It was only a matter of time until AI made it into a novel and this was a great way to bring it in.

Katrina is mourning her husband, who passed in an accident a year ago and to help cope with his passing, she's talking to an AI version of him in an app, but her life turns upside down again when the AI Jason tells her he thinks he was murdered.

The audio of this was fantastic. The narrator did a fabulous job.

I very, very much enjoyed the story, I was desperate to get to the end and just when I think everything is safe and finished, the next twist comes. Absolutely fantastic.
I will definitely be seeking out other books from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Audio ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was interesting. The plot was different and I liked it. This book had everything you could want; mystery, suspense, romance, plot twists. I definitely enjoyed this book.

I Think I Was Murdered
by Colleen Coble, Rick Acker
Narrated by Karen Peakes
Pub DateNov 12 2024
HarperCollins Christian Publishing |Thomas Nelson Fiction
Christian| Mystery & Thrillers| Romance




Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of I Think I Was Murdered to review:


I must say this audibook version Of I Think I Was Murdered, kept me awake, the way a good book does.

What would you do if AI 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!

This was an unexpected read that keeps you on your toes. It mixes pieces of Enders Game ( but in the real world) and explores the ethics of AI technology, while figuring out a murder. I do think I wanted a bit more from the story and to connect with the characters more, but an interesting read.

A thrilling and quick-moving techno-thriller, this book examines grief, loss, and the ethics of technology in an engaging manner. The AI chatbot as a central figure is a fascinating concept, and there was a twist in the plot that I didn't expect. The mystery kept me guessing, and the characters were both interesting and well-developed. The cozy atmosphere of North Haven wraps around you while keeping you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics, and the romance was natural. For those who are hesitant because it’s labeled as Christian fiction, please don’t let that hold you back. It doesn’t emphasize religion much.The narrator did a great job of bringing each character to life. Overall, this book is a great blend of suspense, coziness, and action. I highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.

This book had so much potential, and I really wanted to love it. The premise was intriguing, but I struggled to follow the plot. There were moments when the pacing felt off, and I found myself getting lost. It just didn’t flow smoothly for me, which made it hard to stay engaged. Even so, I can see how others who enjoy more complex storytelling might connect with it differently than I did.

🎧 Book Info

- Author: Colleen Cobble
- Narrator: Karen Peakes
- Length: 9hrs 46mins

🧠 Plot & Characters

- Brief Plot Summary: Katrina Berg, a grieving young widow, navigates her loss by communicating with an AI version of her late husband. This virtual connection takes a dark turn when she receives a chilling message: "I think I was murdered." Driven by this cryptic warning, Katrina delves into the mysterious circumstances surrounding her husband’s death. As she unravels secrets and confronts dangerous truths, Katrina must rely on her wits and determination to uncover the real story and ensure her own safety.
- Favorite Character: the AI bot - it never wavered 😂

🎙️ Narration

- Narration Quality: Karen’s voice was soooooooooo intriguing and the way she brings the characters to life is amazing! probably up there with January LaVoy and Julia Whelan when it comes down to quality! great job 👏🏾

🌌 Atmosphere

- Setting & Mood: eerie Boston, Massachusetts
- Suspense Level: 🔍🔍🔍🔍

💭 Final Thoughts

- Overall Enjoyment: I enjoyed how there are so many pop culture references while also being set in an AI advanced world. i’m always intrigued by books that implement technology within their mysteries and seeing how it affects the plot.
- Rating (out of 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Recommend? yea, but it’s a bit slow. it’s definitely worth the listen!

🏷️

#audiblebooks #bookish #bookaddict #audiobooknarrator #audiobooklover #instabook #booksbooksbooks #amazon #nonfiction #novel #author #goodreads #narrator #bookcommunity

Thank you Colleen Cobble, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Netgalley for the ALC!

