What do you think?
Rate this book
I Did Not Kill My Husband
Not yet published
Expected 2 May 26The latest from sensational writing duo Linda Keir,
I Did Not Kill My Husband
is a riveting thriller perfect for fans of
None of This Is True
by Lisa Jewell and
Lucky
by Marissa Stapely.
LA lifestyle influencer Cara Campbell is living the rags-to-riches dream with her plastic surgeon husband, Karl, and posting all about it on social media. But her happily ever after evaporates when she’s given a life sentence for murdering Karl during a romantic getaway. All evidence points to her, and her platform—as an unabashed gold digger—makes her look guilty as hell. Karl’s struggling business and million-dollar life insurance policy add plenty of motive. But the one thing Cara knows for sure is she didn’t do it.
En route to the maximum-security prison where she’ll begin serving her sentence, the armored transport vehicle is torn apart in a horrific collision that sparks a wildfire at the scene. Desperately seizing this unexpected chance at freedom, Cara flees into the Sierra Nevada mountain range armed only with a cracked phone she found on the highway.
Local sheriff Jordan Burke is first to respond and follows in hot pursuit. His desire to apprehend Cara is He’s vulnerable in the next election, and a quick capture will help his chances. But as the sensational case explodes in the headlines, he finds himself second-guessed at every turn by a noisy chorus of murderinos, internet sleuths, and podcasters—as well as his blowhard political opponent, who trumpets every mistake.
In the woods, Cara’s flight for survival becomes a journey of discovery. Who killed Karl, and why? Was her marriage built on lies? And who is she, really, without her millions of followers?
As Jordan draws relentlessly closer, he, too, begins to question the truth. But to find the answers, he has to catch a fugitive …
LA lifestyle influencer Cara Campbell is living the rags-to-riches dream with her plastic surgeon husband, Karl, and posting all about it on social media. But her happily ever after evaporates when she’s given a life sentence for murdering Karl during a romantic getaway. All evidence points to her, and her platform—as an unabashed gold digger—makes her look guilty as hell. Karl’s struggling business and million-dollar life insurance policy add plenty of motive. But the one thing Cara knows for sure is she didn’t do it.
En route to the maximum-security prison where she’ll begin serving her sentence, the armored transport vehicle is torn apart in a horrific collision that sparks a wildfire at the scene. Desperately seizing this unexpected chance at freedom, Cara flees into the Sierra Nevada mountain range armed only with a cracked phone she found on the highway.
Local sheriff Jordan Burke is first to respond and follows in hot pursuit. His desire to apprehend Cara is He’s vulnerable in the next election, and a quick capture will help his chances. But as the sensational case explodes in the headlines, he finds himself second-guessed at every turn by a noisy chorus of murderinos, internet sleuths, and podcasters—as well as his blowhard political opponent, who trumpets every mistake.
In the woods, Cara’s flight for survival becomes a journey of discovery. Who killed Karl, and why? Was her marriage built on lies? And who is she, really, without her millions of followers?
As Jordan draws relentlessly closer, he, too, begins to question the truth. But to find the answers, he has to catch a fugitive …
- GenresFiction
1 pages, Audio CD
Expected publication May 2, 2026
1 person is currently reading
109 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 4, 2025
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the download.
One of my favorite movies of all time is THE FUGITIVE, with Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford. This book is very much like that movie, but with a female escapee instead.
I devoured it.
The two mains--Jordan (the small-town sheriff) and Cara (the accused who escapes the van ferrying her to the penitentiary)--are both so consistently likable, multi-faceted, interesting. So well-drawn. The pacing is fast and furious. Always moving forward, like a shark. Even when Cara had some miraculous Houdini moments, I bought into the story. [There was one mistake re: something Jordan learns that didn't actually happen; and another where the author(s) repeated the same exact 3 sentences two paragraphs later, but I got over it.]
The ending was a little saggy in that the motives, etc. weren't quite as powerful as all that came before, but again, I really really enjoyed this read. Totally recommend.
