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Hot Girl Murder Club
From national bestselling author Ashley Winstead comes a buzzy, bloody new thriller about success, sisterhood, and demanding justice…by any means necessary.
What’s a girl got to do to get some fame, a few million record sales, and justice for murder?
Ten years ago, aspiring singer-actress Scout Sage lost the only thing that mattered: her sister, Georgia. Ever since Georgia’s mysterious death at a Hollywood party, Scout’s done her best to honor her memory, clawing her way through the industry and collecting a network of climbers along the way, fellow hot girls in stilettos with cutthroat ambition, a new Hollywood order.
But when a slew of targeted murders makes headlines across LA, all pointing to Scout as the killer, she turns overnight from a mid-tier pop star into the world’s most famous (alleged) murderer. Now everything she’s worked to build—including the justice she wants for Georgia—will fall apart unless Scout can prove she’s not guilty.
Meanwhile, the young and unusual detective assigned to her case, herself no stranger to tragedy, begins to unearth secrets not even Scout knows, let alone her millions of new fans. Particularly about the ways Georgia’s death connects to an even older pattern of crimes long hushed over in Hollywood—an old reign of terror that, if brought to light, could be the fuel that ignites a reckoning the world over.
What’s a girl got to do to get some fame, a few million record sales, and justice for murder?
Ten years ago, aspiring singer-actress Scout Sage lost the only thing that mattered: her sister, Georgia. Ever since Georgia’s mysterious death at a Hollywood party, Scout’s done her best to honor her memory, clawing her way through the industry and collecting a network of climbers along the way, fellow hot girls in stilettos with cutthroat ambition, a new Hollywood order.
But when a slew of targeted murders makes headlines across LA, all pointing to Scout as the killer, she turns overnight from a mid-tier pop star into the world’s most famous (alleged) murderer. Now everything she’s worked to build—including the justice she wants for Georgia—will fall apart unless Scout can prove she’s not guilty.
Meanwhile, the young and unusual detective assigned to her case, herself no stranger to tragedy, begins to unearth secrets not even Scout knows, let alone her millions of new fans. Particularly about the ways Georgia’s death connects to an even older pattern of crimes long hushed over in Hollywood—an old reign of terror that, if brought to light, could be the fuel that ignites a reckoning the world over.
432 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2026
About the author
Ashley Winstead
18 books6,370 followersAshley Winstead's bestselling, critically-acclaimed books have been translated into more than twenty languages, optioned for film and television, named Book of the Month, Indie Next, Library Read, Loan Star, and Amazon Editor picks, and covered everywhere from the New York Times to People magazine. She's a former academic who lives in Houston with her husband, three cats, and beloved wine fridge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,698 reviews
September 11, 2026
2.5/5 ★
This had such an interesting setup! I wish it had stayed focused on what initially hooked me.
In Hot Girl Murder Club, pop star Scout Sage becomes the prime suspect in a string of targeted murders ten years after her sister’s mysterious death. As Scout tries to prove she’s not guilty, a detective uncovers secrets connecting her sister’s death to an older pattern of crimes in Hollywood.
Ashley Winstead is one of my favorite authors after loving In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and The Last Housewife and enjoying This Book Will Bury Me, so I was extremely excited for this one.
There were parts of this story I really enjoyed and others that didn’t work for me as much as I was hoping they would.
Starting with the positives, I really liked the setting and the types of characters the story centers on. Following pop stars, models, and other celebrities was fun and different from a lot of the thrillers I’ve read, and Hollywood was obviously the perfect setting for this story. I also initially enjoyed all the different perspectives and how the timelines overlap.
The mystery surrounding the new murders, combined with what happens to Scout’s sister in the past chapters, fully had my attention. Although the pacing felt a little slow from the beginning, it didn’t change my interest in what was going on.
Around the 50% mark, though, my experience started to change.
At that point, the story starts to move away from the mystery and focuses more heavily on the issues in Hollywood and what women are put through by powerful men in the industry. This was a common theme from the beginning that added important points to the story, but as it became more prominent, it started to feel like the main focus and purpose of the story.
Since I came to this book for the mystery of who the serial killer was, that shift took away some of the excitement for me.
I also wasn’t a fan of just how many characters were involved in the story. I could keep track of the main characters, but some of the side characters who came up infrequently yet were still important were hard to remember. I found myself asking, “Who?!” multiple times while reading.
