Charlie Donlea could not have titled this book more aptly because Guess Again WILL have you guessing again and again and... you get it. But the guessing is only half the fun because this thriller is so brilliantly crafted. Donlea is one of my instant-buy authors, and I was absolutely not disappointed with his newest work. If you love crime thrillers, you NEED this on your TBR. ((Honestly, just preorder it now because it is fully worth owning.))

With alternating timelines and perspectives, Guess Again immerses you immediately. This is a book you want to binge because as things seem to resolve, you find that there is more going on below the surface than you expected. The tension in this read is palpable and leaves you not only scrambling toward the resolution but eagerly waiting to hear more from Ethan Hall. ((There HAS TO be a sequel, right?! Maybe even a Rory Moore crossover?? PLEASE??))

Guess Again is a book that will appeal to thriller and crime fiction readers alike. If you're not familiar with Donlea's writing yet, I'd encourage you to dive in while you're waiting for this one to release- you're missing out!!

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Charlie Donlea for this complimentary copy.))

Twisty, compulsively readable, action-packed, and impossible to put down!

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is exactly what I was hoping for—a gripping mystery thriller full of secrets, suspense, action, and shocking twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. The title perfectly reflects the experience, as I found myself constantly guessing and second-guessing everything until the final pages.

Ethan’s character was a standout for me. His background as a former renegade detective, now a doctor, added depth to his investigation into the cold case of Callie Jones’ disappearance. His journey back into the world of crime-solving, especially with his connection to the case and his past, kept me captivated. I really hope we see more of him in future stories.

The cold case itself had me totally immersed, with layers of tension and mystery that just kept unraveling as Ethan dug deeper. Adding to the complexity is the chilling serial killer Francis, whose ties to the case complicate everything in ways that I didn’t see coming. The atmosphere of the small town, mixed with the unease surrounding Francis’ past, was expertly done and kept me on edge throughout.

The ending? Unexpected and shocking, but in the best possible way—totally caught me off guard, yet it fit perfectly with the thrilling ride the story took me on. Guess Again was a wild, satisfying ride from beginning to end, and I was thoroughly entertained every step of the way.

Expected Publication Date: July 29, 2025

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy.

GUESS AGAIN was your typical Charlie Donlea mystery. There are a lot of characters and dual timelines which makes it hard to follow at first, but once you get in a little ways in it does get easier. The ending has some suspense and it all comes together with a good twist!

Thank you Kensington and Netgalley for the arc!

As a huge Charlie Donlea fan I was thrilled to get a copy of this book, and it did not disappoint. Ten years after the disappearance of a high school girl her case is reopened. A body was never found and the case went cold, but her family and community never stopped looking. Ethan, who is a former detective and current doctor is asked to look at the case with fresh eyes because he had a 100% solve rate as a detective. This novel is fast paced and full of twists, definitely my favorite from this author so far.

If you're a Riley Sager fan, you'll love this book! I was fully immersed and could not put this book down!

**4.5 Stars **

Synopsis
Ten years ago, 17-year-old volleyball star Callie Jones disappeared from her small Wisconsin lake town, and despite extensive searches, her body was never found. The case went cold, leaving a void in the community and unanswered questions that still haunt her family and friends.
On the tenth anniversary of Callie's disappearance, Ethan Hall, a former detective turned doctor, is reluctantly drawn back into the investigation at the request of his dying former partner. As Ethan revisits the case, he uncovers unsettling truths that suggest Callie’s disappearance is linked to more than just a small-town mystery.
Lindsay Larkin, Callie’s best friend, has spent the last decade seeking answers, using her platform as a psychologist and founder of an online counseling service, The Anonymous Client, to investigate. When a new anonymous client confesses, "I killed Callie Jones, and I need your help to forgive myself,"
As Ethan digs deeper, he uncovers chilling connections to another missing woman and finds his investigation dangerously tied to his own troubled past. Ethan and Lindsay are forced to confront dark secrets that someone will go to any length to keep buried.

My thoughts
Guess Again is an aptly named book that perfectly captures my experience while reading it. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the story took unexpected twists and turns, revealing even more layers. I really enjoyed the character of Ethan and hope that we will be seeing more of him. This book delivered a thrilling classic detective mystery. The pacing of the plot was spot on, and the narrative flowed smoothly—neither too fast nor too slow. I found Ethan's journey as a detective and surgeon to be fascinating and agree with others that appreciated the ending not being neatly tied up which made it feel more authentic.
Thank you @Netgalley and @Kensington Publishing for allowing me to review this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC

Charlie you've done it again! An incredible read packed with twists that will have you hooked beginning to end!