One of my favorite movies of all time is THE FUGITIVE, with Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford. This book is very much like that movie, but with a female escapee instead.
I devoured it.
The two mains--Jordan (the small-town sheriff) and Cara (the accused who escapes the van ferrying her to the penitentiary)--are both so consistently likable, multi-faceted, interesting. So well-drawn. The pacing is fast and furious. Always moving forward, like a shark. Even when Cara had some miraculous Houdini moments, I bought into the story. [There was one mistake re: something Jordan learns that didn't actually happen; and another where the author(s) repeated the same exact 3 sentences two paragraphs later, but I got over it.]
The ending was a little saggy in that the motives, etc. weren't quite as powerful as all that came before, but again, I really really enjoyed this read. Totally recommend.
October 12, 2025
This book was such a wild ride. I loved how it blended true crime vibes with survival thriller energy. Cara was an interesting mix of messy, determined, and surprisingly easy to root for once the truth started unfolding. The tension never really let up, and the setting in the mountains made it even more intense. Some parts felt a little dramatic, but that’s exactly what made it fun. Fast-paced, addictive, and full of twists that kept me turning the pages.
September 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Holy shit! I wish I could read this for the 1st time again! I wasn’t a huge fan of Cara being a gold digger because let’s be for real, that’s what’s she is. Regardless of her wanting “emotional and financial security”, she married her husband due to his money while also teaching women how to marry rich men. Cara and Karl easily could’ve been an age gap couple without the gold digger aspect. I definitely found myself rooting for Sheriff Burke at times, but overall I really enjoyed this book! I’ll definitely be picking up a copy when it’s released. Received as an ARC through NetGalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2025
Title: I Did Not Kill My Husband
Author: Linda Keir
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing-
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: March 3, 2026
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 350
A lifestyle influencer Cara Campbell is living the rags-to-riches dream with her plastic surgeon husband, Karl, and posting all about it on social media. However, on a romantic getaway her husband is murdered and evidence points to her. The theory being she is a gold digger—and the million-dollar life insurance policy adds motive. But the one thing Cara knows for sure is she didn’t do it.
Story starts when she and several others are on route to the maximum-security prison in Chowchilla where Cara as well as the others will begin serving their sentence. They are traveling in a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations van. There is a California wildfire in the area that has made the driver change route. When the armored transport vehicle has to travel through some back roads aa pickup truck is in the wrong lane heading at them and then a terrible collision happens-leaving the driver dead as well as several others. The survivors have some injuries but the women see this unexpected chance at freedom. Yes! One is Cara and she flees into the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Some of you might remember the 1963TV show ‘The Fugitive’ with David Jansen who player Dr. Richard Kimble who was found guilty of murdering his wife and sent to prison. On the way to prison via train there is an accident and Dr. Kimble escapes.
This book will loosely remind you of that show only our fugitive is a female found guild of killing her husband.
Story is told from the POV of Cara and Sheriff Jordan however there are podcast episodes by Dylan Danvers’whose podcast is entitled ‘California Death Trip.
I loved the TV show so had rather high expectation for this story.
This story did drag a bit however, the TV show took120 episodes before Dr. Kimble found the ‘one-armed man’ who he said was in his house that night. So thankfully this story didn’t take THAT long!
I was pulling for Cara to prove she was innocent and find whodunit ~ and she does!
I want to thank Blackstone Publishing for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 3, 2026.
Author: Linda Keir
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing-
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: March 3, 2026
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 350
A lifestyle influencer Cara Campbell is living the rags-to-riches dream with her plastic surgeon husband, Karl, and posting all about it on social media. However, on a romantic getaway her husband is murdered and evidence points to her. The theory being she is a gold digger—and the million-dollar life insurance policy adds motive. But the one thing Cara knows for sure is she didn’t do it.
