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Hot Girl Murder Club
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 2610 hours, 18 minutes
AN INDIE NEXT PICK A Goodreads Most Anticipated Mystery & Thriller Pick of the Summer
"Prepare to meet your next summer binge read." —May Cobb, bestselling author of The Hunting Wives
From national bestselling author Ashley Winstead comes a buzzy, bloody new thriller about success, sisterhood, and demanding justice…by any means necessary.
What’s a girl got to do to get some fame, a few million record sales, and justice for murder?
Ten years ago, aspiring singer-actress Scout Sage lost the only thing that her sister, Georgia. Ever since Georgia’s mysterious death at a Hollywood party, Scout’s done her best to honor her memory, clawing her way through the industry and collecting a network of climbers along the way, fellow hot girls in stilettos with cutthroat ambition, a new Hollywood order.
But when a slew of targeted murders makes headlines across L.A., all pointing to Scout as the killer, she turns overnight from a mid-tier pop star into the world’s most famous (alleged) murderer. Now everything she’s worked to build—including the justice she wants for Georgia—will fall apart unless Scout can prove she’s not guilty.
Meanwhile, the young and unusual detective assigned to her case, herself no stranger to tragedy, begins to unearth secrets not even Scout knows, let alone her millions of new fans. Particularly about the ways Georgia’s death connects to an even older pattern of crimes long hushed over in Hollywood—an old reign of terror that, if brought to light, could be the fuel that ignites a reckoning the world over.
AN INDIE NEXT PICK A Goodreads Most Anticipated Mystery & Thriller Pick of the Summer
"Prepare to meet your next summer binge read." —May Cobb, bestselling author of The Hunting Wives
From national bestselling author Ashley Winstead comes a buzzy, bloody new thriller about success, sisterhood, and demanding justice…by any means necessary.
What’s a girl got to do to get some fame, a few million record sales, and justice for murder?
Ten years ago, aspiring singer-actress Scout Sage lost the only thing that her sister, Georgia. Ever since Georgia’s mysterious death at a Hollywood party, Scout’s done her best to honor her memory, clawing her way through the industry and collecting a network of climbers along the way, fellow hot girls in stilettos with cutthroat ambition, a new Hollywood order.
But when a slew of targeted murders makes headlines across L.A., all pointing to Scout as the killer, she turns overnight from a mid-tier pop star into the world’s most famous (alleged) murderer. Now everything she’s worked to build—including the justice she wants for Georgia—will fall apart unless Scout can prove she’s not guilty.
Meanwhile, the young and unusual detective assigned to her case, herself no stranger to tragedy, begins to unearth secrets not even Scout knows, let alone her millions of new fans. Particularly about the ways Georgia’s death connects to an even older pattern of crimes long hushed over in Hollywood—an old reign of terror that, if brought to light, could be the fuel that ignites a reckoning the world over.
Audible Audio
Expected publication July 14, 2026
About the author
Ashley Winstead
9 books6,107 followersAshley Winstead's bestselling, critically-acclaimed books have been translated into more than twenty languages, optioned for film and television, named Book of the Month, Indie Next, Library Read, Loan Star, and Amazon Editor picks, and covered everywhere from the New York Times to People magazine. She's a former academic who lives in Houston with her husband, three cats, and beloved wine fridge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 846 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 3 ⭐️ Hollywood glamour, sisterhood, murders, revenge--What's a girl got to do to get some fame?
The idea of a detective/bottle service girl at an exclusive nightclub was enough to lure me in. From the opening chapter, I thought this idea of vigilantes in Hollywood going all out with a vengeance was so clever and interesting, I was hoping for a very twisted murder story. However, it didn't exactly go where I thought it would. What I thought would be a dark, revenge story lost its appeal when the story became too ambitious and chaotic for my liking.
A little summary first: The story follows two timelines, one in the present and one ten years earlier.
Scout Sage has lost a sister ten years earlier and has been searching for answers since her murder. In the past timeline, Scout was an aspiring actress, trying to climb the ranks and was invited to a luxurious Hollywood party, which she attended with her sister in hopes of making it big in Hollywood. In present, she's well known in the entertainment industry but becomes the target of attention when a string of murders puts her at the center of the investigation. Powerful men have been targeted in Los Angeles and each death has been marked with Scout Sages' lyrics. The detectives make a big break in the current murders and as Scout is trying to clear her name, new information comes to light, uncovering the real truth about her sisters' murder.
This book was a lot. A lot of characters, a lot of murders and an unsolved mystery going back 10 years ago to one event that changed many lives. Winstead takes a big swing at important social issues like exploitation, sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood. While I appreciated her take on the injustice that women still face to this day, I felt that the novel itself was chaotic and too ambitious for my taste. Told from multiple perspectives and time jumps, it took a long time to grab my attention or start making sense. Initially, I was only reading my eARC but started to realize that the execution was making me lose my interest, so I switched to the ALC, which honestly pulled me out of the slump. Brittany Pressley is an excellent narrator and probably the saving grace for me. There were many parts that had my attention and others that dragged or were insignificant. Overall I think this is less of a thriller than an unsolved mystery. Plus the eARC was super unclear in terms of whose chapters I was reading so it was a big guessing game which I did not like, while the ALC always stated whose chapter I was reading. Hopefully the final publication will have the appropriate marking/names for all the chapters.
