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Olivia Cruz #1
You Can Tell Me
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26Crime writer Olivia Cruz is drawn into the dark secrets of a missing friend in a terrifying novel of suspense by #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.
On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.
Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling Run.
It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?
On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.
Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling Run.
It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 12, 2026
3 people are currently reading
553 people want to read
About the author
Melinda Leigh
52 books21.9k followers#1 Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker who learned that writing books is way more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda’s debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. Since then, she has garnered numerous writing accolades, including two RITA® Award nominations and an induction into the NJ Romance Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have sold more than 15 million copies across the world. Melinda loves martial arts, rescue dogs, and sea turtles.
WEBSITE: https://www.melindaleigh.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/melindaleighauthorpage/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MelindaLeigh1
WEBSITE: https://www.melindaleigh.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/melindaleighauthorpage/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MelindaLeigh1
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 16, 2025
RTC closer to publication date per the request of the publisher.
November 14, 2025
I always start a new series tentatively....will I like the new characters? What about the old characters...I wasn't done with them yet.
I was privileged.to read an ARC of the first book in Melinda Leigh's new series.l, and I was thrilled with it.
Melinda Leigh never disappoints amd this offering is no exception. The story grabbed me.from the first page. It was a thrilling ride from beginning to end. And, yes, I LOVE the new characters.
I was privileged.to read an ARC of the first book in Melinda Leigh's new series.l, and I was thrilled with it.
Melinda Leigh never disappoints amd this offering is no exception. The story grabbed me.from the first page. It was a thrilling ride from beginning to end. And, yes, I LOVE the new characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I requested this one for a very specific reason: it’s connected to Save Your Breath (book 6 in the Morgan Dane series), which I absolutely binged last year and loved. I was so happy to see Olivia Cruz finally getting her own book and story. For anyone wondering, yes ... you can totally read this without reading Morgan Dane. The author gives you enough context from the previous case without spoiling too much.
Now, onto the book itself. The pacing was okay, but I found myself taking a few breaks here and there, it felt like we spun in circles a couple of times and things dragged a bit. The plot about Zoe’s disappearance didn’t grab me as much as I hoped it would, probably because I didn’t really like Zoe that much. From her messy house to her questionable decisions… yeah, she just wasn’t my fave.
On the other hand, seeing familiar faces from the Morgan Dane series was so satisfying. Olivia is strong, determined and I love how she never gave up on finding Zoe. Her niece Nicki was an unexpected delight, and I was so glad nothing happened to her at that one point (my heart stopped there for a second, or 2 or more). And I'm so happy about Olivia and Lincoln, they finally taking another step in their relationship.
Soooo, yeah... I’m not even sure if I’m rating the plot or my happiness of seeing old characters again, buuut I’d say 3.5–3.75★ feels fair. The main storyline wasn’t my favorite, but the characters carried this one easily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded 4★)
Now, onto the book itself. The pacing was okay, but I found myself taking a few breaks here and there, it felt like we spun in circles a couple of times and things dragged a bit. The plot about Zoe’s disappearance didn’t grab me as much as I hoped it would, probably because I didn’t really like Zoe that much. From her messy house to her questionable decisions… yeah, she just wasn’t my fave.
On the other hand, seeing familiar faces from the Morgan Dane series was so satisfying. Olivia is strong, determined and I love how she never gave up on finding Zoe. Her niece Nicki was an unexpected delight, and I was so glad nothing happened to her at that one point (my heart stopped there for a second, or 2 or more). And I'm so happy about Olivia and Lincoln, they finally taking another step in their relationship.
Soooo, yeah... I’m not even sure if I’m rating the plot or my happiness of seeing old characters again, buuut I’d say 3.5–3.75★ feels fair. The main storyline wasn’t my favorite, but the characters carried this one easily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded 4★)
January 25, 2026
You just never know how a new series even by a fantastic author like this one. Well I shouldn’t have worried because this one grabbed me from the get go and wouldn’t let go. Many new characters and some old favorites.
This mystery kept me guessing though out the story. In the end I found a new series that’s that will keep me coming back for more every time!!
This mystery kept me guessing though out the story. In the end I found a new series that’s that will keep me coming back for more every time!!
October 15, 2025
I mostly enjoyed the book. I was a bit bored at times and felt the book kind of dragged on, but I did enjoy it, and I felt the ending was a solid good ending.
October 26, 2025
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by Montlake via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A gripping thriller lauching a new series by Melinda Leigh, “You Can Tell Me” features bold and intrepid true crime writer Olivia Cruz investigating a case where the missing person is her friend and colleague.
A character from a previous series, Olivia is an intelligent, determined woman, who doesn’t give up before difficulty.
I liked the grit and preserverance that keeps her searching for Zoe, despite every obstacle and dead end.
The traumatic kidnapping she suffered inspires Olivia to persist even when facing danger.
Zoe’s secretive nature hides a even more secret backstory.
The relationship with Lincoln – so steady and strong - is also compelling to watch, as is meeting again familiar people from Melinda Leigh’s fiction.
A gripping thriller lauching a new series by Melinda Leigh, “You Can Tell Me” features bold and intrepid true crime writer Olivia Cruz investigating a case where the missing person is her friend and colleague.
A character from a previous series, Olivia is an intelligent, determined woman, who doesn’t give up before difficulty.
I liked the grit and preserverance that keeps her searching for Zoe, despite every obstacle and dead end.
The traumatic kidnapping she suffered inspires Olivia to persist even when facing danger.
Zoe’s secretive nature hides a even more secret backstory.
The relationship with Lincoln – so steady and strong - is also compelling to watch, as is meeting again familiar people from Melinda Leigh’s fiction.
October 29, 2025
You Can Tell Me started off with every woman’s worst nightmare–an intruder comes into your home in the middle of the night to cause you harm. In Olivia’s case, she is abducted and nearly dies in captivity. She is rescued by her boyfriend, Lincoln Sharp, a former police officer turned private investigator.
This story finds Olivia alive and well in the years following her abduction, and she has turned her tragedy into a career writing true crime novels. Her personal and professional experiences equip her to help her friend Zoe, who runs a successful true crime podcast, when Zoe disappears. Through her own investigation, Olivia learns that on the night she vanished, Zoe received a text message with one word: Run. As Olivia uncovers the clues about what could have happened to Zoe, she also learns about Zoe’s secret past. All these factors come to a head on the night of a raging rain storm with flash floods that make the desperate attempt to save Zoe’s life even more harrowing.
This book is a new series based off of Melinda Leigh’s Morgan Dane series. I had not read any of those prior books, so I lacked the larger backstory of Olivia’s kidnapping and rescue. There were a few things that bothered me about this book… The biggest one that nagged at me was when Zoe received the text to ‘Run’, she ran towards the danger rather than running away from it. In doing so, it set up the obvious confrontation between Zoe and the man hunting her, but it felt like an odd choice for the character and a lazy choice by the author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story finds Olivia alive and well in the years following her abduction, and she has turned her tragedy into a career writing true crime novels. Her personal and professional experiences equip her to help her friend Zoe, who runs a successful true crime podcast, when Zoe disappears. Through her own investigation, Olivia learns that on the night she vanished, Zoe received a text message with one word: Run. As Olivia uncovers the clues about what could have happened to Zoe, she also learns about Zoe’s secret past. All these factors come to a head on the night of a raging rain storm with flash floods that make the desperate attempt to save Zoe’s life even more harrowing.
This book is a new series based off of Melinda Leigh’s Morgan Dane series. I had not read any of those prior books, so I lacked the larger backstory of Olivia’s kidnapping and rescue. There were a few things that bothered me about this book… The biggest one that nagged at me was when Zoe received the text to ‘Run’, she ran towards the danger rather than running away from it. In doing so, it set up the obvious confrontation between Zoe and the man hunting her, but it felt like an odd choice for the character and a lazy choice by the author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2025
📚You Can Tell Me
✍🏻Melinda Leigh
Blurb:
Crime writer Olivia Cruz is drawn into the dark secrets of a missing friend in a terrifying novel of suspense by #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.
On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.
Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling Run.
It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?
My Thoughts:
Three years have passed since Olivia was kidnapped (a story covered in "Save Your Breath", book 6 of the Morgan Dane series), and the experience still haunts her. She agrees to be interviewed by her friend, Zoe March, for her true-crime podcast, but Zoe never arrives.
With the help of her PI boyfriend, Lincoln Sharp, and her niece Nicki, Olivia sets out to discover what has happened to her friend. She gets a bad feeling about the whole disappearance; Zoe’s husband’s behaviour is, to put it mildly, sketchy, and digging into Zoe's past reveals many secrets that make Olivia wonder whether she ever truly knew her friend of fifteen years. Retracing Zoe’s steps puts the trio on a dangerous, life-threatening path…
I was thrilled when I discovered that Melinda Leigh had started a new series set in Scarlet Falls, and it was wonderful to see not only Olivia and Lincoln but also Morgan Dane and Lance Kruger make appearances.
Although the book can be enjoyed as a standalone, readers will gain considerably more from it if they have already read the Morgan Dane series. I loved the suspense, the twists and the turns; this was a gripping read, and I can’t wait for the next books in the series.
Thanks NetGalley, Montlake and Author Melinda Leigh for the advanced copy "You Can Tell Me" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#Montlake
#MelindaLeigh
#YouCanTellMe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Melinda Leigh
Blurb:
Crime writer Olivia Cruz is drawn into the dark secrets of a missing friend in a terrifying novel of suspense by #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.
On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.
Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling Run.
It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?
My Thoughts:
Three years have passed since Olivia was kidnapped (a story covered in "Save Your Breath", book 6 of the Morgan Dane series), and the experience still haunts her. She agrees to be interviewed by her friend, Zoe March, for her true-crime podcast, but Zoe never arrives.
With the help of her PI boyfriend, Lincoln Sharp, and her niece Nicki, Olivia sets out to discover what has happened to her friend. She gets a bad feeling about the whole disappearance; Zoe’s husband’s behaviour is, to put it mildly, sketchy, and digging into Zoe's past reveals many secrets that make Olivia wonder whether she ever truly knew her friend of fifteen years. Retracing Zoe’s steps puts the trio on a dangerous, life-threatening path…
I was thrilled when I discovered that Melinda Leigh had started a new series set in Scarlet Falls, and it was wonderful to see not only Olivia and Lincoln but also Morgan Dane and Lance Kruger make appearances.
Although the book can be enjoyed as a standalone, readers will gain considerably more from it if they have already read the Morgan Dane series. I loved the suspense, the twists and the turns; this was a gripping read, and I can’t wait for the next books in the series.
Thanks NetGalley, Montlake and Author Melinda Leigh for the advanced copy "You Can Tell Me" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#Montlake
#MelindaLeigh
#YouCanTellMe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title: You Can Tell Me
Author: Melinda Leigh
Series: Olivia Cruz Book #1
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: May 12, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 ~ Rounded up
Pages: 303
Olivia Cruz is a crime writer and the three-year anniversary of her kidnapping is approaching. She has scheduled to meet with her podcaster friend Zoe March to go over the details of what happened but Zoe fails to show. Zoe has been looking forward to this so Olivia is worried something happened.
Zoe’s husband Dylan Sanders states she never came home the night before and he has reported her missing.
Not unusual for the police to suspect that Zoe left willingly, and they not taking this serious.
So Olivia with the help of her boyfriend Lincoln Sharp a former police detective and now a private investigator.do their own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps,
Olivia and Lincoln want to search Zoe’s office. As they enter the dark office they are immediately attacked by a man who obviously was there for the reason. He had ransacked the office but was able to escape. She tells Lincoln that she believes he is the same man who tried to take her purse earlier. They assumed it was a street mugging but now it seems it was something more.
Next they want to search Wendy Simon’s office. Wendy is the producer and works the crime cases with Zoe.
It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, she probably unearthed something dangerous. Olivia discovers that Zoe had a storage unit where she kept her Jeep with a cell phone inside. Zoe and Dylan have been married or ten years and Zoe has had this storage unit for eight years. Was it in case she needed to escape from her husband or perhaps someone else? Hmmm
Olivia knows she must dig into her friend’s past in order to find her.
Did Zoe vanish out of fear to hide from a killer, and is Olivia walking into a trap?
This is Book #1 in the Olivia Cruz ~ I am looking forward to next in this series!
This story was great! [AUthor: Melinda Leigh] is one of my favorite authors – she amazes me how she can come up with such involved rollercoaster ride stories time after time ~ I just loved her!
I have been a Bree Taggert fan for years and call myself a Megan/ Bree fan!
Want to thank NetGalley and Montlake for granting me the enjoyment of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 12, 2026.
Author: Melinda Leigh
Series: Olivia Cruz Book #1
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: May 12, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 ~ Rounded up
Pages: 303
Olivia Cruz is a crime writer and the three-year anniversary of her kidnapping is approaching. She has scheduled to meet with her podcaster friend Zoe March to go over the details of what happened but Zoe fails to show. Zoe has been looking forward to this so Olivia is worried something happened.
Zoe’s husband Dylan Sanders states she never came home the night before and he has reported her missing.
Not unusual for the police to suspect that Zoe left willingly, and they not taking this serious.
So Olivia with the help of her boyfriend Lincoln Sharp a former police detective and now a private investigator.do their own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps,
Olivia and Lincoln want to search Zoe’s office. As they enter the dark office they are immediately attacked by a man who obviously was there for the reason. He had ransacked the office but was able to escape. She tells Lincoln that she believes he is the same man who tried to take her purse earlier. They assumed it was a street mugging but now it seems it was something more.
Next they want to search Wendy Simon’s office. Wendy is the producer and works the crime cases with Zoe.
It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, she probably unearthed something dangerous. Olivia discovers that Zoe had a storage unit where she kept her Jeep with a cell phone inside. Zoe and Dylan have been married or ten years and Zoe has had this storage unit for eight years. Was it in case she needed to escape from her husband or perhaps someone else? Hmmm
Olivia knows she must dig into her friend’s past in order to find her.
Did Zoe vanish out of fear to hide from a killer, and is Olivia walking into a trap?
This is Book #1 in the Olivia Cruz ~ I am looking forward to next in this series!
This story was great! [AUthor: Melinda Leigh] is one of my favorite authors – she amazes me how she can come up with such involved rollercoaster ride stories time after time ~ I just loved her!
I have been a Bree Taggert fan for years and call myself a Megan/ Bree fan!
Want to thank NetGalley and Montlake for granting me the enjoyment of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 12, 2026.
December 3, 2025
Melinda Leigh is beginning a terrific new series with a badass crime writer as the central character. “You Can Tell Me” is Olivia Cruz #1 and I’ve already put Olivia Cruz #2 on my TBR list. If you’re a longtime, steadfast Melinda Leigh fan, you’ve already met Olivia in the sixth Morgan Dane series thriller, “Save Your Breath (2019)” when she was the kidnapping victim of her own literary agent in a PR stunt gone very wrong. Leigh writes all of her books without the need to have read the previous series books; you’ll be given enough clues to piece together any important background facts.
It’s three years later in book time and Olivia is still feeling residual effects of her ordeal. She can’t quite get back to real life crime writing, so she decides to deal with her demons head-on and allow her long-standing podcaster friend, Zoe, to interview her. Zoe has known Olivia for at least fifteen years, so when she fails to show up for the important in-person interview, Olivia knows something is wrong. The police think she’s just a runaway wife, so Olivia enlists the assistance of her niece Nicki, her PI/ex-cop boyfriend Lincoln, and Lincoln’s partner Lance (who is married to Morgan Dane).
Right before she bolted, Zoe had a mysterious, threatening caller on her live radio show, and Nicki, who assists Zoe with marketing, found a couple of menacing social media replies. Is someone after Zoe? Does it have to do with her opaque past, or is it related to one of the cases she’s been researching for her podcast? And why didn’t her husband suspect anything?
