Complicit

by Renda Knapp

Genres: Medical Thriller, Thriller

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 9, 2027

Reviews

[Gary Gerlacher]

This is everything you expect from a medical thriller - hospital intrigue, realistic medical scenes, intriguing characters and a plot that grows as the story progresses. Knapp shows off her medical knowledge as well as addressing many of the difficult social issues faced by OB/Gyns during the routine care of their patients. Dr. Jewell fights to get answers about her husband’s death while trying to save a patient et and her daughter from a similar fate, all while trying yo save her career. This is a masterful debut effort from Dr. Knapp and a welcome addition to the medical thriller genre.

[Sarah Owens]

What an emotional rollercoaster! The moments I was certain I knew what was happening, Knapp completely caught me off guard and blew my mind. While I do not typically read thrillers, I devoured "Complicit" in two days because I felt so connected to the women of this community, and I desperately needed them to be okay. Having grown up in a rural area similar to Knapp's Ashford, VA, it was difficult not to imagine the characters as the women in my own family and wonder if I could be capable of handling the crises that arose as well as her MFC - Dr. Randi Jo Jewell. (Most likely not.) For me, Knapp created realistic and relatable characters that made me truly care about what happened to them. Many tears were shed.

Knapp's personal knowledge of the medical field and procedures provides credibility for the story that I sometimes doubt in other books. She is able to walk the reader through what is happening in an educated but not sterile (pardon the pun) way that keeps you engaged while understanding each of her actions. I greatly appreciated how Knapp used Dr. Jewell to walk other residents through the procedures in times of uncertainty to help the reader understand what is actually happening and how things can go wrong in an instant.

I did struggle in the early stages of the book with the amount of plot lines (murdered husband, missing sister, trafficked pregnant teenager) and how many people were introduced as key characters. It was difficult to determine how old Jewell was with a 13-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old sister, as well as how long it had been since her husband was murdered and her sister went missing. I do understand that part of the suspense was in Jewell's lack of knowledge of what happened to both of them, but I wish there had been more available information about her timeline. By the end of the book, Knapp did a great job of tying together the interconnecting stories - even if it made my heart hurt.

While Knapp does a very good job of handling how it is portrayed, I do think there should be apparent trigger warnings in the beginning of the book because I was unaware of the child sex trafficking aspect of the story. I realize it is very important for people to have more awareness of trafficking, but it was incredibly difficult to read about what these girls went through.

Overall, this story sucked me in, and I struggled to think about anything else until I knew what happened to Jewell and her family. Honestly, I really haven't stopped thinking about it even after I finished it. For thriller lovers, I highly recommend this book! For those like me with a weaker tolerance for suspenseful books, I still recommend because of how relatable the characters are! While I would never want to be treated in that hospital, I would want Dr. Randi Jo Jewell in my corner.

[Tiffany]

📚 COMPLICIT by Renda Knapp
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Talk about an immediate hook. 👀

Complicit grabbed me from the beginning, but WOW…once this story picks up steam toward the end, it becomes one of those “I’ll just read one more chapter” situations…until suddenly you’re at THE END and wondering where the heck the time went. 😂

Heart-pounding. Tense. Edge-of-your-seat. Unputdownable.

This debut medical thriller follows Dr. Randi Jewell, an OB-GYN in rural Appalachia, as a seemingly simple act of compassion toward a pregnant teenager begins unraveling secrets that hit far closer to home than she ever could have imagined.

And that’s where things get GOOD. 👏

There are secrets, suspicious deaths, disappearances, threats, and a cover-up that keeps peeling back layer after layer. Just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening…think again.

And for a debut novel, this absolutely does NOT read like one. The author’s medical background brings an authenticity and depth to the story that makes the fictional world feel incredibly real.

I was hooked early, but that final stretch? HEART. POUNDING. ❤️‍🔥

If you’re a fan of medical thrillers, dark institutional secrets, strong female characters, and stories that keep tightening the screws until you HAVE to know how it ends—add this one to your TBR.

5/5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Renda Knapp…if this is what you’re bringing us with your debut, I’m absolutely here for whatever comes next. 👀📚

[Nicholette]

I inhaled this book in a couple of days!

Renda Knapp’s thrilling debut follows Randi Jo Jewell, an OB/GYN resident who is also a widow and a mother. Dr Jewell struggles to balance her career and motherhood, while still grieving her murdered husband and missing sister. Then she encounters a patient who might know something helpful...

