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Don't Look Away: A Novel
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From the author of The Perfect Home comes a harrowing domestic crime thriller where a former defense attorney is forced out of retirement to defend her husband—now the prime suspect in the serial murder case terrorizing Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Leslie Woodhouse’s most exciting days should be behind her. In a past life, she was a defense attorney with a reputation for finding loopholes in high-profile cases. Now, she’s enjoying a modest retirement in Florida in a seaside condo with her mild-mannered husband, Robert. The only things that get her heart rate up now are late-night coffees, playful banter with her beloved older sister, and the the serial killer ravaging Florida’s Gulf Coast has just made his first mistake. An eight-year-old girl has seen his face and lived.
To Leslie, the murderer is little more than a morbid fascination—until she comes home to flashing police lights. Robert is arrested, accused of being the Gulf Coast Killer. Leslie is convinced of his innocence, and despite warnings not to represent her husband, she starts work on his defense. But as she unravels the facts, she can’t shake the unanswered questions. What was Robert’s DNA doing at the scene of the crime? And if she’s right to defend Robert, then who is the real Gulf Coast Killer, and why is he framing her husband?
Don’t Look Away is a twisty, compulsively readable thriller that what do we owe one another— and what are the consequences of ignoring the truth?
Leslie Woodhouse’s most exciting days should be behind her. In a past life, she was a defense attorney with a reputation for finding loopholes in high-profile cases. Now, she’s enjoying a modest retirement in Florida in a seaside condo with her mild-mannered husband, Robert. The only things that get her heart rate up now are late-night coffees, playful banter with her beloved older sister, and the the serial killer ravaging Florida’s Gulf Coast has just made his first mistake. An eight-year-old girl has seen his face and lived.
To Leslie, the murderer is little more than a morbid fascination—until she comes home to flashing police lights. Robert is arrested, accused of being the Gulf Coast Killer. Leslie is convinced of his innocence, and despite warnings not to represent her husband, she starts work on his defense. But as she unravels the facts, she can’t shake the unanswered questions. What was Robert’s DNA doing at the scene of the crime? And if she’s right to defend Robert, then who is the real Gulf Coast Killer, and why is he framing her husband?
Don’t Look Away is a twisty, compulsively readable thriller that what do we owe one another— and what are the consequences of ignoring the truth?
- GenresMystery ThrillerFiction
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 7, 2026
About the author
Daniel Kenitz
3 books140 followersDaniel Kenitz is a freelance writer and the author of the "The Perfect Home," and the forthcoming domestic crime thriller "Don't Look Away." He has also published several short stories, including the Pushcart Prize-nominated A Hand to the Plow (2022, Red Rock Review), Tickleneck (2022, Spotlong Review), The Cycle (2021, Evening Street Review), Seen (2020, Every Day Fiction), The Parent License (2020, The Virginia Normal), and Sunset 9037 (2013, Strangelet Magazine). Visit his author website for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 16, 2026
Thank you to Dan Kenitz and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy of this thriller.
What makes this novel stand out is that the mystery isn’t who the serial killer is—you know that almost immediately. Instead, the story becomes a tense and emotionally layered exploration of family, shame, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. Wrapped inside a fast-paced serial killer chase are deeper questions about morality and our responsibilities to one another.
The narrative alternates between Leslie, Robert, and Weston, and each perspective adds another layer of complexity to the story. I appreciated that no character felt one-dimensional; even when I disagreed with their choices, I could still understand their motivations (mostly). That emotional nuance made the book impossible to put down. I found myself sympathizing with everyone at different points, but by the end, I was firmly Team Leslie.
Sharp, suspenseful, and deeply character-driven, this is the kind of thriller that keeps the pages turning while also giving you plenty to think about after the final chapter.
When it releases on July 7th, definitely add this one to your list.
What makes this novel stand out is that the mystery isn’t who the serial killer is—you know that almost immediately. Instead, the story becomes a tense and emotionally layered exploration of family, shame, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. Wrapped inside a fast-paced serial killer chase are deeper questions about morality and our responsibilities to one another.
The narrative alternates between Leslie, Robert, and Weston, and each perspective adds another layer of complexity to the story. I appreciated that no character felt one-dimensional; even when I disagreed with their choices, I could still understand their motivations (mostly). That emotional nuance made the book impossible to put down. I found myself sympathizing with everyone at different points, but by the end, I was firmly Team Leslie.
Sharp, suspenseful, and deeply character-driven, this is the kind of thriller that keeps the pages turning while also giving you plenty to think about after the final chapter.
When it releases on July 7th, definitely add this one to your list.
May 5, 2026
What would you do if the person you love most… might be a serial killer?!
Leslie thought she had left her old life as a defense attorney behind. But when her husband is arrested and accused of being a serial killer, she’s pulled right back in…this time fighting for him. But the more she digs the less certain she feels he is innocent.
This one truly hooked me right away. It’s a compelling domestic thriller that blends legal drama. With a pace that will keep you engaged throughout, you’ll be sure to keep turning the pages!
Leslie thought she had left her old life as a defense attorney behind. But when her husband is arrested and accused of being a serial killer, she’s pulled right back in…this time fighting for him. But the more she digs the less certain she feels he is innocent.
This one truly hooked me right away. It’s a compelling domestic thriller that blends legal drama. With a pace that will keep you engaged throughout, you’ll be sure to keep turning the pages!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫—𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝'𝐯𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞—but 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠. 𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.
Leslie Woodhouse thought she had closed the door on this part of her life. Once a defense attorney known for navigating impossible cases, she’s now settled into a quieter routine in Florida with her husband Robert. Then a serial killer stalking the Gulf Coast makes a mistake, and suddenly Leslie’s life collides with it in the worst possible way. She comes home to flashing lights, and Robert is arrested. Not questioned. Not suspected. Arrested. Accused of being the killer. Convinced of his innocence, Leslie steps back into a world she thought she left behind, determined to prove her husband's innocence. The problem is, the deeper she digs, the less certain everything becomes.
This is one of those thrillers that knows exactly how to get under your skin without relying on nonstop twists and turns. The tension builds in that slow, tightening way where every new piece of information feels like it should help but somehow only makes things worse. I loved the way this played with certainty, especially Leslie’s. She starts from a place of absolute belief in her husband, and watching that belief get tested over and over again is where the story really hits. And yes, I had my theories. Yes, I was wrong.
What stuck with me most is how quietly unsettling the central theme is. We all like to think we’d know; that we’d recognize danger, that we’d see the cracks in the people closest to us. This book builds up that assumption and then calmly dismantles it. By the end, it leaves you sitting with that uncomfortable question, turning it over in your head long after the final page. Because hindsight might feel sharp until you realize how much you never saw coming. Many thanks to Scribner Books for this early copy that will release July 7, 2026.
Leslie Woodhouse thought she had closed the door on this part of her life. Once a defense attorney known for navigating impossible cases, she’s now settled into a quieter routine in Florida with her husband Robert. Then a serial killer stalking the Gulf Coast makes a mistake, and suddenly Leslie’s life collides with it in the worst possible way. She comes home to flashing lights, and Robert is arrested. Not questioned. Not suspected. Arrested. Accused of being the killer. Convinced of his innocence, Leslie steps back into a world she thought she left behind, determined to prove her husband's innocence. The problem is, the deeper she digs, the less certain everything becomes.
This is one of those thrillers that knows exactly how to get under your skin without relying on nonstop twists and turns. The tension builds in that slow, tightening way where every new piece of information feels like it should help but somehow only makes things worse. I loved the way this played with certainty, especially Leslie’s. She starts from a place of absolute belief in her husband, and watching that belief get tested over and over again is where the story really hits. And yes, I had my theories. Yes, I was wrong.
What stuck with me most is how quietly unsettling the central theme is. We all like to think we’d know; that we’d recognize danger, that we’d see the cracks in the people closest to us. This book builds up that assumption and then calmly dismantles it. By the end, it leaves you sitting with that uncomfortable question, turning it over in your head long after the final page. Because hindsight might feel sharp until you realize how much you never saw coming. Many thanks to Scribner Books for this early copy that will release July 7, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
For fans of 'whodunits' and courtroom dramas, 'Don't Look Away' threads the taut thrills of a classic serial killer saga with the high-stakes intimacy of family bonds gone awry: causing the reader to ask, alongside the characters, "How well do you really know the people in your life?" and, maybe more importantly, "Do you trust them?"
Masterfully written with crisp, surprising descriptions and emotional twists and turns, the fast-paced, shifting first-person points of view lend both a strong voice and a modern approach to a classically character-centered mystery that explores a powerful theme in thoughtful and unexpected ways.
Likable characters, though decidedly flawed, take you on their own emotional journeys, tipping the readers' sympathies one way, then the other. Because coming to terms with the underlying and even uncomfortable truths about themselves and their relationships - and deciding to accept, or reject, what they uncover - is central to unspooling this tightly-wound mystery. And getting closer to the truth increases their peril, leaving the reader breathless as characters and plot advance as one: a page-turner in every sense of the word.
Like Kenitz' debut novel, 'The Perfect Home', 'Don't Look Away' is compellingly readable – you’ll easily devour it in a weekend, on a plane, or at the top of your stack of summer reads. Both meld a delightfully readable, twisty true crime premise, that could've been ripped from your favorite podcast, with compelling yet flawed characters you can feel as you read them face every part of a gut-wrenching plot: leaving you guessing what's coming next on every page and thoroughly surprised by its final twist.
Masterfully written with crisp, surprising descriptions and emotional twists and turns, the fast-paced, shifting first-person points of view lend both a strong voice and a modern approach to a classically character-centered mystery that explores a powerful theme in thoughtful and unexpected ways.
Likable characters, though decidedly flawed, take you on their own emotional journeys, tipping the readers' sympathies one way, then the other. Because coming to terms with the underlying and even uncomfortable truths about themselves and their relationships - and deciding to accept, or reject, what they uncover - is central to unspooling this tightly-wound mystery. And getting closer to the truth increases their peril, leaving the reader breathless as characters and plot advance as one: a page-turner in every sense of the word.
Like Kenitz' debut novel, 'The Perfect Home', 'Don't Look Away' is compellingly readable – you’ll easily devour it in a weekend, on a plane, or at the top of your stack of summer reads. Both meld a delightfully readable, twisty true crime premise, that could've been ripped from your favorite podcast, with compelling yet flawed characters you can feel as you read them face every part of a gut-wrenching plot: leaving you guessing what's coming next on every page and thoroughly surprised by its final twist.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Former defense attorney Leslie Woodhouse is pulled out of retirement when her husband becomes the prime suspect in a string of serial murders along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
The serial killer case is the core of the story, but the true focus is the family relationships, moral questions, and emotional conflicts.
The multiple POV really highlighted the sense of dread and it was fun seeing everyone react to what we knew was coming.
The relationship between Leslie and her sister feels deep but there’s very little to go on between Leslie and husband Robert. They barely speak to each other throughout the entire story and I couldn’t get a handle on their relationship even before everything kicked off. For a character led domestic thriller, I found the emotional depth lacking across most of the cast.
The court case was probably my favorite part - plenty of suspense - maybe predictable but very satisfying.
The tension comes from the consequences, not from solving a mystery. I personally found nothing surprising, twisty or revealy. Fair warning - a lot of Goodread reviewers disagree with me.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
This is ultimately a domestic suspense wrapped around a court case. It’s gripping and compelling and focuses on emotional resolution and character choices rather than a jaw-dropping twist.
Thank you Scribner and NetGalley for this gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Nancy Linary, Fred Sanders, Gary Tiedemann
📖 Release 07•07•26 | 320 pages | 8h 30m
Former defense attorney Leslie Woodhouse is pulled out of retirement when her husband becomes the prime suspect in a string of serial murders along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
The serial killer case is the core of the story, but the true focus is the family relationships, moral questions, and emotional conflicts.
The multiple POV really highlighted the sense of dread and it was fun seeing everyone react to what we knew was coming.
The relationship between Leslie and her sister feels deep but there’s very little to go on between Leslie and husband Robert. They barely speak to each other throughout the entire story and I couldn’t get a handle on their relationship even before everything kicked off. For a character led domestic thriller, I found the emotional depth lacking across most of the cast.
The court case was probably my favorite part - plenty of suspense - maybe predictable but very satisfying.
The tension comes from the consequences, not from solving a mystery. I personally found nothing surprising, twisty or revealy. Fair warning - a lot of Goodread reviewers disagree with me.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
This is ultimately a domestic suspense wrapped around a court case. It’s gripping and compelling and focuses on emotional resolution and character choices rather than a jaw-dropping twist.
Thank you Scribner and NetGalley for this gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Nancy Linary, Fred Sanders, Gary Tiedemann
📖 Release 07•07•26 | 320 pages | 8h 30m
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Leslie Woodhouse is a retired defense attorney living in Florida with her second husband, Richard. Leslie has a daughter named Stephanie from her first marriage, while Richard has a strained relationship with his son, Weston. Tensions have risen for area residents due to a serial killer known as the Gulf Coast Killer, who remains at large. After his latest female victim is abducted, the woman’s eight-year-old daughter manages to escape. With an eyewitness finally available, the police rush to identify a suspect, who turns out to be Richard. Leslie is convinced her husband is not the killer, so she puts back on her lawyer hat to defend him. With incriminating DNA evidence, Leslie has her work cut out for her.
Don’t Look Away by Daniel Kenitz is an engaging domestic thriller. The story is told from the perspectives of Leslie, Robert, and Weston. Kenitz reveals the truth behind Richard’s situation as the story progresses. Filled with courtroom action, family drama, and surprising discoveries, this book held me captive.
Many thanks to Scribner for the advance.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
Don’t Look Away by Daniel Kenitz is an engaging domestic thriller. The story is told from the perspectives of Leslie, Robert, and Weston. Kenitz reveals the truth behind Richard’s situation as the story progresses. Filled with courtroom action, family drama, and surprising discoveries, this book held me captive.
Many thanks to Scribner for the advance.
Review to be posted on MicheleReader.com.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
60 something year old Leslie is married to Robert, mother to Steph, and a very good defense lawyer. When her immediate family gets embroiled in a legal scandal, she must do her best to free her husband from the threat of permanent prison, but at what cost? The journey it takes to get there almost costs her everything- including her other family members. With the Florida Gulf Coast killer potentially being one and the same person as Leslie's husband, there is a race against time to get to the bottom of any and all accusations. This one, for everything it has going on, could perhaps be easily spoiled if I go into too much detail, so I'll leave any synopsis explanations at that. I would say this is for fans of legalese and courtroom thrillers, family lore told amidst heavy topics, and slower paced crime thrillers. I enjoyed its unpredictability and even had a few deep gasps from it. Don't Look Away was truly very engaging and lives up to its name. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Scribner for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Don’t Look Away by Daniel Kenitz. Thanks to @scribnerbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Leslie was once a well known defense attorney, but now is retired and spends her days in her seaside condo with her mild mannered husband, Richard. When Richard is accused as being the area’s newest serial killer, The Gulf Coast Killer, she jumps back in her role as a defense attorney.
This one is interesting because we have more insight into the murders than one usually has in a book about a serial killer. It’s more about family dynamics and secrets. It is a bit of a courtroom and defense thriller as well, which were some of my favorite parts. I liked how there was a line that Leslie had to tie from defense attorney and spouse.
“The hard things either kill you or become the whole reason you live.”
Read if you like:
-Serial killer tropes
-Courtroom thrillers
-Defense attorney procedurals
Don’t Look Away comes out 7/7.
Leslie was once a well known defense attorney, but now is retired and spends her days in her seaside condo with her mild mannered husband, Richard. When Richard is accused as being the area’s newest serial killer, The Gulf Coast Killer, she jumps back in her role as a defense attorney.
This one is interesting because we have more insight into the murders than one usually has in a book about a serial killer. It’s more about family dynamics and secrets. It is a bit of a courtroom and defense thriller as well, which were some of my favorite parts. I liked how there was a line that Leslie had to tie from defense attorney and spouse.
“The hard things either kill you or become the whole reason you live.”
Read if you like:
-Serial killer tropes
-Courtroom thrillers
-Defense attorney procedurals
Don’t Look Away comes out 7/7.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Don’t Look Away had a premise that genuinely hooked me. It’s about a defense attorney forced to defend her own husband when evidence points to him as a serial killer terrorizing Florida. That setup is compelling and I was fully on board going in.
Where it lost me was the pacing of the mystery itself. The intrigue that makes thrillers work for me, which is that slow burn of not knowing dissipated earlier than I would have liked and I found it hard to stay as invested once that happened. The characters also didn’t quite land for me personally, though I can see what the story was going for with them.
That said I think this one would work really well for readers who are newer to the thriller genre or who prefer a more straightforward read over a slow burn. The bones of a good story are there and Daniel Kenitz clearly has a strong concept. Three stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Where it lost me was the pacing of the mystery itself. The intrigue that makes thrillers work for me, which is that slow burn of not knowing dissipated earlier than I would have liked and I found it hard to stay as invested once that happened. The characters also didn’t quite land for me personally, though I can see what the story was going for with them.
That said I think this one would work really well for readers who are newer to the thriller genre or who prefer a more straightforward read over a slow burn. The bones of a good story are there and Daniel Kenitz clearly has a strong concept. Three stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2026
This was a looooaded thriller. @booked.with.Julia and I had three books in the running and she let me pick the next #jnsbuddyreads book and I went with Don’t Look Away!
First of all…. Wow. I would say this was a thriller told in reverse in a way. Very early on you know who is guilty. From there all these layers are peeled back.
DON’T LOOK AWAY was a character study, about a marriage with secrets, the cost of those secrets, and about how little you know those closest to you.
I would say to be the attorney she was Leslie had some pretty serious blinders that on, and I would say Robert was…. So many things and none of them good.
There was a mental health rep featured in this book that was unexpected and amazing. I felt so seen. The term OCD is very much overused but it was featured in this book in the most authentic way.
This was an awesome thriller that thriller lovers will love!
First of all…. Wow. I would say this was a thriller told in reverse in a way. Very early on you know who is guilty. From there all these layers are peeled back.
DON’T LOOK AWAY was a character study, about a marriage with secrets, the cost of those secrets, and about how little you know those closest to you.
I would say to be the attorney she was Leslie had some pretty serious blinders that on, and I would say Robert was…. So many things and none of them good.
There was a mental health rep featured in this book that was unexpected and amazing. I felt so seen. The term OCD is very much overused but it was featured in this book in the most authentic way.
This was an awesome thriller that thriller lovers will love!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was a great thriller. It has just the right amount of everything I need when looking for the perfect thriller/ suspense novel. It starts off with introducing our serial killer, then the main characters and off to the courtroom and justice. It’s a sprinkling of the perfect amount of everything I look for by specific authors, but in one book.
Leslie and Robert are an older couple, who seem to have it all. Then Robert is arrested under suspicion he is a serial killer. Leslie defends him in court, but has her suspicions. I loved Leslie as a badass elderly woman who is fierce with family. But Robert left a bad taste in my mouth. The reveal does nothing to make me like him any more.
Each section of the book is thrilling. I especially loved the final part of the book where all is revealed and chaos begins. This book was fast moving with never a dull moment.
Leslie and Robert are an older couple, who seem to have it all. Then Robert is arrested under suspicion he is a serial killer. Leslie defends him in court, but has her suspicions. I loved Leslie as a badass elderly woman who is fierce with family. But Robert left a bad taste in my mouth. The reveal does nothing to make me like him any more.
Each section of the book is thrilling. I especially loved the final part of the book where all is revealed and chaos begins. This book was fast moving with never a dull moment.
May 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Don’t Look Away by Daniel Kenitz.
I went into this excited because I loved his first book and this did not disappoint. I finished it in about 18 hours because I genuinely couldn’t put it down. The FMC is a powerhouse lawyer, super sharp and strong in a way that actually feels believable. The MMC is unlikable right from the start, which honestly made it even more interesting to read.
I loved how the story unfolds through multiple POVs. It keeps you guessing the whole time. You’re constantly questioning who’s telling the truth or if any of them are. No spoilers, but the boat scene had me literally yelling “that MFer” out loud.
Fast paced, tense, and really easy to get hooked on.
I went into this excited because I loved his first book and this did not disappoint. I finished it in about 18 hours because I genuinely couldn’t put it down. The FMC is a powerhouse lawyer, super sharp and strong in a way that actually feels believable. The MMC is unlikable right from the start, which honestly made it even more interesting to read.
I loved how the story unfolds through multiple POVs. It keeps you guessing the whole time. You’re constantly questioning who’s telling the truth or if any of them are. No spoilers, but the boat scene had me literally yelling “that MFer” out loud.
Fast paced, tense, and really easy to get hooked on.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the Advance Reader’s Edition!*
Daniel Kenitz does it again! This wickedly brilliant domestic crime thriller beautifully blends family secrets, legal drama, and an abundance of suspenseful moments that kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. Instantly gripping, the prologue sets the scene for non-stop page-turning ahead. Kenitz has a knack for developing well-crafted characters that make you choose which side you’re on (team Leslie Woodhouse!). Ending with an unforgettable, heart-wrenching climax, this story delivers every juicy, well-loved aspect of an irresistible thriller, with an eerie aura from the front cover to the back.
Daniel Kenitz does it again! This wickedly brilliant domestic crime thriller beautifully blends family secrets, legal drama, and an abundance of suspenseful moments that kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. Instantly gripping, the prologue sets the scene for non-stop page-turning ahead. Kenitz has a knack for developing well-crafted characters that make you choose which side you’re on (team Leslie Woodhouse!). Ending with an unforgettable, heart-wrenching climax, this story delivers every juicy, well-loved aspect of an irresistible thriller, with an eerie aura from the front cover to the back.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wonderfully witty and devilishly sharp. Don’t Look Away is a well crafted and imaginative crime novel full of fun characters and intriguing themes. Kenitz has a unique way of making you feel like you know these characters, that you’ve strolled the same sidewalks and sat at the same kitchen islands sipping coffee as them.
Each chapter is dedicated to a persons viewpoint giving this story multiple dimensional insights into mistrust, trauma and hopelessness.
A phenomenal fun read and I look forward to exploring more by this devastatingly good author with his sprinkles of sarcasm and humor.
Each chapter is dedicated to a persons viewpoint giving this story multiple dimensional insights into mistrust, trauma and hopelessness.
A phenomenal fun read and I look forward to exploring more by this devastatingly good author with his sprinkles of sarcasm and humor.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Leslie Woodhouse, a former public defender, must defend her husband Robert when someone frames him for a series of murders.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the book very much! It's a great thriller, and there are moments when I gasped out loud because I was so nervous for what would happen to the characters.
I also appreciated that Leslie was a strong, older woman. We tend to think of older women as weak and invisible, but Leslie showed that's not the case.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the book very much! It's a great thriller, and there are moments when I gasped out loud because I was so nervous for what would happen to the characters.
I also appreciated that Leslie was a strong, older woman. We tend to think of older women as weak and invisible, but Leslie showed that's not the case.
June 26, 2026
Retired defense attorney Leslie gets the call that she never wanted: her husband Robert is under arrest for the serial killings plaguing Florida. She jumps into action to defend him, working hard to prove that he's not the Gulf Coast Killer.
This was a fun one! I really liked the mystery and was captivated from beginning to end. The court room drama section was probably my favorite. I loved seeing how Leslie operated as a defense attorney. You really see her struggle with wanting to believe her husband while also doubting him when the evidence starts stacking up against him. You get a whole cast of side-characters that also steal the show. Overall, this was an engaging thriller!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!
This was a fun one! I really liked the mystery and was captivated from beginning to end. The court room drama section was probably my favorite. I loved seeing how Leslie operated as a defense attorney. You really see her struggle with wanting to believe her husband while also doubting him when the evidence starts stacking up against him. You get a whole cast of side-characters that also steal the show. Overall, this was an engaging thriller!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With his second novel, Kenitz has established himself as an author to watch in the thriller space.
Don't Look Away almost feels like a self-contained trilogy; each of the first three parts is a different style of thriller: part one is a traditional murder mystery, part two is a legal thriller, and part three is a . Combined with alternating chapters told from three perspectives, it makes for an exciting, fast-paced read.
Don't Look Away almost feels like a self-contained trilogy; each of the first three parts is a different style of thriller: part one is a traditional murder mystery, part two is a legal thriller, and part three is a . Combined with alternating chapters told from three perspectives, it makes for an exciting, fast-paced read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Wow! Leslie, a retired attorney who lives in Florida with her husband Robert. They are enjoying retirement until she comes home to flashing lights and her husband being taken away. They say his DNA is at the murder scene- how can this be? Can she defend her husband? Is he the Gulf Coast murderer?
Wow! Leslie, a retired attorney who lives in Florida with her husband Robert. They are enjoying retirement until she comes home to flashing lights and her husband being taken away. They say his DNA is at the murder scene- how can this be? Can she defend her husband? Is he the Gulf Coast murderer?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Creepy and Fast
This book was a quick, atmospheric thriller with a strong sense of dread and just enough twists that kept me turning pages. The small-town tension and danger really worked for me, even if some character choices and emotional beats felt a little thin. Definitely a solid, bingeable read. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a quick, atmospheric thriller with a strong sense of dread and just enough twists that kept me turning pages. The small-town tension and danger really worked for me, even if some character choices and emotional beats felt a little thin. Definitely a solid, bingeable read. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2026
It was good but really left me wanting more. The killer had such a specific method and there was never any explanation as to why. Roberts decisions in the beginning made sense to me but at the end he just went off the deep end. I just didn’t find the ending to be satisfying but the rest of the book I very much enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this book, but it was not my favorite. I feel like the story line was good, but lacked something. Overall I did like this book and would recommend it.
June 15, 2026
I love a book set in my home state of FL, and this one definitely had all the vibes I was looking for. A tense mystery, multiple POV, fast paced chapters. (Although, they don’t number the chapters. It’s just POV switches….but it was fast so woohoo) I read through this story super quickly and think this is a great read!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Leslie Woodhouse is shocked when her husband gets taken to jail as he is suspected to be the The Gulf Coast Killer. She believes he is innocent so she decides to represent him in this case. She is good at being a lawyer and works hard to build her case.
This is a character driven thriller and is emotionally tense with how far would you go to protect your family. There were some interesting twists that kept you on edge until the end.
This is a character driven thriller and is emotionally tense with how far would you go to protect your family. There were some interesting twists that kept you on edge until the end.
May 2, 2026
This was my first read by Daniel Kenitz, and it was such a fun mix of mystery thriller, legal crime drama, retirement community secrets, and serial killer chaos. Set on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the story follows a retired star defense attorney who suddenly finds herself back in court defending her own husband after he is accused of being the Gulf Coast Killer.
Casual retirement plans? Ruined.
Courtroom drama? Yes.
Twists? Absolutely.
Weekend binge-read energy? 100%.
This one moves quickly, keeps things twisty, and gives you that perfect “just one more chapter” feeling. Definitely a fun pick for mystery/thriller readers who like their crime drama with a side of courtroom tension.
Casual retirement plans? Ruined.
Courtroom drama? Yes.
Twists? Absolutely.
Weekend binge-read energy? 100%.
This one moves quickly, keeps things twisty, and gives you that perfect “just one more chapter” feeling. Definitely a fun pick for mystery/thriller readers who like their crime drama with a side of courtroom tension.
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