Trigger/Content warnings for this book: Mentions of suicide, domestic violence, substance and alcohol abuse.

Tropes:
-Podcasters connecting cold cases to prove there is a serial killer active in their community
-Tension between local law enforcement and FBI
-Citizen investigations
-Secret hidden cameras
-FBI Agent becomes focus of serial killer

Summary/Thanks:
FBI Agent Susan Parker is still trying to piece her life back together in the wake of her husband’s supposed suicide and after an intense confrontation with a serial killer who almost took her down. When she is chosen to investigate the murder of a billionaire, she things nothing of it. That is, until this seemingly one-off case turns out to be connected to a string of brutal murders of struggling single mothers. As Susan investigates this murder and the group of billionaires (the “Billionaire Murder Club”) who seem to be obsessed with finding this killer themselves, she becomes the target of the serial killer. Susan will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and prevent the killer from killing again, but will it be enough? This book is the second in the Susan Parker FBI series, but can be read as a standalone. Thank you to Sam Baron, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for the ARC of The Murder Club in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It grabbed my attention from the very start. Sam Baron excels at writing quick and snappy dialog, and I found myself laughing out loud at the banter between agents at times, and at other biting my nails as I tensely read the anxiety-inducing twists in this novel. The crimes themselves were well-written and thought out and compelling to read, and I felt like I was right there with Susan and her team trying to figure out who was behind these murders.

The twists in this book were so fantastically well-written. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on the story because I hadn’t read the first book in the Susan Parker series (although you better believe I downloaded it from Kindle Unlimited as soon as I finished The Murder Club and plan to read it asap!). Enough of Susan’s backstory was explained in this book that I got the gist of what had happened to her in the past. I was very intrigued by the subplot of Susan’s desire to have her husband’s death investigated, and her insistence that it wasn’t a suicide. It definitely seems like there is more to the story than we’ve been led to believe, which will hopefully be exposed in the next Susan Parker book – which I will definitely be reading!

What a page turner, really well thought out thriller. Hadn’t read the first book, but will definitely be looking out for the next one. Feel I already know these characters.

I enjoyed this book! The writing is easy and I loved the short chapters. I absolutely LOVED the main character Susan Parker - she’s a powerful women!
Though it didn’t caught my attention at the very maximum.

I really enjoyed this book! Kept me on my toes a lot and I was gripped from the start! The characters all felt so real and I really enjoyed seeing where this story went

My 6P review

This is the story of FBI agent Susan Parker who is sent to the house of a billionaire after he is found murdered, strangled using his own silk tie. As she investigates, she comes across the exclusive murder club which is obsessed with the “clothesline killer” whose victims are mothers who’ve neglected their children.

The story started out well with a murder of the billionaire at his own home. But there was a lot going on. Susan‘s husband’s suspicious death, the billionaires murder club, the death of the women. It felt clunky with big gaps in how Susan got from one piece of the puzzle to another. It also felt like a lot of telling.

I liked Susan‘s daughter. It was a nice change for a character to use Auslan. Susan being a “marginalised woman of colour” was repetitive and she wasn’t a very good FBI agent. Her investigative skills were lacking. She broke protocols and was just not what you would expect. I did like Marisol, the no-nonsense CSI. Susan’s relationship with one of the murder club members was absurd.

The writing style was okay it just didn’t grab me

Set in Santa Karina Valley the author tried to set the scene. While I got some sense of where I was, I thought the descriptions of the housing locations was much better.

I really didn’t enjoy this book and I won’t be reading any more of this series

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

This book gave me chills and goosebumps from the very first page! Although I did predict the twist, I still thoroughly enjoyed 'The Murder Club'.

"Because every new enemy you make is a friend lost for life."

Thank you to Sam Baron, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Murder Club
by Sam Baron
Pub Date: Apr 22 2024

The Murder Club is book 2 in the FBI Agent Susan Parker Series but it can be read as a standalone.

I did read book 1, The Therapy Room and absolutely loved it. After finishing The Murder Club, in my opinion it was another 5 star book! It is described as a gripping and heart racing, keep you up all night thriller and I have to agree with that description. I highly recommend it.

Short synopsis: She walked through the cabin, across the gleaming hardwood floor, past the beautiful fireplace and luxury kitchen. The view overlooking the lake was breathtaking until she stepped outside and saw the lifeless body in the chair – a silk scarf wrapped tightly around his throat, his gray eyes wide open.

