Quick read and captures your attention, but does not go into great detail about Greek Myths that mythology fans may be looking for.

Solid Thriller using the known tropes of a female protagonist. Setup and relationships have potential for more books. Fans of greek mythology might be disappointed, since the author is not going into too much detail. Overall a quick and catching read.

This was an interesting read, particularly if you have an interest in Greek methodology, the women killed are all posed in a manner of a Greek goddess, though it did take a while for the investigator to figure that out. Detective Cassidy Cantwell has been called out to a crime scene where the woman who had been killed was dressed in a very provocative dress, something her husband said she never wore. They also found a ring, that her husband also said did not belong to her. A few days later another murder occurs, another woman who is also posed, and Cantwell is again tasked with investigating. Cantwell has a serious boyfriend who would like to get a lot more serious, though she's not sure she's ready, she also has a relative that has 'moved' in with her without letting her know. In rapid succession a number of woman are killed and posed, Cantwell does figure out that the posing is based on Greek myths, Goddesses in particular and they finally appear to be making headway. There is a lot going on in this story, a lot of characters a lot of information about Greek history/ Goddesses (which is told to Cantwell by a professor), it's a lot to absorb, and the middle of the story got bogged down as a result. The threads do come together in an ending that was a bit quick, maybe setting up for a sequel. Thanks to #Netgally and #Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

Greek myths portrayed at murder scenes likening the victims to goddesses by drawing parallels from their lives? Sign me up.
Cassidy is the female detective we need in murder-mysteries. Loved her being the middle child and being annoyed all the time with her siblings.
I really liked how the explanations were done for the deductions the investigation team were doing.
I loved the side plot of the personal relationships that were kept up. Amazing how when we read a male police detective solving crimes, we get understanding and very attractive girlfriends and/or wives they get to come home to with dinner ready and house clean, but a female detective has to deal with managing expectations of her boyfriend who is pretty inconsiderate and self-centered. I mean, a man wouldn't be asked to not solve murders, even if he wasn't any good at it and she is very good at it.
About the actual mystery, I really enjoyed reading the perspective of the murderer, it set up the investigation as a parallel narrative and I really liked that.
About the mysteries from the past that weren't solved and have come knocking again, I would love to read more about it in the next installment.

Fast-paced and packed with a gripping plot, this book delivers an adrenaline rush from start to finish. The characters are well-crafted, their interactions dynamic, and the infusion of Greek mythology adds an extra layer of intrigue. The blend of thriller elements with mythological twists keeps the tension high, making it impossible to put down. A must-read for fans of action, and mystery.

A fast paced read full of suspense and atmosphere with twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way through. I look forward to reading more by the author

I am a Greek mythology girl and I get very excited when I see the myths getting integrated in a somewhat unusual genre. So of course I can't resist a thriller where the murder victims are presented as Greek Goddesses. But unfortunately the premise sounds way better than the book turned out to be. It's told from the perspective of Detective Cassidy Cantwell who works the case of the murdered women and tries to catch the killer. I can't say that she was an interesting character, but she was alright, I guess. I don't think that she contributed all too much to the investigation, with all the important information coming from other people. Take the Greek myths for instance. All knowledge about that is given by a random professor, and that is just such an uncreative way of handling the topic that's literally this book's selling point. The case wasn't exactly thrilling either. The investigation consisted almost exclusively of conversations and was a very repetitive procedure: a murder occurs, the professor tells them the related myth (that doesn't even matter in the end), the detectives talk to a bunch of people / suspects, and then another murder occurs so it starts all over again. I never had the feeling that any progress was made or that they got closer to the killer, but at one point they finally talked to the right person, I guess.

I can deal with a boring thriller, but the biggest problem here was that this book was incredibly convoluted. There was so much unnecessary stuff in here. There are probably around 40 named characters in this 300-page book, from Cassidy's large family to the whole police department, to the FBI people who also work the case, to the victims who all of come with multiple relatives and / or friends. It was too much, and I just gave up keeping track of who everyone is. There's also this cold case from 15 years ago that involved Cassidy's best friend and made her join the police in the first place. But when I tell you that it was mentioned in the prologue and then again in the very last chapter, basically ignoring it throughout the entire book even though there could be new evidence … WHAT WAS THE POINT?! Maybe it's supposed to set up the sequel, but I will not be reading. I am hard to please when it comes to thrillers, but this was just straight up disappointing.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fast pace, too much for my taste when it comes to thriller/mystery but it can work for other readers. The writing is good and the plot works pretty well. Not enough character development for me to root for any character. I actually dont remember any name after I finished the book. Ended on a cliffhanger so be aware of this if you prefer to wait for the full series to start reading (me usually 😅).
Overall, a good thriller but not for my tastes.

