about her mother, but then Charlie (the new husband) says that Kate is imagining things. Julie's own husband is saying that Kate has dementia.

It's up to Julie to find out what is what.

This one takes you from 0 to 60 immediately. The need to find out who is the liar and who is telling the truth is greater than the need to sleep. I loved every minute.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Well this was insane! I never quite knew who to trust, who to believe or really what was going on. It was great, I love a book that has me questioning things all the time.

On their wedding night, Kate and.Charlie are finally putting their feet up and preparing to head off on their honeymoon. Kate is so happy, she is the CEO of a huge corporation and she has just married her childhood sweetheart after not seeing him for 5o years. That is until he drops a bomb on her, and then denies it to police, claiming his new wife is suffering from dementia and mental health issues. Her daughter Julie doesn’t believe it, her mother is a strong and independent woman, so what is going on.

This was a fast read, I read this over 2 sessions and it messed with my head. I loved the way it made me change my mind about everything and everyone. With a hurricane, a husband with secrets and plenty of characters who aren’t easy to like, this book is one to get lost in.

Thanks so much to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. Publishes on. November 19th.

This sucked me in right away. The characters were easy to follow and overall the storyline was new with twisty turns. I felt like parts of the ending were a little lackluster while others left me in shock. The husband is the absolute worst character and Julie was insufferable at times, while hard to relate to. I liked the back and forth of the reader deciding who did it’s well. Is Julie’s mom going crazy or is her new husband gaslighting her?

There were a lot of twists and turns. This book definitely has the "i have to see what happens next" vibe. I would say it's more drama than thriller so I was kinda disappointed about that, but would still recommend.

What?! The ending was so GOOD! Sorry about all the exclamation points but I JUST finished this book--and the ending--was so well plotted and I NEVER saw it coming. It slapped me upside the head and had me reeling. It turned what was going to be a 4 star read into 5 stars. The plot was well thought out and kept me guessing all the way through and then, ZING!
I am feeling much honored to have received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Harper Perennial. This review has not been coerced in any way and the opinion is entirely my own.

The classic top notch twisty turner which keeps you turning and turning the pages. What more can be said. Highly recommended