2.5* Intriguing premise about what’s basically the making of a serial killer. We follow two POVs - one of which is the said serial killer (Alexa), and the other is her best friend (Courtney), who has no clue that her best friend has been behind the murders in their small town. The setup led me to believe this was going to be something out of an episode of Criminal Minds (which I loved) because in the earlier chapters took me into the dark mind of the killer and her messed-up thoughts about her urges to harm people.

Unfortunately, the book was more about the dark side of addiction / substance abuse rather than a murder thriller, because quite literally, there were more details of characters drinking / doing drugs than the actual murder plot.

But that wasn’t the main problem. While I thought the general plot was okay, what I really disliked most was how everything and everyone felt so, so, soooooo curated; characters were just transactional, and formulaic, and writing was monotonous and flat throughout. It felt to me like I was reading a news report.

I mean seriously, no emotions or feelings came through in what was said. Two perfects examples are, <u>and please note that as this is only an ARC, this quotation may be altered or removed in the final version of the book</u>:

1. The bride making a casual speech to her 5+ bridesmaids:
“Thank you all for being here.” I raised a glass of champagne to my guests. “I know some of you had to make arrangements to be here, so I want you to know how much I appreciate it, along with all the work you have been doing for the bachelorette.”

Thoughts: This could have EASILYYYYY been mistaken for a work event speech as oppose to a bridesmaids’ get together. Crazy flat and dry to the bones.

2. The groom upon receiving a call that his best man and best friend was brutally murdered, and his fiance asking if he’s okay (?????):
“Brett shook his head. "I don't really know what I'm feeling right now. I can't belleve he's gone. I can't believe he was murdered. These last few weeks have been nothing like what I thought our life In Cedar Plains would be."

Thoughts: ?!???? where’s the urgency? the shock?! ANY sort of reaction like the need to run out the door to get to the crime scene?!

I initially had high expectations from the title and high ratings, but this was, to say the least, an absolute bummer, on top of having an incredibly unsatisfying ending.

***

- Many thanks for NetGalley and the team from Rising Action Publishing Co. for allowing me to read this ARC!
- This book will be published on June 10th 2025.

What a wild read! A psychological thriller, starting out the gate with a trist gone wrong unleashes a dark side in Alexa.

From there it is a race to see how/when she will be caught and the destruction that will ensue between the beginning and the end. This was a fast, can’t out it down thriller.

The thing about secrets and what they destroy!

The Art of Murder by Maggie Giles was so suspenseful and thrilling. I LOVED it and read it every second I had a free moment.
This makes you question how well you know people, especially your best friends and at what point is too far with keeping secrets?
This is told through alternating POVs of two best friends... Alexa and Courtney... they share a dark secret between them but one has even darker secrets ... When the other starts putting the pieces together, she has to decide: does she keep her best friend's secrets quiet or turn her in? Lots of small down drama, secrets, betrayal, lies, and MURDER...
I did not predict the ending either! SO so much fun. I highly recommend this book! Release Date: June 10,2025

This book starts off quickly, grabbing your attention and pulling you in. And quickly you learn about the nature of the main characters.
It is written from the viewpoint of two best friends, alternating their viewpoint each chapter. You learn that they have both been through a lot in their lives and that both have secrets they share and cannot afford to have publicized.
The common theme in the novel seems to be what are you willing to do to keep a secret safe? And although that is not the reasoning behind all of the actions that Alexa makes, it is a driving factor. And it is everyone in the town almost with their own secrets.

All said, the writing is compelling. I read this fairly quickly, wanting to see what would happen next. I was pleasantly surprised.

ARC review- 06/10/2025 pub date

I absolutely loved this book. This is a dual POV with 2 best friends telling their story. The book started off with a bang, sucked me in and honestly never slowed down. This is a must read to add to your list for 2025!

Thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co for the advanced copy to review.

This book has a lot of elements i like , toxic friendship, moral dilemmas, secrets, traumatic pasts but it didn't work for me. I usually like unlikeable characters but not in this case. I didn't like Alexa and her treatment of Savannah was too much, so things from the first kept turning me off. I made myself finish it but it never was worth it for me.

My oh my. Her dark desires sure know how to fix some problems though. Couldn't put this book down today. I just needed to know how it ended.

This was an ARC that was given to me by the author and Rising Action Publishing for my honest review. Pub day: June 10,.2025.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! The author made me feel like I was actually witnessing some of the things Alexa got herself into. She made me feel the dread and anxiety all of the other characters felt, too. She kept me engaged and that epilogue, c'mon meow!

So short cliff notes, Alexa and Courtney have been friends since they were teenagers. They've witnessed eachothers up's and downs, and their loyalty to eachother runs deep. Then, people start dying. Is there a serial killer on the loose? What is going on?!?!? Two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead.

Also, loooooove this quote (disclaimer: this quote may be altered or removed entirely from the final publication):
It's always at the end when we question the beginning. It's then we wonder how we got there. It's a weird feeling, wondering if you made the right choices, if you'd done something different, how things would have changed.
-Alexa

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)

Would you speak up?

Told from two perspectives—Alexa Huston and her childhood best friend, Courtney Faith—The Art of Murder explores the weight of secrets, the fine line between loyalty and justice, and the messy complications of lifelong friendships. Set over just seven weeks, this psychological thriller takes readers into the seemingly safe town of Cedar Plains, where a body is discovered, shattering its quiet facade.

Courtney has built a life of stability, while Alexa is spiralling into chaos. When an accidental murder triggers a string of crimes, Courtney is forced to confront an impossible choice: turn in the person who has always been by her side or protect her and risk everything.

While I enjoyed the tension and the way Maggie Giles delves into moral dilemmas, the plot felt somewhat predictable. The twists, though engaging, didn’t fully surprise me. That said, the novel is still a gripping read, with a fast pace and an unsettling atmosphere that kept me turning the pages. If you love psychological thrillers with morally grey characters, toxic friendships, and ethical quandaries, this is worth picking up!

⚠️ Content Warnings: homicide, alcoholism, drug use, drunk driving, voyeurism, sexual violence, ableism, references to domestic abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC review • pub date 06.10.25

I really enjoyed this book. When I say it starts off with a bang and never lets up, I mean it!

Alexa and her boyfriend, Dean, accidentally cause a girl they barely know to die. Instead of confessing, they cover up the crime. But the sight of the blood unlocks something deep within Alexa, and she can’t seem to fight the urge for it to happen again.
Meanwhile, her best friend Courtney —who is engaged to a police officer — is trying to figure out why all the murders are happening in their small town.

Told in from POV from Alexa and Courtney, this book is impossible to put down, and you’re guaranteed to love it.

4.5⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for my ARC

this was a good book. I liked all of the secrets that were getting uncovered throughout the book. I think it flowed well, it did have lots of twists and turns and this book was hard to put down, I just wanted to finish it quickly!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This book was so hard to put down. It put a fresh spin on the murder mystery and keeps you guessing the whole time. I loved this book!

The Art of Murder by Maggie Giles is coming out this summer. This is a book you’ll want to pick up on publication day.