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El Dorado Drive
When Harper moves in with her sister Pam, she’s surprised to find Pam doing so well financially after her messy divorce. After all, Pam’s ex-husband wiped their bank accounts, even stole from their kids. But Pam managed to find her way back—thanks to the Wheel.
Twice a month the women of the Wheel meet. New members bring cash to add to a pool and then gift to one lucky member. It’s all about giving back. Lifting each other up—as women should, as they must.
When Harper is invited, with the promise of an end to her financial burdens, the sisters inadvertently unleash a darkness lurking within the group. If they’re not careful it might just get them killed.
Twice a month the women of the Wheel meet. New members bring cash to add to a pool and then gift to one lucky member. It’s all about giving back. Lifting each other up—as women should, as they must.
When Harper is invited, with the promise of an end to her financial burdens, the sisters inadvertently unleash a darkness lurking within the group. If they’re not careful it might just get them killed.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2025
807 people are currently reading
24521 people want to read
About the author
Megan Abbott
63 books6,317 followersMegan Abbott is the Edgar®-winning author of the novels Die a Little, Queenpin, The Song Is You, Bury Me Deep, The End of Everything, Dare Me, The Fever, You Will Know Me and Give Me Your Hand.
Abbott is co-showrunner, writer and executive producer of DARE ME, the TV show adapated from her novel. She was also a staff writer on HBO's THE DEUCE. Her writing has also appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Believer and the Los Angeles Review of Books.
Born in the Detroit area, she graduated from the University of Michigan and received her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University. She has taught at NYU, SUNY and the New School University and has served as the John Grisham Writer in Residence at The University of Mississippi.
She is also the author of a nonfiction book, The Street Was Mine: White Masculinity in Hardboiled Fiction and Film Noir, and the editor of A Hell of a Woman, an anthology of female crime fiction. She is currently developing two of her novels, Dare Me and The Fever, for television.
Abbott is co-showrunner, writer and executive producer of DARE ME, the TV show adapated from her novel. She was also a staff writer on HBO's THE DEUCE. Her writing has also appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Believer and the Los Angeles Review of Books.
Born in the Detroit area, she graduated from the University of Michigan and received her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University. She has taught at NYU, SUNY and the New School University and has served as the John Grisham Writer in Residence at The University of Mississippi.
She is also the author of a nonfiction book, The Street Was Mine: White Masculinity in Hardboiled Fiction and Film Noir, and the editor of A Hell of a Woman, an anthology of female crime fiction. She is currently developing two of her novels, Dare Me and The Fever, for television.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 784 reviews
September 7, 2025
Megan Abbott's El Dorado Drive is the kind of book that gets under your skin and stays there. Picture this: Harper, dead broke and out of options, shows up at her sister Pam's door in suburban Detroit. But here's the twist - Pam, who should be financially ruined after her ex cleaned out their accounts, is somehow living large. Her secret? Something called the Wheel, a women's "investment group" that promises sisterhood and wealth. Spoiler alert: if it sounds too good to be true...
Abbott has this incredible knack for pulling you into the minds of her characters. You feel Harper's desperation, Pam's fierce belief in the Wheel, and the magnetic pull that draws women into this scheme dressed up as female empowerment. The story starts like a slow-burning fuse, building tension as you realize just how deep this rabbit hole goes.
What begins as a story about survival and sisterhood takes a dark turn when death enters the picture. Suddenly, Harper and Pam aren't just dealing with moral gray areas - they're in real danger. Abbott weaves '70s and '80s suburban life into the backdrop with perfect details that make the setting feel alive without drowning in nostalgia.
Yes, the early chapters take their time setting things up, but trust me - Abbott knows exactly what she's doing. She's laying the groundwork for a story that's about much more than a pyramid scheme. It's about the desperate things we'll do for financial security, the complicated bonds between sisters, and how easily "empowerment" can become exploitation.
The ending? It's like a punch to the gut that you somehow didn't see coming, even though all the clues were there. El Dorado Drive is a masterclass in psychological suspense that'll make you think twice about those too-good-to-be-true opportunities that come knocking. It's unsettling, it's brilliant, and you won't be able to put it down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/ G. P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this gripping thriller's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Abbott has this incredible knack for pulling you into the minds of her characters. You feel Harper's desperation, Pam's fierce belief in the Wheel, and the magnetic pull that draws women into this scheme dressed up as female empowerment. The story starts like a slow-burning fuse, building tension as you realize just how deep this rabbit hole goes.
What begins as a story about survival and sisterhood takes a dark turn when death enters the picture. Suddenly, Harper and Pam aren't just dealing with moral gray areas - they're in real danger. Abbott weaves '70s and '80s suburban life into the backdrop with perfect details that make the setting feel alive without drowning in nostalgia.
Yes, the early chapters take their time setting things up, but trust me - Abbott knows exactly what she's doing. She's laying the groundwork for a story that's about much more than a pyramid scheme. It's about the desperate things we'll do for financial security, the complicated bonds between sisters, and how easily "empowerment" can become exploitation.
The ending? It's like a punch to the gut that you somehow didn't see coming, even though all the clues were there. El Dorado Drive is a masterclass in psychological suspense that'll make you think twice about those too-good-to-be-true opportunities that come knocking. It's unsettling, it's brilliant, and you won't be able to put it down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/ G. P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this gripping thriller's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
June 23, 2025
Sisters, secrets, schemes, finances, and greed set the stage for El Dorado Drive. This book was a bit of a slow burn for me, and I struggle with slow burns. At its core this is a book around money, greed, darkness, deception, and pyramid schemes. The adage 'be careful what you wish for" and "if something seems too good to be true, it probably is" comes to mind while reading this book.
Harper is so down on her luck that she doesn't know what to do or where to turn. She moves in with her sister, Pam, who has survived a messy and ugly divorce. Harper is shocked to see Pam doing so well. Pam who was also struggling financially, is no longer struggling, in fact, she is doing quite well. How? It's simple, it all comes down to the Wheel. What?
The wheel is a group of women who add money to a pool and one lucky member gets the cash! All you need to do is put your money in, and recruit other women to participate. It's presented as women helping women. Who doesn't love that thought? But when Harper is invited to join......
Welp! This one sounded so good to me. I was intrigued by the of women helping women with something going wrong thrown in. I enjoy books with dark elements, and I thought this would be a slam dunk for me. As I mentioned, I struggled with the slowness in the book and feeling for the characters. I also struggled with women being down on their luck with HUGE financial issues, having to come up with money to throw into the mix. If you are so down on your luck that you need to move in with someone, how are you going to come up with the dollar amount needed to be part of the group??? Abbott does address this, but it just didn't work for me. I did enjoy the family issues and the interactions of Debra, Pam and Harper.
While I did have issues with this book, I did find it enjoyable enough to give it 3 stars. I did enjoy the look at greed, drama, betrayal, and schemes. I also enjoyed the twist and mystery in this book. I did find this book to be well thought out, it just didn't work well for me. I looked back at the other books I have read by Abbott and there have not been many but the highest I have ever rated a book I have read by this author is 3 stars. I just don't think I am the right reader for this author.
Many reviewers enjoyed this more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Harper is so down on her luck that she doesn't know what to do or where to turn. She moves in with her sister, Pam, who has survived a messy and ugly divorce. Harper is shocked to see Pam doing so well. Pam who was also struggling financially, is no longer struggling, in fact, she is doing quite well. How? It's simple, it all comes down to the Wheel. What?
The wheel is a group of women who add money to a pool and one lucky member gets the cash! All you need to do is put your money in, and recruit other women to participate. It's presented as women helping women. Who doesn't love that thought? But when Harper is invited to join......
Welp! This one sounded so good to me. I was intrigued by the of women helping women with something going wrong thrown in. I enjoy books with dark elements, and I thought this would be a slam dunk for me. As I mentioned, I struggled with the slowness in the book and feeling for the characters. I also struggled with women being down on their luck with HUGE financial issues, having to come up with money to throw into the mix. If you are so down on your luck that you need to move in with someone, how are you going to come up with the dollar amount needed to be part of the group??? Abbott does address this, but it just didn't work for me. I did enjoy the family issues and the interactions of Debra, Pam and Harper.
While I did have issues with this book, I did find it enjoyable enough to give it 3 stars. I did enjoy the look at greed, drama, betrayal, and schemes. I also enjoyed the twist and mystery in this book. I did find this book to be well thought out, it just didn't work well for me. I looked back at the other books I have read by Abbott and there have not been many but the highest I have ever rated a book I have read by this author is 3 stars. I just don't think I am the right reader for this author.
Many reviewers enjoyed this more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
July 21, 2025
Finished this four days ago and struggling to recall what it's about. Yeah, that memorable.
July 7, 2025
Really slow burn but ok mystery.
I was originally thinking this was around a 3-star read, but the longer it has been since I read it, it's not quite that high.
The main premise is that three sisters, Harper, Pam, and Debra all have money issues. They get involved with a pyramid scheme called The Wheel, which provides a much needed reprieve from the depths of their debt. Then someone dies--who is responsible and will their scheme be uncovered?
I honestly didn't really care about any of these characters, save for Debra's daughter Vivian. All of the rest of them were very one-dimensional to me. I thought the premise of this book sounded great, but in the execution there's just not enough "meat" here to propel the storyline forward at a decent pace. It's such a very, very slow setup. And I could never fully understand how the Wheel worked and how any of them got the money, how much it was, etc. Even though the author tried to explain it and how there were offshoot wheels, it seemed overly complex and I couldn't wrap my mind around it.
The mystery itself is decent, but you have to be super patient to get there and you have to care about what goes on in order to stick with it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I was originally thinking this was around a 3-star read, but the longer it has been since I read it, it's not quite that high.
The main premise is that three sisters, Harper, Pam, and Debra all have money issues. They get involved with a pyramid scheme called The Wheel, which provides a much needed reprieve from the depths of their debt. Then someone dies--who is responsible and will their scheme be uncovered?
I honestly didn't really care about any of these characters, save for Debra's daughter Vivian. All of the rest of them were very one-dimensional to me. I thought the premise of this book sounded great, but in the execution there's just not enough "meat" here to propel the storyline forward at a decent pace. It's such a very, very slow setup. And I could never fully understand how the Wheel worked and how any of them got the money, how much it was, etc. Even though the author tried to explain it and how there were offshoot wheels, it seemed overly complex and I couldn't wrap my mind around it.
The mystery itself is decent, but you have to be super patient to get there and you have to care about what goes on in order to stick with it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
April 23, 2025
I am a pretty reliable Megan Abbott fan, but for me, this was not what I expect from her. All the pieces are there--the fierce loyalty mixed with the everyday betrayal of sisters, a pyramid scheme pitched as feminist community, love that can turn into something dark and sinister--but all those pieces never turned into the kind of propulsive story with narrative depth Abbott usually has.
Maybe it's just me, I've been a pickier reader lately. Maybe it's the prose of this book, which is all very short scenes. I kept feeling pulled out of the narrative, I wanted to be able to dive in deeper to these moments but instead we just kept moving, one to the next. The dynamic of the sisters in particular, although given to us many times, never felt like something I saw play out, something I really understood, and this is the emotional heart of the book.
This was certainly better than your standard crime novel, it's still Abbott, and she constructs it well. Her stories never feel manipulative, her reveals never feel unearned, I just wanted that something extra here.
Maybe it's just me, I've been a pickier reader lately. Maybe it's the prose of this book, which is all very short scenes. I kept feeling pulled out of the narrative, I wanted to be able to dive in deeper to these moments but instead we just kept moving, one to the next. The dynamic of the sisters in particular, although given to us many times, never felt like something I saw play out, something I really understood, and this is the emotional heart of the book.
This was certainly better than your standard crime novel, it's still Abbott, and she constructs it well. Her stories never feel manipulative, her reveals never feel unearned, I just wanted that something extra here.
July 28, 2025
“The Scientology meeting must’ve gone amazing.”
“Fabulous. We’re all ascending. Now go to sleep.”
A group of MLM moms with a little stabby on the side?????
The Bishop sisters are all having some money troubles. Debra is buried in medical bills battling her husband’s cancer, Pam has recently discovered her ex has all but drained their childrens’ trust accounts and Harper . . . well you’ll have to read the book to find out Harper’s problems because no spoilsies here! But everything can change if they just believe in the power of The Wheel . . .
“What do you see?” Pam asked, very much in teacher mode.
“A pyramid,” Harper said, noticing her card sat at the bottom.
“Wrong.” Pam shook her head. “It’s not a pyramid.”
“Sure it is. The shape –“
“It’s a triangle.”
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Oh be still my sick little heart. As the youths would say, I’ve been a real “stan” of Megan Abbott since the beginning and if you looked at my Netflix browser history you’d know I’m a real addict when it comes to any sort of “Boss Babe” culty club too so this was EV.ER.Y.THANG. for me. Every Star.
“Fabulous. We’re all ascending. Now go to sleep.”
A group of MLM moms with a little stabby on the side?????
The Bishop sisters are all having some money troubles. Debra is buried in medical bills battling her husband’s cancer, Pam has recently discovered her ex has all but drained their childrens’ trust accounts and Harper . . . well you’ll have to read the book to find out Harper’s problems because no spoilsies here! But everything can change if they just believe in the power of The Wheel . . .
“What do you see?” Pam asked, very much in teacher mode.
“A pyramid,” Harper said, noticing her card sat at the bottom.
“Wrong.” Pam shook her head. “It’s not a pyramid.”
“Sure it is. The shape –“
“It’s a triangle.”
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Oh be still my sick little heart. As the youths would say, I’ve been a real “stan” of Megan Abbott since the beginning and if you looked at my Netflix browser history you’d know I’m a real addict when it comes to any sort of “Boss Babe” culty club too so this was EV.ER.Y.THANG. for me. Every Star.
March 12, 2025
Should have been 100 pages shorter.
2.5/5 STARS!!!!
El Dorado Drive is my first Megan Abbott book and most likely my last.
Three sisters Debra, Harper, and Pam all are living in the suburbs of Detroit, and are burdened with deep financial issues: husband losing it all in the auto industry free fall, medical bills, college tuition, etc, end up needing serious cash asap. One of then meets another woman who ropes them into a pyramid scheme of some sort called The Wheel.
The Wheel doesn't sell any drinks, potions, cosmetics, etc. Instead each participant throws in a pile of cash, and somehow it goes full circle and they increase their cash by recruiting more women. Most of these women are also down on their luck. Honestly, it doesn't make much sense.
There's a LOT of discussion about being broke. So much in fact, that this book could have been 100 pages shorter. While you can easily read this in a day, it's mostly because nothing happens until midway, and yes there's a twist, but by then, I hardly cared about any of these characters. This book is really about how far we will go to protect our family, and how much we want to hide from others regarding our social standings. Regardless, I could barely read it.
Sorry, was hoping Abbott would be a new go to author for me, but this just wasn't it.
2.5/5 STARS!!!!
El Dorado Drive is my first Megan Abbott book and most likely my last.
Three sisters Debra, Harper, and Pam all are living in the suburbs of Detroit, and are burdened with deep financial issues: husband losing it all in the auto industry free fall, medical bills, college tuition, etc, end up needing serious cash asap. One of then meets another woman who ropes them into a pyramid scheme of some sort called The Wheel.
The Wheel doesn't sell any drinks, potions, cosmetics, etc. Instead each participant throws in a pile of cash, and somehow it goes full circle and they increase their cash by recruiting more women. Most of these women are also down on their luck. Honestly, it doesn't make much sense.
There's a LOT of discussion about being broke. So much in fact, that this book could have been 100 pages shorter. While you can easily read this in a day, it's mostly because nothing happens until midway, and yes there's a twist, but by then, I hardly cared about any of these characters. This book is really about how far we will go to protect our family, and how much we want to hide from others regarding our social standings. Regardless, I could barely read it.
Sorry, was hoping Abbott would be a new go to author for me, but this just wasn't it.
June 18, 2025
When Harper is in financial trouble, she ends up moving in with her sister Pam and is surprised that she's doing so well financially. That's when Pam introduces her to The Wheel. A female empowerment group for an opportunity at wealth and sisterhood. As Harper gets more involved, she realizes that she is going down a rabbit hole and they are in real danger. Not only that, but is this even legal?
Megan Abbott sets up a twisty psychological thriller where everyone in the book is a suspect at some point. I couldn't put this down because of how realistic the situation of a pyramid scheme is. Much more than a thriller, it reads a bit literary fiction as well with superbly developed characters that let you into their minds with themes of family, betrayal, sisterhood, wealth, and money. Or dare I say the love of money and the lengths people will go to just for the idea of having it. Abbott's exploration of the duality of human nature and family bonds are absolutely brilliant. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR.
Many thanks to NetGalley, GP Putnam Sons, and Megan Abbott for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
Megan Abbott sets up a twisty psychological thriller where everyone in the book is a suspect at some point. I couldn't put this down because of how realistic the situation of a pyramid scheme is. Much more than a thriller, it reads a bit literary fiction as well with superbly developed characters that let you into their minds with themes of family, betrayal, sisterhood, wealth, and money. Or dare I say the love of money and the lengths people will go to just for the idea of having it. Abbott's exploration of the duality of human nature and family bonds are absolutely brilliant. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR.
Many thanks to NetGalley, GP Putnam Sons, and Megan Abbott for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 26, 2025
Three middle-aged sisters find themselves mired in debt after the auto industry, and the whole economy, go pear-shaped in 2008. Harper moves in with her sister Pam, who’s two years removed from a nasty divorce. And yet, Pam seems to be doing better than ok: nice new car, big parties, money for her kids’ college. Pam shares her secret: The Wheel. Seems an innocent women’s support group at first, and their other sister Debra’s already in. But after Harper joins, a murder sheds light on the shady operation. Everyone’s a suspect, even Pam’s wild-child daughter Vivian.
I went on a true crime kick a few years ago. Probably need to get back. It’s both tragic and flabbergasting that people fall for these awful get-rich-quick scams.
That’s what happens in the first half here: we learn what The Wheel is REALLY about. Abbott does a fine job depicting the inner workings of a pyramid scheme. You have your rhythmic chants, your typical “marks,” and your recruiting practices. And, of course, outlays of cash. I liked how Harper “marked” Sandy: a sad, broke gambler who just wants to fit in. I liked the secrecy and the distant promise of “running the wheel” and finally pulling in the profit.
But isn’t Harper a little too smart to get roped into this? And was her desperation enough to compel her to engage in this all too obvious scam? And the payoff didn’t seem all that huge, a life-changing windfall. I wasn’t sure how Pam was affording all these luxuries, unless she did it all on credit. She “runs the Wheel” once, and stashes cash in a secret place. It just didn’t seem enough to make her a kingpin. And it wasn’t even sufficient to pay off Harper’s debt to a shady relative. Using a pyramid scheme to set up a violent crime is a good idea, but the execution here stretches my belief.
We get a preview of a murder in the first few pages, then the actual act around 60%. This is the strength of the book: anyone could’ve done it, and there are red herrings galore. All those debts and promises and rivalries come hurtling toward each other and end in a terrible collision. It’s emotional, tense, scary at times, and well-constructed.
Scene transitions and descriptions of action are often confusing and unclear. Maybe it’s just the ARC formatting, but there were breaks between action scenes or even conversations. Some paragraphs open with no indication of time or place. A guy can get lost. I also thought a little communication between sisters (and extended family) might’ve avoided some tragedy, but they’d had years of unresolved bitterness, so…ok.
That said, some readers didn’t like the ending, and it did go on for a while. But I thought the reveal was clever and the culprit / culprits (no spoilers!) made sense. Abbott also deftly and tastefully portrays the family tension and conflict when one or more members are LGBTQ. She encourages respect and understanding without making the issue political or overly rational.
All this makes me curious what the author can do with a more traditional murder-mystery storyline. With a less complicated premise, I’ll bet she can tell a heck of a story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott will be released June 24.
I went on a true crime kick a few years ago. Probably need to get back. It’s both tragic and flabbergasting that people fall for these awful get-rich-quick scams.
That’s what happens in the first half here: we learn what The Wheel is REALLY about. Abbott does a fine job depicting the inner workings of a pyramid scheme. You have your rhythmic chants, your typical “marks,” and your recruiting practices. And, of course, outlays of cash. I liked how Harper “marked” Sandy: a sad, broke gambler who just wants to fit in. I liked the secrecy and the distant promise of “running the wheel” and finally pulling in the profit.
But isn’t Harper a little too smart to get roped into this? And was her desperation enough to compel her to engage in this all too obvious scam? And the payoff didn’t seem all that huge, a life-changing windfall. I wasn’t sure how Pam was affording all these luxuries, unless she did it all on credit. She “runs the Wheel” once, and stashes cash in a secret place. It just didn’t seem enough to make her a kingpin. And it wasn’t even sufficient to pay off Harper’s debt to a shady relative. Using a pyramid scheme to set up a violent crime is a good idea, but the execution here stretches my belief.
We get a preview of a murder in the first few pages, then the actual act around 60%. This is the strength of the book: anyone could’ve done it, and there are red herrings galore. All those debts and promises and rivalries come hurtling toward each other and end in a terrible collision. It’s emotional, tense, scary at times, and well-constructed.
Scene transitions and descriptions of action are often confusing and unclear. Maybe it’s just the ARC formatting, but there were breaks between action scenes or even conversations. Some paragraphs open with no indication of time or place. A guy can get lost. I also thought a little communication between sisters (and extended family) might’ve avoided some tragedy, but they’d had years of unresolved bitterness, so…ok.
That said, some readers didn’t like the ending, and it did go on for a while. But I thought the reveal was clever and the culprit / culprits (no spoilers!) made sense. Abbott also deftly and tastefully portrays the family tension and conflict when one or more members are LGBTQ. She encourages respect and understanding without making the issue political or overly rational.
All this makes me curious what the author can do with a more traditional murder-mystery storyline. With a less complicated premise, I’ll bet she can tell a heck of a story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott will be released June 24.
February 6, 2025
ARC for review. To be published June 24, 2025.
3.5 stars. .
Debra, Pam and Harper Bishop grew up in the moneyed suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, but as the auto industry declined does did the fortunes of their family. Their dad lost his high paying job when the girls were in college and there went grad school, the fancy clubs and any inheritance they might have expected. Now Debra has a disabled husband and a ne’er do well college age son, Pam is the victim of a contentious divorce and has a son in college, a daughter in high school and not a dime to spare and Harper has a low paying job at the local hunt club and is living with Pam.
But then along comes The Wheel, a way for middle-aged women to make their own money. It seems like the answer to the sisters’ prayers…right before it becomes a nightmare.
I almost always like Abbott’s books and this was no exception, except for one kinda big problem. These are not stupid women. How is it that they do not understand how insane this is? However, if you can set that aside, the economic depression we are in is a great topic…there are too many books out there about moneyed women and not enough about the Debras, Pams and Harpers, who aren’t starving to death, but who are not thriving, either, but are trying to keep up appearances. Really enjoyed this aspect.
3.5 stars. .
Debra, Pam and Harper Bishop grew up in the moneyed suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, but as the auto industry declined does did the fortunes of their family. Their dad lost his high paying job when the girls were in college and there went grad school, the fancy clubs and any inheritance they might have expected. Now Debra has a disabled husband and a ne’er do well college age son, Pam is the victim of a contentious divorce and has a son in college, a daughter in high school and not a dime to spare and Harper has a low paying job at the local hunt club and is living with Pam.
But then along comes The Wheel, a way for middle-aged women to make their own money. It seems like the answer to the sisters’ prayers…right before it becomes a nightmare.
I almost always like Abbott’s books and this was no exception, except for one kinda big problem. These are not stupid women. How is it that they do not understand how insane this is? However, if you can set that aside, the economic depression we are in is a great topic…there are too many books out there about moneyed women and not enough about the Debras, Pams and Harpers, who aren’t starving to death, but who are not thriving, either, but are trying to keep up appearances. Really enjoyed this aspect.
March 14, 2025
4 ⭐️ Fast paced thriller. Quick read, didn’t want to put it down!
The three Bishop sisters, Debra, Pam, and Harper, grew up wealthy but due to different circumstances, each found themselves needing money. The Wheel women’s club money pyramid scheme seems to be the answer. Then a murder under mysterious circumstances casts suspicion on everyone.
I enjoyed the family dynamics between the sisters and the fast paced who dunnit story. Greed, money, sisterhood, family, and a sound plot make this one a must read!
Thank you NetGalley and GP Putnam sons for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The three Bishop sisters, Debra, Pam, and Harper, grew up wealthy but due to different circumstances, each found themselves needing money. The Wheel women’s club money pyramid scheme seems to be the answer. Then a murder under mysterious circumstances casts suspicion on everyone.
I enjoyed the family dynamics between the sisters and the fast paced who dunnit story. Greed, money, sisterhood, family, and a sound plot make this one a must read!
Thank you NetGalley and GP Putnam sons for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 14, 2025
EL Dorado Drive is an exploration of sisterhood, secrecy, and survival, set against the backdrop of Michigan’s 2008 economic collapse. At the center of the story are the Bishop sisters—Harper, Pam, and Debra—once raised in the comfort of Detroit’s affluent suburbs. But as the auto industry crumbles, so does the family’s stability. Harper, the novel’s primary lens, returns home to find her sisters entangled in "The Wheel," a secretive pyramid scheme masquerading as an exclusive women's empowerment circle. Though initially skeptical, Harper is soon pulled into the scheme’s seductive promise of financial independence.
Abbott does an good job of portraying the complicated emotional terrain between them—love and rivalry, support and resentment. Each woman is burdened by her own insecurities and past decisions/personal demons, and the secrets they keep from one another are as damaging as the lies they tell themselves. The novel doesn’t shy away from asking hard questions about loyalty, morality, and the desperation that financial and social pressures can cause.
That said, the pacing may test your patience. The murder that anchors the book’s suspense arrives late in the story, giving less time for a traditional “whodunit” arc. If your looking for a classic mystery, you may feel a bit shortchanged in that regard. This is a very slow building plot and mystery. Additionally, while the premise of “The Wheel” is intriguing, some aspects—like how participants in a recession-hit area could afford its steep $5,000 buy-in—strain credibility. There’s a lingering question of how realistic this elite financial desperation feels.
Abbott’s writing style may also divide readers. Her writing seemed a little emotionally restrained, which some may interpret as cool or distant- the subtle tension and layered characterization felt like I couldn't relate to the characters’ inner lives.
I would probably recommend this novel to mature readers interested in character-driven stories with social commentary. It offers plenty of material for discussion—especially around gender, power, family, and class. I’d give it a solid C+/B-: not perfect, but provocative and deeply human.
Thank you Netgalley, Putnam-G.P. Putnam's Sons & Penguin Random House for this advanced readers uncorrected copy in exchange for my honest review.
Abbott does an good job of portraying the complicated emotional terrain between them—love and rivalry, support and resentment. Each woman is burdened by her own insecurities and past decisions/personal demons, and the secrets they keep from one another are as damaging as the lies they tell themselves. The novel doesn’t shy away from asking hard questions about loyalty, morality, and the desperation that financial and social pressures can cause.
That said, the pacing may test your patience. The murder that anchors the book’s suspense arrives late in the story, giving less time for a traditional “whodunit” arc. If your looking for a classic mystery, you may feel a bit shortchanged in that regard. This is a very slow building plot and mystery. Additionally, while the premise of “The Wheel” is intriguing, some aspects—like how participants in a recession-hit area could afford its steep $5,000 buy-in—strain credibility. There’s a lingering question of how realistic this elite financial desperation feels.
Abbott’s writing style may also divide readers. Her writing seemed a little emotionally restrained, which some may interpret as cool or distant- the subtle tension and layered characterization felt like I couldn't relate to the characters’ inner lives.
I would probably recommend this novel to mature readers interested in character-driven stories with social commentary. It offers plenty of material for discussion—especially around gender, power, family, and class. I’d give it a solid C+/B-: not perfect, but provocative and deeply human.
Thank you Netgalley, Putnam-G.P. Putnam's Sons & Penguin Random House for this advanced readers uncorrected copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 19, 2024
I was so excited to see Megan Abbott has a new book coming out. I’ve been a fan and have enjoyed many of her books. Unfortunately, this was not a favorite. I won’t say it was bad but it wasn’t great either. I felt like the story moved slower than necessary with not enough drama, action and twists to grab me. Wanting to know how it ended is what kept me turning the pages, I just didn’t want to give up on her book. The end was satisfying enough and I was rewarded with a little twist I wasn’t expecting. I wish the rest of the book was the same.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 1, 2025
I enjoyed the three imperfect sisters orbiting the plot, but at said plot's core was a thing so dubiously silly (a blatantly obvious financial pyramid scheme that every person in the book believes and invests in) that it was impossible for me to buy in (get it?) to the tale.
2 1/2 Fainéant Stars
2 1/2 Fainéant Stars
August 26, 2025
About three sisters and some of their kids and exes. About hiding money and about a murder. Not a bad thriller, of course, only way, way, too long. I also disliked the presentation of the writing in constant short snippets.
February 28, 2025
When Harper Bishop hits rock bottom and moves in with her sister, she gets roped into a financial club for women with her sisters, a club that sounds suspiciously like a pyramid scheme...
I don't take ARCs very often any more but how often does a Megan Abbott ARC fall into your lap?
Megan Abbott has written a variety of books but the ones about the secrets women share are easily the best. Cheerleaders, gymnasts, and now three sisters remembering the upper class life they had as teens and the yearning to get back there.
Harper, the black sheep of the three Bishop girls, carries some baggage with her and can't wait to get back on her feet. Pam is trying to finally be rid of her soon to be ex-husband and Debra's in debt up to her neck because of her husband's medical bills. While they're all smart women, they're also desperate to climb out of the financial holes they've found themselves in and that's why the pyramid scheme they get roped into seemed so promising.
When something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The big event is foreshadowed in the frantic first chapter and the second half of the book is the consequences. Master that she is, Megan had me guessing who the killer was a few different times. I did not see the ending coming and it hit me like a hammer to the head.
I will never get tired of Megan Abbott and her brand of girlnoir. Four out of five stars.
I don't take ARCs very often any more but how often does a Megan Abbott ARC fall into your lap?
Megan Abbott has written a variety of books but the ones about the secrets women share are easily the best. Cheerleaders, gymnasts, and now three sisters remembering the upper class life they had as teens and the yearning to get back there.
Harper, the black sheep of the three Bishop girls, carries some baggage with her and can't wait to get back on her feet. Pam is trying to finally be rid of her soon to be ex-husband and Debra's in debt up to her neck because of her husband's medical bills. While they're all smart women, they're also desperate to climb out of the financial holes they've found themselves in and that's why the pyramid scheme they get roped into seemed so promising.
When something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The big event is foreshadowed in the frantic first chapter and the second half of the book is the consequences. Master that she is, Megan had me guessing who the killer was a few different times. I did not see the ending coming and it hit me like a hammer to the head.
I will never get tired of Megan Abbott and her brand of girlnoir. Four out of five stars.
July 4, 2025
This is a slow burn mystery, but around the halfway point, the pace really picks up. It's three sisters, pyramid schemes, money, greed, and deception. Plenty of suspense to keep you turning the pages and a few good twists that I did not expect. Overall a quick, fun mystery that I'm happy I got to read!
Thank you to the publisher and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
June 27, 2025
El Dorado Drive should've been a book I loved. 3 sisters enter into a pyramid scheme and it all falls down from there. But the writing...wasn't great. So many chapters felt extremely repetitive. We get it the sisters are broke, deep in debt, and desperate. There are only so many ways I can read the same plot points over and over. Halfway through the book, I couldn't believe we were ONLY halfway through the book?! I wanted to DNF this book but I needed to see how it ended. The ending somewhat threw me off and it left me annoyed. It seemed extremely far fetched and out of character for those involved. This one didn't work for me sadly.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 5, 2025
After Abbott’s last book, Beware the Woman (which I strongly disliked), I was hesitant to try another of her books. But I’m so glad I gave El Dorado a chance! It started off pretty slow and the action took awhile, but it got crazy! I loved all the family dynamics with the Bishop sisters. This was really a triumphant return for Megan Abbott for me.
July 8, 2025
In Megan Abbott’s latest electrifying thriller, El Dorado, desperation comes dressed in gold—and sisterhood might just be a trap.
When Harper moves in with her sister Pam after hitting rock bottom, she’s shocked at Pam’s luxurious new life—especially after a brutal divorce that should have left her penniless. Pam’s secret? The Wheel. A secret women-only money circle that promises support, empowerment, and the chance to finally breathe again.
But once Harper is invited in, things take a turn. There’s something unsettling beneath the surface—rituals, secrets, and a darkness that seems to grow with each meeting. What begins as a chance for a fresh start spirals into a chilling game of trust, power, and survival.
Megan Abbott’s writing glitters like a knife's edge—sharp, seductive, and impossible to put down. El Dorado is not just about money—it's about what women are taught to sacrifice in order to feel secure, and what happens when the line between support and manipulation begins to blur.
When Harper moves in with her sister Pam after hitting rock bottom, she’s shocked at Pam’s luxurious new life—especially after a brutal divorce that should have left her penniless. Pam’s secret? The Wheel. A secret women-only money circle that promises support, empowerment, and the chance to finally breathe again.
But once Harper is invited in, things take a turn. There’s something unsettling beneath the surface—rituals, secrets, and a darkness that seems to grow with each meeting. What begins as a chance for a fresh start spirals into a chilling game of trust, power, and survival.
Megan Abbott’s writing glitters like a knife's edge—sharp, seductive, and impossible to put down. El Dorado is not just about money—it's about what women are taught to sacrifice in order to feel secure, and what happens when the line between support and manipulation begins to blur.
August 30, 2025
This ended up being a rather lifeless read for me, especially with the odd pacing of the book. The first two-thirds seemed long and drawn out with the last third of the book seemingly racing towards the finish line. The plot seemed interesting enough, especially with the three sisters involved in a pyramid type money making venture and I did enjoy trying to figure out "who did it." Kind of a cautionary tale about greed, secrets, and what people will do to obtain more money. The book did work well enough to keep me reading (and guessing) so 3 stars it is.
Read
July 29, 2025DNF. Second one in 3 days. I'm obviously checking out the wrong book type of books from the library lately.
July 3, 2025
This is women's fiction rather than a thriller, or at least it is up to the point I abandoned it. I find all three of the sisters unlikeable, money-obsessed types who seem to feel that the world and men owe them a living. As for the teenager, she's a good argument for contraception. Reviews suggest that a plot does develop at some point, but too late for me, unfortunately. The unlikability of the characters and their obsession with money means I have developed no interest in their lives.
December 7, 2024
2.75/5 rounded up
The way this had SO MUCH POTENTIAL. Like I say all the time. I am, indeed, a broken record.
I absolutely LOVE the idea of an MLM/pyramid scheme (yes, those are basically the same thing, you are just being willfully ignorant if you think otherwise) based thriller. You can really do so much with that. But this fell so flat! This was so slow and not nearly enough drama and excitement for the topic at hand.
Great idea, not-so-great execution. Sorry.
And also, the formatting for this was so weird.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
The way this had SO MUCH POTENTIAL. Like I say all the time. I am, indeed, a broken record.
I absolutely LOVE the idea of an MLM/pyramid scheme (yes, those are basically the same thing, you are just being willfully ignorant if you think otherwise) based thriller. You can really do so much with that. But this fell so flat! This was so slow and not nearly enough drama and excitement for the topic at hand.
Great idea, not-so-great execution. Sorry.
And also, the formatting for this was so weird.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
June 30, 2025
“Tense, chilling, beautifully written”
Where? This was insufferable.
Where? This was insufferable.
July 24, 2025
I'm having mixed feelings with El Dorado Drive, it was lukewarm and I was moving with the story half-heartedly but I really wanted to like it.
Megan Abbot took too long to build up the story and there were so many characters we had to know. The whole book was based on money and people who couldn't keep up with their lifestyles when disasters happened. It was a great premise but I felt the plot was scattered and lost its focus on the way.
3.5 stars, another so-so family drama with some twists added to it. It didn't impress me like I hoped it would.
Megan Abbot took too long to build up the story and there were so many characters we had to know. The whole book was based on money and people who couldn't keep up with their lifestyles when disasters happened. It was a great premise but I felt the plot was scattered and lost its focus on the way.
3.5 stars, another so-so family drama with some twists added to it. It didn't impress me like I hoped it would.
July 16, 2025
2 stars, not good at all
May 9, 2025
All I want is to be innocent again.
But they both knew it wasn’t possible. You don’t become innocent again. Life only goes in one direction. And experience only gathers itself, accumulates, thickens.
Megan Abbott’s new novel El Dorado Drive is a seething, sinuous exploration of the intersections between women, money, and power. Harper, Debra, and Pam are sisters who grew up wealthy in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, but as adults, they are all struggling with money for their own specific reasons and barely staying afloat. But then they learn about The Wheel, a group of women empowering women, that has the potential to grant them financial freedom…if it doesn’t kill them first.
Megan Abbott is one of my favorite writers – no one writes neo-noir as confidently and stunningly as she does – and so I hold her to an incredibly high standard. El Dorado Drive has many of Abbott’s trademarks – evocative writing with so much simmering beneath the surface, a twisting mystery that reveals itself in surprising ways, an immersive quality that makes you feel like you’re experiencing the book rather than just reading words on a page – but still, it felt like something was missing. The characters are well-developed; Abbott uses the sisters to examine loyalty and rivalry, love and resentment, morality, sisterhood (both genuine and manufactured), and the desperation brought about by financial struggles in thoughtful and startling ways. But she didn’t make me feel an emotional connection to them, and they also didn’t feel emotionally connected to each other. I wanted a much more emotionally nuanced portrayal of their dynamic, especially since that dynamic really is the core of the whole novel. The prose just felt a bit cold and distant, which is not how I normally feel about Abbott’s writing.
Bottom line, though – El Dorado Drive is the type of story you don’t get often in contemporary fiction: one that puts the economic downturn front and center, where money and its lack are central to the plot. These women aren’t characters you typically see, either; they are keeping up appearances but just barely, and Abbott gives us an intimate look at their real circumstances behind the shiny veneer of big houses, expensive cars, and club memberships. It isn’t all as effortless as it looks, and I appreciated how Abbott pulled back the curtain on that aspect of modern life. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the early reading opportunity. 3.5 stars rounded up.
July 10, 2025
So I am a big fan of Megan Abbott normally and I was excited for this book. When I saw it was a pyramid scheme I was like ooh. And then it turned out to be a gifting circle, which I had learned about in an HBO doc series called Murder on Middle Beach... and then the similarities continued. To the point where the death in this book literally was the same as Barbara Hamburg's in the documentary. Like down to the smallest details. So that's why this is getting two stars, it's wild that she straight up just copied that.
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