When a wife becomes the prime suspect in her husband’s murder, this criminal psychologist must forget everything she thought she knew in order to clear her name in this debut psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Shanora Williams’ The Wife Before. Cassidy Evans is the blueprint. As a Criminal Psychologist, Cassidy is a savant. She spent years solving groundbreaking cases by shifting through the minds and behaviors of those driven by the darkness that controls them. After years of dedicated field work, Cassidy decides to retire and share her expertise of killers’ mentalities as a novelist. As a published author, she’s now happily married and spends most of her time traveling the world and sharing with others how to understand the twisted minds that drive bad behaviors. Unfortunately, with all of the knowledge that Cassidy is armed with, she somehow overlooks the lies of the person closest to her. When she tags along to a crime scene with and old colleague, Cassidy is shocked to discover that the victim is her husband. If that’s not enough to send her world spiraling, she also finds out that the identity of the murdered victim, doesn’t match the name on their marriage license. Things quickly escalate when Cassidy becomes the main suspect. Not knowing the man she is married to is the least of Cassidy’s problems. Everyone believes she is a murderer, and none more than the lead detective on the case¾Nathanial Davis. He is determined to find the truth while proving to the world that Cassidy isn’t who she claims to be. In doing so, he decides to keep Cassidy close while digging through her past to uncover all of her untold truths. While she’s hiding secrets that could totally destroy the world she spent years building, Cassidy learns that things are never what they seem. With such an intricate familiarity of seeing through lies, how is it that Cassidy is happily married to a man who she loves and adores, but doesn’t truly know? Suddenly, losing her career is far less important than maintaining her freedom. In the end, she may lose both.
KC Mills is an international bestselling author, speaker, and CEO. Ranked along with well respected authors, Mills has over 100 books which have hit number 1 bestsellers. She has proven herself as a leader in her industry with over 120 successful books written and published within a five year timeframe. She is committed to bringing exceptional literary works that offer a romantic twist, as well as subtlety veering away from the norm. She still however leaves you captivated by her stories, characters and always wanting more. Mills’ current focus is her cross over to the script writing arena where she will begin writing for some of Atlanta’s top production companies and the nation’s most notable television networks.
Anyone who knows me knows romantic suspense is my jam. So, when I heard K.C. Mills was jumping into this genre, I immediately requested an ARC and sis did not disappoint. Cassidy Evans is a world-renowned criminal psychologist and bestselling author who finds herself on the other side of the law when her husband is mysteriously murdered. When it’s discovered that he’s been living a double life and having multiple affairs, Cass immediately becomes the prime suspect. With her world turned upside down and no one to trust, she begins to question everything she thought she knew.
Nathaniel Davis is the new detective at the Atlanta PD, and he makes it known he’s not there to make friends. Nate said he’s there to close cases and das it. Because Cass has such close working relationship with the detectives of APD, it’s deemed a conflict of interest for any of them to work the case so, Nate is assigned as the lead detective. That does not go over well with his new brothers in blue. He could care less about Cass’ notoriety or popularity with the other detectives. If she’s guilty, he plans to prove it.
The suspense in this book had me on edge the entire time. I loved the romance between Cass and Nate. It was a slow burn but, the attraction between them was intense. If you’re a fan of romantic suspense then, Innocent Intent is a must read. It's action packed and it has the perfect balance of romance and suspense. Congratulations to K.C. Mills on her first traditionally published novel. I hope there are many more in your future. Thank you to Black Odyssey Media and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book had me hooked from the start, and I couldn't tear myself away! Cassidy Evans is seriously the coolest character ever. I mean, she's a criminal psychologist turned novelist? How epic is that? But when her own husband turns up dead, and she's the prime suspect? Talk about a jaw-dropping twist!
The suspense in this book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, Mills threw in another curveball that left me reeling. And Cassidy's romance with Detective Nathaniel Davis is so intense! I love their relationship!
But what really blew my mind was how the story kept me guessing until the very end. There were so many twists and turns, I couldn't predict what would happen next. And Mills' writing style? Absolutely flawless!
"Innocent Intent" is a must-read for thriller lovers. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and has a romance that'll make your heart race. I couldn't put it down, and I'm dying to read more from K.C. Mills!
I've been meaning to get into this author's books for years, but never knew where to start. When I saw she had a trad release coming up, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to finally give her a go and here we are.