By the end, the story went in a completely different direction than I expected, and I wasn’t a huge fan of where it went.
Overall, I think the writing is strong, and there was a lot about the setup and first half that I enjoyed. The issues in Hollywood it explores are important, but I personally wanted more of the central mystery that had me so invested early on. I’d still recommend this to certain readers, but it wasn’t quite the thriller I was hoping for.
—
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This had such an interesting setup! I wish it had stayed focused on what initially hooked me.
In Hot Girl Murder Club, pop star Scout Sage becomes the prime suspect in a string of targeted murders ten years after her sister’s mysterious death. As Scout tries to prove she’s not guilty, a detective uncovers secrets connecting her sister’s death to an older pattern of crimes in Hollywood.
Ashley Winstead is one of my favorite authors after loving In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and The Last Housewife and enjoying This Book Will Bury Me, so I was extremely excited for this one.
There were parts of this story I really enjoyed and others that didn’t work for me as much as I was hoping they would.
Starting with the positives, I really liked the setting and the types of characters the story centers on. Following pop stars, models, and other celebrities was fun and different from a lot of the thrillers I’ve read, and Hollywood was obviously the perfect setting for this story. I also initially enjoyed all the different perspectives and how the timelines overlap.
The mystery surrounding the new murders, combined with what happens to Scout’s sister in the past chapters, fully had my attention. Although the pacing felt a little slow from the beginning, it didn’t change my interest in what was going on.
Around the 50% mark, though, my experience started to change.
At that point, the story starts to move away from the mystery and focuses more heavily on the issues in Hollywood and what women are put through by powerful men in the industry. This was a common theme from the beginning that added important points to the story, but as it became more prominent, it started to feel like the main focus and purpose of the story.
Since I came to this book for the mystery of who the serial killer was, that shift took away some of the excitement for me.
I also wasn’t a fan of just how many characters were involved in the story. I could keep track of the main characters, but some of the side characters who came up infrequently yet were still important were hard to remember. I found myself asking, “Who?!” multiple times while reading.
By the end, the story went in a completely different direction than I expected, and I wasn’t a huge fan of where it went.
Overall, I think the writing is strong, and there was a lot about the setup and first half that I enjoyed. The issues in Hollywood it explores are important, but I personally wanted more of the central mystery that had me so invested early on. I’d still recommend this to certain readers, but it wasn’t quite the thriller I was hoping for.
—
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 3 ⭐️ Hollywood glamour, sisterhood, murders, revenge--What's a girl got to do to get some fame?
The idea of a detective/bottle service girl at an exclusive nightclub was enough to lure me in. From the opening chapter, I thought this idea of vigilantes in Hollywood going all out with a vengeance was so clever and interesting, I was hoping for a very twisted murder story. However, it didn't exactly go where I thought it would. What I thought would be a dark, revenge story lost its appeal when the story became too ambitious and chaotic for my liking.
A little summary first: The story follows two timelines, one in the present and one ten years earlier.
Scout Sage has lost a sister ten years earlier and has been searching for answers since her murder. In the past timeline, Scout was an aspiring actress, trying to climb the ranks and was invited to a luxurious Hollywood party, which she attended with her sister in hopes of making it big in Hollywood. In present, she's well known in the entertainment industry but becomes the target of attention when a string of murders puts her at the center of the investigation. Powerful men have been targeted in Los Angeles and each death has been marked with Scout Sages' lyrics. The detectives make a big break in the current murders and as Scout is trying to clear her name, new information comes to light, uncovering the real truth about her sisters' murder.
This book was a lot. A lot of characters, a lot of murders and an unsolved mystery going back 10 years ago to one event that changed many lives. Winstead takes a big swing at important social issues like exploitation, sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood. While I appreciated her take on the injustice that women still face to this day, I felt that the novel itself was chaotic and too ambitious for my taste. Told from multiple perspectives and time jumps, it took a long time to grab my attention or start making sense. Initially, I was only reading my eARC but started to realize that the execution was making me lose my interest, so I switched to the ALC, which honestly pulled me out of the slump. Brittany Pressley is an excellent narrator and probably the saving grace for me. There were many parts that had my attention and others that dragged or were insignificant. Overall I think this is less of a thriller than an unsolved mystery. Plus the eARC was super unclear in terms of whose chapters I was reading so it was a big guessing game which I did not like, while the ALC always stated whose chapter I was reading. Hopefully the final publication will have the appropriate marking/names for all the chapters.
