The Sketch Artist: She sees what killers hide.

by Amanda McKinney

She draws criminals for a living. Now one of them is watching her.

Harper Leighton has built a career sketching the most dangerous people in the room—capturing their tells, their guilt, the truth they try to hide.

But when her aunt dies under suspicious circumstances, Harper inherits something far more unsettling than the lake A hidden file, and a note written in her aunt’s If you’re reading this, he’s already killed me…

Inside the file are decades-old courtroom sketches tied to one of the most infamous crimes in Marrow Lake history. The man convicted of the crime was executed forty years ago. But her aunt believed he was innocent—and that the real killer was never caught. Now, as the anniversary approaches, the small town begins to fracture. Tourists arrive for “Camp Ghosts.” Locals whisper about curses. Old grief resurfaces—and suspicion spreads like wildfire.

And as Harper retraces her aunt’s final investigation, she realizes the truth about that night was never fully uncovered. And someone is willing to kill to keep it that way.

From the number one bestselling author comes a page-turning emotional thriller for fans of Lisa Jewell, Alice Feeney, The Silent Patient and Listen for the Lie

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Psychological Thriller

344 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Amanda McKinney is the Amazon Charts bestselling and multi-award-winning author of more than thirty romance and thriller novels. Her books have received over fifteen literary awards and nominations, including the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence, and have been included in lists such as POPSUGAR's 12 Best Romance Books, and featured on the Today Show.


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www.amandamckinneyauthor.com

Reviews

[MarilynW]

The Sketch Artist by Amanda McKinney

Harper Leighton has gotten so much from her late Aunt Joyce. Just like her aunt was, Harper is a courtroom sketch artist and she learned so much of what she knows from her late aunt. When Joyce died in a single car accident, she left everything to Harper, which includes the lake house where they'd been living with Harper's three year old daughter, a tiny office in town, and all of Joyce's paperwork, sketches, and other things that have piled up over the years. Harper is even able to ferret out things that Joyce had hidden very well and these things interest and disturb Harper because Joyce left her a note saying "If you’re reading this, he’s already killed me". Now Joyce's accident looks a lot like murder rather than "just" an accident.

Interspersed with Harper's story, we get to see young girls at the local camp. Forty years ago, young girls were murdered at this camp and this town will never forget that fact. There was a trial where Joyce was the sketch artist and her secret papers show detailed pictures with specific notes and hints that Harper in now trying to understand. It seems that Joyce might think the wrong man was put to death for the murders, maybe?

In the present day, the town in is a turmoil, with many people wanting the poor girls' memories to rest. Others are trying to make this forty year anniversary a fun and profitable event. With Harper bringing her aunt's suspicions to the local friendly detective, there is a chance the murder case could be opened again and venom is spewing for that reason, too. Who wants to find out that everything that was believed all these years, that the murderer was caught and punished, was wrong? Who wants to worry that an innocent man died? Who wants to think that the murderer could still be out there among them?

Tensions are extremely high and someone is targeting Harper. I was especially worried for for Harper's adorable daughter, Bird. I'm glad Bird was featured so much in the story because she is so cute, so precocious, so very important to Harper. I was able to read this perplexing mystery with Jayme so be sure to check out what she thinks about this story.

Expected publication September 29, 2026

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC

[Crystal]

DNF @ 37%

I was intrigued by the premise. I think this is the first thriller I've come across where the MC is a court sketch artist. The prologue hooked me. It opened with a literal bang. But then it started dragging and began to be a chore to read. The third person POV worked well. It was mostly told from Harper's POV but it had some chapters from the past. I think if there had been either another POV or more of the past it may have broken up some of the monotony. But as it was, it just seemed pretty repetitive. I also didn't connect with any of the characters, so I didn't care about how it resolved. Which was disappointing because I was so hyped to like it. In the end, not for me, but I know this has its audience.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tina Plintz]

The book begins well, but it drags on. Ultimately, everything ties up nicely, leaving no loose ends. However, I found several major flaws in the story.

Harper, a forensic sketch artist like her recently deceased aunt Joyce, is tasked with investigating a gruesome murder. It’s frustrating that the investigation takes so long before they even examine the car involved. Furthermore, it feels rushed when Harper receives the lawyer’s call, informing her that Joyce’s life is now hers. These small inconsistencies bothered me.

Forty years later, Harper inherits her aunt’s files and learns of Joyce’s murder. Her mission is to prove Joyce’s innocence and that the person convicted of the crime is not the right one. If you’re looking for an easy-to-read book with a touch of romance, this might be a good fit.

[Patty]

ARC Review | The Sketch Artist by Amanda McKinney

I picked up The Sketch Artist because the description completely sold me. A forensic sketch artist investigating a decades-old mystery? As someone studying forensic science, this felt right up my alley. I went in expecting a gripping mystery, and honestly... it did exactly what I hoped it just took me on a bit of a rollercoaster to get there.

The first chapter hooked me immediately. I was so invested that I kept saying, "Just one more chapter." Then somewhere in the middle, the pacing slowed down for me. I wouldn't say I was bored, but I definitely felt like I was waiting for the story to pick up again. Thankfully, around Chapter 12, everything started clicking into place, and suddenly I couldn't stop reading. It was one of those books that constantly kept me curious, even during the slower moments.

One thing I really enjoyed was the dual perspective. Harper's chapters focus on the investigation, while Poppy's chapters follow her life working at the cabin connected to the infamous case. Even though they're in the same timeline, I loved how each perspective added something different to the story. If I'm being honest, I actually looked forward to Poppy's chapters a little more. There was something about her perspective that made the mystery feel even more atmospheric.

Can we also talk about how creepy this book is?

I made the mistake of reading it at midnight... and let's just say I regretted every strange noise I heard afterward. I'm such a scaredy-cat, so maybe that's on me, but there were genuinely moments where my heart was pounding. Amanda McKinney knows how to build tension without relying on cheap scares, and I really appreciated that.

What I liked most was that the mystery made me think. I was constantly making theories, changing my mind, questioning everyone, then convincing myself I had it all figured out only to doubt myself again a few chapters later. Isn't that exactly what you want from a mystery?

The pacing wasn't perfect for me, but the suspense, atmosphere, and investigative elements more than made up for it. This was my first Amanda McKinney novel, and I definitely think I'll be picking up more of her books in the future.

If you enjoy small-town mysteries, investigative thrillers, and stories that make you play detective alongside the main character, I think this one is worth checking out.

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

[Dai]

I got a copy of this book through NetGalley.

In a world where more and more novels are written in the first person, it was incredibly refreshing to read one written entirely in third person. I also appreciated that the author trusted readers to work out whose point of view each chapter belonged to instead of announcing it at the beginning of every chapter, as so many books do nowadays.

That being said, I did notice a few editing issues. For example, at one point the story refers to Earl’s coffee shop, when the coffee shop actually belongs to Eddie, and Earl stands for everything Eddie opposes. They’re minor mistakes, but I believe a good editor must catch them.

One editorial decision I kept thinking about concerns Poppy’s chapters. I genuinely believe they would have been far more effective if all references to mobile phones and text messages had been removed. With only a handful of small edits, readers could easily have assumed those chapters were taking place forty years earlier, alongside the original crime. The reveal that they were actually unfolding in the present day would have been a fantastic twist. There was a lot of untapped potential there.

One structural choice also didn’t quite work for me. Sarah going missing because Poppy forgets to do a headcount creates genuine tension. However, when Poppy forgets the headcount again later and Marisol disappears under almost identical circumstances, the impact is greatly diminished. Instead of escalating the stakes, it feels repetitive because we’ve already experienced essentially the same sequence less than a hundred pages earlier. Personally, I think removing the earlier incident altogether would have made Marisol’s disappearance much more powerful.

For most of the novel, I genuinely had no idea where the story was heading. My theories kept changing, I never felt certain about who I could trust, and I was constantly wondering how Poppy’s storyline would eventually connect to Harper’s.

Unfortunately, I found the explanation disappointing. Rather than feeling like the inevitable conclusion to carefully planted clues, it came across as though the author had pulled it out of a hat at the last minute.

By the end, I felt the novel needed considerably more explanation for its resolution to feel satisfying. Characters make enormous leaps in logic within the space of a few pages, reaching conclusions based on evidence that is circumstantial at best simply because the plot requires them to. None of those realizations felt earned.

I was also hoping the sketch artist herself and the trial would play a much larger role in both the mystery and its resolution. Instead, it all feels increasingly arbitrary. It almost reads as though the ending was decided by rolling dice, while many of the questions I actually wanted answered remain unexplained.

Even when some explanations finally arrive, they aren’t substantial enough to justify the amount of suspension of disbelief the novel asks from the reader at some points. I am perfectly happy to suspend my disbelief if the payoff is compelling. But in this case it didn’t feel it was.

The premise is interesting, and the writing itself is good. Unfortunately, I don’t think the execution ever reached the same level. The story needed more depth, both emotionally and structurally. And it needed to feel earned. It didn’t.

The justice system portrayed here also strained my credibility. I’m well aware that wrongful convictions happen and that no legal system is perfect, but the level of police and judicial incompetence required for this story to work never felt convincingly developed. That could have become one of the novel’s most interesting themes, but it isn’t explored with enough nuance to make it believable.

Finally, the ending lingers longer than it needs to. By the time I reached the last pages, I found myself wishing the novel had trusted its strongest ideas more instead of continuing to add explanations that ultimately didn’t answer the questions I was left asking.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise and some aspects of the writing were refreshing. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that, with a stronger editorial pass and a more fully developed ending, this could have been a much more memorable novel.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy]

The whole premise behind this story was intriguing to me. Sketch artists in courtrooms are more observant than the average person. Years ago a terrible murder rocked the town when young girls were murdered at a camp. Joyce, the sketch artist, saw something no one else saw and it haunted her.

Fast forward many decades and Joyce's niece, Harper Leighton, is now the local sketch artist. After her aunt's death, she has inherited her cabin, along with all of her sketches. She finds a little more than she bargained for when she finds a disturbing message from the grave from her aunt.

Killers wear many faces in this story. The story goes back and forth from past to present and Harper quickly realizes the wrong man was convicted for the decades old crime, and someone wants the past to stay buried, and they have no problem killing someone to keep their secrets buried.

This was an interesting story and was, at times, more than a little creepy. This author always brings little mind games to the table. She outdoes herself with this one. It is a quick read with plenty of suspense and intrigue.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Justinstaysreading]

My 3rd Mckinney book from NetGalley delivered!

I felt the tension, paranoia, and grief the entire novel. It was a very compelling and emotional story. It grabbed me by the throat and I was deeply invested in the characters. I loved the villain’s background and how deeply connected the character is to their inhumanity.

A lot of ethical and moral motivations, this was a fantastic read. I appreciated how realistic and deeply moving this story became. Loyalty and the unquestioning desire for truth enriched the chapters.

Thank you NetGalley, out Sept 2026.

[Tiffany Schulz]

ARC review
Two court sketch artists both look into a 40 year old crime, and what they find changes everything.
Harper inherits her aunts home and studio, as well as boxes of court papers in relation to a 40 year old case she was convinced executed the wrong man. What Harper finishes unraveling for her aunt changes a town forever. There is betrayal and intrigue and classic who-dunnit. A really easy read and classically mysterious between two time frames that are interwoven very well, not leaving the reader overwhelmed or frustrated by too many characters. Very well done and a pleasure to read.

[Trina Dixon]

İn court during a trial, the focus is on the defendant, the prosecution, defence and the jury. No-one really takes any notice of the sketch artist, but the sketch artist sees everything. This novel is the story of Joyce who covered a case 40 years previously but spotted something no-one else did. After her tragic death it's left to her Niece Harper to see beyond the images and find out what Joyce was trying to tell her.
This was an intriguing novel, a cold case and the quest to discover the truth. In places I found it slightly slow but it was an enjoyable read with a surprising conclusion

[Bo.reads]

The moment I saw the title of this one, I knew I wanted to read it. Once I read the premise and realised it centred around a forensic courtroom sketch artist, I was sold. It's not a profession I've come across in a thriller before, which immediately made this one stand out to me.

After her aunt Joyce dies under suspicious circumstances, Harper Leighton returns to Marrow Lake to settle her aunt's estate. Among Joyce's belongings, she discovers a handwritten note that raises more questions about her aunt's death, along with a collection of courtroom sketches connected to the infamous Camp Dogwood murders that divided the town forty years earlier. As Harper begins piecing together what her aunt uncovered before her death, she starts to question whether the wrong man was convicted.

What really set this book apart for me was Harper's profession. Rather than following another detective or journalist, we experience the mystery through someone trained to study faces, notice the smallest changes in expression and recognise the patterns that others overlook. At the same time, she's grieving the woman who raised her while slowly discovering there was far more to Joyce than she ever realised. Watching Harper examine Joyce's courtroom sketches for clues was one of my favourite aspects of the investigation. Because they captured everyone present during the trial, not just the accused, it felt as though Joyce was still trying to tell her story long after her death. Some of the discoveries Harper made through those sketches were genuinely eerie.

As someone who's always drawn to lakeside mysteries, Marrow Lake was exactly the kind of setting I enjoy. Between the fog rolling across the water, Joyce's secluded cabin, the abandoned summer camp and a small town still living in the shadow of a decades-old murder case, the atmosphere was one of the book's strongest features. I also liked how the idea of the so-called Camp Curse made it feel as though the murders had left a lasting mark on the community.

Although the pacing became a little steadier in places, and a couple of the red herrings made parts of the mystery easier to predict than I would have liked, I was always curious to see where Harper's investigation would lead and what Joyce had uncovered before her death.

Even though this didn't quite become an all-time favourite, I still had a really enjoyable time with it. The courtroom sketch artist angle, eerie setting and decades-old cold case all made for an engaging mystery, and I'd happily recommend it to readers who enjoy atmospheric small-town mysteries and long-buried secrets.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo)]

Prologue:
Although the roads were slick with rain, and the fog was thick-Joyce knew as she hit the brakes of her car, and got no response, that what was happening wasn’t an accident.

***

Like her Aunt Joyce, Harper Leighton makes a living drawing people on the worst day of their lives. She is the Sketch Artist in the courtroom who quietly captures the faces of the defendants, their attorneys, the jurors and those watching the proceedings.

Reeling from a divorce, Harper had recently moved back to Marrow Lake, with her adorable three year old daughter Beatrice (Bird)-moving in with her Aunt shortly before the “accident” that claimed her life. But Harper has inherited more than Joyce’s lake house.

She has also inherited a mystery that Joyce was trying to solve.

Joyce has left her a file with a note attached which read “If you’re reading this, he’s already killed me…”

Inside the file are the 40 year old courtroom sketches from one of the most infamous crimes in Marrow Lake -when 3 young girls from Tent #8 were sexually assaulted and killed at Camp Dogwood. (thankfully just mentioned and NOT described in detail)

Joyce believed that an innocent man was convicted and executed-the real killer was never caught.

Now, as the anniversary approaches, the small town which has never really healed finds itself divided again, and unfortunately the evidence that Joyce has left behind is going to tear open the old wounds, and put Harper and Bird in danger.

The story alternates between Harper’s chapters as she investigates and a few from the POV of a camp counselor named Poppy assigned to Tent # 8 at Camp Dogwood.

I was immediately drawn to the unique premise of having a courtroom sketch artist as our amateur sleuth and I was engaged from the opening chapter. The author vividly describes the town, the weather, and little Birdie, who stole every scene she was in.

But, I did correctly suspect that a certain character would be negatively involved since there weren’t a lot of characters to choose from, although it didn’t affect my enjoyment.

What I struggled with more was that parents were choosing to send their daughters to this Camp at all, after what was revealed!

And, there is a lot of info told and not shown in FBI interviews at the end, making the pace a bit uneven (the first half was stronger for me) but overall, this story kept me engaged and is worth reading-

3.75 stars rounded up!

AVAILABLE September 29, 2026

A buddy read with Marilyn! Be sure to watch for her review for additional thoughts!

Thank You to Storm Publishing for the gifted ARC provided by NetGalley. As always these are my candid thoughts!

[Yvette Jarrell]

✨ ARC Review ✨
The Sketch Artist by Amanda McKinney
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the opening pages, eerie imagery and a creeping sense of dread make one thing clear: something sinister is coming. And before I knew it, I was completely hooked.

Harper returns to the small town of Marrow Lake with her daughter, moving into the home of her Aunt Joyce, the woman who raised her and taught her to draw. Now a courtroom sketch artist, Harper still carries Joyce’s lessons with her every time she picks up a pencil: study the faces, notice the patterns, and always pay attention to the details.

But when Harper discovers a mysterious note from Joyce after her death, warning her not to trust anyone, everything changes.

The warning leads Harper back to one of Marrow Lake’s darkest chapters: the murders of three young girls at Camp Dogwood forty years earlier. Silas Hunt was convicted and executed for the crimes, maintaining his innocence until the very end. Now, with the anniversary approaching, renewed true crime attention is dragging old wounds back to the surface and fracturing an already divided town.

Joyce was the courtroom sketch artist during Silas’s trial and never spoke about the case. So when Harper uncovers hidden sketches and documents connected to the murders, she begins to wonder what her aunt discovered and whether that discovery got her killed.

As unsettling coincidences pile up and the feeling of being watched becomes impossible to ignore, Harper realizes she may be getting dangerously close to the truth.

I could not put this book down! The pacing pulled me straight into Harper’s investigation, and I felt like I was uncovering every clue alongside her. I questioned everyone, trusted no one, and completely lost myself in the mystery.

The fog-covered lake, abandoned camp, and dark history of Marrow Lake created the perfect eerie atmosphere. Add in buried secrets, suspicious townspeople, and a decades-old murder case that may have convicted the wrong man, and I was hooked until the very end.

If you love atmospheric small-town mysteries, cold cases, true crime obsession, and stories that make you suspicious of everyone, add this one to your TBR. 🔍✏️🌫️

Available on September 29, 2026. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[TheNovelNomad]

Amanda McKinney delivers a compelling thriller with a genuinely unique premise, and that originality is what immediately drew me in. A courtroom sketch artist isn’t a profession we see explored often in the genre, and using that perspective to unravel a decades-old mystery was both refreshing and incredibly effective.

Harper is an easy protagonist to root for. Still grieving the loss of her aunt, she inherits more than a lake house—she inherits unanswered questions, hidden courtroom sketches, and a chilling note that suggests her aunt’s death was no accident. From there, the story unfolds into a layered mystery involving a notorious cold case, buried secrets, and a small town that has spent decades convincing itself the past was settled.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its atmosphere. Marrow Lake feels steeped in history and unease, with the fog-covered shoreline, abandoned camp, and whispers of old tragedies creating an unsettling backdrop that lingers throughout the story. The setting never feels like mere scenery—it becomes an essential part of the mystery itself.

I also loved how Harper’s profession shaped the investigation. Instead of relying on traditional detective work, the story asks us to pay attention to expressions, body language, and the details preserved in courtroom sketches. It gave the mystery a distinctive angle that set it apart from many thrillers I’ve read.

The pacing is more of a slow burn than an adrenaline-fuelled race, allowing the tension to build steadily before rewarding the reader with a satisfying final act. The short chapters made it incredibly easy to keep reading, and once the pieces began falling into place, I found myself flying through the pages. While I did anticipate one or two reveals, the emotional weight behind the investigation—and Harper’s determination to uncover the truth—kept me fully invested.

More than anything, this is a story about justice, legacy, and how the echoes of the past continue to shape the present. It blends psychological suspense with emotional depth, creating a mystery that feels both engaging and heartfelt.

If you enjoy atmospheric small-town thrillers, cold cases, layered mysteries, and protagonists who uncover long-buried secrets one clue at a time, The Sketch Artist is well worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Amanda McKinney for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Meg Pearson]

The Sketch Artist was such a gripping, atmospheric thriller that I found myself flying through the pages. Amanda McKinney has created a wonderfully creepy mystery that combines a decades-old crime, a small town full of secrets, a suspicious death, and a protagonist who is uniquely positioned to uncover what others have missed.

Harper Leighton is a courtroom sketch artist, following in her late aunt Joyce's footsteps, and I loved this unusual element of the story. When Harper discovers a note from Joyce warning that she has been murdered, along with sketches connected to the infamous summer camp murders from forty years earlier, she can't let the mystery go. What follows is a tense investigation into whether the wrong person was convicted all those years ago—and whether the real danger is still very much alive.

I especially loved the way the story moves between the present day and the events surrounding the camp. Those sections added such an unsettling layer to the mystery, and I was constantly trying to piece together how the past connected to what was happening to Harper and her daughter, Bird. The atmosphere was fantastic, with the small-town setting and the infamous camp creating a constant feeling that something dark was lurking just beneath the surface.

There were so many twists and turns, and I genuinely enjoyed trying to figure out who could be trusted. Just when I thought I had something figured out, another piece of the puzzle appeared. I also really appreciated the family dynamic between Harper and Bird. Harper's determination to protect her daughter while simultaneously trying to uncover the truth added real emotional stakes to the mystery.

This was my first Amanda McKinney book, and after this one, I'm definitely a fan. The writing pulled me completely into the story, and there were no shortage of moments where I wanted to tell Harper to stop investigating and RUN—but of course, I desperately needed to know what would happen next.

Dark, creepy, twisty, and incredibly bingeable, The Sketch Artist is exactly the kind of thriller that makes you say "just one more chapter" until you've somehow finished the entire book.

Absolutely loved this one. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys small-town mysteries, cold cases, serial killer thrillers, and plenty of secrets from the past.

[Paula Phillips]

I'll admit it: this one caught me before I'd even read the blurb. That cover pulled me in first, all moody and atmospheric, the kind of image that makes you stop scrolling. But what sealed the deal was the setting - a small town creeping up on the 40th anniversary of the Fall Camp Murders, with a horrifying wrinkle: they executed the wrong man. That premise alone had my mind spinning with possibilities before I'd turned a single page.

Our heroine, Harper Leighton, has one of the most fascinating jobs I've come across in a thriller. She's a courtroom sketch artist, she spends her days studying the faces of dangerous people, reading their guilt in the smallest flickers of expression. It's such a clever occupation to build a mystery around, because it means Harper is trained to see what others miss. So when she becomes the one being watched, the irony lands hard.

The story kicks into gear when Harper's aunt dies under circumstances that just don't sit right, and Harper inherits far more than a lake house, she inherits a hidden file and a chilling note in her aunt's handwriting: if you're reading this, he's already killed me. That line alone gave me chills. Inside the file are decades-old courtroom sketches connected to Marrow Lake's most infamous crime, and her aunt's belief that the man executed for it forty years ago was innocent, that the real killer has been walking free this whole time.

As the anniversary approaches, Marrow Lake starts to unravel, tourists showing up for "Camp Ghosts" tours, old-timers muttering about curses, grief that never really healed bubbling back to the surface. That slow unraveling of small-town suspicion is honestly one of my favorite tropes, and it's done really well here.

Harper's investigation into her aunt's final days kept me guessing, and the tension of someone willing to kill to keep old secrets buried had me flipping pages late into the night. It wasn't a flawless read for me, which is why I landed on 3 Ps rather than higher, but it was an atmospheric, twisty ride that scratched that small-town-secrets itch perfectly.

If you love a slow-burn mystery with a haunted history and a heroine who reads faces for a living, add this one to your list.

[Elli (Kindig Blog)]

I love reading thrillers, and as I haven’t read anything previously by Amanda McKinney – who is a prolific romance and thriller writer, I was intrigued by The Sketch Artist.

After her mentor and aunt dies, Harper - a courtroom sketch artist, inherits her drawings and finds a message regarding an old case that her aunt had sketched but had been recently investigating. The information that she discovers may change the town of Marrow Lake forever…

I was a little apprehensive when I saw Amanda McKinney has written a lot of romance, as I usually find that genre to be quite cringey and worried it would take away from the grittiness of a crime thriller. However, I found all of the characters in the book to be well-rounded, realistic and relatable. I particularly enjoyed how Harper’s young child Bird is portrayed and treated by the adults in the story, which made her feel an important part of narrative and not a plot device or distraction, which has happened in other books I have read. There is a romance element between the main character and the police detective, but it was realistically portrayed and very much a slow-burn, so it didn’t feel like it overrode the storyline – it just added an extra element to the plot.

Although the plotline in The Sketch Artist is relatively simplistic, it is a well-told story and had me hooked at every turn. It’s well plotted and the chapters alternate between Harper trying to solve the mystery of an old case where children at a summer camp were killed, to a councillor at a summer camp who keeps seeing someone in the shadows. This kept the tension and the stakes high as I raced through the book to find out what would happen next. There are a lot of twists and turns that I also didn’t see coming and I also loved the portrayal of the artist techniques in the book as well.

Overall, The Sketch Artist is a well-told thriller which had me hooked, with a twisty plot and relatable main characters – I’ll certainly keep an eye out for more of Amanda McKinney’s books! Thank you to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog

[Suesyn Zellmer]

This started off great, and I was really into the story, but then it kind of veered off onto a romance/cozy mystery path, and that’s where it went downhill. Harper is working as a courtroom sketch artist in a town with a dark history. She took over from her aunt, who passed away recently in a supposed tragic accident and who had been the artist for the infamous camp murders case decades ago. A man was convicted and executed for the murder of several young girls. But apparently, Harper’s aunt believed he was wrongfully convicted, and she was doing some investigating of her own. When Harper finds the secret files her aunt compiled, she knows it’s up to her to continue her aunt’s work. But will she succeed, or will she also meet an untimely end?

It’s a great premise and drew me in immediately, but there was too much focus on her toddler daughter’s twee cuteness and not enough on the suspense of the mystery. The reasons her aunt thought the convicted man was innocent would have been immediately apparent to anyone involved in the case. Like immediately, and we’re expected to believe that no one else noticed throughout the entire trial? It’s laughable.

She teams up with the local hot sheriff, who immediately falls for her and her daughter, and he believes her suspicions immediately when anyone else would write her off. But then, he convinces HIS boss immediately, which is even more unbelievable. Then, literally minutes after they start investigating… well, I can’t explain because of spoilers. Even if this were a cozy mystery, it’s just too ludicrous.

Harper’s character becomes a sad cliché of a romance heroine and a Super Momma whose dialogue gets more and more cringeworthy as she repetitively professes how she will do anything for her daughter no matter the cost because she’s so fierce, etc.

I just couldn’t believe this was the same author that I previously enjoyed so much. It’s only because of the earlier parts of the story that I can even give it three stars, along with a plea for no more of this. My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the free advanced reading copy of this book.

[Ceecee]

Harper Leighton is a courtroom sketch artist, capturing the drama is a few clever strokes. She has recently relocated to Marrow Lake with her young daughter Bird, to live with her aunt Joyce. When she dies in a car accident, Harper inherits her house and as she goes through the unwelcome task of sorting out her much loved aunts possessions, she finds a file, and later more, and a note written by Joyce saying ‘if you’re reading this, he’s already killed me’. It transpires that Joy has been investigating an infamous forty year old Marrow Lake case, for which a man is subsequently executed. As tourists arrive somewhat ghoulishly for the anniversary, Harper feels she has to pick up where her aunt leaves off, the price of which may come at considerable cost.

I really enjoy this latest compelling novel from Amanda McKinney, which is rich in the atmosphere that surrounds Marrow Lake. This allows the author a lot of scope to create an uneasy, unsettling tone and a sensation of escalating fear and she does this extremely well. It feels very creepy and claustrophobic, the knowing that something awful is coming and the anticipation builds. The woods that surrounds the area add to this, as does the weather. This becomes intrinsic to the storytelling, alongside a small town with its forceful attitudes built up over many years which Harper finds the strength to withstand.

She is a gutsy central protagonist in her pursuit of honesty and justice. She is a truth seeker like her aunt before her. Maternal instinct is another strong element and Bird is a cute kid, giving some sweet moments alongside the dark, indeed, making them stand out more. It’s not fast paced, it’s a slow burner but that perfectly suits the story being told. It’s tense, especially as buried secrets bubble to the surface. The premise is a good one and I like the way it unfolds. I do guess part of the reveal and I think the ending could perhaps have packed more of a punch but overall, I enjoy it.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Thrillerswineandchill]

✍️ M Y S T E R I O U S M O N D A Y review ✍️ featuring “The Sketch Artist” by Amanda McKinney!

Harper Leighton is a recently divorced single mom who is a courtroom sketch artist, just like her Aunt Joyce who had recently passed under suspicious circumstances.

40 years ago, the small town of Marrow Lake went through a devastating tragedy at its summer camp where 3 young girls were murdered. Joyce had been the sketch artist hired for the trial and she sketched the killer who was later executed for his crimes.

Now it’s the 40th anniversary of the murders and the town is offering ghost tours around the lake and weekend getaway packages. Back then half the town believed that Silas Hunt did it … but the other half believed he was innocent due to the lack of evidence. This literally tore the small town in half and profiting off its tragedy now leads to outraged riots around town.

During the reading of Joyce’s will, Harper is given a hard bound folder with a stack of loose sketches of the 1986 courtroom inside of it. On the front there is a handwritten note from Joyce that says: “Harper, if you are reading this, he’s already killed me.”

As Harper investigates what Joyce was trying to tell her, she soon realizes that Joyce believed that the wrong killer was executed back then and that the real one is still out there. The real killer is now watching Harper and wants to make sure that the truth stays buried forever!

💭 Without a doubt, this book deserves FIVE bright shining STARS and is now one of my favourite books of the year! This book held me in a solid mental trance and played me like a fiddle! The traumatizing camp murders, creepy voyeurism, small town grudges and fast paced investigation was masterfully written and will take you for a spin. I found the sketch artist elements to be fascinating and I really enjoyed trying to piece together the puzzle from 40 years ago.

Thank you @amandamckinneyauthor @stormbooks_co @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on September 29, 2026!

[Christina Bruce]

If you’re looking for a thriller that will have you saying “just one more chapter” until it’s 2am… this is it.

The Sketch Artist was my first Amanda McKinney book, and it definitely won’t be my last. I absolutely flew through this in just two sittings (only stopping because work had the audacity to get in the way!).

The story follows Harper and her young daughter, Bird, after Harper’s Aunt Joyce is killed in a tragic car accident. When Harper inherits her aunt’s entire estate, she quickly discovers that Joyce left behind more than just a house… she left behind a trail of cryptic clues.

The small town Harper returns to has never recovered from the horrific murder of a group of eight-year-old girls at a summer camp years earlier. The killer was caught, convicted, and everyone believed the case was closed…

…or was it?

As Harper begins piecing together her aunt’s mysterious clues, she starts to question whether the wrong person was convicted. What follows is a twisty, suspense-filled mystery where everyone feels like a suspect and nothing is quite what it seems.

I genuinely loved this one. The pacing was fantastic, the mystery kept me hooked, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars is because I managed to work out the main twist around three-quarters of the way through. Even so, it was an incredibly enjoyable ride.

⭐ 4/5 stars

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sketch Artist releases on September 29th, and if you’re a thriller fan, this absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.

[kbreads]

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

I was really intrigued by the premise of this one. I’m pretty sure this is the first thriller I’ve read where the MC is a court sketch artist, and that alone had me interested. The prologue also hooked me immediately; it opens with a bang, so I was ready to strap in. Unfortunately, the momentum did not last.

The book started dragging pretty quickly and eventually felt like a chore to read. My biggest issue was the way the mystery unfolded. I love a thriller that trusts me to put the pieces together alongside the MC, but here, so much was spelled out that I felt like I was being walked through the mystery with a finger under every sentence. The MC would make a connection and then immediately explain exactly what that connection meant, and then explain it again for good measure. I need a little more "wait... WHAT?" and a little less "here is what just happened."

I also figured out the killer pretty early, and unfortunately the reveal relied on a trope I've seen enough times that it didn't have the intended shock factor for me. Once I had that figured out, I was basically waiting for the characters to catch up. And then we veered into a weird romantic mystery situation, and I was like... excuse me? I came here for a serial killer. The shift really didn't work for me and took the story even further away from the thriller I thought I was getting.

There were also quite a few moments where I had to suspend my disbelief, and eventually there were enough of them that I stopped feeling immersed in the story.

All that said, I can absolutely see this working for readers who enjoy a more straightforward thriller with a romantic element. It just wasn't my type of thriller. I want to be suspicious of everyone, wildly wrong about everything, and preferably staring at the page at 2 a.m. wondering who I can trust. This one didn't quite get me there.

[Anindita Guha]

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy of Amanda McKinney’s "The Sketch Artist"
Amanda McKinney has done it again, and "The Sketch Artist" is pure magic from first page to last. It's a thriller, but at its core it's a story about love, resilience, and the families we choose.
Joyce Crawford is an absolute revelation. McKinney writes her with such tender emotional depth — warm, wise, and quietly brave. Joyce carries so much history in her hands and in her heart, and watching her story unfold is like watching someone finally step into the light they always deserved. The reader cannot help but root for her so that her truth is eventually known to all.
Harper is the luminous center of the book. She is courageous, creative, and beautifully human in the way she navigates grief and hope. Her journey as an artist — learning to really see people — mirrors her inspiring emotional journey.
The way McKinney weaves the characters of Nate and Bird is just pure joy. Their bond is one of the emotional anchors of the novel. Nate brings earnest, steadfast optimism, and Bird brings lightness, humor, and the uncanny ability of a child to say exactly what everyone needs to hear. Their friendship anchors Harper in the reality of her present. Together they remind us that love doesn't have to be complicated to be authentic.
McKinney weaves two lives lost to tragedy together with the main characters with such care that by the end, you mourn the loss of Silas and Joyce intensely. The suspense keeps you turning pages late into the night, but it's the emotional undercurrent — the way Harper and Nate show up for each other and believe in each other — that stays with you long after you close the book.
"The Sketch Artist" is uplifting, deeply moving, and utterly unputdownable. A radiant, emotionally rich story about finding beauty in broken places. The book ends on a note of heartfelt triumph of truth and courage.
5/5 stars. A must-read.

[Leanne]

The Sketch Artist is a gripping blend of emotional suspense and small‑town secrets, centred around Harper Leighton—a woman who has spent her career studying faces, reading guilt, and sketching the truth others try to hide. She’s a fascinating lead, sharp yet vulnerable, and her return to Marrow Lake after her aunt’s suspicious death pulls her straight into a decades‑old nightmare.

The setup is irresistible: a hidden file, a chilling note, and courtroom sketches tied to one of the town’s most infamous crimes. The man convicted was executed forty years ago, yet Harper’s aunt believed he was innocent—and that the real killer was still out there. As Harper digs deeper, the town’s glossy tourist façade cracks, revealing whispers of curses, old grief, and a community desperate to keep its secrets buried.

The atmosphere is excellent. “Camp Ghosts,” the anniversary tension, the way suspicion spreads through Marrow Lake—it all creates a creeping unease that builds beautifully. Harper’s investigation feels personal and dangerous, and the sense that someone is watching her adds a delicious layer of dread.

Fans of Lisa Jewell, Alice Feeney, The Silent Patient, and Listen for the Lie will find plenty to love here. It’s emotional, twisty, and packed with the kind of slow‑burn suspense that keeps you turning pages long after you meant to stop.

A chilling, character‑driven thriller that delivers both heart and tension.

With thanks to Amanda McKinney, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Emily]

✨3 stars✨

The Sketch Artist was the first book by this author and I thought it had a solid premise. I’ve took the bullet points from my notes apps that I wrote while reading this:

- I liked that she was a court sketch artist because I haven’t read a thriller from this perspective and I think it’s a role that would see a lot and know a lot in regards to crime and the criminal justice system. I just wish this had been utilised more as I would have like to seen how her job affected her looking in to everything. It felt like this got pushed to the side a bit.

- This was a quick read and it did relatively managed to keep my attention throughout.

- All of the reveals and confrontations felt extremely easy and convenient. The overall plot felt very basic and there wasn’t much that had me on the edge of my seat.

- The book felt repetitive in the middle portion, especially in Poppy’s POV as this should be some of the highest points of tension and instead it felt bland and a tad boring.

- Don’t think the hints at romance between Harper and Nate was necessary to the plot… just another thing that took away from what could have been a really interesting thriller with the forensic sketch artist at the forefront.

Overall, I found this book to be a quick read and the premise sounded really intriguing. However, I wish there was more emphasis or importance placed on the fact that Harper was a court room sketch artist - this could have played such a bigger part in the story!! Instead it was kind of pushed to the side.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Katie]

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy.

As someone who has listened to what feels like thousands of hours of true crime podcasts and has always been fascinated by criminal investigations, The Sketch Artist was exactly the kind of thriller I love. It combines so many of my favorite elements; summer camp murders, forensic science, courtroom sketches, family secrets, conspiracies, and generational legacies, into one immersive and atmospheric story that I couldn’t put down.

What impressed me most was how naturally Amanda McKinney wove Harper’s and her aunt’s profession into the mystery. The forensic sketch artist angle felt fresh and gave the investigation a unique perspective that set this apart from many thrillers I’ve read. Rather than relying solely on shocking twists, the suspense builds steadily as long-buried secrets begin to surface, making every reveal feel earned.

The atmosphere was one of my favorite parts of the novel. The isolated lake town, decades-old murder, and lingering questions surrounding the infamous summer camp killings created an unsettling sense that the past was never truly buried. McKinney also balances the mystery with family drama, exploring grief, legacy, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to protect the truth, or hide it.

If you love true crime, atmospheric thrillers, and layered mysteries with compelling characters, The Sketch Artist deserves a spot on your fall reading list.

[Reader]

I always enjoy an Amanda McKinney thriller, and she’s just delivered another one which pulled me in quickly and kept me turning the pages.

Our story commences when Harper Leighton’s aunt, Joyce Crawford, dies in suspicious circumstances on a foggy lakeside road, and forensic sketch artist Harper inherits a file with a note from her aunt- “Harper, if you’re reading this, he’s already killed me”
Joyce Crawford was a courtroom sketch artist in the small town of Marrow Lake, where in 1986 three young girls were murdered while staying at a campsite. A drifter named Silas Hunt was convicted and executed for their murders, but Joyce always believed the wrong man was executed. As Harper revisits her aunt’s investigation she realises the real killer may still be out there.

This is a slow burn, small town mystery with believable characters which takes a little while to get going. The plot is easy to follow and the use of short chapters creates a compelling reading rhythm, which I like. My only criticism is that for me the story rolled along in a rather predictable way, with very little in the way of outstanding twists or wow moments, and I would have preferred something a bit darker and more unpredictable.

Overall, this was an entertaining and addictive read which I enjoyed and I will be back for the next Amanda McKinney novel.
3.5 stars rounded up.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @stormpublishing for the ARC.

[Samantha Bray]

The Sketch Artist was a solid three-star read for me. It was gripping enough to keep me turning the pages, and I particularly liked the unusual angle of having a courtroom sketch artist at the centre of the story. It's not a profession I've come across much in fiction, so it immediately gave the book something a little different.

The main character was likeable, although I never quite developed a strong emotional connection with her, and overall I felt the story lacked some of the depth I was looking for. I was also a little disappointed that the courtroom sketching element became less important as the story progressed. Given the title and how fresh that aspect of the premise felt, I would have loved it to remain more relevant throughout.

Initially I thought I had a fairly good idea of where the story was heading, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I hadn't figured everything out after all.

One thing I particularly appreciated was that the book allowed time for the story to wind down properly after its climax rather than ending abruptly. It gave the characters and events some breathing room and made the conclusion feel more satisfying.

Overall, an enjoyable and easy-to-read thriller with an interesting premise and enough intrigue to keep me reading, even if I wanted a little more depth from it.

I received an advance copy of this book free of charge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[ror]

3.75

I was drawn to this book based on the premise - a courtroom sketch artist who finds herself wrapped up in the middle of a case. while the actual courtroom aspect of this was a bit more minimal than I expected, it did take an interesting angle with Harper having to review some historical courtroom sketches and facts. do I think she stumbled upon some extremely obvious and hard to miss “clues”? absolutely. do I think the process of reopening a case was depicted as WAY too simple? absolutely. did it bother me? honestly, not really. with that being said, I can see how that might take away from the story for others.

this story had the potential to be extremely creepy crawly - which it still was, at times - but, the relationship with Harper and her daughter Bird, definitely made it a bit cozier. the added romance plot contributed as well. I felt the romance was decently done, although I don’t think it was particularly necessary to the story.

there were twists I didn’t see coming, ones that I thought were going to happen but didn’t, and an overall engaging plot. I wasn’t sure exactly how some of the POVs would tie in, but it made sense once you reached the peak of the story.

overall, this is a creepy but kinda cozy thriller/mystery with an interesting premise. if you’re someone perturbed by small details and accuracies, this might have some issues that would take away from the story for you.

thank you netgalley and the publishers for the arc!

[Chris Millora]

The Sketch Artist is a game of cat and mouse centred on the brutal murder of young girls at a camp – an event whose impact shook the small town where the story is set. Harper, a sketch artist already beaten down by a recent divorce, also has to deal with the death of her Aunt Joyce in a car crash. Joyce was also a sketch artist and the very person who instilled in Harper a love for drawing.

The premise is so exciting and drew me immediately to the book. I appreciated the two story POVs, told in short, quick chapters – one following Harper and the other set in a children’s camp – which made it a real page-turner. However, I also lost interest as quickly as it drew me in. The court sketching – which, for me, was the key and most unique POV of the book – became a secondary feature. It did play an important role, but it didn’t feel integral to the story which is a huge shame! The plot also became repetitive and dragged in the middle.

While it is set in a small town, with plenty of potential to introduce us to interesting characters, I felt that the descriptions of the place and its people were quite thin. I also felt little empathy for Harper, and I wish we had learned more about her relationship with her Aunt Joyce – there was so much potential for a beautiful intergenerational story there!

That said, I think it will still appeal to certain readers. There is enough excitement here to keep you reading and wanting to find out what happens!

[Sarah Stull]

I was granted reading privileges from NetGalley & Storm Publishing for The Sketch Artist by Amanda McKinney. Due to publish on Sept. 29th 2026. I really enjoyed it. I found myself making predictions and seeing what was going to happen with such certainty, only to be proven wrong with twist on top of twist.

A young, recently divorced, single mother, taken in by her aunt has barely had a chance to get settled when she's faced with protecting her daughter and proving her Aunts recent death wasn't an accident... Is she next? Is her 3 yr old daughter the target? How is she supposed to protect them both while making discoveries about a 40 year old crime that crushed the community and threatens to reopen old wounds.... Will she make enemy's of those who just want to move on or can she get to the truth before it's to late.

The Sketch Artist had good character development and I enjoyed it! At times I felt like it went too quickly to feel realistic or believable but maybe slowing down and adding more to the journey would have made it drag. All in all it was a good story with closure that I especially enjoyed! A very nice satisfying reveal and wrap up!
I would recommend this book to my friends and fellow readers!
Thank you to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for granting me access to this ARC.