Set in a small Appalachian town, this book has everything: family dynamics, workplace politics, community and church complications, and all the high intensity drama of the hospital. Only Randi’s courageous dedication to her family and her patients can help unravel a complex web of crime and corruption. This riveting story, told through many plot twists and nailbiting moments of suspense, is also a heartwarming family story of survival. It will keep you up reading late into the night!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

[Ashley Kimes]

Complicit is beyond amazing. Had me hooked right away. Hard to believe this is Renda Knapp debut novel.
Complicit is definitely a page turner you can't put down. Every time I thought I figured out what was going on another twist was added.
Complicit was well written and given great details from a doctors view point. The details given about Nora giving birth made me gasp out loud praying for mom and baby to be okay. Definitely pulled on my heart strings.
What a mother won't do to save her child and what a Doctor won't do to help someone in need.
I look forward to future books from Renda Knapp! My favorite read this year alone!
Highly recommend this book to everyone!!

[Karimar V. Gonzalez]

I liked this book a lot! My only issue was that the pacing felt a little slow at times. It started off fast, then slowed down, picked back up again, and then slowed down again, I definitely found myself wanting things to move along a little faster in certain parts. But over all very good.

I was able to pin point the bad guys fast and there were also moments where I was literally “yelling” at the characters 😂… you know, like when you’re watching a show and you’re sitting there thinking, “COME ON! How are you not seeing this?!” I kept waiting for them to put the pieces together and catch the bad guy(s) lol and some of the twist I wasn’t expecting. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It kept me interested enough to want to know how everything would play out, and I’d definitely recommend it!

[Criscee]

A tense, engaging read that kept me curious about how everything would ultimately come together. I enjoyed the pacing and the underlying sense that there was always more happening beneath the surface. Definitely an entertaining suspense read.

[Kevin Patrick Patrick]

Book Review: Shades of Chekov

Two things stand out immediately. Author Renda Knapp weaves suspense, artful writing, and technical knowledge together seamlessly. Complicit jumps out at you from Chapter 1, pulls you in, and forces you to swim in the deep end. Knapp is relentless, though, and she delivers a gripping story filled with mystery, suspense, action, and love.

I admire when authors humanize everyday objects, and Knapp has the touch, proven by lines like, “The chocolate is dense and rich, the kind of thing that briefly makes the world make sense.” In Knapp’s hands, chocolate cake is more than just a dessert. Two characters bond over it, and readers find their own hope that small treasures still exist in a harsh and broken world.

I enjoy Knapp’s descriptions and dedication to finding the right words and right pacing. Her storytelling and rhythm remind me of Anton Chekov, and I mean that in the best way. Chekov is among my very favorite writers.

More than anything, Knapp’s artistry made me feel present in the moments of her characters. She also gives different and rich perspectives of motherhood, from the pregnancy of a teenager who suddenly feels awash with a heart full of love for her unborn baby to a mama bear desperate to save the life of her kidnapped teenager.

How the mystery of Complicit unfolds would make Hitchcock proud, especially how Knapp draws out every moment of suspense.

I recommend you pick up your copy and set aside your next Netflix binge to read this author’s stellar first book.

[Corinne Soares]

A fast-paced medical thriller packed with mystery, drama, and plenty of twists! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for Goodreads and NetGalley.

Dr. Randi Jewell is an OB-GYN in a small Appalachian town who is still reeling from her husband's murder and her sister's unexplained disappearance. When a mysterious pregnant teenager arrives in town seeking help, Randi finds herself drawn into a dangerous web of secrets that extends far beyond her medical practice.

Complicit is a fast-moving, dramatic mystery that draws you in right from the start! It's hard to believe this is Renda Knapp's debut novel, but when you discover she's an OB-GYN herself, it makes sense why the medical aspects of this story are so well written.
This was a page turner filled with medical drama, police corruption, missing persons, and a mysterious pregnant runaway teen. Think Grey's Anatomy meets a small town thriller!

Fans of Karin Slaughter will feel right at home with this one. It has a very similar vibe, with plenty of suspense, complex characters, and twists and turns that keep you guessing.

I don't want to say too much because there are so many unexpected developments throughout this story, and I think it's best to go in knowing as little as possible. I finished this one quick because it was hard to put down. Highly recommend for lovers of medical thrillers and fast-paced mysteries!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and to the author who I connected with a while back!

[Ashley]

This authors debut title is definitely worth a read! I love the merge between thriller and health care. Knapp lays out the social dilemmas that occur and the difficulties of trying to be a great provider but also a good person. Reading about the main character, Randi, navigating those situations and uncovering the mystery of finding her sister and helping Nora create a safe life for herself was beautifully written. Everytime I thought I knew who the culprit was, I was directed to another possibility. The ending was jaw dropping, and I most definitely did not see that coming!

At first, there were so many things happening at once. We find out about Randi’s murdered husband, the missing sister, and also Nora’s story. I like how in the end, everything is tied together and, without really knowing it, we already had so many of the facts before we reached the reveal.

I highly recommend this book, I DEVOURED it in 3 days. I definitely applaud Knapp on how beautifully balanced this novel is in both the thriller and medical worlds! I can’t wait to read more of her work.

[Trisha Reeder]

Entertaining and action packed from the start! I loved that all the medical things were 99% correct and what would really happen in the hospital or during real cases- that was a breath of fresh air. I read this so fast- 8 hours to be exact and it was such an easy read where I was interested practically the whole way through. Every book is going to have lulls; that’s just the way it is- that’s the roller coaster of thrillers 101!

The only thing that threw me was Dani’s story; I feel like it was unnecessary and was only dabbled here and there and I think I would’ve preferred it without. I understand wanting the connection between characters but I feel like that could’ve been done differently or just had the connection of doctor and patient.

Other than that this is a solid thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed and would definitely recommend- and trust me I am a pretty tough rater whether I get the ARC or not I am 100% truthful with me reviews

Thank you Renda Knapp for letting me read your ARC and sending a physical copy as well!!

[Ashley LeBaron]

Thank you so much to Renda Knapp for the opportunity to read Complicit early. I truly appreciate being trusted with an ARC and getting the chance to share my honest thoughts.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.

The premise had so much potential, and the opening immediately grabbed my attention. I thought I was getting a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller, and I was really hoping the story would build on that strong start.

Unfortunately, I found myself increasingly bored as the story progressed. There were a lot of different things happening, but I never felt like the story was coming together in a way that kept me invested. I kept waiting for that moment where everything would click and the tension would really kick in, but it never happened for me.

I also struggled with the writing and, more importantly, the emotional connection. There are some very heavy and disturbing subjects throughout the book, but I never felt the emotional weight behind them. I could see that these were supposed to be impactful moments, but I didn’t feel them.

The book also felt very predictable to me in several places, which made it difficult to get that sense of suspense I was looking for from a thriller.

I know reading is subjective, and I’m sure this book will resonate with readers who connect with the story and writing style more than I did. Unfortunately, I spent most of the second half waiting for the story to finally pull me in, and by the time I reached the end, I still felt largely disconnected from it.

Thank you again to Renda Knapp for the opportunity to read Complicit early. I appreciate the chance to read and review it, even though ultimately this one wasn’t a good fit for me.

[Linda Martin]

Review: Complicit by Renda Knapp

If you have chores to finish, like dishes in the sink for example, you should take care of them before you settle in with this book. Or, you could do as I did and just put responsibilities on hold as you enjoy the ups and downs and shocking twists in this medical mystery. It’s a page-turner for sure. Two protagonists keep the plot unfolding as their stories merge. An ob-gyn resident and a sex-trafficked teen-ager face powerful evil, becoming strong together. The voices of each are written with authority and skill. Side stories of family and community add interest and sometimes humor to the plot. As I got close to the end of the book, I had to set it aside a few times, just to breathe. The tension builds to an exciting climax, and yes, there is a satisfying conclusion. I read this book with delight. I recommend it, especially to female readers for whom the story will resonate.

[Janice Dyck]

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy of Dr. Renda Knapp’s debut, “Complicit.” With its tight prose, taut plot and rising tension, I felt like I was walking a tightwire from beginning to end. These were characters I could relate to: a grief-ridden, exhausted professional balancing motherhood and her place in the community, young women who are innocent of everything except their own complicity, a paternalistic web of abusers wearing the masks of the good guys, and the actual good guys who look exactly like the bad guys. What could go wrong for our tender heroine and her family? I recommend you read it yourself when it hits the stores to find out. This is a well-paced page turner sure to appeal to thriller fans, book clubs, medical procedure fans, and any woman who recognizes herself in its pages.

[Sheila]

I received an advanced copy of Complicit in exchange for my honest review.
Let me first say I feel like this book was made specifically for me, as I received it on 9/9/26, my birthday. When I opened to chapter one, the date was September 9th, so if felt a lot like serendipity!
Complicit is a powerful story about a woman facing desperation and the difficult choices that come with it. I really connected with the emotional depth of the book and the way it captured feelings of fear, hope, and uncertainty. The characters felt real, and their struggles stayed with me long after I finished reading. It’s a thought-provoking read that makes you think about how far someone might go when pushed to their limits. I really enjoyed this book an look forward to seeing what Renda Knapp comes out with next!

