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Martina Monroe #14
Before She Said I Do
She came home to celebrate. She never made it to the front door.
Zoey Monroe planned to surprise her mother, PI Martina Monroe, with one final Friday movie night before her wedding—a cherished tradition since childhood. But after landing in the Bay Area, Zoey vanishes without a trace. Her phone goes dark. And Zoey is gone.
Desperate for answers, her panicked fiancé turns to Zoey’s stepsister, Selena. When the search yields nothing, Martina springs into action, rallying her team, the local police, and her former cold case partner, now-retired Detective August Hirsch.
It quickly becomes clear—this was no random abduction. It was sophisticated. Calculated. Personal.
As Martina and Hirsch dig into old case files, hunting for anyone with a score to settle, a shocking twist throws the investigation off the kidnappers finally make contact—but not with Martina or the police. The message is delivered to Zoey’s future mother-in-law.
What secrets are the Ashfords hiding? And could they be the key to bringing Zoey home—or sealing her fate?
With the wedding day fast approaching and time running out, Martina races to untangle a deadly web of past sins and buried truths. But the deeper she digs, the more one thing becomes This wasn’t about Zoey. This was revenge.
A gripping, fast-paced and twisty psychological crime thriller perfect for fans of Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, and Mary Stone.
Zoey Monroe planned to surprise her mother, PI Martina Monroe, with one final Friday movie night before her wedding—a cherished tradition since childhood. But after landing in the Bay Area, Zoey vanishes without a trace. Her phone goes dark. And Zoey is gone.
Desperate for answers, her panicked fiancé turns to Zoey’s stepsister, Selena. When the search yields nothing, Martina springs into action, rallying her team, the local police, and her former cold case partner, now-retired Detective August Hirsch.
It quickly becomes clear—this was no random abduction. It was sophisticated. Calculated. Personal.
As Martina and Hirsch dig into old case files, hunting for anyone with a score to settle, a shocking twist throws the investigation off the kidnappers finally make contact—but not with Martina or the police. The message is delivered to Zoey’s future mother-in-law.
What secrets are the Ashfords hiding? And could they be the key to bringing Zoey home—or sealing her fate?
With the wedding day fast approaching and time running out, Martina races to untangle a deadly web of past sins and buried truths. But the deeper she digs, the more one thing becomes This wasn’t about Zoey. This was revenge.
A gripping, fast-paced and twisty psychological crime thriller perfect for fans of Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, and Mary Stone.
- GenresMystery
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2025
205 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
H.K. Christie
73 books505 followersH. K. Christie watched horror films far too early in life. Inspired by the likes of Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, true crime podcasts, and a vivid imagination she now writes suspenseful thrillers. When not working on her latest novel, she can be found eating & drinking with friends, walking around the lakes, or playing with her favorite furry pal.
She is a native and current resident of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The MARTINA MONROE series featuring Private Investigator Martina Monroe and her unofficial partner, Detective August Hirsch of the Cold Case Squad, is a nail-bing crime thriller series full of suspense. If you like high-stakes games, jaw-dropping twists, and embattled seekers struggling to do right, then you’ll love the thrilling Martina Monroe series.
The SELENA BAILEY series is a collection of suspenseful stories detailing one young woman's turbulent path to becoming a top-notch, kick-ass private investigator. If you like thrilling twists, dark tension, and smart and driven women, then you’ll love this new dark thriller series. A Permanent Mark is a suspenseful murder mystery featuring a grown-up Selena Bailey.
www.authorhkchristie.com
The MARTINA MONROE series featuring Private Investigator Martina Monroe and her unofficial partner, Detective August Hirsch of the Cold Case Squad, is a nail-bing crime thriller series full of suspense. If you like high-stakes games, jaw-dropping twists, and embattled seekers struggling to do right, then you’ll love the thrilling Martina Monroe series.
The SELENA BAILEY series is a collection of suspenseful stories detailing one young woman's turbulent path to becoming a top-notch, kick-ass private investigator. If you like thrilling twists, dark tension, and smart and driven women, then you’ll love this new dark thriller series. A Permanent Mark is a suspenseful murder mystery featuring a grown-up Selena Bailey.
www.authorhkchristie.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 12, 2025
This is hands down the best book in the series. I devoured this on a short travel day and my seat neighbors were probably very concerned about my wellbeing considering how much my jaw dropped and I had to set my Kindle down. Absolutely do not skip this one, it is fantastic.
