I loved this book! It hooked me in on the first page and kept me interested until the last. I love the subject matter…an author who writes suspense novels is actually living in suspense in real life. And this book had a huge twist at the end. I really had a bunch of different guesses but none was what it really was. I highly recommend this novel if you enjoy good, clean suspense!

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

July 3, 2024
Alexandra Dubois is a best selling thriller author.
When she is targeted by an obsessed fan who has learned where she lives, she leaves for her own safety to the cabin of her editor to continue on her current book.
The only problem is her stalker has managed to follow her there and she is living in constant fear of her life.

Pro's:
Developed characters, lots of suspense, and a bit of romance.
This is a clean story that can be classified as suspense and women's fiction.

Con's:
The story was a little confusing at the beginning as I was trying to sort out the reality of the MC's real life and what the storyline of the MC of book she was writing,

Thanks to NetGalley and author Heather Day Gilbert for allowing me to read this Advanced Reader Copy.

Having read and enjoyed many of Heather Day Gilbert's books, I looked forward to reading Queen of Hearts and was not disappointed. It is a captivating book that reels the reader in from the first page with tension that will have you holding your breath until the end. The author exhibits her skill in storytelling with her believable characters, action-packed scenes, and being able to keep the reader guessing as to which character is the villain. Queen of Hearts is a fast-paced mystery that readers who enjoy psychological thrillers will not want to miss. I was given a complimentary copy of the ebook and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

This psychological thriller was a real page turner! I was completely hooked right from the start and couldn’t put it down.

Alexandra is a character with autism and OCD, which the author does really well at portraying. I love that the story is told in first person and you can really get inside Alex’s head which helps the reader to better understand her character and someone with autism.
This heart pounding story is fast paced and very well thought out with lots of twists that leaves the reader constantly guessing.

Disclaimer: I do need to add that I read this book because it’s being published as Christian Fiction. There were some “darker” scenes at the end of the book and the fact that there wasn’t any faith weaved throughout the story gave it a sense of emptiness and hopelessness. Where there is darkness, there needs to be hope and light otherwise it’s just that…darkness. For this reason, I personally will be slower to pick up one of her books again.

**A big thank you to Woodhaven Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a well-written thriller. Alexandra's, a best-selling author of romantic suspense, life suddenly seems to reflect something she might have written. A stalker is sending her threatening messages trying to control Alex's final book in her series. She has to decide who she can trust and who is a threat.

This was my first book by Heather Day Gilbert. Her writing style was so gripping and suspenseful. I was pulled in from page one. There was no shortage of twists and turns. The characters are well-developed, complex, and realistic. The setting of the house/retreat was great it plays great into the suspense in the story.

All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced by anyone.

Queen of Hearts is a mystery suspense story with lots of twists and an unexpected ending. I loved the overall writing style and immediately liked the main character in the first person. Overall, I had a hard time putting the book down (because I had to see what happened !) and the only reason I gave the book 3 stars was because the ending seemed rushed and didn't make much sense to me. It was an interesting storyline though

I was given this book to read and review -all opinions are my own.

Wow really liked this book i was hooked. What a treat.

Thank you for the opportunity to review i will def recommend to others

This book started off as a slow burn mystery but then, suddenly, started moving very quickly with lots of twists and turns and there was enough suspense to keep me turning pages far into the night. Having the main character, Alexandra, be autistic was an interesting idea. I don't know any autistic people but the characters portrayal felt very realistic and I think that I learned a bit more about this condition. I'm eager to read more books from Heather Day Gilbert.
Thank you NetGalley, for the chance to enjoy this ARC. .

I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

You must end the series my way. - Invested Reader

Alexandra Dubois is a best selling author, with a fantastic series that is finally reaching the end. The last book must be written. Writing it, however, seems to have hit a wall - a wall of threats and danger from Invested Reader or is there yet another stalker?

This suspense thriller will keep your attention as well as keeping you guessing. Who is this Invested Reader and why is he/she bringing danger into Alex’s life? It just makes it harder for her to finish writing the book.

An early copy was received through Woodhaven Press and NetGalley. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

Queen of Hearts is a classic whodunit set in the literary world. Alexandra Dubois is a romantic suspense writer who acquires a stalker that insists she write her last book in the series according to his or her wishes. Alexandra tries to hide away in a quiet forest retreat while she writes but danger follows her.

This novel was filled with twists and turns and I found the basic plot interesting. I did struggle a bit with relating to the main character as she made some odd choices in how she reacted to threats from her stalker that left me feeling like her actions were not very realistic. But I did find the overall story compelling so I whizzed through it in one weekend.

Would absolutely read more books by this author as she obviously knows how to keep the pages turning!

Alexandra Dubois, is at a crossroads in life. Newly divorced and struggling to deal with her new diagnosis of autism, Dubois is afraid when she received threats regarding her bestselling thriller series. When it becomes clear that the stalker knows where to find her, she uproots herself to her editor's vacation home. As Heather Day Gilbert adds suspense, she additionally includes reminders of everyday issues people face when they are out of their comfort zones. This is a brilliantly claustrophobic story that will keep you guessing!
#woodhavenpress #heatherdaygilbert #queenofhearts

I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the book. I also appreciated how the main character was so transparent in how she lived with Autism and the cooping skills she used in the midst of all the stress and confusion around her. The characters were well written as well as the plot intriguing. I’m hoping it’s the first of a series.

I enjoyed the book. I liked getting to know the characters. I thought there would be more gospel centered points.

When a stalker forces famous suspense author Alexandra Dubois to abandon her well-ordered life and hide in a borrowed cabin in the rugged West Virginia woods, the refuge proves to be a nightmare more harrowing than any the great novelist herself could create.

QUEEN OF HEARTS is a gripping, mind-bending thriller with more twists and turns than an old mountain road. Within a few pages, the reader is plunged into Alexandra's world and headspace and is compelled to stay there, mining through overlapping mysteries, memories, and perils with increasing desperation while a revolving carousel of unusual characters provokes questions of who to trust or if genuine trust is even possible. The final, heart-pounding climax unfolds with a whirlwind of misdirects and jump scares that culminate in a breathtaking conclusion.

Devotees of classic suspense films and novels will be captivated by QUEEN OF HEARTS.

When Alexandra Dubois, an autistic NY best-selling author of suspenseful romance novels, finds herself being stalked by an “invested reader”, she takes her editor up on his offer to stay at his secluded writer’s retreat in West Virginia. Although Alex would prefer to stay in her familiar surroundings, she no longer feels safe and agrees this may be the perfect opportunity to complete the final book in her series. Once she arrives, she is distracted by several nuances. Is she being paranoid or has her stalker followed her to this remote cabin?

The description of the book had me hooked from the beginning. The first half of the book was a slow burn, then abruptly picked up speed that continued throughout the rest of the book. At that point I had to reread the previous chapter to be sure I had not missed something important. The twists and turns in this suspenseful 4 ⭐️ thriller kept me “invested” in who was stalking Alex until the very end.

This was the first book I read by Heather Day Gilbert and I look forward to reading more.

I would like to thank WoodHaven Press, Heather Day Gilbert, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this book was GOOD! I was so thrown by the ending. I loved the idea of it. Such a great thriller. Well written and loved the story.

Alex, in the process of writing her 7th book in her bestseller series, has high functioning autism. One day she receives a threatening letter and a brick through her window which leaves her paralyzed with fear. Since she needs to finish her book, her editor offers his remote cabin. Thinking this is what she needs, she takes him on the offer. Adjusting to her new environment, mysterious events start making her question her reality. This book was a refreshing story with the author giving insight inside the mind of someone who has autism. The characters in this book are all unique and add to the story line. The twist at the end was surprising and heart breaking at the same time. The epilogue at the end wasn't what I expected but was the perfect way to fill in the gaps. Great quick fun read. Can't wait to read more of Heather's book and hopefully see Alex again.

A best selling suspense author, Alexandra Dubois, is recovering from a divorce, writing her next book, and navigating her autism diagnosis she recently received. Alex receives a threatening letter from an invested reader, leading her to believe she has a stalker, leaving her unable to trust anyone.

The book starts off a bit slow but I enjoyed how it picked up pace as I read on. However, I did not enjoy the pointed bits about autistic traits, as it felt a bit forced. I would’ve appreciated a bit more subtlety there. I do however like that neurodivergence is amplified. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and got through the book pretty quickly!

Thank you Netgalley for my ARC!

I confess that I'm both surprised and disappointed to be writing yet another unpopular opinion review. On paper, Queen Of Hearts should have been a perfect fit. I always love thrillers with a bookish angle and I have a weak spot for a remote setting/bad weather element, so I simply couldn't resist adding this story to my kindle. I was also intrigued by the whole stalker angle, and I couldn't wait to dive in and discover just how far this stalker was willing to go... Sadly, the book itself ended up being surprisingly dull, predictable and not suspenseful at all instead.

I think Queen Of Hearts is one of those books where I appreciated the premise a lot more than the actual story. The plot had SO much potential, and I especially loved the sound of the West Virginia cabin setting. This made for such a great backdrop for this story, and it's not a state I get to visit often in books. I also loved the whole Misery vibe of the plot, with the stalker having very clear ideas about how the main character Alexandra Dubois' romantic suspense series should end. I could also appreciate the autism rep in the main character... BUT. There were also too many things that didn't end up working about the actual story.

I think one of the main struggles has a lot to do with the main characters. It is funny how the author has Alexandra critizing fellow author Jordan's writing, claiming about Jordan's main character that 'we don't get a strong sense of who she is or what her motivations are', when this is EXACTLY what happened with Alexandra herself for me. I found her character to be way too one-dimensional, and her main character trait seems to be mainly based on being autistic and what basically a human doormat. Oh yes, she is also a writer with a stalker! But do we truly ever get to know her on a deeper level? I don't think so. The rest of the characters are likewise cliche and mostly cardboard copies. And the romance? Incredibly lackluster and simply not believable as there is no chemistry at all.

I can't put my finger exactly on the why, but there was also something about the tone and writing style that didn't work for me. I think it might have had to do with the fact that the story used too much explaining and too little simply showing what is happening... Certain parts of the plot were quite repetitive, and I never felt any tension or suspense at all. I also basically guessed who was her stalker straight away, which put a major damper on things. And sure, it was still a quick read and the final part was a bit more eventful, but it also felt like something I have read many times before at the same time. I mean, the storm, the dead phone, the main character making stupid mistakes... I didn't see anything that made this particular story stand out for me. Ok, maybe that twist involving her ex-husband, but since that particular twist credible wasn't exactly credible I don't feel like it counts.

All in all I can't say I was all that impressed by Queen Of Hearts. The premise was extremely promising, but sadly the execution fell rather flat for me. Maybe it's just a sign that I've been reading way too many thrillers? I seem to be in the minority so far though, so don't give up on my account if you think this book might be for you.