[Autumn Hoover]

As a women's health care provider and advocate, I loved the author's creation of the female characters as she presented their diverse attributes. Each one carefully crafted with a dinstinct personality, a troubled past, and her own set of challenges, yet their stories are woven together by their intense ambitions to survive. From the aspiring female physician to the abandoned adolescent, both characters possess the credibilty to reasonate with readers of all ages. While both lead characters are victims of trauma, this book demonstrates how they must fight in order to survive elements of their past. The author beautifully reminds her readers that none of us should be defined by our pasts, but instead, we must face adversity with courage and faith as we find our true purpose in life.

[Anthony Gowgiel]

I just finished Renda Knapp’s "Complicit," and I am slightly upset with the author - it is such a page-turner that I could not put it down, and found myself reading far past my normal bedtime for two nights in a row! This is a remarkable book, with fully believable characters, a thrilling plot with twists and turns, and an ending that fully delivers. The main character, a doctor trying to balance a complex career with family and motherhood, is everything you expect and more, and it is clear that the author draws from her decades of medical experience in creating this believable protagonist. The story draws the reader into life in a small town, and delivers plot twists that make this a first-rate thriller. I would highly recommend this book.

[Tawny Webster]

This book had the perfect amount to twists and turns without making me feel jumpy! I would recommend it to people who love reading books with mystery but aren’t into darkness and don’t want to go to bed scared (because I personally stayed up way too late reading it). I loved the character depth and the justice in this book! Renda did an excellent job in this debut novel. I was hooked on knowing her characters from the first chapter.

[Beth Hadaway]

Book Review: Complicit by Renda Knapp

Complicit is a gripping debut medical thriller that hooked me from the beginning and was nearly impossible to put down. Renda Knapp’s meticulous attention to detail and authentic medical knowledge made the story compelling and its characters absorbing.

With its escalating tension and fast-paced plot, Complicit is a captivating read that I highly recommend to fans of medical thrillers.

[kris]

I really enjoyed this book. I related to the pregnancy issues as I lost my 1st child at 16 due to incompetent cervix and horrible doctor who thought I was too young. In the 90s teen pregnancy wasn't as it is today. The story was told well and was surprised at the bad guys. Loved Randi and how she never gave up looking for her sister.

[Lisa Buchanan]

What a honor it was to be an ARC reader for this book ! WOW ! It’s a rollercoaster of a ride ! The 2 ladies in this book are both amazing strong and courageous! They come from completely different backgrounds but the similarities they share are amazing !! What an awesome book !! Y’all better get a copy when it comes out in February I promise you that’s you’ll not regret it !!

[Pamela Matney]

Dr. Knapp knocked this book out of the park. It grabs your attention from the first page and you never want the book to end. I devoured it in a matter of hours, stayed up late and got up early to see what happened next. Highly recommend!!

[Bre Rottenstein]

This is one of the best medical fictions I have read.
The authors experience in the medical field clearly showed, and her expertise in putting that into a novel had me begging for more!

[Mary Cepeda]

This book gripped me from page one! Randi the main character has so much depth and you really are able to relate to her! Fantastic thriller really has some awesome twists! 100% would read and recommend again and again!

[Peggy Frazier]

I almost ALWAYS read reviews before purchasing a book. It's rare that I buy a book despite lackluster reviews and not be disappointed, and I read A LOT. It is my escape from the trials of life... get lost in another place from a position of comfort and let the world just wash away for a while. I was given an advance copy of Complicit in exchange for a review, and I can 100% say it truly carried me away into that place.

Medical thrillers can be a bit hit-or-miss. Not true with this one.

In her debut novel, Renda Knapp has truly showcased her ability to draw you in and keep you there. At the beginning of the book, for a moment, I questioned whether I could hang, as the story often bounced between present and past issues in a way that caused some confusion. Hang in there; it smooths out and adds extra AHA moments.

Her character development is amazing. Her ability to translate complex medical jargon into a very clear, focused picture is exemplary. I work in the medical field; even if I didn't, I could still visualize this story unfolding and see exactly what she wanted me to see.

Complicit is so much more than a medical thriller. It is a fascinating exploration of the human condition—our capacity for love, desperation, selfishness, sacrifice, and the choices we make when pushed to our limits. Knapp does an incredible job of showing us that people are rarely simply good or bad. There are layers to everyone, and sometimes the line between victim and villain, right and wrong, becomes blurred.

