In EL DORADO DRIVE, written by Megan Abbott, the month of March comes in like a lion. I doubt it will go out like a lamb. The story starts with a Harper assisting her sister, Pam, to bury a cookie jar. Then, Harper attends a high school graduation party for her nephew (Pam’s son), Patrick. Harper wonders how her sister, Pam, can afford such a lavish party for Patrick. I wonder how the party connects with the buried cookie jar, and if they both have anything to do with Harper’s money concerns.

Character construction is great. I feel like I’m in a room with these characters; they are so real. The plot moves along slowly at first but picks up speed as the story progresses, especially when major incidents occur. There comes a point where I have to keep reading to the very last sentence. I am never disappointed experiencing a Megan Abbott novel and look forward to reading future books. Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy.

EL Dorado Drive is a haunting, emotionally charged exploration of sisterhood, secrecy, and survival, set against the backdrop of Michigan’s 2008 economic collapse. At the center of the story are the Bishop sisters—Harper, Pam, and Debra—once raised in the comfort of Detroit’s affluent suburbs. But as the auto industry crumbles, so does the family’s stability. Harper, the novel’s primary lens, returns home to find her sisters entangled in "The Wheel," a secretive pyramid scheme masquerading as an exclusive women's empowerment circle. Though initially skeptical, Harper is soon pulled into the scheme’s seductive promise of financial independence to help pay for her son's tuition since his trustfund was robbed by his own father.

One of the novel’s strengths is its slow but deliberate unraveling of the sisters’ relationship. Abbott does an excellent job of portraying the complicated emotional terrain between them—love and rivalry, support and resentment. Each woman is burdened by her own insecurities and past decisions/personal demons, and the secrets they keep from one another are as damaging as the lies they tell themselves. The novel doesn’t shy away from asking hard questions about loyalty, morality, and the desperation that financial and social pressures can cause.

That said, the pacing may test your patience. The murder that anchors the book’s suspense arrives late in the story, giving less time for a traditional “whodunit” arc. If your looking for a classic mystery, you may feel a bit shortchanged in that regard. This is a very slow building plot and mystery. Additionally, while the premise of “The Wheel” is intriguing, some aspects—like how participants in a recession-hit area could afford its steep $5,000 buy-in—strain credibility. There’s a lingering question of how realistic this elite financial desperation feels.

Abbott’s writing style may also divide readers. Her writing seemed a little emotionally restrained, which some may interpret as cool or distant- the subtle tension and layered characterization felt like I couldn't relate to the characters’ inner lives.

Despite these critiques, El Dorado Drive succeeds in its portrayal of women pushed to the edge, and the psychological cost of trying to reclaim lost privilege. It’s a thoughtful, slow-burn novel with a sharp emotional undercurrent. Abbott’s ability to depict the fine line between empowerment and exploitation is both timely and chilling.

Overall, I would recommend this novel to mature readers interested in character-driven stories with social commentary. It offers plenty of material for discussion—especially around gender, power, family, and class. I’d give it a solid C- not perfect, but provocative and deeply human.

Thank you for this uncorrected electronic copy,
Putnam-G.P. Putnam's Sons &Penguin Random House
in exchange for my honest review.

This is probably my least favorite Megan Abbott novel, and I've read nearly all of them. The writing felt mediocre, the characterization was grating, and the plot/twists were easy to see coming and not at all engaging. Highly disappointing.

I wanted to like this book but I found it boring and I found the characters horrible. I disliked the setting, I disliked the plot, and perhaps this is due to the times in which we are living but I do not want to spend a minute more with these people.

I was so excited to see Megan Abbott has a new book coming out. I’ve been a fan and have enjoyed many of her books. Unfortunately, this was not a favorite. I won’t say it was bad but it wasn’t great either. I felt like the story moved slower than necessary with not enough drama, action and twists to grab me. Wanting to know how it ended is what kept me turning the pages, I just didn’t want to give up on her book. The end was satisfying enough and I was rewarded with a little twist I wasn’t expecting. I wish the rest of the book was the same

I was lucky enough to win an ARC of EL DORADO DRIVE by Megan Abbott in a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and try to stay safe, sane and happy out there.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was not good, and I hate that I feel that way. The plot was not interesting, the characters were borin (all the sisters sucked). Too much emphasis on one person the whole time.. I like when books have last page twists but only if executed properly. I just think this book fell really flat. I don't think the author is a bad writer so I will give her other books a try.

In Megan Abbott’s El Dorado Drive, Harper Bishop is invited by her sisters to join an elite pyramid scheme, called The Wheel. What follows is an examination of the relationships between greed, suspicion, and trust among family and friends, when large sums of money are on the line. The story starts out slow, unfurling the action at a leisurely pace, but finishes out fast and strong.

Thanks to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam’s Sons for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my
Honest review.

MLM...we all know someone who has gotten sucked in at one point...jamberry? Lula LA Roe? Mary Kay or Avon? Welp we have all also wondered how someone could fall victim..this book is chock full of victims, questionable choices and morals.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I received an ARC of this book from Penguin Group Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

I find Ms. Abbott's books to be slow burns, which in general is not a style I prefer, but she does it well enough to keep my interest. One of my favorite parts of this book was that the synopsis doesn't reveal the "shocking thing;" I think in many books, this would have been included in the summary, and not at all knowing what is to come does actually make it shocking.

