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The Confession Artist: A Thriller
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jun 26A Montana ex-cop becomes the target of a vengeful killer’s viral guessing game in a propulsive novel of suspense by a bestselling and award-winning author.
A killer dubbed the Confession Artist is posting sketches of potential victims on social media. And paranoia spreads as strangers across the nation admit to their sins—fearing the You have six days to confess or die.
Then former cop and first-year PI Crosbie Mitchell sees a sketch that bears a striking resemblance to her. How can that be? She’s a nobody from Flathead Valley, Montana. Crosbie dismisses it as an unnerving coincidence. If not for one unmistakable detail that makes the threat hard to ignore. When the FBI is contacted, they are convinced that Crosbie is the next target. So is she.
Crosbie has six days left to fess up online to something plaguing her conscience. But even if she wanted to play the killer’s game, she has more than one secret. And if she ever dares to expose them for the world to see, the truth will destroy her. That’s exactly what the Confession Artist wants.
A killer dubbed the Confession Artist is posting sketches of potential victims on social media. And paranoia spreads as strangers across the nation admit to their sins—fearing the You have six days to confess or die.
Then former cop and first-year PI Crosbie Mitchell sees a sketch that bears a striking resemblance to her. How can that be? She’s a nobody from Flathead Valley, Montana. Crosbie dismisses it as an unnerving coincidence. If not for one unmistakable detail that makes the threat hard to ignore. When the FBI is contacted, they are convinced that Crosbie is the next target. So is she.
Crosbie has six days left to fess up online to something plaguing her conscience. But even if she wanted to play the killer’s game, she has more than one secret. And if she ever dares to expose them for the world to see, the truth will destroy her. That’s exactly what the Confession Artist wants.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 1, 2026
About the author
Christine Carbo
7 books558 followersChristine Carbo is the author of the Glacier Mystery novels, an ensemble series set in and around Glacier National Park, and a stand-alone psychological thriller, THE CONFESSION ARTIST. She is a recipient of the Women’s National Book Association Pinckley Prize, the Silver Falchion Award, the High Plains Book Award, and was a finalist for the Barry Award. She has an MA in English and linguistics and taught college-level courses for over a decade. She lives and writes in Montana where she draws inspiration from the wild beauty surrounding her. Find out more at ChristineCarbo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 4, 2026
Not for Me
While I speed read this all the way to the end just to see what happens, I thought the first 60% or so of the book was boring. I had no interest in the main characters and the plot seemed to jump all over the place.
While I speed read this all the way to the end just to see what happens, I thought the first 60% or so of the book was boring. I had no interest in the main characters and the plot seemed to jump all over the place.
May 4, 2026
Truth or Die
A killer is posting sketches online with a demand they confess within six days or die. The body count rises and press attention grows. The a sketch that looks remarkably like a former cop turned p.i. is published. She has plenty of secrets and plenty of problems. She is trying to prove a native woman's death was not accidental and endeavours to help her troubled sister. But the killer is relentless.
I confess I found this a slow go.This book was not suspenseful. Too much talk, too many past traumas and unbelievable situations. I identified the killer at first appearance and sadly really did not care. None of the characters is relatable, likable or interesting. Drags on and is completely forgettable. Pass
A killer is posting sketches online with a demand they confess within six days or die. The body count rises and press attention grows. The a sketch that looks remarkably like a former cop turned p.i. is published. She has plenty of secrets and plenty of problems. She is trying to prove a native woman's death was not accidental and endeavours to help her troubled sister. But the killer is relentless.
I confess I found this a slow go.This book was not suspenseful. Too much talk, too many past traumas and unbelievable situations. I identified the killer at first appearance and sadly really did not care. None of the characters is relatable, likable or interesting. Drags on and is completely forgettable. Pass
February 5, 2026
Title: The Confession
Author: Christine Carbo
Summary:
“You have six days to confess or die” A serial killer is using social media to post sketches of each victim. No name, No location, No confirmation who the next target is. Do you look like the sketch? The only way to save yourself is by posting a confession of your sins. After 3 sketches have been posted, 2 people are dead and 1 saved by his confession. When the 4th sketch comes out and looks a lot like Crosbie Mitchell, she doesn’t believe it’s her. As an ex-cop, now PI, Crosbie decides to find the killer instead of confessing. Can she find the killer?? Or does she have to confess??
Pace:
I was hooked! With so much suspense throughout the book, I didn’t want to put it down. For me, it was one of those books you continued to think about until you could pick it back up.
Writing Style:
Fantastic writing style. The book flowed perfectly from beginning to end. I will be looking for more books by this author!
Characters:
The main character Crosbie fit the role perfectly. The author did a great job with all of the remaining characters from the emotionally defeated sister to the ex-coworkers at the police department.
Ending:
I was a big fan of the ending. It brought the book together and did the story justice. This was one of the endings I didn’t see coming.
I would highly recommend!
Author: Christine Carbo
Summary:
“You have six days to confess or die” A serial killer is using social media to post sketches of each victim. No name, No location, No confirmation who the next target is. Do you look like the sketch? The only way to save yourself is by posting a confession of your sins. After 3 sketches have been posted, 2 people are dead and 1 saved by his confession. When the 4th sketch comes out and looks a lot like Crosbie Mitchell, she doesn’t believe it’s her. As an ex-cop, now PI, Crosbie decides to find the killer instead of confessing. Can she find the killer?? Or does she have to confess??
Pace:
I was hooked! With so much suspense throughout the book, I didn’t want to put it down. For me, it was one of those books you continued to think about until you could pick it back up.
Writing Style:
Fantastic writing style. The book flowed perfectly from beginning to end. I will be looking for more books by this author!
Characters:
The main character Crosbie fit the role perfectly. The author did a great job with all of the remaining characters from the emotionally defeated sister to the ex-coworkers at the police department.
Ending:
I was a big fan of the ending. It brought the book together and did the story justice. This was one of the endings I didn’t see coming.
I would highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to receive a signed copy of The Confession Artist and as soon as I read the blurb I had a good feeling about this!
Confess or die, it’s simple right? Random sketches are popping up - no names, no clues as to who it may be - if you think you put yourself on the Confession Artist’s radar, you better confess your secrets. Two people are already dead and people are spilling their secrets left and right to try and save themselves.
When a sketch surfaces that looks eerily similar to Crosbie Mitchell, friends and family (and strangers) have already decided she’s in danger but she’s not so sure. When friends point out a very specific detail in the sketch, Crosbie’s doubt turns to fear and her fear motivates her to investigate the CA herself. With only seven days to confess or risk becoming the next voctim, Crosbie must decide if it’s safer to keep her secrets to protect herself or fess up before it’s too late.
The Confession Artist is gripping, fast paced and anxiety-inducing as the stakes are higher with every day that ticks by.
This one comes out June 1st and is sure to be the perfect read to add to your summer TBR!
Confess or die, it’s simple right? Random sketches are popping up - no names, no clues as to who it may be - if you think you put yourself on the Confession Artist’s radar, you better confess your secrets. Two people are already dead and people are spilling their secrets left and right to try and save themselves.
When a sketch surfaces that looks eerily similar to Crosbie Mitchell, friends and family (and strangers) have already decided she’s in danger but she’s not so sure. When friends point out a very specific detail in the sketch, Crosbie’s doubt turns to fear and her fear motivates her to investigate the CA herself. With only seven days to confess or risk becoming the next voctim, Crosbie must decide if it’s safer to keep her secrets to protect herself or fess up before it’s too late.
The Confession Artist is gripping, fast paced and anxiety-inducing as the stakes are higher with every day that ticks by.
This one comes out June 1st and is sure to be the perfect read to add to your summer TBR!
March 20, 2026
“Be smart, Cros. Ted Bundy was a charmer, too.”
Suspenseful game of cat and mouse. Would you confess your sins to save your life? This fast paced read is told in multiple point of views and a dual timeline. You are going to want this one on your TBR!
Suspenseful game of cat and mouse. Would you confess your sins to save your life? This fast paced read is told in multiple point of views and a dual timeline. You are going to want this one on your TBR!
May 7, 2026
Let’s get this out of the way straight out of the gate—I’m conflicted as to how I feel about this book. I’ve given it a few days since finishing to allow the dust to settle, yet here we are: no closer to a definitive.
Author Christine Carbo is, without question, one hell of a writer. Her ability to elicit visceral emotion via her text is brilliant. Here, Carbo creates a cast of characters, each distinct in his/her personality, and all completely believable. Crosbie is the female character center stage, a “failed” police officer turned PI who carries with her the burdens of her missteps while on the force. Her mistakes were profound, and they haunt her every waking moment. Since leaving her job as a cop, she has devoted her life to protecting and nurturing her adult sister Jess and Jess’s young son Sam. Jess has past baggage of her own, and Crosbie tries desperately to alleviate as much pressure as possible from her younger sister. When a serial killer begins a deadly game of cat and mouse, publishing sketches of people, one at a time, with the warning that unless they confess in six days (with no mention of WHAT they are to confess) that they will die, no one pays attention. It isn’t until the first two people in the sketches are murdered that the general public becomes invested. When the third sketched man remains very much alive after publishing a damning confession, the fires of panic are lit. The country is already abuzz with the killing spree when the sketch of victim #4 is released, and Crosbie reluctantly recognizes herself. The lion’s share of the book follows the next six days in Crosbie’s life as an intense manhunt is underway to find the killer who has been given the moniker “The Confession Artist.”
The premise is unique and finally one I haven’t seen done to death from various angles by numerous authors (as seems to be the case for a few “beating a dead horse” plots that seem to have become author favorites). The writing, as previously mentioned, is solid and pointed, each word seemingly chosen with great care to elicit maximum impact. Secondary characters are well developed, the settings are picture postcard perfect, and the mounting tension is handled with the finesse of an accomplished conductor leading an orchestra through a Wagner production. The deficit, however, is one that was infuriating given the strengths.
The format of The Confession Artist is, from the very first chapters, messy and hard to follow. It becomes a Herculean task to keep track of all the minor plot lines and the myriad characters who populate them. To connect ANY of it until the last few chapters is a wasted effort, as not enough exists for even the most astute of readers to make those connections. Add to that pages of “confessions” offered by people who think they MAY resemble the published sketches—pages that added little to move the action.
There is no huge surprise here when the great reveal finally occurs, but the strength of the writing makes that almost a non-starter. The falling action is as captivating as was the rise to the climax. Damn it, though, that structural issue was frustrating enough to over shadow what was otherwise a fabulous story.
Author Christine Carbo is, without question, one hell of a writer. Her ability to elicit visceral emotion via her text is brilliant. Here, Carbo creates a cast of characters, each distinct in his/her personality, and all completely believable. Crosbie is the female character center stage, a “failed” police officer turned PI who carries with her the burdens of her missteps while on the force. Her mistakes were profound, and they haunt her every waking moment. Since leaving her job as a cop, she has devoted her life to protecting and nurturing her adult sister Jess and Jess’s young son Sam. Jess has past baggage of her own, and Crosbie tries desperately to alleviate as much pressure as possible from her younger sister. When a serial killer begins a deadly game of cat and mouse, publishing sketches of people, one at a time, with the warning that unless they confess in six days (with no mention of WHAT they are to confess) that they will die, no one pays attention. It isn’t until the first two people in the sketches are murdered that the general public becomes invested. When the third sketched man remains very much alive after publishing a damning confession, the fires of panic are lit. The country is already abuzz with the killing spree when the sketch of victim #4 is released, and Crosbie reluctantly recognizes herself. The lion’s share of the book follows the next six days in Crosbie’s life as an intense manhunt is underway to find the killer who has been given the moniker “The Confession Artist.”
The premise is unique and finally one I haven’t seen done to death from various angles by numerous authors (as seems to be the case for a few “beating a dead horse” plots that seem to have become author favorites). The writing, as previously mentioned, is solid and pointed, each word seemingly chosen with great care to elicit maximum impact. Secondary characters are well developed, the settings are picture postcard perfect, and the mounting tension is handled with the finesse of an accomplished conductor leading an orchestra through a Wagner production. The deficit, however, is one that was infuriating given the strengths.
The format of The Confession Artist is, from the very first chapters, messy and hard to follow. It becomes a Herculean task to keep track of all the minor plot lines and the myriad characters who populate them. To connect ANY of it until the last few chapters is a wasted effort, as not enough exists for even the most astute of readers to make those connections. Add to that pages of “confessions” offered by people who think they MAY resemble the published sketches—pages that added little to move the action.
There is no huge surprise here when the great reveal finally occurs, but the strength of the writing makes that almost a non-starter. The falling action is as captivating as was the rise to the climax. Damn it, though, that structural issue was frustrating enough to over shadow what was otherwise a fabulous story.
January 17, 2026
The Confession Artist by Christine Carbo. Thanks to @thrillerbookloverspulse for the gifted signed Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Confession Artist is a serial killer who posts a drawing of their victim online. The victim has to publicly administer to their sins or will die within six days. The next sketch looks a lot like former cop, now PI, Crosbie Mitchell, but she thinks it must be a coincidence, right?
I loved Crosby’s character. The fact that she was a cop, and the storyline behind that really added an extra layer of development. The suspense was built very well by the short chapters of the victims. You’d get to know someone shortly, what they needed to confession, and then they either did or they were murdered. These chapters made it feel like danger was coming closer and closer to Crosby, which of course it was. While a bit on the longer side, it was suspenseful and never dull.
“Reality isn’t always fair, and as a police officer and a private detective, I’ve seen enough unfairness to fill up acres and acres of sewers.”
Read this if you like:
-Unique serial killer plots
-Suspenseful reads
-Detective or PI stories
The Confession Artist comes out 6/1.
The Confession Artist is a serial killer who posts a drawing of their victim online. The victim has to publicly administer to their sins or will die within six days. The next sketch looks a lot like former cop, now PI, Crosbie Mitchell, but she thinks it must be a coincidence, right?
I loved Crosby’s character. The fact that she was a cop, and the storyline behind that really added an extra layer of development. The suspense was built very well by the short chapters of the victims. You’d get to know someone shortly, what they needed to confession, and then they either did or they were murdered. These chapters made it feel like danger was coming closer and closer to Crosby, which of course it was. While a bit on the longer side, it was suspenseful and never dull.
“Reality isn’t always fair, and as a police officer and a private detective, I’ve seen enough unfairness to fill up acres and acres of sewers.”
Read this if you like:
-Unique serial killer plots
-Suspenseful reads
-Detective or PI stories
The Confession Artist comes out 6/1.
Review of advance copy
I saw this book in the selection of Amazon first read books for May and thought the premise sounded good. The premise didn't live up to its promise. There was no jeapody, and no part of the book was thrilling. It was drawn out, dull, and the characters were forgettable. The author gets good ratings on her other series, so perhaps I picked the wrong book. Unfortunately, though, I would think twice about reading something else by this author.
Did Not Finish
May 7, 2026My AFR choice. I gave it until page 117 but I decided not to carry on. I couldn't concentrate on it as there seemed to be too many different things going on. Such a shame as it started with a lot of potential and I liked the little sketches at the beginning of the chapters too.
March 9, 2026
Thank you so much to @Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, @thrillerbookloversthepulse and the author for the advanced reader’s physical copy in exchange for an honest review. This one is out June 1!
3.5 stars: The Confession Artist targets people who have secrets. But it’s not necessarily about what they did, moreso about what they didn’t do.
While I love the premise, to me there are a lot of side characters/plots that could have been done without. I also find when we primarily get one pov, inner dialogue can drag on a bit.
Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed this one and if you like whodunit books you may as well- it just could have been 100 pages shorter. The ending was what raised my rating. It all comes together and I did not guess who the k!ller was
3.5 stars: The Confession Artist targets people who have secrets. But it’s not necessarily about what they did, moreso about what they didn’t do.
While I love the premise, to me there are a lot of side characters/plots that could have been done without. I also find when we primarily get one pov, inner dialogue can drag on a bit.
Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed this one and if you like whodunit books you may as well- it just could have been 100 pages shorter. The ending was what raised my rating. It all comes together and I did not guess who the k!ller was
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book grabbed my attention from the start. A serial killer posts a sketch of his next victim and a 6 day deadline to confess their sins or they will die.
When a private investigator sees her sketch, is it just a coincidence or not?
The book was suspenseful and makes you wonder about morality. The adrenaline rush to see what secrets are coming to light and wonder if she will meet the deadline kept me going into the wee hours of the night
The book will be released in June and it is one you won't want to miss.
When a private investigator sees her sketch, is it just a coincidence or not?
The book was suspenseful and makes you wonder about morality. The adrenaline rush to see what secrets are coming to light and wonder if she will meet the deadline kept me going into the wee hours of the night
The book will be released in June and it is one you won't want to miss.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First, I loved the unique premise of releasing sketches of the victim who had six days to confess.
Next, I knew there had to be a common thread that bound all the segments together but it was well hidden.
I suspected everyone but I did sense that one person could have been well hidden but right under readers’ noses.
I thought Crosbie did the best she could but assumed way too much guilt for events.
It’s action packed and set against the glorious background of Montana, how could this thriller not be good?!
Thanks Thomas Mercer and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Next, I knew there had to be a common thread that bound all the segments together but it was well hidden.
I suspected everyone but I did sense that one person could have been well hidden but right under readers’ noses.
I thought Crosbie did the best she could but assumed way too much guilt for events.
It’s action packed and set against the glorious background of Montana, how could this thriller not be good?!
Thanks Thomas Mercer and NetGalley for the advance copy.
March 8, 2026
Sketches of people are being released to the public and told to confess their sins in 6 days or die. I love this concept for a book. The sketches are not pictures so it could be a number of people. When a sketch appears that resembles Crosbie, she has to wonder if it’s really her.
The story has a little multimedia including social media confessions which I really liked. Sometimes the chapters were a little hard to follow because it jumped people and timelines but I caught up within the first page of the chapter. This is not a slow burn but keeps the action going until the very last page.
The story has a little multimedia including social media confessions which I really liked. Sometimes the chapters were a little hard to follow because it jumped people and timelines but I caught up within the first page of the chapter. This is not a slow burn but keeps the action going until the very last page.
May 14, 2026
TW: Rape, rape of child.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The classic proverb teaches that "confession is good for the soul." But for Crosbie Mitchell, it may be the only way to save her own life.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 by 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨 is a tense, action-packed thriller about a woman confronting her own mortality. A serial killer dubbed the Confession Artist has been posting sketches on social media without identifying the subjects. So many of them bear striking resemblances to numerous individuals. But the killer demands that the subject issue a full and complete confession of their wrongdoing . . . or they will die in six days. Two murders have been linked to the Confession Artist, while a third potential victim issued the requisite confession and even changed careers. He appears to have escaped death.
But the latest sketch doesn't just look distinctly like Crosbie, even though she's "a nobody from Flathead Valley, Montana." She tries to dismiss it as just a coincidence. After all, other women have been identified as the possible target, even including actor Jennifer Garner! But this sketch includes an unmistakable detail that relates squarely to Crosbie, and narrows the number of possible victims significantly. So it is impossible for her to ignore the looming threat.
Her former boyfriend, Wallace, is also the brother of one of Crosbie's best friends who died tragically ten years ago when they were college roommates. Crosbie has been consumed with guilt about what she sees as her role in Sophie's death. And Wallace believes that Crosbie should notify law enforcement about her suspicion that the killer is fixated on her. But Crosbie is a former cop with a complicated job history, so returning to the police department and interacting with her former colleagues is difficult. But she agrees and the police take her report seriously, passing it along to the FBI. And they are convinced that 𝘪𝘴 the next target. So is she.
Carbo weaves an engrossing, compelling mystery that addresses serious societal topics, including workplace sexual harassment in a law enforcement environment -- still a male-dominated profession. She also examines sexual assault and the ensuing, long-lasting trauma, as well as the consequences that flow from the decisions that Crosbie makes, both as a young woman in college and, later, as a police officer intent upon achieving the rank of detective. Crosbie has made poor choices and, in her first-person narrative, she details the far-reaching, tragic reverberations. For years, she has tormented by guilt, regret, and an obsessive need to protect her younger sister and nephew in what may be an attempt to atone for her past mistakes.
As she feverishly searches for answers and to uncover the identity of the serial killer who may be pursuing her, Crosbie's inquiry is founded upon her knowledge that only a couple of people know the 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 truth about the situations in her past that she did not handle well. As to a recent event, there is only one person with full knowledge of the facts -- at least as far as Crosbie knows -- and that individual, in particular, has even more compelling motives than Crosbie to ensure the truth remains hidden. So is it possible that she 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 the woman depicted in the latest sketch? Is it possible that she is actually being targeted in relationship to a local case she has been working as a private investigator?
As the days tick by and the identity of the Confession Artist remains a mystery, Crosbie must decide if she possess the strength to confess details about her past wrongdoing that will result in severe repercussions not just for her, but for the people she loves most in the world. She has no idea who, if anyone, she can trust and Carbo effectively places nearly every character under suspicion. Her depiction of Crosbie's inner turmoil is credible because Carbo illustrates Crosbie's inherent decency and humanity. She is well aware of her shortcomings, fueled by her angry responses to painful trauma, and how deeply she has hurt others. She wants to do the right thing, which is why readers will find themselves sympathizing with her and pondering how they would respond. Because, of course, everyone has secret aspects of their life they would not want revealed for all the world to see, discuss, and judge.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 is an engrossing and thought-provoking story that will keep readers guessing right up to its shocking conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 by 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨 is a tense, action-packed thriller about a woman confronting her own mortality. A serial killer dubbed the Confession Artist has been posting sketches on social media without identifying the subjects. So many of them bear striking resemblances to numerous individuals. But the killer demands that the subject issue a full and complete confession of their wrongdoing . . . or they will die in six days. Two murders have been linked to the Confession Artist, while a third potential victim issued the requisite confession and even changed careers. He appears to have escaped death.
But the latest sketch doesn't just look distinctly like Crosbie, even though she's "a nobody from Flathead Valley, Montana." She tries to dismiss it as just a coincidence. After all, other women have been identified as the possible target, even including actor Jennifer Garner! But this sketch includes an unmistakable detail that relates squarely to Crosbie, and narrows the number of possible victims significantly. So it is impossible for her to ignore the looming threat.
Her former boyfriend, Wallace, is also the brother of one of Crosbie's best friends who died tragically ten years ago when they were college roommates. Crosbie has been consumed with guilt about what she sees as her role in Sophie's death. And Wallace believes that Crosbie should notify law enforcement about her suspicion that the killer is fixated on her. But Crosbie is a former cop with a complicated job history, so returning to the police department and interacting with her former colleagues is difficult. But she agrees and the police take her report seriously, passing it along to the FBI. And they are convinced that 𝘪𝘴 the next target. So is she.
Carbo weaves an engrossing, compelling mystery that addresses serious societal topics, including workplace sexual harassment in a law enforcement environment -- still a male-dominated profession. She also examines sexual assault and the ensuing, long-lasting trauma, as well as the consequences that flow from the decisions that Crosbie makes, both as a young woman in college and, later, as a police officer intent upon achieving the rank of detective. Crosbie has made poor choices and, in her first-person narrative, she details the far-reaching, tragic reverberations. For years, she has tormented by guilt, regret, and an obsessive need to protect her younger sister and nephew in what may be an attempt to atone for her past mistakes.
As she feverishly searches for answers and to uncover the identity of the serial killer who may be pursuing her, Crosbie's inquiry is founded upon her knowledge that only a couple of people know the 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 truth about the situations in her past that she did not handle well. As to a recent event, there is only one person with full knowledge of the facts -- at least as far as Crosbie knows -- and that individual, in particular, has even more compelling motives than Crosbie to ensure the truth remains hidden. So is it possible that she 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 the woman depicted in the latest sketch? Is it possible that she is actually being targeted in relationship to a local case she has been working as a private investigator?
As the days tick by and the identity of the Confession Artist remains a mystery, Crosbie must decide if she possess the strength to confess details about her past wrongdoing that will result in severe repercussions not just for her, but for the people she loves most in the world. She has no idea who, if anyone, she can trust and Carbo effectively places nearly every character under suspicion. Her depiction of Crosbie's inner turmoil is credible because Carbo illustrates Crosbie's inherent decency and humanity. She is well aware of her shortcomings, fueled by her angry responses to painful trauma, and how deeply she has hurt others. She wants to do the right thing, which is why readers will find themselves sympathizing with her and pondering how they would respond. Because, of course, everyone has secret aspects of their life they would not want revealed for all the world to see, discuss, and judge.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 is an engrossing and thought-provoking story that will keep readers guessing right up to its shocking conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Finished reading: May 16th 2026
"The conference-goers, and people in general... they want to zero in on the shark attacks or lightning strikes of crime - the ones least likely to occur: the violent serial killers, like this Confession Artist business. Why? Who knows?"
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
Review of advance copy received from Author
In four excellent novels set in and around Montana’s Glacier National Park, Christine Carbo demonstrated an enviable ability for creating setting and for developing interesting, complex, and often psychologically damaged characters. Those talents are again on display in her fifth novel, THE CONFESSION ARTIST, which releases on June 1.
Set in northwestern Montana’s Flathead Valley, the story features Crosbie Mitchell, formerly an officer on the Kalispell, Montana PD. After leaving the department under difficult circumstances, Mitchell is now a fledgling private investigator, attempting to get her business up and running while at the same time dealing with a troubling family situation. Her life is already complicated enough when it suddenly appears that she has become the next target for a killer that the national media has dubbed the Confession Artist.
The killer has created a furor by posting sketches of men and women on Internet sites with a warning that reads, “You have six days to confess or die.” It’s unclear exactly what the killer expects the victims to confess to, but two victims who refused to confess satisfactorily have already been murdered. Meanwhile other panic-stricken individuals who fear that they resemble the people in the sketches have been moved to publicly confess to a variety of offenses for fear that they too will be killed if they do not.
Crosbie Mitchell her own deep, dark secrets, but she’s not about to confess any of them, even under the threat of death. She continues to contend that the woman in the latest sketch only vaguely resembles her, even though her family members, friends, and even perfect strangers insist that she is clearly the person in the drawing and even though she possesses nearly incontrovertible evidence of the fact that she is almost certainly the target.
As the days dwindle down, Mitchell is determined to protect herself from the potential threat by rooting out the killer herself, even though the odds are heavily stacked against her. She’s a very complicated woman and a great protagonist, and as the story progresses, Carbo slowly and carefully peels back the layers, gradually revealing the steps and missteps that continue to haunt the young PI and that led her into this harrowing situation.
The story begins to gather momentum from the very first page, building to a shattering and totally unexpected climax. It’s a great thriller, skillfully plotted and beautifully written, that will keep readers on the proverbial edge of their seats throughout. Another clear winner from a very gifted writer.
Set in northwestern Montana’s Flathead Valley, the story features Crosbie Mitchell, formerly an officer on the Kalispell, Montana PD. After leaving the department under difficult circumstances, Mitchell is now a fledgling private investigator, attempting to get her business up and running while at the same time dealing with a troubling family situation. Her life is already complicated enough when it suddenly appears that she has become the next target for a killer that the national media has dubbed the Confession Artist.
The killer has created a furor by posting sketches of men and women on Internet sites with a warning that reads, “You have six days to confess or die.” It’s unclear exactly what the killer expects the victims to confess to, but two victims who refused to confess satisfactorily have already been murdered. Meanwhile other panic-stricken individuals who fear that they resemble the people in the sketches have been moved to publicly confess to a variety of offenses for fear that they too will be killed if they do not.
Crosbie Mitchell her own deep, dark secrets, but she’s not about to confess any of them, even under the threat of death. She continues to contend that the woman in the latest sketch only vaguely resembles her, even though her family members, friends, and even perfect strangers insist that she is clearly the person in the drawing and even though she possesses nearly incontrovertible evidence of the fact that she is almost certainly the target.
As the days dwindle down, Mitchell is determined to protect herself from the potential threat by rooting out the killer herself, even though the odds are heavily stacked against her. She’s a very complicated woman and a great protagonist, and as the story progresses, Carbo slowly and carefully peels back the layers, gradually revealing the steps and missteps that continue to haunt the young PI and that led her into this harrowing situation.
The story begins to gather momentum from the very first page, building to a shattering and totally unexpected climax. It’s a great thriller, skillfully plotted and beautifully written, that will keep readers on the proverbial edge of their seats throughout. Another clear winner from a very gifted writer.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on June 1st, 2026.
A tense thriller with an intriguing premise — a killer posts sketches of potential victims on social media with the message “You have 6 days to confess or die.” Two people have already died; a third comes up with a full confession and survives. Enter Crosbie Mitchell — a newly minted PI trying to drum up business. The latest sketch looks remarkably like her — and it’s not like the message mystifies her. In her mind, she has plenty to atone for, though she isn’t thrilled at the idea of going public. Struggling with an internal storm of guilt, fear, denial, and confusion, she has to figure out what to do. Should she confess? Hide? Or try to somehow stop the “Confession Artist” in their tracks.
I was hooked within the first few pages — Carbo’s impassioned style mixes convoluted plot, nuanced characters, complex questions of morality, and intense introspection into a stew of shifting emotions. She does a remarkable job of depicting how a single individual can feel like a perpetrator, a victim, and a defender all at once. The description of that inner turmoil was deftly executed. The demands for confession spanned sins entangled with eco-concerns, drug abuse, rape and sexual abuse, native American abuses, and the greed of the already wealthy. I was happy that all of the “sinners” were individuals rather than implied representatives of whole groups (i.e. not all men were abusers, not all rich people were greedy, etc.) There were some interesting explorations of moral equivalencies — is there a distinction between doing something bad, actively enabling someone else to do something bad, and being aware of something bad happening and not doing anything about it? How does your answer change if the victim is an innocent vs a objectively bad actor? I came to my own conclusions which were not necessarily shared by the author or her characters, but the story definitely made me think! The final resolution was surprising, satisfying, and actually believable.
A great read at multiple levels!
A tense thriller with an intriguing premise — a killer posts sketches of potential victims on social media with the message “You have 6 days to confess or die.” Two people have already died; a third comes up with a full confession and survives. Enter Crosbie Mitchell — a newly minted PI trying to drum up business. The latest sketch looks remarkably like her — and it’s not like the message mystifies her. In her mind, she has plenty to atone for, though she isn’t thrilled at the idea of going public. Struggling with an internal storm of guilt, fear, denial, and confusion, she has to figure out what to do. Should she confess? Hide? Or try to somehow stop the “Confession Artist” in their tracks.
I was hooked within the first few pages — Carbo’s impassioned style mixes convoluted plot, nuanced characters, complex questions of morality, and intense introspection into a stew of shifting emotions. She does a remarkable job of depicting how a single individual can feel like a perpetrator, a victim, and a defender all at once. The description of that inner turmoil was deftly executed. The demands for confession spanned sins entangled with eco-concerns, drug abuse, rape and sexual abuse, native American abuses, and the greed of the already wealthy. I was happy that all of the “sinners” were individuals rather than implied representatives of whole groups (i.e. not all men were abusers, not all rich people were greedy, etc.) There were some interesting explorations of moral equivalencies — is there a distinction between doing something bad, actively enabling someone else to do something bad, and being aware of something bad happening and not doing anything about it? How does your answer change if the victim is an innocent vs a objectively bad actor? I came to my own conclusions which were not necessarily shared by the author or her characters, but the story definitely made me think! The final resolution was surprising, satisfying, and actually believable.
A great read at multiple levels!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Confession may be good for the soul but can wreak havoc with the rest of your life.
Christine Carbo twists the cap off some of the darkest secrets that individuals keep hidden in the recesses of their inner workings. Those are the personal experiences that one fears to come to the light. Earth shattering nuggets of information destined to implode.
But someone is out there with the uncanny ability to put hardened, forceful pressure on you to reveal that secret or you'll pay with your life. The Confession Artist has a timeline as well. You have just six days to make that confession or you will die. The stubborn ones have nothing left to barter. It's done.
Crosbie Mitchell is one of those. She's an ex cop and now a private detective in Flathead Valley, Montana. The Confession Artist puts out a sketch of the latest target online. Crosbie's image even includes her wearing earrings that hold their own secret. It's definitely her. And Crosbie has many secrets that she's been running away from for years. But if they come to light, it will destroy her family, her friendships, and her career.
I've enjoyed Christine Carbo's novels in the past that deal with scientific and environmental topics. The Confession Artist steps into an entirely different realm. It is densely written with mountains of details. The story seems to jump continuously through the same hoops. The storyline encompasses so many underlying situations with an army of characters to keep track of. Sometimes less is more. It wavered from 3 Stars to eventually 4 Stars. I like this idea of Christine Carbo venturing into thrillers. Just keep it simple and without building with so many, many bricks.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Christine Carbo for the opportunity.
Christine Carbo twists the cap off some of the darkest secrets that individuals keep hidden in the recesses of their inner workings. Those are the personal experiences that one fears to come to the light. Earth shattering nuggets of information destined to implode.
But someone is out there with the uncanny ability to put hardened, forceful pressure on you to reveal that secret or you'll pay with your life. The Confession Artist has a timeline as well. You have just six days to make that confession or you will die. The stubborn ones have nothing left to barter. It's done.
Crosbie Mitchell is one of those. She's an ex cop and now a private detective in Flathead Valley, Montana. The Confession Artist puts out a sketch of the latest target online. Crosbie's image even includes her wearing earrings that hold their own secret. It's definitely her. And Crosbie has many secrets that she's been running away from for years. But if they come to light, it will destroy her family, her friendships, and her career.
I've enjoyed Christine Carbo's novels in the past that deal with scientific and environmental topics. The Confession Artist steps into an entirely different realm. It is densely written with mountains of details. The story seems to jump continuously through the same hoops. The storyline encompasses so many underlying situations with an army of characters to keep track of. Sometimes less is more. It wavered from 3 Stars to eventually 4 Stars. I like this idea of Christine Carbo venturing into thrillers. Just keep it simple and without building with so many, many bricks.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Christine Carbo for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one caught my attention and had me turning the pages quickly as I tried to figure out who was posting sketches of people on social media and forcing them to publicly confess their secrets within 6 days or lose their life. It had me asking so many questions about the story: How did the sketch artist know they were keeping secrets? What secrets are they keeping? How are the people connected? The secrets revealed are timely and seem to be pulled from the headlines. The setting, the area around Glacier National Park, is one of my favorite places to visit so I had a clear picture of where the action was taking place.
Everyone is telling Crosbie that the latest sketch is her but she doesn’t want to believe it, she has too much to do and too many people to protect to worry but there is one part of the sketch that is unique and now the FBI are involved. She has things she’s been keeping but if she confesses it could ruin lives. Working with the FBI seems like the only solution but is that more dangerous than confessing? Crosbie is a character that I found relatable. She is trying to protect everyone close to her and make a place for herself in the “old boys club” of the police department, but after being confronted with repeated instances of harassment and sexual assault she makes a spur of the moment decision that haunts her. The supporting characters all had me wondering if any of them could be trusted and what secrets they were hiding. The end took me by surprise in the very best way.
I recommend this to readers that enjoy thrillers that keep your attention and have you wrestling with real life questions.
THanks to the author and Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Everyone is telling Crosbie that the latest sketch is her but she doesn’t want to believe it, she has too much to do and too many people to protect to worry but there is one part of the sketch that is unique and now the FBI are involved. She has things she’s been keeping but if she confesses it could ruin lives. Working with the FBI seems like the only solution but is that more dangerous than confessing? Crosbie is a character that I found relatable. She is trying to protect everyone close to her and make a place for herself in the “old boys club” of the police department, but after being confronted with repeated instances of harassment and sexual assault she makes a spur of the moment decision that haunts her. The supporting characters all had me wondering if any of them could be trusted and what secrets they were hiding. The end took me by surprise in the very best way.
I recommend this to readers that enjoy thrillers that keep your attention and have you wrestling with real life questions.
THanks to the author and Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
This was very middle-of-the-road for me.
The premise itself is genuinely interesting: a serial killer known as The Confession Artist targets people online, forcing them to confess their sins before time runs out. There’s a lot here about guilt, shame, revenge, justice, and the consequences of both action and inaction, and honestly, I think that side of the story had real potential.
A lot of the cases and motivations tie back to sexual assault, victim-blaming, and people failing to protect others, and I actually thought the book was going to go much deeper into those themes than it ultimately did. There were moments where it felt like it was building towards something really sharp and psychologically interesting… but for me, it never quite got there.
What did work for me was the premise itself, I actually think the idea behind this book is really clever. A vigilante-style killer forcing people to publicly confess their sins online or face death is such a strong thriller concept, especially when it’s tied to guilt, shame, justice, and revenge. There’s something really unsettling about the public nature of it all, and I kept wanting the story to lean even harder into the psychological side of that. The writing itself was perfectly solid and readable too, and there were definitely moments where the tension and mystery genuinely pulled me in.
The biggest issue was that the story just felt too disconnected. There were multiple side plots and relationship elements that didn’t really seem to add much to the overall narrative, and when the final reveals came, they felt more random than satisfying. Instead of everything clicking together, it felt slightly messy and overcomplicated.
It’s also longer than it needed to be. There’s a solid thriller buried in here somewhere, but the pacing drags in places and the story loses momentum because of it.
That said, it wasn’t bad. There were definitely engaging moments, and the central concept is strong enough to keep you reading. I just don’t think it fully delivered on the psychological depth or thematic exploration it seemed to promise.
Overall, an okay thriller/mystery read, interesting in parts, but probably not one that’ll stick with me for very long.
The premise itself is genuinely interesting: a serial killer known as The Confession Artist targets people online, forcing them to confess their sins before time runs out. There’s a lot here about guilt, shame, revenge, justice, and the consequences of both action and inaction, and honestly, I think that side of the story had real potential.
A lot of the cases and motivations tie back to sexual assault, victim-blaming, and people failing to protect others, and I actually thought the book was going to go much deeper into those themes than it ultimately did. There were moments where it felt like it was building towards something really sharp and psychologically interesting… but for me, it never quite got there.
What did work for me was the premise itself, I actually think the idea behind this book is really clever. A vigilante-style killer forcing people to publicly confess their sins online or face death is such a strong thriller concept, especially when it’s tied to guilt, shame, justice, and revenge. There’s something really unsettling about the public nature of it all, and I kept wanting the story to lean even harder into the psychological side of that. The writing itself was perfectly solid and readable too, and there were definitely moments where the tension and mystery genuinely pulled me in.
The biggest issue was that the story just felt too disconnected. There were multiple side plots and relationship elements that didn’t really seem to add much to the overall narrative, and when the final reveals came, they felt more random than satisfying. Instead of everything clicking together, it felt slightly messy and overcomplicated.
It’s also longer than it needed to be. There’s a solid thriller buried in here somewhere, but the pacing drags in places and the story loses momentum because of it.
That said, it wasn’t bad. There were definitely engaging moments, and the central concept is strong enough to keep you reading. I just don’t think it fully delivered on the psychological depth or thematic exploration it seemed to promise.
Overall, an okay thriller/mystery read, interesting in parts, but probably not one that’ll stick with me for very long.
May 11, 2026
The story takes place in Montana and features excellent descriptions of the wild mountain scenery.
Crosbie is a flawed main character, a cop who crosses ethical lines and takes part in an illegal cover-up. Her poor decision leads to her resignation and new job as a PI.
Crosbie is highly protective of her sister Jess and young nephew Sam. Jess was traumatized years ago in an unreported date rape and is battling depression.
Crosbie finds herself in the crosshairs of the Confession Artist, a villain whose crime spree has gripped the nation. The villain sketches victims and pressures them to confess their wrongs by an imposed six-day deadline or else be killed.
Crosbie wrestles with whether she should give in and confess,which would lead to grave consequences, or whether she should use herself as bait and try to catch the killer.
The author throws several red herrings into the mix, which will keep the reader guessing. There are a lot of moving parts to this story, maybe a few too many if you don’t make a special effort to keep up.
I had a problem with the villain's motivation, which feels too farfetched. In avenging the loss of a loved one, a villain would be more likely to deal directly with the offending parties than to take time out and to go on a national crime spree.
Despite its flaws, the story is entertaining and will keep you turning pages. The relationship between the two sisters, which slowly changes, is a strong highlight.
Crosbie is a likable main character and you’ll root for her to make the right decision as she struggles to find her way.
The ending grows shaky as the villain pauses in mid action to explain the plot - and there's too much to explain.
Crosbie is a flawed main character, a cop who crosses ethical lines and takes part in an illegal cover-up. Her poor decision leads to her resignation and new job as a PI.
Crosbie is highly protective of her sister Jess and young nephew Sam. Jess was traumatized years ago in an unreported date rape and is battling depression.
Crosbie finds herself in the crosshairs of the Confession Artist, a villain whose crime spree has gripped the nation. The villain sketches victims and pressures them to confess their wrongs by an imposed six-day deadline or else be killed.
Crosbie wrestles with whether she should give in and confess,which would lead to grave consequences, or whether she should use herself as bait and try to catch the killer.
The author throws several red herrings into the mix, which will keep the reader guessing. There are a lot of moving parts to this story, maybe a few too many if you don’t make a special effort to keep up.
I had a problem with the villain's motivation, which feels too farfetched. In avenging the loss of a loved one, a villain would be more likely to deal directly with the offending parties than to take time out and to go on a national crime spree.
Despite its flaws, the story is entertaining and will keep you turning pages. The relationship between the two sisters, which slowly changes, is a strong highlight.
Crosbie is a likable main character and you’ll root for her to make the right decision as she struggles to find her way.
The ending grows shaky as the villain pauses in mid action to explain the plot - and there's too much to explain.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This thriller launches readers into a chilling cat‑and‑mouse chase when a former Montana police officer finds herself entangled in a disturbing online game. A mysterious figure begins releasing eerie sketches of supposed future victims, each accompanied by a countdown demanding a public confession. When one of the drawings mirrors Crosbie Mitchell’s face, her quiet life as a new private investigator is shattered. The tension escalates quickly as she’s forced to confront the possibility that someone knows far more about her past than she ever intended to reveal, and the sense of danger closing in from all sides becomes impossible to ignore.
What follows is a tightly woven blend of psychological suspense and procedural intrigue, driven by Crosbie’s layered backstory and the unsettling rhythm of the killer’s escalating threats. The alternating perspectives and brief victim chapters add a sharp edge to the pacing, creating a steady drumbeat of dread as the truth inches closer. While the premise leans into modern fears about exposure and digital vulnerability, the heart of the story lies in Crosbie’s struggle to outrun the secrets she’s buried. Readers who enjoy thrillers built on high‑stakes moral tension and flawed, compelling protagonists will find plenty to sink into here.
It turned out to be a very enjoyable read, and it held my attention from start to finish. The pacing and tension kept me fully engaged the whole way through. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced coipy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy
The Confession artist is a thrilling story. I love stories that sort of follow serial killers. It gives you a little insight into how their brains operate and why they do the things they do.
The Confession Artist is a killer that sketches his victim and posts their image to social media giving the victim 6 days to confess a secret, or die.
P.I. Crosbie Mitchell notices a sketch circulation that looks a lot like her, but thinks nothing of it. She lives a quiet, low profile life in Montana and doesn't know how she would even catch the eye of a killer. However, the killer shows a detail that makes it hard to now pin point her as the victim. The FBI believes that she is the next target and after dong some investigating of her own, using her skills as a former cop, she belies she just may be the next victim as well. Now she has 6 days to figure out who it is or expose her secrets. Problem is, she has more than one and they will destroy her life is she exposes them.
This was one of those stories that I couldn't really tell where we were headed and it the twists surprised me. The story is action packed and flows at a pretty consistent fast, thrilling pace. I enjoyed the thrill of watching her trying to solve this before her time was up. Crosbie Mitchell is a great character that can't seem to outrun her past. She is so methodical in her tactics and I enjoyed her character development throughout the story. Definitely worth a read.
The Confession Artist is a killer that sketches his victim and posts their image to social media giving the victim 6 days to confess a secret, or die.
P.I. Crosbie Mitchell notices a sketch circulation that looks a lot like her, but thinks nothing of it. She lives a quiet, low profile life in Montana and doesn't know how she would even catch the eye of a killer. However, the killer shows a detail that makes it hard to now pin point her as the victim. The FBI believes that she is the next target and after dong some investigating of her own, using her skills as a former cop, she belies she just may be the next victim as well. Now she has 6 days to figure out who it is or expose her secrets. Problem is, she has more than one and they will destroy her life is she exposes them.
This was one of those stories that I couldn't really tell where we were headed and it the twists surprised me. The story is action packed and flows at a pretty consistent fast, thrilling pace. I enjoyed the thrill of watching her trying to solve this before her time was up. Crosbie Mitchell is a great character that can't seem to outrun her past. She is so methodical in her tactics and I enjoyed her character development throughout the story. Definitely worth a read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have to admit that at first, I had a little bit of trouble getting into this one. I’m not sure why, but my attention wandered a bit, but that could be something entirely on me. The concept of it was fantastic, so I wanted to keep going because I still felt a need to find out what was going to happen with this killer. I’m glad I did because at some point, I didn’t realize how much the story grabbed me. The fmc was interesting, and I really liked the f—- it attitude she tried to convey while still worrying inside and trying to essentially solve her own murder. I couldn’t stand her sister though. Jfc, she was the epitome of a poor me character. And yes, I understand that what she went through was traumatic, and I have been through the same thing. But at some point, you have to pull up your bootstraps and be there for your kid! In any case, I will admit that I did not expect the identity of the killer. Looking back, there were some breadcrumbs dropped. But they weren’t big enough for me to follow, and that’s pretty rare! Overall this was a great story and I can see this character getting a whole series.
Huge thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
Huge thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
Review of advance copy
Received an ARC through AmazonFirstReads.
While I enjoyed the unique plot premise of the book and the conclusion definitely felt resolved, there was a lot to unpack here. First, there are a ton of characters, and because we don't have any clue how they connect until the end, they get lost in the story and I found myself trying to connect a web of who was connected to who in the final 2% of the book. There are a TON of sub-plots and it seems unclear as to what the author is tackling. Is the character finding love? Are we focusing on racism, segregation and colonialism? Are we focusing on revenge? A woman's right to choose? Healing from trauma? It seems like all of these are fighting for center stage. I understand the need for themes but it seemed like the author wanted to tackle a lot of different and very complex themes at once. Because of this, the identity of the book gets cloudy. There was a lot of irrelevant information given, and because going in you know that it's a mystery, I found myself trying to make sense of these little parts that are then never touched on again. However, I did like the character building and relationships between her and her sister, and it showed the reality of people struggling with trauma and depression.
While I enjoyed the unique plot premise of the book and the conclusion definitely felt resolved, there was a lot to unpack here. First, there are a ton of characters, and because we don't have any clue how they connect until the end, they get lost in the story and I found myself trying to connect a web of who was connected to who in the final 2% of the book. There are a TON of sub-plots and it seems unclear as to what the author is tackling. Is the character finding love? Are we focusing on racism, segregation and colonialism? Are we focusing on revenge? A woman's right to choose? Healing from trauma? It seems like all of these are fighting for center stage. I understand the need for themes but it seemed like the author wanted to tackle a lot of different and very complex themes at once. Because of this, the identity of the book gets cloudy. There was a lot of irrelevant information given, and because going in you know that it's a mystery, I found myself trying to make sense of these little parts that are then never touched on again. However, I did like the character building and relationships between her and her sister, and it showed the reality of people struggling with trauma and depression.
Review of advance copy
An anonymous artist is posting sketches online. No name, only a deadline for the person to confess within 6 days or lose their life.
Crosbie has a moral dilemma. Since she doesn't know which incident she should confess to, or even IF she is the intended target, should she confess and bring a hella consequences raining down on her (and possibly jeopardize her sister and nephew)? Or, should she ignore the demand and take a chance she'll be stalked and killed?
I loved how Carbo took us through each of the previous victims of the Confession Artist, sharing how they responded and what their fate was. We learned that others confessed, on the off-chance the portraits were them. And we suspected everyone at some point in the book, because who knows what grudges people keep?
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but this story maintained the suspense and would be great for any reader who wants a psychological thriller that ramps up to the conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for an advance reader's copy and for bringing me on the tour!
Crosbie has a moral dilemma. Since she doesn't know which incident she should confess to, or even IF she is the intended target, should she confess and bring a hella consequences raining down on her (and possibly jeopardize her sister and nephew)? Or, should she ignore the demand and take a chance she'll be stalked and killed?
I loved how Carbo took us through each of the previous victims of the Confession Artist, sharing how they responded and what their fate was. We learned that others confessed, on the off-chance the portraits were them. And we suspected everyone at some point in the book, because who knows what grudges people keep?
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but this story maintained the suspense and would be great for any reader who wants a psychological thriller that ramps up to the conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for an advance reader's copy and for bringing me on the tour!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really loved the premise of this thriller, because it’s so unique and attention-grabbing from the start! I thought the sketched portraits included made the whole story that much more interesting. I was able to imagine the killer creating the sketches, and looking at them helped me develop a better idea of what the victims were really like. It was a creepy element to read about what happened and to see the killer’s drawings at the start of those chapters about the victims. The killer is known as the Confession Artist because he/she posts the sketches on social media, and lets the subject of the drawing know that they’ve got six days to confess to their sins, or they will be next.
I also thought that the protagonist, private investigator Crosbie, really helped move the story forward with her expertise and unpredictability! The sketch she sees of herself brings up lots of questions about what she may be hiding, and also how far she will go to keep things hidden. This is a great read for thriller lovers, and will keep you guessing!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book Review: The Confession Artist by Christine Carbo
A killer dubbed the Confession Artist is posting sketches of potential victims on social media. And paranoia spreads as strangers across the nation admit to their sins—fearing the consequences: You have six days to confess or die.
443 pages, Pubmihed in the UK on 1 June 26
While the central plot is compelling and kept me curious about how everything would unfold, I found the writing style a little too descriptive for my personal taste. At times, the level of detail slowed the pacing, making it difficult to stay fully engaged with the storyline. Throughout the book, I struggled to maintain focus, even though I was genuinely interested in the outcome.
Overall, the novel offers a strong and intriguing premise, but for me, it felt slightly too long to sit comfortably within the thriller genre, where a tighter pace is often more effective. However, readers who enjoy richly descriptive writing combined with a solid, layered plot will likely appreciate this book much more.
A killer dubbed the Confession Artist is posting sketches of potential victims on social media. And paranoia spreads as strangers across the nation admit to their sins—fearing the consequences: You have six days to confess or die.
443 pages, Pubmihed in the UK on 1 June 26
While the central plot is compelling and kept me curious about how everything would unfold, I found the writing style a little too descriptive for my personal taste. At times, the level of detail slowed the pacing, making it difficult to stay fully engaged with the storyline. Throughout the book, I struggled to maintain focus, even though I was genuinely interested in the outcome.
Overall, the novel offers a strong and intriguing premise, but for me, it felt slightly too long to sit comfortably within the thriller genre, where a tighter pace is often more effective. However, readers who enjoy richly descriptive writing combined with a solid, layered plot will likely appreciate this book much more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one pulled me in fast and kept me guessing right up until the end. Christine Carbo does a great job building tension and atmosphere, and the concept of a “confession artist” — someone who can extract the truth from anyone — is such a compelling hook.
The pacing is solid, with just the right balance of investigation, psychological depth, and twists. I especially enjoyed how the story explores guilt, truth, and how far people will go to protect their secrets. The characters felt layered and flawed in a way that made them believable, and I found myself questioning everyone’s motives as the plot unfolded.
There were moments that genuinely surprised me, and even when I thought I had things figured out, the story managed to shift directions. If you enjoy crime thrillers with a psychological edge and strong character work, this is definitely worth picking up.
A gripping, thought-provoking read that fans of suspense and true-crime–adjacent fiction will appreciate.
The pacing is solid, with just the right balance of investigation, psychological depth, and twists. I especially enjoyed how the story explores guilt, truth, and how far people will go to protect their secrets. The characters felt layered and flawed in a way that made them believable, and I found myself questioning everyone’s motives as the plot unfolded.
There were moments that genuinely surprised me, and even when I thought I had things figured out, the story managed to shift directions. If you enjoy crime thrillers with a psychological edge and strong character work, this is definitely worth picking up.
A gripping, thought-provoking read that fans of suspense and true-crime–adjacent fiction will appreciate.
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