The characters are vibrant, complicated, and incredibly human.

I will admit, I thought I had the villain figured out fairly early. I was pretty confident in my conclusion, too. Let's just say... I was wrong. The ending genuinely surprised me, and I LOVE when a book manages to pull that off. The pieces are there, but Knapp does a good job of keeping you looking in the direction she wants you to look.

For a debut novel, Complicit is an impressive accomplishment. It pulled me out of my everyday life, gave me characters I could see and feel, made me question my assumptions, and kept me turning pages. If you enjoy medical thrillers with strong character development, complicated moral choices, and a few surprises along the way, I definitely recommend giving this one a read.

And Renda? I'll be watching for the next one.

[Tommie D. Sargent]

From the opening pages, Renda Knapp's psychological medical thriller grabs hold and refuses to let go. Complicit is an absolute triumph of pacing and tension, plunging readers into a dark, rural institutional world where no one is quite who they seem.
What immediately stands out is the depth of the
character work. Driven by Dr. Randi Jewell, the characters breathe, stumble, and come fully to life with every passing chapter. Because Knapp brings authentic medical expertise to the page, the professional and emotional stakes feel viscerally real, making the mounting danger all the more personal.
What immediately stands out is the depth of the character work. Rather than feeling like pawns moving a plot forward, the characters breathe, stumble, and come fully to life with every passing chapter. Their flaws and motivations feel authentic, which makes the mounting danger all the more personal. By alternating between the past and the present, the author slowly unravels a complex, multi-layered web of deceit. It becomes clear that this isn't just about individual wrongdoing, but about the systemic corruption wielded by people in powerful positions who believe they are untouchable.
Above all, this is a book defined by its surprises. The twists are cleverly planted yet genuinely shocking, subverting expectations in ways you simply won't see coming. For a first-time author to deliver a psychological thriller this sharp and meticulously constructed is deeply impressive. Highly recommended for fans of smart, high-stakes suspense.
#complicit #RendaKnapp #psychologicalthriller #medicalthriller

[Hannahs Literary Life]

4.25 stars, rounded up to 5 ⭐️

I am genuinely so glad I read this book. I’m not usually a huge fan of medical thrillers, and I don’t typically gravitate toward stories centered around motherhood, pregnancy, or maternal feelings because I don’t personally relate to those themes. But Complicit completely pulled me in anyway.

The twists and turns were so good. I could not read this book fast enough, and every time I thought I had things figured out, the story took me somewhere else. The pacing kept me hooked, and I was constantly wanting to know what would happen next.

My rating breakdown:

* Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* Setting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* Themes: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (mostly personal preference!)
* Emotional Impact: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The setting was especially fantastic, and the emotional impact was much stronger than I expected going into this. Even though some of the themes aren’t necessarily ones I would usually seek out, the story itself was so compelling that I didn’t care.

This book was fantastic. If you’re a fan of thrillers, especially medical thrillers with plenty of twists, I definitely recommend picking this one up. And if you’re like me and don’t typically gravitate toward medical thrillers or motherhood-centered stories, I’d still give it a chance—you might be just as surprised as I was by how much you love it.

[Christie Hill]

Dr Renda Knapp did an excellent job with this medical thriller!!! It was quite the page turner, took me less than three days to finish it. Renda kept me on the seat of my pants as it showed another perspective of the storylines key players, and I loved that.
Having a veterinary medical background, and a smidge of human medical knowledge (mostly from my own and my family's medical histories), I loved all the descriptive medical terminology. Yet, if you didn’t know much about human medicine, you could still understand it easily. Great read!!
| Can't wait to see what she has in store after this. #complicit #medicalthriller #netgalley #goodreads

[Cari]

I couldn't put this book down! I love medical thrillers, so I had to pick it up right away even though the release date is not until 2027. At first I wasn't sure about it since the main character has already been through multiple traumas before the book begins; it seemed implausible, and adding that to the events of this book felt even more suspicious. However, Knapp wraps everything up in an explanation that makes sense. The medical scenes are heart-pounding and suspenseful, and the character development is strong. A standout entry in a genre that, frankly, needs more entries.

[Edson Lee]

Love love loved this book. First of it’s about time to discover a new medial thriller author. So pleased it’s medically accurate but accessible to me. Felt like I was there with Dr Jewel. Pretty sure I am ready to do a c-section, well almost 😆. But the twists got and in the end it was knowing how important it is to hear the least powerful, the smallest voice and trusting the truth there. Pulled at my heart. You won’t put it down.