I Think I was Murdered is an interesting novel. The premise of it pulled me in, but it wasn’t quite what I expected. I really wanted to like this book, but it was a little slow for me. I thought some of the choices the characters made were odd, and I would have liked a bit more suspense. I listen to the audiobook version, and I liked the narrator. Overall, it may be worth the read if you’re interested in a slow burn AI thriller with most of the excitement packed into the last chapters. Thank you to NetGalley and HaperCollins Christian Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 🌟

I Think I Was Murdered presents an intriguing concept: a grieving widow using an AI chatbot to communicate with her deceased husband, only to receive the shocking message, “I think I was murdered.” This premise hooked me right away, and the blend of AI technology with a mystery had real potential. Katrina’s emotional journey, paired with the idea of AI blurring the lines between life and death, makes for a compelling setup.

However, while the story started strong, it gradually took a turn that felt less believable. The realistic, grief-driven elements at the beginning were overshadowed by a plot that veered into implausibility, making it hard for me to stay fully engaged. The pacing dragged in places, and some of the twists felt predictable or underdeveloped.

That said, the themes of technology, grief, and second chances are handled with sensitivity, and there are moments where the emotional depth shines. Katrina’s struggle to reconcile with the past is relatable, and Seb Wallace’s character adds a nice dynamic to the story.

Karen Peakes’ narration of the audiobook elevated the overall experience. She breathed life into the characters, especially Katrina, and captured the story’s emotional weight well.

Overall, I Think I Was Murdered offers a unique take on technology and loss but could have benefited from tighter execution. It’s an enjoyable read with a fascinating premise but didn’t quite live up to its full potential.

Thank you NetGalley, Colleen Coble & Rick Acker, and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for the opportunity to listen to and review I Think I Was Murdered

Engaging, fast-paced read.

After tragically losing her husband in an accident, Katrina loads all the data she can find from his personal accounts/devices and social media into a chatbot program so that she can feel like she's still talking to him. Things take a turn when the AI husband replacement shocks her with the message "I think I was murdered".

Go in ready to exercise some suspension of disbelief, and you'll enjoy the ride. We've got a mystery to solve revolving around cryptocurrency, deceit and murder- with the aid of an AI powered side-kick. We explore the different stages of grief as Katrina mourns her late-husband. All wrapped up with a sweet, second chance romance and a happily ever after.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ALC to listen to and review. My opinions are my own 💕

3.5
A fast paced novel that held my interest all the way through.
I was intrigued by the idea of a chat box having never heard about them before. I could definitely see their appeal as there are people I would love to hear from again who are no longer with us. Though as shown in the novel, there is the danger of relying on them too heavily and not moving on, still an interesting concept.
I enjoyed learning a little bit about things I know little about, AI, cryptocurrency and Norwegian culture, it was refreshing to read a novel with different themes running through it.
The narration was excellent and overall I found the novel to be an enjoyable engaging read.
With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for my copy of the audiobook for review.

I Think I Was Murdered was such a fun read, blending mystery, sci fi and a dash of romance.

The central thread around AI made for an intriguing premise, playing off some of the ethical and technical elements to create suspense and sinister undertones. The characters were well fleshed out, and the themes of grief and moving on were well integrated in the story. I particularly enjoyed the development of Katrina and Sebs relationship. The Norwegian themed town was a surprise, but added such a warm and cosy feel which perfectly balanced the thrills and suspense.

The narration was well paced, and really brought the characters to life. I raced through the audiobook in one day, and really felt transported into the world of the story. The authors note at the end was also really interesting.