This story is action-packed until the very end. It’s the type of crime procedural I love: clear cut good guys, absolutely evil bad guys, and maybe some questionable suspects in between, with all the loose ends wrapped up in the final chapter. 5 stars!
BTW, twice the bear does not choose Zoe, although she would choose the bear.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO More green tea than green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Just the forested hills and steep drops in upstate New York.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
It’s three years later in book time and Olivia is still feeling residual effects of her ordeal. She can’t quite get back to real life crime writing, so she decides to deal with her demons head-on and allow her long-standing podcaster friend, Zoe, to interview her. Zoe has known Olivia for at least fifteen years, so when she fails to show up for the important in-person interview, Olivia knows something is wrong. The police think she’s just a runaway wife, so Olivia enlists the assistance of her niece Nicki, her PI/ex-cop boyfriend Lincoln, and Lincoln’s partner Lance (who is married to Morgan Dane).
Right before she bolted, Zoe had a mysterious, threatening caller on her live radio show, and Nicki, who assists Zoe with marketing, found a couple of menacing social media replies. Is someone after Zoe? Does it have to do with her opaque past, or is it related to one of the cases she’s been researching for her podcast? And why didn’t her husband suspect anything?
This story is action-packed until the very end. It’s the type of crime procedural I love: clear cut good guys, absolutely evil bad guys, and maybe some questionable suspects in between, with all the loose ends wrapped up in the final chapter. 5 stars!
BTW, twice the bear does not choose Zoe, although she would choose the bear.
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO More green tea than green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Just the forested hills and steep drops in upstate New York.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
October 25, 2025
3.5 stars
“You Can Tell Me” is an offshoot of the Morgan Dane series, where Olivia Cruz—a survivor of a traumatic kidnapping in the last book of the Morgan Dane series—starts off on her own journey into investigating her missing close friend. Yet three years after her own kidnapping, she hasn’t forgotten the trauma and it’s inevitable that it resurfaces as she digs deeper into the secrets her friend Zoe March has apparently been keeping.
The story starts slow, but Melinda Leigh has been at this long enough to build the tension, pull in additional threads and tighten the noose. I found myself sort of invested, but had my attention wandering when things meandered and faltered in a way, with some short bursts of action that helped rekindle the excitement.
With character-leads that are quite a bit older than the ’typical’ romance protagonists in Leigh’s other books, there’s that constant sense here that older does mean wiser in a way, without the out-of-character shenanigans that younger protagonists sometimes fall into. Lincoln’s and Olivia’s connection is more defined instead, by mutual support and a more muted romance as they navigate the investigation together. But I liked Sharp (and the old crew, really) in Leigh’s previous books and seeing them back again as cameos was the fabulous highlight of this book.
Along the way though, that team of two becomes three—Olivia’s tech-genius niece Nicki joins the ride, adding that youthful but still-sensible vibe which enlivens what could have been something stiffer and more staid.
Still, I think there’s still the core focus in this book that seems elusive somehow: in this game of ‘Where’s Zoe and what has she done?’, Olivia herself is isn’t a terribly dynamic or exciting lead, but rather an agent of action or a vehicle used to deliver the suspense about her missing friend. And since Zoe’s life and secrets feel somewhat tangential to Olivia's direct sphere of influence, I found it hard to be fully invested in the outcome of a case about a woman whom I didn’t quite care about.
“You can Tell Me” ended up a uneven reading experience in the end; its emotional impact wasn't as great as I’d expected, despite Leigh’s very polished delivery.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
“You Can Tell Me” is an offshoot of the Morgan Dane series, where Olivia Cruz—a survivor of a traumatic kidnapping in the last book of the Morgan Dane series—starts off on her own journey into investigating her missing close friend. Yet three years after her own kidnapping, she hasn’t forgotten the trauma and it’s inevitable that it resurfaces as she digs deeper into the secrets her friend Zoe March has apparently been keeping.
The story starts slow, but Melinda Leigh has been at this long enough to build the tension, pull in additional threads and tighten the noose. I found myself sort of invested, but had my attention wandering when things meandered and faltered in a way, with some short bursts of action that helped rekindle the excitement.
With character-leads that are quite a bit older than the ’typical’ romance protagonists in Leigh’s other books, there’s that constant sense here that older does mean wiser in a way, without the out-of-character shenanigans that younger protagonists sometimes fall into. Lincoln’s and Olivia’s connection is more defined instead, by mutual support and a more muted romance as they navigate the investigation together. But I liked Sharp (and the old crew, really) in Leigh’s previous books and seeing them back again as cameos was the fabulous highlight of this book.
Along the way though, that team of two becomes three—Olivia’s tech-genius niece Nicki joins the ride, adding that youthful but still-sensible vibe which enlivens what could have been something stiffer and more staid.
Still, I think there’s still the core focus in this book that seems elusive somehow: in this game of ‘Where’s Zoe and what has she done?’, Olivia herself is isn’t a terribly dynamic or exciting lead, but rather an agent of action or a vehicle used to deliver the suspense about her missing friend. And since Zoe’s life and secrets feel somewhat tangential to Olivia's direct sphere of influence, I found it hard to be fully invested in the outcome of a case about a woman whom I didn’t quite care about.
