You Can Tell Me

Olivia Cruz #1

by Melinda Leigh

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?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Adult, Crime, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 12, 2026

About the author

#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

Reviews

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Popcorn thriller that was entertaining but not memorable.

[MariLou Schuman · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC closer to publication date per the request of the publisher.

[Celeste Velocci (bookrecs_by_celeste)]

Thank you Montlake, Amazon Publishing, and Over the River PR for my gifted copy and spot on You Can Tell Me book tour! All opinions are my own.

This is my first Melinda Leigh book and now I need to go back and read her other series especially because our main character Olivia Cruz is one of her characters in past series. You Can Tell Me was book 1 in a new Leigh series and will definitely be continuing.

I loved the true crime podcast tie in to the book. It really added a level of likeness to it for me while reading.

Olivia Cruz was kidnapped and help captive but managed to escape and be saved. Now one of her friends Zoe a true crime podcaster has gone missing. Due to her traumatic past and love for her friend Olivia will stop at nothing to make sure Zoe will have a safe return just as she had.

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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★)

[Read All About It · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!

[Daniella · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the three-year anniversary of her own kidnapping, true crime writer Olivia Cruz plans to revisit the crime scene with her podcaster friend Zoe except Zoe never shows. When Zoe is reported missing, Olivia starts digging into her friend’s past and uncovers old crimes, buried secrets, and a long-simmering revenge plot.

This book hooked me hard at the start. Creepy home invasion, real fear, high tension. I was ready.

And then… it turned into a procedural that really loves conversations. And logistics. And theorizing. And explaining things. In detail. Repeatedly.

Nothing is badly done. It’s actually very organized and methodical. But the story spends more time discussing what might have happened than making me feel anything about what did happen. Long chapters, lots of investigation talk, and side plots that don’t fully connect drained the momentum for me.

By the halfway point, I had the mystery figured out and the rest felt like paperwork.

If you enjoy step-by-step investigations and puzzle-forward crime novels, this will probably work for you. If you’re here for emotional punch, urgency, and tension that sinks its teeth in… this one may feel more like a meeting than a thriller.

Strong opening. Solid mystery. Just not my vibe.

[Sophia]

On the anniversary of her kidnapping, a woman awaits a True Crime podcaster friend who never shows at the scene. Melinda Leigh beings a new series with a bang-up start.

My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 6.25.26.

[Diana Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharp, menacing, and full of twists!

In this compelling first instalment in the Olivia Cruz series, You Can Tell Me, Leigh delivers a fast-paced thriller that follows true-crime writer Olivia Cruz as she becomes entangled in a chilling mystery when podcaster Zoe Marsh, who is set to interview Olivia about her own horrific kidnapping, suddenly disappears without a trace.

The writing is taut and intense. The characters are relentless, determined, and scarred. And the plot unfolds into a gripping web of twists, turns, red herrings, haunting secrets, drama, deception, obsession, friendship, violence, and vengeance.

Overall, You Can Tell Me is an intricate, suspenseful, sinister start to a promising new series by Leigh filled with layered characters, chilling tension, and a storyline that keeps you hooked until the very end.

[Becca Wilder · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Bithia Rissinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the anniversary of her own kidnapping, crime writer Olivia Cruz returns to the place where her life nearly ended. Her friend, true crime podcaster Zoe March, is supposed to meet her there—but Zoe never arrives.

Zoe’s husband reports her missing, and police are quick to assume she walked away. Olivia knows better. When she finds Zoe’s abandoned phone and a single word sent in terror—Run—it becomes clear Zoe uncovered something she wasn’t meant to find.

As Olivia follows her friend’s final steps, the past closes in and the danger grows closer. Someone wanted Zoe silent. And now Olivia may be next

This dual-POV suspense novel, narrated from the perspectives of Olivia and Zoe, really hit the mark for me. The alternating viewpoints add such rich layers to the story—each woman’s voice feels distinct, and their contrasting experiences build tension in a way that keeps you turning pages even when the pace is deliberately measured.
One of the standout elements is the thoughtful inclusion of diversity, which feels organic and meaningful rather than forced. The characters come from varied backgrounds, and it enriches the dynamics without ever feeling like a checkbox.

