Holy Cow! Definitely my favorite Megan Abbott book to date. I was actually reading another book & decided to take a peak @ El Dorado Drive & that is all it took. Could barely put it down once starting it. So well written, you can picture the scenes. And the Wheel..... not gonna lie & say I didn't think of "re-inventing the Wheel" here and now, IRL. Ha ha. Joking. Mostly. Seriously, if you've enjoyed a Megan Abbott book in the past or if you enjoy suspense filled reads with familial overtones, pick this up & it will blow you away. Promise. FIVE solid stars!!!

This is such a messy story. Everyone has money issues. This leads to desperate measures and murder. The characters, especially Harper and Vivian, are relatable and likeable. If you like family drama where everyone appears guilty before a surpise-ish ending, you'll enjoy El Dorado Drive.

What's not to like here? A club of desperate, cash-strapped women involved in a pyramid scheme. Three sisters, the Bishops, with love between them, but also interesting dynamics in their relationships. A vortex of increasing darkness, paranoia, and violence. All in the hands of the great Megan Abbott. At times a slow burn, but always deliciously rendered, this is another winner from Abbott. The ending pages are breathtaking, as the plot hurtles to its finish. Highly recommended!

El Dorado Drive takes readers back to the 70s and 80s, into the world of MLM pyramid schemes with a dark twist. Megan Abbott crafts a gripping tale about two sisters entrenched in the Wheel MLM, a small-town network that thrives on recruitment and promises of riches. When they bring in their youngest sister, struggling with financial woes, the family dynamic shifts, and tensions rise.

As with all MLMs, there are winners at the top and plenty of losers at the bottom. When a murder rocks the ranks, the group must scramble to protect its secrets while evading the police. The mystery deepens as the story unravels, and the question remains: who could be driven to kill in this cutthroat game of wealth and power?

Abbott balances nostalgia with suspense, immersing readers in vivid period details—the retro homes, decadent meals, and fashion of the era—all while confronting the stark sexism and manipulation embedded in these schemes. Though it might have benefited from a touch more adrenaline-pumping thrills, El Dorado Drive delivers plenty of originality and intrigue.

Longtime Abbott fans and newcomers alike will find much to enjoy in this cleverly woven tale of greed, betrayal, and family. Don't miss it!

#ElDoradoDrive #MeganAbbott #PenguinGroup

Thank you netgalley and the publishers or this ARC of this book. This was a thriller that had me hooked with plot twists that I didn’t see coming. The character development was what hooked me, and the story’s plot kept me engaged. The pacing and themes throughout the story were well developed and I definitely will be recommending this to my book club in 2025.

Abbott’s trademark style shines here, she crafts an atmosphere so thick with tension that it’s almost palpable. Her portrayal of desperation, especially in the context of suburban life, highlights how easily the pursuit of stability can devolve into something dangerous. This is a story about the price of ambition, the hidden perils of well-meaning communities, and the ease with which desperation can consume even the closest of bonds. It’s a gripping, thought provoking novel that doesn’t let you go.

Abbott’s writing is sharp, keeping the suspense tight while exploring how far desperation can push people. The story’s unsettling, yet addictive, you can’t help but devour it, waiting to see just how deep the rabbit hole goes. I absolutely enjoyed reading it.

MLMs? Megan Abbott? Yes, please. Sign me up for this one; I couldn't hit request fast enough! Sadly, this story fell a bit flat for me. The narrative arc often felt disjointed, and the pacing was off. I didn't hate it, and it kept me turning the pages, but this definitely wasn't my favorite.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a big fan of Megan Abbott's writing, so this book caught me off guard in a few ways. The way the story unfolds was very weird. I can't exactly explain it, but it almost felt like the narration was a list of things happening with no real flow or action. So many characters were introduced in the first few pages that it read very jumpy. And, in general, the story just bummed me out. Clearly this was a miss for me, but I remain a fan of Abbott's and look forward to her next book!

2.75/5 rounded up

The way this had SO MUCH POTENTIAL. Like I say all the time. I am, indeed, a broken record.

I absolutely LOVE the idea of an MLM/pyramid scheme (yes, those are basically the same thing, you are just being willfully ignorant if you think otherwise) based thriller. You can really do so much with that. But this fell so flat! This was so slow and not nearly enough drama and excitement for the topic at hand.

And also, the formatting of this story was so weird to me.

Great idea, not-so-great execution. Sorry.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.