September 26, 2025
Y’all… Zoey Monroe flies home for movie night and poof—vanished before the front door 😱. Mama-bear PI Martina Monroe + retired detective Hirsch? Absolute chaos squad, tearing through secrets, grudges, and family drama thicker than wedding cake 🍰💀.
Christie’s writing hits ALL the senses—you smell the Bay fog, hear the silence of dead phones, taste the metallic tang of panic. Twists snap like live wires ⚡️, suspense cranks up like the bass at a wedding DJ set, and the Ashfords’ secrets? Toxic syrup-level juicy 🍯💥.
Martina’s fierce, Hirsch’s steady, fiancé’s desperate—and every emotional beat lands like a punch.
Bottom line: twisty, addictive, impossible to put down. Read this with the lights on, y’all 👀💍💀.
Christie’s writing hits ALL the senses—you smell the Bay fog, hear the silence of dead phones, taste the metallic tang of panic. Twists snap like live wires ⚡️, suspense cranks up like the bass at a wedding DJ set, and the Ashfords’ secrets? Toxic syrup-level juicy 🍯💥.
Martina’s fierce, Hirsch’s steady, fiancé’s desperate—and every emotional beat lands like a punch.
Bottom line: twisty, addictive, impossible to put down. Read this with the lights on, y’all 👀💍💀.
September 27, 2025
Wow! Just wow - This book grabbed me from the cover! The book was written so well to the point that you didn’t want to stop reading it until you finished it! It was very action packed and fast paced! Martina Monroe has got to be my Liam Nielsen parent from the movie Taken - she stops at nothing for the ones she loves! You don’t want to miss this one. I am so thankful to be on H.K. Christies ARC team! Thank you so much!
September 13, 2025
i don’t think i’ve ever met a martina book i didn’t like, and this one is no exception! having known “the gang” for so long, this feels like delving right back in with old friends, and when the stakes are as high as they are, it’s SO worth it. (and i looooved having hirsch’s POV’s back!)
October 1, 2025
Great Book!!
I have read all of the Martina Monroe books and loved them. Great series and you really start to care about the characters. They become like friends.
I have read all of the Martina Monroe books and loved them. Great series and you really start to care about the characters. They become like friends.
January 16, 2026
Another fabulous book from one of my favorite authors!! This series just keeps on getting better
October 1, 2025
Wow… I absolutely devoured this book!
Fast-paced, gripping, and filled with nonstop tension—I literally could not put it down.
From the very first page, I was hooked. My heart was pounding as I kept turning the pages, completely consumed by the story. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, bam—another twist came out of nowhere and left me speechless.
This series just keeps getting better and better, and with every book I read, the more addicted I become.
A huge thank you to H. K. Christie—not only for trusting me as part of your ARC team (which I’m so grateful for), but also for once again leaving me breathless at the end of every chapter.
Thank you for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Highly, highly recommend!
Fast-paced, gripping, and filled with nonstop tension—I literally could not put it down.
From the very first page, I was hooked. My heart was pounding as I kept turning the pages, completely consumed by the story. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, bam—another twist came out of nowhere and left me speechless.
This series just keeps getting better and better, and with every book I read, the more addicted I become.
A huge thank you to H. K. Christie—not only for trusting me as part of your ARC team (which I’m so grateful for), but also for once again leaving me breathless at the end of every chapter.
Thank you for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Highly, highly recommend!
September 20, 2025
Martina Monroe is looking forward to her daughter, Zoey, getting married next week. She is also looking forward to Zoey coming home tomorrow and the fun they will have this week. But, Zoey, is coming home a day early to surprise her mother. But, she doesn't make it. As soon as she gets off the airplane and into an Uber, Zoey is kidnapped. But, by whom, and why. Is it possibly connected to the work her mother and her company do, or is there another reason. Whatever the reason, according to the messages Martina and her team receive they have two days to comply with demands. Can they find and save Zoey in time, and find out why this happened and stop whoever did this...
This is a great addition to this wonderful series.
(Thanks to the author and the publisher for an advance copy)
This is a great addition to this wonderful series.