“You can Tell Me” ended up a uneven reading experience in the end; its emotional impact wasn't as great as I’d expected, despite Leigh’s very polished delivery.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
October 20, 2025
Melinda Leigh’s latest thriller, You Can Tell Me, is a masterclass in suspense, seamlessly blending psychological intrigue with emotional depth. The novel introduces us to Olivia Cruz, a seasoned true crime writer still haunted by her own traumatic past. On the anniversary of her kidnapping, Olivia is set to revisit the crime scene with her friend and podcaster Zoe March—only Zoe never arrives.
What begins as a personal concern quickly escalates into a chilling mystery. Zoe’s sudden disappearance, coupled with a cryptic message—“Run”—sets Olivia on a perilous path of discovery. Leigh crafts a taut narrative that explores the fragility of trust, the weight of secrets, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. As Olivia retraces Zoe’s steps, the reader is drawn into a labyrinth of danger and deception, where every revelation deepens the suspense.
Leigh’s prose is sharp and evocative, her pacing relentless. She deftly balances character development with plot momentum, making Olivia both a compelling protagonist and a relatable figure. The backdrop of Zoe’s true crime podcast adds a modern twist, blurring the lines between storytelling and reality.
This first instalment in the Olivia Cruz series promises a gripping journey ahead. With its atmospheric tension and emotionally resonant core, You Can Tell Me is not just a thriller—it’s a testament to resilience and the unyielding pursuit of justice.
with thanks to Melinda Leigh, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
What begins as a personal concern quickly escalates into a chilling mystery. Zoe’s sudden disappearance, coupled with a cryptic message—“Run”—sets Olivia on a perilous path of discovery. Leigh crafts a taut narrative that explores the fragility of trust, the weight of secrets, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. As Olivia retraces Zoe’s steps, the reader is drawn into a labyrinth of danger and deception, where every revelation deepens the suspense.
Leigh’s prose is sharp and evocative, her pacing relentless. She deftly balances character development with plot momentum, making Olivia both a compelling protagonist and a relatable figure. The backdrop of Zoe’s true crime podcast adds a modern twist, blurring the lines between storytelling and reality.
This first instalment in the Olivia Cruz series promises a gripping journey ahead. With its atmospheric tension and emotionally resonant core, You Can Tell Me is not just a thriller—it’s a testament to resilience and the unyielding pursuit of justice.
with thanks to Melinda Leigh, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 16, 2025
4* This author can't write a bad book, so despite the not-very-exciting Olivia as lead, it's a decent tale.
This is a PI tale with an author with writer's block, and her kickarse niece who's a whizz with all things online and social media. It's a solid read, with a misper who's got every reason to go on the run, and the sleuthing and reveals are believable and organic. And very modern. Oh the joys of technology when it works well!
I didn't feel that I got to know anything more about Olivia from previous tales she's featured in. Her romance with Lance's (hubby of Morgan Dane) boss - I forget his name - won't set anything on fire, and tbh, the two women on their mission did very well on their own, so he didn't feel needed or organically there in the tale. Still, he drove a SUV across a flooded bridge, which didn't go so well, although all lived to tell the tale. I think for me, this could've been a book solely featuring Olivia and her niece and it'd have been even better. I'd love to see more of them in the next book.
At the end of the tale, Olivia and her guy take the next step into their lives. Hopefully this new phase of their relationship will be more visual and organic. I think their newly adopted pup may well be the star of future tales.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Montlake for my reading pleasure.
This is a PI tale with an author with writer's block, and her kickarse niece who's a whizz with all things online and social media. It's a solid read, with a misper who's got every reason to go on the run, and the sleuthing and reveals are believable and organic. And very modern. Oh the joys of technology when it works well!
I didn't feel that I got to know anything more about Olivia from previous tales she's featured in. Her romance with Lance's (hubby of Morgan Dane) boss - I forget his name - won't set anything on fire, and tbh, the two women on their mission did very well on their own, so he didn't feel needed or organically there in the tale. Still, he drove a SUV across a flooded bridge, which didn't go so well, although all lived to tell the tale. I think for me, this could've been a book solely featuring Olivia and her niece and it'd have been even better. I'd love to see more of them in the next book.
At the end of the tale, Olivia and her guy take the next step into their lives. Hopefully this new phase of their relationship will be more visual and organic. I think their newly adopted pup may well be the star of future tales.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Montlake for my reading pleasure.
October 23, 2025
In "You Can Tell Me", book 1 of the Olivia Cruz series by Melinda Leigh, we return to Scarlet Falls.
Three years have passed since Olivia was kidnapped (a story covered in "Save Your Breath", book 6 of the Morgan Dane series), and the experience still haunts her. She agrees to be interviewed by her friend, Zoe March, for her true-crime podcast, but Zoe never arrives.
With the help of her PI boyfriend, Lincoln Sharp, and her niece Nicki, Olivia sets out to discover what has happened to her friend. She gets a bad feeling about the whole disappearance; Zoe’s husband’s behaviour is, to put it mildly, sketchy, and digging into Zoe's past reveals many secrets that make Olivia wonder whether she ever truly knew her friend of fifteen years. Retracing Zoe’s steps puts the trio on a dangerous, life-threatening path…
I was thrilled when I discovered that Melinda Leigh had started a new series set in Scarlet Falls, and it was wonderful to see not only Olivia and Lincoln but also Morgan Dane and Lance Kruger make appearances.
