Keep Them Close

by David Ellis

From the bestselling author of Look Closer comes a new domestic thriller about betrayal and murder inside one twisted family

Siblings Allison and Luke have been through a lot together. They’ve always stood by each other. They’d do anything for each other.

When Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered, Luke is right there by her side.

Until the murder investigation exposes secrets that could tear their family apart.

An illicit affair. A decades-old accident. A shocking betrayal. How do they explain Finley’s death? And why are the siblings suddenly avoiding each other?

As past tensions resurface, the truth might lie a little too close to home…

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 30, 2026

About the author

David Ellis is a lawyer and the Edgar Allan Poe Award winner for Best First Novel for Line of Vision. Ellis attended Northwestern Law School and began his legal career in private practice in Chicago in 1993. He served as the House Prosecutor who tried and convicted Illinois Governor Blagojevich in the Impeachment Trial before the Illinois Senate. He was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2014 and took office December 1, 2014. Ellis currently lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite thriller author David Ellis is back with another banger! Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

Multiple timelines, multiple POVs, all perfectly layered and plotted out before & after a murder on April Fools Day. A reoccurring concept in the book is prepare, prepare, prepare and then execute. And that is exactly what David Ellis did.

While there are plenty of twists throughout, I felt this was missing one big moment/twist that would give me goosebumps like Look Closer and The Best Lies had. But this book wins in the hundreds of details & events that create each character’s motive and how it’s executed over multi-POV and timeline.

This was my most anticipated book of the year and I’m so upset it’s over. Time to read his older books!

[Liana Gold]

Two siblings, one murder & a bunch of lies.
Really enjoyed the last two books Ellis wrote.


Many thanks to NetGalley, Putnam/G. P. Putnam's Sons and the author, David Ellis for an early copy!

Publication date: June 30, 2026

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75 rounded up)

First things first: Look Closer by David Ellis is one of my favorite thrillers, so ofc I went into this one with very, very, veeery high expectations.

Did it reach the same level for me? Not quite. But it was still a really solid read.

The story centers around siblings Allison and Luke after Allison’s husband is murdered, and as the investigation unfolds we start uncovering a lot of messy secrets. Affairs, past accidents, lies, cover ups aaand even more lies… basically everyone seems to have something to hide.

One thing I noticed pretty quickly is that none of the characters are particularly likable or reliable. Everyone has their own agenda and everyone seems to be scheming in one way or another, which made it hard to fully trust anyone.

The sibling dynamic was interesting too. At first it seemed like Allison and Luke had a very strong bond, but by the end I still wasn’t entirely sure what to think. It’s one of those relationships where they clearly love each other… but also seem capable of betraying each other if needed/when needed.

The suspense definitely kept me engaged and I finished this in one sitting. As for the twists, I’d say it was about 50/50 for me; I guessed a few things, but some reveals still caught me off guard, especially towards the end.

Overall, while it didn’t quite reach the level of Look Closer for me, it was still an entertaining thriller that kept me hooked for the night.

⭐️ 3.75, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
This book was so good. The twist are turns are incredible. You don’t know who to trust and who to root for. David Ellis never disappoints!!!!
100% worth the read.

[Marisha (MarishaReadsALot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Putnam and The Pulse for the gifted digital ARC!

How does David Ellis continue to stun me with every single book he writes? I absolutely could not put this one down, and it was much needed while I'm in a stage of life where sitting down to read a book is challenging.

If you've loved the formula of Ellis's previous books, you will likely love Keep Them Close as well. You'll nearly get whiplash from the back and forth narrators and timelines, but it's the best kind of whiplash. I was never confused about what was happening, I just remained on the edge of my seat for the entire book.

No shocker here, but this is another 5+ star banger from Ellis. HIGHLY recommend to fellow thriller lovers! (And if you still haven't read Look Closer, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?)

Keep Them Close pub date is June 30.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unforgettable, twisty domestic suspense! I must admit, I didn't expect to find myself laughing quite a bit at some familiar references early on.

A domestic thriller revolves around siblings Allison and Luke, who have always supported each other. However, when Allison's husband, Finley, is murdered, their bond is tested as the investigation reveals dark secrets, including an affair and a betrayal. As old tensions re-emerge, their relationship becomes strained, and the truth about Finley’s death threatens to tear the family apart.

This book demands your full attention due to its unique timeline, which jumps back and forth, allowing us to grasp the events leading up to the murder. You'll often find yourself days or even weeks before the pivotal moment, which may sound complicated, but the author did an excellent job of keeping everything clear as I continued reading.

The story is told from several perspectives, including Allison, Detective Louise, and Luke. Allison is a likable character with a keen understanding of the system, and we learn firsthand how she navigates around obstacles to avoid being discovered. I appreciated how some scenes felt almost like real life. Luke brought a lot of humor, and I could relate to his busy thinking and witty observations. I found myself chuckling frequently in the beginning, only for the tone to shift to something more serious later. The emotional depth of Allison's and Luke's relationship became evident as we uncovered more of their past; family can either uplift you or tear you apart. I was rooting for their relationship to mend, but putting myself in their shoes, I questioned how that might even be possible. Louise, the detective, was sharp and detail-oriented, ensuring nothing slipped through the cracks. I enjoyed her character because she wasn't easily swayed.

The writing was suspenseful, clever, and thoughtfully executed. I loved how the author paid attention to detail, weaving the entire story together without leaving me with lingering questions about the events or characters. It was meticulously developed, and I was completely taken aback by the plot twists! Each twist left me on the edge of my seat, but the way everything tied together was truly a masterpiece.

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, revenge-driven read filled with twists and an unpredictable ending, centered around a strong female lead. With plenty of lies, deception, and police procedural elements, there are some heart-stopping moments that add realism to the story. I loved how everything came full circle, and the conclusion wrapped everything up neatly. I didn't see any of the twists coming, nor did I have any idea where the story was headed - bravo! You'll find yourself absorbed in this book, and that's what makes it so binge-worthy. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to take a moment to digest everything because it was a lot to take in all at once! WOW!

Thank you, @thrillerbookloversthepulse and G.P. Putman's Sons, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

This thriller is an amazing ride. If you figure out all the twists before they are revealed, please check your IQ because you must be a genius. Anytime I thought I knew what was happening, the next chapter blew my theory out of the water. If you do one thing this summer, it better be read this book.

[Full of Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can see why David said that fans of LOOK CLOSER would love this one! If you haven’t read that one, you need to!

KEEP THEM CLOSE definitely surprised me. I really flew through it because the plot was fast-paced with short chapters that left on cliffhangers which made me keep turning the pages. It was a definite “just one more chapter” type of book.

When I started it, I was a little confused because I didn’t know where it was going but it very quickly starts to all weave together. The alternating chapters with different POV’s kept the story interesting and really makes you more invested in the story.

There were some unsavory characters but I loved Allison and would neverrr want to piss her off. The sibling bond was at the heart of this story which I really loved. Ten toes down 😉.

[Vito · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Ellis is back with another home run (IYKYK) with “Keep Them Close,” his latest domestic thriller, starring a lawyer who will go at any length to make sure herself (or her client) are innocent.

I’ll keep the book’s synopsis short and sweet. Brother and sister, Luke and Allison, have stuck together through it all. When Luke is pulled over and arrested after drugs that are definitely not his are found in his car, Allison knows she will do anything to ensure her brother is proven innocent. If only it were that easy — twists and turns ensue when more details come to light. The case isn’t as simple as she thought (or planned.)

Ellis is writing on all cylinders here — this one is addicting from the very beginning, dropping you into a story that is (seemingly) in process. Loved all of these threads happening here and how things were connected (and how they came to be connected.) It’s smart (but not “you have to be a lawyer to understand it” smart) and smooth. Like, so smooth despite the time shifts. These time jumps here keep things interesting but without muddying things happening.

As I write this review moments after finishing my second Ellis book, I’m struggling to find a detractor here. Maybe, it’s too neatly tied up in the end but this isn’t a case of an author playing it safe — he’s just done a good job laying the ground work of a complex story and finely tuning it without screwing up the landing. It’s something our lead Allison would blush at. Very grateful to Netgalley and publisher Putnam for the ARC.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look Closer and The Best Lies were incredible. I still think Leo is my all time favorite male character. It pains me to say Keep Them Close doesn’t measure up. The non linear timeline, the malicious intent of every character, and the multiple storylines made this hard to follow.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Cordelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS
-Siblings Allison and Luke have always had each other’s backs. No matter what. Or at least that’s what they tell themselves.
-When Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered, the investigation starts digging into their past. And that past is messy. Think illicit affairs, a decades-old accident, and secrets that never should have stayed buried this long.
-As the case unfolds, the truth becomes harder to separate from the lies. And the biggest question becomes this: how far will these siblings go to protect each other… and themselves?
-Because the deeper the investigation goes, the clearer it becomes that the most dangerous betrayal might be sitting right inside the family.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS
-David Ellis does it again. This man knows how to write a smart, layered thriller. I’ve now read three of his books: Look Closer (5 stars), The Best Lies (5 stars), and Keep Them Close (5 stars). Safe to say I’m a huge fan.
-I loveeeee David Ellis. His writing is sharp, clever, and tightly plotted. And the legal pieces actually make sense. That’s rare in thrillers.
-Want to know why the legal stuff works so well? Ellis graduated from Northwestern Law and now serves as an Illinois Appellate Court judge. He also prosecuted the impeachment trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. So yeah. The man knows the system.
-So when he writes about legal stuff, it feels real because… it is real. You can tell he knows exactly how the system works.
-As an appellate judge, I’m sure he has seen everything. You can feel that experience all over this book.
-One thing I really love about David Ellis’s writing is how real the legal details feel. Even the smallest references are spot on. When I was in law school, I worked as a law clerk in the Felony Trial Division at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. So when Ellis mentions things like “26th and California” and the Felony Trial Division, I smiled. Those little details made the story feel incredibly real.
-That’s what makes his thrillers stand out. The legal elements never feel like background filler or something pulled from a quick Google search. The language, the settings, and the way people talk about the system all feel authentic. It reads like someone who actually understands how this world works. And that level of accuracy makes the entire story feel more believable.
-The plotting here is meticulous. Truly. Every piece fits somewhere. Nothing is wasted.
-We get multiple POVs, which I loved.
-Lots of twists.
-Not a single Chekhov’s gun goes unfired in this book. You know the rule. If a gun appears in Act One, it better go off by the end. Ellis clearly understood the assignment.
-The ending here is extremely satisfying.
-Lots of flawed characters, but I loved Allison. Sue me.
-I also enjoyed the peek into the male-dominated legal world. I genuinely laughed at the scene where they assume Allison is the assistant. Unfortunately… very true to life.
⸻
TL;DR: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5 stars. A layered, twist-filled thriller with real legal depth, great pacing, and an ending that delivers. David Ellis stays undefeated on my reading list.
⸻
THANKS: Thanks to Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on June 30, 2026.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒔. 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒈𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒎𝒔 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏.

If revenge thrillers are your thing, I need you to clear your schedule immediately and beg for an early copy of this book because it had me pacing my house like 𝑰 personally had secrets to hide. Siblings Allison and Luke have always had each other’s backs, no matter what life threw at them. But when Allison’s husband Finley is murdered, the investigation starts digging up things the two of them absolutely never wanted anyone to see, such as an affair, a long-buried accident, and a deception that’s been quietly rotting under the surface for years. As past and present begin crashing together, the question isn’t just who killed Finley. It’s how far Allison and Luke are willing to go to keep their history from detonating.

This book commanded the room like the first punch in a bar fight. You know things are about to get messy, and you're there for every wild moment. The author's shining moment, in my opinion, was how he skillfully weaponized family loyalty, something that’s supposed to feel safe, and twisted it until it became dangerous and volatile. The shifting perspectives kept my brain spinning in the best way because just when I thought I understood who was holding the knife (metaphorically speaking, mostly), the story would pivot, and suddenly, I was suspicious of everyone again. The tension was NOT subtle and quiet. It simmered in every conversation, every memory, and in every decision, especially the fateful ones that were made decades earlier.

By the final stretch, I was absolutely feral turning pages, half horrified and half delighted by how far these characters were willing to go. The pacing was relentless, and and the emotional fallout was hitting harder than I expected. When the dust finally settled, one thing became very clear: resentment doesn’t just linger; it waits for the perfect moment to strike. So many thanks to Putnam and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for this early copy that will publish June 30, 2026.

[Collyn Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

read if you like:
👩‍❤️‍👨 affairs
🙋🏻‍♀️ strong female protagonists
⏰ multiple timelines

summary:
David Ellis is an automatic must-buy author for me, and this one is no exception. I absolutely flew through this book — finished it in a day — and honestly could read it again in a heartbeat. The story follows Allison, a high-powered attorney whose life is turned upside down when her husband, Finley, is found murdered. The situation is already complicated by the fact that Allison recently discovered Finley had been having an affair. Determined to figure out what really happened, Allison and her brother Luke immediately start digging for answers.

But Luke is dealing with serious problems of his own. Not long before the murder, he was pulled over while driving a friend’s car that turned out to be full of opioid pills, leaving him entangled in legal trouble. As Allison searches for the truth about Finley’s death, the pressure mounting around Luke raises an unsettling question: how much trouble is her brother really in — and how far will she go to protect him?

The story centers around April Fools Day, which is a fun nod to the irony that weaves its way through the book. The timeline cuts back and forth before and after Finley’s death, but it’s surprisingly easy to follow, even while tracking all of Allison’s cases — Luke’s, a senators, and her own. The chapters are short and fast-moving, and the shifting perspectives keeps the tension high throughout. Each new revelation adds another piece to the puzzle, and just when you think the truth is within reach, the story pivots again. The pacing makes it bingeable, and the final twists land with the kind of shock that you won’t expect.

Thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy, and make sure you preorder this before it releases on June 29!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to David Ellis, Putnam Books, NetGalley and Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse for allowing me an early look at this upcoming thriller.

Everyone over at The Pulse is buzzing about this one, and after finishing it, I completely understand why.

Keep Them Close by David Ellis is an absolute wild ride of a thriller. I devoured this in a single day because once it got going, there was no putting it down. The pacing is relentless, the tension keeps building, and just when you think you’ve figured something out, another twist knocks you sideways.

And let’s be honest, that’s exactly what I want from a thriller.

Siblings Allison and Luke have always been fiercely loyal to one another. They’ve been through everything together and have always had each other’s backs.

But loyalty gets complicated when secrets start coming to light.

When Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered, the investigation begins unraveling a tangled web of lies between the siblings. As detectives dig deeper, long buried secrets start surfacing like an illicit affair, a decades old accident, and a deception that could destroy everything.

The deeper the story goes, the more the past and present collide, and the more you start to question who each of them is protecting and why.

David Ellis does such a fantastic job layering the story so that every reveal raises even more questions.

Family loyalty, betrayal, secrets, and just how far someone will go to protect the people they love. Keep Them Close delivers on all of that and more.

If you love fast paced thrillers packed with twists and messy family secrets, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your summer TBR.

[Rodney Booe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twist-filled thriller that proves David Ellis shines on his own
---
Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with a free preview copy of Keep Them Close in exchange for my honest review.

I’m familiar with David Ellis primarily through his collaborations with James Patterson, so this was my first opportunity to read one of his standalone novels. It definitely did not disappoint.

The story follows Allison Brice, a private practice attorney whose life is turned upside down when her husband is murdered. What follows is a suspenseful thriller packed with twists and turns that I genuinely did not see coming. Ellis does an excellent job keeping the reader off balance while the story unfolds.

One aspect of the novel I particularly enjoyed was the use of first-person narration, primarily through Allison and her brother Luke. I’ve always found first-person storytelling to be especially engaging because it limits the reader’s perspective to what the characters themselves know and experience. That constraint creates a natural tension and keeps the mystery alive as the story progresses.

The result is a fast-moving thriller that continually pulls you forward as new layers of the story are revealed. If this book is any indication of Ellis’s solo work, I’ll definitely be picking up more of his novels in the future.

[Christina Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

Keep Them Close by @david_ellis_author was a wild ride! Multiple POVs, time line jumps, twists, and surprises in every chapter! This was a great read and truly had me saying “WTF” out loud a couple times!

Allison is having marriage problems with her husband, Finley. He is cheating and she is trying to figure out how to handle it or if she should wait until their son, Grayson, goes off to college. Luke, Allison’s brother and one of Finleys best friends while growing up, is working on a documentary about his rise into stardom as a baseball player and the accident that ruined it all. Luke and Allison have been through so much together and unfortunately it’s about to get a lot more complicated for them. One day, Finley turns up mur-de-red and a whirlwind of events put Luke and Allison’s relationship to the test. A secret from their childhood, an affair, blackmail, private investigators, lies, deception, and betrayal!

This book has it all! I am so thankful for the opportunity to read this before it releases later this year! Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR and preorder this book! Seriously, you won’t regret it! @thrillerbookloversthepulse @putnambooks @penguinrandomhouse

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for an amazing, fast-paced, knock your socks off thriller that will keep you turning the pages long into the night, this book is a MUST read! My mind is still reeling from all the twists and turns, and I have yet to pick my jaw up off the floor. The secrets and lies were endless. So much so, that I had a hard time deciding who to root for. I liked that the author chose to let the story unfold in two different timelines. Switching back and forth between POVs from before Finley's death and the investigation that takes place after created lots of tension and suspense and allowed for maximum shock value when secrets were revealed. I would classify this book as part legal thriller and part domestic thriller, all of which were executed with the cleverness of a well-played chess match. I absolutely loved it! I know that I'll probably be waiting for months, but I cannot wait to get my hands on the next David Ellis book. I can't rave enough about this one! Add it to your TBRs and/or preorder now. You won't be disappointed, I promise.

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Dana Trevino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep Them Close was my first novel by David Ellis and it definitely will not be my last. I was excited to get an ARC and I couldn't wait to dive in. This book was not only a thriller, but what I really loved was the emotional depth woven into Allison's story. Ellis doesn't just give us a mystery - he gives us a woman shaped by years of feeling unseen, unheard, and never quite good enough.
Allison's childhood pain is one of the most powerful undercuts in this book. Growing up, she was constantly overshadowed by her brother, watching him receive the attention and praise from his parents. The emotional abuse Allison endures growing up really was painful to read, but what makes her unforgettable is how it transforms her into a fierce lawyer, which comes in handy throughout the novel. I loved this book due to the emotional complexity, fast pacing, clever twists, and a plot that keeps you guessing. This was an easy five stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC.

[Afsha (caffeineandcrime) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep Them Close - David Ellis
Pub Date - 6/30/26; Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons
Rating - ☕️☕️☕️.5/5 rounded up to 4
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley, David Ellis, and Putnam Books for this gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This new domestic thriller is a fast paced page turner making you as the reader want to keep going until you reach the end.

Siblings Allison and Luke have been through so much together including Luke's tragic bike accident leading to him never being able to play baseball again. Suddenly Allison's husband Finlay is found dead and everything spirals. Ellis creates a complex, suspenseful plot that creates so much tension and lots of drama.

While the twists weren't groundbreaking, the way the story came together was very enjoyable! I found myself flipping pages and staying up way past my bedtime to finish this book.

Overall, great book and fast read that will bust a reading slump!

Read if you like:
- police procedurals
- complex sibling relationships
- family drama
- domestic suspense

[Christina Hiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brain is actually tired.

This book kept jumping between timelines and every single time I thought I finally understood what happened to Finley… a new chapter would appear and immediately destroy my theory.

Allison is trying to hold everything together and fix everything, Luke is giving very strong poker face energy, and the more the past unfolds the worse everything looks.

By the middle of this book I was literally questioning every single character and every single memory.

Nothing is simple.
No one is fully honest.
And the time hops just keep stacking little clues until suddenly everything clicks and you’re like “…ohhh.”

Thrillers that make you mentally rewind half the book are my favorite kind. This one absolutely divine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Ellis has done it again in a twisty, vengeful ride!

Allison's husband, Finley, has been murdered. It SHOULD be sad... it IS sad... but... it sounds like Allison and Fin were not in a good place in their marriage. In fact, it sounds like Fin had been cheating on Allison. Isn't it usually the spouse?

Luke is Allison's brother. He was once destined for the major leagues in baseball, but an injury took away the chance for him to get there. And the night he was injured changed more than just Luke's life- several people dealt with the blow of the accident. More carnage is about to come out.

Luke and Allison have always been close- but the detectives working on Fin's murder investigation find out that there's a rift between the siblings. What caused them to fall out? Is Luke involved with what happened to Finley?

It's a fun rollercoaster of a ride, so check it out!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Cynthia Sauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC.

3.5 stars.

I was so looking forward to this but it just didn’t fully land for me. Look Closer is my favorite thriller, my go to recommendation for anyone looking for a great read. The Best Lies is up there with it, and after reading both of those I bought nearly all of Ellis’s catalogue. He’s a master, in my book. I’ve been stalking NetGalley for weeks, hoping to see this as an ARC option.

I did enjoy the multiple POVs and timeline shifts, up to where they merge near the end. I also liked that this was set in the same fictional area of Chicago as Look Closer. The characters were well fleshed out, if not a bit unlikable.

However, unlike previous Ellis adaptations, nothing blew my socks off and I guessed most of the twists before they happened.

I would still recommend to others, as it’s a well written story.

[Anna J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I screamed with joy to get this book as I have loved look closer and the best lies. David is brilliant at drawing the reader into the story. He slowly releases clues keeping you on your toes. This one is filled with family drama, secrets and pushes the limit to how far would you go for your loved ones.
I enjoyed the different points of view. There are so many things going on that you need to pay attention. You will wonder how will all this come together but the author manages to tie everything up in a neat bow at the end.

Allison and Luke have a complex sibling relationship. Allison and Finlay have a dysfunctional marriage that you wonder why she stayed in it so long. Finlay will get murdered and you can't flip the pages fast enough to see who did it.

Thank you NetGalley

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam Books for allowing me this ARC. I enjoyed David Ellis’s previous book so I was very excited to get to read this one early.

This story was diabolical and unhinged. It’s told from 3 different character perspectives and timelines but it was written in a way that was very easy to follow. Luke was a very odd character and there seemed to be so much focus on his previous and current baseball career, that sometimes felt like filler. In normal David Ellis writing fashion, the beginning of the book intrigues you and gets you hooked then the second half takes you through a wild twisted ride. I’d recommend, it was a fun, quick read.

[Kelly Veit · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this one was good but not great. There are so many moving parts to this story that it is sometimes hard to keep a handle on everything. One storyline is interwoven throughout and it feels unnecessary. I will say I was racing through the pages to discover the identity of the killer. At one of the twists I literally put my kindle down and just stared at nothing! It revealed something that I never would have suspected. Ellis is a master at throwing the reader off course. If you loved Look Closer then you should most definitely add Keep Them Close to your TBR.

Thank you Putnam via NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another BANGER from David Ellis! Propulsive thriller. The short chapters and multiple POVs kept the story moving. Ellis is such a genius at twists — disparate characters and plot lines come together like pieces of a puzzle snapping into place. Fans of Look Closer will want to read this one! That remains my favorite, but this once again shows that Ellis is a master of the thriller. The plotting was so clever, and the twists kept coming. Had so much fun reading about the antics of smart and devious lawyer Allison Brice, her brother Luke, and her obnoxious husband Finley.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons via Netgalley for my free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[booked.with.julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go to protect your family’s secrets?

Allison and her brother Luke have always had each other’s backs. But when Allison’s husband is murdered, the investigation begins uncovering secrets the siblings have kept buried for years.

This was such a twisty, suspenseful thriller filled with messy family dynamics and buried secrets. I loved the different timelines leading up and it kept me guessing as the investigation unfolded.

If you enjoy thrillers that revolve around messy family relationships, hidden pasts, and plenty of twists, this one is definitely worth adding to your tbr!

[JAY · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a wild read. None of the characters were likable, but I still found myself completely drawn in by everyone’s backstory and how each of them tied into the main plot. The dynamic between the siblings was especially crazy. At first, I genuinely thought they had a ride-or-die relationship, but it turns out they’ve been going behind each other’s backs the entire time—and from such a young age too!

Even though none of the characters were easy to root for, I still found myself rooting for Allison until the very end. She was completely unhinged!


Thank you NetGalley, Putnam Books, and David Ellis for this ARC 🫶🏽!

[Pattyh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Keep Them Close. Everytime David Ellis writes a book, I want it immediately.
In his newest book he provides a complex and fascinating view of life in a dysfunctional family. Chapters are told by each character.
Allison is a high powered attorney with a son in college, a brother, Luke, a once famous athlete, Finley, the husband of Allison.
Each chapter tells the story of murder, mystery and money. A terrific who done it that kept my guessing till the end. Well written and very complex plot. Loved it. 5 stars for this book.

[Val Suchecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Keep Them Close.

This is a fast paced thriller that demands your attention in order to follow every twist the author throws at you. Siblings Luke and Allison alternate telling their versions of events throughout the book. We also get the POV of the detectives as they unravel the crimes that have brought these siblings into their interrogation room.

I was impressed by the intertwining of stories, alibis, crimes, and confessions in this book. It kept me guessing until the very end.