Many thanks to #NetGalley #TheMurderClub #StormPublishing #SamBaron for providing me with an E-ARC of this 5 star thriller with a publication date of 4/22/2024.

I read an advanced readers copy of Sam Baron's second book in the Susan Parker series. I listened to an audiobook of the first book, The Therapy Room, which I will admit I did not entirely love, but I decided to give the series another chance. I think the second novel, The Murder Club, is a stronger book. it still has some issues - things like a corrupt police chief arresting an FBI special agent on a whim - which stretch credulity, but on the whole, the story is good, and the second half of the book is quite good. It ended with me wanting to read the next (unreleased) book. I am hopeful the series will continue to improve. I'll definitely read the third novel.

I really enjoyed this. Its fast paced and has a plot that's constantly moving forwards. The characters are mainly likeable and original. Some of them seem to make weird choices but whatever, people do that aswell. It has a cpl of good twists and was a fun way to pass the day

I am having a really hard time deciding how to write this review. The whole premise of this plotline was dynamite. A serial killer watching his victims before he kills them all while he is being watched by a group of billionaires. It sounded just like an episode of Criminal Minds. As a Criminal Minds binge lover, I was so excited. The prologue of the first kill made everything creepy and exciting. Then it kind of flattened out a little. It would then pick up speed again. I must confess that I was way too invested in finding out the killer's identity, so I could not stop reading. This killer is dispensing with his own brand of justice by killing what he considers to be bad mothers who do not take care of their children. At the beginning he has now moved to eliminating all of the members of the Murder Club because he knows they are watching. He is no dummy.

The main character is FBI agent Susan Parker. She is a highly qualified, very intelligent woman who deserves the position that she holds. So, I did not really understand why Susan had to mention repeatedly that she was a "marginalized woman of color", and to top it all off she sounded as if she hated men and anyone with money. I have no problem with mentioning characteristics of characters so that I can envision them in my imagination, but this was repeated over and over. She was just not a likable main character to me. I think she was a great agent and an even better mother, but I just could not like her. Naved was my favorite character. He was good at his job in seeking justice. He stood beside Susan no matter how badly she behaved at times. Susan was definitely a justice seeker as well. She just did it with a huge chip on her shoulder. Crime junkies will love it.

I must confess that I did read the whole book, so obviously it kept my attention. I was invested once I started. I will give it four stars because the whole premise of the story was enough to make me finish it.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"The Murder Club” by Sam Baron proved to be a solid 4-star read. As the second installment in the FBI Agent Susan Parker series, it kicks off with Parker once again torn from her family by a mysterious phone call, leading her to a compelling crime scene. This time, the case revolves around the murder of a local billionaire, who also happened to be a member of a secretive Billionaire Murder Club. Along the way, Parker discovers potential connections between the murder and a group of podcasters, adding layers of intrigue to the investigation. Can she unravel the truth behind the crime before it's too late?

Having had mixed feelings about the first book in the series, I approached this one with an open mind. While I found the story more engaging this time around, the quality of writing still left something to be desired. The interactions between the agents felt contrived, and there were noticeable inaccuracies regarding law enforcement procedures. However, the storyline itself proved to be captivating. If you're able to overlook these flaws and simply enjoy the story for what it is, then this book is worth your time.

It's worth noting that "The Murder Club" delves into some contentious themes, including strong viewpoints on gender, race, and the challenges faced by women within the FBI. If such themes are likely to unsettle you, it might be best to steer clear of this book. However, if you're comfortable with these discussions, then "The Murder Club" is certainly worth considering.

Thanks to Storm Publishing, Sam Baron, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

This narrative had so many instances that I had to hold my breath! From the opening to the last page, there is nonstop tension, excitement, and suspense. Will the Clothesline killer be apprehended by FBI agent Susan Parker and her team before he carries out another murder? The only way to find out is to read the book! I have only read this one book by the author, but it was so amazing that I plan to read more of them. I am grateful to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my frank review.

If you like FBI suspense, then you must read this book. I am sure you will love it. The very strong personality of the SAC Susan Parker is marvelously described. It takes just a few hours to go from beginning to end. Read it; you are going to love it.

Sam Baron is a new author for me which I am always cautious with especially when this is a book of 2. I was enjoyed reading the story of Susan Parker on her quest to find the killings of the Billionaire Murder Club. Susan doesn't do this alone. She has a team of who are not law enforcement they are podcasters. Yes podcasters a team you would never think would help in this investigation.

This is a very deep and dark story that might not be for the faint of heart Yet there are many different characters that would please many different readers. Susan and her cast of crime fighters put together the pieces of this crime to try and find the culprit or culprits behind it. This book kept me guessing and I was never sure how it would end. Very suspenseful until the end. I should look into book 1 and anything else by Mr. Baron.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.. I wold recommend this to anyone who likes a thriller and about a woman who is in charge.

The Murder Club is the second book in the FBI Agent Susan Parker Series; something I did not learn until after I'd finished reading. There are just enough hints and backstory in this book to make me want to go back and read Book 1, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read it first.

I found the dynamics at play in this book as interesting as the murder mystery to be solved, which makes a nice change from your average police procedural.

There were some parts of the narrative where I found it difficult to stretch believability, and some points were unnecessarily repetitive, but over all, it was quick and compelling read.

Okay. The Murder Club had great potential and while some of the story was good, I was just not thrilled with the execution. The premise sold me and I wanted to read it right away but unfortunately it just didn't deliver imo.

While the plot was intriguing I just couldn't get over all of the stereotypes, the constant in your face use of person of color (border line hypocrisy on the FMC) and the over explanation of everything (think Michael Scott saying "explain it to me like I'm five" and that's how I felt like I was treated during the whole book).

It was paced very well, the plot captured my attention, and I liked *most* of the characters. The dual POV from the serial killer and the FMC was also interesting and added depth to the story.

It was an interesting and fast-paced read but the overall execution of the plot and the writing style just wasn't for me but that doesn't mean it won't be for you :)

2.5 stars (rounded to 3 for GR)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a copy of an e-arc in exchange for my honest review, all thoughts are my own :)

First I really enjoyed the setting in Southern California, not far from where I lived for many years. The story also included many diverse characters (though sometimes we were reminded of that a little too often).

Susan Parker is assigned as the lead FBI agent on a case of a murdered billionaire. After investigation, she and her team learn that there was a group of local billionaires that are all obsessed with who they refer to as the "Clothesline Killer." As it turns out, a podcaster group is also following this killer, and strangely enough, the lead podcaster is also the delivery person for this FBI offices pizzas. Sometimes a bit over the top, it was a good story with a wild ending I did not see coming.

One odd thing was measurements were referred to in meters and I don't know a single American to use the metric system. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Sam Baron for the eARC.

Book 2 in the FBI Agent Susan Parker Series is a slam dunk. Someone known as the Killer, to online and murder club sleuths, has been targeting single moms who are suspected of neglect and/or abuse. This individual has gotten so much underground traction that he is now being watched by a wealth group of individuals that call themselves The Murder Club.
You will love Susan and her drive to find the truth and to do the right thing. She is not afraid to uncover the truth from so many who are hiding secrets. This is a fast-paced page turner that will keep you guessing all the way to the end! I love a book that makes me exhausted even though I was just the bystander!

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

I had not read the previous book in this series and had not realised there was a previous book. Although its possible to read as a stand-alone book it would have mush more context if one had read the series.
I really enjoyed this book. It had many twists and turns and had an ending that was surprise but made sense in the end.

I wont give too much away but there was billionaires and their influences and police corruption all playing a role in a well written novel.
It's made me want to read book 1

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for free.
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The Murder Club by Sam Baron is a thriller following FBI agent Susan Parker after being called to a murder scene of a wealthy local.
The victim belongs to a group calling themselves ‘The Murdrer Club’, an exclusive club obsessed with the notorious ‘Clothesline Killer’.

The Murder Club, although part of a series, works as a standalone.
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I wanted to enjoy this more than I ended up doing, the title was intriguing and the plot had promise, however, I found the FMC to be irritating. I appreciate cultural representation in novels but the repetitiveness of dialogue where she wanted to make sure people knew she was of a minority got annoying.

I also felt like the plot was predictable but maybe I’ve just read too many thrillers. Saying that, I did love the premise of the book and although predictable to me, I did find the plot engaging.