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Kill The Messenger

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A serial killer leaves a chilling note on the bodies of his They should’ve kept their mouth shut. His rule is simple—whoever reports the body of his last victim becomes his next target. But when Alyssa stumbles upon the crime and refuses to report it, she becomes his obsession.

He can't kill her, it's against the rules—but he can't let her go, either. Instead, he starts toying with her mind, pushing her to the edge. But Alyssa won’t back down.

In a deadly game of survival, one question

Who will break first? The killer... or Alyssa?

Kindle Edition

Published December 24, 2025

12 people are currently reading
52 people want to read

About the author

Jessica Lynn Sorensen

18 books84 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Kayla.
1 review3 followers
November 25, 2025
Wow. Just absolutely wow. Jessica continues to grow as a phenomenal storyteller, and Kill the Messenger highlights her refined skill and remarkable command of psychological suspense. From the very first page, she draws you into Michael's world—a world filled with unease, layered secrets, and characters who feel both real and deeply damaged in ways that make the story impossible to put down!!!!

Kill the Messenger gripped me from the very first page and kept me desperate to see what would happen next with Alyssa and her friends at every turn. Jessica’s talent shines through in the way she makes you feel her characters’ emotions right through the page, and in the way she balances suspense with genuine emotional depth. The progression is intentional and controlled—constantly giving just enough to keep you hooked, while holding back the perfect amount to maintain those thrilling, edge-of-your-seat vibes.

I highly recommend pre-ordering this before it releases on December 24th. It’s the perfect Christmas Eve thriller to keep you on edge before Christmas morning.

And remember, ladies and gents… sometimes it’s not always good to say something if you see something. Because someone might be watching—waiting….

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Elaine Rainbolt.
150 reviews6 followers
November 27, 2025
words can't even describe all the crazy twists in this book. This book was so good and has become my favorite non detective book of hers. That ending though. I definitely need a follow up. The characters were so good. I enjoyed all the characters.
Profile Image for Karen Brooks - TheTxLitChic.
183 reviews36 followers
November 13, 2025
Kill the Messenger
~Jessica Lynn Sorensen

Let me start by saying this loud and clear: I am a HUGE - yes, all-caps huge - JLS fan. I stumbled across her work a while back through an ARC, and she’s been stuck with me ever since. And honestly? She’s not getting rid of me anytime soon.

Kill the Messenger is an unpredictable, beautifully chaotic ride where absolutely nothing is what it seems. Think you’re tracking the clues? Think you’ve cracked the code? Hahaha… no. This book is the definition of a psychological thriller, layered in ways I can’t even begin to describe without giving away half the twists. My only advice? Stay sharp and do not skim. Every detail matters… or maybe it doesn’t. Shrug. With JLS, we never really know, do we?

Despite what the title suggests, the premise goes far deeper than Kill the Messenger. A serial killer is targeting people who can’t seem to mind their own business. As a courtesy, a note is left with each body - don’t tell. Most people ignore it, call the police, and boom: they become the next target.

But when Alyssa finds a body on her morning run, she reads the note… and walks, well runs away. No call. No report. No script for the killer to follow. Suddenly the game changes - and now it’s a question of who will break first: Alyssa or the killer?

Sorensen is a master at crafting characters who feel alive. Alyssa, Alicia, and Carla are gritty, determined, and absolutely not women I’d want to cross. The bond between them pulses off the page - full of loyalty, fear, love, and the fierce drive to protect one another at all costs.

From the very first page, the story doesn’t ease you in - it drags you straight into the deep end. You’re fully submerged in fear, pain, suspicion, hope, and every emotion in between. Walking alongside Alyssa and her friends is a visceral experience, one that tightens around you as the plot sharpens.

If you’re craving a psychological thriller that blows the genre wide open, takes up long-term residence in your mind, and features some familiar names (if you’re active in the FB reader groups), then THIS is the book you need to add to your Christmas list.

It drops December 24, 2025 - mark it, highlight it, circle it. And one way or another, make sure it get's a bow wrapped around it for Christmas morning!

Thank you to Jessica Lynn Sorensen for allowing me to Alpha for Kill the Messenger. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Kelly Brewer.
135 reviews14 followers
November 26, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This story about Alyssa had me feeling like I walked into the wrong backyard at the wrong time but kept on going anyway because my brain has no brakes. She finds a body, and the killer has this strange rule where if you report his last victim, you become the next one. So Alyssa decides she is not doing that, and somehow that makes him fixate on her like she is the prize at the bottom of a cereal box.

This man is not playing around. He gets inside her head like he is paying rent, whispering things and making her question what is real and what is not. Half the time, I felt like I was getting mind tricked right along with her. My head was spinning like a broken ceiling fan, but in a good way.

Alyssa is tough, though. She keeps pushing back even when everything gets wild, and you start wondering who will snap first, her or the creepy fellow with way too much time on his hands. The whole situation feels like a game where nobody knows the rules except him, and he keeps changing them whenever he feels like it.

It is messy, chaotic, like someone shook up a soda and dared you to open it. I had a good time reading this because I never knew what was coming next, but I knew it would be trouble.

I give it 4 outta 5 Catfish!
Profile Image for Tracey.
80 reviews5 followers
November 25, 2025
5 🌟 Review. Kill The Messenger by Jessica Lynn Sorensen. I received this as an ARC through Book Sirens and leave this review voluntarily.

Michael is a Serial Killer - with rules of his own - the person who reports the death of his latest victim is his next target... 👀WTF?

Alyssa comes across a body but doesn't report it and this throws Michael off his game. After all, it would be against his rules to kill her so instead, he becomes obsessed with her. Stalking her, messing with her mind, and making her paranoid and fearful.

A game of cat and mouse. Who will win this deadly game?

WOW!!!! This storyline is unique indeed - never read anything like it before, I am wondering about the state of your mind though Jessica 😂.

Michael's character is unpredictable and definitely unhinged (plenty of 'baggage' there). I kinda liked him though. One moment, he is completely focused on his goal, and the next, he's questioning his thoughts AND methods. Long closed-off feelings start to creep in.

Alyssa is one tough girl who shows courage, tenacity, and vulnerability. I really liked her friend's Carla and Alicia.

The narrative is chillingly good, layered and intertwined with secrets and lies throughout. It had me wondering often, who to trust. Lines are truly blurred and questionable at best.

My favourite quote from this book is Michael's -

"The moments before I leave for the kill also make my blood sing. Before every kill, I do three things. First, I brush my teeth. Then, I whisper their name into a glass of water three times. And lastly, I sit in the dark and listen to the sound of the refrigerator." Those few sentences alone scream 'deranged' 😂.

Thanks Jessica, this is my 7th book of yours and I loved it. SUCH an unusual story that gripped me from the first page.

Go pre-order this NOW! Release date is around December 24.
174 reviews7 followers
November 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ FIVE. STARS. PERIOD. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay y’all… this thriller had me HOLDING MY BREATH.
A serial killer with one terrifying rule: whoever reports his last victim becomes the next one.
Chills already, right?!

But when Alyssa finds the body and decides, “Nope, not reporting this,” everything flips. She doesn’t follow the killer’s rules… so he becomes obsessed. And THAT is where the mind games begin. 😳

He can’t kill her — it breaks his own twisted code — but he also can’t walk away. So he does the next worst thing… he tries to break her from the inside out.

This was a full-blown cat-and-mouse, psychological spiral, who’s-going-to-crack-first kind of read. And I was here for EVERY page. If you want tension, obsession, danger, and a heroine who refuses to go down easy? Add this to your TBR ASAP. 🔥📚
Profile Image for Elisa Daniels.
Author 19 books96 followers
November 9, 2025
Let me just start off by saying… I couldn’t put this book down! From start to finish, I was completely hooked. I honestly can’t even pick a favorite character because every single one of them was portrayed so well. Michael’s mind? Totally screwed up in the best, most fascinating way. Alyssa, with her occupation and feisty personality, was absolutely perfect for this story. And Carla? She’s my hero. She is always loyal and ready to have her friends’ backs. I could definitely be friends with this group of characters.

One of my absolute favorite things about this book was this line:

“Before every kill, I do three things. First, I brush my teeth. Then, I whisper their name into a glass of water three times. And lastly, I sit in the dark and listen to the sound of the refrigerator.”

That right there… EPIC. It gave me chills!

Every time I think I can’t possibly have a new favorite book by Jessica Lynn Sorensen… BAM… she proves me wrong again. The twists in this story had my head spinning and kept me guessing right up until the very end.
This novel was AMAZING—a total 10/10—and I’m already ready to read it again.
Also, a huge thank-you for letting me Alpha read this masterpiece. What a phenomenal ride!
Profile Image for Makayla Cardwell.
54 reviews
December 6, 2025
This was a wild ride. I loved it. We follow a couple characters along this journey of right and wrong & a killer going around killing, who ever finds the body, and calls it in. dies next. Simple, right? Yeah till someone’s finds a body and simply jogs away like nothing happens. Such a fun read and I literally screamed out loud when I figured out what was going on. The end had me literally pacing and the last chapter made me laugh. Whats the odds, first you kill the messengers. You find everything you thought you knew was a lie.. and now you want to “protect” and give voice to those lost.. by your hand.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for 🐷Shay loves books🐷.
238 reviews14 followers
November 22, 2025
Holy macaroni and cheese balls Batman, this is wild ride with constant action and so many thrills.

You want to read a twisted thriller that you can’t put down? This is the book for you! This is the kind of thrill ride that you don’t forget after you’ve read it. It will put your stomach and anxiety in knots and keep twisting.

It was so good! Not many thriller give you this kind of feeling but WOW! What a masterpiece! I need more of this authors work!
Profile Image for JD Setzer.
Author 7 books43 followers
December 1, 2025

Hear me out!!!
You stumble across a dead body. You do the right thing and… call it in.
And that’s the moment your life ends…well, so to speak. Because there’s a killer with one twisted rule:
Report a body… become the next one.
Jenny never asked to be involved, she was just taking out the trash when she found a body. And the moment she dialed 911, someone out there decided it was her time to go.
Now she’s being watched. Photographed. Hunted.
Across the state, another woman: Alyssa, stumbles into the same nightmare. Except she does something no one else ever has:
She refuses to report the body.

Two women. One relentless predator. And a deadly pattern…
Releasing 12.9.25
Profile Image for Ali McMurray.
46 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2025
Another winner! I was an arc for this for and it was great! Quick chapters kept me on edge I just wanted to keep reading! Unexpected twists as always!! Don’t sleep on a Jessica Lynn Sorensen book!
Profile Image for Iain Batten.
40 reviews2 followers
December 13, 2025
This is the first book by Jessica Lynn Sorensen that I have had the pleasure of reading. My literary inclinations typically include works by authors such as Harlan Coben, Lee Child, Tom Clancy, Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson, Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen, Clive Cussler, Preston W. Child, C.L. Sutton, Joe Talon, and Judah Lamb—the latter four of whom I recently discovered. I am particularly drawn to narratives that quickly captivate my attention and tend to avoid those with slow beginnings. As a Christian life coach, pastor, cancer motivational speaker, and forensic psychologist, I have a keen interest in genres that explore themes of serial killers and dark psychological thrillers.

"Kill the Messenger" aligns perfectly with my tastes. This novel showcases Sorensen’s refined skill and remarkable mastery of psychological suspense. From the very first page, she immerses readers in Michael's world—a realm filled with tension, layered secrets, and characters who are both authentic and profoundly flawed, making the story utterly gripping.

The narrative captivated me from the outset, leaving me eager to discover what would unfold next for Alyssa and her friends. Sorensen’s talent is evident in her ability to evoke her characters’ emotions, allowing readers to feel their struggles deeply. She adeptly balances suspense with genuine emotional depth, crafting a progression that is both intentional and controlled—constantly providing just enough to keep readers engaged while withholding the perfect amount to sustain thrilling, edge-of-your-seat tension.

"Kill the Messenger" is an unpredictable, beautifully chaotic journey where nothing is as it appears. Just when you think you’ve deciphered the clues, the story takes an unexpected turn. This book epitomizes the psychological thriller genre, layered in ways that defy easy description without revealing significant twists. My only advice? Stay attentive; every detail may be crucial… or perhaps it isn’t. I am keen to explore other books by the author.

I received an advance review copy, and this review reflects my personal opinion.
Profile Image for Kayla.
9 reviews
November 25, 2025
Wow. Just absolutely wow. Jessica continues to grow as a phenomenal storyteller, and Kill the Messenger highlights her refined skill and remarkable command of psychological suspense. From the very first page, she draws you into Michael's world—a world filled with unease, layered secrets, and characters who feel both real and deeply damaged in ways that make the story impossible to put down!!!!

Kill the Messenger gripped me from the very first page and kept me desperate to see what would happen next with Alyssa and her friends at every turn. Jessica’s talent shines through in the way she makes you feel her characters’ emotions right through the page, and in the way she balances suspense with genuine emotional depth. The progression is intentional and controlled—constantly giving just enough to keep you hooked, while holding back the perfect amount to maintain those thrilling, edge-of-your-seat vibes.

I highly recommend pre-ordering this before it releases on December 24th. It’s the perfect Christmas Eve thriller to keep you on edge before Christmas morning.

And remember, ladies and gents… sometimes it’s not always good to say something if you see something. Because someone might be watching—waiting….

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Mike C..
49 reviews
November 24, 2025
Wow. The entire thing was my favorite part. Action begins by page two and doesn’t stop until the end.
Kill The Messenger blurs the lines between doing the right thing, and self preservation. Report the crime, become the next victim. The game goes as planned for our killer, Michael, until Alyssa breaks the rules. Does that make her selfish? Are you the villain if keeping yourself safe gets other hurt? Well just jump into this one and decide for yourself. This is a nonstop thrill ride and a game of cat and mouse between our FMC and the killer, who I have to admit is about the most likable creep you’ll ever see. Jessica really nailed it with warming your heart to this character while being on edge and feeling icky all at the same time. I want to high five him and still punch him with the other hand.
The pacing was also great. Shorter chapters and every one a cliffhanger. I suggest not having anything to do for a bit when you decide to pick this one up. This was a one day read for me. Enjoy 🤩
Profile Image for Susan Blissett.
257 reviews
November 28, 2025
This story follows Alyssa who finds a dead body whilst out running one day. She goes to report it, then changes her mind as she knows the killer goes onto murder anyone that reports him. The killer is confused; she has sabotaged his plans and not played her part, so he isn’t sure what to do with her at first. He can’t kill her as this ruins his rules. I liked the premise of this story and it was different from other books I have read. I also enjoyed how the author thought about who this killer would be, their background and reasons for why they do what they do. It was quite a clever story. I thought it was a shame that there was a character called Alyssa and one called Alicia, which made me keep forgetting who was who, but that may just be me. I was unsure of the ending which did not entertain me as much as I’d have liked.

I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
57 reviews3 followers
November 26, 2025
Wow! Kill The Messenger grabs your attention, then sucks you in until the very end. Michael kills those who report finding a murder victim. But one day, he watched Alyssa walk away without calling 911 to report she had found a body. Michael becomes obsessed because she didn't follow his rules. Now he can't kill her, because that's the rule. But, he stalks her and mentally torments her. Alyssa is constantly looking over her shoulder, with the creepy feeling of being watched. She knows he's out there watching her. There are several twists and turns in this story, that will have your heart pounding! I highly recommend reading it.
97 reviews5 followers
December 2, 2025
One of my favorite authors/people recommended Jessica and her books to me and oh how glad I am that she did. I knew if she loved her I was going to, too. I absolutely loved this book. If I didn't have kids and I wasn't in the middle of some mental health stuff, I would've read this in one sitting. I mean I read a little over half in one sitting to finish it. I didn't want to put it down. Jessica took a handful of characters and then carefully constructed the web that had them all entangled with each other. I highly highly recommend this book if you love thrillers. Thank you Jessica for letting me ARC read this book. I'm obsessed in the best way.
Profile Image for Rachel Browning.
651 reviews11 followers
November 21, 2025
“Kill The Messenger” by Jessica Lynn Sorensen hooked me from page one and never let go. The story follows a serial killer who targets anyone who reports his victims—until a woman discovers one of his bodies and chooses not to say a word. Suddenly, she’s the only one who’s ever broken his rule, and he doesn’t know whether to eliminate her… or obsess over her. As the tension builds and their dangerous connection tightens, the suspense becomes absolutely addictive. I was completely sucked into this story from start to finish, all the way to its shocking, unforgettable ending!
Profile Image for VDKeck.
557 reviews74 followers
December 9, 2025
Y’all… a serial killer with more rules than common sense leaves icy notes on his victims, and Alyssa refuses to report the body. Now she’s his newest obsession. He can’t kill her (rules, people 😳), so instead he toys with her mind like it’s his favorite game. 😬🧠

The tension is thick, the writing sharp and fast, and the psychological back-and-forth had me flipping pages like my life depended on it. Dark, twisted, clever, and addictive—cat-and-mouse chaos at its finest. 📣🔥💀

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Alyssa Smith.
89 reviews9 followers
December 9, 2025
I NEED TO CALM DOWN. This book sent me on the wildest ride. It’s thrilling, thrilling, thrilling! I could NOT put it down but didn’t want it to end either. Micheal is DELULU😂 I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!

When I tell you that after I finished this book I continued to think about it and ruminate….giiiiirl. Sorensens writing is smooth, addicting and with short chapter this is one you will be diving into HEAD FIRST. Even the prologue is gripping!!! 😳
Profile Image for K..
181 reviews
December 10, 2025
Wow… talk about unhinged. Everything about this story was entertaining and had me speechless. Jessica took the saying "no good deed goes unpunished" to a whole new level with this one. From her play on words to her picture perfect descriptions, the characters and let's not forget a twist of a lifetime. Kill the Messenger did not disappoint.

Thank you Booksirens and Jessica L. Sorensen for the eARC. This review is that of my own.
51 reviews4 followers
Read
December 29, 2025
It’s really difficult for me to rate this book. I wish we could rate books from 1 to 10-then I would give it a 6. However, on a 5-star scale it would be a 3, and it isn’t really a 3, but it isn’t a 4 either. It was an interesting concept. I already knew from previous books that Jessica likes using multiple POVs, so that wasn’t a surprise for me.

Spoiler alert!

Michael’s perspective was super annoying to me -so much that I wanted to punch him in the face multiple times. I think the ending (Scott helping his serial killer brother escape) was completely unnecessary and weird-or maybe Jessica is planning to continue this storyline?

All in all, it was an interesting idea. I liked Alicia and Carla-go homegirl with the bat!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jine.
129 reviews5 followers
November 28, 2025
I read this in one setting! 4.5 stars!
This was such an intense book from the start! It draws you in immediately!
It has multiple povs which help tell the true story of a killer who stalks people who report dead bodies
I have read so many thrillers but haven’t read anything like this before I really really enjoyed the story!
Profile Image for Philomena Callan Cheekypee.
4,019 reviews432 followers
December 16, 2025
What a read!! I had a lovely afternoon reading this as I was literally glued to it. Written in such a way that I could see it being played in front of me on the tv.. yes it’s that good. A well written unpredictable read about a serial killer. I’m off now to see what else this author has written and this was great.
Profile Image for Jolene.
270 reviews21 followers
November 22, 2025
If you think ignoring a serial killer’s rules is a great idea, Alyssa has some bad news for you. Kill The Messenger keeps you hooked, scared, and slightly embarrassed for laughing at the chaos. Suspenseful, twisted, and ridiculously addictive!
Profile Image for Felecia.
86 reviews14 followers
December 3, 2025
This book had me on the edge of my seat! I enjoyed following the storyline and seeing what happened along the way! I'm excited to see what's next!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
45 reviews4 followers
December 4, 2025
This was another killer book, by Jessica!
This was full of twists, turns and characters that I both loved, and hated. An all around awesome read!
A must read for fans of Jessica Lynn Sorensen, or thriller books.
Profile Image for Shellyann Paape.
116 reviews4 followers
December 6, 2025
Just when you think you’re doing the right thing by calling 911 about the dead body you found. Someone decides to kill anyone who does.

This took random murder, to targeted murder to a different level.

“Using a taser because family therapy didn’t work” I about died laughing at that part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Laura Harvey.
44 reviews4 followers
December 11, 2025
The premise is simple. "See something. Say something. Die." But then someone refuses to follow these simple rules. Michael doesn't know what to do when this happens. He kills someone. They report it. They're next. Alyssa doesn't report it, but her nightmare is not over. Sometimes there are worse things than death.

This story grabbed me from the first page. The characters are well-written and as the story is peeled away layer by layer you start to understand all the whys of Michael's life. He needs to be stopped, but who is going to do that and who will die in the process.

Twisty, mind-blowing and character-given that will keep you guessing until the last page. Add it to your TBR now!
Profile Image for Jennifer E Sholtis.
22 reviews2 followers
November 21, 2025
If you’re looking for twists, you’ve come to the right book! Keeps you on the edge of your seat. I’d definitely recommend this book.
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