(Thanks to the author and the publisher for an advance copy)
October 13, 2025
PI Martina Monroe is in action again. This time it is closer to home. Her daughter Zoey was coming to see her before Zoey’s wedding. She disappears soon after she gets there. Her phone goes dark. Nothing. Her fiancée is panicky, obviously, so Martina and good old Hirsch are back in action to find her. As they start digging, secrets are discovered, of course! When the kidnappers finally make contact, it is not about revenge on Martina. It actually has to do with the future in-laws. What is Zoey getting herself into? The clock is running as the wedding approaches. The story is exciting. I love seeing Martina and Hirsch working together. I really like Martina Monroe. Through previous books, we’ve seen her ups and downs and her back stories as she continues to do her work.
October 18, 2025
Unputdownable Crime Thriller
Martina has spent years solving other people’s cases—but this time, the crime hits painfully close to home. Her daughter, Zoey, sets out to surprise her mother but never makes it home. The clock is ticking, and the danger is deadly.
Who kidnapped Zoey, and why? Is the answer buried in Martina’s old investigations, or does the motive lie within her daughter’s soon-to-be in-laws? What follows is a tense, fast-paced race against time as Martina and her team dig through old secrets and new threats to bring Zoey home.
This story had me turning the pages late into the night. If you love crime thrillers that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat, this one is a must-read.
Martina has spent years solving other people’s cases—but this time, the crime hits painfully close to home. Her daughter, Zoey, sets out to surprise her mother but never makes it home. The clock is ticking, and the danger is deadly.
Who kidnapped Zoey, and why? Is the answer buried in Martina’s old investigations, or does the motive lie within her daughter’s soon-to-be in-laws? What follows is a tense, fast-paced race against time as Martina and her team dig through old secrets and new threats to bring Zoey home.
This story had me turning the pages late into the night. If you love crime thrillers that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat, this one is a must-read.
September 20, 2025
Thank You to the author for this digital ARC read in exchange for my honest review of Before She Said I Do.
Before She Said I Do is the fourteenth book in the Martina Monroe series and this time Zoey ends up missing without a trace. This was a fast paced read that had me turning pages until the very end. The author wrote this well and every character in this was great. It will keep you guessing until the very end. All of the twists in this were good and I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author. Overall, l I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to any reader who like thriller books.
Before She Said I Do is the fourteenth book in the Martina Monroe series and this time Zoey ends up missing without a trace. This was a fast paced read that had me turning pages until the very end. The author wrote this well and every character in this was great. It will keep you guessing until the very end. All of the twists in this were good and I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author. Overall, l I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to any reader who like thriller books.
September 28, 2025
Before She Said I do is a gripping read from start to finish.
Although this may be book 14 in the series you can certainly read it as a stand alone like I did.
The book is fast paced, the tension is relentless and the twists are jaw dropping.
H, K. Christie leads the reader down a path that will have you holding your breath and hoping for the best for Martina and Zoey.
I am a new reader to this series and I am kicking myself for not reading them before. I will now.
Don't miss this one: treat yourself to a fantastic read and be warned you will want to binge the entire book in one sitting.
Although this may be book 14 in the series you can certainly read it as a stand alone like I did.
The book is fast paced, the tension is relentless and the twists are jaw dropping.
H, K. Christie leads the reader down a path that will have you holding your breath and hoping for the best for Martina and Zoey.
I am a new reader to this series and I am kicking myself for not reading them before. I will now.
Don't miss this one: treat yourself to a fantastic read and be warned you will want to binge the entire book in one sitting.
September 26, 2025
Wow! This book was amazing. I happen to love this series but this is the best book yet. The storyline was engaging with the mystery starting out almost from page one. Tension builds, nerves fray, and tempers are lost. What I loved was that the mystery wasn’t a what happened but rather a why did it happen puzzle. All the characters had a part in this one and for once Martina showed a vulnerable side to her personality. Definitely a book that should be in people’s TBR pile.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
September 12, 2025
“Before She Said I Do” by H. K. Christie is a dark and personal story of revenge that pulls you in from the first page. Fast-paced and full of twists, this thriller kept me hooked—I couldn’t put it down and I know I’ll have a book hangover because of this one! The raw emotion makes it hit harder than a typical suspense novel. What lengths will Martina go to in order to find her daughter? Read and find out!
