Guess Again by Charlie Donlea, published by Kensington Books is another fast paced, complex thriller that had me breathlessly turning the pages.
A story full of drama, suspense, unexpected twists and turns tha had me guessing till the last chapter. A book that deserves all the stars.

Whoa. I just finished Guess Again and am still processing the crazy ride we just went on!! I have read quite a few books already this year and this is hands down my favorite one so far. I wasn't even CLOSE to figuring out how everything fit together. I hit around the 75% mark in the book and my watch started giving me "relax" reminders and telling me I seemed stressed. Literally could not put it down for the last quarter of the book. It was SO GOOD!!!!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

The book starts off with a sexual scene, but one that will come to encompass the entire novel. Callie is the star of her high school volleyball team. She has divorced parents and also the trauma associated with most cases of divorce. Recently she learns that she's been accepted into a program to fast track her through college and medical school and will allow her to be a doctor. Her future is planned. Then she goes missing.

Fast forward 10 years.

Ethan is a ER doctor who once worked for the DCI. He retired from that position - mainly due to trauma scene on the job. His partner while he was at the DCI - Pete, comes to see him. Says he's reopening the Callie Jones case and would love Ethan's help. Pete as it turns out, is dying. He asks Ethan for this one last favor, he wants to solve this case before his death. The governor, who also happens to be Callie's dad, has also given his full support.

Ethan is conflicted and doesn't know what to do. He is an ER doctor now not an investigator. In seemingly unrelated news, the man who killed his father, Francis Bernard, is up for parole. Every time this happens, he goes to fight the parole board and then also to show face at the prison. However this time, when Ethan greets him - Francis tells him he not only can give him the where abouts of Callie, he can also lead them to another missing girl whose been go for a few weeks. Ethan is blown away.

What follows is the thriller that I read in under 2 days. It takes twists and turns and has many perspectives. The only slight negative I would see is that sometimes it's a bit hard to follow who is talking, but honestly - I can't give the book anything less than five stars. Anyone who likes thrillers or his previous books needs to read this. You will not be disappointed. The ending is phenomenal.

Charlie Donlea is back with another gripping, relentlessly twisty psychological thriller, - Guess Again is the most intricately twisted yet!

On the tenth anniversary of 17-year-old Callie Jones’ disappearance, the cold case that haunted a small Wisconsin town suddenly reopens—and the truth waiting to be uncovered is far more dangerous than anyone imagined. The missing girl's father has been voted into office and he is able to use his political power to get resources and reignite interest.

Ethan Hall, has moved on since that disappearance. His days as a detective are over as he is now an ER doctor, leaving behind the horrors of his past job. But when his former partner, Pete Kramer, pressures him, Ethan is pulled back into the one case he never truly let go. Ethan takes leave from his job and his unconventional investigation leads him straight into a deadly psychological game with an inmate.

Donlea’s signature methodical unraveling of secrets makes Guess Again impossible to put down. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, another believable, perfectly placed twist knocks you off course. The small-town atmosphere is thick with unease, and the layers of deception make every page pulse with tension.

If you love cold cases, complex investigations, and thrillers with twists you truly won’t see coming, Guess Again delivers in every way. A masterclass in psychological suspense, this one will keep you guessing until the very last page.

#GuessAgain #CharlieDonlea #Kensington #PsychologicalThriller #MustRead

3.5 stars. This was an okay suspense read. I do feel as though everything worked out a little too perfectly when constructing the story.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea Fascinating, fast paced, intense with interesting characters, convoluted murders and motives. Did not see the ending coming and was shocked. A picture really does paint a thousand words. Engrossing and entertaining read.

Thank you to Charlie Donlea, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is an absolute rollercoaster of a thriller that had me hooked from the first page. Ethan Hall is a former detective turned ER doctor, who wants nothing to do with his past until a cold case from his hometown drags him back in. Callie Jones vanished without a trace years ago, and now Ethan is tangled in a mystery that’s way more dangerous than he expected. As he digs deeper, he turns to an unlikely and super sketchy source, a convicted inmate who might have the key to unlocking the truth. The author nails the suspense by combining dark secrets, eerie small town vibes, and crazy twists!