I agree with other reviewers who said Innocent Intent felt more like romantic suspense than a thriller. There was a bigger focus on the romance than the mystery, and the latter wasn't that hard to solve (except for Davis, apparently, hah).
I guessed the culprit from the first clue we were given about them, but this didn't hinder my enjoyment. I was interested to see what this person's reasons were for doing what they did, and there was a twist relating to that which I didn't see coming.
It was a very light and easy read, would've been finished in one go too, but alas, I haven't had a lot of time these past few days so it got stretched out.
Mills's writing style is very compelling and pulls you into the story instantly, so I know I'm going to have a good time with whatever book of hers I pick up next.
As for the characters, I really liked Cassidy, and got annoyed every time Davis (or another cop) would insist she had to be behind her husband's death with zero proof. NO!! LEAVE HER ALONE!!!
Davis was not the best investigator, but I liked his romance with Cassidy. I wasn't his biggest fan at the start, because of what I mentioned in the previous paragraph, but grew to like him as the book went on.
I also enjoyed every new reveal relating to Cassidy's husband, just how many secrets did that man keep? Too many.
Overall this was a fun read, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a suspenseful story with a nice romance and interesting main character. Also, please support this author and publisher guys!!
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
When I heard K. C. Mills was releasing a thriller, I was excited - but a thriller with some romance?! YES, PLEASE!
Cassidy is a Criminal Psychologist who mysteriously finds herself at the center of her husband’s murder investigation. Not only is she the prime suspect but she has to come to terms with the fact that the man she loved is not at all who she thought he was.
Detective Nate Davis is the lead Detective on Cassidy’s case. He’s fairly new to the department and a loner with some past troubles of his own. His mission is to find the truth but once he meets Cassidy- they find themselves drawn to one another. Will Nate’s attraction to Cassidy cloud his judgement? You’ll have to read and find out 🫣
If you enjoy your thrillers with a side of romance, I definitely recommend checking this out when it releases 6/25!
Thank you NetGalley and BlackOdysseyMedia for the advanced copy!
Romantic suspense is becoming one of my favorite tropes, and KC Mills did not disappoint! Dr. Cassidy, a respected criminal psychologist, is suddenly the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. Detective Nathaniel David is determined to find the killer...even if that means proving Dr. Cassidy is guilty. As the case unfolds, secrets come to light, lines blur, and unexpected feelings develop...all while the search for the killer continues. A great read!
I did enjoy this quite a bit. Although I would say this was more of a romantic suspense than a thriller. Anyway, I pretty much figured out who did it very early but I did enjoy the ride to the very end.
Thanks to Black Odyssey Media and Netgalley for the ARC!
I read this book in one sitting, that's how much I loved this story. This thriller with a side of romance was great from beginning to end.
Cassie was being accused of her own husband's murder but that didn't stop her from trying to help solve the case on her own. Considering she was criminal psychologist who investigated with the police department frequently, she definitely put those skills to use. I loved Cassidy's character, I felt for her and was rooting for her the whole time.
Mr. Nate didn't play no games when it came to his case. He was going to investigate anyway he saw fit. Including getting close to Miss Cassidy justtttt to make sure she wasn't the murderer.
One of my favorite parts was Detective Davis' personality when he was at work. He always let them boys have it, he wasn't kissing nobody butt! All he wanted was to do his job and do it well, and I could not blame him one bit. I am glad that he found one person he could trust and confide in, he deserved it.
Anything by K.C. is always going to be an immediate read and this did not disappoint. I can't wait to read more of this genre from her.
Innocent Intent was a thriller story that quickly captured my interest from the first page. I found myself swiping pages so fast that I looked up and I had finished the book. It said, “Dr. Cassidy Evans, bestselling author, accomplished criminal psychologist and forensic profiler, was the best at her job.” Detective Nathanial Davis was the new kid on the block, with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, tasked with handling the case in which Cassidy’s husband was the murder victim.
I thought the story was engaging with the “who did it?” focus and many plot twists. I also enjoyed that there was a romantic element to the story. There was sexual tension between Davis and Cassidy, and it became a challenge for them to keep things platonic. I figured out the culprit early on. But it was still interesting to find out the reason behind the act. A few times in the book, I questioned Davis’ investigation tactics. I felt his attraction to Cassidy played a role in some of his choices. Overall, the book was interesting, and I was pleased with the outcome. Also, this story was a reminder of how people “keep their enemies close.”
**I was given a free ARC in exchange for an honest review**. I love a great “who done it” and this book delivers. There were many times when I thought I had it figured out but there were enough twists to keep me guessing. I also loved the fact that although it’s a thriller, it wasn’t void of K.C. Mills’ signature romance.
In the beginning some of the book seemed repetitive, but t did help build the story. The only things keeping me from a 5 star rating is that 1) it’s a bit unbelievable that someone who discovered that she was duped by her husband and said she would no longer trust anyone seemed to trust the detective who was trying to pin her husband’s murder on her; and 2) I didn’t love the fact that someone as intelligent as Cassidy never thought to hire an attorney as soon as she knew she was suspect. Given her background, you’d think this would be one of the first things she did. Instead, we’re to believe she was so set on her clearing her name that she never thought to seek representation.
Despite those two issues that I personally had, this book is worth reading and I highly recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I enjoyed this one a lot. Cassidy thought she was living the dream until she wasn’t. Now her husband is dead, she’s the prime suspect, and she’s attracted to the detective who’s trying to put her in jail. That’s definitely a nightmare.
This felt more like a romantic suspense than a thriller to me but that could be because I’m a romance girl, so that’s always gonna be what I hone in on in a story. KC wrote this so well, as she usually does. I tried to figure out who did it but I was wrong every single time and that was my favorite part of this read. Finding out the who and the why was A MOMENT.
I also really enjoyed the characters. I liked Cassidy a lot. I wanted her to find out the truth and not be in jail and I loved detective Nate Davis. His focus on solving the case and the way he wasn’t here for any of the bs was enjoyable to read. Every time I put this book down I just wanted yo pick it back up, I was completely invested in the story and solving the case. Congratulations to KC Mills for an amazing traditional debut. I definitely want to see more from her in the thriller/romantic suspense genres.
Thanks to Black Odyssey Media and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
I just want to start off by saying that this book didn't feel much like a thriller to me. It felt more like a light suspense story with a side of romantic development between the two main characters. I'm very disappointed that there was less focus on the crime in the story. Instead, we had Detective Nathanial Davis running around with no actual evidence against Cassie, the other main character. There was no real detective work done during the reading. It also felt like there was too much focus on Davis being a lone wolf who couldn't be bothered with his co-workers, and Cassie seemed like a minor inconvenience added to move the plot along. I understand the need for background information on characters, but in "Innocent Intent," it felt like there was too much information overload that didn't necessarily move the plot forward.
Can't say that I enjoyed this as much as I wanted to, but I am looking forward to seeing where this author goes on this new journey.
*Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
3.5 for this new story by K. C. Mills. I’m definitely familiar with this authors work so I already loved her style of writing & was interested in her spin on hearing she was putting out a thriller. Telling Cassidy & Detective Davis story it felt more like a suspenseful novel & she did include romance as well. It definitely grabs you from the very page to try to figure out what’s going on so that you can get a bit of back story on what’s happening. Detective Davis is a lone wolf that gives his co-workers including his captain hell the entire book because he’s not really a team player and then he starts softening up a bit towards the end because of Cassidy. Dr. Cassidy Evan’s had a tough upbringing but in spite of it all grew up to be very successful but her past may have come to cause some issues. Overall it was a fine thriller romance book and I’m grateful for my complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is a perfect example of an traditionally published book with indie nuance.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm a " whodoneit" reader and take pride in catching the killer early in the book. I thought I guessed it then changed my mind about 3 times. I'm also a contemporary romance lover and this was a good blend of murder and romance. I appreciated the building attraction between Nate and Cassidy. I hope to read more from this author.
This was a good murder mystery with a side of romance.
Dr. Cassidy Evans, a brilliant criminal psychologist and bestselling author, finds herself to be the prime suspect in the murder investigation of a man that she knows as her loving husband but has been identified by a name she’s never heard before.
Nathaniel Davis, the “newbie” detective, is assigned lead to the murder investigation where Cassidy is his prime suspect. Detective Davis, very much attractive and confident in his work ethics, digs through Cassidy’s past to uncover secrets that can tell him if she is as innocent as she and his colleagues claim her to be.
I really enjoyed the chemistry building between Cassidy and Davis. K.C. Mills does a great job at keeping you invested in “whodunit” and why.
The things I didn’t like: This was engaging but didn’t feel like a thriller. And the main characters are presented as specialists in their careers but their actions didn’t always reflect that, which made some events seem a bit unrealistic.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc for my honest review…
I’ve been familiar with KC since wayyyy in her old publisher who shall not be named time. So I’ve read her and have loved her for forever. Seeing that she had a thriller coming out had me excited. Reading the book I was getting aggravated with the detective because he was all over the place in his plot to try to convict Cassidy although she didn’t do anything. No evidence whatsoever. There weren’t many parts that made this feel like a thriller to me. Honestly it felt like I was reading a slow burn romance somewhat.
It took me quite some time to read this Arc because it felt like a romance versus a thriller. There was no real detective work involved and it just seemed like we were just showing Davis trying to get a love interest.
K.C. Mills's Innocent Intent is a suspenseful read. Imagine how you would feel if your murdered husband was not who you thought he was. "Niles Anderson" had at least one other identity and a secret apartment. Cassidy Evans, the shocked widow, is a suspect. The book follows a currently hot trend of tying everything to a much earlier career-changing event mentioned as part of background information. Pay attention and expect to be surprised. Clues and red herrings compete with friendship and trust issues to move the plot forward. Once again, unhappy people make interesting contributions to the plot.
K.C. Mills masterfully blends romance, suspense, and thrilling twists in Innocent Intent, a story that keeps you guessing until the very end. With its mix of murder, secrets, and complex relationships, this book pulls you in from the first page and never lets go.
Mills creates characters you’ll care about, weaving a plot full of twists and turns that leave you questioning everyone’s motives. Balancing romance with a heart-pounding mystery, Innocent Intent keeps you fully invested in figuring out who the murderer is while delivering an emotional and satisfying journey.
A must-read for fans of romantic suspense and thrillers!
okay this book was insane ! I couldn’t guess the killer for the life of me 😭 such a good, fast paced, suspenseful romance book ! plot twist gagged me lol
♡𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡ 4.5 round to 5🌟 - 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 : •murder mystery •thriller •fake identity •romance - When i saw that K.C. Mills had a murder mystery thriller and, of course, some romance book coming out! I just had to read it, and I am here for it! This book had me in a chokehold from start to finish. I devoured this book in a day. I was hooked and just had to know who did it and why. @67% I figured out who did it. But the twist and turns at the end had my mind blown! K.C. Mills did a great job with this book. Highly recommend. Cassidy Evans is a criminal psychologist. She spent years solving groundbreaking cases by shifting through the minds and behaviors of those driven by the darkness that controls them. After years of dedicated field work, Cassidy decides to retire and share her expertise in killers’ mentalities as novelists. As a published author, she’s now happily married and spends most of her time traveling the world and sharing with others how to understand the twisted minds that drive bad behaviors. Unfortunately, with all of the knowledge that Cassidy is armed with, she somehow overlooks the lies of the person closest to her. When she tags along to a crime scene with an old colleague, Cassidy is shocked to discover that the victim is her husband. If that’s not enough to send her world spiraling, she also finds out that the identity of the murdered victim, doesn’t match the name on their marriage license. Things quickly escalate when Cassidy becomes the main suspect. - ♡𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 June.25♡ - Thank you, Netgalley, and Black Odyssey Media for the (eArc)-eBook for my honest review.
Synopsis- Cassidy Evans has seriously lived a great life and would be what one would call an “It Girl”. Living the best of both worlds, she has the career and the husband. As a criminal psychologist, she has played a pivotal role in solving heinous crimes with her expertise. Now an author, she lives her days traveling and spreading word of dark behaviors of criminals from her experience. She ends her trips coming home to her expecting husband. What’s unexpected is her becoming the main suspect in his murder case.
Thoughts - I recently just started reading thrillers so when I saw KC Mills was coming out with one I was so happy. And the romance subplot? Yes please. KC Mills continues to draw her readers in with her captivating story lines and storytelling. Innocent Intent is a page turner that kept your mind wondering . Reading it felt as if you were watching your favorite tv crime drama show. I just knew I was going to have this case solved with my top of the line training from Olivia Benson and Annalise Keating (iykyk). I was side eyeing a few people and when everything panned out, I was stuck. So obviously I need some more training before I can be lead detective lol. The romance flowed well with the story and wasn’t too much. This is a great book for people wanting to tap into the genre. I can’t wait for what’s next from KC Mills! Thank you Black Odyssey Media and Net Galley for the ARC.
“I promise you’ll regret this. I promise.” “You’re more than important, you’re necessary.” “You may not want friends but it doesn’t hurt to have allies.” “Your silence is loud detective.” “His name on her tongue felt like sin, but sin of the best kind, so she embraced it.”