Although the book can be enjoyed as a standalone, readers will gain considerably more from it if they have already read the Morgan Dane series. I loved the suspense, the twists and the turns; this was a gripping read, and I can’t wait for the next books in the series.
Big thanks to Melinda Leigh, Montlake, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Three years have passed since Olivia was kidnapped (a story covered in "Save Your Breath", book 6 of the Morgan Dane series), and the experience still haunts her. She agrees to be interviewed by her friend, Zoe March, for her true-crime podcast, but Zoe never arrives.
With the help of her PI boyfriend, Lincoln Sharp, and her niece Nicki, Olivia sets out to discover what has happened to her friend. She gets a bad feeling about the whole disappearance; Zoe’s husband’s behaviour is, to put it mildly, sketchy, and digging into Zoe's past reveals many secrets that make Olivia wonder whether she ever truly knew her friend of fifteen years. Retracing Zoe’s steps puts the trio on a dangerous, life-threatening path…
I was thrilled when I discovered that Melinda Leigh had started a new series set in Scarlet Falls, and it was wonderful to see not only Olivia and Lincoln but also Morgan Dane and Lance Kruger make appearances.
Although the book can be enjoyed as a standalone, readers will gain considerably more from it if they have already read the Morgan Dane series. I loved the suspense, the twists and the turns; this was a gripping read, and I can’t wait for the next books in the series.
Big thanks to Melinda Leigh, Montlake, and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 2, 2025
This is one of those books that starts slow and with an easy flair that pulls you in and when you look up from your Kindle next, you've read one third of a book, it's dark outside and you have to order some take-out because you've missed all your chores, including the dinner preparations.
But consider yourself warned...DON'T READ THIS AT NIGHT!
I did. And unless you're a sucker for scary thrills, you will not go back to sleep. It's tense and twisty, and filled with so many toe-curling moments that will make you swipe your screen (or flip pages) with an increased speed just to make sure you can read yourself out of the danger.
Melinda Leigh's writing is very effortless and captivating. She's a master storyteller and I am looking forward to exploring more of her stories.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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But consider yourself warned...DON'T READ THIS AT NIGHT!
I did. And unless you're a sucker for scary thrills, you will not go back to sleep. It's tense and twisty, and filled with so many toe-curling moments that will make you swipe your screen (or flip pages) with an increased speed just to make sure you can read yourself out of the danger.
Melinda Leigh's writing is very effortless and captivating. She's a master storyteller and I am looking forward to exploring more of her stories.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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Follow for more of my reviews:
TikTok
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 Stars
Another great story from Melinda Leigh. You may already be familiar with Olivia Cruz, Lincoln Sharp, and several other characters from the Morgan Dane series. This time around, Olivia's friend Zoe March, a popular true crime podcaster, has gone missing. No one around Zoe seem to be particularly concerned, nor are the police, so Olivia decides to find her on her own with the help of her boyfriend Lincoln Sharp and her niece, Nicki.
What follows is a twisting, turning tale that leads Olivia all over town, and following leads that make her realize she doesn't know her friend of fifteen years as well as she thought. Has anything that Zoe told Olivia about her past actually true? Did Zoe plan this whole disappearance, or has something terrible happened to her? I was glued to the pages waiting to find out!
Strap in tight for Olivia's thrilling chase to find Zoe before it may be too late!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy of this title in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Another great story from Melinda Leigh. You may already be familiar with Olivia Cruz, Lincoln Sharp, and several other characters from the Morgan Dane series. This time around, Olivia's friend Zoe March, a popular true crime podcaster, has gone missing. No one around Zoe seem to be particularly concerned, nor are the police, so Olivia decides to find her on her own with the help of her boyfriend Lincoln Sharp and her niece, Nicki.
What follows is a twisting, turning tale that leads Olivia all over town, and following leads that make her realize she doesn't know her friend of fifteen years as well as she thought. Has anything that Zoe told Olivia about her past actually true? Did Zoe plan this whole disappearance, or has something terrible happened to her? I was glued to the pages waiting to find out!
Strap in tight for Olivia's thrilling chase to find Zoe before it may be too late!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy of this title in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 15, 2025
Olivia Cruz is a crime writer and was kidnapped three years ago. She is supposed to meet her friend Zoe, to be interviewed for her podcast. Zoe doesn’t show up so Olivia starts investigating. She goes to her house to talk to her husband and he has called the police. But the police are doing anything so Olivia will. With her boyfriend Lincoln, former cop turned private investigator, they find out that Zoe was investigating a couple of cases. When they locate her phone, she has a text on there that said “Run”. Olivia, Lincoln, and her niece Nicki go to the town where Zoe lived a couple of years in a foster home. Zoe has been keeping secrets and could those secrets get Olivia and Lincoln killed?
Good story. At first I felt like I was missing something. This is supposed to be the first book in this series but it’s like I missed one before. It sort of started in the middle. Action. Edge of the seat suspense. Twists. Secrets. Pulse pounding.
* VOLUNTARILY READ AND REVIEWED FOR NETGALLEY *
Good story. At first I felt like I was missing something. This is supposed to be the first book in this series but it’s like I missed one before. It sort of started in the middle. Action. Edge of the seat suspense. Twists. Secrets. Pulse pounding.