What I appreciated most, though, is how the book leans into middle age as the center of the narrative. The main characters (and several supporting ones) are solidly Gen X or older Millennials—flawed, experienced, relatable people in their 40s and beyond who aren’t portrayed as “past their prime” or sidelined. It’s refreshing to read a thriller where not every protagonist is a flawless 25-year-old.

The story smartly highlights generational differences in attitudes, beliefs, and priorities—those subtle clashes between how older and younger characters approach life, relationships, and conflict feel authentic and add real depth.

The suspense builds slowly, almost like a creeping fog, which I loved. It relies on psychological tension, quiet revelations, and mounting unease rather than constant action, making the eventual payoff feel earned and satisfying.

If you’re in the mood for a character-driven suspense with mature protagonists, strong dual narration, and some sharp observations about generational divides, this one is worth picking up. Highly recommend for readers tired of the same young-adult-heavy thrillers.

Although there are a few loose ends I found YOU CAN TELL ME a solid, immersive read—can’t wait to see what this author does next.

Thanks to Montclair for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Dísir · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

3.5 hearts

I didn't realize how connected Can You Tell Me was to other series I have read by Melinda Leigh. Her books are always enjoyable but this upped the pleasure for me.   It is directly connected to the Morgan Dane series where the last book Save Your Breath is the foundation of the main character here, Olivia Cruz.

Olivia is a true crime writer.  Her long time friend (15 years) Zoe disappears and it's eerily like the feeling of when Olivia herself was abducted 3 years ago.  With the help of Lincoln Sharp, she hunts for Zoe.  Zoe does a true crime podcast.  They investigate her business partner, her husband and her cases.  Eventually, they are led to things in her past.

During this, Olivia's niece is roofied and that becomes another investigation.  Lance helps with this one, along with Lincoln.  The niece is very shaken. She ends up in the hospital and then stays with Olivia, helping look for Zoe.

The trail to Zoe is one of bloody fights and dead people.  Someone is after her.  Olivia and Lincoln end up in danger from her pursuer and a flooding rainstorm.   It's exciting and dangerous.  I look forward to the next book,  I Know Your Secret in September 2027.

Narration:
The narrator is new to me and does not seem to have too many titles yet.   Her voice was pleasant and appropriate.  I don't know if it is the narrator or the production but the pacing was something I didn't like.  Maybe it's called something different.  It was a sentence - pause - sentence - pause.  Every pause disrupted the flow.  The narration added to the emotional tone.  I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip: HERE

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Cc Readsss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release:  May 12, 2026
Author:  Melinda Leigh
Publisher:  Montlake

Rating: 4.25★  

Thoughts:
Melinda Leigh’s you can tell me is a taut, gripping thriller that twists and turns through a web of secrets, betrayal, and danger. Olivia Cruz’s race to uncover the truth about her missing friend Zoe leads to a dark and relentless chase, driven by a compelling narrative and sharp suspense. Leigh masterfully blends the tension of a missing person case with the chilling undercurrents of past trauma, keeping readers hooked until the very end.

This book suits someone in the mood for something: Tense
How would you rate the pace of this book? Fast
Is this book mainly plot or character driven? A mix
Is there strong character development? Yes
Do you find the characters loveable?It's complicated
Is the cast of characters diverse? Yes
Are character flaws a main focus? Yes
Main themes, topics, or tropes:
True crime, missing person, friendship, secrets, suspens

Synopsis:
In you can tell me , true crime writer Olivia Cruz is pulled back into a world of fear and suspicion when her podcaster friend Zoe vanishes on the anniversary of Olivia's own traumatic kidnapping. As Olivia digs into Zoe's past, she uncovers chilling secrets, discovering that her friend’s disappearance may be connected to dark forces that could put them both in grave danger.

Favorite Quote:  
 "the truth was a fragile thing, easily shattered by the wrong words at the wrong time."

