thank you to Elora Cook and Little Brown Book Group for giving me an advanced copy of In the Company of Killers!! Out 18th March!

can i just start off by saying that i am absolutely OBSESSED with this book?? yes? okay. BECAUSE I SO AM. if you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, DRAMAA, slow burn and insane plot twists you my friend will absolutely love this book.

ITCOK is a YA mafia based book, basically a blend of Gossip Girl and The Sopranos. definitely an elite combo right there. my jaw kept dropping throughout this read and i can guarantee you will NOT be disappointed

Tasha and Leo are my favourites and they’re amazingg, especially considering the whole reluctant heirs to their legacies wink wink. there’s a black cat x golden retriever dynamic, with leo being our fiercely protective golden retriever!

those last few pages had me shaking my kindle desperately trying (and failing) to not LOSE MY MIND.

This is a thrilling fusion of high-society drama and mafia intrigue. As soon as I read the synopsis for this, I knew I had to read it and it did not disappoint. Set in the affluent suburbs of New York, we meet 17-year-old Tasha Nicastro, who, beneath her glamorous exterior, is thrust into the dark underworld of organized crime following a personal tragedy.
Tasha emerges as a fierce and capable heroine, reminiscent of the iconic Blair Waldorf. Her evolution from a high school queen bee to a determined mafia heiress is both compelling and emotionally resonant. Leo's character adds further complexity to the narrative, with his internal struggle between family loyalty and personal desires. The narrative alternates between Tasha & Leo’s first-person perspectives offering distinct voices that shed light on their individual conflicts. Their evolving relationship is both intense and captivating , blending elements of the enemies-to-lovers and forbidden romance tropes.
The writing is cinematic, painting glamorous yet dangerous scenes that are very easy to visualize and immerse myself in. Whilst the fast-pace works well for the novel’s action-packed storyline, at times, the transitions between scenes—particularly between locations or time jumps—can feel abrupt, momentarily disrupting the flow of the narrative.
Overall, this is an engaging read that combines glamour, danger, and emotional depth. Fans of Gossip Girl & mafia dramas will find themselves captivated by Tasha's journey and the intricate world of secrets, betrayal and unexpected alliances.

I can’t formulate articulate thoughts right now beyond “this was brilliant”. So twisty and such a fun read

This book reminds me why I enjoy ARC reading, and I am so grateful to have had the chance to read this !!

This was so fun. I loved Tasha and immersing myself into her world, and I was really enjoying Leo’s character.

I saw one of the twists coming, but there were so many twists at the end !! This was fantastic. I enjoyed this world so much - suspense, backstabbing, murder. I don’t usually reach for Mafia books but I could feel that I’d love this one - and I’m so glad I trusted my gut.

Rating - 2⭐️

The synopsis was promising so I had high hopes that I’d enjoy this. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the right book for me. I admit I was intrigued at the start of the novel and sort of liked both Tasha and Leo but as the story progressed past the 30% mark, I started disliking them more and more.

The drama was so messy and not in a great way. I became increasingly frustrated with a lot of what was happening. I also predicted the very big plot twist very early on and I felt like the execution of the reveal was quite unsatisfying and rushed.

The dynamic between Tasha and Leo felt like a messy situationship to be honest. And both characters made a lot of questionable decisions that annoyed me. I think they’re both intentionally meant to be unlikeable and very flawed characters but I couldn’t connect with them enough. I especially thought I would love Leo but the way he treated other women excluding the fmc didn’t sit right with me despite the “other women” in question being a character I disliked too, that character didn’t deserve what he did to them.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.