I’d highly recommend for anyone looking for an engrossing and enjoyable read.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I Think I Was Murdered
Colleen Coble, Rick Acker
This book deals with grief, death, love, mourning and moving on. The main character, Katrina Berg, turns too an advanced AI chatbot to stay in touch with her deceased husband. A year ago, Katrina’s world was satisfying. She and her husband deeply loved each other. She was very successful and wealthy. Her husband, Jason, died in a car crash. She was the general counsel at Talk Inc., a company that has created a sophisticated AI app. With permission from the company’s CTO, Katrina downloaded every piece of data she could find from Jason, pictures, emails, and social media backups. She trained the AI app to emulate Jason. The result was being able to chat with Jason every day. The chatbot even managed to pick up grammar and words that Jason would use. At times she could pretend he hadn’t died. The chatbot took over her life. She felt better having the Chatbot, but she also knew she wasn’t working through her grief.
The company had problems. The CEO David Liang disappears, the FBI is investigating the company for fraud. The CEO is charged, the FBI locks her out of her office.
She receives information that her grandmother, Frida Berg (Bestemor) is very ill, Katrina rushed from Silicon Valley, but Bestemor passed away before she arrived. During the funeral Katrina sees many people from her past. It had been years since she saw Seb Wallace. She finds herself attracted to Seb. His father remembers seeing a car speeding across his land. Katrina is suspicious. One day she asks the chatbot to tell her something she didn’t know; the answer sent her into a tailspin, “I think I was murdered.”
This is the first book I have read where AI is one of the main characters. Katrina is the main character. She pulls at the heart strings. She is grieving the loss of her husband and turns to AI. While it may seem romantic and sweet, I see it as dangerous. Katrina could not move on because of the AI; she became dependent on the AI. The plot of this book is fascinating. I enjoyed the romance; it is a slow burn. This book starts out slowly and then the excitement builds. Kudos to the authors Colleen Coble and Rick Acker.

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy.

I like Colleen Coble's writing and the addition of a Norwegian theme made this book all the more appealing since my ancestors are Norwegian. The team of Coble and Acker is a good one, lending suspense and thriller to the story. It was interesting to have A.I. featured prominently since it's the 'hot' thing now.

This is a very enjoyable book. The romance angle proceeded as expected, the mystery had some real twists. Narration was superb.

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker
Katrina, a grieving widow goes back to her hometown after the passing of her grandmother. For a year she has used AI technology from her company to connect with her deceased husband and pretend he’s still alive. She talks to him daily for comfort and advice. One day, she asks an unexpected question on a whim, and he states” I think I was murdered “.
Katrina relies on an old friend, Seb, to help her chase down the truth. There are elements of mystery, murder, espionage, betrayal and romance. This book has it all, maybe too much. Seb was my favorite character.
The characters were so well developed and the plot was fresh and current.

The audio book was so well done! The narrator Karen Peakes, did a phenomenal job and really enhanced the experience, by giving each character a voice. I think the audiobook added a relatable element of suspense with the narration that made the story just come more alive.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson publishing and Colleen Coble for the pleasure of reviewing an ARC copy.
I really enjoyed the epilogue too! Overall it was enjoyable and a great thriller! 5/5⭐️s

This book had so much potential, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver. While I enjoyed the cozy mystery and the touch of romance, several elements just didn’t work for me. The plotwas all over the place. The over-the-top gun usage was distracting; it seemed like every few paragraphs Seb, Dillon, or Magnus was pulling out a weapon. It left me wondering, are we in Texas (j/k)? It got to the point where one character was guarding a house with AK-47, and it just didn’t seem realistic or necessary for the story.

Katrina’s character was another sticking point. She seemed clueless about basic things—like asking the chatbot the right questions—yet Seb magically knew exactly what to ask? Also for a wlawyer she just didnt seem to know much about law. But she was quick to whip out that degree when talking to Seb about the restaurant. It didn’t feel consistent. Also, the casual mention of fentanyl bothered me, especially considering the real-world crisis surrounding it. Why not just say the character was given pain medication?

I want to acknowledge the hard work that goes into writing a book. Authors put in so much time and effort to create their stories, and I appreciate that. But with this one, I just couldn’t get behind the execution.

I was on the fence about giving this a 3-star rating, but I think I’m leaning closer to 2.5. I guess I was expecting a mystery more along the lines of Terri Blackstock or Randy Alcorn, and this just didn’t hit that mark for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy for an honest review.