[Mercedes Narain · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars Quick recap:
Olivia Cruz, a true-crime writer, is still dealing with the trauma of her kidnapping three years ago. On the anniversary, she plans to revisit the crime scene with her friend Zoe, a true-crime podcaster, but when Zoe never shows up, everything changes. The search for Zoe pulls in Olivia, her PI boyfriend Lincoln, and her niece Nicki. I wasn’t ready for the rollercoaster this story took me on.

My thoughts:
From the very beginning, my heart was racing. The tension never really lets up; it felt super intense and real.
I really loved the relationship between Olivia and her niece, Nicki. Their aunt-and-niece dynamic was one of my favorite parts. Nicki had so much personality and honestly made me laugh with her constant hunger.

The multiple POVs and twists kept me hooked the entire time. I’m a sucker for anything with a true-crime podcast angle, and this one delivered. It was gripping right up until the very end.

Audiobook narration:
I’m so glad I listened to this on audio. Mandy Figueroa absolutely nailed the narration. She brought everything to life so vividly that I could clearly picture every scene. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was that good.

I can’t wait to read more from Melinda Leigh! I highly recommend the audiobook, especially if you love true-crime podcast vibes. I think you will enjoy it just as much as I did.

Thank you so much to Brilliance Publishing & Melinda Leigh for the complimentary ALC!

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[AgaMaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Samantha (rain.books.and.tea) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ 4 🎧

If Melinda writes it, I’m going to read it. By now I’ve made my way through a good part of her backlist and have read the Bree Taggert series twice! I also really enjoyed the Morgan Dane series and was excited for Olivia to get her own spinoff.

So I am really disappointed to say that I don’t think this was her best work. Usually when I read one of Melinda’s books I can’t put it down and I have more often than not been blindsided by the reveal. Even when rereading Bree’s books I’ll be surprised all over again. But this one seemed pretty obvious and failed to keep my attention.

I was excited to be back in this world and loved seeing Lance again. But I was more interested in Olivia’s nice Nicki and a potential spinoff with her than I was in Olivia and Sharp.

I liked a lot of things about Olivia, especially her drive and determination. But I don’t think I really liked her, so it was hard for me to be invested in this book. The whole climax all I could think about is how ridiculous it would have been if she wore the cute shoes she wanted to instead of the appropriate shoes her niece forced her to wear.

I’ve loved everything else Melinda has written so I’m hoping this is just and one off for me and that the next book in this series will be another 5⭐️ read.

Thank you to Melinda and Brilliance Audio for this ALC.

[Chellsvibes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook and it pulled me in right away. I prefer audio and immersive reading, and this one worked really well for that.

The story centers around a missing friend, but the deeper it goes, the more it feels like there’s a lot more happening under the surface. Everyone seems to have their own version of events, and none of them fully add up. That constant feeling of something not being right kept me locked in the entire time.

I kept trying to figure out what really happened to Zoe, but every time I thought I had a direction, something shifted just enough to make me question it again. The tension builds steadily and keeps you wanting answers.

The narrator did a great job keeping me engaged and made it easy to stay focused on the story. I do think that having dual narrators could have made the experience even more immersive, especially with the different perspectives, but I still really enjoyed the audiobook overall.

The mix of secrets, investigation, and that underlying sense of unease made this one hard to step away from.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTkn6m2Vu/

[Amanda (_sunshine_reads_) Hengen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melinda Leigh writes every story in a way that I am sucked in & invested immediately. This one was no different. I was so excited for this series and it's off to a great start! It doesn't feel new necessarily, since we know many of the characters already. But, we get to learn so much more about Olivia & see her really take the lead role in her own story. I enjoyed getting to meet her niece and see the bond they have as well. Those two make quite the pair! If I ever go missing, I hope they're on the case! Especially coupled with Sharp & Lance's muscle & investigative skills. Even Morgan - the lawyer we all hope we never need but definitely want on our side! It was so fun to see everybody & meet some new people too. As usual, I had no idea what to expect or who to suspect! I was fully along for the ride though & kept getting surprised twist after twist. It was well done & wrapped up really nicely! Definitely recommend checking this one out! I really enjoyed the audio too - Mandy Figueroa really did a fantastic job on this solo narration!

Thank you so much to Melinda Leigh, Brilliance Publishing, Brilliance Audio, & NetGalley for this ARC/ALC opportunity! I really enjoy doing an immersive read!

[Beth Von Voigt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia is a true crime writer with a horrific past. She has decided that to mark the three year anniversary of her kidnapping, she’s going to do a tell all interview on her friend Zoe’s podcast. However, when Zoe fails to show for their meeting, she knows something isn’t right. Due to the lack of evidence stating otherwise, the police assume Zoe just left her husband. Olivia feels otherwise and is determined to find Zoe especially if no one else will.

This was a great start to a new series. The action was gripping and fast paced. I loved Olivia’s determination to find out what happened to Zoe and her will to keep pushing for answers. I also loved that Olivia enlisted her boyfriend and her niece to help her with her investigation. I liked the web of secrets that had become Zoe’s life and wasn’t expecting the details of the ending. If I went missing, I’d definitely want someone like Olivia in my corner! The storyline was complex without becoming confusing. I felt the ending was wrapped up a little too quickly. I would have liked to have the final chapters of the story a bit more drawn out. I can’t wait to read what comes next for Olivia! *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

[Ebony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book features characters from the Morgan Dane series, specifically book 6 - Save Your Breath. You definitely need to read that book first in order to have a better understanding of the characters.
I must admit that it’s been a while since I’d read ‘Save Your Breath’, and while I remember Lincoln Sharp and Lance Kruger, I didn’t remember much about Olivia Cruz or her storyline.
‘You Can Tell Me’ picks up 3 years later with Olivia and Lincoln investigating a missing person case. Zoe March, a fellow true crime journalist has gone missing. With the police believing she simply left on her own accord, it’s up to Olivia and Lincoln to trace Zoe’s last footsteps to try and find her before it’s too late.
Who doesn’t love a new series from a favourite author? That’s why I picked this book up but overall this was just an ok read for me. I didn’t feel a need to read just one more chapter despite the time, like I normally do with Melinda Leigh novels. It was an adequate read but it didn’t blow me away. 3.5 stars.
** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher**

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one reeled me in quickly, heart pumping tension, and fear. We discover what happened to Olivia on a fateful evening three years ago and how she has overcome that tragic day. It also follows Zoe, a true crime podcaster who is supposed to meet Olivia on the day of the anniversary to get the grim details of what happened that fateful night. But Zoe never shows up.
Olivia know’s this isn’t normal Zoe behavior and we now follow Olivia who is a true crime writer alongside her family sometimes and boyfriend, Lincoln investigate into what happened with Zoe. A police procedure that follows all the clues that Zoe and others are leaving behind. Towards the end the book really increases the tension, and it was such a heart pumping listen.
The narrator, Mandy Figueroa did a wonderful job portraying Olivia, Zoe, Lincoln and several of the other characters to life. She breathed life into these characters and their characters felt so real. It really elevated the story for me.
I really liked the revenge driven plot in this story and loved seeing how Lincoln and Olivia’s relationship is growing.

A very special thanks to Brilliance Audio + Netgalley for the gifted Audiobook. You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh Pub May 12.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

New series! 3.5 stars

Yes, this is a new series, but there are characters from other Scarlett Falls-set novels such as Lincoln Sharp and his business partner, Lance, the author has done a good job of weaving characters in. The new female main character is Olivia, a true crime journalist who is a kidnapping survivor. One of her friends, Zoe, is a podcaster set to interview Olivia on the 3rd anniversary of her kidnapping. When Zoe doesn't show up at the appointed time, Olivia is worried and begins to investigate. Her romantic partner Sharp and her niece Nicki get involved in the search as well.

I felt this was a good story, maybe a bit rushed. There are a few leads thrown into the mix so that the reader doesn't know whether Zoe was taken or left on her own. If she did leave on her own, why? And why does it appear that she's been ready to do so for years? Does Olivia really know her friend? I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see where Olivia goes from here.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.