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Wreck Your Heart
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Expected 6 Jan 26From award-winning author Lori Rader-Day, Wreck Your Heart is an engaging, “wisecracking and wonderful” crime novel with a big heart, about a country and midwestern singer out to catch her big break before family—or murder—wrecks everything.
Dahlia “Doll” Devine had the kind of hardscrabble beginning that could launch a thousand broken-hearted country songs, but now she’s the star of her own stage at McPhee’s Tavern. As part of Chicago’s—yes, Chicago’s—country music scene, Dahlia is an up-and-coming singer in spangles and boots of classic country tunes. Up and coming, that is, until her boyfriend Joey up and went, taking the rent money with him.
So Dahlia is back to square one, relying on Alex McPhee—again. Alex helped her out of a bad situation when she was a kid living rough with her mother. Now he’s part landlord, part band booster, all-around rescuer. It’s just that Dahlia wishes she didn’t keep giving him reasons to have to do it.
Just as Dahlia suspects she’s scraped rock bottom, the mother she hasn’t spoken to in twenty years shows up with something to say. The next morning, a distraught young woman arrives at the bar, asking after her missing mother—Dahlia's mother, too, even if the missing suburban PTA mom the girl describes sounds pretty different from the one who let Dahlia down all those years ago.
Though no one is using the word sister any time soon, Dahlia lets herself be drawn into reuniting the family that might have been hers. But when a body is discovered outside McPhee’s Tavern, the crime threatens not just the place Dahlia has made into a home, but everything she’s believed about her past, her dreams for the future, and the people she was just, maybe, beginning to let into her heart.
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books
Dahlia “Doll” Devine had the kind of hardscrabble beginning that could launch a thousand broken-hearted country songs, but now she’s the star of her own stage at McPhee’s Tavern. As part of Chicago’s—yes, Chicago’s—country music scene, Dahlia is an up-and-coming singer in spangles and boots of classic country tunes. Up and coming, that is, until her boyfriend Joey up and went, taking the rent money with him.
So Dahlia is back to square one, relying on Alex McPhee—again. Alex helped her out of a bad situation when she was a kid living rough with her mother. Now he’s part landlord, part band booster, all-around rescuer. It’s just that Dahlia wishes she didn’t keep giving him reasons to have to do it.
Just as Dahlia suspects she’s scraped rock bottom, the mother she hasn’t spoken to in twenty years shows up with something to say. The next morning, a distraught young woman arrives at the bar, asking after her missing mother—Dahlia's mother, too, even if the missing suburban PTA mom the girl describes sounds pretty different from the one who let Dahlia down all those years ago.
Though no one is using the word sister any time soon, Dahlia lets herself be drawn into reuniting the family that might have been hers. But when a body is discovered outside McPhee’s Tavern, the crime threatens not just the place Dahlia has made into a home, but everything she’s believed about her past, her dreams for the future, and the people she was just, maybe, beginning to let into her heart.
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books
Audible Audio
Expected publication January 6, 2026
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About the author
Lori Rader-Day
15 books1,057 followersLORI RADER-DAY is the Edgar Award-nominated, Agatha, Anthony, and Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author of Wreck Your Heart, The Death of Us, Death at Greenway, The Lucky One, Under a Dark Sky, The Day I Died, Little Pretty Things, and The Black Hour. Lori’s short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Good Housekeeping, and others. She lives in Chicago, where she is the co-chair of the mystery reader event Midwest Mystery Conference and teaches creative writing for Northwestern University. She is a former national president of Sisters in Crime. Visit her at LoriRaderDay.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 7, 2025
This is a well-written, entertaining, mystery novel. It has a likable, sympathetic female protagonist, murder, an engaging mystery, family drama, wit, a touch of humor, twists and turns, a bit of romance, and a satisfying conclusion. Many thanks to Ms. Rader-Day, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, from whom I I received an advanced reader copy of this fantastic novel. This is my honest opinion.
December 8, 2025
This audiobook was a lovely surprise for me to listen to this week. A big thanks to McMillan audio for bringing it across my radar, because this is not an author that I had been familiar with previously. It’s a raucous adventure, with a hot mess, female main character named Dahlia. She’s just been left by her boyfriend Joey of three years, who split with the rent money. She performs regularly at a dive bar on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, where she grew up. She hasn’t seen her mother since she was six years old.
She finds the tavern endearing, along with the barflies she all lovingly refers to as Jim. It’s owned by her pseudo father Alex McPhee. Soon there is a dead body, and her mother shows up out of the blue. Not only that but a woman who claims to be her mother‘s daughter, and hence, Dahlia’s half sister comes looking for her the next day.
I’m a big fan of mysteries, and I found this one to be a real breath of fresh air. I loved the setting of downtown Chicago, and the fact that the main character was not a suburban, middle-aged lady. Far from a police procedural, this book is way more country and rock ‘n’ roll. I was genuinely surprised at most of the twists which came at really great intervals. I went into this book with really low expectations, but figured I’d give it a chance because I liked the cover. This may just end up being one of my favorite mysteries this year.
I also thought the audio performance was excellent, I found the narrator to be very engaging and well acted. It was easy to follow on audio.
Thank you again to McMillan audio and NetGalley for the ALC. Book to be published January 5, 2026.
She finds the tavern endearing, along with the barflies she all lovingly refers to as Jim. It’s owned by her pseudo father Alex McPhee. Soon there is a dead body, and her mother shows up out of the blue. Not only that but a woman who claims to be her mother‘s daughter, and hence, Dahlia’s half sister comes looking for her the next day.
I’m a big fan of mysteries, and I found this one to be a real breath of fresh air. I loved the setting of downtown Chicago, and the fact that the main character was not a suburban, middle-aged lady. Far from a police procedural, this book is way more country and rock ‘n’ roll. I was genuinely surprised at most of the twists which came at really great intervals. I went into this book with really low expectations, but figured I’d give it a chance because I liked the cover. This may just end up being one of my favorite mysteries this year.
I also thought the audio performance was excellent, I found the narrator to be very engaging and well acted. It was easy to follow on audio.
Thank you again to McMillan audio and NetGalley for the ALC. Book to be published January 5, 2026.
July 16, 2025
Wow, Wreck Your Heart is exactly what this book did to me. Dahlia Devine is tough and smart and trying to find her self and figure out her place in the world. Her journey is sometimes scary but that’s life. I would follow her and her creator Lori Rader-Day anywhere. Such a well written and incredible story.
November 28, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Jan. 6, 2025
She’s a little bit country, and a little bit crime fighter. Her entire life, Dahlia Devine has wanted to take over the Chicago country music scene. As the lead singer in an all-girl band, they play every Wednesday night, like clockwork, at McPhee’s Tavern, the bar her guardian, Alex McPhee, owns. When her boyfriend, Joey, leaves Dahlia alone, and without rent money, she ends up back living in the apartment above McPhee’s. While she is working in the bar one night, her estranged mother, Marisa, comes in and, when Dahlia refuses to speak with her, she leaves without a word. That, of course, isn’t the last of it and a few nights later, a young woman comes into the bar looking for Marisa, who disappeared after leaving McPhee’s that night. The woman claims Marisa is her mother, which puts Dahlia in an awkward spot, made only more awkward when the boyfriend she thought was missing is found, dead, behind the dumpster at McPhee’s. Is Marisa actually in danger, or has she just run away? Is Joey’s death and Marisa’s disappearance related and, if so, how and why?
Lori Rader-Day delivers a healthy dose of country, mixed with a murder mystery and a quest for gold, all wrapped up in a plaid package with cowboy boots in her new novel, “Wreck Your Heart”.
“Heart” is well-crafted from the very first page. Clever and unexpected, Rader-Day mixes the country music scene with the hunt for the secret loot of mob boss Al Capone and manages to create a thrilling, page-turning read.
Dahlia is the protagonist, a woman with a tragic upbringing, saved by country music and Alex McPhee, the owner of McPhee’s Tavern, who took over guardianship of Dahlia when she was very young. “Heart” is the story of Dahlia’s quest to find herself and the journey brings with it all of the bittersweet, heart-tugging emotion of a country song.
Joey’s murder and Marisa’s disappearance, are seemingly linked, but the “who-dunnit” of it all is not easy to guess. After engaging twists and turns, “Heart” finds its way to a believable, stunning conclusion, that manages to pull all the loose ends together.
Dahlia is spunky and relatable and she narrates “Heart” as if she is dictating it, addressing readers directly in parts. She is funny and smart and her guardian, Alex, manages to be the star of the book without even meaning to, hiding his neurotypical spice in the shadows, barely saying anything yet making his protective, introverted presence known.
“Heart” caught me completely off guard, as I did not think I would love this novel this much. I adore country music, and this genre of books is definitely on my “must read” list, but I think the book’s cover left me expecting a serious dose of hokey. In this case specifically, it is absolutely wrong to judge “Heart” by its cover. Rader-Day’s novel is refreshing, hilarious and emotional in all the right ways.
Expected publication date: Jan. 6, 2025
She’s a little bit country, and a little bit crime fighter. Her entire life, Dahlia Devine has wanted to take over the Chicago country music scene. As the lead singer in an all-girl band, they play every Wednesday night, like clockwork, at McPhee’s Tavern, the bar her guardian, Alex McPhee, owns. When her boyfriend, Joey, leaves Dahlia alone, and without rent money, she ends up back living in the apartment above McPhee’s. While she is working in the bar one night, her estranged mother, Marisa, comes in and, when Dahlia refuses to speak with her, she leaves without a word. That, of course, isn’t the last of it and a few nights later, a young woman comes into the bar looking for Marisa, who disappeared after leaving McPhee’s that night. The woman claims Marisa is her mother, which puts Dahlia in an awkward spot, made only more awkward when the boyfriend she thought was missing is found, dead, behind the dumpster at McPhee’s. Is Marisa actually in danger, or has she just run away? Is Joey’s death and Marisa’s disappearance related and, if so, how and why?
Lori Rader-Day delivers a healthy dose of country, mixed with a murder mystery and a quest for gold, all wrapped up in a plaid package with cowboy boots in her new novel, “Wreck Your Heart”.
“Heart” is well-crafted from the very first page. Clever and unexpected, Rader-Day mixes the country music scene with the hunt for the secret loot of mob boss Al Capone and manages to create a thrilling, page-turning read.
Dahlia is the protagonist, a woman with a tragic upbringing, saved by country music and Alex McPhee, the owner of McPhee’s Tavern, who took over guardianship of Dahlia when she was very young. “Heart” is the story of Dahlia’s quest to find herself and the journey brings with it all of the bittersweet, heart-tugging emotion of a country song.
Joey’s murder and Marisa’s disappearance, are seemingly linked, but the “who-dunnit” of it all is not easy to guess. After engaging twists and turns, “Heart” finds its way to a believable, stunning conclusion, that manages to pull all the loose ends together.
Dahlia is spunky and relatable and she narrates “Heart” as if she is dictating it, addressing readers directly in parts. She is funny and smart and her guardian, Alex, manages to be the star of the book without even meaning to, hiding his neurotypical spice in the shadows, barely saying anything yet making his protective, introverted presence known.
“Heart” caught me completely off guard, as I did not think I would love this novel this much. I adore country music, and this genre of books is definitely on my “must read” list, but I think the book’s cover left me expecting a serious dose of hokey. In this case specifically, it is absolutely wrong to judge “Heart” by its cover. Rader-Day’s novel is refreshing, hilarious and emotional in all the right ways.
December 10, 2025
I’ve been sitting with this review for a minute now, but better late then never!
The music sub-genre has gotten me again, and sadly, I’m still not a fan. I think this book had potential, but there were too many story lines to follow that we really lose sight of the original plot. It feels like this could have been separate short stories instead of one book. We get introduced to so many characters as well, but they’re not fully flushed out. I was a little flustered as well when a whole new plot point was added right at the end of the book for no reason. Way too much going on to fully get the point across.
The writing style also really wasn’t for me. The humor felt kind of forced and didn’t strike the landing for me, but more so pulled me out of the book. I think it will work well for others, but I didn’t enjoy it.
I also didn’t really like any of the characters beyond Sicily. She would have been a great main character to follow. The times I really enjoyed reading were when she was on page. She brought a lot to the table and was a good character!
Overall, this wasn’t for me. I think it could really go over well for new mystery readers, but just wasn’t what I was hoping for.
***Huge thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The music sub-genre has gotten me again, and sadly, I’m still not a fan. I think this book had potential, but there were too many story lines to follow that we really lose sight of the original plot. It feels like this could have been separate short stories instead of one book. We get introduced to so many characters as well, but they’re not fully flushed out. I was a little flustered as well when a whole new plot point was added right at the end of the book for no reason. Way too much going on to fully get the point across.
The writing style also really wasn’t for me. The humor felt kind of forced and didn’t strike the landing for me, but more so pulled me out of the book. I think it will work well for others, but I didn’t enjoy it.
I also didn’t really like any of the characters beyond Sicily. She would have been a great main character to follow. The times I really enjoyed reading were when she was on page. She brought a lot to the table and was a good character!
Overall, this wasn’t for me. I think it could really go over well for new mystery readers, but just wasn’t what I was hoping for.
***Huge thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this mystery. Dahlia is a grounded character that is caught in strange events. She investigates to uncover the truth, but also to have the certainty that her « dad » is not involved. I really like the country singer life. But mostly through all this story, Dahlia was able to uncover what is most important to her which was nice to see. The mystery was well thought out and there were many plot twist that kept the story interesting. Overall, it’s a nice mystery story with an added emotional element !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
November 13, 2025
“Wreck Your Heart” by Lori Rader-Day is a moody atmospheric mystery. The story revolves around a woman with dreams of becoming a country music star but must first deal with all the consequences of her dysfunctional and tragic childhood. Her world starts to completely unravel when her mother suddenly reappears along with a sister she didn’t know existed after abandoning her 20 years ago.
The complex mystery is a small part of the story and what makes this book unique is that the characters are tough, vulnerable and heartbreaking. I found myself rooting for them the entire time. This novel is an entertaining and hopeful tale about surviving, family forgiveness, and starting over, it will wreck your heart in the best possible way!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The complex mystery is a small part of the story and what makes this book unique is that the characters are tough, vulnerable and heartbreaking. I found myself rooting for them the entire time. This novel is an entertaining and hopeful tale about surviving, family forgiveness, and starting over, it will wreck your heart in the best possible way!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2025
This novel is a fascinating look at the world of country music with all its heartaches-=-and murder! "Doll" sings and plays guitar at McPhee's Pub but when patron, Joey is discovered dead, rolled up in rags in the alley, all hell breaks loose as everyone had always liked him. It's a mystery, a family tale that involves blackmail and all sorts of crazy characters!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARX!
December 15, 2025
The beginning wasn’t hooking me, but about 20% in I got invested, and then the last few chapters lost me. I enjoyed the overall plot but found everyone’s storylines a bit much to keep up with. I also found the main character difficult to root for at times. If the book description intrigues you, I’d say give it a shot. But if this one isn’t on your radar, I wouldn’t tell you to put it there.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
October 31, 2025
It's a character portrait of a broken female country western singer and the challenging life she's led. Add in an engaging mystery and that fab cover and you have a winner!
Read
December 16, 2025This review is for the audio version of the book, narrated by Lauren Ezzo.
4/5
Dahlia (Doll) has had a rough life. Sent into the foster system and bounced around from family to family from the age of 6, she's grown up angry and unable to trust anyone but her friend and former foster father, Alex.
When a missing boyfriend, a lost job, and an eviction leave her without an income and a home, she winds up back at Alex's bar in Chicago. The bar has been her home, off and on, most of her life and it's where she and her band, Doll is a country singer, perform.
When an unexpected, and VERY unwelcome, guest shows up before one of her shows it sets her down a path of self reflection and forces her to come to terms with her past and her future.
This was a solid mystery. The plot was good and slightly unexpected, but the characters carried the show here.
Doll is exceedingly unlikable at the beginning of this book, and she knows it. She's very self aware of acting the way she does and just how unacceptable it is. Through some difficult lessons we watch her grow and come to terms with some of her flaws and accepting the flaws of those she loves.
As much as I was conflicted at the start, with just how abrasive Doll could be, she really did start to grow on me as she was forced to grow as well.
I definitely think this was worth the time to read.
4/5
Dahlia (Doll) has had a rough life. Sent into the foster system and bounced around from family to family from the age of 6, she's grown up angry and unable to trust anyone but her friend and former foster father, Alex.
When a missing boyfriend, a lost job, and an eviction leave her without an income and a home, she winds up back at Alex's bar in Chicago. The bar has been her home, off and on, most of her life and it's where she and her band, Doll is a country singer, perform.
When an unexpected, and VERY unwelcome, guest shows up before one of her shows it sets her down a path of self reflection and forces her to come to terms with her past and her future.
This was a solid mystery. The plot was good and slightly unexpected, but the characters carried the show here.
Doll is exceedingly unlikable at the beginning of this book, and she knows it. She's very self aware of acting the way she does and just how unacceptable it is. Through some difficult lessons we watch her grow and come to terms with some of her flaws and accepting the flaws of those she loves.
As much as I was conflicted at the start, with just how abrasive Doll could be, she really did start to grow on me as she was forced to grow as well.
I definitely think this was worth the time to read.
December 6, 2025
Dahlia "Doll" Devine tells this story in a sort of stream-of-consciousness way though, Thankfully, with punctuation. She's fallen on hard times. Her boyfriend Joey absconded with the rent money. Her landlord has locked her out after allowing her five minutes to gather her belongings which are packed into a black garbage bag. He phone is out of charge, and the charger must be in the apartment.
Doll finds herself back at McPhee's Tavern and back with Alex McPhee who has been rescuing her since she was a child. She's sharing an apartment with Oona and her two big dogs while she's trying to rebuild her life. The only consistency is her Wednesday night performances with her band on McPhee's stage.
But McPhee's is in danger of being sold out from under her with local real estate maven putting pressure on Alex to sell. Then her mother shows up. Doll hasn't seen her mother for twenty years. She left her with Alex and disappeared out of her life. Doll wound up in foster care but with frequent visits from Alex through the years. She has a lot of resentment about her mother which is exacerbated when a young woman shows up the day after Doll's mother comes and goes looking for her mother who just happens to be Doll's mother too.
Then Joey's body shows up in the alley behind McPhee's wrapped in curtains from their old apartment.
Doll has to find out who murdered Joey, track down her missing mother, and keep McPhee's from being sold if she wants a chance to get her life back on track.
This was an entertaining story. I enjoyed Doll's character. She prickly and needy and just recognizing that she has built her own family after thinking she was alone in the world.
Doll finds herself back at McPhee's Tavern and back with Alex McPhee who has been rescuing her since she was a child. She's sharing an apartment with Oona and her two big dogs while she's trying to rebuild her life. The only consistency is her Wednesday night performances with her band on McPhee's stage.
But McPhee's is in danger of being sold out from under her with local real estate maven putting pressure on Alex to sell. Then her mother shows up. Doll hasn't seen her mother for twenty years. She left her with Alex and disappeared out of her life. Doll wound up in foster care but with frequent visits from Alex through the years. She has a lot of resentment about her mother which is exacerbated when a young woman shows up the day after Doll's mother comes and goes looking for her mother who just happens to be Doll's mother too.
Then Joey's body shows up in the alley behind McPhee's wrapped in curtains from their old apartment.
Doll has to find out who murdered Joey, track down her missing mother, and keep McPhee's from being sold if she wants a chance to get her life back on track.
This was an entertaining story. I enjoyed Doll's character. She prickly and needy and just recognizing that she has built her own family after thinking she was alone in the world.
December 11, 2025
The cover definitely drew me into this mystery novel! I found Wreck Your Heart to be an entertaining read, fast-paced and full of humor. The drama (money, family, a missing person, murder…) kicks off almost immediately and doesn’t slow down. It’s a page turner for sure!
I loved the wisecracking, country-singing protagonist, Dahlia. She’s funny, spirited, and resilient, if a bit emotionally stunted thanks to a rough childhood. I thoroughly enjoyed her sarcastic first person narrative and her character growth.
And don’t be deterred if you’re not into country music; you don’t need to be a fan of the genre to enjoy this book! It’s a fun, quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for the ARC.
I loved the wisecracking, country-singing protagonist, Dahlia. She’s funny, spirited, and resilient, if a bit emotionally stunted thanks to a rough childhood. I thoroughly enjoyed her sarcastic first person narrative and her character growth.
And don’t be deterred if you’re not into country music; you don’t need to be a fan of the genre to enjoy this book! It’s a fun, quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for the ARC.
October 24, 2025
Slow to start, for me. I was never so uninterested that I considered DNFing, but it did take me a bit to get into.
I thought the story about Dahlia finally accepting Alex as her dad was sweet. I didn’t really think the explanation for why Marisa did what she did was enough.
Dahlia bothered me the way she kept blowing off her band mates, who were just trying to do something she wanted by writing their own things to impress the scout.
I think my main issue was the lack of tying up. Like, they wanted this maybe existing treasure, but why did it end up getting Joey killed? If the guy who worked there and had keys to everything was involved, why didn’t he just look for it during closed times?
I did enjoy the story overall, just some loose bits I would have preferred to be tighter. 3 stars though, because I did like it.
**ARC review. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read it early.
I thought the story about Dahlia finally accepting Alex as her dad was sweet. I didn’t really think the explanation for why Marisa did what she did was enough.
Dahlia bothered me the way she kept blowing off her band mates, who were just trying to do something she wanted by writing their own things to impress the scout.
I think my main issue was the lack of tying up. Like, they wanted this maybe existing treasure, but why did it end up getting Joey killed? If the guy who worked there and had keys to everything was involved, why didn’t he just look for it during closed times?
I did enjoy the story overall, just some loose bits I would have preferred to be tighter. 3 stars though, because I did like it.
**ARC review. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read it early.
December 7, 2025
Thanks to Macmillan and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in audio and written format.
Lori Rader-Day’s Wreck Your Heart: A Mystery, narrated by Lauren Ezzo, is a vibrant blend of crime fiction and character-driven storytelling, elevated by a performance that captures both grit and vulnerability.
🎤 Narration by Lauren Ezzo
- Ezzo’s voice work is a standout feature. She brings Dahlia “Doll” Devine to life with a mix of warmth, sass, and weary resilience. Her pacing mirrors the rhythm of country ballads—slow and soulful in moments of reflection, sharp and quick when danger looms.
- She differentiates characters with subtle tonal shifts, ensuring listeners can follow the layered relationships without confusion.
- Importantly, Ezzo captures the emotional undercurrent of Dahlia’s journey: ambition colliding with heartbreak, humor masking fear, and determination pushing against despair.
🎶 Dahlia Devine is a country singer in Chicago’s unexpected honky-tonk scene, trying to carve out her place while navigating betrayal, family entanglements, and a murder that threatens to derail everything.
The setting—Chicago’s taverns and music halls—adds texture. It’s not the stereotypical Nashville backdrop, but a Midwest stage where dreams feel attainable yet precarious.
Rader-Day weaves the mystery into Dahlia’s personal struggles, making the crime element inseparable from her pursuit of identity and success.
Dahlia’s career aspirations at times clash with obligations to family and friends. However, her hardscrabble past echoes through the narrative, shaping her choices and her music.
Just as Dahlia fights to be heard on stage, she must decide how much of herself to reveal in a world that thrives on façades.
✍️ Rader-Day’s prose is sharp, witty, and emotionally nuanced. She balances humor with tension, ensuring the mystery never overshadows the humanity of her characters.
The dialogue feels authentic to the music scene—playful, biting, and occasionally heartbreaking.
The audiobook format enhances this, as Ezzo’s delivery makes the banter sparkle and the darker moments resonate.
🌟 Strengths
- Dahlia is a fully realized protagonist—flawed, funny, and fiercely determined.
- The mystery is tightly woven into the character arcs, avoiding the trap of feeling like a separate subplot.
- Ezzo’s narration amplifies the emotional stakes, making the audiobook immersive.
⚠️ Weaknesses
-I enjoyed the print version of this book first, however I requested a version in audiobook format before posting my review as I hoped an audiobook about the music scene would provide an immersive musical experience. However, this audiobook was, as most audiobooks are, merely a rendition of the book, sans music.
Regardless, Wreck Your Heart is a deeply enjoyable story about ambition, identity, and the cost of chasing dreams. It feels like a labour of love from the author, and in that, Lori Rader-Day does not disappoint - she delivers a crime novel with a big heart, and Lauren Ezzo’s narration ensures that every note lands with impact
For listeners who enjoy mysteries infused with the music scene, humor, and emotional grit, this audiobook is a rewarding experience.
Lori Rader-Day’s Wreck Your Heart: A Mystery, narrated by Lauren Ezzo, is a vibrant blend of crime fiction and character-driven storytelling, elevated by a performance that captures both grit and vulnerability.
🎤 Narration by Lauren Ezzo
- Ezzo’s voice work is a standout feature. She brings Dahlia “Doll” Devine to life with a mix of warmth, sass, and weary resilience. Her pacing mirrors the rhythm of country ballads—slow and soulful in moments of reflection, sharp and quick when danger looms.
- She differentiates characters with subtle tonal shifts, ensuring listeners can follow the layered relationships without confusion.
- Importantly, Ezzo captures the emotional undercurrent of Dahlia’s journey: ambition colliding with heartbreak, humor masking fear, and determination pushing against despair.
🎶 Dahlia Devine is a country singer in Chicago’s unexpected honky-tonk scene, trying to carve out her place while navigating betrayal, family entanglements, and a murder that threatens to derail everything.
The setting—Chicago’s taverns and music halls—adds texture. It’s not the stereotypical Nashville backdrop, but a Midwest stage where dreams feel attainable yet precarious.
Rader-Day weaves the mystery into Dahlia’s personal struggles, making the crime element inseparable from her pursuit of identity and success.
Dahlia’s career aspirations at times clash with obligations to family and friends. However, her hardscrabble past echoes through the narrative, shaping her choices and her music.
Just as Dahlia fights to be heard on stage, she must decide how much of herself to reveal in a world that thrives on façades.
✍️ Rader-Day’s prose is sharp, witty, and emotionally nuanced. She balances humor with tension, ensuring the mystery never overshadows the humanity of her characters.
The dialogue feels authentic to the music scene—playful, biting, and occasionally heartbreaking.
The audiobook format enhances this, as Ezzo’s delivery makes the banter sparkle and the darker moments resonate.
🌟 Strengths
- Dahlia is a fully realized protagonist—flawed, funny, and fiercely determined.
- The mystery is tightly woven into the character arcs, avoiding the trap of feeling like a separate subplot.
- Ezzo’s narration amplifies the emotional stakes, making the audiobook immersive.
⚠️ Weaknesses
-I enjoyed the print version of this book first, however I requested a version in audiobook format before posting my review as I hoped an audiobook about the music scene would provide an immersive musical experience. However, this audiobook was, as most audiobooks are, merely a rendition of the book, sans music.
Regardless, Wreck Your Heart is a deeply enjoyable story about ambition, identity, and the cost of chasing dreams. It feels like a labour of love from the author, and in that, Lori Rader-Day does not disappoint - she delivers a crime novel with a big heart, and Lauren Ezzo’s narration ensures that every note lands with impact
For listeners who enjoy mysteries infused with the music scene, humor, and emotional grit, this audiobook is a rewarding experience.
November 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read Lori Rader-Day's new novel, Wreck Your Heart. Part murder mystery, part women's fiction, it's an emotional story about Dahlia, a.k.a. Doll Devine, an aspiring country western singer in downtown Chicago, who has plenty of reasons not to trust people. When the story opens, she's carrying all her possessions in a trash bag, on the public bus, after being evicted from her apartment, dumped by her boyfriend (who absconded with the rent money), and fired from her job. She heads to McPhee's Tavern, the one constant in her life, where her band performs regularly. McPhee's is owned by Alex, Dahlia's former guardian, and is rumored to be sitting on hidden treasure buried by Al Capone. Alex allows Dahlia to temporarily move into the upstairs apartment, shared by his friend Oona, in exchange for helping out at the bar and providing dog-walking services for Oona.
Soon after, Dahlia receives an unwanted visitor: her estranged mother, Marisa, a former drug addict, who abandoned Dahlia 20 years earlier. Marisa claims to have something important to say, but neither Dahlia nor Alex wants anything to do with her. So, Marisa leaves.
The next day, a young woman, Sicily, comes to McPhee's looking for Marisa, whom she claims is her mother. Sicily knew nothing of Marisa's former battles with addiction, nor that Dahlia even existed. Marisa now has a wife, a house in the suburbs, and a stable family life. She's friends with Edith Maxwell, an aggressive real estate agent who has set her sights on McPhee's, as well as the surrounding neighborhood. Now Marisa is missing, which Sicily believes is out of character. Reluctantly, Dahlia agrees to help her newfound sister find their mother.
When she gets home from her visit to the suburbs, she finds a dead body in the alley behind McPhee's, which turns out to be her boyfriend, Joey. Could Marisa's disappearance and Joey's death be connected? And strange things are happening with the new tenants next door.
This story had a lot of moving parts and some slow places, but overall, it was an enjoyable read with great characters.
Soon after, Dahlia receives an unwanted visitor: her estranged mother, Marisa, a former drug addict, who abandoned Dahlia 20 years earlier. Marisa claims to have something important to say, but neither Dahlia nor Alex wants anything to do with her. So, Marisa leaves.
The next day, a young woman, Sicily, comes to McPhee's looking for Marisa, whom she claims is her mother. Sicily knew nothing of Marisa's former battles with addiction, nor that Dahlia even existed. Marisa now has a wife, a house in the suburbs, and a stable family life. She's friends with Edith Maxwell, an aggressive real estate agent who has set her sights on McPhee's, as well as the surrounding neighborhood. Now Marisa is missing, which Sicily believes is out of character. Reluctantly, Dahlia agrees to help her newfound sister find their mother.
When she gets home from her visit to the suburbs, she finds a dead body in the alley behind McPhee's, which turns out to be her boyfriend, Joey. Could Marisa's disappearance and Joey's death be connected? And strange things are happening with the new tenants next door.
This story had a lot of moving parts and some slow places, but overall, it was an enjoyable read with great characters.
December 5, 2025
3.25 stars
Come to this book for the character growth. Prospective readers with the right expectations are likely to enjoy this understated affair.
Dahlia, who goes by Doll, is a character I immediately found bizarre. As "Doll," Dahlia has a kind of quirky, put on act wherein she embellishes a twang, sings country music, and basically lives out the fantasy evidenced on the fantastic cover of this book. But she's in modern day Chicago and this is all a performance, and to me that just made her strange. I am not alone in this feeling. Other characters think she's a little off, too. Fortunately, so much of this novel centers on her backstory and why she is this way, so she becomes less the butt of the joke and more the emerging heroine over time.
In addition to a peculiar character, the pacing is...slow. Doll discovers her boyfriend's corpse early in the novel, but still it feels like there's a lot of waiting, realizing, processing, etc. happening. There are no thrills in this mystery. The burn is slow.
Now if I redirect my expectations from mystery with some surprises and speed to more of a contemporary/women's fiction scenario wherein Dahlia's development, historical issues, and relationships are at the center, I have more positive feelings overall. The challenge is the pitch versus the reality.
I liked the writing, the concept, and while it took a bit the protagonist, but all of this required patience. I'll give this author another shot but may adjust my expectations as I proceed.
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Come to this book for the character growth. Prospective readers with the right expectations are likely to enjoy this understated affair.
Dahlia, who goes by Doll, is a character I immediately found bizarre. As "Doll," Dahlia has a kind of quirky, put on act wherein she embellishes a twang, sings country music, and basically lives out the fantasy evidenced on the fantastic cover of this book. But she's in modern day Chicago and this is all a performance, and to me that just made her strange. I am not alone in this feeling. Other characters think she's a little off, too. Fortunately, so much of this novel centers on her backstory and why she is this way, so she becomes less the butt of the joke and more the emerging heroine over time.
In addition to a peculiar character, the pacing is...slow. Doll discovers her boyfriend's corpse early in the novel, but still it feels like there's a lot of waiting, realizing, processing, etc. happening. There are no thrills in this mystery. The burn is slow.
Now if I redirect my expectations from mystery with some surprises and speed to more of a contemporary/women's fiction scenario wherein Dahlia's development, historical issues, and relationships are at the center, I have more positive feelings overall. The challenge is the pitch versus the reality.
I liked the writing, the concept, and while it took a bit the protagonist, but all of this required patience. I'll give this author another shot but may adjust my expectations as I proceed.
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
November 24, 2025
Dahlia “Doll” Devine is facing a series of hardships. Her boyfriend has vanished, along with their rent, leading to her eviction from her apartment. Seeking help, she turns to Alex McPhee, a man who has always been there for her. When her addicted mother abandoned her, Alex took her in until social services placed her in foster care. Despite this, he continued to visit her during her time in foster care and even redid his bar to include a stage, allowing Dahlia and her country band to perform.
However, her life takes a dramatic turn when her long-lost mother unexpectedly reappears. After being abandoned 20 years ago, Dahlia is initially reluctant to reconcile. To make matters worse, her boyfriend’s body is discovered behind the bar, her mother goes missing, and she discovers she has a sister raised by her mother.
The book begins with a bit of a struggle to find its footing, as the author seems to be torn between a cozy mystery and Women’s literature. While I assume the author intends to continue the series, as she introduces numerous characters, many of whom are not directly relevant to the plot, I would have liked focusing more on the murder and Dahlia’s relationship with Alex.
The book suffers from “First book in the series syndrome,” with excessive backstory and the introduction of too many characters. Nevertheless, I will definitely read the next book in the series to see if it lives up to its potential. Overall, I would rate the first half of the book 3 stars and the second half 5 stars, giving it an overall rating of 4 stars. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
However, her life takes a dramatic turn when her long-lost mother unexpectedly reappears. After being abandoned 20 years ago, Dahlia is initially reluctant to reconcile. To make matters worse, her boyfriend’s body is discovered behind the bar, her mother goes missing, and she discovers she has a sister raised by her mother.
The book begins with a bit of a struggle to find its footing, as the author seems to be torn between a cozy mystery and Women’s literature. While I assume the author intends to continue the series, as she introduces numerous characters, many of whom are not directly relevant to the plot, I would have liked focusing more on the murder and Dahlia’s relationship with Alex.
The book suffers from “First book in the series syndrome,” with excessive backstory and the introduction of too many characters. Nevertheless, I will definitely read the next book in the series to see if it lives up to its potential. Overall, I would rate the first half of the book 3 stars and the second half 5 stars, giving it an overall rating of 4 stars. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
November 28, 2025
I received an early copy of this book via Netgalley and I'm glad I did. Dahlia aka Dolly Devine is a character I won't soon forget. Her life is fraught with so many tangles, it's dizzying.
The story is told in first person, and I enjoyed that bird's eye view from Dolly. She's had a rough go in life and as the story unfolds, it gets more difficult and complex. Abandoned at a young age by a mother addicted to drugs, she's left with Alex McPhee who is battling his own addiction. Then she's put into the foster care system to live until she comes of age.
When the story opens, she is carrying a plastic trash bag of her belongings and catching a bus to the only safe place she knows, McPhee's Pub and Alex. The things she has to face are overwhelming but all necessary for her to begin to unravel a past she can't understand.
One of the things that drew me to the story is Dolly's love for music. She performs every Wednesday night at the pub and has a regular audience. She dreams of a big break, of performing on big stages and winning the highest of accolades.
What a journey and what a cast of characters this author has created. I got to watch Dahlia finally grow up and come to grips with who and what she is. The drama is heavy. The action is riveting and the danger is palpable. If you love diving deep in the the human psyche and just happen to love music as well, you will enjoy Dahlia's journey. The book releases January 6, 2026!
The story is told in first person, and I enjoyed that bird's eye view from Dolly. She's had a rough go in life and as the story unfolds, it gets more difficult and complex. Abandoned at a young age by a mother addicted to drugs, she's left with Alex McPhee who is battling his own addiction. Then she's put into the foster care system to live until she comes of age.
When the story opens, she is carrying a plastic trash bag of her belongings and catching a bus to the only safe place she knows, McPhee's Pub and Alex. The things she has to face are overwhelming but all necessary for her to begin to unravel a past she can't understand.
One of the things that drew me to the story is Dolly's love for music. She performs every Wednesday night at the pub and has a regular audience. She dreams of a big break, of performing on big stages and winning the highest of accolades.
What a journey and what a cast of characters this author has created. I got to watch Dahlia finally grow up and come to grips with who and what she is. The drama is heavy. The action is riveting and the danger is palpable. If you love diving deep in the the human psyche and just happen to love music as well, you will enjoy Dahlia's journey. The book releases January 6, 2026!
December 4, 2025
Dahlia “Doll” Devine is a country singer in a bar in Chicago. She’s mad at her boyfriend. Frustrated by her family. Stunted emotionally because of her upbringing. And to be quite honest, not a nice person when it comes to her band. That’s the hero of Lori Rader-Day’s story in “Wreck Your Heart”.
As someone who was born and raised just minutes from downtown Nashville, this book caught my attention immediately. What southerner couldn’t pick up a novel with a title that mimics our gratuitous “Bless Your Heart”?
Added to that is the blurb for the book saying it is a “wisecracking a wonderful crime novel with a big heart”. Wisecracking? Eh. More like sarcastic. The “witty” banter just didn’t hit home. Seriously, Doll isn’t that likable of a character. Instead, she reminded me of the “Woo!” girls that plague the streets of downtown Nashville most nights. Annoying.
This novel was categorized as a mystery. There is a dead body. It’s up to you if that really qualifies as a mystery. It was more of a coming-of-age story to me. And in a miraculous amount of time, Dahlia grows as a person by the end of the book.
This book just didn’t connect with me. Maybe it will be for others. So put on your white “cowgirl” boots, white cowboy hat, daisy duke shorts, hold this novel up high and give us a loud, drunken, “WOOOOO!” and enjoy this novel/audiobook if it is your thing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
As someone who was born and raised just minutes from downtown Nashville, this book caught my attention immediately. What southerner couldn’t pick up a novel with a title that mimics our gratuitous “Bless Your Heart”?
Added to that is the blurb for the book saying it is a “wisecracking a wonderful crime novel with a big heart”. Wisecracking? Eh. More like sarcastic. The “witty” banter just didn’t hit home. Seriously, Doll isn’t that likable of a character. Instead, she reminded me of the “Woo!” girls that plague the streets of downtown Nashville most nights. Annoying.
This novel was categorized as a mystery. There is a dead body. It’s up to you if that really qualifies as a mystery. It was more of a coming-of-age story to me. And in a miraculous amount of time, Dahlia grows as a person by the end of the book.
This book just didn’t connect with me. Maybe it will be for others. So put on your white “cowgirl” boots, white cowboy hat, daisy duke shorts, hold this novel up high and give us a loud, drunken, “WOOOOO!” and enjoy this novel/audiobook if it is your thing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
December 20, 2025
Set in Chicago, the story is told in the first-person POV of Dahlia "Doll" Devine, an aspiring country singer with a hardscrabble life who unexpectedly finds herself caught up in a murder mystery. But this story also has strong elements of women's fiction and loads of family drama.
Wisecracking Doll is brash and guarded, and she knows it. Her heart was broken over and over as a kid, and now she intentionally pushes others away. Although a vividly depicted character, she was difficult to root for initially. However, I appreciated her growth throughout the story as she confronts her past. Her POV feels a bit disjointed at times, and she regularly breaks the fourth wall with humor that sometimes felt forced and took me out of the story.
The setting is vividly depicted, making it easy for me to envision both the pub and the surrounding neighborhood. And I enjoyed the music elements. There are several side characters and storylines, and while I didn't feel lost, I found myself wanting to get back to the main mystery more than once.
The premise is promising, but for me, it didn't quite live up to expectations, although I still mostly enjoyed it.
Lauren Enzo narrates the audiobook and is engaging to listen to. She added to the suspense and atmosphere. I would recommend going with the audiobook for this one.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted book and audiobook.
Wisecracking Doll is brash and guarded, and she knows it. Her heart was broken over and over as a kid, and now she intentionally pushes others away. Although a vividly depicted character, she was difficult to root for initially. However, I appreciated her growth throughout the story as she confronts her past. Her POV feels a bit disjointed at times, and she regularly breaks the fourth wall with humor that sometimes felt forced and took me out of the story.
The setting is vividly depicted, making it easy for me to envision both the pub and the surrounding neighborhood. And I enjoyed the music elements. There are several side characters and storylines, and while I didn't feel lost, I found myself wanting to get back to the main mystery more than once.
The premise is promising, but for me, it didn't quite live up to expectations, although I still mostly enjoyed it.
Lauren Enzo narrates the audiobook and is engaging to listen to. She added to the suspense and atmosphere. I would recommend going with the audiobook for this one.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for the gifted book and audiobook.
November 29, 2025
The synopsis of this one was intriguing, so I was excited when I received an ARC copy of it. Dahlia was a deeply flawed and complicated character. While she was definitely a product of her circumstances, she was very immature and selfish especially at the beginning of the book. She was hard to like and root for. As she grew and figured things out, she became more likable. I liked the way she broke the fourth wall as a narrator and her sense of style and love of classic country were endearing. Her relationship with Alex was sweet but also kind of co dependent at times. Oona, Dahlia’s the band, Quin, Marissa, and Sicily added complexity and drama to the story. There were a lot of moving pieces to the plot, and they all felt underdeveloped. I could tell it was all going to fit together, but it built slowly and vaguely. The relationship dramas seemed to distract from the mystery aspects and stalled the plot. I did find the reveals towards the end to be shocking and surprising. I wasn’t expecting it to all come together the way it did which I enjoyed. The ending did wrap up the story well and fit the characters. I appreciated the hopeful tone of it, but I did feel like it was missing closure for the Dahlia’s relationships with Marissa, Sicily, and Quin. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy of this one!
December 11, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this wonderful story by Lori Rader-Day, perfectly narrated by Lauren Ezzo. All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 5 stars!
Dahlia “Doll” Devine had a tough upbringing and has had no contact with her mom since she was six. She’s now singing country songs at McPhee’s Tavern, owned by Alex, who continues to rescue her. But now her boyfriend, Joey, left her and took the rent money with him, so she’s back to relying on Alex. Then out of the blue, her mom shows up at the bar, only to go missing soon after, and the stepsister she didn’t know she had turns up looking for her as well. Then a body is discovered outside the tavern. It all sounds like a country song.
This was just so good. I loved the way it was written, as if Dahlia is sitting across from you telling you her tale and even asking you questions along the way. This book has it all – family drama, an intriguing mystery, a hidden treasure, wonderful characters, a touch of romance, and even dogs. You won’t be able to stop rooting for Doll and the ending was very satisfying. The narration was perfect – sounded just like I would expect Dahlia to sound. This is a new to me author and I now need to go back and read her others!
Dahlia “Doll” Devine had a tough upbringing and has had no contact with her mom since she was six. She’s now singing country songs at McPhee’s Tavern, owned by Alex, who continues to rescue her. But now her boyfriend, Joey, left her and took the rent money with him, so she’s back to relying on Alex. Then out of the blue, her mom shows up at the bar, only to go missing soon after, and the stepsister she didn’t know she had turns up looking for her as well. Then a body is discovered outside the tavern. It all sounds like a country song.
This was just so good. I loved the way it was written, as if Dahlia is sitting across from you telling you her tale and even asking you questions along the way. This book has it all – family drama, an intriguing mystery, a hidden treasure, wonderful characters, a touch of romance, and even dogs. You won’t be able to stop rooting for Doll and the ending was very satisfying. The narration was perfect – sounded just like I would expect Dahlia to sound. This is a new to me author and I now need to go back and read her others!
October 9, 2025
I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Set in Chicago's country music scene, Dahlia "Doll" is and up and coming songstress until her boyfriend ups and leaves, with the rent money and her security. Doll comes from a hard background, but it doesn't hurt any less when she has to return to Alex, who had previously helped her when she was young and things were rough. Then her mother comes back into her life after twenty years, in the form of herself and another younger woman looking for her mom - Doll's mom, although described as someone completely different than from what Doll had experienced. Doll begins to explore a possible family she never knew she had or wanted, but then a crime outside the tavern where she sings threatens to unravel it all.
This book was so great! It hit all of the high notes in the emotional sphere, particularly with Doll's mother and found family. That was an emotionally resonant part of the book, and written very well. The crime plot brought in a different element to the book, so while there was a lot going on, everything was well-balanced and came together. I was turning the pages!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so great! It hit all of the high notes in the emotional sphere, particularly with Doll's mother and found family. That was an emotionally resonant part of the book, and written very well. The crime plot brought in a different element to the book, so while there was a lot going on, everything was well-balanced and came together. I was turning the pages!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2025
This is a crime fiction book I picked up with no previous idea about the story. First, I am NOT a fan of first person story-telling, especially when it comes across as brain drain. Our main character, Doll Devine, starts out with a 'boyfriend done me wrong' break up issue. This soon transitions to the 'mommy issues' underlying her inability to commit to relationships. Doll is a wannabe country singer with a permanent gig in a Chicago bar.
When above-mentioned boyfriend turns up dead in the alley near the bar, the estranged mother shows up out of the blue and Doll discovers a sister she never knew she had, the story takes on an air of mystery. Who are the three Jims who sit at the bar every afternoon? Why does Doll's sister claim their mother is missing? Why is this high-powered real estate agent trying to buy out the bar with an offer too good to refuse? Doll's main concern seems to be where she's going to live after the boyfriend debacle and how to prove to her unwelcome mother that there's no forgiveness in her heart for a lifetime of perceived neglect.
I received the book as an ARC from St Martin's Press and NetGalley and thank them for the opportunity to write a review.
When above-mentioned boyfriend turns up dead in the alley near the bar, the estranged mother shows up out of the blue and Doll discovers a sister she never knew she had, the story takes on an air of mystery. Who are the three Jims who sit at the bar every afternoon? Why does Doll's sister claim their mother is missing? Why is this high-powered real estate agent trying to buy out the bar with an offer too good to refuse? Doll's main concern seems to be where she's going to live after the boyfriend debacle and how to prove to her unwelcome mother that there's no forgiveness in her heart for a lifetime of perceived neglect.
I received the book as an ARC from St Martin's Press and NetGalley and thank them for the opportunity to write a review.
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December 22, 2025Wreck Your Heart is a Cozy Mystery with a country-music twist from Lori Rader-Day.
"Dahlia 'Doll' Devine is the star of her own stage at McPhee's Tavern - part of the Chicago country music (yes - Chicago) Her life sounds like a country music song - her boyfriend ran off with the rent money and her mother abandoned her - but the dogs still love her. Then the mother who left shows up at the bar - and Doll finds a body outside in the alley - and a sister she didn't know she had shows up looking for mom. Suddenly the life she thought she wanted is threatened."
Doll is a great character from Rader-Day. She wants what we all want - to follow our dreams to a better life. Doll has a lot of obstacles - but also has the talent and moxie to reach her dreams. I love the setting of an old Capone speakeasy. It comes into play later in the story.
There is found family, redemption, greed and of course - secrets. Doll is front-and-center but there's a great cast of characters. The musical scenes are fun. Crazy ending.
Great audio performance from Lauren Ezzo, especially with Doll's voice and emotion.