October 5, 2025
This story focuses on a kidnapping, and the efforts of Martina’s team, who wouldn’t be anywhere else but helping her with this incredible drama. Ms Christie once again creates a captivating story, pulling the reader into the story from page one, and never letting them go. I was involved to the last page, and truly enjoyed the drama, intrigue, twists, and love this series’ characters. Love this author! I received a complimentary ARC, but I am voluntarily offering my personal opinion.
September 15, 2025
Oh my goodness. H.K Christie has done it again. I finished this book in 2 days! I could NOT put it down. From the very first chapter to the final chapter had me on the edge of my seat. With Zoey being kidnapped and Martina being the most amazing mom and investigator that she is those crooks didn’t stand a chance!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2025
This book was incredible. Getting to see Zoey grow up in the “Martina Monroe” series has been such a thrill and to get to experience her wedding was so heart warming. Now what she experienced the week leading up to her wedding was a wild ride. Full of twists, new suspects, not knowing who to trust and trusting your family.
September 23, 2025
AMAZING!!! I have read through all the Martina books so fast and this one is just as good as the rest. I didn’t get to read as fast as I wanted but I couldn’t wait to see what happened. She was on this case like no other (as she should have been) and it had all kinds of twists and turns. Definitely don’t miss this one, you will love it as much as the rest!!!!
October 12, 2025
This time it is personal. Martina’s daughter, Zoey, is getting married. But when she flies in to spend time with her mother, she is kidnapped and ransom notes sent to Martina. Can Martina and her team track down Zoey before the kidnappers kill her? Will they figure out who is behind it all. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat until the exciting conclusion.
October 20, 2025
No spoilers
I cannot get enough of this series! I actually went back and reread several books in thus series before starting this one. Love, mystery, hope, faith. They embody all of that! If you've not read this series of Martina Monroe, grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair and enjoy!
I cannot get enough of this series! I actually went back and reread several books in thus series before starting this one. Love, mystery, hope, faith. They embody all of that! If you've not read this series of Martina Monroe, grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair and enjoy!
October 4, 2025
Fast moving
The investigation was high energy, high impact and moved as fast as lightening. This episode went from zero to completion in record time. The most interesting part was the amount of help and coordination of resources the team had. Good read.
The investigation was high energy, high impact and moved as fast as lightening. This episode went from zero to completion in record time. The most interesting part was the amount of help and coordination of resources the team had. Good read.
October 10, 2025
Amazing
I love the Martina McBride series. H.K. Christie never disappoints. This was a great read. Highly recommend all her books. Can't wait to read the next chapter in this series.
I love the Martina McBride series. H.K. Christie never disappoints. This was a great read. Highly recommend all her books. Can't wait to read the next chapter in this series.
October 13, 2025
This book was a little different for Martina. If was very personal and not a cold case. Her daughter is all grown up and about to get married then she disappeared. You must read this to see if she is found in time for her and Henry to get married.
October 16, 2025
Absolutely filled with suspense and secrets to keep you wondering what could possibly happen next. Who committed this crime and why. Definitely a book that you want to read again and tell everybody else about it. Can’t wait for the next book.
October 16, 2025
Get this book.
You will not be disappointed with this book. Had me holding my breath at times and a true thriller. Lots of turns and twists and everything is explained at the last chapter. Truly a book everyone would enjoy for suspense.
You will not be disappointed with this book. Had me holding my breath at times and a true thriller. Lots of turns and twists and everything is explained at the last chapter. Truly a book everyone would enjoy for suspense.
October 17, 2025
Before She said I Do(Martina Monroe Crime Thriller Book 14) H.K.Christie
Another thriller that includes Martin's daughter. Who would do this and the reason. It leads to some interesting details. Interesting!
Another thriller that includes Martin's daughter. Who would do this and the reason. It leads to some interesting details. Interesting!
September 26, 2025
Umm what?! And I mean that in the best way possible. I did not see this plot line happening but boy was I hooked. The emotion, the unknowns and mystery, the family element. This one was so good. Every page turned I was inhaled it like it was an iced coffee. It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last punctuation mark. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one.
October 2, 2025
fantastic
I love her books, ready for the next!!!!!! Never a dull moment in all her books, I can never put them down once I start.
I love her books, ready for the next!!!!!! Never a dull moment in all her books, I can never put them down once I start.
March 9, 2026
Absolutely loved this one! The story, the outline, the details were all very incredible and made me want to finish it even faster. This is one of my top favorite stories she has wrote!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews