Guess Again is everything I want in a psychological thriller—gritty, emotional, and steeped in the haunting atmosphere of a small town with big secrets. The story kicks off with a chilling premise: Callie Jones, a 17-year-old volleyball star, vanished a decade ago without a trace. The case went cold, but its shadow never left Cherryview—or Ethan Hall.

Ethan, a former detective turned ER doctor, is a compelling protagonist. His reluctance to return to the world he left behind adds a rich emotional tension to the narrative. The layers of trauma he carries, especially from his time in the kid crime division, feel authentic and heartbreaking. When Pete Kramer, his old partner, asks him to solve the case before his own time runs out, it sets the stage for a truly gripping journey.

The pacing is near perfect—taut, but with enough room to breathe and really feel the weight of each revelation. The sweltering heatwave that settles over Cherryview acts like a second character in the book, raising the stakes and amplifying the tension in every scene.

The twists are sharp, the emotional beats land, and the conclusion is both satisfying and haunting. Guess Again is one of those books that lingers after the last page, and I already want to reread it just to catch everything I missed the first time.

Highly recommended for fans of Sharp Objects, The Dry, or The Silent Patient. You won’t want to put it down.

Think you don’t need another thriller author on your must-read list?
Guess Again. If you haven’t cracked open a Charlie Donlea novel yet, now’s the time. Seriously.

Think I stumbled onto Donlea by chance?
Guess Again. I have been hooked since his debut—back when the Traveling Sisters were just kicking off—and he’s been on our auto-read list ever since.

Think we occasionally recommend his books?
Guess Again. We’ve basically made it a full-time hobby. At this point, our reputations might actually depend on it.

Think we wait patiently for his new releases?
Guess Again. Now the Witches Words group, a new Donlea book means everything else gets shoved aside. TBR? Reshuffled. Snacks? Secured. Eyes? Glued to the page.

Think I am done gushing?
Oh Friends—Guess. Again.

Hot diggity dang, Guess Again is GOOD. Twisty, clever, just the right amount of darkness, and packed with that signature Donlea punch that makes you flip pages like your fingers are on fire.

Oh, you think you can keep track of all the characters without needing a flowchart?
Guess Again. This one moves fast, and Donlea loves keeping you on your toes—throwing so many characters and twists your way, you'll be dizzy just trying to keep up. Don't even think about taking a break; you'll miss something vital.

Think you know where it’s going because it feels straight forward and predicable
Cute but Guess Again

Think you can predict a Donlea ending?
LOL—Guess. Again.

So, if you think you can figure out that jaw-dropping final reveal good luck with that because Donlea just might flip your predictions on their head—and probably laughed while doing it.

A Witches Word group read with Norma, Debra, Carolyn and Mary Beth.

4.75 stars for this thriller! This one kept me at the edge of my seat and I finished it in one day - it's that good. All the books I've read by Charlie Donlea have been great - intriguing, smart and well written with very short chapters that add to this fast-paced book. And if the first chapter doesn't draw you in . . . nothing will.

A man has in prison for the murder of a police officer for 30+ years. A girl disappears 10 years ago and was never seen again. Today a woman goes missing and has been missing for a month. How are all of these related?

Don't read too much about this book as I think it's better to go in not knowing much - that way the story builds and there are some crazy twists and turns and "oh my gosh" moments that you don't know about if you don't read the synopsis.

Another fantastic book for sure. Thank you to NetGalley, Charlie Donlea and Kensington for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and also thank you for keeping me up late at night finishing this book.

First off, thank you so much @netgalley for this ARC. I have loved all of Charlie’s books. However, I think this maybe my least favorite, that being said it was a really fast read.

Brief synopsis: Ethan a retired DCI who becomes an ER doc instead of a cop because he feels a need to save people instead of investigating deaths, gets sucked back into the cop world when a 10 year old missing person case is opened by the governor. Ethan is thrust into an investigation that includes his father’s murderer. From this point, the book takes off and there is a lot of action. I wouldn’t say the twist is very easy to pick up and it was about the last 50 pages when you find out exactly what was going on.

Honestly, one of the reasons this was not my favorite is because I don’t think Charlie built up Ethan like he did his other main characters. Maybe it’s written to not fall in love with him but when you have characters like Rory and Dr.cutty in other books, I feel like you expect to love the main characters.

Also, Pittsburgh was misspelled. It has an H

Charlie writes a book, I will read it! I love the short chapters, the multiple points of view, the constant surprises, EVERYTHING. I thought all the twists happened and then BAM - one more. I might have to re-read this again to see if I can pick up on anything. Absolutely loved!!!

Ten years ago, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community. Her body was never found, and the case went cold, but the echoes of Callie’s disappearance still linger. On the tenth anniversary, Ethan Hall—a former renegade detective turned doctor—is tapped to re-open the case. Ethan left law enforcement to escape his demons. But when his old partner makes a death-bed request to get the case off his conscience, Ethan reluctantly agrees to re-examine the evidence. Ethan’s investigation leads to another missing woman, he realizes there’s more to Callie’s disappearance than anyone imagined, including ties to his own dark past that some are willing to kill for . . .
As always, Charlie Donlea has done it again! I swear I know better than starting one of his books when I have things to do! Once you start, you end up spending all your time trying to figure out who did it and why. Started this one late yesterday and finished it this morning because I really wanted to know what happened to Callie. I had my suspicions and some of them were on point, but there were still some things I did not figure out. But the backstory of Ethan's life is what really got me. Based on the way the book ends, I would hope there will be another book with more on Ethan and his search for the truth. The only problem is, reading an advance copy of this book means if there is another one, it will be an even longer wait!

I am a new fan of Charlie Donlea, this is only my second book by him, the first read only earlier this year. I have to say I may be a late fan but I'm a forever fan. Guess Again is a masterly crafted story. The author writes complex, engaging stories that keep you turning the pages.

I absolutely loved the short chapters, they were propulsive and I hated any time I had to put this book down.

As a lover of New Glarus Spotted Cow, I was drooling, missing my favorite beer which can only be obtained in Wisconsin. I felt taunted 🤣

THIS BOOK!!! OHEMGEEEE!

I will be surprised if this book doesn't end up my favourite read of the year. Jaw dropping, engaging, suspenseful, action packed, heart stopping...ALL the feels I am feeling. Wow. Once again, Charlie Donela does not disappoint. The twists were twisting and the shock was shocking. Just when I thought things were going in one direction, they did a sharp turn and took me down a totally different path. Just when I thought "aha! I see it"...NO, I did not!

Ten years earlier, 17 year old Callie disappeared. No one knows what happened to her or where her body is. Ten years later, her father, the Governor has asked for her case to be reopened and requests Dr. Ethan Hall to assist. Ethan was once a detective but gave up his career to start a new one as a doctor so jumping in to solve a case like this is unusual but he decides to make it work as a last dying wish from his former partner.

The story from here starts and never stops. It is a race against the clock as there is a new missing woman involved and Ethan has to rely on information from the most unlikely source - the man in prision for murdering his father.

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The pace was intense, my heart racing from start to finish. The ending was jaw dropping and left me stunned. STUNNED. I primarily read psychological thrillers and this one sets the bar.

One thing to note, there are a lot of characters to keep track of. Keep a scribble sheet handy if it helps.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and the author for supplying this ARC read for an honest review.

Two words:
MIND. BLOWN.

Having read only one other book by Donlea before, Guess Again has left me eager to dive into more of his work.

From the very first page, I was hooked. At first, the multiple points of view felt a bit overwhelming, but it didn’t take long for me to adjust and fully understand what was happening. Watching everything come together was incredibly satisfying, and there were a few moments that genuinely made me gasp in surprise.

It felt like I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds or a gripping thriller unfold in my mind. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful read.

Five stars from me—this book was amazing.

I got this ARC as Charlie Donlea rarely disappoints. And I can honestly say - I did not expect that twist! It’s a darn good story, with many twists and turns but that last one, that one was so very good! Highly recommended.

3.75 rounded ⬆️
And, by the way, I think the book blurb gives away too much!

Opening Sentence: When he unclasped the button on her jeans, she knew she would lose her virginity that night.

How’s that for an opening line to hook you?

Ten years ago, 17-year-old high school volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from her quiet Wisconsin lake community, and to this day, her body has not been found.

Now, Ethan Hall’s former partner, Pete Kramer, has asked him to come out of retirement to help him solve this Cold Case, before Lou Gehrig’s disease claims his life. Ethan is now an ER Doctor, having decided that the job of investigating crimes against kids for Wisconsin’s Division of Criminal Investigation was taking too much of a toll on him, emotionally, despite his 100% solve rate.

He reluctantly agrees to re-examine the evidence, for his friend, having no idea that there will end up being a personal link to the crime which took his own father’s life.

Or that reopening the case could still bring danger to himself and to those he cares about.

I LIKED but didn’t LOVE this latest offering from Charlie Donlea, and I think that is because of the style the book is written in. The story jumps around A LOT, with short chapters that always list the DATE and the Wisconsin location that the chapter takes place in, moving from PAST to PRESENT at will. While the dates are important, I feel like the locations bogged down the pace and were not a necessary detail. It felt too BUSY.

By the second half, I got into the swing of things, and the pace picked up. It was interesting to discover the role that each of the characters would play, and I enjoyed all of the shocking twists, EXCEPT FOR ONE.

It would appear from the denouement, that Ethan Hall, may have to put his career in medicine on hold-as a sequel just MIGHT be in the works. And, I did find this story entertaining enough to read a second book with these characters, should the author choose to go there.

