2.5/5 rounded up.

I found this so lackluster and it had such potential to be so nail-bitingly suspenseful and good.

This story follows a ghostwriter who is dealing with murder of her sister. But at the same time, another writer moves into her house (and that just sounds suspicious to me). Do you see how much potential is here?? So much!

But this was so lackluster. I think part of the problem was how short this is, there's not enough time for much development to happen or for suspense to properly build up. And the ending was not satisfying. When I had finished it I just thought "okay." And that is not how a mystery/thriller should have you feeling by the end.

Thanks to NetGallry for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

The Killer She Knew by Zee David is a suspenseful and gripping mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story follows Emma, a ghostwriter seeking a fresh start while caring for her ailing mother, as she becomes enmeshed in the chilling mystery of her sister’s murder. The narrative takes an intriguing turn when Emma begins ghostwriting a fictional novel based on the diary of a serial killer, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

The twists in this book are expertly crafted. While I guessed parts of the ending midway, there were still plenty of surprises that kept me on my toes. Zee David weaves a complex tale of secrets, lies, and unexpected alliances, making this more than just a standard whodunit.

Emma’s character is compelling—her determination to uncover the truth while facing her own past is both relatable and admirable. Nick’s mysterious presence adds another layer of intrigue, as his connection to the project unfolds.
With its eerie atmosphere, unpredictable twists, and engaging characters, The Killer She Knew is a good-read for fans of psychological thrillers. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking, suspense-filled mystery.

i hate giving one star reviews to arcs but this was such a frustrating read as a thriller fan.

predictability is truly the death of a thriller book and the writer made it so that everything was drawn out at the start so you could guess what would happen and then started adding twist after twist which were all just incredibly ridiculous and badly written and not even fully fleshed out.

i also had trouble connecting with all of the characters, none of them seemed realistic to me + their character plotlines were all so rushed and there was no real chance to properly understand them and the sudden dual pov's just seemed unnecessary.

overall it was just quite tropey and a dull read that could have been good but lacked the effort needed for that.

thank you netgalley for the arc.

This novel grabs you from the start with a tragedy that sets a suspenseful tone. The introduction of a mysterious and eccentric writer adds to the intrigue.

While the plot raises several questions that kept me curious, it occasionally jumped too quickly from one event to another, making it hard to keep track of everything.

About halfway through, a shocking twist had me wondering what was happening—this is what I love about a good story. In part two, we revisit the past, and the character’s perspective feels authentic and consistent. I wish there were more chapters focused on him.

The chapters about Zoe and Emma could have been moved earlier to build suspense, while Mia’s point of view felt unexpected, and Kathy seemed inconsistent later on. I enjoyed Mia's humor, although it felt a bit out of place given the serious context.

The author’s character descriptions were concise yet effective. Overall, the final chapters were tense and full of surprises, keeping me guessing until the end!

A quick and easy read that hooked me right in and didn't let me go until I finished a couple of hours later. I really enjoyed it and was on the edge of my seat at times

Ghostwriter Emma has moved to Jope Town after inheriting a house from her father. Her unwell mother, who Emma has a fractured relationship with, also lives with her and she has a carer Mia. We learn from the off of the murder of Emma’s sister Zoe ten years earlier. Nick is the author Emma is going to be writing for, his story he calls ‘A Diary Of Murders’ about a murderer who got away with gruesomely killing three women. Emma has invited Nick to stay in the house while they work on the book, but she begins to question the lines between reality and fiction.

This was a relatively short book (170 pages) so ideal for a quick read. It definitely pulls you in from the start however I found parts confusing and not so easy to follow. I would definitely be interested reading more from this author.