Overall, I think less is better and I felt that so many characters was an overkill here. I’m not new to Ashley Winsteads writing, this is my fourth book by this author and I think it tried to tackle a lot but at the same time remained pretty ambiguous. I love a good vigilante book..but this was not it. It's a far cry from a thrilling story and left me overall not impressed.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and the author, Ashley Winstead for an early ARC.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for man early ALC!
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Duration: 11 hours 16 minutes
Speed: 1.5x
Publication: July 14, 2026
The idea of a detective/bottle service girl at an exclusive nightclub was enough to lure me in. From the opening chapter, I thought this idea of vigilantes in Hollywood going all out with a vengeance was so clever and interesting, I was hoping for a very twisted murder story. However, it didn't exactly go where I thought it would. What I thought would be a dark, revenge story lost its appeal when the story became too ambitious and chaotic for my liking.
A little summary first: The story follows two timelines, one in the present and one ten years earlier.
Scout Sage has lost a sister ten years earlier and has been searching for answers since her murder. In the past timeline, Scout was an aspiring actress, trying to climb the ranks and was invited to a luxurious Hollywood party, which she attended with her sister in hopes of making it big in Hollywood. In present, she's well known in the entertainment industry but becomes the target of attention when a string of murders puts her at the center of the investigation. Powerful men have been targeted in Los Angeles and each death has been marked with Scout Sages' lyrics. The detectives make a big break in the current murders and as Scout is trying to clear her name, new information comes to light, uncovering the real truth about her sisters' murder.
This book was a lot. A lot of characters, a lot of murders and an unsolved mystery going back 10 years ago to one event that changed many lives. Winstead takes a big swing at important social issues like exploitation, sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood. While I appreciated her take on the injustice that women still face to this day, I felt that the novel itself was chaotic and too ambitious for my taste. Told from multiple perspectives and time jumps, it took a long time to grab my attention or start making sense. Initially, I was only reading my eARC but started to realize that the execution was making me lose my interest, so I switched to the ALC, which honestly pulled me out of the slump. Brittany Pressley is an excellent narrator and probably the saving grace for me. There were many parts that had my attention and others that dragged or were insignificant. Overall I think this is less of a thriller than an unsolved mystery. Plus the eARC was super unclear in terms of whose chapters I was reading so it was a big guessing game which I did not like, while the ALC always stated whose chapter I was reading. Hopefully the final publication will have the appropriate marking/names for all the chapters.
Overall, I think less is better and I felt that so many characters was an overkill here. I’m not new to Ashley Winsteads writing, this is my fourth book by this author and I think it tried to tackle a lot but at the same time remained pretty ambiguous. I love a good vigilante book..but this was not it. It's a far cry from a thrilling story and left me overall not impressed.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and the author, Ashley Winstead for an early ARC.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for man early ALC!
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Duration: 11 hours 16 minutes
Speed: 1.5x
Publication: July 14, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First rule of Hot Girl Murder Club is that we don't talk about Hot Girl Murder Club, and by that I mean that there just really isn't that much to say about it. I was super thrilled about the premise of a group of female Hollywood stars coming together to get revenge on all the disgusting people in the business, but it simply wasn't the positively unhinged story that I had hoped for. The actual story was all over the place, honestly. It starts out with detective Grey Holloway, who is frowned upon in her department because she is, well … hot. She's called to a crime scene where the murdered victim looks very similar to her, but you can forget that I said that because it literally doesn't play any role in the rest of the book. (I don't know what that was about, but I wanted to illustrate my frustration with this story.) We get a bit of the investigation that follows this murder case and learn how it might be connected to other deaths and the rumors of this murderous group of women led by a pop star. It could be such an iconic story. A bit trashy, really leaning into the silly title, entertaining and wild while also addressing serious issues. Just a book about girls supporting girls and if that support includes murder, so be it. But the book wasn't all that. Instead it's a kind of unexciting investigation of a death 10 years in the past, which may or may not be connected to the current day murders. I would hardly call it a thriller and it was so weird how I was introduced to the possibility of the Hot Girl Murder Club and then got something else entirely. But I'm also not sure what I got instead. Some POVs truly lacked purpose and I don't get why they were included at all and the plot was so random or convenient at times that the book just wasn't exciting to read. All the characters stayed flat and I only know about the bad things that happened to them and about nothing else. Sure, it's a story that addresses exploitation, injustice and sexual assault in Hollywood, but why portray characters who are affected by these issues in such a one-dimensional way? There's the rising star singer whose one thing is that her sister was murdered, and her assistant's one thing is that she wants to protect the singer at all costs, and the detective's one thing is also that her sister was murdered (unrelated to the singer). Why did I need to read from all these people? I don't know. I actually didn't hate reading this book, though. I was always hoping for cool reveals and some turned out to be unexpected. But also because they just involved random people who I never spent any moment thinking about beforehand.
This turned out to be one of these reviews where I sound like a complete hater. But my actual thoughts upon finishing this book were: eh, it was fine, whatever. So while I can't sing any praises here, I also think that it's a perfectly readable book. I think I just had the wrong expectations, but I also blame the marketing for that. You name a book Hot Girl Murder Club and then it's not a fun story whatsoever? Everyone involved in this process had this mediocre three-star review of mine coming.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
This turned out to be one of these reviews where I sound like a complete hater. But my actual thoughts upon finishing this book were: eh, it was fine, whatever. So while I can't sing any praises here, I also think that it's a perfectly readable book. I think I just had the wrong expectations, but I also blame the marketing for that. You name a book Hot Girl Murder Club and then it's not a fun story whatsoever? Everyone involved in this process had this mediocre three-star review of mine coming.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2026
Ashley Winstead’s newest book, and her first with publisher Minotaur, was at the top of my most anticipated of 2026 list, so I was beyond thrilled to have had the chance to read it early. Although I did enjoy it overall, I do also have mixed feelings on this juicy, vigilante drama/thriller.
Let’s begin with the good. AW writes really badass characters, and HGMC is no different. In fact, it features an absolute slew of them. And beneath the thriller plot line lies deep and meaningful themes of feminist empowerment, sisterhood, and fighting the patriarchy that still undergirds most of society en masse.
As for what didn’t work as well— I struggled a bit more with this story than I had expected to, and I think that centers around the cast being very, very large. With every chapter a new perspective (even though they connect), my brain felt pulled in too many directions, and I felt as though I was losing the primary thread more than once. This then led to that feeling of being pulled out of the story every time I was back in it.
The ending also felt a little bit more contrived than Winstead’s previous novels, and although I like the way things were resolved, they really did feel over the top. All that said, there is a popcorn quality to it that makes it easy to binge and that I think there will be a large crowd for. I can also see it making for a fantastically fun movie adaptation down the road.
Read if you like:
▪️ensemble casts
▪️secret societies
▪️vigilante justice
▪️celebrity drama
Thank you Minotaur Books for the advanced copy and Ali and Ali for the buddy read!
Let’s begin with the good. AW writes really badass characters, and HGMC is no different. In fact, it features an absolute slew of them. And beneath the thriller plot line lies deep and meaningful themes of feminist empowerment, sisterhood, and fighting the patriarchy that still undergirds most of society en masse.
As for what didn’t work as well— I struggled a bit more with this story than I had expected to, and I think that centers around the cast being very, very large. With every chapter a new perspective (even though they connect), my brain felt pulled in too many directions, and I felt as though I was losing the primary thread more than once. This then led to that feeling of being pulled out of the story every time I was back in it.
The ending also felt a little bit more contrived than Winstead’s previous novels, and although I like the way things were resolved, they really did feel over the top. All that said, there is a popcorn quality to it that makes it easy to binge and that I think there will be a large crowd for. I can also see it making for a fantastically fun movie adaptation down the road.
Read if you like:
▪️ensemble casts
▪️secret societies
▪️vigilante justice
▪️celebrity drama
Thank you Minotaur Books for the advanced copy and Ali and Ali for the buddy read!
February 8, 2026
I finished this book at least two hours ago and I’m still stunned into silence by it. Actually, silence is the wrong word. I’m outraged by the fact that this book of fiction is actually what our world is right now. I don’t want to spoil anything, but Ashley Winstead wrote an incredible ripped-from-the-headlines book. Literally headlines from this week. I admire women like Ashley who let their voices be heard to help other women. This book was horrible in the best way - you’ll understand when you read it.
Dare I say Hot Girl Murder Club is exactly what we’re missing at this point in time? I could feel Ashley’s seething rage. Then on the other side, it’s a story about sisterhood and how important that is. A beautiful nod to her own sister.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this explosive arc!
Dare I say Hot Girl Murder Club is exactly what we’re missing at this point in time? I could feel Ashley’s seething rage. Then on the other side, it’s a story about sisterhood and how important that is. A beautiful nod to her own sister.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this explosive arc!
Want to Read
January 19, 2026
In my dreams I hold a knife
is still one of my ultimate fave reads!
The blurb sounds soo juicy
Hurry up release day!!!!!!!
The blurb sounds soo juicy
Hurry up release day!!!!!!!
April 30, 2026
Hot Girl Murder Club
By: Ashley Winstead
Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Publisher: Minotaur Books
I always win the book lottery when I get accepted for books by Ashley. Her books in any genre she writes are ones I can’t wait to devour. Isn’t this cover TO DIE for!
For ten years, Scott Sage has been mourning her sister’s death. Georgia death at a party in Hollywood has put the light on the “not so hot part of an industry”.
Scout is now working her way in Hollywood trying to honor her memory. It’s a “cutthroat” business and lots of people will step over others to get to the top.
When murders start happening again, it is looking like Scout might be involved. How can she clear her name? She quickly learns who believes her and who turns on her.
Another FABULOUS book by Winstead. Get ready to add HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB to your shelf and devour once the book arrives.
By: Ashley Winstead
Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Publisher: Minotaur Books
I always win the book lottery when I get accepted for books by Ashley. Her books in any genre she writes are ones I can’t wait to devour. Isn’t this cover TO DIE for!
For ten years, Scott Sage has been mourning her sister’s death. Georgia death at a party in Hollywood has put the light on the “not so hot part of an industry”.
Scout is now working her way in Hollywood trying to honor her memory. It’s a “cutthroat” business and lots of people will step over others to get to the top.
When murders start happening again, it is looking like Scout might be involved. How can she clear her name? She quickly learns who believes her and who turns on her.
Another FABULOUS book by Winstead. Get ready to add HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB to your shelf and devour once the book arrives.
February 28, 2026
3.75 - 4.25 ⭐
I am LOVING the ambition of this Hollywood thriller! 🎤🔪
I was so excited to get my hands on an eARC of Hot Girl Murder Club ! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the early access in exchange for my honest review. 💖✨
Ashley Winstead is easily one of my favorite authors and her writing is always TOP-TIER. She is extremely intelligent and it really shows in the way she constructs a story! 🧠✍️
This book follows Scout Sage, a pop star whose world is turned upside down when she’s framed for a string of murders that might actually link back to her sister’s death years ago. It’s a cutthroat look at Hollywood, fame, and a sister’s quest for justice. 🎬💄
What I Loved:
The multiple POV was handled so well! I loved how the chapters weren't just names but focused on their careers and how the story affected each one differently. It kept me on my toes! And even though there was A LOT going on, Ashley tied it all up in a PERFECT, NEAT BOW by the end. 🎀👏
My Thoughts:
I really liked it, but there was definitely a lot to keep track of! It was a bit more political than I usually want for a thriller. 🏛️📈 Thrillers are usually my "brain break" from heavy fantasy world-building, and this one had almost TOO MUCH substance for a quick palette cleanser. It’s deep and complex, which is great, but it required some heavy lifting to follow all the threads! 🤯🔍
Final Verdict:
I enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to my audience! 📣✨ I think it will hit especially hard for readers who focus SOLELY on the thriller genre as their main choice. It’s a smart, ambitious story about what it takes to get justice in a world of stilettos and secrets. 👠💄🚨
I am LOVING the ambition of this Hollywood thriller! 🎤🔪
I was so excited to get my hands on an eARC of Hot Girl Murder Club ! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the early access in exchange for my honest review. 💖✨
Ashley Winstead is easily one of my favorite authors and her writing is always TOP-TIER. She is extremely intelligent and it really shows in the way she constructs a story! 🧠✍️
This book follows Scout Sage, a pop star whose world is turned upside down when she’s framed for a string of murders that might actually link back to her sister’s death years ago. It’s a cutthroat look at Hollywood, fame, and a sister’s quest for justice. 🎬💄
What I Loved:
The multiple POV was handled so well! I loved how the chapters weren't just names but focused on their careers and how the story affected each one differently. It kept me on my toes! And even though there was A LOT going on, Ashley tied it all up in a PERFECT, NEAT BOW by the end. 🎀👏
My Thoughts:
I really liked it, but there was definitely a lot to keep track of! It was a bit more political than I usually want for a thriller. 🏛️📈 Thrillers are usually my "brain break" from heavy fantasy world-building, and this one had almost TOO MUCH substance for a quick palette cleanser. It’s deep and complex, which is great, but it required some heavy lifting to follow all the threads! 🤯🔍
Final Verdict:
I enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to my audience! 📣✨ I think it will hit especially hard for readers who focus SOLELY on the thriller genre as their main choice. It’s a smart, ambitious story about what it takes to get justice in a world of stilettos and secrets. 👠💄🚨
July 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the #gifted ALC 💕
3 ⭐️
I usually LOVE a multi-POV situation in the book (especially if it’s in audiobook format 🎧), but DAMN GIRL, did EVERYONE IN L.A. need a POV in this story?! I think there were AT LEAST 10 different POV’s- each with their own meandering backstory that VAGUELY connected to the main plot (which I’m stilling trying to figure out) 🫠.
The GOOD: the overall message of women empowerment, sisterhood and standing up to the patriarchy. Hell, I like a little vigilante justice from time to time, so that was good. The narration 🎧- Brittany Pressley earned her COINS on this one since she had to voice half of LA county in this story. She had a heavy lift and did a good job.
The BAD: the 97 different storylines that could have been standalone books all by themselves! I had no idea where to focus my attention- in a bad way. I’m always tickled when I don’t guess “whodunnit” by the end of the book (it’s rare, I usually figure it out), but there was no way in hell I was gonna figure it out with 88 different suspects 👥👥👥!
The UGLY: HOLY POV OVERLOAD, BATMAN! Yikes! I literally had a whole page of notes in my ARC review journal dedicated to keeping track of the characters! I gave up about halfway through and just relied on “vibes” to help me figure out what was going on. Again, the characters were interesting, there were just TOO MANY, and couple that with all the different storylines it just bogged down the story and made it a chore to get through by the end 😫
I WANTED to love it. I really did. The premise is actually pretty dope - a whole network of “hot girls” going rogue and getting justice against misbehaved men (and the women who protect them)- YES! 38 storylines & POV’s? HARD PASS. The overall message was good, so I gave this 3 stars, but this COULD have been a 5 star read with a little more editing.
3 ⭐️
I usually LOVE a multi-POV situation in the book (especially if it’s in audiobook format 🎧), but DAMN GIRL, did EVERYONE IN L.A. need a POV in this story?! I think there were AT LEAST 10 different POV’s- each with their own meandering backstory that VAGUELY connected to the main plot (which I’m stilling trying to figure out) 🫠.
The GOOD: the overall message of women empowerment, sisterhood and standing up to the patriarchy. Hell, I like a little vigilante justice from time to time, so that was good. The narration 🎧- Brittany Pressley earned her COINS on this one since she had to voice half of LA county in this story. She had a heavy lift and did a good job.
The BAD: the 97 different storylines that could have been standalone books all by themselves! I had no idea where to focus my attention- in a bad way. I’m always tickled when I don’t guess “whodunnit” by the end of the book (it’s rare, I usually figure it out), but there was no way in hell I was gonna figure it out with 88 different suspects 👥👥👥!
The UGLY: HOLY POV OVERLOAD, BATMAN! Yikes! I literally had a whole page of notes in my ARC review journal dedicated to keeping track of the characters! I gave up about halfway through and just relied on “vibes” to help me figure out what was going on. Again, the characters were interesting, there were just TOO MANY, and couple that with all the different storylines it just bogged down the story and made it a chore to get through by the end 😫
I WANTED to love it. I really did. The premise is actually pretty dope - a whole network of “hot girls” going rogue and getting justice against misbehaved men (and the women who protect them)- YES! 38 storylines & POV’s? HARD PASS. The overall message was good, so I gave this 3 stars, but this COULD have been a 5 star read with a little more editing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 rounded up to 3, i think?
i honestly dont really know where to start with this, mostly because im kind of at a loss wondering what on earth i just read lol. this book wasnt bad but it also wasnt good either? there was just TOO much going on at all times and too many point of views that a lot of the times it took me until midway or the end of the chapter to even know who the heck was talking at that point.
i picked this one up on a whim thinking a fun thriller would fix my semi romance slump im finding myself in but my brain honestly feels like its slush and numb. i dont really have a lot of opinions on anything in this book tbh..
i guess my thoughts are that it isnt a bad book but its not a memorable one with good twists and turns either.
i honestly dont really know where to start with this, mostly because im kind of at a loss wondering what on earth i just read lol. this book wasnt bad but it also wasnt good either? there was just TOO much going on at all times and too many point of views that a lot of the times it took me until midway or the end of the chapter to even know who the heck was talking at that point.
i picked this one up on a whim thinking a fun thriller would fix my semi romance slump im finding myself in but my brain honestly feels like its slush and numb. i dont really have a lot of opinions on anything in this book tbh..
i guess my thoughts are that it isnt a bad book but its not a memorable one with good twists and turns either.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i have read a lot of her books and they have been 4.5 or 5 stars for me, two of them very powerful. So I came in with high expectations, which is usually a problem. It took me a long time to get involved with the book I wanted more depth, more emotional connection. I felt satisfied at the end but it was hard at points pushing through. 3.5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is a wild tale of murder, cover-ups and women stepping in and stepping up to help other women.
Scout Sage and her best friend Izabel are looking for fame and fortune in Hollywood. A party leads to the death of Scout's baby sister, Georgia. Ten years later, the Hollywood rumor is that Scout and a group of women, known as the Hot Girl Murder Club, may be responsible for several murders.
Grey Holloway is a police officer trying to unravel her own sister's disappearance while also working on Scout's case.
This story is about supporting women's rights as well as their wrongs. It is a fun thriller where everyone has something to hide.
The book is told in multiple timelines and from multiple POVs. There are quite a few POVs, so you have to really focus on the chapter heading. I think this all came together really well. Even though you know some things going on are not on the legal side, you still feel it is right. Some of these very topics can be heard on the news every day.
Thank you to St. Martins Press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Scout Sage and her best friend Izabel are looking for fame and fortune in Hollywood. A party leads to the death of Scout's baby sister, Georgia. Ten years later, the Hollywood rumor is that Scout and a group of women, known as the Hot Girl Murder Club, may be responsible for several murders.
Grey Holloway is a police officer trying to unravel her own sister's disappearance while also working on Scout's case.
This story is about supporting women's rights as well as their wrongs. It is a fun thriller where everyone has something to hide.
The book is told in multiple timelines and from multiple POVs. There are quite a few POVs, so you have to really focus on the chapter heading. I think this all came together really well. Even though you know some things going on are not on the legal side, you still feel it is right. Some of these very topics can be heard on the news every day.
Thank you to St. Martins Press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2026
Ashley Winstead is at her best writing frothy soapy suspense and this summer she invites fans to join the HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB, in one of her most delicious novels yet- readers will be clamoring to join the club! More of a slow burn than Winstead may be know for, but HOT GIRL boils to a satisfying conclusion... I didn't want to put it down!
An up and coming pop star begins to be accused of murders in Los Angeles while grieving the death of her sister from a decade ago, while a journalist is trying to track down not only the truth about the pop star but a personal issue in her own past... It's a fabulous premise; juicy as can be, and left in the expert hands of a writer like Winstead it spills into a juicy tale of murder, revenge, lies, and deception.
An up and coming pop star begins to be accused of murders in Los Angeles while grieving the death of her sister from a decade ago, while a journalist is trying to track down not only the truth about the pop star but a personal issue in her own past... It's a fabulous premise; juicy as can be, and left in the expert hands of a writer like Winstead it spills into a juicy tale of murder, revenge, lies, and deception.
Want to Read
December 26, 2025this author does GREAT mysteries! July release, can't wait to read it!
July 9, 2026
Ashley Winstead has a voice that is impossible to ignore. Her writing is razor sharp, sophisticated, and unapologetically bold. She has a way of taking complicated conversations about women, power, ambition, and injustice and wrapping them inside a twisty, addictive thriller that refuses to play it safe.
Hot Girl Murder Club is a story about sisterhood, revenge, justice, and what happens when women stop accepting the rules they were handed. There’s a definite “burn it all down” energy here, but Winstead balances that anger with depth, emotional complexity, and a bigger conversation about the systems that protect the powerful.
This is a thriller you have to pay attention to. The plot is layered, the twists keep coming, and there are plenty of moments where you need to zoom in and really consider what’s happening beneath the surface. It has that popcorn thriller energy—the kind that makes you want to keep turning pages—but it also has substance behind the chaos.
Scout is a fascinating character to follow because she’s ambitious, messy, determined, and constantly questioning how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice for justice. The sisterhood at the center of this story is one of its strongest elements, and the themes of karma, revenge, and reclaiming power are woven throughout.
Ashley Winstead always brings an air of intelligence and sophistication to her thrillers, and this one is no exception. It’s flashy Hollywood chaos on the surface, but underneath it’s a much deeper story about women demanding to be heard.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Hollywood secrets, scandals, and dark power dynamics
* Smart thrillers that require you to pay attention
* Sisterhood stories with a revenge twist
* Complex female characters who refuse to play nice
* Twisty plots with something bigger to say
Hot Girl Murder Club is a story about sisterhood, revenge, justice, and what happens when women stop accepting the rules they were handed. There’s a definite “burn it all down” energy here, but Winstead balances that anger with depth, emotional complexity, and a bigger conversation about the systems that protect the powerful.
This is a thriller you have to pay attention to. The plot is layered, the twists keep coming, and there are plenty of moments where you need to zoom in and really consider what’s happening beneath the surface. It has that popcorn thriller energy—the kind that makes you want to keep turning pages—but it also has substance behind the chaos.
Scout is a fascinating character to follow because she’s ambitious, messy, determined, and constantly questioning how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice for justice. The sisterhood at the center of this story is one of its strongest elements, and the themes of karma, revenge, and reclaiming power are woven throughout.
Ashley Winstead always brings an air of intelligence and sophistication to her thrillers, and this one is no exception. It’s flashy Hollywood chaos on the surface, but underneath it’s a much deeper story about women demanding to be heard.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Hollywood secrets, scandals, and dark power dynamics
* Smart thrillers that require you to pay attention
* Sisterhood stories with a revenge twist
* Complex female characters who refuse to play nice
* Twisty plots with something bigger to say
February 15, 2026
I’m in awe of how Ashley wrote the exact book we all need right now. The rage, the friendships, the frustration, and the need to do something to change it. This was heavy, real, and absolutely brilliant.
Scout and Izzy are best friends that are fueled by tragedy but with bodies stacking up and Scout’s song lyrics at each crime scene how far have they gone to get justice?
I loved this book - the sisterhood and the we are better together mentality. Also, the ending gave it that extra star for me. It was a deeply satisfying conclusion to this emotionally charged story.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Scout and Izzy are best friends that are fueled by tragedy but with bodies stacking up and Scout’s song lyrics at each crime scene how far have they gone to get justice?
I loved this book - the sisterhood and the we are better together mentality. Also, the ending gave it that extra star for me. It was a deeply satisfying conclusion to this emotionally charged story.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Want to Read
October 1, 2025Please god, all I want is an ARC of this book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ashley doesn't sugarcoat her thrillers, honest and raw, Hot Girl Murder Club holds up a mirror to the horrors that we're living in and says: what if we did something about it. The monsters aren't under your bed; they're leading your country, smiling on TV, and signing your paycheck.
I'm not going to lie, reading this book was difficult at times. I had to step away, consume some light-hearted content, and return because the truths that Ashley brings to the surface in this book are ugly, but they need to be heard and not silenced.
Common themes in Ashley's books that I love: giving a voice to the voiceless and the power of female friendship and family. HGMC is no different and stays true to the roots that add an emotional layer and depth to the story as we progress through and form bonds with these women.
A few of the strong women we meet:
Grey, our independent and headstrong detective who will go the ends of the earth for her sister and rediscovers what justice can look like.
Scout, the fearless leader who knows no bounds when it comes to protecting her found family.
And sprinkled in you'll meet other women, lifted up and empowered by our fmcs.
I will admit that I was confused at times with the back and forth between POVs and timelines. I would have loved more time spent with Grey vs the side characters who's stories I could've seen through Scouts pov.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC. Pub day: 7/14/26
I'm not going to lie, reading this book was difficult at times. I had to step away, consume some light-hearted content, and return because the truths that Ashley brings to the surface in this book are ugly, but they need to be heard and not silenced.
Common themes in Ashley's books that I love: giving a voice to the voiceless and the power of female friendship and family. HGMC is no different and stays true to the roots that add an emotional layer and depth to the story as we progress through and form bonds with these women.
A few of the strong women we meet:
Grey, our independent and headstrong detective who will go the ends of the earth for her sister and rediscovers what justice can look like.
Scout, the fearless leader who knows no bounds when it comes to protecting her found family.
And sprinkled in you'll meet other women, lifted up and empowered by our fmcs.
I will admit that I was confused at times with the back and forth between POVs and timelines. I would have loved more time spent with Grey vs the side characters who's stories I could've seen through Scouts pov.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC. Pub day: 7/14/26
June 25, 2026
Hot Girl Murder Club is a powerful and engaging read that blends revenge, justice, and female empowerment in a compelling way. I loved how the story brings together women who have been taken advantage of by men and by the expectations placed on them in society, creating a strong message about taking back power and supporting one another.
The main character is especially relatable, with a bold personality and a determination that makes her easy to root for throughout the book. Her strength and resilience help drive the story and make the emotional moments feel authentic.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel is its focus on strong female characters. It's refreshing to see women portrayed as complex, capable, and unapologetically powerful. While some parts of the story felt a little over the top at times, the overall message and character development made it an enjoyable and memorable read.
If you enjoy stories about women standing up for themselves, seeking justice, and challenging societal expectations, Hot Girl Murder Club is definitely worth picking up.
The main character is especially relatable, with a bold personality and a determination that makes her easy to root for throughout the book. Her strength and resilience help drive the story and make the emotional moments feel authentic.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel is its focus on strong female characters. It's refreshing to see women portrayed as complex, capable, and unapologetically powerful. While some parts of the story felt a little over the top at times, the overall message and character development made it an enjoyable and memorable read.
If you enjoy stories about women standing up for themselves, seeking justice, and challenging societal expectations, Hot Girl Murder Club is definitely worth picking up.
Read
July 7, 2026Hollywood glitz and wronged women enforcing vigilante justice.
Hot Girl Murder Club follows Scout, a rising pop star whose sister died at a Hollywood party ten years earlier who has since made a name for herself. Now a string of murders seem to point to Scout as the killer, but are they just framing her? A young detective digs to find the truth and encounters the seedy underbelly of fame, power, and misogyny. It's a multi-timeline, multi-pov narrative with a slow burn plot. The audio narration is pretty good. I received a copy of this audiobook for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Hot Girl Murder Club follows Scout, a rising pop star whose sister died at a Hollywood party ten years earlier who has since made a name for herself. Now a string of murders seem to point to Scout as the killer, but are they just framing her? A young detective digs to find the truth and encounters the seedy underbelly of fame, power, and misogyny. It's a multi-timeline, multi-pov narrative with a slow burn plot. The audio narration is pretty good. I received a copy of this audiobook for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
March 27, 2026
Hot Girl Murder Club is a Good For Her radical feminist anthem that we all deserve in the year 2026.
Once again Ashley Winstead is here to give us just desserts, feminine icons, and a thrilling rollercoaster of good times. I absolutely love her switches from literary fiction to thrillers and she never misses a beat.
HGMC explores the patriarchy and includes that women who have yet to decanter men while directly opposing that with the women who have had to when faced with strife and trauma. There are issues of class, power ranks, and what it truly means to have a tribe of women by your side. The only thing I didnt love was the labeling of the POV switches, it got confusing at times and wasn’t always clear who we were with until you started delving into their POV. But when it comes down to it that’s an incredibly nitpicky issue that wasn’t detrimental to the reading at all.
This is for anyone who wants a thrill, some actual justice in their life and those yearning for female friendships.
Once again Ashley Winstead is here to give us just desserts, feminine icons, and a thrilling rollercoaster of good times. I absolutely love her switches from literary fiction to thrillers and she never misses a beat.
HGMC explores the patriarchy and includes that women who have yet to decanter men while directly opposing that with the women who have had to when faced with strife and trauma. There are issues of class, power ranks, and what it truly means to have a tribe of women by your side. The only thing I didnt love was the labeling of the POV switches, it got confusing at times and wasn’t always clear who we were with until you started delving into their POV. But when it comes down to it that’s an incredibly nitpicky issue that wasn’t detrimental to the reading at all.
This is for anyone who wants a thrill, some actual justice in their life and those yearning for female friendships.
May 30, 2026
This book was not what I was expecting at all. I was very excited for a new Ashley Winstead book but this was just not it, unfortunately. It took me almost a month to finish and I was tempted to DNF multiple times. I could not get into this at all, as it was very confusing with multiple POV’s and having to figure out who each person was. The more people that came in towards the end, the more confusing it became and there was no opportunity to connect with any of the characters. It doesn’t feel as if anything got truly resolved. We have answers on the big topics in the book, like who killed Georgia and Alice but it all feels unfinished. The ending left me incredibly confused - Grey sounds like she needs help, not taking justice into her own hands and killing Knox and taking Alice’s bones with her.
This is very political heavy, especially with what has been going on with the world and I can see what she was trying to do with women supporting women, but it was difficult to understand.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC.
This is very political heavy, especially with what has been going on with the world and I can see what she was trying to do with women supporting women, but it was difficult to understand.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3⭐️
This was a really fun concept- a pop star-vigilante, murdering men who have wronged woman? And it's what originally drew me in. But it was just too confusing to read? Multiple POVs in multiple timelines that aren't well labeled, so it takes a minute to even realize who's pov you're reading. It was just all over the place and hard to follow
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really fun concept- a pop star-vigilante, murdering men who have wronged woman? And it's what originally drew me in. But it was just too confusing to read? Multiple POVs in multiple timelines that aren't well labeled, so it takes a minute to even realize who's pov you're reading. It was just all over the place and hard to follow
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2026
Despite being an Ashley Winstead fan, nothing about the title, cover, or synopsis appealed to me. I was offered an advanced listening copy and liked the narrator, Brittney Presley, so decided why the hell not. It appears my initial instinct was spot on because this really did nothing for me. Who knew murder could be so boring? Too many POVs and just far too much suspension of belief. I’m sure this will find its audience but it unfortunately was not for me. I liked the overall message but would have preferred a tighter plot.
July 5, 2026
Ashley Winstead always writes strong female characters, and this book was no exception. I loved the themes of sisterhood, empowerment, and vigilante justice, and it was an entertaining, bingeable thriller overall.
That said, the large cast and constant POV changes made it hard for me to stay connected to the story at times, and the ending felt a little too over-the-top for my taste.
Even with those issues, I still had a good time with it and think fans of juicy, fast-paced thrillers will enjoy it.
That said, the large cast and constant POV changes made it hard for me to stay connected to the story at times, and the ending felt a little too over-the-top for my taste.
Even with those issues, I still had a good time with it and think fans of juicy, fast-paced thrillers will enjoy it.
May 7, 2026
A solid thriller from one of my favorite authors. My only complaint is that at some points it felt a bit slow.
July 8, 2026
This was honestly just okay. I will say I really enjoyed the audio, because I’m a fan of the narrator. But the story itself was nothing super intriguing. I did like the Hollywood setting/vibe, but there was also a lot of political aspects to it that’s just not really my thing.
May 30, 2026
I was so excited for a new Ashley Winstead book but it just did not live up to the expectations. There was not much mystery happening. There were too many POVs and going back and forth. Some POVs really had nothing to do with anything in the book it seemed. It did somewhat wrap up in the end but it still was just a bit confusing. People just came in at the end and had a big role even though they were just introduced. It was a quick read but unfortunately, it was a bit boring and not what i was hoping for.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this eARC.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this eARC.
Did Not Finish
April 18, 2026Ultimately, this book wasn’t for me. It started off strong, and I really liked the premise—it initially gave off Charles Manson vibes with the Hollywood setting and lyrics written in blood.
Where it lost me was the shift into multiple POVs without clearly identifying the characters, along with the jumping timelines which became confusing to follow. I also tend to shy away from heavy political themes in my reads, even though I understand they reflect real-world issues. While it wasn’t for me, I can definitely see it being loved by the right audience.
Thank you St Martin's Press for the complimentary ARC - available 7/14
Where it lost me was the shift into multiple POVs without clearly identifying the characters, along with the jumping timelines which became confusing to follow. I also tend to shy away from heavy political themes in my reads, even though I understand they reflect real-world issues. While it wasn’t for me, I can definitely see it being loved by the right audience.
Thank you St Martin's Press for the complimentary ARC - available 7/14
May 25, 2026
I have not read anything this fun and addictive in a long LONG time. I was sat reading and all of a sudden it was 2 am, and I had to finish the book before I could even allow myself to go to sleep.
I adore a story about strong women AND women getting revenge when they’ve been wronged, so this one was right up my alley. And if you also support women’s rights as well as women’s wrongs, this is 100% the book for you!
All throughout the story, it was so clear that the situation of the world we live in today has had a huge influence on the story. Ashley Winstead’s thoughts and opinions, specifically on the very negative parts of society today, shine through in a way that is done so well. And one can only assume that this has been written in a post-Jeffrey Epstein world; Maybe even as a reaction to the files.
The publisher very kindly provided this arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I adore a story about strong women AND women getting revenge when they’ve been wronged, so this one was right up my alley. And if you also support women’s rights as well as women’s wrongs, this is 100% the book for you!
All throughout the story, it was so clear that the situation of the world we live in today has had a huge influence on the story. Ashley Winstead’s thoughts and opinions, specifically on the very negative parts of society today, shine through in a way that is done so well. And one can only assume that this has been written in a post-Jeffrey Epstein world; Maybe even as a reaction to the files.
The publisher very kindly provided this arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2026
Easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given. It was so clever, full of twists and simply kept you wanting to read more! I absolutely loved it!!!
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