Courtney ✩ (Hiatus)'s Reviews > Ladykiller

✎𓂃 “‘His stories were good because he imagined them intensely, so intensely that he came to believe them.’ -Patricia Highsmith, The Talented Mr. Ripley”

☆Summary:
Childhood best friends Abby and Gia were born of polar opposite circumstances–Gia, a rich heiress, and Abby, the daughter of the family’s chef. As Gia’s father had grown fond of Abby, he generously paid for her schooling, bringing the two girls closer together.

Twelve years after a tragedy at Gia’s family’s summer estate in Greece (detailed in Gia’s memoir), the girls and Gia’s brother Benny are reuniting in Sweden for Gia’s birthday. When Gia doesn’t show, suspicions grow, causing Abby and Benny to race back to Greece for answers. What they find at the house is chilling: an unfinished manuscript in which Gia unveils the ominous summer events leading up to her disappearance, involving her husband and two additional guests. But where is Gia now? Is what she wrote in her manuscript true? And the threatening emails Abby has been receiving–could someone out there know her secret? The truth will out, whether these characters like it or not 🔪

☆The Pace and Writing:
The first 70% or so of this book toggles between the present day in Abby’s POV and chapters of Gia’s unfinished manuscript. After reading the blurb, I didn’t expect to be immediately hit with Gia’s manuscript. It ended up taking up a larger portion of this book than I expected and tbh, I felt it took too long for Gia’s story to get to the point. Conversely, I wanted Abby’s storyline to catch up. All of these aspects made this a slower pace than I would have liked 😴 At the 50% mark however, the mystery and suspense *finally* picked up and I flew through a handful of chapters! And then proceeded to lose its momentum.

Personally, I preferred Abby’s POV over Gia’s, as Abby felt much more personable. Gia’s POV didn’t read as naturally for me, as she lacked dimensionality, but this did aid in further reinforcing her character’s demeanor.

☆My Thoughts:
I was SO EXCITED for Ladykiller!! The title, the cover, the synopsis, like come on!! I saw “Greece” and immediately needed to read this, like plz take me away on a Greek vacation asap (preferably where there might be some attractive Greek men, never hurts lmao 😎)!! It sounded so interesting and unique, exactly the kind of thriller I’ve been craving.

Overall, this did and didn’t deliver. The setting? 10/10, take me there now! Gia’s POV had me wishing I was a rich heiress having the time of my life, soaking up all the sun in Greece without a care in the world.



The mystery? While suspenseful, I was hoping for more. I think the plot had so many opportunities to take readers down the twistiest of roads, however most of them I was able to guess. When looking at the title, I was expecting something gruesome, but this gave off a weird what-if vibe instead. For that reason, though very catchy, I’m not sure the title is fitting.

Gia is the definition of a clueless rich person. Stuck in her ways, in her ego–she has all the blinders on and can’t tell when she’s making a stupid decision (which was all the time!! 🤬). She falls too hard and is extremely apathetic towards others. I despised this character more as the book progressed.

Abby is the realist of the bunch–understandably as she was not brought up the same and has a better grasp on the world. She was much more relatable, being the practical one, the voice of reason. I also liked how most of her chapters were quick and to the point!

Would I recommend this?

ONLY if you like ambiguous endings. I felt like I was left with so many questions at the end, so if that’s your jam, have at it!

A very special thanks to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Netgalley for sharing this advanced copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!! Quotes used in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy, and as such are subject to change in its final version.

Ladykiller is expected to be published on July 9, 2024.

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just approved for this arc and so excited to dive in! 🩵

the title!! i am so intrigued 👀