This was a fast paced mystery romance thriller! I really enjoyed this! This is a short thriller of a read, I like how the story moved at a pace that was digestible for the reader and how it didn’t linger too long on one subject or thing! The twist, and turns surrounding certain characters and how it all came together at the end was not on my bingo card at all! I like that the author was able to piece it all together! Long story short, you reap what you sow!
The romance between Cassidy and Nathanial was soooo good! I actually liked them together and I was rooting for them! Their connection was intense and their unwavered attraction to one another kept growing, and I like how they both did a complete 180 towards one another.
Cassidy was an interesting character…. As smart as she was, it was odd to see her in such a predicament that she was in….
I’m not sure how I feel about the ending… I wish we got a bit more because I have a few unanswered questions.
Way better than I expected tbh. This “who really done it” was pretty interesting. I liked all the twists and turns, but it was kinda predictably towards the end
Thank you to #BlackOdysseyMedia and #NetGalley for this ARC Read!
Cassidy Evans (Crime Psychologist) is the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. Cassidy goes to a crime scene with and old colleague, Cassidy is shocked to discover that the victim is her husband. She quickly finds out that the identity of the murdered victim, doesn’t match the name on their marriage license.
Of course, with this being a high profile case because of Cassidy being an author and gaining notoriety from cases she’s handled everyone believes she is a murderer. The lead detective on the case is, Nathanial Davis. He is determined to find the truth while keeping Cassidy VERY close!
I don’t tend to read a lot of thrillers, but I love KC Mills books! Innocent Intent kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who set Cassidy up or figure out if she really did this! My views changed a couple of times while reading!
I really enjoyed this read, and would definitely recommend if you like thrillers! It wasn’t a fast read for me, I would read then sit with my thoughts and I annotated (digitally) a lot! 🕵🏽♀️
Innocent Intent - Release Date: June 25, 2024 Thank you KC Mills and Black Odyssey Media for a copy of this ARC
Imagine you're married to an amazing guy and you believe you have the American Dream. A house, a great husband, your dream career which happens to be your own business and then...your husband ends up dead. But is he your husband? And now you're accused of his murder. 😮
Cassidy Evans is the main suspect in the death of her husband. K.C. did an amazing job giving us the build up that was well worth the wait. Once you get through her background story and learn more about her husband, the story moves in a way that you don't realize what's about to happen next.
We watch as Cassidy deals with her husband's death all while developing feelings for a new boo and though it may sound wild...I am absolutely here for it! 😏😍 It's amazing how the very people we think we know become strangers in a matter of seconds.
If you're into thrillers, mystery, murder, and a slow burn with twists and turns in between. This one's for you. Highly recommend! ✨Thriller ✨Close suspects ✨Suspect/Detective ✨ Spicy! 🌶️
Thank you Netgalley and Black Odyssey Media for the ARC.
Now a thriller/mystery with suspense and some dashes of romance i can most certainly do. This was good and i believe this is my first read from this author. Nate and Cassidy had some nice chemistry that had me wondering was this real or for show?? You know how that saying goes to keep your enemies close. Nate had to keep his head on straight to solve a case and Cassidy wanted to clear her name. K.C. Mills definitely had me going because who in the heck do i believe. So much information and plus some side characters were giving attitudes. I had to side eye them. Anyways, both of our main characters had not the best backgrounds growing up. So just maybe they were meant to meet but under such circumstances is wild. I also enjoyed the twist and turns because once again who can be trusted? Who is telling the truth? Where is the evidence leading us? I tell you what, i would have never guessed.
Check this read out come June 25th, 2024 if you want to know.
KC Mills gave us some fire with this one. When I like an author I don’t read the summary, I just dive into their books. So I was a little surprised and excited that we were stepping outside of Crescent Falls for something different. I LOVED this suspense/romance and I want more! I had my suspensions about who I thought it was and I was right about some things and on a journey with others. I loved how everything unfolded up until the big reveal.
🗣️🗣️🗣️ Now KC, we need a part 2 cause the time ol girl got was nothing! All she about to do is sit in that cell and plot! So if you run it back, can you make it Premeditated Intent and Cassidy plans for her to come back and try to destroy her life again but this time she’s ready and although she plans to kill here, she sets the trap for her to fall into a justified killing of self defense or stand your ground! You are the literary genius I know you can give it to us! Whatever you do just give us more of this!!!