Loved every second of this book! My first Tam Barnett book- and deffo won’t be my last!
Loved the characters, loved the different POVs going between first and third person.
I really felt sorry for Emy, who was such a strong female lead.
I was kept guessing throughout the whole book, never able to guess the outcome.
I was gripped from page 1.
The only thing I would comment on is that Emy just left the facility with Frank and no questions asked, no one caught them etc. which would not happen in real life, so maybe some sort of confrontation was needed?

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. How to Read a Killer’s Mind by Tam Barnett is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that delves into the psychology of criminals. The book offers an insightful look into criminal behavior and the minds of killers, mixing real-life research with fascinating case studies. Barnett’s writing is engaging and informative, making complex psychological concepts accessible to readers. The suspenseful tone keeps you hooked, and the exploration of human nature adds depth to the narrative. Overall, it’s a compelling read for those interested in true crime or psychological thrillers.

I went in thinking this would be a lighthearted, comedic take on the subject, but it was a little darker than i expected! I loved the twists and the author kept me guessing until the last few chapters. All of the puzzle pieces came together so perfectly!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Love love LOVED this! I enjoyed Tam’s first book however this for me was a whole different ball game. The premise was so different and kept me absolutely hooked. It captured all emotions with elements being horrifying, sad and really funny. I would 100% recommend!

I truly loved this book! It had been far too long since a thriller made me lose sleep—and this one did, in the best possible way. From the very first page, I was addicted to the story, desperate to know what would happen next.

Clever, witty and totally binge-worthy—think Mindhunter vibes with a gripping deep dive into the psychology of serial killers. If you love thrilling mind games and unraveling the darkest corners of the human psyche, this one’s for you.

The writing? Fantastic. The pacing? Fast and relentless. And the twist? OH, the twist—it absolutely blew my mind! This book has such a refreshing and unique premise and unlike many books that start strong but lose momentum, this one delivers from start to finish. Every moment kept me hooked and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

This was my first book by Tam Barnett, but it won’t be my last. I’m already planning to go back and read his debut - he has officially earned a spot on my favorite authors list. I truly hope we get many more books from him in the future!

A big thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Hugely enjoyable book giving a different side to getting inside the mind of a serial killer. In this book the crime has already been solved, the murderer is serving their prison sentence, but there are things left unspoken - like where the bodies are - and it is up to Emy and her team to get them to give up the goods.

This refreshing take on the subject explores the workings of Dr Emy Rose and her team as they embark on a controversial project to glean the missing information. The usual restrictions and legal processes don't seem to apply and Emy walks a constant knife edge as the centre is under continual threat of being shut down.

But Emy has a particular reason for wanting to crack one particular case and she will stop at literally nothing to get the information she needs.

I didn’t really get into the book at first. But I kept reading, and I’m so happy that I did. This book is amazing. The plot twist are absolutely unexpected, and the characters development is also really well written. This book could not have been written any other way. Absolutely amazing

A fast paced thriller, with multiple mysteries. I flew through the last 30% of the book, as all the pieces of the puzzle started to come together.

wow. i went into this book expecting it to be a lighthearted comedy despite its dark title. i saw the description that said darkly comedic, and i think that misled me. it was much darker than i expected, but i ended up loving it! the twists just kept coming and the characters were great. it took me a little to figure out everyone because so many characters were introduced in the beginning, but once i established them, i was hooked. and the ending had my jaw on the floor!

Let me first start of by saying this easily falls between a 4.5 and 5 star read for me. Despite some of the British banter that wasn’t really for me, especially in the beginning before things really start to take off, overall it was BRILLIANT! I can say with certainty that I won’t be shocked when it enters the Bestsellers list. It’s one that I’ll be recommending all year!

It was a little slow to start but once it got going, boy did it go!! So many minor (yet major) little plot points that truly came together PERFECTLY throughout the entirety of this book. Everything made sense in an addictive, page turning way. It never felt “fluffy” or like any unnecessary filler was used. Everything served an important purpose and I LOVE that in any novel.

The amount of research and carefully thought plot and meticulous attention to detail really made this book stand out amongst other psychological thrillers I’ve read in the past. It’s very heavily focused on the psychological aspect rather than thriller but in a digestible, edge of your seat, full body goosebumps kind of way. Every single character had such depth and intrigue that you genuinely wanted to know everything about everyone.

My only real feedback would be feeling a little disappointed we didn’t find out more about what happened with Chi and Tom. I feel like I was still left with some questions and would have loved a little more finality to wrap up those storylines and relationships.

All in all, Impeccable writing and an absolutely brilliant book! I audibly gasped, didn’t expect to cry but shed actual tears TWICE!

Thank you to BoldwoodBooks for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

PLEASE pick this one up April 7th - you will not be disappointed!

This dark novel took me on a rollercoaster ride - one that I did not want to get off of! This is a very well written book, however it does take some time getting used to the writing style. This was my first book by this author, so that could be why I felt this way about the writing. I really loved the depth of the relationship between the Mother and Daughter throughout this book, it made me cry. I also enjoyed the strong friendship between Emy and Chi. This psychological thriller was a really good one! It had many twist and turns! I had no idea what was coming next and I never would have guessed how this thriller unfolds towards the end. It is unique, witty, funny at times, and extremely disturbing. Overall, it was a very entertaining and emotional book!

How to Read a Killer’s Mind is a book about a woman psychologist named Emy that talks to serial killers, so she can get inside their heads. She wants to find out where the missing bodies are located from these serial killers. She has one big motive for being there and talking with them, especially one certain serial killer. As the book progresses, things begin to unravel, relationships become jeopardized and everything becomes clear.

The trigger warnings for this book are death, violence, and grief. This is a psychological thriller, so it gets really intense throughout the entire book.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Tam Barnett and Boldwood Books for sending me this advanced reader copy of this brilliant book in exchange for my honest review!

#NetGalley
#HowToReadAKillersMind

With a title like that I was always going to pick this up. Absolutely my kind of book. It was a little slow to start with but once it got going boy did it go. It was kind of addictive in the end, I just needed to know what was going to happen and what twist would happen. There are a lot of surprises in this book, and most of them came at the end of chapter so I just had to keep going.

Dr Emy Rose is a psychologist who is working with serial killers who have confessed. Her aim is to get them to reveal where they have buried the bodies. But she has an underlying motive in doing this. She isn’t a very likeable character for most of the book, only when she was with her mother did I see a little bit of her compassion.

This is a book that I will not forget in a hurry. It is dark and messed with some pretty gruesome details in there. There is also some humour in parts, not as much as I had expected with the book comparisons but enough in the right places.

Thanks to Boldwood books for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on April 7th.

How to Read a Killer's Mind by Tam Barnett is a gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into the twisted thoughts of a killer, unravelling complex motives and the dark recesses of the human psyche. The novel skillfully intertwines suspense and emotion, offering a chilling narrative that keeps you on edge until the very end. With its well-crafted characters and meticulously researched details, it's a must-read for fans of crime thrillers.

Here’s my breakdown:

🔪 Murder
🚩 R*pe/Sexual Assault
🚫 Neglect/Child Abuse
🧠 Mental health diagnosis
🌊 Twisty and well-researched

It's a journey that will have you questioning everything.
3.5 star rounded up to 4 star!

The blurb:

I’m psychologist Dr Emy Rose, but that’s not my real name.

I work with serial killers who've hidden their victims. My job is to find the bodies - and I'm kind of awesome at it.

The trick is to get inside these murderers' minds. And there's one in particular I'm hellbent on breaking.

Why? None of your business! Just know, I'll stop at nothing to read that killer's mind...

My thoughts:
This is the second book that I’ve read by Tam Barnett, I thought How To Get Away With Murder was good, but this one was just mind blowing!

The book reeled me in from the start. The first half is fairly medium paced, but then at about halfway it really picks up pace and I couldn’t put it down!

I loved the concept of Dr Emy Rose and her role in the story. I liked that although the story is quite dark and twisty we also see a side to Emy that is humorous too.

A really great read, one I’d highly recommend adding to your tbr!

Thank you so much to Tam Barnett for sending me an advance copy of his book to read via Netgalley. Opinions expressed here are my own.

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
I recently read (and reviewed) Tam Barnett’s previous book, which I very much enjoyed. I thought for a few chapters that this story didn’t have quite the same spark as the other, but in having finished it fully I can say that it absolutely does.
Barnett is a master at the final jaw-drop, but before we get there the reader has a tight, fast-paced narrative with absolutely no filler whatsoever. An enjoyable read that I’m sure other fans of the genre will also appreciate.

Let me begin by saying that this book is something between a 4-star and 5-star read for me. Despite there being some things that I didn’t enjoy, overall, it was awesome. It was beyond awesome. I think it will take me quite some time to come up with a better and deeper reasoning and reflection of the true nature of the things I think I didn’t quite enjoy.

When considering whether this book is for you, think House MD, just female, and not a doctor, but a psychologist. And she isn’t popping Vicodin, she’s drinking wine instead. And no treating regular patients, but dealing with serial killers. Think somewhat rude, somewhat nihilistic, somewhat sardonic, somewhat misanthropic. Think wannabe witty but coming across as crude and strangely self-obsessed. This is Ely Rose, the psychologist. I’m not sure I was a fan of how the MC was written and I want to blame this on “men writing women” phenomenon, which might be the reason I usually prefer women authors. In my defense – I hadn’t done my homework and didn’t know the author was a man. Tam is a name that didn’t make me think this is going to be a book written by a dude. In fact, I have met only girls named Tam, and that happened in Vietnam, so, who knows?

Ok, back to the book. The story actually is brilliant. Bloody brilliant. It’s well-told, well-written, and it’s unique af. The other characters are beyond brilliant, especially the three serial killers, they make the book what it is. They add depth and meaning, they are the characters driving the book. They are the salt of the book.
Also, if you are looking for a psychological thriller that is way, way more psychology than a traditional thriller, then let me present you with this book. If you want a story that goes deep (and if you can look aside from the wannabe witty banter that oftentimes comes across as a grotesque parody of some senseless misanthropic rambling), if you want a story that has a satisfying (albeit swift and abrupt) ending, if you want a story with a zillion minor (yet major) details that all tie up together super neatly – this is a perfect book for you.
It was an *almost* perfect book for me. And I feel like it will stay with me for quite some time now. And yes, I will be recommending this one left and right.

First of all, wow! Second of all, WOW! I actually couldn’t put this book down! The research that must have gone into this book is crazy. You would genuinely believe Tam was a Psychologist as Emy is perfectly written. I loved everything about this book - the way it was written, the characters, the twists, the ending, the family relationships, the relationships between the inmates..everything! I held my breath reading the last couple of chapters as I had no idea how it was going to go and I so wanted a happy ending! Amazing book, get this ordered as you will not be disappointed!

This is my second book by this author, and I can't wait to read more of his books. This particular one, full of suspense and quirks, is the kind that everyone is suspicious. I loved reading every page, it was so addictive that I devoured the book in a day.

As the title “How to read a killer's mind” says, it tells the story of Emy, a psychologist who will try through various strategies to get inside the minds of three serial killers in order to locate the victims' bodies.

What's really enthralling is that the tension and twists make you alert to every detail of the plot. You can tell that it was well written and that the author researched beforehand in order to create this insightful and captivating psychological thriller.

The plot itself waves in the blurred lines between morality and corruption during the research of the murders. The pacing was perfect as it flowed smoothly at every moment.

I liked the character depth in Emy, she was unapologetically herself, but we slowly saw her crumble as her goal got closer. Moreover, her backstory and the reason she struggles to find the truth even if she makes hasty decisions for it. It was really touching the relationship that Emy and her mother have.

Furthermore, it was exquisite and intriguing to navigate each serial killer's mindset, specially the interactions, as every minuscule detail can be a clue to locate the victims.

The ending was well executed, but I felt that there were some loose ends that didn't conclude in the way I expected, for example, what happened with Chi or Shenton. I'm not saying it's bad, it's just something was missing for there to really be closure.

Nevertheless, I'm in awe of the epilogues of Tam Barnett's books because of how jaw-dropping they are. The final plot twist was hilariously explosive.


Thanks Netgalley for this ARC

3.5 stars. This was a unique read, unlike anything I've read in the mystery/thriller genre. It was like watching Mindhunter. I thought this book kept the mystery interesting and it kept me flipping the pages. I would not say this was funny, however. I thought the tone was pretty serious. Emy does a lot of questionable things in the name of finding her brother. Emy and her mother's grief was palpable. So, too, was the hope that never dies.

I liked the analysis aspect of the book, but I do wish there had been more of that. However, the analysis that was included was well researched. I didn't really find any of the characters relatable. Emy was willing to push all boundaries to get her answer, her mother was unable to move on, and I hated Chi and Harrington. But I thought the dynamics between the characters really moved the book along and led to the explosive ending. And I loved the twist at the end of the epilogue.

***Thanks to Netgalley and the author for an eARC of this book. All opinions expressed herein are my own.***

"Is there anything more crass than popping open a bottle of champagne to celebrate the discovery of five dead bodies?"

Prepare to get uncomfortably close to the thoughts of killers.

Darkly funny and witty, this book toes the line between vulgarity and class — with an enigmatic thriller, unapologetically real narrator and whip-smart storytelling that wades through the murky world of clandestine criminology research, corruption and murder.

We follow Emy, and best friend/business partner Chi as they perfect their new techniques, deal with government reps and slowly find out exactly what stake Emy has in finding out how to get inside the minds of killers. At the start, things moved a little lazily, slowly and I wished we’d have a little more personality. While I felt for our main character and knew her backstory and motivation, it seemed very told and not felt during the first half so I never really grew an attachment to her throughout the book.

This is the kind of book that feels like a future Netflix thriller adaptation - delightfully fun with an ambitious premise and high stakes.

"This is a dance with the devil. I must not trip."