Story starts when she and several others are on route to the maximum-security prison in Chowchilla where Cara as well as the others will begin serving their sentence. They are traveling in a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations van. There is a California wildfire in the area that has made the driver change route. When the armored transport vehicle has to travel through some back roads aa pickup truck is in the wrong lane heading at them and then a terrible collision happens-leaving the driver dead as well as several others. The survivors have some injuries but the women see this unexpected chance at freedom. Yes! One is Cara and she flees into the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Some of you might remember the 1963TV show ‘The Fugitive’ with David Jansen who player Dr. Richard Kimble who was found guilty of murdering his wife and sent to prison. On the way to prison via train there is an accident and Dr. Kimble escapes.
This book will loosely remind you of that show only our fugitive is a female found guild of killing her husband.
Story is told from the POV of Cara and Sheriff Jordan however there are podcast episodes by Dylan Danvers’whose podcast is entitled ‘California Death Trip.
I loved the TV show so had rather high expectation for this story.
This story did drag a bit however, the TV show took120 episodes before Dr. Kimble found the ‘one-armed man’ who he said was in his house that night. So thankfully this story didn’t take THAT long!
I was pulling for Cara to prove she was innocent and find whodunit ~ and she does!
I want to thank Blackstone Publishing for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 3, 2026.
September 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.
I Did Not Kill My Husband has so many twists and turns it’s hard to put this book down to take them all in for fear of missing another compelling development. This is an excellent adventure, with high stakes as (ex) influencer Cara, whose claim to fame is giving tips to be a gold digger as she lives a perfect life with her much older husband Karl (who she truly loves), gets a small window of opportunity to catch his real killer when her transport bus to prison to serve time for the crime crashes, allowing her escape.
The story alternates between Cara on the run (meeting several new and old people to her) as she shares her background and current plight and Jordan, sheriff of the small town where Cara’s prison bus crashes as he tries to find her with some high stakes with an election for his position having some annoying competition, equally interested in catching Cara. Interspersed is a podcast narrating background of why Cara is still supported by a few fans, including the host, as innocent. Altogether this is extremely well done, ramping up the tension and sharing multiple angles to what had occurred and is occurring without overwhelming the reader.
The action and the mystery are hard to stop following and the writing makes what could be a lot happening at once for a reader easy to consume and stay connected with. Recommended for anyone who wants to escape for a high stakes adventure.
I Did Not Kill My Husband has so many twists and turns it’s hard to put this book down to take them all in for fear of missing another compelling development. This is an excellent adventure, with high stakes as (ex) influencer Cara, whose claim to fame is giving tips to be a gold digger as she lives a perfect life with her much older husband Karl (who she truly loves), gets a small window of opportunity to catch his real killer when her transport bus to prison to serve time for the crime crashes, allowing her escape.
The story alternates between Cara on the run (meeting several new and old people to her) as she shares her background and current plight and Jordan, sheriff of the small town where Cara’s prison bus crashes as he tries to find her with some high stakes with an election for his position having some annoying competition, equally interested in catching Cara. Interspersed is a podcast narrating background of why Cara is still supported by a few fans, including the host, as innocent. Altogether this is extremely well done, ramping up the tension and sharing multiple angles to what had occurred and is occurring without overwhelming the reader.
The action and the mystery are hard to stop following and the writing makes what could be a lot happening at once for a reader easy to consume and stay connected with. Recommended for anyone who wants to escape for a high stakes adventure.
August 31, 2025
I would like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance copy of I Did Not Kill My Husband in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, if I could’ve sat and read this book in one night, I would’ve! (Dang responsibilities). I don’t think there is one thing bad that I could say about this book. I literally loved ALL the characters (minus Taylor Campbell).
The story follows Cara and the sheriff, so there are only 2 point of views which I like.
The chapters are short and constantly kept me on edge, wanting to know more, saying “just one more chapter”. I needed to know what Cara was going to do next and everything she was going to overcome. Her and Jordan both are put through the wringer and I find myself somehow cheering both of them on 😂.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone! 5 ⭐️’s!
