Guided by Voices

by V. Carson Taylor

Darkly seductive and pulse-pounding, Guided by Voices is a thriller that will keep you breathless until the final twist.

Loghan Riley is a strong, beautiful journalist, but beneath her confidence lies a heart still shattered by loss. After her fiancé's tragic death, she throws herself into work, her latest article exploring the complexities of online dating and those seeking connection, those chasing fleeting encounters, and those who may have more to hide.

At the same time, her friend and colleague, Deagan McGrath, is investigating a chilling pattern of successful, beautiful women turning up dead in cities across the country. The cases seem unconnected, but Deagan suspects otherwise.

As Loghan delves deeper into her story, she meets the enigmatic and successful David Rothchild online. Drawn in by his charm and intellect, she engages in a seemingly harmless flirtation, unaware that she has caught the attention of someone far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

From Sacramento to Boston to the shadowed streets of San Francisco, Loghan finds herself entangled in a game of deception where nothing is as it seems. And as she inches closer to the truth, she may also be stepping straight into the path of a killer.

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2025

Reviews

[Linz_loves_books (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐

I could not believe this was a debut novel, from the end of chapter one I was hooked. I could not put it down and I needed to know what was going to happen next. The author does an amazing job of keeping you immersed into the story and making you question every character in the book. I thought every character was a suspect.

This story follows Loghan, our FMC, who is a journalist trying to make a name for herself. She is struggling to navigate her career while dealing with grief from losing her fiancé. She is tired of always writing what she is told and really wants to a chance to write her own story. She pitches an idea to her boss to write a story about online dating and how it has transformed over the years. However, she fails to mention that she will also be diving into the deep dark area of online dating.

Then we have Deagan, Loghan's colleague, who is an investigator and is currently investigating a series of women who are coming up murdered. There is nothing really connecting these two things, but Deagan feels differently and warns Loghan to be careful. As Loghan is diving into online dating, she meets David Rothchild, and what starts to be friendly flirting ends up turning into feelings quickly. However, is David the man he appears to be?

And that endinggggg.....I need that next one in my hand asap!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! I cannot believe this is the first book this author has written. The writing seemed effortless and it was so easy to read. I was invested from the very beginning and kept trying to figure out how all of the pieces fit together. I have read a lot of thrillers and this plot line was definitely unique. I loved it!

[Cboyd33gmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family member recommended this book to me. I was hesitant at first because thrillers are not a genre that I generally read. I’m glad I took a chance on this book. The characters are written in a way that you care about them - even when they drive you a little crazy, especially Loghan with her naïveté concerning a man she meets online. In the beginning, as I was as introduced to the characters, I forgot this was a thriller — and then before I knew it I was pulled in for a rollercoaster ride. I found myself wanting to warn or scold characters when things looked hairy. There were times I had to put it down because it made me very nervous. I like the way Taylor developed the story,slowly bringing the tension up. I was in the middle of a project with deadline staring me in the face while I was reading this but every time I could steal a couple minutes I picked up the book. By the climax of this book my heart was racing and my palms sweating. I felt calm again as I got to the end and then Taylor threw in a great twist that I have been thinking about ever since I finished the book. I read this is Taylor’s first novel and I’m impressed with how well she crafted a complex story and kept me on edge throughout the book!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This V. Carson Taylor’s first novel and WOW!! It is a page turner! This book will capture your attention by the end of the first page and you will not want to put it down!!

Suspense, thriller and just a bit of spice! Write more books V. Carson Taylor!! I can’t wait to read the next one!!

[Cheryl Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and surprises. The characters were interesting, and it’s so well written. Fun and familiar Sacramento references, and romantic San Francisco. Hopefully, there will be a sequel!

[Donna Middlekauff-Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read...new Author, and this first book is a mix of mystery, intrigue, and a bit of a new romance thrown in..a fun read...

[Airinbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful debut novel! This book had great character growth and kept me guessing until the end. Check it out!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I liked the storyline and the characters and how you couldn't help yourself trying to work things out with the little clues.

[Lauralyn Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want to put this book down. Fantastic thriller that keeps you guessing till the end. I found myself so nervous for the characters and engaged. The sites of San Francisco and Sacramento here interesting with a little history weaved in.

Great read and I highly recommend!

[Miranda Prosser · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot had potential, though the writing sometimes felt a little disjointed with a lot of short sentences. A more varied sentence structure might make the reading experience feel smoother and more immersive. DNFd 50% through.