This book I could not put down loved it from beginning to end. I would highly recommend!! This isn't like something ie read before.

I really loved this novel and I thought the interesting story was super captivating. I never knew what was going to happen next and I felt so drawn in by the story.

Sinopsis en español:


En el décimo aniversario de la desaparición de una adolescente, su caso sin resolver se abre de maneras peligrosas... y amenaza con destrozar su pequeño pueblo de Wisconsin de nuevo en la nueva novela de suspenso psicológico magistralmente retorcida del autor internacionalmente vendido de Veinte años después.

Para los fans de Riley Sager, Anna Downes, Alex Finlay, Ashley Flowers, Stacy Willingham y Karin Slaughter.

Hace diez años, la estrella de voleibol de secundaria de 17 años, Callie Jones, desapareció de su tranquila comunidad lacustre de Wisconsin. Siguió una búsqueda muy publicitada, pero nunca se encontró su cuerpo. El caso se enfrió, pero los ecos aún persisten.

Ethan Hall, un ex detective renegado convertido en médico de urgencias, dejó la policía para escapar de los horrores de la división de delitos infantiles. Pero en el décimo aniversario de la desaparición de Callie, su antiguo socio, Pete Kramer, hace una petición desesperada. Pete es el veterano detective que originalmente investigó el caso. Ahora se está muriendo, y para aliviar su conciencia y cerrar con la familia Jones, necesita que Ethan regrese al inquietante trabajo que dejó atrás y resuelva lo que le pasó a Callie, de una vez por todas.

Pronto se corre la voz y todos en la pequeña ciudad de Cherryview sienten una oleada de esperanza de que finalmente se encuentren respuestas. En medio de una sofocante ola de calor, la investigación de Ethan cobra impulso, pero reexaminar pruebas antiguas no será suficiente. Necesita una nueva forma de entrar en el caso, sin importar cuán peligroso o poco convencional sea.

Pronto los métodos de Ethan lo arrastran más profundamente a un juego psicológico retorcido. Porque hay mucho más en la pesadilla de la desaparición de Callie de lo que él imaginó, incluyendo una conexión con su propio pasado oscuro... y secretos por los que todavía vale la pena matar.



Reseña:


La verdad los primeros capítulos no me atraparon como usualmente los hacen los libros de Charlie, pero conforme avanzaba la lectura todo fue agarrando forma y me quedé picada. Una vez que tomé el ritmo, no pude dejar de léerlo y ahora necesito los demás libros.

Gracias NetGalley por el ARC, lo disfruté.

I was so graciously given an ARC of this title

Wowwwwwww this book was so good. Definitely a Charlie Donlea CLASSIC. I could NOT put it down.

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Charlie Donlea can do no wrong. His writing immediately immerses you in the story and doesn't let go anytime soon. What a ride "Guess Again" was.

Ethan Hall, un exdetective convertido en médico de emergencias, dejó atrás la policía después de enfrentarse a los horrores del crimen infantil. Sin embargo, un viejo compañero de Ethan le pide que le ayude a resolver un caso. La desaparición de Callie, ocurrida en una tranquila comunidad lacustre de Wisconsin, nunca fue resuelta, y su cuerpo jamás apareció.

A pesar de su felicidad en su nueva vida como doctor, Ethan acepta el desafío y se adentra en un oscuro y peligroso juego psicológico. A medida que avanza en su investigación, descubre que la verdad detrás de la desaparición de Callie es mucho más compleja y aterradora de lo que imaginaba, involucrando secretos del pasado de Ethan y una serie de intrincadas mentiras que podrían costarle la vida.



Necesito el siguiente libro.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐️ YET AGAIN!! I would gladly read Donlea’s shopping list at this point lol every single book by him that I’ve read has been pure genius.
I absolutely LOVED this book - a thriller with grit and a true detective style mystery with twists I didn’t see coming (and I read a lot of thrillers).
I thought the plot was well paced and the flow of the narrative felt great, not too rushed or too plodding. I think Ethan’s detective cum surgeon personal narrative was interesting and I liked that the ending wasn’t the perfectly wrapped gift. It felt more real.
A strong thriller and a must read

I discovered Charlie Donlea about two years ago and he has become one of my favorite authors. This book doesn't disappoint and it is well written and amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I have loved Charlie Donlea’s work beginning with the first book of his I ever tried, and this book is no exception. It is very well written, easy to read, and kept me engaged from start to finish. I definitely would recommend this book to others!

Just got to read "Guess again" by Charlie Donlea and oh my god, what a ride it's been.

This thriller is set to be released on the 29th of July, you better read it!

Ethan Hall went through medical school at a late age and is a doctor in the ER now. After being an agent with the DCI in the kids crime unit, he needed to retire so he wouldn't lose his marbles. With a 100% success rate on closing cases Ethan was very good at his job, but catching a Killer still meant a kid was dead.

Working the ER, where he could actually save lives was somewhere he was meant to be, until Pete Kramer came knocking. Pete being his old partner at the DCI, and now diagnosed with ALS has one dying wish. To solve that one case, that has haunted him for 10 years. The disappearance of Callie Jones, the daughter of now governor Mark.
With his success rate and the reopening of this cold case, Ethan had agreed to look through the files.

Francis Bernard, convicted of killing a cop named Hank Hall has requested parole. But at the hearing he gets denied. That has set some things in motion. When Ethan visits the day after the hearing to tell Francis he'll do what he can to keep him incarcerated, Francis dangles a fact in front of Ethan. He knows who killed Callie Jones and where her body rests and where kidnapping victim Portia is being held. But to get that info, he wants to be transported to Gen-pop. That's when the shit hits the fan.

Mind boggling this book, I didn't see it coming... It actually didn't make sence until it made sence. Which I absolutely love in a book.

This one was a solid 5 stars!

In Guess Again, Charlie Donlea delivers a gripping psychological thriller centered on former detective-turned-doctor Ethan Hall, who is reluctantly drawn back into the decade-old disappearance of Callie Jones. As he reopens the case, Callie’s best friend, Lindsay—now a psychologist running a confidential online therapy platform—receives a chilling anonymous confession: “I killed Callie Jones.” As the investigation unfolds, long-buried secrets resurface, putting lives at risk and uncovering shocking truths.

This was my first book by Charlie Donlea, and I devoured it. Fast-paced, twisty, and full of suspense, Guess Again kept me hooked from start to finish. The psychological depth, compelling characters, and unpredictable turns made for a fantastic read. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early release copy in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked about it:

How the main character was a former special investigator who had retired and was now working as an emergency doctor, both interesting careers that offered useful knowledge and expertise

The two timelines merging past and present day cases together

The pacing of the book was quick and had a strong forward momentum from beginning through end.

There’s lots of characters, storylines, twists and turns all going on at once that offers a chaotic read full of surprises.

What didn’t work for me:

Although I found the storyline and characters interesting there was something that missed the mark for me, it was my first time reading this author and it may just be the writing style or dialogue that didn’t quite align with my typical reading preferences? I’ll try more by this author to figure out my thoughts!

Thank you for the gifted copy, publish date is July 29th 2025

Guess again is a thrilling story of two crimes and how they we’ve together. Ethan Hall, a retired detective turn Doctor, is reached out to solve a cold case. Solving a cold case is hard enough, but having it weave into your personal life, that’s a whole different story.

Overall, this was a really great detective novel. The twists kept twisting. The quick pace pushed me to keep reading on, even when I was so tired. There were a wide range of interesting characters to get to know, but not enough characters where you felt overwhelmed. No one was hard to track or follow along with their story arc. What was clear when I reached the end of the story is that the author is obviously talented in creating a thrilling web for a reader to try to unpack.

This would’ve been an easy four or five star read, but there were so many piddly things that annoyed me. All of these little things, added up to bigger issue that took away from the story. 

The fact that every official government department was spelled out so clearly. Did I really need to know?  Someone could just be a detective, we didn’t have to say every single time Milwaukee police department detective of the highest degree. Or the Wisconsin Department of investigation special agent, Ethan Hall. (I’m being dramatic here but I hope you get my point. ) it was a mouthful every time. Spell it out once, then use the abbreviations.

Also, all the chapters had the full name of the city and state which felt a little annoying. How clearly we are pointing out that this town was near this town, which is near this town, which is far away from this town, which is north of the capital, Madison. Maybe it’s extra annoying because I’m from Wisconsin? I feel that other authors don’t need to pull so much specific knowledge. From outside perspective, it wouldn't feel relevant for the reader.

Speaking of being specific, describing overly in detail of where the veterans museum is, compared to the walking path, compared to the little library. It all felt overdone, unnecessary. 

Again, I could be biased due to how familiar I am to Wisconsin? Anyone else feel that nagging sense of almost, “get to the story!” it was the most distracting part of the novel.

Hopefully by the time this is published a lot of this is simplified and cleaned up. As this is my first time reading this author, I’m not sure if this is the norm. Again, a great thriller you could eat up in one sitting if you wanted. I would recommend this for anyone who wants an excellent detective mystery.

Amazon Link - Guess Again By: Charlie Donlea
Stats: 352 pages - Expected publication July 29, 2025

**Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.