This book gives all the feels, the beginning is super sad with the murder of Amy's mother, and the dark pit she falls into afterward. Thankfully, her half-brother reaches out, takes her under his wing, and gives her all the support she needs. Fast forward to today and Amy is running a really successful podcast about women killed by people they know. During one of her in-person talks, a woman gives Amy some info on her brother that shocks her.
This book took me on a wild ride, first the emotional beginning, then following Amy as she investigates the accusations against her brother, the only family she has left. Plenty of twists and turns had me going back and forth to whether I thought Amy's brother actually did what he was accused of. I was glued to the pages from the beginning, some pretty big reveals completely changed the way I thought the story was going to go and kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next.

The prologue made me cry, actually I was sobbing, which is embarrassing because I was reading this sneakily at work. I can tell you this would make the perfect audiobook!
I am a huge fan of this one.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #PenguinRandomHouseCanada for the book #KnownToTheVictim by #KLArmstrong. Amy’s mother was murdered by a man she went on three dates with. This crushed Amy’s world but her half brother gets in touch with her and picks up the pieces. Now, Amy runs a successful crime podcast about dangerous men and it helps with the pain of losing her mother. Her brother gets arrested for shooting his girlfriend and Amy is right by his side to help him. But is there more to her brother that she didn’t see? This book hits home for me as I am sure it does with so many other women. Highly recommend.

Firstly, thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

This is my first time reading work written by K.L. Armstrong and I can honestly say I was hooked from the very first chapter. Even when I thought I knew where the storyline was headed, I second guessed everything. Such an amazing read.

This is a suspenseful read that kept me guessing. The characters are complex. The mystery is full of twists and tension. I couldn't read fast enough. I had to know how it would all play out. And wow was I surprised. Excellent read!

Great gripping thriller with lots of twists and mystery. Amy is a strong character despite her struggles after her mother's murder. Mostly, it's the person known to the victim. It was the main theme, which is depicted throughout the plot. I was guessing and second-guessing all-around. Oliver's suspicious circumstances changed my mind so many times. Twists and revelations gradually became shocking, and then it’s a race to solve. The climax is justified with every single mystery solved. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley publisher and the author for providing the eARC.

First, thank you to NetGalley, author KL Armstrong and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.

This was a first for me by this author and I loved it. It was a fast paced gripping read. While I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong…but then I was right and then wrong again! I loved the twists that kept me turning pages until well past my bedtime.

The plot was very well done and the way the author took one domestic violence, gaslighting and other trauma related issues was so well done. I actually wished there was a real podcast this book was done after.

I loved that it was set in Canada. Being from Canada I knew the places the author was describing which made it easy to actually visualize the characters and places.

The character development was well done. The female main character was very realistic and it was easy to emphasize with her through the whole book. The male main character was…well I absolutely had a love/hate view for him.

The author wrapped the storyline up nicely and there wasn’t a huge amount of characters to try to keep track of.

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

K L Armstrong, aka Kelley Armstrong, is one of my favorite authors. She's a prolific writer who regularly crosses or even mixes genre to keep her stories new amd unique. She has several series, OTHERWORLD, ROCKTON/ HAVEN'S ROCK, NADIA STAFFORD, RIP THROUGH TIME, CAINESVILLE, DARKEST POWERS....well, you get the picture. She also has many stand alone novels, of which KNOWN TO THE VICTIM is one. Her characters are three dimensional and their communities realistic. I've read all of her books and have yet to find one I'd rate anything but 5 stars.

Known to the Victim is the name of a podcast where domestic violence is not just a topic. The moderator, Amy Gibson, lost her mother when her mother's casual date turned into murder. Everyone who knew this man said....there must be some mistake, he'd never harm anyone. So Amy's podcast is centered on teaching the signs of controlling behavior through discussion and investigation of past violence. The story takes some serious twists when Amy must look closely at the actions of someone close to her. Is she over reacting because of her history or is she blind to the truth because she does not want it to be true? Armstrong handles an explosive subject with skill, leaving clues that could fit either situation and letting the reader make their own conclusions before the ending forces the truth into the open. A great read, but I'd not expect anything else from this author.

I love a thriller that is relevant in its horror, and what's more common than crimes towards women from men they know? It's a tragically high statistic, and a scary one at that.

The twists are plentiful, and well paced. While some of the plot is more easily guessed than others, my first prediction of what was going to happen was very wrong. The characters are well fleshed for a novel of this pace and length. Side note that K.Armstrong is great at writing protective teddy bears and I love it dearly, every single time. So that's a bonus little treat.

Overall, a solid thriller. I'll be recommending it for sure!

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for early access. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy. This was my first book by K.L Armstrong, which is another name for Kelley Armstrong. Known to the Victim follows Amy, a podcaster who has made her career on crimes against women committed by their partners. Her brother Oliver is her only family after her mother was murdered. When Oliver is accused of an unthinkable crime, Amy has to figure out what is going on with the help of Dean Castillo, a private investigator. I enjoyed Known to the Victim. It was a fast-paced thriller with many twists and turns. I found myself questioning what I thought was going on.

This book is Armstrong's first adult fiction book, and this one was an easy and quick psychological thriller! The story had a few twists within, but overall, the ending was pretty predictable considering all the clues and actions were laid out succinctly to point the readers in the right direction. But, even though the overall storyline wasn't as winding as most thriller books I read, I still really enjoyed experiencing the events. I loved the call-out on the Southern Ontario towns, and I had no idea that Armstrong is a fellow Ontarian.

My only critique was that the podcast elements throughout weren't as prominent as I expected. I think if the podcast elements were incorporated as a mixed media format it would really emphasize the importance of the crimes against women theme that was highlighted. Fans of Shari Lapena, and Mary Kubica will enjoy this read!

This is now the second thriller that this author has written and just like the first one and every other book she has written I was hooked instantly. It is almost crazy how as soon as I get super into something it seems Kelley Armstrong writes about it, and this book was no exception. This book had the right amount of suspense but enough information given to the reader to keep you questioning everything. One of the things I love about this book and a lot of her previous books is her strong female characters. Armstrong does not shy away from writing powerful females plot lines that will leave you questioning everything. I knew instantly that this book would be one that I would devour and I found myself desperate to find out the end. I loved this story and the characters trying to decifer the lies from the truth was very fun to read about. This story focuses on our main character, Amy, who is the main speaker in a podcast about domestic violence, after her mother was murdered by a romantic partner. Her podcast is thriving and she is shedding light on a topic near and dear to her heart, when her brother is suddenly accused of everything that she stands against. I couldn't get enough of this story and every attempt to put it down was met by one more chapter. I loved our main character Amy. Watching her struggle with her inner turmoil as she tries to get to the bottom of what was going on with her brother was very fascinating. I liked how it shows Amy's struggle trying to be there for her family but also stand up for the women she defends in her podcast. Great read unlike anything I have ever read before by this author. Right when I thought that fantasy was Kelley Armstrong's calling she pulls out all the stops and takes on the thriller community with force. Not only does she write this story with a flair that made her well known to begin with but she managed to make it seem like that is all she has been writing from day one. I'm so glad that I was able to check out this book and I can't wait to add this to my collection as soon as it is released.

I enjoyed Known to the Victim. I have been really into thrillers that have podcasts as part of the plot lately, and this one was a great addition to the others I have read with the same inclusion.

It was an easy and quick read with a few twists, but overall, the ending was pretty predictable considering everything was laid out to point to the way it ended...and then that's exactly what it was.

The twists in the middle made me feel like maybe the ending was going in a different direction, but it got back on the path it was already headed down quickly after.

It was a good read though and I liked it. I do wish there was more of the podcast included instead of just mentioning she had one. Maybe a script or letting us 'listen' to it a little.

It was a good insight into how the people closest to us can not be who we thought they were, as well as a look into gaslighting and control.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC.

I really, really enjoyed reading this. At first I found the writing style a bit wordy and heavy on exposition, but once I got into it, I was hooked. The plot is quite bonkers – there’s a lot of twists and turns and it gets quite complicated but it was very exhilarating.

So much was going on – a lot happens, but it’s well-plotted and well-paced. The plot itself doesn’t always hold up to scrutiny – there were some plot threads I felt were under-explained – but as a first-time read, I barely noticed. It was exactly what I want from a thriller of this kind – exciting and full of twists, with a cute romance on the side. The relationship between Amy and Dean was a lot of fun – the dynamic between them is really entertaining with his grumpiness and her stubbornness, and was a really nice edition to the book (it’s barely there though – don’t get into this thinking it’s a romance because it really isn’t!)

Overall, it was a real thrill of a read. I read most of the last half of the book with a big grin on my face as the mystery unfolded, and it kept me surprised even at the end. It’s a very entertaining thriller – very pacy and so, so fun to read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Murder, violence, knife violence, gun violence, blood, violent death of a parent (in past), references to strangulation, intimate partner violence, controlling behaviour, financial control, blood, suicide bombing (in past), references to war, references to pedophilia and child sexual abuse, stalking, hospital scenes, incarceration, death of a parent, drugging / use of sedatives, suicide, grief.

4.5/5 stars

This is a riveting thriller! I absolutely loved it!

Kelley Armstrong is my favorite author. So I had very high hopes for Known to the Victim. And I was not disappointed. From the first intense paragraph to the last sentence I was completely enthralled by this amazing read.

The narrator is Amy Gibson. The prologue is so powerful. And then the story moves forward eight years. Twenty-eight year old Amy is now a true crime podcaster, which is such an amazing job in a thriller.

This book was chilling and I could not put it down. There is a fascinating mystery. And I honestly could not wait to see how everything played out. And the hint of romance was perfection.

Known to the Victim is incredible thriller. If you enjoy true crime this book will be for you.

After Amy Gibsons mother is murdered she is left with no one, struggling with grief and depression she hits rock bottom. Until her estranged half- brother Oliver reaches out and asks her to stay with him until she gets back on her feet.
Now, 8 years later, Amy has turned her life around she has her own successful true crime podcast known to the victim, devoted to cases of women who were killed by those they knew.
And then Oliver is accused of the very crime Amy has devoted her podcast to. She now struggles to prove Olivers' innocence while trying to remain impartial on her podcast, reporting her brothers case. While investigating, she realises she may have ignored some red flags that she has been constantly warning her listeners about.
This book had me hooked from page one. It was brilliantly plotted with some brilliant twist and turns. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a fast-paced suspenseful thriller.
Thank you, @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to thank K.L. Armstrong, NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I flew through this book. The second I was able to sit down and actually get into it, I ended up staying up until 5am to finish it. It was fast paced with well rounded, intriguing characters that were easy to attach to. I actually got so excited while reading it, I love podcast thrillers and consume a lot of true crime that way so I loved reading from the perspective of a podcaster.

Amy Gibson is a true crime podcaster that works with a PI to research crimes and report them. She began her podcast Known to the Victim after the murder of her mother by a man her mother had gone on one date with, and it was someone people never expected. Her podcast gained views for her advice to protect yourself and noticing red flags in a person, as well as covering a lot of violence against women.

When her mother died, though, she fell into a depression and was pulled out by her half-brother and taken into his home. Now, he's being accused of murder. Amy decides to cover it on her podcast, with the help of her brothers lawyer and her PI getting information other's couldn't access.

I really loved the interactions between Amy and her PI; Dean Castillo, there's a light flirtation and a hint that something could happen between them and I enjoy personal relationships in my crime thrillers. Ultimately this book was so fun, and such a fast read, I really enjoyed it.

Trigger Warnings I Gathered: stalking, gaslighting, suicide, parent death, grief, kidnapping, gun violence

The Prologue was soooo good , hooked me immediately I was in for the long haul .

Amy Gibson is a up and coming true crime podcaster and focuses on crimes against woman and she didn’t stumble into this career by accident…her mother was murdered 8 years ago .

Now with Amy’s Podcast Known to The Victim , life seems good. With the help from her step brother Oliver he brought her out of her depression and helped her get set up in a new place .

Then at about 30% things start to get interesting and Amy is caught in the middle of a potential crime and the accused is a family member.

Amy is faced with making decisions between what’s factual and false and is persuaded into adding this active crime case to her podcast , but will she get caught in the middle of the crossfires ??

How far would you go to protect the only family you have ?

My only wish is that there was actual podcast interviews for some more deeper discussions , instead of talk of Amy having a podcast and I felt at times the narrator lost us in her thoughts and had us all over the place , jumped around to much and threw the reader off .

I think fans of B.A. Paris , Shari Lapena, and Mary Kubica will enjoy this read !

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and K.L . Armstrong for this ARC!

Respectfully Another Read by Angie

I enjoyed the storyline and was hooked from the beginning. The characters felt real and the writing made me question most of the characters. It was fast-paced and although I seen some twists, I did not see them all and still couldn’t put the book down. I found the portrayal of controlling, gaslighting and emotional abuse well written.

Amy Gibson is a podcaster who bases her show on violent crimes committed by people who were close to the victim. Losing her mother in her first year of college to the man her mother briefly dated gives her firsthand experience and knowledge of the monsters hiding in plain sight. While Amy is speaking at an event, a stranger interrupts, calling out Amy's own brother for being one of those predators her show is about. This sets off a chain reaction, leading Amy down a dangerous path and one she never would have imagined in her worst nightmares.

For so many podcast stories out there lately, this is one of the few that stands out and excelled at its originality and ends up on a higher tier. Written in a way that pulls its reader in within the first few pages and keeps you craving more. There were several mysteries to solve throughout this, and although I figured out the main one, there were many more to keep me guessing and invested. What really made this was the interactions and dialogue between the protagonist and another character, investigator Dean Castillo, and I can honestly see this becoming a series with them alone. All in all, this was a good one, and I give it four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley, and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC.