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No Body No Crime: A Novel
From the bestselling author Tess Sharpe comes a new action packed, love-soaked thriller about two women whose lives—and hearts—are destined for each other.
Murder either bonds you or breaks you.
Rural PI Mel Tillman knows this well. She’s seen her fair share of bloody cases and botched cover-ups. But killing with someone? That is a different kind of mess all together, and Mel’s got real experience with it.
No one’s heard from Toby Dunne since Chloe Harper’s sweet sixteen party—because the birthday girl and sixteen-year-old Mel buried him so deep in the backwoods, no one’s ever finding him. Mel loses little sleep over it—Toby had been terrorizing them.
What she does lose sleep over is Chloe, the girl with whom she survived that horrible night in the woods. Chloe, the girl she fell in love with. Chloe, the girl who disappeared and hasn’t been seen in more than six years.
Tasked with locating Chloe by her family, Mel can’t resist the call of a good chase, or finding the one who got away with her heart (and with murder). When Mel finds an armed and vigilant Chloe living off-grid in a highly booby-trapped patch of Canadian wilderness, she realizes that Chloe had been expecting someone other than her ex to come looking for her. The thing that’s kept Chloe going for years is that she’s kept Mel safe by running. Now, the truth must come out as they run for their lives once again.
Because when they buried Toby Dunne in the backwoods, they buried something else, too. Something Toby took. And the powerful family he stole it from? They’ll do anything to get it back.
Twisty and razor-sharp, Tess Sharpe’s No Body, No Crime is a heart-pounding thriller teeming with secrets, betrayals, and a star-crossed romance for the ages.
Murder either bonds you or breaks you.
Rural PI Mel Tillman knows this well. She’s seen her fair share of bloody cases and botched cover-ups. But killing with someone? That is a different kind of mess all together, and Mel’s got real experience with it.
No one’s heard from Toby Dunne since Chloe Harper’s sweet sixteen party—because the birthday girl and sixteen-year-old Mel buried him so deep in the backwoods, no one’s ever finding him. Mel loses little sleep over it—Toby had been terrorizing them.
What she does lose sleep over is Chloe, the girl with whom she survived that horrible night in the woods. Chloe, the girl she fell in love with. Chloe, the girl who disappeared and hasn’t been seen in more than six years.
Tasked with locating Chloe by her family, Mel can’t resist the call of a good chase, or finding the one who got away with her heart (and with murder). When Mel finds an armed and vigilant Chloe living off-grid in a highly booby-trapped patch of Canadian wilderness, she realizes that Chloe had been expecting someone other than her ex to come looking for her. The thing that’s kept Chloe going for years is that she’s kept Mel safe by running. Now, the truth must come out as they run for their lives once again.
Because when they buried Toby Dunne in the backwoods, they buried something else, too. Something Toby took. And the powerful family he stole it from? They’ll do anything to get it back.
Twisty and razor-sharp, Tess Sharpe’s No Body, No Crime is a heart-pounding thriller teeming with secrets, betrayals, and a star-crossed romance for the ages.
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First published July 15, 2025
135 people are currently reading
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About the author
Tess Sharpe
18 books2,180 followersI do not read my goodreads mail, but if you'd like to contact me the best way to reach me is tess(at)tess-sharpe.com
Born in a mountain cabin to a punk rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing cabal of slightly feral cats.
Born in a mountain cabin to a punk rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing cabal of slightly feral cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
July 30, 2025
I'm currently watching Yellowjackets Season 3 and this book went along perfectly with that. There's also a plane crash and messy queer girls in the wild and the crimes they commit to survive. It's the story of Mel and Chloe, forever connected by murdering a douchebag at age 16. That day haunts them ever since and now, at age 24, Chloe's been missing for 6 years and Mel is hired as a private investigator to find her. Finding Chloe was difficult already but bringing her back turns out to be a real obstacle course. There's a reason why Chloe was living isolated in the Canadian wilderness and she's paranoid that people are still after her. I was pretty invested in finding out what actually happened all these years ago and the book was written in a way that held my attention constantly. We get both Mel's and Chloe's perspectives throughout different points in time and the whole complicated story unfolds bit by bit. The current time is mentioned at the beginning of each chapter, so it wasn't too hard to keep track of all the events. It really is an action-focused book and the characters are confronted with new situations constantly. The book literally starts with a plane crash and it basically never gets better for Mel and Chloe. I liked both characters and their connection was credible. Once upon a time they were messy teenage girls, forced to react to awful situations and awful people, and they bonded through fist fights, car crashes and murder. As you do at age 16. Their 24-year-old selves also read pretty young to me and I honestly don't see that much of a difference to Tess Sharpe's usual YA novels. Half the story even takes place during the teen years of the girls. It's marketed as an adult thriller (I think), but all content is suitable for teen readers as well in my opinion. It made sense that Mel and Chloe were aged up though, because that way they had more history together and more resources at their disposal. Overall I can't really complain about anything in this book. I could have done without the kinda unnecessary villain POV, but it didn't occur too often and it was fine, really. And well, I can't lie, so I tell you how it is: I love a book where all the men feel superior but are actually laughable, and all the women get shit done and look incredibly badass while at it. And this is exactly what No Body No Crime served from beginning to end.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Dead Ink Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Dead Ink Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2025
Once again, to those who tag this as lesbian - it is not. It is bisexual. Do not do bisexuals dirty like this. C'mon, it isn't that fucking hard.
I fucking loved this. I love Tess' ability to keep me completely captivated from the very first page right until the last full stop at the end of the book.
This was fast paced, completely enthralling, and had me dying to know what was going to happen next.
I loved every moment of it.
Content warnings: murder, blood, plane crash, attempted murder, violence.
Rep: Mel (MC) is cis, white, and bisexual. Chloe (MC) is cis, white, and bisexual.
I fucking loved this. I love Tess' ability to keep me completely captivated from the very first page right until the last full stop at the end of the book.
This was fast paced, completely enthralling, and had me dying to know what was going to happen next.
I loved every moment of it.
Content warnings: murder, blood, plane crash, attempted murder, violence.
Rep: Mel (MC) is cis, white, and bisexual. Chloe (MC) is cis, white, and bisexual.
Want to read
March 24, 2025Lesbians in the Canadian wilderness
May 11, 2025
An adult novel by Tess Sharpe was an automatic yes for me. I really enjoyed her last series (The Girls I've Been and The Girl In Question) which were action packed but had well drawn characters and were, most importantly, fun. No Body No Crime very much follows in their footsteps. Honestly my major note is that it follows a little too closely. Mel and Chloe feel so similar to Nora and I would have liked them to be a little more distinct, from each other and from that previous character.
But it's a quibble, really, because this book moves fast, it's very propulsive, it's very fun, and it is stuffed all the way up with plot. (Except for when the girls stop for some kissing.) The villains are a bit buffoonish in a way that doesn't really match up with their level of danger (minor note, but I'll allow it).
I did the audiobook because I've really enjoyed Tess Sharpe reading her own work. It's not something you come across every day! It's also probably part of the reason that this felt so much like another book about Nora and Iris to me, because hearing Sharpe read it meant it literally sounded the same.
But it's a quibble, really, because this book moves fast, it's very propulsive, it's very fun, and it is stuffed all the way up with plot. (Except for when the girls stop for some kissing.) The villains are a bit buffoonish in a way that doesn't really match up with their level of danger (minor note, but I'll allow it).
I did the audiobook because I've really enjoyed Tess Sharpe reading her own work. It's not something you come across every day! It's also probably part of the reason that this felt so much like another book about Nora and Iris to me, because hearing Sharpe read it meant it literally sounded the same.
July 20, 2025
Perfect summer read. Mel Tillman, young private investigator, has recently lost her mentor, Nat. A lot of thing’s seem to be coming to a head in Mel’s life but there’s one thing she is determined to do above all else. Mel is finally going to locate her HS love, Chloe Harper, and bring her home to her family. But Chloe’s been in hiding for the past six years in the Canadian Cascades for a dark reason. Some awful people are hunting for her as well.
The story starts out bloody and so I was immediately invested because how did we get here. Mel is my favorite because though she’s young to be in charge at 24, her violent upbringing has wisened her beyond her actual age. She’s smart and inspires loyalty from those around her. Chloe is a rich girl turned wilderness warrior. The author juggles action with humor and Sapphic heat.
I was rooting for Mel and Chloe, cheering the bad guys going down, and watching as the secrets unraveled. Hope we see more of Mel and Chloe in the future. Entertaining read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
The story starts out bloody and so I was immediately invested because how did we get here. Mel is my favorite because though she’s young to be in charge at 24, her violent upbringing has wisened her beyond her actual age. She’s smart and inspires loyalty from those around her. Chloe is a rich girl turned wilderness warrior. The author juggles action with humor and Sapphic heat.
I was rooting for Mel and Chloe, cheering the bad guys going down, and watching as the secrets unraveled. Hope we see more of Mel and Chloe in the future. Entertaining read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
July 25, 2025
➥ 5 stars ⋆˚࿔
This was SO good omg. It was my first Tess Sharpe novel but it definitely won’t be the last!!
➥ things I liked :
- The characters!!!!! Literally all of them. They had such interesting backstories, I was so invested.
- The multiple POVs. I had never read a book that had more than two POVs but it worked SO well for No Body No Crime. That one mystery POV with no name? I was caught off guard for sure but I loved it!!
- The plot twists!!!!! So so so good
- The dual timeline. I know not everyone likes dual timelines but it made me want to keep reading even more!
Overall I had a really great time reading this book, I recommended it to my friends before I even finished it lol
➥ favorite quotes :
“That’s the funny thing about murder. It can bond you like nothing else.”
“As far as anyone was concerned, they barely knew each other. But they knew all of each other. Deeper than you usually get with another person, even someone you love. There is something about surviving with someone.”
“If she looks at her… Well, she is not going to end up joining the Mile High Club, is all she’ll say. She has to resist.”
“We weren’t girl friends, Rick. We were girlfriends.”
➥ my playlist for this book :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3qm...
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review first posted on April 21, 2025
— July 24, 2025: added some of my favorite quotes now that the book’s been published and it made me want to reread it 🫣 Read it 4 months ago and still think about it regularly
This was SO good omg. It was my first Tess Sharpe novel but it definitely won’t be the last!!
➥ things I liked :
- The characters!!!!! Literally all of them. They had such interesting backstories, I was so invested.
- The multiple POVs. I had never read a book that had more than two POVs but it worked SO well for No Body No Crime. That one mystery POV with no name? I was caught off guard for sure but I loved it!!
- The plot twists!!!!! So so so good
- The dual timeline. I know not everyone likes dual timelines but it made me want to keep reading even more!
Overall I had a really great time reading this book, I recommended it to my friends before I even finished it lol
➥ favorite quotes :
“That’s the funny thing about murder. It can bond you like nothing else.”
“As far as anyone was concerned, they barely knew each other. But they knew all of each other. Deeper than you usually get with another person, even someone you love. There is something about surviving with someone.”
“If she looks at her… Well, she is not going to end up joining the Mile High Club, is all she’ll say. She has to resist.”
“We weren’t girl friends, Rick. We were girlfriends.”
➥ my playlist for this book :
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3qm...
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review first posted on April 21, 2025
— July 24, 2025: added some of my favorite quotes now that the book’s been published and it made me want to reread it 🫣 Read it 4 months ago and still think about it regularly
August 19, 2025
This book has an interesting plot with lots of action. Very few descriptions of the characters or their scenes. It also jumps around constantly, for me it was hard to follow the storyline.
July 14, 2025
Wow I loved this book so much! I find Tess Sharpe to be a brilliant writer and I really enjoy the nonlinear timeline storytelling.
Chloe and Mel’s banter was everything. I know the focus was on staying alive and it’s a thriller not a Romance and blah blah but I was so obsessed with those two. All I wanted was to see the two of them have a happy ending together.
If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller full of dangerous secrets and life or death stakes with a sprinkle of badass peacocks on top, pick up this book the second it releases!
Pub Date: July 15th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and MCD for a copy of this eARC.
Chloe and Mel’s banter was everything. I know the focus was on staying alive and it’s a thriller not a Romance and blah blah but I was so obsessed with those two. All I wanted was to see the two of them have a happy ending together.
If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller full of dangerous secrets and life or death stakes with a sprinkle of badass peacocks on top, pick up this book the second it releases!
Pub Date: July 15th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and MCD for a copy of this eARC.
July 20, 2025
The real crime here is my rating, I know. But I just didn't have a good time with this one. And part of that has to do with an observation I made about Sharpe's last release THE GIRL IN QUESTION, which is : things are just.. kind of overtop? This almost could've been easier to swallow considering it isn't YA but as a result of the dual timeline/flashbacks it also kind of toes the line on that.
More than anything, though? What started to kill this for me early on — despite a very well-hooked first chapter, maybe even two? — was the fact that we were dropping full on monologues, rife with commentary on things you wouldn't just drop on another person you haven't seen in years, whilst running for your life. But also, every time we had one, that one line from Pitch Perfect 3 would run through my head :
"That was a lot of exposition."
I was so down for a sapphic romance featuring competent women and thrills and chases and mysteries and while all of that is an accurate description, complete with some twists, it just didn't feel well executed. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters enough to care about the romance or the stakes. And even having made it to the end of it all, I still feel like we were thrown into this whole debacle out of left field. And while the concept into blundering into something serious by accident, complete with repercussions that follow, isn't new, it can still feel.. I don't know, solid? This didn't.
The good, though? This is definitely a girl power kind of story. It's the women who are strong, skilled, devious, intelligent, and capable, not the men. And one male character in particular was constantly bemoaning this fact, which was pretty funny.
Having said all that, this experience certainly won't stop me from picking up releases by this author in the future as this is the first dud in a string of wins — but, as we all know, you can't win them all. And I think if any of this sounds like a good time to you, I would still recommend picking it up.
2.5 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
More than anything, though? What started to kill this for me early on — despite a very well-hooked first chapter, maybe even two? — was the fact that we were dropping full on monologues, rife with commentary on things you wouldn't just drop on another person you haven't seen in years, whilst running for your life. But also, every time we had one, that one line from Pitch Perfect 3 would run through my head :
"That was a lot of exposition."
I was so down for a sapphic romance featuring competent women and thrills and chases and mysteries and while all of that is an accurate description, complete with some twists, it just didn't feel well executed. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters enough to care about the romance or the stakes. And even having made it to the end of it all, I still feel like we were thrown into this whole debacle out of left field. And while the concept into blundering into something serious by accident, complete with repercussions that follow, isn't new, it can still feel.. I don't know, solid? This didn't.
The good, though? This is definitely a girl power kind of story. It's the women who are strong, skilled, devious, intelligent, and capable, not the men. And one male character in particular was constantly bemoaning this fact, which was pretty funny.
Having said all that, this experience certainly won't stop me from picking up releases by this author in the future as this is the first dud in a string of wins — but, as we all know, you can't win them all. And I think if any of this sounds like a good time to you, I would still recommend picking it up.
2.5 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
September 25, 2025
tess sharpe has never once written a story that i didn't love.
when i heard about the blurb of this one, over a year ago, i pre-ordered it the second i could. i knew. and i was CORRECT that this was gonna be everything i wanted it to be. i LOVED chloe. i loved mel. i loved the twins. i love how tess sharpe can suck you right into the action, so that you care about the plot, but makes sure to take the time to have character study and make the relationships mean something so effortlessly (i know it's not effortlessly, it's hard as hell, but she's brilliant at it). ever since the first book of hers i read, when i was still barely coming into my queerness, and discovering that there were, in fact, books about sapphics out there, her stories have dug in deep and settled in my gut somewhere, each time. this one was utterly fantastic, and i know it's going to be one i want to read again and again.
can't wait for the next one<3
when i heard about the blurb of this one, over a year ago, i pre-ordered it the second i could. i knew. and i was CORRECT that this was gonna be everything i wanted it to be. i LOVED chloe. i loved mel. i loved the twins. i love how tess sharpe can suck you right into the action, so that you care about the plot, but makes sure to take the time to have character study and make the relationships mean something so effortlessly (i know it's not effortlessly, it's hard as hell, but she's brilliant at it). ever since the first book of hers i read, when i was still barely coming into my queerness, and discovering that there were, in fact, books about sapphics out there, her stories have dug in deep and settled in my gut somewhere, each time. this one was utterly fantastic, and i know it's going to be one i want to read again and again.
can't wait for the next one<3
March 17, 2025
i’ve been a big fan of tess sharpe ever since i discovered the girls i’ve been back in 2021. she had me hooked from the first moment, and hasn’t let me go for a single second since. she has such a talent for thrillers — i know every time that i’m in for girls & women kicking ass, twists i don’t see coming, and a little bit of tenderness to sweeten the pot! no body no crime served that right up for me on a silver platter, and i ate it up. chloe and mel had me hooked from their very first appearances on page, and i really loved the supporting cast, too — especially my girl gigi! i hope she knows i would die for her. i also had a lot of fun reading about the bag of dicks (iykyk) and their shenanigans.
this book truly has everything. buff women. a plane crash in the canadian wilderness. feral peacocks. girls who kill people that turn into women who kill people. a bag of dicks. katniss reincarnated. things that stay buried (or don’t). if you love a dual timeline narrative, you’ve ever listened to uptown girl by billy joel and wished it was about murderous sapphics instead, you support women’s rights and women’s wrongs, or all of the above, do yourself a favor and read no body no crime!!! i know that i already can’t wait to read it again.
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
this book truly has everything. buff women. a plane crash in the canadian wilderness. feral peacocks. girls who kill people that turn into women who kill people. a bag of dicks. katniss reincarnated. things that stay buried (or don’t). if you love a dual timeline narrative, you’ve ever listened to uptown girl by billy joel and wished it was about murderous sapphics instead, you support women’s rights and women’s wrongs, or all of the above, do yourself a favor and read no body no crime!!! i know that i already can’t wait to read it again.
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2025
I do love a good Tess Sharpe book and this one sounded so good.
I really liked Mel and Chloe. They're both strong and resilient and smart as fuck. Gigi was a delight and added some levity. The best part was reading Mel and Chloe reconcile what happened as 16 year olds and how it shaped their lives and present situation.
Plot wise, it was really good. The past and present chapters kept the story unfolding at a deliciously maddening slow pace. I am trying to be vague because this went in a way I wasn't at all expecting and I am here for it...and don't want to ruin it for anyone else.
Overall, this was a fun and sarcastic story with women who were so easy to root for. I can't wait for the next book from Tess.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked Mel and Chloe. They're both strong and resilient and smart as fuck. Gigi was a delight and added some levity. The best part was reading Mel and Chloe reconcile what happened as 16 year olds and how it shaped their lives and present situation.
Plot wise, it was really good. The past and present chapters kept the story unfolding at a deliciously maddening slow pace. I am trying to be vague because this went in a way I wasn't at all expecting and I am here for it...and don't want to ruin it for anyone else.
Overall, this was a fun and sarcastic story with women who were so easy to root for. I can't wait for the next book from Tess.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
August 18, 2025
No Body No Crime hooked me from the opening scene and kept me curious right to the end. Mel, a 24-year-old PI with a violent past, is smart, loyal, and easy to root for. Chloe, her high school love turned wilderness survivor, is equally compelling. I loved the mix of action, humour, and sapphic heat, and I was absolutely cheering for the bad guys to go down.
The dual timelines worked well, giving just enough backstory to keep me turning pages. But with so many POVs and a big cast, it sometimes tipped into confusion - I lost track of who was who more than once. And while the twists kept me reading, the ending tied everything up a bit too neatly to really land with impact.
Still, it’s a solid girl-power story - full of strong, clever, capable women and men who can’t quite handle it (which is pretty fun to read).
Looking forward to what Tess Sharpe writes next!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux | MCD for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
The dual timelines worked well, giving just enough backstory to keep me turning pages. But with so many POVs and a big cast, it sometimes tipped into confusion - I lost track of who was who more than once. And while the twists kept me reading, the ending tied everything up a bit too neatly to really land with impact.
Still, it’s a solid girl-power story - full of strong, clever, capable women and men who can’t quite handle it (which is pretty fun to read).
Looking forward to what Tess Sharpe writes next!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux | MCD for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2025
OHMHYOGOFD the journey this book took me on was wild. absolutely in love with the style of writing, it totally captivated me and i felt like i was on the run with them!
March 19, 2025
My major issue with No Body, No Crime was the dialogue. The characters would often stop right in the middle of high tension scenes to have heartfelt moments or overwhelming declarations of feelings and it just kept taking me out of the book.
That aside, I liked reading this. I loved the dual timeline, it added to the build up of the climax.
The tension, when it was allowed to build, was well done. I liked the characters, some of them were really funny (read: Rick). I'm not a big thriller reader and I did guess most of the plot twists beforehand but I found I enjoyed how said plot twists were set up enough that it didn't affect my reading experience.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
That aside, I liked reading this. I loved the dual timeline, it added to the build up of the climax.
The tension, when it was allowed to build, was well done. I liked the characters, some of them were really funny (read: Rick). I'm not a big thriller reader and I did guess most of the plot twists beforehand but I found I enjoyed how said plot twists were set up enough that it didn't affect my reading experience.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
March 18, 2025
this is for jackieshauna lovers: secret high school lovers, plane crash, wilderness survival, and murder!! i absolutely loved this book (yes im obsessed with yellowjackets) but i found the pacing to be odd to say the least. get stabbed and are bleeding out and dont mention it again until you are in a different state or find out someone is not dead and dont tell the family. i get this was high stakes tension but i wish there was more rekindling of the relationship, i mean its been 6 years!!
June 24, 2025
I’m positive Yellowjacket has better fics.
July 29, 2025
She’s always loved this woman, she’s always surviving with this woman. Nothing ever changes.
3.5 stars. I'm always surprised but delighted when I remember that yes, I do tend to enjoy action thrillers way more than I do psychological thrillers or family drama thrillers. Surprised, because my love of mystery always makes me feel like what I'd want is something more cerebral and twisty and introspective, but those attributes in a thriller tend to just, um, annoy me. But stuff like this, with high-stakes action, chase sequences, surviving in the woods, plane crashes, shoot-outs... yes! This was just a really fun, fast-paced, humorous, energetic romp, made all the more compelling because there was an intense second chance f/f romance at its core.
The book is pretty short, but the basic premise is that Mel and Chloe were teens from opposite sides of the (figurative) tracks in a small town, who are unexpectedly thrown together in the wake of a deadly confrontation with a boy. At 18, Chloe leaves town with no explanation, Mel mourns, becomes a PI, but never tries to find her. Until now, 6 years later, when Chloe's family hires Mel to track Chloe down, thus setting in motion a chain of events that'll unravel the mystery that brought them together years ago. I keep using this word to describe this book, but it's because it's the one that fits the most: it was so fun! It's sorta told out of order, flipping back and forth between past and present, slowly revealing to the reader what happened back then, and the high-octane hijinks they've gotten into now.
Both Chloe and Mel are keeping certain secrets, which makes it complicated for them to rekindle what they had as teens, but the connection is strong enough that it feels inevitable. We get a few additional POVs, including from the villains who are chasing them, which I usually don't love, but this was a situation where it worked. It was the best way to get to know the villains, and why they had to be taken down. I really liked the supporting cast, and there was a B-plot with sisters that had my whole heart. Chloe and Mel were great main characters; I loved that they were both so tough and capable and strong, with moments of vulnerability. Especially loved tiny buff Chloe.
I liked this so much, overall, and it could have gotten a higher rating, but there are some things holding me back. The tone is juuuuust a little off. I've never read from this author before, and it's my understanding that she mostly writes YA, and you can tell. There are a lot of legitimately dangerous and harrowing situations in here, but mixed with a humorous tone, and the general ineptitude of the villains, and some outright slap-sticky moments. It just didn't mesh well IMO. I've been praising this for how fun it is, and I'm not taking that back, but it just needed to feel more well-balanced. Some spoilers ahead: Basically, the end was just way too convenient and way too quick. I needed at least 50 more pages to have this really work for me.
But still, my prevailing feelings are good ones. I flew through this, like you should with any good thriller. And there was enough good in it, in the plotting and the writing and the lovely relationship, that I could definitely see myself coming back to the author again. Kudos!
☆ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy! I am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 14, 2025
Rating: 3.75 stars
Tess Sharpe is a master at writing multiple timelines in a way that keeps you on your toes and ever-invested. You want to fill in the gaps of the past just as much as you're invested in how the characters will get out of their current dire circumstances.
In short, this is a story about two girls (now women) caught up in a web of murder, coverups, and survival. And they're so in love with each other it teeters on the edge of danger and salvation.
The story fell slightly short for me in a few ways. 1) I don't think the big bads were actually depicted as all that threatening and cunning, certainly not to the extent that would force a woman to be on the run for the better part of a decade. I wish I had been cowering in fear of them because that's what I want to feel from a thriller. 2) The first 70% of the book worked better for me than the last 30%. I think the ending was a little rushed and messy.
But overall, a fun read about murderous bisexual women out for revenge and justice 😈
Thank you to NetGalley and MCD for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Tess Sharpe is a master at writing multiple timelines in a way that keeps you on your toes and ever-invested. You want to fill in the gaps of the past just as much as you're invested in how the characters will get out of their current dire circumstances.
In short, this is a story about two girls (now women) caught up in a web of murder, coverups, and survival. And they're so in love with each other it teeters on the edge of danger and salvation.
The story fell slightly short for me in a few ways. 1) I don't think the big bads were actually depicted as all that threatening and cunning, certainly not to the extent that would force a woman to be on the run for the better part of a decade. I wish I had been cowering in fear of them because that's what I want to feel from a thriller. 2) The first 70% of the book worked better for me than the last 30%. I think the ending was a little rushed and messy.
But overall, a fun read about murderous bisexual women out for revenge and justice 😈
Thank you to NetGalley and MCD for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
August 15, 2025
Tess Sharpe I love you and your traumatized deadly bisexuals
December 22, 2025
This was a boatload of fun! No Body, No Crime is action packed, comedic, and brimming with angst.
The plot itself is definitely very over the top. But I like how Tess leaned into it by making our villains such clowns. Describing them as “The Bag of Dicks,” the feud with the peacocks, and the childish siblings fights were very amusing. At first I was bemused as to how these were the men that chased Chloe into hiding for six years. But it makes sense as to how a spoiled 18 yr old was able to escape their clutches for so long.
Tess Sharpe has secured her crown as the queen of angst with this one. Mel and Chloe have so much unspoken history and tension between them, with neither the time nor outlet to address it. Seeing that hurt, betrayal, and love simmering in every interaction was so delicious to witness. And their inevitable crashing together paid off so beautifully.
My only critique is that the disjointed timeline made it difficult to follow at points. Constantly skipping around lessened the impact of some scenes, and I felt like some information was needlessly obscured for too long.
I highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun, adrenaline fueled thriller with lots of sapphic pinning.
The plot itself is definitely very over the top. But I like how Tess leaned into it by making our villains such clowns. Describing them as “The Bag of Dicks,” the feud with the peacocks, and the childish siblings fights were very amusing. At first I was bemused as to how these were the men that chased Chloe into hiding for six years. But it makes sense as to how a spoiled 18 yr old was able to escape their clutches for so long.
Tess Sharpe has secured her crown as the queen of angst with this one. Mel and Chloe have so much unspoken history and tension between them, with neither the time nor outlet to address it. Seeing that hurt, betrayal, and love simmering in every interaction was so delicious to witness. And their inevitable crashing together paid off so beautifully.
My only critique is that the disjointed timeline made it difficult to follow at points. Constantly skipping around lessened the impact of some scenes, and I felt like some information was needlessly obscured for too long.
I highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun, adrenaline fueled thriller with lots of sapphic pinning.
June 7, 2025
3.75/5 stars
i feel like i need to be stabbed because while the mystery plotline was so fun to follow... it does get to a point where it's a biiit boring. but the worst crime is I DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE MAIN SHIP WTFFFF it feels like a bullet to my head
i feel like i need to be stabbed because while the mystery plotline was so fun to follow... it does get to a point where it's a biiit boring. but the worst crime is I DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE MAIN SHIP WTFFFF it feels like a bullet to my head
April 29, 2025
Tess Sharpe has risen to be one of my favorite author's in the last years.
This is again a great book - intense, exciting, suspenseful, smart, and a little bit funny and romantic.
What was missing for me a little bit is that in the chapters from the past, we didn't get to read the actual events of the night when everything happened and after. I would have liked to experience the shock and emotions of the girls in the woods, and how they went from this shared trauma to falling in love.
It might have been too much for the lenght of the book, and I assume that the author maybe just didn't want to put the focus of the book on their past, but rather on the events of the present. Which makes sense, but I want to know more!
So maybe ... if she would write their backstory as a prequel book, I would be very happy about that ;)
This is again a great book - intense, exciting, suspenseful, smart, and a little bit funny and romantic.
What was missing for me a little bit is that in the chapters from the past, we didn't get to read the actual events of the night when everything happened and after. I would have liked to experience the shock and emotions of the girls in the woods, and how they went from this shared trauma to falling in love.
It might have been too much for the lenght of the book, and I assume that the author maybe just didn't want to put the focus of the book on their past, but rather on the events of the present. Which makes sense, but I want to know more!
So maybe ... if she would write their backstory as a prequel book, I would be very happy about that ;)
June 30, 2025
This was one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint. Tess Sharpe is an auto read/buy author for me. Her books always pull you in right away and this one did just that. The action started only a few chapters in and I loved how we got to go back in time with Chloe and Mel and see how it all lead to the present. The last chapters made it seem like there will be another and I really hope we get more of these 2! I’d love to see Mel on another case.
June 15, 2025
I’ve really enjoyed the sapphic YA thrillers that I’ve read from Tess Sharpe, so I was excited to read this and see what an adult thriller from her would be like. No Body No Crime was a great read full of messy sapphic characters, an intricate plot, and very high stakes. I loved getting to see Mel and Chloe as both teens and adults. It was very interesting watching the plot unfold and realizing what happened in their past that made Chloe disappear for 6 years.
With all the different characters, timelines, and secrets, the book was a bit confusing at first. You’re just thrown into a very complex plot, there isn’t a calm before the storm of the story. It took me a bit to get acclimated to the book, but once I did I was all in. Occasionally there are chapters from the villain’s POV, while they did serve an important function for the plot I never found them as compelling as the chapters from Mel or Chloe’s POV.
Definitely check this book out if you’re into fast-paced thrillers and badass queer women. Tess Sharpe really knows how to write stories that mix survival, sapphic love, and suspense.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
With all the different characters, timelines, and secrets, the book was a bit confusing at first. You’re just thrown into a very complex plot, there isn’t a calm before the storm of the story. It took me a bit to get acclimated to the book, but once I did I was all in. Occasionally there are chapters from the villain’s POV, while they did serve an important function for the plot I never found them as compelling as the chapters from Mel or Chloe’s POV.
Definitely check this book out if you’re into fast-paced thrillers and badass queer women. Tess Sharpe really knows how to write stories that mix survival, sapphic love, and suspense.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 24, 2025
Advanced reader's copy review
Another amazing action-packed book from Tess Sharpe! This book opens so intense with a plane crash, and then goes backwards in time to show how the characters end up there, which was so unpredictable and exciting. It jumps around a bit between between the present, with the search for Chloe and plane crash, and back in time to Mel and Chloe in high school and that important night. It also jumps around between multiple povs, including the villain's, which I really liked. There was definitely a lot going on, but it was all so exciting and fast-paced I couldn’t help but devour this book. Yet even with the blistering plot, the author still managed some really well developed characters. I loved Chloe and Mel and Gigi and evil Rick, with their fears and complicated relationships. My one thing was I wanted more flashbacks of Chloe and Mel’s high school relationship, as I feel that would have made the present one even stronger. But overall this was an amazing book with great characters, a thrilling plot, and a very satisfying ending that I highly recommend!
Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Netgalley for the free advanced copy of this review in exchange for an honest review
Another amazing action-packed book from Tess Sharpe! This book opens so intense with a plane crash, and then goes backwards in time to show how the characters end up there, which was so unpredictable and exciting. It jumps around a bit between between the present, with the search for Chloe and plane crash, and back in time to Mel and Chloe in high school and that important night. It also jumps around between multiple povs, including the villain's, which I really liked. There was definitely a lot going on, but it was all so exciting and fast-paced I couldn’t help but devour this book. Yet even with the blistering plot, the author still managed some really well developed characters. I loved Chloe and Mel and Gigi and evil Rick, with their fears and complicated relationships. My one thing was I wanted more flashbacks of Chloe and Mel’s high school relationship, as I feel that would have made the present one even stronger. But overall this was an amazing book with great characters, a thrilling plot, and a very satisfying ending that I highly recommend!
Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Netgalley for the free advanced copy of this review in exchange for an honest review
July 14, 2025
Tess Sharpe is a master of fun and twisty thrillers that keep you on your toes. I loved The Girls I've Been, and No Body No Crime is a thrilling new adventure with the same brilliant writing.
It's been six years since Chloe disappeared and Mel had to deal with the loss of the love of her life. Now Mel is on her track again but she's not the only one, while the secrets, and the body, they buried so long ago are coming back to the surface.
The two main characters feel engaging and even when they make decisions that don't feel... Like the most thought out choices, it still feels right within what we know of them and it's fully justified within the plot. I wish we got more of their relationship in the flashbacks to make it feel less like a trauma bond and more like an actual relationship but at the same time it would certainly slow down the plot.
Surprisingly enough, a lot of comedic relief came from the villains and that made them a weirdly enjoyable presence in the story.
I really wish this book was longer because it feels like there could have been so much more to this story, but at the end of the day it was still a fun ride.
Thank you to Tess Sharpe and the publisher for granting me this arc.
It's been six years since Chloe disappeared and Mel had to deal with the loss of the love of her life. Now Mel is on her track again but she's not the only one, while the secrets, and the body, they buried so long ago are coming back to the surface.
The two main characters feel engaging and even when they make decisions that don't feel... Like the most thought out choices, it still feels right within what we know of them and it's fully justified within the plot. I wish we got more of their relationship in the flashbacks to make it feel less like a trauma bond and more like an actual relationship but at the same time it would certainly slow down the plot.
Surprisingly enough, a lot of comedic relief came from the villains and that made them a weirdly enjoyable presence in the story.
I really wish this book was longer because it feels like there could have been so much more to this story, but at the end of the day it was still a fun ride.
Thank you to Tess Sharpe and the publisher for granting me this arc.
physical-books
July 26, 2025eventually goodreads might upload the UK cover
October 3, 2025
This was so fun! Bisexual badasses and their best friends taking down corrupt rich idiots?? Yes, please. I loved the characters, the setting, the twists and turns, and the romance. I would trust Mel and Chloe with my life in a heartbeat.
Huge shout-out to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for this ARC in exchange for honest feedback!
Huge shout-out to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for this ARC in exchange for honest feedback!
September 24, 2025
A fast-paced, cinematic, gritty-twisty caper-thriller and whacky-silly girl meets girl adventure in the woodsy-remote Canadian wilderness. Recommended especially for the reader wishing to meet a dangerous flock of feral peacocks, and potentially, a buried cache of stolen gems.
As best as I can recall, no animals experience harm within the story.
Thanks to Tess Sharpe, publisher, and Libro.fm for early access to the audio for review, read by the author!
As best as I can recall, no animals experience harm within the story.
Thanks to Tess Sharpe, publisher, and Libro.fm for early access to the audio for review, read by the author!
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