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]

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.

[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 😉.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully twisty, superbly done. It was twist after twist after twist. To say I was surprised at every turn is an understatement, I was gobsmacked. It's one of those books, that after it ends, you know all other books will pale in comparison.

I am in awe of David Ellis' ability to craft such a complex layered story with such standout characters.

As an added bonus, this Chicagoan loved the Chicago backdrop. The cherry on top a flawless story.

Although not as good as Look Closer (hard to beat my all time favorite book), it was definitely in the same league.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a little worried my brain broke because I did not love this book. Something just did not work for me. I’m not sure if it was me or it was the actual book. I felt like a pinball being sent into all these different directions which reveal upon reveal in the first half. The second half flowed better for me but there wasn’t much excitement. The plot felt way too unbelievable no matter how fictionalized this book is. I was let down.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.

[Jennifer Tackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC of “Keep Them Close”, by David Ellis! I flew through the first half of this book and couldn’t wait to finish work so I could get back to it! The second half was quite a bit slower for me though, and it also started to get a little too…much. BUT, I loved the sibling relationship between Allison and Luke, and the ending was quite satisfying. 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5. This is my 2nd book by Ellis, and I’m looking forward to #3!

[Hayley Eisner · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Ellis’ books truly never miss. This is the third book I’ve read by him, and each one has left my mind reeling and speechless. Everything he tells in the story is so intentional and will come back in a way you don’t expect later in the book. I was absolutely addicted to this book and could not put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Great thriller that leaves you guessing. I am glad to have a much different relationship with my sibling.

Allison and Luke are siblings that seem to have each other's back. Allison married Luke's high school best friend, Finley. So much happens in the book with tons of twists and turns. Great read and I highly recommend it.

[Randi A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book somehow has both the stupidest and cleverest characters, simultaneously. Around 60% I was real annoyed at everyone, but I did find the wrap up satisfying. This was a decent quick read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an ARC

4.5 ⭐️ Rounded up. The plotting of this book really must be something to see. There were a number of jaw dropping moments. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be checking out more of David's work.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title. Twisty, face-paced, well-written thriller that will make your jaw drop and keep you guessing.

[Autumn Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The details in this book are so crazy good!

It's meticulous, twisty and detailed!

Definitely a great book!!

[Leah Cherokee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as propulsive as "Look Closer" but an overall fine thriller that was heavy on the police procedural side--full review to come!