Available July 29, 2025

Thank You to Kensington Publishing for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

I didn't love this book.

The sexual aspect in the beginning, was awkward. I've only read one of his books, and it was okay for me. But I really loved the premise of this book. It just fell short.

* Tropes/themes:
* Multiple POV
* Short chapters
* Flashbacks
* Cold case mysteries
* Serial killers
* Small town vibes
* Cat and mouse chase
* An addicting and action-packed thriller.
* SO MANY twists and turns- I was constantly shocked.
* The amount of suspense and tension was insane.
* Had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
* Complex, well-developed, and likeable characters.
* A great and subtle Bell’s Palsy representation.
* There were so many moving parts that never became hard to follow, only adding to the mystery, and they all came together flawlessly.
* The ending was perfection.
* I truly hope we get another book from this one, if not a full series.
* Content warnings:
* Murder
* Death
* Violence
* Kidnapping
* Torture
* Injury/injury details
* Adult/minor relationship
* Abortion
* Teen pregnancy
* Toxic friendship
* Death of a parent

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy! Charlie Donlea has quickly become one of my go to authors and this book solidified it. The plot unfolded at just the right pace to keep me guessing right up until the end. The way the characters stories were slowly weaved together was masterful and I loved every page of it!

Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my first book by this author and I will definitely read more . A great thriller with lots of twists and turns and kept me guessing throughout . 3.25⭐️

While all of Donlea's books have been riveting reads for me, I was blown away by "Guess Again." This one truly had me double and triple guessing until the jaw-dropping resolution.

Callie Jones, a beautiful and popular high school student, disappeared without a trace one hot summer night, ten years prior. Her father, now the current Wisconsin governor, never got over her disappearance. When he approaches Ethan Hall, a former investigator with the police department, to re-open her case, Ethan is hesitant at first. Being an investigator had taken its inevitable mental toll. and Hall is now an emergency room doctor, leaving his detective past behind. Ethan agrees to give it a shot, and is immediately wrapped into a mystery as devious as it is depraved.

With the help of Lindsay Larkin, Callie's former best friend and a successful online psychologist, Ethan returns to the events of that summer. While the town of Cherryview looked idyllic from the outside, it harbored secrets and dark pasts from many of those who lived there. When another young woman disappears, Ethan begins to explore the possibilities that the cases could be tied together, even with ten years separating them. As he races to hopefully discover the missing woman before time runs out, he receives a threat from someone in Callie's past. Someone who knows what happened to Callie. Someone who may be responsible and was never caught.

Donlea is the ultimate in thriller/suspense novels, and this one may have been his best work yet. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

🌟🌟🌟💫
Ethan Hall gave up his job as a successful police detective for the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation-crimes against kids. In fact, His success rate was actually 100%. But that perfection took a heavy toll on his psyche. So what’s a fella’ going to do? Well, how about heading off to med school. And now in his forties, is practicing medicine as an ER physician. Hmm…ok?

Out of the blue, his former partner, Special Agent Pete Kramer comes calling. He’s asking Ethan to put his medical career on hold to help close a case that’s been haunting him for years. Ethan couldn’t have ever imagined how saying yes would change his life forever.

I really enjoy Charlie Donlea’s writing. He always creates an intricate and twisty tale, keeping you reading late into the night, as all the pieces start to come together. And then that ending! Ooh! Definitely didn’t expect that!

But…there were too many things that just didn’t add up or completely make sense for me to give it all the stars. (Maybe I’m just nitpicking.)💁🏼‍♀️
🔻There were certain characters that were introduced in the beginning, yet their relevance seemed but a footnote to the storyline in its entirety.
🔻I tried my hardest to understand why he needed to be an ER physician? It didn’t add up or really add anything to the storyline.

Overall, it was still an enjoyable read by one of my go to authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Guess Again by Charlie Donlea!

Charlie Donlea has become an auto buy author for me and Guess Again did not disappoint. I was literally guessing until the very end.

I love Charlie Donlea and I love how he intertwines storylines and timelines seamlessly. This book hooked me from the start and I finished it quickly. I certainly didn't see the ending coming, which I absolutely love in a thriller.

*Guess Again* by Charlie Donlea is a thrilling and cleverly crafted mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. With a unique premise centered around a cold case being revisited through new, unexpected clues, Donlea masterfully weaves a story filled with suspense, twists, and engaging characters. The pacing is impeccable, and each chapter builds tension, leaving you eager to turn the page.

What stands out in *Guess Again* is the depth of the characters. The protagonist is both relatable and intriguing, and their journey to uncover the truth is a rollercoaster of emotions. Donlea's skillful writing draws you into the world of the novel, making it impossible to put down. The plot is full of unexpected turns, making it hard to predict what will happen next.

Overall, *Guess Again* is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful mysteries. It's a fast-paced, thought-provoking novel that will keep you guessing until the very last page.