Ms. Abbott did a very good job setting the background of the sisters' childhood, as well as the economic situation of that area. The entire aspect of the pyramid scheme is very timely as well. However, the actual concept of The Wheel is a bit insane and I am not sure who would actually participate in it

I loved that we really had no idea who the villain was and that everyone was a suspect. I didn't expect who it was or the other twist toward the end.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher , and the author for access to this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story is set in 2008, just outside Detroit, and the tense atmosphere during this economic crisis in motor city was a great choice. Unfortunately I think this is the only choice I agree with as far as the plot goes. I had to DNF this around the 25% mark. It doesn’t feel like a true thriller, the story sort of starts and stops and meanders about. It’s not very thrilling. I also think this old trope of the queer characters being so “different” or ostracized is just so tired and irrelevant. I understand this book takes places about 17 years ago but come on.
Overall, not for me.

Intriguing premise with a slow build. I was interested in the idea of a system in which women contribute funds to a group and support each other, but also take advantage of one another's vulnerabilities. I thought something tragic or major would happen a bit earlier on, but the pacing gives the reader a chance to meet the characters and begin to care about each of the three sisters. I would recommend this book to fans of Wendy Corsi Straub and Lisa Scottoline.

El Dorado Drive is the first novel I've read by author Megan Abbott. The mystery part was okay, but my four star rating is for the way money is so prevalent in every relationship, it's almost its own character. It felt both raw and real.

I am a library associate and received an advance copy from #NetGalley.

3.5 stars.

This book was okay. I usually love Megan Abbott's books so I think I expected more. The premise was great but I feel like plot and character development were lacking. The book meandered around for a bit and then BOOM - it was over.

I'm excited for her next book!

I was so excited to see Megan Abbott has a new book coming out. I’ve been a fan and have enjoyed many of her books. Unfortunately, this was not a favorite. I won’t say it was bad but it wasn’t great either. I felt like the story moved slower than necessary with not enough drama, action and twists to grab me. Wanting to know how it ended is what kept me turning the pages, I just didn’t want to give up on her book. The end was satisfying enough and I was rewarded with a little twist I wasn’t expecting. I wish the rest of the book was the same.

"It was playful and it wasn't, Harper thought, like everything between sisters"

Megan Abbott understands sisterhood and all it's deep complexities, that much is true.
El Dorado Drive is a little longer than it needs to be, but it does a good job of explaining what it's like to have sisters and be the "different" one.
Harper, Deb, and Pam are the sisters in this story and they all aren't where they want to be in life. They grew up solidly well off until college when their family hit hard times...they've all aspired to get back to wealth since then. Deb married rich, but is now going through a contentious divorce. Pam is in deep medical debt from her husband's cancer treatments. Harper lost a bunch of money in love and now is barely scraping by. All sisters become involved in a women's social club called The Wheel where women "invest in each other" and basically commit tax fraud. and from the beginning it's clear there will be murder and things don't go according to anyone's plans.

Megan Abbott keeps you guessing and suspicious of everyone right til the end!
my main complaints are that it dragged a little in length because scenes kept getting repeated.

El Dorado Drive is a slow-burning, atmospheric murder mystery that immerses readers in a town clinging desperately to its faded glory. The novel follows three sisters, once wealthy but now struggling with the harsh realities of financial ruin, broken marriages, and dark secrets. Set against the backdrop of a once-thriving auto town now in decline, the story weaves together elements of family drama, greed, and deception.

The strength of this novel lies in its rich character development and sharp social commentary. The sisters’ attempts to reclaim their past—whether through marriage, ambition, or sheer survival—add depth to the mystery, making every character a suspect. The Ponzi-scheme-driven women’s club adds an extra layer of intrigue, showing how desperation fuels risky decisions. The tension builds gradually, keeping you guessing until the final, unexpected twist.

While the novel’s slow pace allows for deep world-building, it occasionally drags in places. Some sections focus heavily on the town’s nostalgia and the sisters’ internal struggles, which, while compelling, can feel repetitive at times. However, the payoff is worth the wait, with an ending that delivers both shock and satisfaction.

For fans of literary mysteries that blend family dysfunction with crime, El Dorado Drive is a gripping and well-crafted read. It’s a story about money, power, and the lengths people will go to hold onto both—even when the past has already slipped away.

As gritty and menacing and gripping as anything Hammett ever threw down, and as raw in its relationships as Thompson. Megan Abbott is the master of hardboiled tension and shadowy suspense.

The relationships and dynamics herein are a powder keg. Add in the pressures of modern life, split families, secrets, jealousies, and the material world and you've got the circumstances to ignite, body bags at the ready.

You can't never be innocent again.

It hurts my soul to give a Megan Abbott story less than 4 stars but unfortunately El Dorado Drive just did not resonate with me at all.

Megan Abbott is the queen of slow burn thrillers for me. She has a great ability to set a scene and really build to absolute madness. This book unfortunately fell flat for me. The characters weren’t likable enough in my opinion and I never felt any connection to them. I loved the post bailout Detroit setting and the ways families are struggling and managing but it didn’t do enough for the story. Overall, The Wheel, the women, the mystery, it all just fell flat for me and became a race to get to the end so I could move on.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC before it’s intended publication date of June 24, 2025.

Nothing is free in this world seems to be the underlying theme here. The story starts off a bit slowly but quickly picks up steam. The three Bishop sisters grew up rich and privileged. As adults and as the family money declines, they find themselves having financial difficulties for different reasons. They hear about a club called The Wheel which if they throw in enough startup money, promises a huge return. What could possibly go wrong with that? The author makes it totally believable how they would fall for everything and as usual, does a great job of writing about female relationships. Megan Abbott is quickly jumping up to my favorite author list.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Megan Abbott and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of June 24th, 2025.