Wow, if I could’ve sat and read this book in one night, I would’ve! (Dang responsibilities). I don’t think there is one thing bad that I could say about this book. I literally loved ALL the characters (minus Taylor Campbell).
The story follows Cara and the sheriff, so there are only 2 point of views which I like.
The chapters are short and constantly kept me on edge, wanting to know more, saying “just one more chapter”. I needed to know what Cara was going to do next and everything she was going to overcome. Her and Jordan both are put through the wringer and I find myself somehow cheering both of them on 😂.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone! 5 ⭐️’s!
October 27, 2025
I Did Not Kill My Husband wasn’t bad at all. It mixes true crime with a bit of survival thriller, and I liked the social media aspect. I just wish it had shown up more throughout the book instead of only at the start of each chapter.
The middle dragged a little for me, but then the ending felt rushed, like everything suddenly needed to wrap up fast. I also would’ve liked more time spent on the motive and backstory rather than so much of the “on the run” part.
It held my interest, but it didn’t completely hook me. And maybe it’s just me, but I had a hunch about who the killer was pretty early on. Still, it’s an entertaining read overall, just not one that totally wowed me. I may have just read it at the wrong time for me personally.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read it.
The middle dragged a little for me, but then the ending felt rushed, like everything suddenly needed to wrap up fast. I also would’ve liked more time spent on the motive and backstory rather than so much of the “on the run” part.
It held my interest, but it didn’t completely hook me. And maybe it’s just me, but I had a hunch about who the killer was pretty early on. Still, it’s an entertaining read overall, just not one that totally wowed me. I may have just read it at the wrong time for me personally.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read it.
September 2, 2025
I Did Not Kill My Husband was interesting and intriguing at the start. It was a super quick read and enjoyable there were just a few flaws about it for me. I feel like at times the story was dragging, although it was quick some of the decisions that were made were just questionable and really took away from the story, especially since it made parts of the story obvious.
I did enjoy the two POV'S 1 being Cara's and the other being the sheriffs. Cara felt strong and stubborn and I loved that no matter what she wasn't going to go down without a fight and kept running to expose the truth. The Sheriff on the other hand, just felt like most of what he was doing was to save face which in truth I guess that was what he was doing but it was irritating lol.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy the two POV'S 1 being Cara's and the other being the sheriffs. Cara felt strong and stubborn and I loved that no matter what she wasn't going to go down without a fight and kept running to expose the truth. The Sheriff on the other hand, just felt like most of what he was doing was to save face which in truth I guess that was what he was doing but it was irritating lol.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2025
Ohhhh this one was a good one! I was so sad that it was over when I finished. I was completely involved in the main character’s life! The author built such an amazing plot with some great characters. She had me on the run up until the very end as to who done it.
I just think it was so fast-paced that it kept me reading and reading. I mean Cara had luck on her side countless times, but she was also smart and knew when it was time to run.🏃🏻♀️
Now I’m out to look for more Linda Keir books because I really like her writing style and I love how I got so into the book!
Thank you to Linda, the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC!
I just think it was so fast-paced that it kept me reading and reading. I mean Cara had luck on her side countless times, but she was also smart and knew when it was time to run.🏃🏻♀️
Now I’m out to look for more Linda Keir books because I really like her writing style and I love how I got so into the book!
Thank you to Linda, the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC!
November 16, 2025
3-3.5⭐️ Full RTC. It’s easy to read but there are some things that don’t really add up and I wasn’t a fan of the Scooby doo ending (which also didn’t really add up either).
December 5, 2025
At first I was asking “why would a whodunnit ever be over 400 pages” but I was proven wrong because not only was this not really a whodunnit, I also flew through it
November 7, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the Arc. At times I really felt like I was on the run with the main characters but at some point the chase felt like a slog. I think I wanted less “on the run” and more motives and backstory.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews