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Beat Me to It
Not yet published
Expected 16 Feb 27A husband’s unforgivable betrayals. A wife’s plot for the perfect murder. It all comes undone with a vengeance in a twisting and chilling novel of psychological suspense.
After nearly fourteen years of a disintegrating marriage, Odette Baker decides that this is the day she will kill her husband, Beau. But when she returns to their upscale Atlanta home, Odette finds the powerful financier dead on the living room floor. Someone beat her to it.
When police and paramedics arrive, Odette loses control over what was once a foolproof plan. Her desperation is getting real. With potential evidence pointing straight at her, Odette must find out who killed her husband before she’s convicted of a crime she never committed. While her new lawyer, Vivienne DeMarco, works the legal end, Odette goes rogue to investigate the clients, friends, and mistresses in Beau’s devious life. One of them must have reason to frame her for murder.
The trail of lies and deception Odette follows runs deeper and darker than she could’ve imagined. And more dangerous too. Now Odette must put herself in a killer’s crosshairs—to save her own life.
After nearly fourteen years of a disintegrating marriage, Odette Baker decides that this is the day she will kill her husband, Beau. But when she returns to their upscale Atlanta home, Odette finds the powerful financier dead on the living room floor. Someone beat her to it.
When police and paramedics arrive, Odette loses control over what was once a foolproof plan. Her desperation is getting real. With potential evidence pointing straight at her, Odette must find out who killed her husband before she’s convicted of a crime she never committed. While her new lawyer, Vivienne DeMarco, works the legal end, Odette goes rogue to investigate the clients, friends, and mistresses in Beau’s devious life. One of them must have reason to frame her for murder.
The trail of lies and deception Odette follows runs deeper and darker than she could’ve imagined. And more dangerous too. Now Odette must put herself in a killer’s crosshairs—to save her own life.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 16, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 15, 2026
Odette and Beau both came from humble beginnings on the southside of Atlanta.
Odette was able to go to college and became an ER nurse.
Not having the same opportunities, Beau worked as an auto mechanic but had aspirations of doing much more.
Seeing that in her husband, Odette remembered a successful acquaintance from college, Everett, whom she doesn’t really care for, but decides to introduce her husband to him anyway in hopes of him finding a new career.
The two men immediately hit it off and become close friends, enabling Beau to get a job at Everett’s wealth management firm and quickly climb the ladder.
Despite the fact that she enjoys it, Beau gradually coerces Odette to quit her job in nursing.
While Odette still does estimable things, like volunteering at a soup kitchen three days a week, Beau is solely focused on “keeping up with the Joneses” and being viewed as a wealthy and successful man.
He constantly comes home smelling like other women’s perfume and his moral compass takes such a deep nosedive that Odette doesn’t even recognize him anymore.
Realizing that he won’t easily let her out of their marriage, Odette decides to kill him with poisonous plants (by the time I got to the end of the book, I could easily understand her rationale).
On the very day that she goes out to buy the plants, she comes home to find Beau lying on the floor dead.
Not only did someone else murder him, but they also framed her for the murder!
The bulk of this book was about an innocent woman trying to exonerate herself from a crime that she didn’t commit.
Against the advice of her attorney, she compiles a list of possible suspects, and goes out to question them herself.
She learns that that are a handful of people who wouldn’t exactly mind seeing her husband dead.
It’s written in multiple timelines, with the past 5-6 years leading up to the present day portion.
The actual killer was someone whom I would never had even considered.
This was an enjoyable read with a GREAT ending!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an eARC to review via NetGalley.
Odette was able to go to college and became an ER nurse.
Not having the same opportunities, Beau worked as an auto mechanic but had aspirations of doing much more.
Seeing that in her husband, Odette remembered a successful acquaintance from college, Everett, whom she doesn’t really care for, but decides to introduce her husband to him anyway in hopes of him finding a new career.
The two men immediately hit it off and become close friends, enabling Beau to get a job at Everett’s wealth management firm and quickly climb the ladder.
Despite the fact that she enjoys it, Beau gradually coerces Odette to quit her job in nursing.
While Odette still does estimable things, like volunteering at a soup kitchen three days a week, Beau is solely focused on “keeping up with the Joneses” and being viewed as a wealthy and successful man.
He constantly comes home smelling like other women’s perfume and his moral compass takes such a deep nosedive that Odette doesn’t even recognize him anymore.
Realizing that he won’t easily let her out of their marriage, Odette decides to kill him with poisonous plants (by the time I got to the end of the book, I could easily understand her rationale).
On the very day that she goes out to buy the plants, she comes home to find Beau lying on the floor dead.
Not only did someone else murder him, but they also framed her for the murder!
The bulk of this book was about an innocent woman trying to exonerate herself from a crime that she didn’t commit.
Against the advice of her attorney, she compiles a list of possible suspects, and goes out to question them herself.
She learns that that are a handful of people who wouldn’t exactly mind seeing her husband dead.
It’s written in multiple timelines, with the past 5-6 years leading up to the present day portion.
The actual killer was someone whom I would never had even considered.
This was an enjoyable read with a GREAT ending!
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an eARC to review via NetGalley.
September 7, 2026
She was ready to kill her husband… but someone beat her to it!
Odette has finally had enough of her miserable marriage and decides it’s time to get rid of her husband, Beau. But when she gets home, she finds out someone has already done it… and is framing her for it. Now she has to figure out who did it before taking the blame herself.
I enjoyed this story. There were secrets, messy relationships and plenty of twists. I was immediately invested in this from the beginning when she found out someone beat her to killing her husband lol. I’m always here for messy domestic suspense!
Odette has finally had enough of her miserable marriage and decides it’s time to get rid of her husband, Beau. But when she gets home, she finds out someone has already done it… and is framing her for it. Now she has to figure out who did it before taking the blame herself.
I enjoyed this story. There were secrets, messy relationships and plenty of twists. I was immediately invested in this from the beginning when she found out someone beat her to killing her husband lol. I’m always here for messy domestic suspense!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
RATING: 3.5 ⭐
GENRE: Psychological Thriller
PUBLICATION DATE: February 16th, 2027
For better or worse, ‘til death do us part… Odette Baker has seen the better slowly turn to the worse after fourteen years married to Beau. As if his manipulative and toxic behaviour isn’t enough, Odette stumbles upon the devastating secrets Beau has been keeping from her. Horrified, her situation has left her with no alternative but to plan his demise. She researches and plans and is finally ready to put her plan into motion. How could she know that on the very day she is ready to kill her husband, someone else has beaten her to it? Beau lies dead on the living room floor, and Odette is the primary suspect in a murder she planned but didn’t get a chance to execute. Desperate to prove her innocence and uncover the killer, Odette takes matters into her own hands. Who framed her, and will she succeed in discovering the truth or will she be next?
🥳 What worked for me
Premise: Imagine plotting your husband’s murder only to have someone else beat you to it! The audacity! I was totally invested in finding out why Odette felt the only way out of her marriage was MURDER.
Timeline: I really enjoyed the alternating past and present timelines. Watching Odette as she navigated the slow deterioration of her marriage and her identity as a person was truly painful.
🤔 What didn’t work for me
Suspension of disbelief: I had a really hard time with the decisions Odette made through the entire book, not to mention how easily she got people to divulge their secrets. A little too convenient…
Ending: No great twist here; satisfying conclusion but nothing earth shattering.
Content warnings: Gaslighting, toxic relationships, drug and sexual abuse
Final Verdict
Enjoyable thriller with a great premise but be prepared to suspend disbelief!
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Steph Mullin & Nicole Mabry for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
GENRE: Psychological Thriller
PUBLICATION DATE: February 16th, 2027
For better or worse, ‘til death do us part… Odette Baker has seen the better slowly turn to the worse after fourteen years married to Beau. As if his manipulative and toxic behaviour isn’t enough, Odette stumbles upon the devastating secrets Beau has been keeping from her. Horrified, her situation has left her with no alternative but to plan his demise. She researches and plans and is finally ready to put her plan into motion. How could she know that on the very day she is ready to kill her husband, someone else has beaten her to it? Beau lies dead on the living room floor, and Odette is the primary suspect in a murder she planned but didn’t get a chance to execute. Desperate to prove her innocence and uncover the killer, Odette takes matters into her own hands. Who framed her, and will she succeed in discovering the truth or will she be next?