* VOLUNTARILY READ AND REVIEWED FOR NETGALLEY *
October 16, 2025
You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh, published by Montlake, is the first book in her new Olivia Cruz Series. Every book can be read as a stand alone, anyway, there are cross overs, the books are best read in order.
Olivia Cruz is a journalist/writer and girlfriend of Lincoln Sharp the PI from the Morgan Dane Series. And btw. this is kinda spin off from the Scarlett Falls and Morgan Dane Seriesses.
But back to Olivia's story. Olivia is friends with Zoe March who fails to meet with OLivia, She just vanished and Olivia together with the trinity of Morgan, Lincoln and Lance inverstigates her life, her cases and where she might have gone.
You Can Tell me is kinda reluctant, kinda slightly tetached story and I mean it in the best way. I didn't have to hold my breath abd suffer the ups and downs. No, the story flows beautifully and steady and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Olivia Cruz is a journalist/writer and girlfriend of Lincoln Sharp the PI from the Morgan Dane Series. And btw. this is kinda spin off from the Scarlett Falls and Morgan Dane Seriesses.
But back to Olivia's story. Olivia is friends with Zoe March who fails to meet with OLivia, She just vanished and Olivia together with the trinity of Morgan, Lincoln and Lance inverstigates her life, her cases and where she might have gone.
You Can Tell me is kinda reluctant, kinda slightly tetached story and I mean it in the best way. I didn't have to hold my breath abd suffer the ups and downs. No, the story flows beautifully and steady and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
December 2, 2025
I have enjoyed the Bree Taggart series by this author so was excited to start a new series. Unfortunately, this book did not really grab me. The first chapter starts with a bang. Olivia is sleeping only to wake up to find someone sneaking into her home. The book doesn’t really expand on her kidnapping experience since it may have been covered in another book. But I am not sure.
Then it jumps to Zoe, who is a true crime podcaster and best friend to Olivia. Zoe also disappears so it is up to Olivia to find out where Zoe has gone. I had a difficult time relating to Olivia. It seemed her PTSD from her kidnapping got triggered with some innocuous instances yet Olivia could go for coffee after being mugged. My favorite character was Nicki, Olivia’s niece.
I received a free copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
Then it jumps to Zoe, who is a true crime podcaster and best friend to Olivia. Zoe also disappears so it is up to Olivia to find out where Zoe has gone. I had a difficult time relating to Olivia. It seemed her PTSD from her kidnapping got triggered with some innocuous instances yet Olivia could go for coffee after being mugged. My favorite character was Nicki, Olivia’s niece.
I received a free copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
October 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A gripping new series that proves Melinda Leigh never misses!
I’ll admit, I was a little disappointed at first that this wasn’t another Bree Taggert novel — but I should have known Melinda Leigh would hook me from page one! You Can Tell Me launches the Olivia Cruz series with everything I love about her writing: smart pacing, authentic characters, and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Olivia is instantly compelling — determined, vulnerable, and utterly real — and the mystery had me guessing right up to the end.
Leigh balances tension with heart beautifully, and I’m already eager for Book 2. Another fantastic read from one of the most consistently reliable voices in crime fiction.
A gripping new series that proves Melinda Leigh never misses!
I’ll admit, I was a little disappointed at first that this wasn’t another Bree Taggert novel — but I should have known Melinda Leigh would hook me from page one! You Can Tell Me launches the Olivia Cruz series with everything I love about her writing: smart pacing, authentic characters, and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Olivia is instantly compelling — determined, vulnerable, and utterly real — and the mystery had me guessing right up to the end.
Leigh balances tension with heart beautifully, and I’m already eager for Book 2. Another fantastic read from one of the most consistently reliable voices in crime fiction.
November 1, 2025
When her friend, who is a true crime podcaster disappears, Olivia is determined to find her and ends up recruiting her partner Lincoln Sharp and her niece Nicki into assisting her.
While the police believe that Zoe has simply decided to leave her marriage due to conflict with her husband, Olivia knows her friend would never do something so inconsiderate and out of character as vanishing without any warning.
But the real story behind Zoe's disappearance is far more complicated than Olivia can imagine...
This is an interesting and quite original story that juggles a number of strands which are neatly tied into a bow by the end of the book. Well worth checking out!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
While the police believe that Zoe has simply decided to leave her marriage due to conflict with her husband, Olivia knows her friend would never do something so inconsiderate and out of character as vanishing without any warning.
But the real story behind Zoe's disappearance is far more complicated than Olivia can imagine...
This is an interesting and quite original story that juggles a number of strands which are neatly tied into a bow by the end of the book. Well worth checking out!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 1, 2025
* Thank you Netgalley & Montlake for this ARC in exchange for an honest review *
You Can Tell Me is the first book in the new Olivia Cruz series, set in the infamous Scarlet Falls. Following Olivia a few years after her kidnapping, Olivia is drawn into the disappearance of her friend who may have more secrets than anyone could've imagined.
This was another fun read by Leigh. I was very happy to return to Scarlet Falls. I love Morgan Dane and Bree Taggert, and while I do not yet know Olivia Cruz as much, I already really like the addition she has made to the series!
If you're into small town mysteries, I highly recommend any Melinda Leigh books. I will continue to read them as they come out.
You Can Tell Me is the first book in the new Olivia Cruz series, set in the infamous Scarlet Falls. Following Olivia a few years after her kidnapping, Olivia is drawn into the disappearance of her friend who may have more secrets than anyone could've imagined.