SUMMARY
Cassidy is a young detective haunted by the death of her best friend fifteen years ago. Just as she is made the head over a series of strange deaths happening, she also receives postcards from someone claiming to be her friend and taunting her about her friend’s death. She refuses to seek help for fear of being pulled out from investigating her friend’s murder, and the great importance she placed over her job and her goal to find her best friend’s killer takes a toll on her relationship with her boyfriend.

OPINIONS
At first, I felt bad for Nicky because he had every right to be upset—Cassidy never prioritized their relationship the way she did her job. She didn’t even think much about their future together. So, when he finally walked away, I sympathized with her, but I also understood his side. However, my opinion of him took a nosedive when he asked her to quit her job to prove her love. That was a huge red flag for me. I get that he was hurt, but forcing someone to choose between their job and a relationship isn’t fair.

The crime mystery will have you on the edge of your seat! We have a serial killer who considers himself a god, and goes about playing the game of ‘collecting his goddesses’, victims who he killled in a misplaced act of redemption and freedom. Towards the ending, we get a glimpse into the killer’s childhood, which is sad, yet doesn’t absolve him of his crime seeing as the rest of his siblings turned out okay. I especially loved the blend of romance, Greek Mythology and suspense—it was seamlessly done!

I seriously can’t wait for the next book! Will Cassidy have a new love interest? I have my suspicions about Phoenix if that’s the case, though a small part of me still hopes for a reconciliation with Nicky. And what about those strange postcards? Who’s behind them? I’ll definitely be following this author to find out!

Overall this book is worth reading for lovers of crime and mystery. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Posted on Hani's Daily Life Blog. Link attached below.

I was really intrigued by the inspiration of the Greek mythology in the murders, and love a good thriller, this was not a bad thriller by any means and I did enjoy it overall, I just didn’t find myself reaching for it to continue and it took a couple weeks alongside other books to finish.

We follow the police as they investigate a string of murders seemingly linked by Greek mythology inspiration, one thing for me was that I didn’t feel the mythology inspiration seemed to be as clear as I’d have hoped as to why the killer used it, and the background story of our detective trying to uncover her friend’s disappearance distracted me from the story, I’m actually very intrigued to see if there’s a carry on exploring the friends murder and would definitely like to read this, I just think the sub plot almost became more alluring than the story I was reading?

However an interesting thriller, well written, and if you enjoy a good detective thriller you’ll enjoy this one!

A gripping blend of suspense, mystery, and mythology, The Myth Maker is a must-read for fans of crime thrillers with a unique twist. Detective Cassidy Cantwell is a compelling protagonist—sharp, determined, and haunted by a past that refuses to let go. The case she’s working on starts as a standard murder investigation but quickly unravels into something far more intricate, with eerie connections to Greek mythology that add an extra layer of intrigue.

The pacing is tight, the twists keep you guessing, and the tension between Cassidy’s personal and professional life adds depth to the story. While some plot points feel a bit familiar, the mythology element gives it a fresh spin. If you love mysteries with strong female leads and unexpected connections, this one is definitely worth a read!

The Myth Maker was a dark and twisty thriller with a very unique premise. This was a thriller following a serial killer, but it wasn’t like any serial killer thriller that I’ve ever read before! The killer in this book is obsessed with Greek Mythology, and stages each of their victims as scenes from greek myths. The killer named every victim after a Greek goddess, and the whole concept was fascinating to me! I thought it was a really clever take on the serial killer trope, and the Greek Mythology aspect was super interesting to learn about.

The main character in this book was Detective Cassidy Cantwell, and we follow her as she tirelessly tries to hunt down the killer, while also dealing with a lot of personal issues of her own. Cassidy was a flawed but loveable character with a sad past, and I found myself loving her and rooting for her the whole time!

This book was action-packed and I was hooked from the first page! My only issue was with the ending. The ending was kind of abrupt, and it left me with lots of questions unanswered, but I’m hoping that might be to leave it open for a second book, which I would love! I would love to read more about Cassidy’s character, so I’m hopeful this could become a series! Overall, this was a really unique serial killer thriller that I throughly enjoyed, although the ending was a bit of a let down.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While the pacing is a bit off this still is a nice police procedural with a theme of greek mythology. I would love this to be a series.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

"The Myth Maker" delivers a solid police procedural with an intriguing Greek mythology twist, though it sometimes gets tangled in its own threads. The story follows Detective Cassidy Cantwell as she investigates a series of murders staged to evoke Greek goddesses, while simultaneously grappling with her best friend's unsolved murder and her increasingly complicated personal life. The mythology angle adds a fresh layer to what could have been a standard serial killer thriller, and the killer's perspective chapters are particularly chilling.

However, the pacing feels uneven, with subplots that drift in and out of focus (particularly the best friend's murder storyline), and some narrative threads that never quite weave together satisfyingly. While the ending suggests this might be the start of a series, which could explain some of the loose ends, it leaves the current story feeling somewhat unresolved. Despite these hiccups, thriller fans who enjoy mythology-tinged mysteries and complex female protagonists will likely find enough here to keep them turning pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an eARC of The Myth Maker in exchange for my honest review!

This injects me with the suspense I'm looking for, its inclusion of Greek mythology being an especially atmospheric element. The tension builds up at a smooth pace and draws me into the murder scheme that our culprit is rolling out—a scheme that shows us just how much of a fixation this individual has on mythology and how far they'll go to carry it out in real life, brutally stealing people's lives along the way. Then there's the story running underneath the mystery—the story of Cassidy's personal life as she wrestles with grief and guilt over her murdered best friend, as she contends with her boyfriend and the distance that keeps growing between them, as these slices of her world snake their way into her current investigation. I'll admit that as much as these things do grip me, I'm also left feeling like the story arcs aren't interwoven together as fluidly as they could have been. Again, they're all enthralling threads to follow, but they tend to trail around each other fairly separately, and it stops me from becoming as emotionally invested in the book as I want to be compared to other thriller novels that have hit me in the heart with a bigger punch.

Even with a criticism like that, I continue to enjoy what The Myth Maker can dish out, and I'm intrigued by the ending's decision to wrap up on a note that leaves open room for a sequel. If that comes out down the line, I'd definitely pick it up. Overall, I'm officially rating The Myth Maker four out of five stars.

A creative and captivating read ! After reading the blurb, ‘The Myth Maker’ immediately intrigued me, especially because I always love a story that incorporates Greek mythology.
The book started of really strong for me, especially the flashback to Jenna’s murder. I liked how her murder was introduced into the storyline early on, however, it felt like Jenna’s murder was forgotten about in the middle part of the story. There were no more ‘gifts’ to Cassidy after the first two, or even mentions of or thoughts about her murder, so when the murder case all of a sudden reappeared nearing the end, it felt quite abrupt to me.
Another aspect I really liked in this story, was the killer’s point of view. The first time I encountered one of his chapters, I got all the more intrigued. The only remark I have is that I wish there would have been more of them, especially diving into why these specific women symbolized these specific goddesses to him, how he met them and how he perceived them. During the end there was a bit more insight into his mind, especially with his perspective on his Persephone goddess, but I think if these chapters came earlier on, and perhaps also more frequent, I would have been drawn in sooner. But nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book, and the ending left me curious for more.

An amazing mystery perfect for fans of Greek myths. I adored how thrilling it was. The twists did surprise me many times. Will check out from this author. 4.75 out of 5 stars.

As expected from the blurb, I was drawn into a very classic procedural, where the protagonist Cassidy is on the case to solve murders linked to a textbook serial killer, whose inspiration are Greek goddesses. Not only is she hardly sleeping because of the fast recurrence of the murders - and time is of the essence when a kidnapping is next -she is also trying to solve the murder of her best friend who died when she was a teenager, and she is trying to salvage a wobbly relationship.

It isn't surprising that this is a very fast paced thriller with everything going all at once, but it didn't deter from the main storylines: the hunt for the serial and the cold case. And in that respect, this is a true pageturner where you want to know where the story is going. However, there is one serious fault here that made me go for three stars only: the number of characters. There is a handful of policemen, a handful of FBI agents, a second team of FBI (who luckily are lost quite rapidly), then a SWAT team, a whole lot of witnesses and and a bunch of family members - from Cassidy but also families from victims and other characters. I had a hard time trying to distinguish all of them, and eventually I just let go and read on, accepting that I possibly would lose some details of the plot (I didn't).

I would happily read the second installment because yes, it does end with a cliffhanger, and the character of Cassidy is very interesting! But I sincerely hope that would involve a serious cut in the number of characters.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for an ARC.

This was a generally enjoyable read. Definitely worth it if you enjoy books like The Silent Patient and The Amber Fury. The whole concept was brilliant; I found myself losing interest in the middle but was recaptivated by the conclusion.

Overall The Myth Maker was a solid mystery with suspense, surprises and drama. The story jumps and skips a bit too much and is disconnected in parts with open sub-plots left unresolved. The ending is abrupt but hopefully that means there will be another book in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.