Please Don't Go

by H.K. Christie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Fast paced thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat! Gripping read with twist and turns in every chapter.”

She thought she left the past behind. Until a long-buried secret pulled her back—and turned her into a killer.

Fresh off a brutal divorce, Jess is unraveling. The last thing she expects to find in her childhood home is a box of boy-band memorabilia—remnants of her teenage obsession that once gave her hope during darker times. But hidden among the posters and ticket stubs is a decades-old secret that changes everything.

Now someone is dead. Jess is holding the gun. And she can’t remember pulling the trigger.

As her grip on reality frays, Jess races to piece together what really happened that night—and what that box was hiding. But the deeper she digs, the more twisted the truth becomes. And someone will do anything to keep it buried.

Twisty, fast-paced, and chillingly addictive, Please Don’t Go is a revenge thriller that fans of Freida McFadden and Alice Feeney won’t be able to put down.

Genres: Audiobook

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2025

About the author

H. K. Christie watched horror films far too early in life. Inspired by the likes of Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, true crime podcasts, and a vivid imagination she now writes suspenseful thrillers. When not working on her latest novel, she can be found eating & drinking with friends, walking around the lakes, or playing with her favorite furry pal. 
She is a native and current resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. 


The MARTINA MONROE series featuring Private Investigator Martina Monroe and her unofficial partner, Detective August Hirsch of the Cold Case Squad, is a nail-bing crime thriller series full of suspense. If you like high-stakes games, jaw-dropping twists, and embattled seekers struggling to do right, then you’ll love the thrilling Martina Monroe series.

The SELENA BAILEY series is a collection of suspenseful stories detailing one young woman's turbulent path to becoming a top-notch, kick-ass private investigator. If you like thrilling twists, dark tension, and smart and driven women, then you’ll love this new dark thriller series. A Permanent Mark is a suspenseful murder mystery featuring a grown-up Selena Bailey.

www.authorhkchristie.com

Reviews

[Melissa Dunbar · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know how anyone would call this book a suspense psychological thriller it was so boring I just kept reading it to see if it got better

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jess, formerly known as Jessica, is piecing her life back together after a bitter divorce, seeking solace from betrayal by prioritizing her own happiness. She reinvents herself with a new wardrobe and dives headfirst into the nightlife, indulging in fleeting encounters.

While sorting through her belongings post-divorce, Jess stumbles upon memorabilia from her teenage obsession with a pop band. This discovery sparks a reckless plan that puts both her life and others' in jeopardy.

This is not a thriller packed with twists or high-stakes suspense; rather, it’s a journey of self-discovery and revenge that spirals out of control, keeping readers wondering whether Jess will succeed in her dangerous scheme. The story explores the dark side of the entertainment industry and the ripple effects when individuals evade accountability for their actions.

A fast-paced read, I rate it 3.25 out of 5—engaging, though I wished for more suspense and well, just more.

Thank you NetGalley and Keekstar Media for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Sara Ennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twisty, emotional ride with a boy band at the center and Vegas flashing in the background—what’s not to love? H.K. Christie takes a wild concept and makes it work with sharp pacing and just the right amount of heart. Fun, dramatic, and full of tension.

[Larae Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters are complex and flawed, making it difficult to fully trust anyone—just as a good thriller should. Christie does a fantastic job exploring themes of obsession, fear, and control without losing the emotional depth that makes the story feel personal and impactful.

The pacing is well balanced, alternating between quiet, suspenseful moments and high-stakes action that ratchets up the tension effectively. The atmospheric writing paints vivid, sometimes unsettling scenes that immerse you fully in the story’s mood and setting.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A round of applause shall we!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Wow… what did I just read? Once again H.K. Christie had me glued to the pages.

This book is intense, suspenseful, very entertaining, and the twists? My jaw was dropping so many times I lost count.