Great, fun story from Rader-Day.
"Dahlia 'Doll' Devine is the star of her own stage at McPhee's Tavern - part of the Chicago country music (yes - Chicago) Her life sounds like a country music song - her boyfriend ran off with the rent money and her mother abandoned her - but the dogs still love her. Then the mother who left shows up at the bar - and Doll finds a body outside in the alley - and a sister she didn't know she had shows up looking for mom. Suddenly the life she thought she wanted is threatened."
Doll is a great character from Rader-Day. She wants what we all want - to follow our dreams to a better life. Doll has a lot of obstacles - but also has the talent and moxie to reach her dreams. I love the setting of an old Capone speakeasy. It comes into play later in the story.
There is found family, redemption, greed and of course - secrets. Doll is front-and-center but there's a great cast of characters. The musical scenes are fun. Crazy ending.
Great audio performance from Lauren Ezzo, especially with Doll's voice and emotion.
Great, fun story from Rader-Day.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dahlia is an emotionally damaged yet resilient and talented twenty-something in the Chicago indie music scene. She stumbles across two mysteries close to her in one day and we wonder if or how they're connected through much of the book.
This story's slow pacing and reflections dripping with metaphor tend toward literary fiction, but then when it focused on the mysteries, it went full noir. In those moments, I had trouble remembering that it was set in present day Chicago and not in the gangster-riddled 20s.
We spend a lot of time in Dahlia's head sifting through her past and processing what's happening to her now, which slows down the mystery plots quite a bit.
Despite the slow pacing, the author does a good job of investing us in Dahlia's wellbeing and in solving these mysteries for her sake.
I've never been a fan of the noir genre and the last third of the book leaned heavily that way, so I feel strongly that noir fans would be a better audience for this story.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Lori Rader-Day for this advance audio copy to honestly review. It will be available in January.
This story's slow pacing and reflections dripping with metaphor tend toward literary fiction, but then when it focused on the mysteries, it went full noir. In those moments, I had trouble remembering that it was set in present day Chicago and not in the gangster-riddled 20s.
We spend a lot of time in Dahlia's head sifting through her past and processing what's happening to her now, which slows down the mystery plots quite a bit.
Despite the slow pacing, the author does a good job of investing us in Dahlia's wellbeing and in solving these mysteries for her sake.
I've never been a fan of the noir genre and the last third of the book leaned heavily that way, so I feel strongly that noir fans would be a better audience for this story.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Lori Rader-Day for this advance audio copy to honestly review. It will be available in January.
December 24, 2025
Oh I was wrong wrong about this book and I loved every second of it.
Going into Wreck Your Heart, I expected a story about a woman finding her place in country music. Troubled past, complicated family, music as healing, maybe a little romance. That assumption didn’t survive the first chapter.
Instead, the story swerves straight into mystery and never lets up. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was floored. Just when I felt confident about where it was going, I realized I was wrong again. The twists kept coming, and the tension stayed high the entire time.
What really worked for me was how personal the mystery felt. Family history, buried secrets, and emotional weight are woven into every reveal, not just twists for shock value. It kept me fully locked in.
The audiobook narration was incredible. It felt like listening to an actress perform a role rather than a standard narration. From whispers to screams, the emotion poured through and elevated the entire experience.
There were a few slower moments, but they never lasted long. Overall, this book completely surprised me, kept me on edge, and ended up being a listen I absolutely loved.
Going into Wreck Your Heart, I expected a story about a woman finding her place in country music. Troubled past, complicated family, music as healing, maybe a little romance. That assumption didn’t survive the first chapter.
Instead, the story swerves straight into mystery and never lets up. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was floored. Just when I felt confident about where it was going, I realized I was wrong again. The twists kept coming, and the tension stayed high the entire time.
What really worked for me was how personal the mystery felt. Family history, buried secrets, and emotional weight are woven into every reveal, not just twists for shock value. It kept me fully locked in.
The audiobook narration was incredible. It felt like listening to an actress perform a role rather than a standard narration. From whispers to screams, the emotion poured through and elevated the entire experience.
There were a few slower moments, but they never lasted long. Overall, this book completely surprised me, kept me on edge, and ended up being a listen I absolutely loved.
November 28, 2025
𝓦𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓴 𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽 by is a moody mystery told in the first person --set primarily at a old bar/pub in Chicago that has been around for 100+ years. Dahlia is a woman with dreams of becoming a country music star, but her current life is nothing but a mess - her boyfriend has ghosted her, she's kicked out of their house and is broke. And on top of it, she is still dealing with the emotional baggage of her dysfunctional and tragic childhood. First, her mom who she hasn't seen in 20+ years shows up at her bar and then disappears; then her boyfriend is found dead in an alley.
This is a complex mystery, but the writing is very juvenile and the first person narration gave it a stream of consciousness vibe that felt very disjointed to me. Dahlia's ramblings were all over the place. The plot isn't quite sure what it is - a murder mystery, a romance, a family drama -- and I'm afraid all of the angles just fell flat for me.
I absolutely love the beautiful cover.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.
This is a complex mystery, but the writing is very juvenile and the first person narration gave it a stream of consciousness vibe that felt very disjointed to me. Dahlia's ramblings were all over the place. The plot isn't quite sure what it is - a murder mystery, a romance, a family drama -- and I'm afraid all of the angles just fell flat for me.
I absolutely love the beautiful cover.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dahlia "Doll" Devine's story captivated me with its blend of gritty crime suspense and heartfelt Midwestern soul, making it a standout read that lingered long after the final page.
What I enjoyed most was Dahlia's fierce resilience was her evolution from a hardscrabble survivor to a stage ready country singer felt authentic and inspiring, turning every setback into a rallying cry that echoed real life triumphs.
The unexpected family secrets, especially the half-sister twist, added layers of emotional tension without veering into melodrama, drawing me deeper into her quest for belonging amid the chaos.
The big hearted characters like Alex McPhee shone brightly, their quiet support providing warmth against the thriller's pulse pounding stakes, while the Chicago country scene infused fresh energy into familiar tropes.
Vivid prose and snappy dialogue hummed like a perfect chorus, delivering twists that reframed loyalty and dreams in ways that felt profoundly satisfying.
I can’t wait to read more of this authors work!
What I enjoyed most was Dahlia's fierce resilience was her evolution from a hardscrabble survivor to a stage ready country singer felt authentic and inspiring, turning every setback into a rallying cry that echoed real life triumphs.
The unexpected family secrets, especially the half-sister twist, added layers of emotional tension without veering into melodrama, drawing me deeper into her quest for belonging amid the chaos.
The big hearted characters like Alex McPhee shone brightly, their quiet support providing warmth against the thriller's pulse pounding stakes, while the Chicago country scene infused fresh energy into familiar tropes.
Vivid prose and snappy dialogue hummed like a perfect chorus, delivering twists that reframed loyalty and dreams in ways that felt profoundly satisfying.
I can’t wait to read more of this authors work!
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