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The Lucky Club: A shockingly unique psychological thriller with a mind-blowing pop culture twist.
Fame can be a killer.
Some of the world’s biggest celebrities are being targeted by a whole new breed of criminal, on a mission to bring down those winning massive rewards for questionable talent. But when the murderer becomes a social media sensation, it begs the what could possibly be a worse reason for fame than being a serial killer?
Are you looking for a thrill ride of a story that takes celebrity culture in a shocking and entirely new direction?
How do you feel about those achieving overwhelming fame for underwhelming skill?
Do you love a can’t-put-down mystery with enough twists to give you whiplash?
Then look inside The Lucky Club, the debut novel by Jess Harnell, Emmy nominated voiceover actor with hundreds of iconic characters and projects you’ll recognize to his name, from Animaniacs to Transformers to multiple Pixar films.
This edge of your seat suspense thriller with a sardonic dose of social commentary and satire is perfect for fans of Stephen King, Frieda McFadden and Dean Koontz.
The Lucky Club and its hot button topic snap the serial killer genre into a whole new pop culture direction, but don’t plan on getting much sleep when you start to read it. Grab your copy of this utterly unique, lightning paced Hollywood-gone-wrong thriller today.
It’s time to get Lucky.
Some of the world’s biggest celebrities are being targeted by a whole new breed of criminal, on a mission to bring down those winning massive rewards for questionable talent. But when the murderer becomes a social media sensation, it begs the what could possibly be a worse reason for fame than being a serial killer?
Are you looking for a thrill ride of a story that takes celebrity culture in a shocking and entirely new direction?
How do you feel about those achieving overwhelming fame for underwhelming skill?
Do you love a can’t-put-down mystery with enough twists to give you whiplash?
Then look inside The Lucky Club, the debut novel by Jess Harnell, Emmy nominated voiceover actor with hundreds of iconic characters and projects you’ll recognize to his name, from Animaniacs to Transformers to multiple Pixar films.
This edge of your seat suspense thriller with a sardonic dose of social commentary and satire is perfect for fans of Stephen King, Frieda McFadden and Dean Koontz.
The Lucky Club and its hot button topic snap the serial killer genre into a whole new pop culture direction, but don’t plan on getting much sleep when you start to read it. Grab your copy of this utterly unique, lightning paced Hollywood-gone-wrong thriller today.
It’s time to get Lucky.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2025
11 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 29, 2025
I bought a copy because I’ve been a fan of the author's work in cartoon voiceover for 30+ years. I didn't know what to expect, so I approached it with an open mind.
Turns out, this is good. This is VERY good.
The Lucky Club is a nail-biting murder thriller about fame: Who chases it, who catches it, and how it preys on its pursuers. There are a lot of celebrities out there who have won the public's adoration seemingly by lottery, despite having no true talent or doing the work to get where they are. On the other hand, countless others dream and labor tirelessly, only to be ground in the cogs of the entertainment industry's machinery as a reward. And "MT" has seen enough of it.
Taking it into their own hands, MT begins a grisly murder spree to send a message. And the lesson will continue until Hollywood passes the test. The horror is well-written--just enough left to the imagination, but enough detail to stir the pit of your stomach.
The story follows Dennis Quinlan's journey to uncover the killer, leaning on friends along the way. The relationships are touching and believable. A childhood friend and a doting twin sister work to keep Denny from spiraling under the pressure, and a budding romance with the FBI agent co-assigned to the case offers a ray of hope toward something brighter.
You won't see the ending coming. For a few pages, I wondered if the story had fallen off the rails. But at the last moment, everything snaps into focus and... hoo boy. The closing paragraphs feel like the cars halting and the safety harness releasing, and yes thank you, it was fun but I'm ready to get off the roller coaster.
I don't give five stars lightly. A book has to speak to me. The Lucky Club delivers a timely message. In today's world, anyone can "put yourself out there," several times a day and on five different platforms if we want. And it seems we're all clawing at each other to get on top of the pile, while screaming "NOTICE ME!" in each other's faces. Maybe we need to take a step back and consider where we're really going.
Great work, Mr. Harnell. I hope you have another one in you.
Turns out, this is good. This is VERY good.
The Lucky Club is a nail-biting murder thriller about fame: Who chases it, who catches it, and how it preys on its pursuers. There are a lot of celebrities out there who have won the public's adoration seemingly by lottery, despite having no true talent or doing the work to get where they are. On the other hand, countless others dream and labor tirelessly, only to be ground in the cogs of the entertainment industry's machinery as a reward. And "MT" has seen enough of it.
Taking it into their own hands, MT begins a grisly murder spree to send a message. And the lesson will continue until Hollywood passes the test. The horror is well-written--just enough left to the imagination, but enough detail to stir the pit of your stomach.
The story follows Dennis Quinlan's journey to uncover the killer, leaning on friends along the way. The relationships are touching and believable. A childhood friend and a doting twin sister work to keep Denny from spiraling under the pressure, and a budding romance with the FBI agent co-assigned to the case offers a ray of hope toward something brighter.
You won't see the ending coming. For a few pages, I wondered if the story had fallen off the rails. But at the last moment, everything snaps into focus and... hoo boy. The closing paragraphs feel like the cars halting and the safety harness releasing, and yes thank you, it was fun but I'm ready to get off the roller coaster.
I don't give five stars lightly. A book has to speak to me. The Lucky Club delivers a timely message. In today's world, anyone can "put yourself out there," several times a day and on five different platforms if we want. And it seems we're all clawing at each other to get on top of the pile, while screaming "NOTICE ME!" in each other's faces. Maybe we need to take a step back and consider where we're really going.
Great work, Mr. Harnell. I hope you have another one in you.
October 13, 2025
Among the hundreds of popular thrillers book lovers tout as their favorites, most tend to mine expected tropes and similar storylines that can often feel all too familiar. That’s what makes finding a thoughtful, unexpected, beautifully-written novel like THE LUCKY CLUB such a joy! In this new thriller from debut author Jess Harnell, untalented L.A. celebrities who are famous simply for being famous are being targeted by a serial killer intent on balancing the scales of fairness. It’s an intriguing plot and from the jump, THE LUCKY CLUB will grab you and have you reading long into the night. The characters are fascinating, the twists are fantastic, and the story is incredibly authentic and for good reason. As one of America’s most talented and successful voice actors for the past 30 years, Harnell brings a unique authenticity to the story and the voice of someone who’s clearly watched the celebrity carousel up close. If you love thrillers, celebrity culture, or just want a fun page-turner you won’t want to put down, do not sleep on THE LUCKY CLUB. It’s tailor-made for great Book Club discussions and a guilty pleasure read by the pool!
October 6, 2025
Ok, I admit it, I've always had a crush on Jess Harnell.
He's the voice of my favorite cartoon character, Wakko Warner from The Animaniacs. He's also voice many other famous cartoon characters (Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, various voices in so many cartoons, Road Rovers, Biker Mice from Mars, What's New Scooby Doo, Codename: Kids Next Door, Johnny Bravo and Disney's House of Mouse, just to name a few. The list goes on......
He's in a band called Rock Sugar, and this man can sing.... what an incredible voice!
So, I was so excited when he announced his new book, The Lucky Club. I couldn't wait to read it, and honestly, once I started, I couldn't put it down. It was the best book I've read this year. The man can write a great story!!!
If you're Famous for being Famous, beware, you just might be in this club. And you won't get out Alive.
Highly recommended, and I'm really hoping this is the first of many more books Jess writes!
He's the voice of my favorite cartoon character, Wakko Warner from The Animaniacs. He's also voice many other famous cartoon characters (Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, various voices in so many cartoons, Road Rovers, Biker Mice from Mars, What's New Scooby Doo, Codename: Kids Next Door, Johnny Bravo and Disney's House of Mouse, just to name a few. The list goes on......
He's in a band called Rock Sugar, and this man can sing.... what an incredible voice!
So, I was so excited when he announced his new book, The Lucky Club. I couldn't wait to read it, and honestly, once I started, I couldn't put it down. It was the best book I've read this year. The man can write a great story!!!
If you're Famous for being Famous, beware, you just might be in this club. And you won't get out Alive.
Highly recommended, and I'm really hoping this is the first of many more books Jess writes!
January 19, 2026
This book jumps right into the thick of things and doesn't let up. I did NOT see the twist coming!
This would make an amazing miniseries.
This would make an amazing miniseries.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews