I really had high hopes for this one, but it just didn’t work for me. Susan was…irritating. Her high and mighty attitude rubbed me the wrong way. Plus if I have to hear that Rosie was $28 million ONE more time 😂

Typically I don’t mind books being unrealistic, but the ending/explanation of this one just seemed way out of left field. I was happy to see everything connect, though! That was nice. Kayla was my favorite character, I think. And Lata, of course. I wish there was more of them.

The Murder Club follows Special Agent Susan Parker as she investigates a wealthy "murder club" of billionaires that is tracking the murders of a serial killer. I read this book very quickly, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I thought most of the twists were fairly predictable, and I thought the writing needed some editing. Some of the dialogue, in particular, felt oddly written. I think I would've benefitted from reading the first book in the series, despite this book being advertised as fine to read as a stand alone, because there was a lot of content and discussion about plot lines from the first book.

Special thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the e-book!

This book sinks its claws into you from the opening lines and doesn’t let go until you are finished. This was my first book I’ve ever read from Sam Baron. I want to now go back and read his other works because if it’s anything compared to the pacing and twistiness of this book, I will be hooked.

I personally love thriller books so this one was super enjoyable. From the beginning till the end filled with twists. One second you're thinking one thing and the next your second guessing yourself.

In this second novel featuring FBI Agent Susan Parker, she and her team take on a serial killer of single mothers who has now shifted his focus to the members of the so-called "Murder Club" who were spying on his crimes.
As Susan investigates the murders she is also trying to unravel the mystery of her husband's death.
Like the previous book, the characters are well constructed and the plot has good twists and turns that keep you enthralled from the beginning, yet I found it lacked some of the freshness of the first book.
Looking forward to the next in the series where we will apparently know a lot more about Susan's husband and the reasons for his death.

Having read the first in this series, I was hoping the second book would be better, with the characters fleshed out a little.
Susan is a woman of colour, in the FBI, and definitely has a chip on her shoulder. She has no respect for her seniors, and, even having spent a day in jail, goes against orders constantly.

I am not sure how good this FBI team is, it took a pizza delivery lady and her true crime podcast team to connect murders, AND they had sussed out the murder weapon without the FBI's sophisticated forensic unit!!

Susan's husband's murder is still not explained, and this will be a never-ending bait by the author for readers to read the next book.

I have to award this 2/5 stars for some of the twists in it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

I am always very grateful to receive ARC's and this one sounded very promising, but left me a little disappointed. While the author's commitment to inclusivity is admirable, at times it felt forced, with diversity elements seeming more like checkboxes than integral parts of the story. Authentic representation should avoid tokenism and stereotypes, allowing characters to exist naturally within the story without being defined solely by their marginalised identities.
Excessive focus on minority empowerment and social justice, paired with very clear disdain for white suburbanism, risks oversimplifying complex social dynamics. For me, it undermined the narrative. I want to see minority characters simply existing without being forces to hear a sob-story every time they accomplish something.

Rather than delivering the anticipated tension and plot twists, the story felt more like a sociology project with murders interspersed throughout. In essence, while the premise held promise, the execution fell short, resulting in a disappointing reading experience devoid of the twists and turns that make thrillers so captivating.

an excellent who-dun-it murder mystery!! murder club kept me entertained and on my toes the whole time. great ending!!!

Sam Baron's "The Murder Club" is a pulse-pounding rollercoaster of a thriller that will leave you breathless until the very last page! 🎢 From the moment FBI Agent Susan Parker stumbles upon the lifeless body in the luxurious cabin, the tension never lets up! 💥 But this isn't just any murder case – it's tied to an exclusive and chilling Murder Club fixated on the enigmatic 'Clothesline killer.' 👥 As Susan dives deeper into the investigation, aided by an unlikely ally in a local pizza delivery girl turned amateur sleuth 🍕🕵️‍♀️, she uncovers a sinister trail of clues that lead to forgotten victims and orphaned children.

I found it to be a fast paced read, really kept me turning the pages and kept me enetertained, which is what I am lookig for in such a book. this is why I would give it 5 stars.

I'd read the first in the series, and didn't particularly care for it, but was hoping to see some growth in the second installment. Unfortunately, I didn't get it. Agent Susan Parker was genuinely unlikable, and I had a hard time with her flouting of FBI policies, downgrading people not like her, and generally bemoaning her "marginalization" as a woman of color. Yuck. The story itself had some interesting ideas, but it became a battle for me just to finish it.

I think many people will really enjoy this. I think they will appreciate a strong, brash, independent FBI SAC. I just didn't feel the same.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

When a wealthy man is murdered in his lavish home, the last thing that FBI agent Susan Parker expects to find is that his death is linked with a very different case. One involving the multiple murders of women, mostly single parents s, who have left behind their orphaned children.

Because it turns out this man is part of a secretive group of people who have a morbid fascination with the case of the so-called Clothesline Killer, who is notorious for targeting allegedly neglectful single mothers. So much so, that members of the group have set up a "Murder Club" to indulge their obsession.

But when a second member of this club shows up dead, there is little doubt that their preoccupation with this serial killer may be quite literally a morbid one.

With help coming from an unlikely source, Susan is in a race against time to find the killer before he decides to find her...

There are plenty of twists and turns in the storytelling, though some details are in need of editing and/or clarification - I find it hard to believe that we have all met a serial killer at some point in our lives, as the book asserts! Overall, this was an entertaining read with a relatable protagonist. It gets 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.



I must say, I had high hopes for this book based off the premise, but I was quickly (and frequently) turned off by some of the content. What could have been a dark, twisty thriller was actually a very predictable story in which the FMC was insufferable. (In all honesty, the FMC is supposed to be a Special Agent in Charge working with the FBI, and it took her forever to put together basic things regarding the unsub that were super obvious from the opening pages.) She spent the entire book talking about how she's a "marginalized woman of color", and she and others continuously pat her on the back for being born only half Caucasian. She complains about everything around her, and comes off as a bit of a hypocrite. "I'm starting to get sick of the sight of these ridiculously expensive luxury cars around our middle-class suburb." Meanwhile, she's only seen two of them, and one belongs to her husband's uncle. (And btw, her husband's family are all Indian multi-billionaires.) The outright disdain for Caucasian people is apparent throughout. It's absurd how the FMC continuously tries to elevate herself by droning on about how amazing she is and how much everyone around her loves her (with the exception of her male, Caucasian boss, of course), while at the same time trying to come across as a victim. It was just really tiresome, overdone, and a total turnoff and detractor from the story itself. It honestly made me want to stop reading several times. You shouldn't have to put others down in order to elevate yourself. It just seemed like this book had an agenda, and it wasn't to tell a compelling, entertaining story.

This book is unbelievably good. The writing is terrific. It flows smoothly. I was on the edge of my seat many times. I even held my breath at one point. There is a ton of mystery, suspense and action. It was a thrilling roller coaster ride.

Loved it! Susan Parker, FBI SAC, is called to the murder of a billionaire. But all is not as it seems and she slowly starts to uncover a far larger case than it first appeared to be. Great characters, a story full of twists, and a surprising ending. There is the underlying case of the death of Susan's husband from the previous book, but the case featured in the story is solved and the book can definitely be read as a standalone. However, I'm going to go and read the first book too. I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Several months after the high profile events of The Splinter, a dark disturbing case which FBI agent Susan Parker was responsible for drawing to a dramatic conclusion, her main focus has been on getting over those traumatic days. Out in Santa Carina Valley enjoying life with her daughter Natalie and sislaw Lata, Susan receives a call from friend and colleague Naved Seth, who is an officer with SCVPD. After arranging to meet, Susan gets another call, this time from her boss, a call she can’t ignore. With two cases on the go Susan is being put to the test once again and has to prioritise.

The second book in the Susan Parker series, and in the first half there is improvement. Whereas the first book, The Therapy Room, was a good story but full of repetitive phrasing and badly drawn characters, this one is more cohesive, a more engaging read, and, thankfully, the dreaded copacetic only makes a very. The plot is good until halfway through, then the story is so silly and incredulous that all the good work before it fades away.

There are few odd moments that a good copy editor would have picked up on immediately. Just a couple of examples , Parker noting that almost all of us come into contact with one or more serial killers in the course of our daily lives. If the world’s population is in excess of eight billion, then that’s a hell of a lot of serial killers or a few very well travelled ones 🤣. Nothing like a little hyperbole to ease the storyline along. Also, the man was clad all in black like his car. Black cardigan over white T-shirt and black jeans??? All in black, but white T-shirt? Then there are issues with events in the wrong order, plus characters in two places at once.

The story ends with yet another cliffhanger, hoping to keep readers hooked.

A better book that number one but still needs a lot of work.

2.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

Wow! I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Although this is book 2 in a series, it does work as a standalone book. This book had a nice twisty plot and a likeable main character. I was amazed at how little sleep she could function on, but despite that it was an entertaining read, with corruption, wealth and a bit of sleuthing luck thrown in. I would definitely like to read more from this author, but am finding that a lot of NetGalley author’s previous books are only available in audiobooks in Australia. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm publishing for a copy to review.

I couldn't put it down, I read this in one sitting. Here is what I have to say about:
"The Murder Club" by Sam Baron is a heart-pounding thriller that plunges readers into a world of mystery, danger, and suspense from the very first page. Set against the backdrop of a serene lakeside cabin, the story unfolds with a chilling discovery that sets off a chain of events that will keep you guessing until the very end.

FBI Agent Susan Parker finds herself thrust into a perplexing case when she stumbles upon the lifeless body of a wealthy local man, his throat constricted by a silk scarf. As she delves deeper into the victim's life, Susan uncovers a sinister secret: the existence of an exclusive society known as the Murder Club, fixated on the enigmatic 'Clothesline killer'. The previous victims, all single mothers, bore the haunting signature of being strangled in their beds by a masked assailant.

What sets "The Murder Club" apart is its intricate plot filled with unexpected twists and turns. As Susan races against time to stop the killer before he strikes again, she must navigate a web of deceit and betrayal that leads her to uncover shocking truths hidden beneath the surface of her seemingly idyllic community.

Baron's skillful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats, weaving together a narrative that is both compelling and unpredictable. From the gripping opening scene to the heart-stopping climax, every page is infused with tension and intrigue.

Moreover, the characters in "The Murder Club" are vividly drawn and utterly convincing, adding depth and complexity to the story. Susan Parker emerges as a formidable protagonist, determined to uncover the truth at any cost, even as she grapples with personal demons of her own.

Overall, "The Murder Club" is a riveting thriller that will appeal to fans of the genre and leave them eagerly awaiting Sam Baron's next novel. With its atmospheric setting, memorable characters, and relentless suspense, this book is sure to keep readers enthralled from start to finish. Highly recommended for anyone in search of a pulse-pounding read that will keep them up late into the night.

FBI Agent Susan Parker’s fun afternoon go-karting with her daughter is interrupted when she’s called to the crime scene of a wealthy local man murdered in his home. As she delves into his life, she discovers the man belonged to an exclusive yet sinister Murder Club obsessed with the mysterious ‘Clothesline killer.’ The previous victims were all single mothers being investigated for suspected neglect who bore the same chilling hallmark, each was strangled in her bed at night by a masked figure! This is book two in this series!! Oh boy what a book and series!! I am fully invested!! I can't wait for more! This book had everything!! It had great suspense, intrigue, action packed, murder, mystery, serial killers, a fantastic who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me absolutely glued to my kindle!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! I highly recommend reading this book and series! They're well worth reading! I seriously can't wait for more!! Thank you Netgalley and Storm publishing for sharing this book with me!

Such a good book that had me wondering what was going to happen next. I was hooked in the first two chapters. There were moments when I had a hard time following what was happening/ where the story was going. I appreciated how likable the main character was and the way she was able to handle the adversity she faced throughout the book.