🥳 What worked for me
Premise: Imagine plotting your husband’s murder only to have someone else beat you to it! The audacity! I was totally invested in finding out why Odette felt the only way out of her marriage was MURDER.
Timeline: I really enjoyed the alternating past and present timelines. Watching Odette as she navigated the slow deterioration of her marriage and her identity as a person was truly painful.
🤔 What didn’t work for me
Suspension of disbelief: I had a really hard time with the decisions Odette made through the entire book, not to mention how easily she got people to divulge their secrets. A little too convenient…
Ending: No great twist here; satisfying conclusion but nothing earth shattering.
Content warnings: Gaslighting, toxic relationships, drug and sexual abuse
Final Verdict
Enjoyable thriller with a great premise but be prepared to suspend disbelief!
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Steph Mullin & Nicole Mabry for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There is something deeply entertaining about a thriller that makes you suspicious of everyone, including yourself.
I really enjoyed Beat Me to It. The dual timeline was probably one of my favourite elements because it actually adds to the story rather than feeling like a clever formatting decision that someone made in a meeting. Each timeline gradually changes how you understand the characters and their relationships, and I loved putting those pieces together.
Odette is complicated, flawed and occasionally makes decisions that had me quietly thinking, perhaps we could make a slightly better choice here? But that is also what made her interesting. She feels human rather than perfectly calculated, and I found myself invested in what happened to her even when I questioned some of her choices.
There is also a lovely thread of darker humour throughout the book. It gives the story some breathing room and makes the overall experience feel entertaining rather than relentlessly grim.
The pacing kept me turning the pages, particularly through the beginning and middle. There are plenty of secrets, shifting suspicions and little moments that make you reconsider what you think you know.
My only real issue was the ending. After such a carefully developed story, the final revelations felt somewhat rushed, and I would have liked a little more time with the aftermath. It was satisfying, but I wanted the book to sit with its consequences for just a bit longer.
Still, this was a thoroughly enjoyable thriller. Messy characters, complicated relationships, dark humour and enough uncertainty to keep me happily suspicious.
A very good reminder that sometimes the real problem with having a murder plan is someone else being annoyingly efficient.
I really enjoyed Beat Me to It. The dual timeline was probably one of my favourite elements because it actually adds to the story rather than feeling like a clever formatting decision that someone made in a meeting. Each timeline gradually changes how you understand the characters and their relationships, and I loved putting those pieces together.
Odette is complicated, flawed and occasionally makes decisions that had me quietly thinking, perhaps we could make a slightly better choice here? But that is also what made her interesting. She feels human rather than perfectly calculated, and I found myself invested in what happened to her even when I questioned some of her choices.
There is also a lovely thread of darker humour throughout the book. It gives the story some breathing room and makes the overall experience feel entertaining rather than relentlessly grim.
The pacing kept me turning the pages, particularly through the beginning and middle. There are plenty of secrets, shifting suspicions and little moments that make you reconsider what you think you know.
My only real issue was the ending. After such a carefully developed story, the final revelations felt somewhat rushed, and I would have liked a little more time with the aftermath. It was satisfying, but I wanted the book to sit with its consequences for just a bit longer.
Still, this was a thoroughly enjoyable thriller. Messy characters, complicated relationships, dark humour and enough uncertainty to keep me happily suspicious.
A very good reminder that sometimes the real problem with having a murder plan is someone else being annoyingly efficient.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGally for providing this ARC read!!
WHAT DID THEY PUT IN THIS BOOK?!
If you're wondering what the story is about, it's pretty much about this wife planning to kill her husband, and the day her plan finally comes into action, she finds him already dead.
I also really liked how her original murder plan basically came back to bite her. She had planned everything around making sure no one saw her or knew exactly where she was so she could get away with killing him. But when someone beat her to it, all of those carefully planned details worked against her instead. She had no real alibi, no witnesses, and nothing she could say made sense because everything had been set up for a murder she was supposed to commit, not one that had already happened. She basically accidentally framed herself for her husband's murder without even killing him.
I also really liked how the book showed how money and all this luxury can change someone so much that you barely even recognize them anymore. Her husband used to be this loving person Odette genuinely loved, but after she tried to help him by connecting him with a guy she knew from high school who could get him a better job, he slowly started changing for the worse.
The book also goes back to the past, which worked SO well with the story. You slowly get to see who Beau used to be compared to who he became, how their relationship changed, and what eventually made Odette start to plan his own murder in the first place.
Honestly, when this book comes out, BUY IT RIGHT AWAY because you will not regret it. I was hooked trying to figure out who actually killed Beau from the start!
WHAT DID THEY PUT IN THIS BOOK?!
If you're wondering what the story is about, it's pretty much about this wife planning to kill her husband, and the day her plan finally comes into action, she finds him already dead.
I also really liked how her original murder plan basically came back to bite her. She had planned everything around making sure no one saw her or knew exactly where she was so she could get away with killing him. But when someone beat her to it, all of those carefully planned details worked against her instead. She had no real alibi, no witnesses, and nothing she could say made sense because everything had been set up for a murder she was supposed to commit, not one that had already happened. She basically accidentally framed herself for her husband's murder without even killing him.
I also really liked how the book showed how money and all this luxury can change someone so much that you barely even recognize them anymore. Her husband used to be this loving person Odette genuinely loved, but after she tried to help him by connecting him with a guy she knew from high school who could get him a better job, he slowly started changing for the worse.
The book also goes back to the past, which worked SO well with the story. You slowly get to see who Beau used to be compared to who he became, how their relationship changed, and what eventually made Odette start to plan his own murder in the first place.
Honestly, when this book comes out, BUY IT RIGHT AWAY because you will not regret it. I was hooked trying to figure out who actually killed Beau from the start!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I didn't really have any expectations before reading this book. Yet, they were exceeded.
This book was full of surprises; so many things happened that I hadn't expected. The concept was original, you want to murder your husband but someone beat you to it. I had never read anything simelar.
In terms of writing (style) I enjoyed the book.
By switching between the present and the past, the story builds suspense, and it makes it feels like you are discovering the story alongside the main character.
I also appreciate that most of the characters aren't perfect and flawles. They are written like real persons with their own personality and character traits.
Through the various situations the characters are experiencing and the time differences, you gradually come to know what happened that led to death. The situations the characters have found themselves in and how these relate to the murder. It feels like you are the main character, or at least discovering everything at the same time as the main character. For me personally, this makes the story more exciting.
I really appreciate how the story revolves around the murder, but also focuses on the events that led up to it. The story shows how
certain people or certain relationships weren't always bad. It shows the beautiful side and builds up to the bad side. This makes it more realistic and makes it easier to find compassion for these charcters.
I recommend this book, especially if you read my review and think, "I find these things mentioned in the review appealing in a book."
This book was full of surprises; so many things happened that I hadn't expected. The concept was original, you want to murder your husband but someone beat you to it. I had never read anything simelar.
In terms of writing (style) I enjoyed the book.
By switching between the present and the past, the story builds suspense, and it makes it feels like you are discovering the story alongside the main character.
I also appreciate that most of the characters aren't perfect and flawles. They are written like real persons with their own personality and character traits.
Through the various situations the characters are experiencing and the time differences, you gradually come to know what happened that led to death. The situations the characters have found themselves in and how these relate to the murder. It feels like you are the main character, or at least discovering everything at the same time as the main character. For me personally, this makes the story more exciting.
I really appreciate how the story revolves around the murder, but also focuses on the events that led up to it. The story shows how
certain people or certain relationships weren't always bad. It shows the beautiful side and builds up to the bad side. This makes it more realistic and makes it easier to find compassion for these charcters.
I recommend this book, especially if you read my review and think, "I find these things mentioned in the review appealing in a book."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of this title. My review is not influenced by receiving this copy; these opinions are entirely my own.
Odette and Beau started out with what seemed to be the perfect marriage. He cared about her, but things began to change after Odette helped him land the “perfect” job. As she became overwhelmed by a variety of circumstances, she decided to kill him.