Jess recently divorced and it turned her world upside down. While digging through an old box filled with teenage memorabilia, the sad feelings quickly turned to revenge and obsession. And then my friends, you need to read to find out the rest.

Highly recommend!

Thank you so much @authorhkchristie for being part of your ARC Team, and for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Marie Wikle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery and suspense that surrounds Jess as she puts her life back together will keep you glued to this book until the very end. I couldn’t put it down!

Another fantastic read from this author!!

[Tayler Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the quickest I’ve sped through an HK Christie book! I’m usually a slow reader and I finished this in about 24 hours. Fast paced and keeps you turning the page until the very end!

[Melissa Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fast paced read. Kept you wanting more.

[Rosio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Story was too repetitive and just dragged for me. It was more about the love for a boy band than an actual thriller.

[Skylar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a good message but I wouldn’t exactly call this a thriller

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

H.K Chrsitie has done it again - Left my jaw on the floor with her brand new psychological thriller book 'Please don't go' a standalone, revenge novel that follows the story of Jess out for revenge!! And she will stop at nothing! A brilliant twisty, page turning, unputdownable thriller book, with a strong female character and brilliant character building. This book is written very well! And will be released on 30th May (and will be available on Kindle unlimited!). I highly recommend this book to all thriller book lovers that love a fast-paced, gripping thriller read! This is a must-read and deserves all the stars!

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Please Don’t Go" by H.K. Christie is an intense, twisty ride packed with revenge, vigilante justice, and raw emotion. I couldn’t put it down—the pacing was perfect, and every reveal had me rethinking everything. The characters are layered and complex, especially the main character whose pain and determination hit hard. This story pulls you into a dark world where justice isn’t always clean, and sometimes the only way forward is through the wreckage. Absolutely gripping.

[Cc Readsss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release: May 30, 2025
Author: HK Christie
Publisher: Keekstar

Rating: 3.75 ★ 

Jess thought she was just trying to move on after a messy divorce—distracting herself with one-night stands and going through the motions in therapy. But everything shifts the night she finds an old box filled with pop-star memorabilia from her teenage years. What starts as a nostalgic trip quickly turns into something much darker when she uncovers a secret tied to her past.

As Jess dives deeper, the line between obsession and truth begins to blur. Haunted by what she’s discovered and driven by a need to make things right, she becomes consumed—until she finds herself standing over a body with a gun in her hand, wondering how it all spiraled out of control.

Now she’s forced to face the question: is she unraveling, or has she finally uncovered a truth too dangerous to ignore?

After a painful divorce, Jess is trying to rebuild her life. She changes her look, starts putting herself first, and takes a bold leap by chasing down a piece of her past—her favorite boy band from her teen years is playing in Vegas, and she’s going. But what starts as a nostalgic trip quickly unravels into something darker.

Jess is a complicated character—impulsive, emotionally raw, and still wrestling with unresolved trauma. Her choices aren’t always rational, and that makes her feel real. The story isn’t a fast-paced thriller, but it is a slow burn that pulls you in. There’s a heavy undercurrent of grief, regret, and revenge, especially as it becomes clear how deeply the past—particularly one tragic event tied to the band—still haunts her.

This book is more about the emotional fallout of hero worship and the price of denial than it is about shocking twists. It shows how teenage idols can cast long shadows and how far someone might go when the people responsible for pain never face consequences.


Favorite Quote:
"maybe the world would be easier if we could just run away, take off somewhere where nothing could hurt us."

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Please Don't Go
✍🏻H.K Christie
Blurb:
She thought she left the past behind. Until a long-buried secret pulled her back—and turned her into a killer.

Fresh off a brutal divorce, Jess is unraveling. The last thing she expects to find in her childhood home is a box of boy-band memorabilia—remnants of her teenage obsession that once gave her hope during darker times. But hidden among the posters and ticket stubs is a decades-old secret that changes everything.

Now someone is dead. Jess is holding the gun. And she can’t remember pulling the trigger.

As her grip on reality frays, Jess races to piece together what really happened that night—and what that box was hiding. But the deeper she digs, the more twisted the truth becomes. And someone will do anything to keep it buried.

Twisty, fast-paced, and chillingly addictive, Please Don’t Go is a revenge thriller that fans of Freida McFadden and Alice Feeney won’t be able to put down.

My Thoughts
Please Don't Go, A fast paced gritty and compelling thriller. This was a page turner. Laced with grief, regret, and trauma this thriller delivers.
Jess is freshly divorced, emotionally wrecked and just trying to make it through the day without crying. The she finds aa box from her childhood that should be harmless nostalgia but instead it's a trinkets from her childhood, she discovers a secret from her past. The distinction between truth and obesesseion. Everything spirals to a choacitc point when she finds herself one a dead boy, a guanine her hand and wondering how she got to this point. This is my first book by H.K. Christie but I will be on the look out for more.
Thanks to NetGalley, Kekstar Media, Author H.K Christie for the complimentary ARC. In appreciation I am leaving my review.
#NetGalley
$KeekstarMedia
#H.K.Christie
#PleaseDon'tGo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please Don't Go by H.K. Christie is a fast-paced, gritty, and compelling thriller that sank its teeth into me and did not let go!

Jess is trying to move on from an awful divorce. Throwing herself into therapy and one night stands, she is trying anything to distract herself. When she finds a box from when she was a teenager, the popstar trinkets are a welcome nostalgia, at first. But when she discovers a secret from her past, the distinction between truth and obsession is blurred. Everything spirals to a chaotic point when she finds herself over a dead body, a gun in her hand, and wondering how she got to this point.

This is the first book by H.K. Christie that I have read and it will not be my last! Laced with grief, regret, and trauma this thriller checks all the boxes! Our MC Jess is a flawed character but definitely believable and real. I love the exploration of what happens when people don't own up to their actions and the repercussions afterwards. Overall I really enjoyed this twisty and raw thriller and highly recommend checking it out!!

Thank you to NetGalley, H.K. Christie, and Keekstar Media for this ARC!! Publication date is May 30th 2025.

[JustJeri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story, albeit a sad, heart wrenching one. After the plot foundation was laid out with the necessary elements for the story, it began to slow down for me. Jess’s encounter with a bar pick-up was tragic and I expected a resolution or an “ending or purpose” to that plot piece. Something that felt extremely out of place for me and no tie in to the story. As Jess moves forward toward her vengeance plan, memories from the past interfere and cause additional emotional struggles for her. The author created the Jess character with depth and multiple sides of her personality, and internal struggles. Sometimes I thought Jess was over the top with her ‘plan’ and her pushy strategy, and reckless at times. What were her plans when she reached her goal? I don’t think she truly had that figured out. When she was off her mark, she resorted to the strong willed, intelligent software savvy side of herself, which the reader doesn’t see much of until the last section of the book. This is a good story and kept me captivated, and I remain a fan of this author. I received a complimentary ARC, but I am voluntarily offering my personal opinion.

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis: Jessica is 35 and her marriage is over. Her older husband has decided to restart his life with a girl that can give him a child. She tells everyone she’s doing fine, but she’s spiraling. Deciding to take charge of her life, she becomes Jess. Although that leads to a disaster and then she decides to move away and get close to the boy band that she and her bestie were obsessed with as teenagers. But her reasons for doing so are steeped in more than a childhood obsession. She has a wrong to right and a bumbling way of trying to fix things.

My review: I wouldn’t really describe this as a psychological thriller. It was pretty easy to figure out what was going on as the story went. I wasn’t surprised by anything. That being said, the audio kept my attention and the FMC was just chaotic enough to keep it interesting. She was all over the place for most of the book.

Some potential trigger warnings:

- IVF/infertility
- Cheating spouse
- Divorce
- Underage SA (discussed but not depicted in detail)
- SA while drugged (discussed but not depicted in detail)
- Sleazy pervy character
- Suicide

[VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like digging through a dusty box of teen dreams… and finding a ticking time bomb underneath the boy band posters.

Jess is freshly divorced, emotionally wrecked, and just trying to make it through the day without crying into her cereal. Then she finds a box from her childhood that should be harmless nostalgia—but instead? It’s a straight-up panic attack in cardboard form. Suddenly she’s spiraling through secrets, late-night regrets, and one seriously haunting mystery.

H.K. Christie’s writing is vivid and gritty—you can practically feel the anxiety buzzing under Jess’s skin and hear the pop music echoes of her youth turning into something much darker. The pacing moves fast, like a runaway train you don’t want to stop, and Jess? She’s a mess in the best way. Raw, real, relatable.

There’s obsession, deception, therapy that probably shouldn’t be working, and a dead body waiting like a mic drop at the end. Buckle up, buttercup—Please Don’t Go is a dark and twisty ride you’ll finish in one breathless sitting.

[Peyton Maloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

EEEEK!! I love me some H.K. Christie 🤩 She never disappoints.

My first stand alone book from her, and I could not put this one down! (If you haven’t started Martina Monroe or Selena Bailey series by her… shame on you) I felt like I was reading one of Freida McFadden’s books… just an odd, but very intriguing, main character.

Jessica, or shall I say Jess, is a newly single thirty year old that wants a complete change in her life. She’s tired of settling, tired of doing everything to make others happy… so she sets off to Las Vegas for a new adventure. She lands her dream job, working for the boy band, New Soundz, her and her bestie Rochelle LIVED FOR back when they were teenagers.

Back when they were teenagers, something tragic happens to Rochelle. Jess makes it her mission to do the right thing for Rochelle, no matter what it takes.

Such a quick and exhilarating read! If you’re in a slump, this is the perfect book for you. This book publishes on May 30!!

[Jessica Wilczynski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica is still trying to get over the fact that her husband has left her for another woman and her life is not where she thought it would be by now. She looks through some of her old things and realizes that she used to love life and she is determined to be the new best version of herself. She finds out that the band New Soundz that she loved when she was younger is having a residency in Vegas and she decides to go and spend a month or so there. Her first day in Vegas she meets a man who works for the band and is able to get her a part time job with them. She is excited because this means her plan for revenge is coming together perfectly.

This was a really quick and fast paced read. I would definitely say that this is more of a psychological Reas than a thriller but I still enjoyed it!

[Justice Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a five star read.
H.K. Doesn’t disappoint. I enjoyed this book from start to finish. There was never a dull moment. I was hooked from the very first line. “ I didn’t plan to kill him, but I’m glad he’s dead”.

Jess is a recently divorced woman whom her husband left her for a younger women and she finds herself and her new way of life which is to fix a wrong done to her child hood best friend and she has a plan. You’ll have to read to find out what her plan is.
But you won’t be disappointed in this thriller.


I have read all of HK books and this is definitely one of my favorites!!

Thank you for allowing me to be on your ARC team and have the opportunity to read this early.

[Melanie Ollila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twisting tale of a woman bent on justice for best friend from childhood.

Jessica has had enough of her ordinary life as the ink dries on her divorce papers. She sets out to change who she is. She goes through a bit of a midlife crisis. Upon going through the last boxes from her things left by her ex, she stumbles onto her fan girl memorabilia of a boy band.

It sets off a clandestine plan when she finds out the boy band is now a residency band in Vegas. And she is going to right the wrongs of her youth and that last concert she went to.

There was a bit of repetitive sections and the events a bit unbelievable, to perfectly perfect falling into place so it fell a little short of other books I’ve read by HK Christie.

[Judy Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please Don't Go will hold you firmly glued to the pages from beginning to end.

Jess finds herself recently divorced and is scrambling to put her life back together.