This was another fun read by Leigh. I was very happy to return to Scarlet Falls. I love Morgan Dane and Bree Taggert, and while I do not yet know Olivia Cruz as much, I already really like the addition she has made to the series!
If you're into small town mysteries, I highly recommend any Melinda Leigh books. I will continue to read them as they come out.
December 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It’s a fast-paced and engaging read, perfect for autumn evenings. I loved the casual mentions of characters from Leigh’s previous series—Morgan Dane and Scarlett Falls—which felt like a visit from old friends. The story weaves several parallel threads, including Olivia’s hunt for her missing friend and her relationship with her niece, Nicki, creating a layered and emotional narrative.
My only small criticism is Olivia herself. At times her character felt inconsistent—swinging between timid and overly competitive—which made her a bit hard to connect with. Still, the tension, atmosphere, and strong plotting more than made up for it.
Off to buy all of the Bree Taggert series.
My only small criticism is Olivia herself. At times her character felt inconsistent—swinging between timid and overly competitive—which made her a bit hard to connect with. Still, the tension, atmosphere, and strong plotting more than made up for it.
Off to buy all of the Bree Taggert series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a ride! Melinda Leigh knows how write a suspense filled story that tugs on your emotions while keeping you on your toes. Olivia, our heroine, is dedicated, savvy and recovering from past trauma. When her longtime friend goes missing she knows something is wrong and starts looking for clues. This storyline was so intriguing and well developed. I loved seeing how Lincoln and Olivia’s relationship has progressed since we first met them in the Morgan Dane series. I especially enjoyed meeting Olivia’s niece, who is just as smart as Olivia but also has an extra bit of sass. This new series is off to a fantastic start, and I can’t wait for what’s next.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy via NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy via NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 31, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed You can tell me, it was a really quick read that I devoured in an afternoon. It is well written, interesting and kept me turning the pages.
I hadn’t read the related series so didn’t have any background to Olivia’s life or kidnapping. The only reason that this lost half a star for me personally was that the first 10% was rough reading because some of the crucial background from previous books was kind of shoehorned into the narrative which made reading it a little strange.
Overall though, this was a really great read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I really enjoyed You can tell me, it was a really quick read that I devoured in an afternoon. It is well written, interesting and kept me turning the pages.
I hadn’t read the related series so didn’t have any background to Olivia’s life or kidnapping. The only reason that this lost half a star for me personally was that the first 10% was rough reading because some of the crucial background from previous books was kind of shoehorned into the narrative which made reading it a little strange.
Overall though, this was a really great read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is beyond excellent! Love that this is the first book in a series because I definitely need to read more books with Olivia in them! Olivia is on the way to start a true crime podcast for her friend Zoe. Zoe doesn't show up, so where is she? Oliva's instincts tell her something is very wrong and goes with her gut to find Zoe. Zoe's past has come back to haunt her, and she runs to a safe house. Following Zoe and Oliva keeps you turning the pages! This book was a really quick read! I finished in a couple of days and already want to read more books in this series! Great mystery! Recommend this book 100%!!
November 25, 2025
What a dark and twisty five-star read. This is the first story in the Olivia Cruz series and it shows us what a great series this will be. We could all do with someone like Olivia in our lives, that friend who knows to trust their gut, even after they have been through a horrific kidnap, Olivia is still strong enough to fight for others, and I love how protective she is of her niece Nicky, but she still lets her have her space. I don’t know if I enjoyed this so much as I loved the Morgan Dane series, but it grabbed me all the way through, and I am excited to see what we will get next.
October 29, 2025
Every time Melinda expands her literary world to bring about more information about her characters previously introduced, I am always at the edge of my seat. I truly enjoyed reading the first of Olivia’s series. The dimensions of this story are endless. I was on the edge of my seat from the start of Zoe’s podcast. Highly recommend and cannot wait for the next installment.
Thank you to NetGalley for the early preview!
Thank you to NetGalley for the early preview!
October 31, 2025
I absolutely love Melinda Leigh's books, she simply never disappoints. When I saw You Can Tell Me on NetGalley, of course, I jumped on it. And I loved every page of this book, it kept me hooked from the beginning to the ending. The story was so good without being predictable, and I really enjoyed the characters, I can't wait to read more books in this new series.
*I received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Montlake in exchange for a honest review.
*I received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Montlake in exchange for a honest review.
December 20, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for an ARC!
First I have to say I LOVE the Bree Taggert series and have read all of those books. This book I enjoyed but not to the same level. I feel like there were some elements of the plot that didn't get answered within the story. I really liked Olivia, Lincoln, and Nikki and that was my favorite part of the story. I wasn't the biggest fan of the case and the decisions that Olivia made. Because of that I had mixed feelings while reading in a way that left me feeling like I liked this book but didn't love it. I would probably read a second book in the series to determine my feelings further.
First I have to say I LOVE the Bree Taggert series and have read all of those books. This book I enjoyed but not to the same level. I feel like there were some elements of the plot that didn't get answered within the story. I really liked Olivia, Lincoln, and Nikki and that was my favorite part of the story. I wasn't the biggest fan of the case and the decisions that Olivia made. Because of that I had mixed feelings while reading in a way that left me feeling like I liked this book but didn't love it. I would probably read a second book in the series to determine my feelings further.
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