But someone beat her to it. Hence the title!
All of the characters played a role in the story, but I had mixed feelings about the lawyer. Odette just “happened” to choose her, and then the ending suddenly brought the lawyer into focus. Without giving anything away, that part felt a little far-fetched to me.
I also felt the ending came too abruptly. I would have liked a little more development and explanation before everything wrapped up.
Overall, this was a good read with an interesting premise and enough twists to keep me guessing. While a few things didn’t quite work for me, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.
Odette and Beau started out with what seemed to be the perfect marriage. He cared about her, but things began to change after Odette helped him land the “perfect” job. As she became overwhelmed by a variety of circumstances, she decided to kill him.
But someone beat her to it. Hence the title!
All of the characters played a role in the story, but I had mixed feelings about the lawyer. Odette just “happened” to choose her, and then the ending suddenly brought the lawyer into focus. Without giving anything away, that part felt a little far-fetched to me.
I also felt the ending came too abruptly. I would have liked a little more development and explanation before everything wrapped up.
Overall, this was a good read with an interesting premise and enough twists to keep me guessing. While a few things didn’t quite work for me, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.
August 20, 2026
A fast-paced, unputdownable thriller that respects your time!
If you are tired of slow-burn mysteries that take half the book to get moving, Beat Me to It is the absolute antidote. This book drops you straight into the chaos on page one with a massive hook and never takes its foot off the gas.
Odette decides today is the day she’s going to handle her toxic, cheating husband once and for all—only to walk in and find someone beat her to it. Suspicion immediately falls on her, forcing her on a high-stakes, frantic run to clear her name while everyone around her feels like a suspect.
At just under 270 pages, it is tight, snappy, and utterly addictive. The short chapters make it impossible not to say "just one more page" (I literally blew through 75% of this book in a single day, sneak-reading whenever I could!). Every time I thought I had the killer figured out, the story threw another fantastic curveball.
If you need a quick, clever, high-octane thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end, do not sleep on this one. Highly recommend!
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc**
If you are tired of slow-burn mysteries that take half the book to get moving, Beat Me to It is the absolute antidote. This book drops you straight into the chaos on page one with a massive hook and never takes its foot off the gas.
Odette decides today is the day she’s going to handle her toxic, cheating husband once and for all—only to walk in and find someone beat her to it. Suspicion immediately falls on her, forcing her on a high-stakes, frantic run to clear her name while everyone around her feels like a suspect.
At just under 270 pages, it is tight, snappy, and utterly addictive. The short chapters make it impossible not to say "just one more page" (I literally blew through 75% of this book in a single day, sneak-reading whenever I could!). Every time I thought I had the killer figured out, the story threw another fantastic curveball.
If you need a quick, clever, high-octane thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end, do not sleep on this one. Highly recommend!
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc**
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of this title. My review is in no way influenced by receiving this copy.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read. Our main character, Odette, avoided most of the pitfalls that many female main characters in these stories often fall into. She was smart, took action, and got angry. I appreciated that she wasn’t passive or willing to overlook things that she found upsetting.
I believe all of the characters had interesting motivations that played into the overall plot and led to the way the ending unfolded. I always appreciate an unexpected ending.
I will admit that sometimes motivations and information were revealed a little too conveniently. I also wish a few of the villains in this story had been a bit more charming or deceptive to add to the suspense and confusion on the reader’s end.
Despite these few suggestions, I think this was a strong and well-written book. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a thriller.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read. Our main character, Odette, avoided most of the pitfalls that many female main characters in these stories often fall into. She was smart, took action, and got angry. I appreciated that she wasn’t passive or willing to overlook things that she found upsetting.
I believe all of the characters had interesting motivations that played into the overall plot and led to the way the ending unfolded. I always appreciate an unexpected ending.
I will admit that sometimes motivations and information were revealed a little too conveniently. I also wish a few of the villains in this story had been a bit more charming or deceptive to add to the suspense and confusion on the reader’s end.
Despite these few suggestions, I think this was a strong and well-written book. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a thriller.
August 16, 2026
I received a complimentary e book ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I gave this book 4.5 stars and rounded up to 5 on Goodreads :)
Odette was planning to kill her husband, he isn’t the man that she married and over the years him and his business partner Everett have made some questionable business decisions (to put it mildly). Along with his infidelity and narcissistic abuse, Odette is sick of it and sees no other options to get away from him. There’s only one problem… someone has beaten her to the punch and she is now being framed for a murder she did not commit! I loved how this book went back and forth from past to present and gave the reader a clear picture of how Beau started as a loving husband but quickly became someone unrecognizable. I had no idea who the real killer was until the reveal, Beau had made quite a few enemies over the years! There were two authors to this book, Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry, yet the book flowed together as if it were written by one voice. I would like to thank NetGalley for providing this advanced copy!
I gave this book 4.5 stars and rounded up to 5 on Goodreads :)
Odette was planning to kill her husband, he isn’t the man that she married and over the years him and his business partner Everett have made some questionable business decisions (to put it mildly). Along with his infidelity and narcissistic abuse, Odette is sick of it and sees no other options to get away from him. There’s only one problem… someone has beaten her to the punch and she is now being framed for a murder she did not commit! I loved how this book went back and forth from past to present and gave the reader a clear picture of how Beau started as a loving husband but quickly became someone unrecognizable. I had no idea who the real killer was until the reveal, Beau had made quite a few enemies over the years! There were two authors to this book, Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry, yet the book flowed together as if it were written by one voice. I would like to thank NetGalley for providing this advanced copy!
September 2, 2026
Thank you so much Netgalley + the publishers for providing this ARC
Genuinely was not expecting to love this book as much as I did! Right from the start, the story hooked me and I never wanted to put it down. The plot was so interesting and I think the dual timeline worked really well, especially because it kept revealing new information that I was constantly dying to know. I honestly never felt like there were any slow or boring moments, and I really loved the pacing throughout the story.
As soon as I started the book, I had a feeling I was going to love it, but I definitely wasn’t expecting it to become one of my favorite thrillers ever! The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me was the ending. At around 90–95%, it started to feel a little rushed, especially because some things were revealed a bit too easily after everything the main character had gone through to uncover the clues and solve the mystery.
Even though I felt like the ending was rushed, I still really enjoyed this book.
Genuinely was not expecting to love this book as much as I did! Right from the start, the story hooked me and I never wanted to put it down. The plot was so interesting and I think the dual timeline worked really well, especially because it kept revealing new information that I was constantly dying to know. I honestly never felt like there were any slow or boring moments, and I really loved the pacing throughout the story.
As soon as I started the book, I had a feeling I was going to love it, but I definitely wasn’t expecting it to become one of my favorite thrillers ever! The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me was the ending. At around 90–95%, it started to feel a little rushed, especially because some things were revealed a bit too easily after everything the main character had gone through to uncover the clues and solve the mystery.
Even though I felt like the ending was rushed, I still really enjoyed this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
So apparently Odette had lots of time to prepare but still scrambled and made up answers on the spot to very predictable questions when being interrogated.
The way Odette was investigating, or the way new leads were appearing and their conversations felt a bit unnatural. It reminded me a bit of how RPGs work. You meet a stranger, they have no obligation to tell you anything, they even hesitate at first and then they spill everything they know in one monologue.
All encounters were very linear and convenient. In one, Odette called a woman, the woman refused to talk, but very conveniently, a kid shouted in the background where they were about to go to. It was just so easy.
Once I found out why she wanted to kill her husband, I was underwhelmed. “Is that it?”, I thought. Eh. There were other options I thought. Especially that there was no sign of danger towards Odette.
The final reveal was also a bit lacklustre.
So apparently Odette had lots of time to prepare but still scrambled and made up answers on the spot to very predictable questions when being interrogated.
The way Odette was investigating, or the way new leads were appearing and their conversations felt a bit unnatural. It reminded me a bit of how RPGs work. You meet a stranger, they have no obligation to tell you anything, they even hesitate at first and then they spill everything they know in one monologue.
All encounters were very linear and convenient. In one, Odette called a woman, the woman refused to talk, but very conveniently, a kid shouted in the background where they were about to go to. It was just so easy.
Once I found out why she wanted to kill her husband, I was underwhelmed. “Is that it?”, I thought. Eh. There were other options I thought. Especially that there was no sign of danger towards Odette.
The final reveal was also a bit lacklustre.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an excellent read! I thought I knew what was going on right from the start, but that turned out to be wrong! Then I kinda had a feeling a certain someone was involved somehow, but didn’t figure out how until said person explained it. So bravo to the authors for keeping the “who done it” somewhat hard to guess! That’s points from me! I thought the female MC’s were likable and smart! Too many thriller books these days make the female characters do stupid things it drives me nuts! I liked the smart decisions in this one! It was close to a 5 star read, but the last chapter felt really out of place! I don’t know if it needs to be a chapter or two before the end or maybe just rewritten a little. It just didn’t work. I still really enjoyed the book, but that’s what’s keeping it from being 5 stars.
*thanks to Thomas and Mercer for the ARC
*thanks to Thomas and Mercer for the ARC
September 9, 2026
This was a fun, fast-paced, twisty thriller.
I did find some of the characters and plot elements a little predictable and flat. There were some interesting twists and relationships, but overall, the story felt a bit one-note, with things falling into place a little too easily.
The ending also felt somewhat anticlimactic. After the buildup throughout the book, I felt like everything was resolved a bit too quickly.
That said, I really liked the premise and pacing. The chapters alternate between past and present perspectives, and they’re short and easy to read. I enjoyed seeing the story come together through both timelines and perspectives.
Overall, this was a fun, easy thriller that kept me turning the pages. 3.5 stars, rounded up!
Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!
I did find some of the characters and plot elements a little predictable and flat. There were some interesting twists and relationships, but overall, the story felt a bit one-note, with things falling into place a little too easily.
The ending also felt somewhat anticlimactic. After the buildup throughout the book, I felt like everything was resolved a bit too quickly.
That said, I really liked the premise and pacing. The chapters alternate between past and present perspectives, and they’re short and easy to read. I enjoyed seeing the story come together through both timelines and perspectives.
Overall, this was a fun, easy thriller that kept me turning the pages. 3.5 stars, rounded up!
Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Description
A husband’s unforgivable betrayals. A wife’s plot for the perfect murder. It all comes undone with a vengeance in a twisting and chilling novel of psychological suspense.
The story kept me interested from beginning to end, and I found myself wanting to keep reading just to see how everything would play out. The characters felt real and easy to connect with, while keeping the pacing lively. There were plenty of twists and entertaining moments that kept me guessing.
Overall, this was a fun, engaging book that I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an entertaining and easy-to-get-lost-in read.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A husband’s unforgivable betrayals. A wife’s plot for the perfect murder. It all comes undone with a vengeance in a twisting and chilling novel of psychological suspense.
The story kept me interested from beginning to end, and I found myself wanting to keep reading just to see how everything would play out. The characters felt real and easy to connect with, while keeping the pacing lively. There were plenty of twists and entertaining moments that kept me guessing.
Overall, this was a fun, engaging book that I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an entertaining and easy-to-get-lost-in read.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 29, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for an early copy.
Odette has put together the perfect plan to murder her husband. She made an alibi and knows how to make it look like a natural death. But the day it’s supposed to happen, she comes home and finds him dead and she’s being framed for the murder that someone beat her to committing.
I was hooked from the first page to the last. I was not expecting the twists at all. Often dual timelines throw me off when they switch back and forth every couple chapters but this one was done so well. Putting the puzzle pieces from Odette and Beau’s history to the present of why he was murdered had me turning the pages so fast.
And the one final twist at the very end had me shocked.
Odette has put together the perfect plan to murder her husband. She made an alibi and knows how to make it look like a natural death. But the day it’s supposed to happen, she comes home and finds him dead and she’s being framed for the murder that someone beat her to committing.
I was hooked from the first page to the last. I was not expecting the twists at all. Often dual timelines throw me off when they switch back and forth every couple chapters but this one was done so well. Putting the puzzle pieces from Odette and Beau’s history to the present of why he was murdered had me turning the pages so fast.
And the one final twist at the very end had me shocked.
August 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
★★★½
This was a fun and fast paced thriller with a really interesting premise that hooked me from the beginning. I really enjoyed the mystery behind what happened to Beau and what pushed Odette to wanting to kill her husband. What made this story not as 'perfect' is that I found the middle to be quite clunky with a lot of information being revealed a bit too easily. The ending did make up for this as the story picked up on pace and the twists really started coming in. I would recommend this book to other readers.
★★★½
This was a fun and fast paced thriller with a really interesting premise that hooked me from the beginning. I really enjoyed the mystery behind what happened to Beau and what pushed Odette to wanting to kill her husband. What made this story not as 'perfect' is that I found the middle to be quite clunky with a lot of information being revealed a bit too easily. The ending did make up for this as the story picked up on pace and the twists really started coming in. I would recommend this book to other readers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was a dark and twisty psychological suspense that pulled me in with its premise. Odette’s decision to finally take matters into her own hands after years of a broken marriage created plenty of tension, and I enjoyed the escalating sense of danger and the twists along the way. The story has a strong revenge element and keeps me curious about how everything would unfold. That said, some of the pacing felt a little uneven, and a few character choices were hard to connect with at times. I also wanted a little more depth in certain parts of the story, but overall, it was an entertaining and suspenseful read with plenty of secrets, betrayal, and revenge.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I really enjoyed Beat Me to It! This had the kind of messy character drama that makes me want to keep reading, especially when trust starts to become a big question. I found Odette such an interesting character to follow, and I was completely on board with her determination to take matters into her own hands. I also really enjoyed the darker humour throughout - it gave the story a fun edge without taking away from what was happening.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I got an ARC for this novel and it took me a few chapters to reel me in but I’m glad I kept reading it. The ending was so unpredictable and I could not have expected such a twist. The entire book was written in present day and flashbacks and it keeps you on the edge to find out more.
August 26, 2026
She wanted to kill her husband, but someone beat her to it. A mixture of thriller and mystery with a back and forth timeline leads to intrigue and death. Loved the pacing of this book and the premise, it kept me engaged throughout!
September 7, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
An important and timely read!
When wealthy, connected men have the opportunity to do whatever they want, they take it.
So many unexpected twists! I definitely felt surprised throughout! Well done!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
An important and timely read!
When wealthy, connected men have the opportunity to do whatever they want, they take it.
So many unexpected twists! I definitely felt surprised throughout! Well done!
September 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ WOW! This book was amazing, I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t figure out the clues and loved the ending.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Interesting premise. Odette's "investigation" was sort of unbelievable. Like it was way too easy for her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
.✦ ݁˖ 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝐛𝐞 “𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐨” 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐭.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
the title immediately grabbed my attention, and the premise was what convinced me to give it a shot. i’d never read anything by Stephanie Mullin & Nicole Mabry before, so this was my first introduction to their work—and what a fun one!
i really enjoyed the mystery in this. i was constantly trying to connect the dots, second-guessing my theories, and wondering who or what i could actually trust. the story kept me curious enough that i always wanted to know what was going to happen next, and i found myself really rooting for Odette throughout.
then came the ending 👀 i thought i had figured it out, but i was completely wrong. i definitely did NOT see that coming!
a really entertaining mystery thriller that kept me guessing until the end. definitely a great first read from these authors, and i’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with next!
𐙚⋆.˚ Thank you to the authors, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
the title immediately grabbed my attention, and the premise was what convinced me to give it a shot. i’d never read anything by Stephanie Mullin & Nicole Mabry before, so this was my first introduction to their work—and what a fun one!
i really enjoyed the mystery in this. i was constantly trying to connect the dots, second-guessing my theories, and wondering who or what i could actually trust. the story kept me curious enough that i always wanted to know what was going to happen next, and i found myself really rooting for Odette throughout.
then came the ending 👀 i thought i had figured it out, but i was completely wrong. i definitely did NOT see that coming!
a really entertaining mystery thriller that kept me guessing until the end. definitely a great first read from these authors, and i’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with next!
𐙚⋆.˚ Thank you to the authors, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC!
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