When she finds an old jacket with a band's insigna on it memories come back in tidal waves.

Not all of them good.

Jess sets out to right the wrongs that happened to her best friend and revenge is definitley on top of her list.

The suspense builds with every bad decision Jess makes and you just know this wont end well for anyone.

H.K. Christie is a master at keeping you guessing and takes you down a twisted path that will have you holding your breath.

Please Don't Go is a gripping read that is not to be missed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Keekstar Media for the privilege of reading and reviewing Please Don't Go.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first, thank you Netgalley and Keekstar Media for this ARC!

This is my first H.K. Christie book as far as I can recall, and I am certain it will not be my last.

It is surely not your typical thriller, but it is still a story with shocking twists and turns. We have Jess, who really does not live her best life, so to say, after moving on from her divorce. What started as a distraction and a trip down memory lane soon turned darker. Because Jess comes to realize there are dark things hiding in her past. Things that could also detroy her future...

Very great book, filled with trauma and a lot of emotions. Definitely will have me keep thinking about it long after I finished reading!

[Brooke Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, if you’re a Blockhead this book will bring back so many memories of being a fan! I loved the suspense that came with this book. Twists and turns with every page turn. A fan girl for life wants to get back and the person who ruined her best friend’s life when they were teenagers. She makes a huge change in her life to make sure she can do what needs to be done. You have to read to learn what really happens. H. K. Christie never disappoints! Thank you for letting me be on your ARC team and have the opportunity to read and give an honest review on your books! If you haven’t read any of her books yet, you better start! Blockheads for life!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jess decided to move on after her divorce.
She changes her hair, her clothes, and then she hears that her favourite band from her teen years is playing in Las Vegas and decides that she will attend their gigs.
It is bittersweet, her best friend's life was ruined because of that band.

A great read. A little slow in places, but all in all a page turner.
Jess has unresolved psychological issues, and doesn't always think her actions through.
She acts before she thinks.
Tragic in places, and believable, because teenage girls aren't always wise when it comes to their idols.

4/5 stars from me.

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exciting psychological thriller. We start out with the aftermath of a murder. The story then goes back to “6 weeks earlier”. Jess has gone through a divorce after being dumped suddenly by her husband. After he returns some of her old boxes to her, she starts going through her childhood memorabilia, reminiscing about better times. As she goes through her things which bring back memories, discoveries are made, and things get twisted. Jess tries to piece everything together. This is another great story by HK Christie. I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.

[Sahar's Honest Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge or Justice?
Jess’s life is unraveling. A painful divorce sends her back to her childhood home, where a forgotten box of teenage memorabilia stirs up memories she thought she’d buried for good. But tucked among the nostalgia lies a secret—one that pulls her into a confrontation she never anticipated.
Now, someone is dead, and Jess is holding the gun. She didn’t mean to kill—but she did go looking for answers, and maybe even justice. Or was it revenge?
This twisty psychological thriller is both emotionally charged and quietly chilling. I couldn’t put it down. A compelling read for those who like suspense driven by long-buried trauma and the gray space between right and wrong.

[Joanie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess is trying to find her new life path after a bitter divorce when her ex brings her some boxes she left when she left his house. The first box she opens takes her back twenty years when her life was good...until it wasn't. These memories send Jess on a path to do in her mind will be justice. While pursuing this new life she learns how much she is really capable of...including killing the man she knows is responsible of shattering her life and the life of her best friend all those years ago, and countless of other lives since.
(Thanks to the author for an advance copy)

[Red Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

"She set out to right a wrong—but with her sanity cracking and her obsession raging, Jess may have unleashed something she can’t control."
Please Don't Go is a fast paced read that will have you turning pages until the end. The author did a good job writing this one and all of the characters in this were interesting. Overall, this was one that I did enjoy and would recommend to any reader who like thrillers. Thank you to the author for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review of Please Don't Go.