Format Disclosure

I’ve only reviewed one another audiobook, so this is definitely a learning curve for me. I do want to note that I like listen to audiobooks while doing other things. Between the element of multitasking and the fact that it is harder to “flip through” the book as I review, this review may be less detailed than my book reviews.

Spiritual Themes

I have to admit I’ve had trouble remembering spiritual content. We definitely see themes of forgiveness and reconciliation, as well as prayer.

Audio Presentation

Narrator Karen Peakes does an excellent job of reading and differentiating between the different characters. In particular, I felt that her portrayal of Dylan was spot on: a blend of youth and earnestness, conveying his love of fun mingled with vulnerability stemming from a harsh past. Peakes captures the nuance of the character, fleshing him out beyond the words of the text. As a result, I feel that Peakes’ presentation added to my experience of the text, compared to if I had consumed the book visually.

I’m also grateful for Peakes’ reading because of the Norweigan elements of the book. One of the main characters referenced is “Bestemor,” Norweigan for “grandma,” and the book is peppered with allusions to Norwegian culture. Without the audio component, I would have been lost as far as the pronunciations.

I also appreciated the audiobook because I think Peakes’ narration helped with the pacing of the story. The book was just a little bit slower than I would have expected, but the lively narration kept me engaged. I was also grateful for the audiobook format, because of the suspenseful moments. I like that I don’t have to cover the next paragraph to avoid seeing a surprise, in the more intense scenes.

What I Liked

Sci-Fi and Suspense

I’m using the term “sci-fi” loosely, here, as some of the elements in the book are realistic, but still feel like sci-fi to me. One of them is the AI chatbot loaded with Jason’s digital trail. The device allows Katrina to feel as if she’s still talking to Jason, which also helps in the investigation process.

The other semi-sci-fi element is bitcoin. Although bitcoin has been around for a while, now, it’s not something with which I’m very familiar. In an end note, the authors explain which elements of the bitcoin plot are based on real people / events, and which ones are fictional. I was surprised to learn about some of the distinctions.

Significance of Absent Characters

I like it when authors incorporate characters who are not present for the events of story as major players in the plot. Two characters, Jason and Bestemor, are not alive throughout most of the book, but figure prominently in the story. I think it’s neat that Coble and Acker were able to flesh out these characters, even in their absence. Bestemor stands out to me because she is shown to be a beautiful, strong, compassionate woman, although she passes away before the readers actually “meet” her. Bestemor’s very absence indicates the importance of her presence. She is missed, but both protagonists are very aware of her impact.

Jason is an interesting character, because readers are interacting with a shell of the person he was. Because we don’t have the opportunity to get to know Jason while he is still alive, our experiences of the character are filtered through the artificial presentation of his character. Definitely some food for thought, there.

Content Notes

Romantic Content

Romantic content doesn’t go beyond kissing, and the kissing was only slightly detailed. (I could have gone for less detail, but it wasn’t enough to seriously creep me out). I would have liked to see a more serious relationship established before the kissing, though.

There was a bit of emphasis on physical appearance, particularly with regards to some of the secondary characters. Liv is described by a male character as “built like a swimsuit model,” and this male character is considered to be “tastier than the waffles” they’d eaten for breakfast.

There is some discussion, though, contrasting relationships based on physical attraction and those grounded in a knowledge of the other person.

Recommendation Status

As I mentioned at the top of this review, my comments have been largely general due to the audiobook format. All in all, I definitely enjoyed I Think I Was Murdered, and feel comfortable recommending it with light reader discretion advised.

Four out of five stars because of the pacing (it took me awhile to get “into” the story) and because the message was a bit less memorable, for me.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this great read! The suspense in this story was great, it kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The premise is what hooked me, the fact that AI was extremely involved in the plot was so fascinating to read about. I liked all of the characters and was able to empathize with each of them, even the villain - to an extent. I will definitely be reading more from these authors in the near future!

This was super fast paced and kept my interest all the way through and I would recommend it to any who love these types of stories!

I had never read Colleen Coble so this was a first for me. The narrator was phenomenal and the story line was riveting and kept me on the edge of my seat. The concept of AI working for us as well as being able to be weaponized against us was fascinating. I am eager to explore more of Coble and Acker's works after this book. Highly recommend.

This book was a different twist to a mystery because AI is highly involved. It took me a minute to figure out what was really happening, but the audio was so well done and absolutely lured me in. Bad guys. Good guys. Betrayal. All the things to keep me on the edge of my seat.

I THINK I WAS MURDERED by Colleen Coble & Rick Acker
This is one addictive read! Colleen Coble and Rick Acker have knocked it out of the park with this story. This is the first book I have read by these two but certainly will not be the last. This is a romantic suspenseful well written story that starts with a death of a husband and becomes I Think I was Murdered by AI. I didn’t want to put this down! This is 5 stars.
I listened to the audio version read by Karen Peakes. She did a very good job with it.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read & review via ARC. I enjoyed reading this and it kept me interested and anxious to see what happens next. I liked the writer's style & would love to read more by them.

Katrina is a star whose life has taken a turn for the worse. He husband died, the business for which she is legal counsel is under federal investigation and her beloved grandmother has passed away. When Katrina goes to the small town where she was raised in order to get herself back together. She meets Seb Wallace, a former classmate, who star is rising. Seb has risen above his difficult childhood, with the help and support of Katrina's grandmother. He has become very interesting, suave, and sophisticated, while remaining kind and grounded. He has his own demon's to slay, however. I have to say that I liked the story line but many of the situations were way to well overcome and over the top, for sure. I am not that much of a critic but even I couldn't believe it.

This immediately grabbed my attention. Was the perfect mix of thriller and mystery. I had no clue who was the guilty party all the way up until the end. Fast paced and fantastic!

I think I was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker
Publication Date: November 12, 2024
Big Brother is watching you… this time in the form of a pilot AI app that simulates a text conversation with a deceased loved one using their social media, email, and phone accounts. Great idea in theory but this one will put the main characters life in danger. Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson publishing, and the authors for the advanced reader copy of the audiobook. I love audiobooks and this one was definitely worth the read.

Let me start out by saying that although the characters in this story make comments about leaning on their faith to get through difficult times, this can easily be enjoyed regardless of religious beliefs. It is not pushy or a large part of the plot at ALL. Just wanted to make that clear!

I was drawn to this book with the premise of a woman using an AI program with all of her dead husband’s texts, web searches, etc. and it telling her “I think I was murdered”. And on that note, I was definitely entertained. The authors certainly got creative with the use of technology and even cryptocurrency within the context of building an intriguing mystery.

I liked the blooming romance and thought that it was super sweet and added depth to the characters. Katrina’s guilt over it in the wake of losing her husband feels so real and believable.

However, some of the story fell flat for me and felt like a stretch. Other times, things got predictable and some scenes felt very “cookie cutter”—that is, ripped straight from a handful of thriller movies or other books.

I also struggled a bit at times with the audiobook narrator. She was good, but took me out of the story a bit doing some of the voices. I think the audio would have been greatly improved with a male narrator for Seb.

Overall, this is a quick and easy read thriller that has some unique aspects and will keep you entertained. I’m just not sure it will really stand out in my head longterm.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the audio version of I Think I Was Murdered.

There was a lot to like about this book. Perhaps the biggest positive, from my point of view, was the fact that there was no bad language at all. That is a huge plus when you are listening to an audio book. You can't skim *@&%$ words when you are listening. So big thanks to the authors for showing that if the cussing is left out, the book stands on its merits quite nicely. In fact, the absence of these words is not even noticed.

Another aspect I appreciated greatly was the gentle way the authors communicated the Christian faith. This is often done with a painfully heavy hand, but in this case, any references were made as though a natural part of regular life, which is exactly as it should be. No sermonising, which was appreciated (even as a Christian).

Another positive was the very fresh, contemporary subject matter running through the story: the use of bitcoin and, more importantly, the rise of AI and chat bots. The research was obvious, even before I heard the authors' footnote.

On the negative side, although probably a personal issue only, I like my mystery/thrillers to focus very much on that part of the storyline, with strongly developed characters. I'm not a fan of mixing romance with this genre. Not every female main character has to have a love interest and Christian women aren't all desperate for romantic novels. Personally, this would have ticked all my boxes if the focus had remained largely at Talk (the bankrupt company the main character worked for at the start of the book) and her use of the chat bot to search for answers as to what killed her husband.

But, of course, that would not a cozy mystery make, which this book is veering toward. Main character goes home to her family in an idyllic small town after the company she works for goes bankrupt, with potentially criminal overtones, and her beloved grandmother passes away and leaves the much loved local restaurant to her much loved granddaughter. Enter romance, along with some thrills as the main female character works with the male romantic character to get to the truth.

Some may be surprised by the ending, but I wasn't, particularly when the authors' provided a clue in the final four or five chapters. Even so, I was relatively satisfied with how it wound up, but I do think a lot of padding could have been removed.

So, for me, this was closer to a 3.5, rather than 4 stars, but it was definitely better than a 3.

As far as the audio book narration is concerned, this was very good for the most part; however, the voice of the male main character was a bit creepy. Very breathy and whispery, but he was written as being softly spoken and gentle, so the narrator did her best to communicate that. The other characters were all really well done.

To sum up, I recommend I Think I Was Murdered without hesitation for readers of Christian romantic fiction who like a little bit of a thrill on the side.

I Think I was Murdered
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was GREAT! I couldn't put it down. It was a excited, unique, different story. I didn't figure it out until the very end. Super great thriller that will make you want to keep going on the chase. Plus a cute love story in it as a bonus. LOL Also the story is set in December. Perfect timing!
Thank you NetGalley!

"In 2009 Satoshi Nakamoto laid an egg. Jason Foster found it two weeks ago, and he’d been running for his life ever since."

やめろ、さもないと次は君だ
“It’s Japanese, and it reads ‘Stop or you’ll be next.’”


I love a good and strong prologue especially like this one which started with an unexpected statement. Like what the heck is this about someone who laid an egg? 🥚 It's mysterious, catchy and grabbed my attention. If you aren't familiar with the history of bitcoins and it's founder, you'll be perplexed and intrigued like I was. 😹
The story focuses on Katrina Foster, a lawyer and works as general counsel for Talk, Inc., a company responsible for developing innovative AI app/chatbots.
Her life had slowly spiraled out of control starting with Jason’s death in a car accident and as a means to cope, she has relied on a chatbot app imitating her husband so she could 'talk' to him. The AI app filled one chink in the mortar holding her sanity together. The app also revealed clues to her husband's possible murderer - pointing to a someone named 'Messenja'.
A decent enough scifi thriller which makes a credible attempt infusing AI, chatbots, cryptocurrency/bitcoins into the storyline. A bit lacking and flat in some parts and ending was kinda rushed but still an overall decent thriller and I did not predict some of the twists. Read this both in digital and audio format. The audio narration is great, the voice of the narrator sounded pleasant and she did a fine job voicing multiple characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the audiobook arc. 🖤

3.45✨

This was very sci-fi. There was a lot of mention of AI. The characters are looking for a special AI trinket. None of these things interest me. However, there is a good storyline. Husband dies in a car crash. The wife mourns the loss but is able to communicate with her deceased husband through an AI app. There are several characters enter the story. The story was good enough that I finished, and the narration was done well. This story was not my cup of tea, but would be interesting to those are into AI and sci-fi. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian publishing for the advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An AI chatbot, bitcoin, and a mystery to solve. This collaboration between Colleen Coble and Rick Acker is quite the page turner.

Katrina Berg is a widow and a lawyer for Talk, Inc. Her deceased husband Jason converses with her regularly via a chatbot app pioneered by her employer. When the Feds descend upon the company, Katrina heads home to New Haven, CA to regroup and mourn another loss -- her Bestemor. I loved the setting in the redwoods and the Norwegian family connections. The food at Bestemor's restaurant sounds fabulous -- waffles and lignonberries on a cloud, for example. Best friend Liv soon joins Katrina and so does a heightening element of danger. If Jason was murdered, is that same person or group now targetting Katrina? Old high school friend Seb Wallace is a welcome partner in investigation and as a restaurant resource. He also has family complications including a dad with Parkinson's and a new brother who has come out of the woodwork.

There is a lot going on in this book. The authors did do a good job of tying up the loose ends by the conclusion. I am not a huge Colleen Coble fan, but if you are then you will also love this new cutting edge mystery. Karen Peakes does a fine job narrating if you choose the audio version.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for a digital ARC and to HarperCollins for an audio ARC. All opinions are my own.

I'm not usually a mystery/suspense reader, but the plot of this book really intrigued me! I did enjoy it, and got drawn into the story quickly.
The subject of AI and the complications it adds to crime in this day and age are quite fascinating and it was intriguing to see how the story would unfold.
I appreciated that the romance was clean and violence was minimal (it is a murder mystery, so of course some is expected).
Colleen and Rick are a great writing duo, and Karen Peakes was a talented narrator, with great variation in her character voices, keeping the story interesting.

*I received a free copy of this audiobook through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I do love this writing duo. Thank You Netgalley for the audio Arc. The narrator, Karen Peakes has narrated many of Colleen Coble works. I absolutely loved the concept of this book. A widower using technology to stay connected with her deceased husband. I wish there was more on the chatbot history. It played such a huge role in the plot. I did enjoy the slow burn of this mystery. It was high stakes for most of the book. There were times I mixed up on who's story line we were following but that could be because I did not have the physical book along with the audio and just spaced out. I did guess who was to blame but it was still a surprising ending. The romance of a childhood friend was refreshing.

A very good semi-sci-fi murder thriller. Katrina has a proto-type AI app. Her deceased husband, Jason, had entered all his messages, emails, social media, pictures and any other bits of data into the app before his death. Katrina talks to the app, asks it advice, tells it how much she misses "him". She sometimes forgets it's only an app and that Jason is really gone. One day, she asked him to tell her something she doesn't know. Jason responded with, "I think I was murdered."

I Think I Was Murdered is not the first book I have read written by Colleen Coble but is the first I have read by Rick Acker. Colleen Coble has become a favorite of mine this year, and so far, I have loved every book I have read by her. I was caught right in from the first page.

The character development is great. I loved getting to know Katrina and watching her process her grief but also having the AI software to ‘talk’ to her husband was a fun dynamic. Also getting to pull the layers back on Seb and understand him was fun.

The storyline and setting were fantastic. It was fun seeing what AI could do. Crazy to think a software could mimic a human just off of his text messages, email and social media accounts. The suspense aspect was great. I did not suspect the person who did it. Not until close to the end. It is always a great read when the suspect element is not easily figured out.

The relationship that unfolded between Katrina and Seb was sweet. Nothing over the top. Kisses only, and slow build due to Katrina only recently being a widow, which is to be expected. I appreciated that it was clean.

The Christian element was there, though slightly on the lighter side.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed several of Colleen Coble's books and I've never been disappointed when she does a collaboration!
This was an interesting thriller that a few twists I enjoyed overall.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!