Overall, I think less is better and I felt that so many characters was an overkill here. I’m not new to Ashley Winsteads writing, this is my fourth book by this author and I think it tried to tackle a lot but at the same time remained pretty ambiguous. I love a good vigilante book..but this was not it. It's a far cry from a thrilling story and left me overall not impressed.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and the author, Ashley Winstead for an early ARC.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for man early ALC!
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Duration: 11 hours 16 minutes
Speed: 1.5x
Publication: July 14, 2026
The idea of a detective/bottle service girl at an exclusive nightclub was enough to lure me in. From the opening chapter, I thought this idea of vigilantes in Hollywood going all out with a vengeance was so clever and interesting, I was hoping for a very twisted murder story. However, it didn't exactly go where I thought it would. What I thought would be a dark, revenge story lost its appeal when the story became too ambitious and chaotic for my liking.
A little summary first: The story follows two timelines, one in the present and one ten years earlier.
Scout Sage has lost a sister ten years earlier and has been searching for answers since her murder. In the past timeline, Scout was an aspiring actress, trying to climb the ranks and was invited to a luxurious Hollywood party, which she attended with her sister in hopes of making it big in Hollywood. In present, she's well known in the entertainment industry but becomes the target of attention when a string of murders puts her at the center of the investigation. Powerful men have been targeted in Los Angeles and each death has been marked with Scout Sages' lyrics. The detectives make a big break in the current murders and as Scout is trying to clear her name, new information comes to light, uncovering the real truth about her sisters' murder.
This book was a lot. A lot of characters, a lot of murders and an unsolved mystery going back 10 years ago to one event that changed many lives. Winstead takes a big swing at important social issues like exploitation, sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood. While I appreciated her take on the injustice that women still face to this day, I felt that the novel itself was chaotic and too ambitious for my taste. Told from multiple perspectives and time jumps, it took a long time to grab my attention or start making sense. Initially, I was only reading my eARC but started to realize that the execution was making me lose my interest, so I switched to the ALC, which honestly pulled me out of the slump. Brittany Pressley is an excellent narrator and probably the saving grace for me. There were many parts that had my attention and others that dragged or were insignificant. Overall I think this is less of a thriller than an unsolved mystery. Plus the eARC was super unclear in terms of whose chapters I was reading so it was a big guessing game which I did not like, while the ALC always stated whose chapter I was reading. Hopefully the final publication will have the appropriate marking/names for all the chapters.
Overall, I think less is better and I felt that so many characters was an overkill here. I’m not new to Ashley Winsteads writing, this is my fourth book by this author and I think it tried to tackle a lot but at the same time remained pretty ambiguous. I love a good vigilante book..but this was not it. It's a far cry from a thrilling story and left me overall not impressed.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and the author, Ashley Winstead for an early ARC.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for man early ALC!
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Duration: 11 hours 16 minutes
Speed: 1.5x
Publication: July 14, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First rule of Hot Girl Murder Club is that we don't talk about Hot Girl Murder Club, and by that I mean that there just really isn't that much to say about it. I was super thrilled about the premise of a group of female Hollywood stars coming together to get revenge on all the disgusting people in the business, but it simply wasn't the positively unhinged story that I had hoped for. The actual story was all over the place, honestly. It starts out with detective Grey Holloway, who is frowned upon in her department because she is, well … hot. She's called to a crime scene where the murdered victim looks very similar to her, but you can forget that I said that because it literally doesn't play any role in the rest of the book. (I don't know what that was about, but I wanted to illustrate my frustration with this story.) We get a bit of the investigation that follows this murder case and learn how it might be connected to other deaths and the rumors of this murderous group of women led by a pop star. It could be such an iconic story. A bit trashy, really leaning into the silly title, entertaining and wild while also addressing serious issues. Just a book about girls supporting girls and if that support includes murder, so be it. But the book wasn't all that. Instead it's a kind of unexciting investigation of a death 10 years in the past, which may or may not be connected to the current day murders. I would hardly call it a thriller and it was so weird how I was introduced to the possibility of the Hot Girl Murder Club and then got something else entirely. But I'm also not sure what I got instead. Some POVs truly lacked purpose and I don't get why they were included at all and the plot was so random or convenient at times that the book just wasn't exciting to read. All the characters stayed flat and I only know about the bad things that happened to them and about nothing else. Sure, it's a story that addresses exploitation, injustice and sexual assault in Hollywood, but why portray characters who are affected by these issues in such a one-dimensional way? There's the rising star singer whose one thing is that her sister was murdered, and her assistant's one thing is that she wants to protect the singer at all costs, and the detective's one thing is also that her sister was murdered (unrelated to the singer). Why did I need to read from all these people? I don't know. I actually didn't hate reading this book, though. I was always hoping for cool reveals and some turned out to be unexpected. But also because they just involved random people who I never spent any moment thinking about beforehand.
This turned out to be one of these reviews where I sound like a complete hater. But my actual thoughts upon finishing this book were: eh, it was fine, whatever. So while I can't sing any praises here, I also think that it's a perfectly readable book. I think I just had the wrong expectations, but I also blame the marketing for that. You name a book Hot Girl Murder Club and then it's not a fun story whatsoever? Everyone involved in this process had this mediocre three-star review of mine coming.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
This turned out to be one of these reviews where I sound like a complete hater. But my actual thoughts upon finishing this book were: eh, it was fine, whatever. So while I can't sing any praises here, I also think that it's a perfectly readable book. I think I just had the wrong expectations, but I also blame the marketing for that. You name a book Hot Girl Murder Club and then it's not a fun story whatsoever? Everyone involved in this process had this mediocre three-star review of mine coming.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
![Profile Image for Teres [on hiatus].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1625114818i/39438556._UX200_CR0,53,200,200_.jpg)
August 9, 2026
Hot Girl Murder Club is a hot mess of a novel.
Woof.
Multiple narrative perspectives — I counted seven. Seven! — across two timelines (10 years ago and present day), left me with severe whiplash.
Oh wait. Add in a third timeline + voice: threaded throughout are excerpts from a future academic history of the events, written several years after the fact.
With this many narrators (not to mention the myriad side players), I vacillated between overwhelm and ambivalence.
So what's Ashley Winstead's latest thriller about?
In a nutshell: a secret vigilante network of women exacts revenge on abusive men.
The novel/author definitely has strong opinions about predatory men and the failures of our justice system.
Victim becomes villain in Hot Girl Murder Club.
My opinion: at 327 pages, it's about 200 pages too long.
My recommendation: skip it and move on to the next book in your "To Read" pile.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ashley Winstead delivers a razor-edged thriller that feels like a neon-soaked noir fever dream—except this time, the antiheroes wear stilettos and red lipstick. Hot Girl Murder Club reads like a dark Hollywood screenplay shot in black and white, all sharp shadows and sharper women, where ambition is currency and justice comes dressed for revenge.
From the very first chapter, I felt like I’d stepped onto a glittering stage hiding something rotten beneath it. The story moves between past and present, peeling back layers of memory and motive with deliberate precision. Each shift in timeline reveals another crack in the glossy façade of fame, exposing the cost of chasing stardom in an industry that protects power at all costs.
At the center is Scout Sage—a woman shaped by tragedy and fueled by it. Ten years earlier, she attended an exclusive Hollywood party alongside her sister Georgia, her best friend Izzy, and the circle of dreamers orbiting them. That night altered everything. What began as a hopeful step toward success became the dividing line between who Scout was and who she would become. Reinvention followed: from aspiring actress to chart-climbing pop star, clawing her way upward in a world that rewards image over truth.
Now, a series of calculated murders has rocked Los Angeles. The victims? Men with reputations stained by whispered accusations and buried scandals. At each crime scene, lyrics from Scout’s songs appear like taunts written in blood. Overnight, she transforms from celebrity to suspected executioner. Fame becomes a weapon turned against her, and public adoration morphs into spectacle.
What makes this novel so compelling is its refusal to hand readers easy answers. Is this revenge? Reckoning? Manipulation? The moral lines blur beautifully. The idea of vigilante justice pulses through the narrative, raising uncomfortable questions about complicity, silence, and how long harm can hide behind money and influence.
Then there’s Detective Grey Holloway—dismissed by some, underestimated by many, but far sharper than anyone expects. Balancing personal demons and a side job that invites judgment, she is determined to untangle a web that stretches far beyond one pop star. As she digs deeper, long-buried secrets begin to surface, threatening careers, empires, and carefully constructed identities. Her pursuit of truth adds a procedural intensity that grounds the glamour in something raw and dangerous.
The friendships at the heart of this story are equally fascinating. Loyalty bends under pressure. Sisterhood becomes both shield and battleground. These women protect one another fiercely—yet they also carry secrets capable of destruction. The emotional complexity elevates the novel beyond a traditional thriller; it becomes an exploration of ambition, grief, survival, and the price of staying silent.
Yes, the book is intricate and layered, occasionally demanding close attention as perspectives and timelines intertwine—but that complexity mirrors the tangled world it portrays. The twists land with impact, some subtle and others explosive, and the psychological tension never loosens its grip. Every revelation feels like another spotlight snapping on in a darkened room.
Ultimately, this is a bold, provocative, and psychologically charged read. It captures Hollywood’s glittering surface while fearlessly examining the ugliness hidden behind closed doors. It’s gripping, cinematic, and unapologetically fierce—another unforgettable entry in Ashley Winstead’s lineup of daring women-centered stories.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for sharing this noir-styled, gripping psychological women’s thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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From the very first chapter, I felt like I’d stepped onto a glittering stage hiding something rotten beneath it. The story moves between past and present, peeling back layers of memory and motive with deliberate precision. Each shift in timeline reveals another crack in the glossy façade of fame, exposing the cost of chasing stardom in an industry that protects power at all costs.
At the center is Scout Sage—a woman shaped by tragedy and fueled by it. Ten years earlier, she attended an exclusive Hollywood party alongside her sister Georgia, her best friend Izzy, and the circle of dreamers orbiting them. That night altered everything. What began as a hopeful step toward success became the dividing line between who Scout was and who she would become. Reinvention followed: from aspiring actress to chart-climbing pop star, clawing her way upward in a world that rewards image over truth.
Now, a series of calculated murders has rocked Los Angeles. The victims? Men with reputations stained by whispered accusations and buried scandals. At each crime scene, lyrics from Scout’s songs appear like taunts written in blood. Overnight, she transforms from celebrity to suspected executioner. Fame becomes a weapon turned against her, and public adoration morphs into spectacle.
What makes this novel so compelling is its refusal to hand readers easy answers. Is this revenge? Reckoning? Manipulation? The moral lines blur beautifully. The idea of vigilante justice pulses through the narrative, raising uncomfortable questions about complicity, silence, and how long harm can hide behind money and influence.
Then there’s Detective Grey Holloway—dismissed by some, underestimated by many, but far sharper than anyone expects. Balancing personal demons and a side job that invites judgment, she is determined to untangle a web that stretches far beyond one pop star. As she digs deeper, long-buried secrets begin to surface, threatening careers, empires, and carefully constructed identities. Her pursuit of truth adds a procedural intensity that grounds the glamour in something raw and dangerous.
The friendships at the heart of this story are equally fascinating. Loyalty bends under pressure. Sisterhood becomes both shield and battleground. These women protect one another fiercely—yet they also carry secrets capable of destruction. The emotional complexity elevates the novel beyond a traditional thriller; it becomes an exploration of ambition, grief, survival, and the price of staying silent.
Yes, the book is intricate and layered, occasionally demanding close attention as perspectives and timelines intertwine—but that complexity mirrors the tangled world it portrays. The twists land with impact, some subtle and others explosive, and the psychological tension never loosens its grip. Every revelation feels like another spotlight snapping on in a darkened room.
Ultimately, this is a bold, provocative, and psychologically charged read. It captures Hollywood’s glittering surface while fearlessly examining the ugliness hidden behind closed doors. It’s gripping, cinematic, and unapologetically fierce—another unforgettable entry in Ashley Winstead’s lineup of daring women-centered stories.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for sharing this noir-styled, gripping psychological women’s thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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July 27, 2026
This has cemented the fact that Winstead is not for me. I don't know why I loved her first book so much, but everything since has been awful. I did not know this would get so political, so...everything I dislike all rolled into one. Brittany Pressley as a narrator is the only redeeming thing about this novel. I have learned my lesson to stay away from this author's books.
The premise--a bunch of unsolved murders pointing to musician Scout as the culprit, whose twin sister Georgia was murdered many years ago. A detective putting pieces together that don't seem to match the story being presented--is good, however the overall presentation of the story is a huge mess.
There are two main problems, one of which I mentioned, which is that it got political when it absolutely didn't need to be. It makes political violence out to be justified and somehow a good thing? I don't care which side you're on, violence isn't justified and it's unpalatable to read about.
The second problem is the sheer number of characters. There are SO MANY. Pressley does a fantastic job trying to keep them distinct, but even her great narration fails to differentiate between the characters. I did not have a print copy to refer to, and that might have helped but it would have taken effort. I almost felt like I needed to make a chart of who was who and their connections to each other. There were also different timelines, so it was also frustrating to try to follow which timeline we were in with each character, particularly when the point of view was in first person.
Overall, I can't find anything I liked about this book save for Pressley's narration. If I were a person to DNF a book this would have been one of them.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The premise--a bunch of unsolved murders pointing to musician Scout as the culprit, whose twin sister Georgia was murdered many years ago. A detective putting pieces together that don't seem to match the story being presented--is good, however the overall presentation of the story is a huge mess.
There are two main problems, one of which I mentioned, which is that it got political when it absolutely didn't need to be. It makes political violence out to be justified and somehow a good thing? I don't care which side you're on, violence isn't justified and it's unpalatable to read about.
The second problem is the sheer number of characters. There are SO MANY. Pressley does a fantastic job trying to keep them distinct, but even her great narration fails to differentiate between the characters. I did not have a print copy to refer to, and that might have helped but it would have taken effort. I almost felt like I needed to make a chart of who was who and their connections to each other. There were also different timelines, so it was also frustrating to try to follow which timeline we were in with each character, particularly when the point of view was in first person.
Overall, I can't find anything I liked about this book save for Pressley's narration. If I were a person to DNF a book this would have been one of them.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
September 25, 2026
3 stars ⭐️
enjoyable feminist thriller for the most part! lots of little twists woven throughout which kept the momentum going and there were a lot of interesting plot devices woven in especially since it’s based around the Hollywood elite and a group of girls getting revenge on the horrible men sheltered in the entertainment industry
I think with so many plot devices & character backgrounds, it was very ambitious & for me fell a little bit flat in terms of delivery. the overall plot was enough to keep me hooked, but some parts felt too much like a socioeconomic essay on today’s world and as a result, the overall plot suffered. I think this would’ve worked better if it delved further into the exploitation aspect of Hollywood rather than just feminist jargon / feminism from a one dimensional side.
I really enjoyed the multi character pov’s however, especially because I love when a thriller like this is multiple puzzle pieces that need to be fit together. after finishing the book, it made some of the earlier povs feel a bit unnecessary and maybe that’s why it was harder for the individual threads to be woven together to a satisfying degree and some parts felt like they lacked a purpose to the overall story
it’s definitely an interesting concept for a thriller though with the emphasis on the Hollywood elite throughout & the darkness within the entertainment industry. i thought the uncovering of the secrets of those most powerful in the story was my favourite part but it could’ve been done a lot better. it was kind of like there were two halves to this book, one half i liked and the other half ventured a little too much on the far fetched side for me. like i was expecting an unhinged revenge thriller with humour woven in and it didn’t quite lean into it enough, and for a majority of the book it was all very tame stuff. so when it got to parts towards the end where it kicked up a gear, it just felt out of place. I think if you’re gonna go unhinged you need to really go 100% all in from the beginning 🥲
if you want a thriller that’s a little bit different, has some darkness to it & also touches on societal issues I’d say give this a try! It’s not a bad book at all, just a bit meh based on my own expectations. I’d still say it was an enjoyable read though
enjoyable feminist thriller for the most part! lots of little twists woven throughout which kept the momentum going and there were a lot of interesting plot devices woven in especially since it’s based around the Hollywood elite and a group of girls getting revenge on the horrible men sheltered in the entertainment industry
I think with so many plot devices & character backgrounds, it was very ambitious & for me fell a little bit flat in terms of delivery. the overall plot was enough to keep me hooked, but some parts felt too much like a socioeconomic essay on today’s world and as a result, the overall plot suffered. I think this would’ve worked better if it delved further into the exploitation aspect of Hollywood rather than just feminist jargon / feminism from a one dimensional side.
I really enjoyed the multi character pov’s however, especially because I love when a thriller like this is multiple puzzle pieces that need to be fit together. after finishing the book, it made some of the earlier povs feel a bit unnecessary and maybe that’s why it was harder for the individual threads to be woven together to a satisfying degree and some parts felt like they lacked a purpose to the overall story
it’s definitely an interesting concept for a thriller though with the emphasis on the Hollywood elite throughout & the darkness within the entertainment industry. i thought the uncovering of the secrets of those most powerful in the story was my favourite part but it could’ve been done a lot better. it was kind of like there were two halves to this book, one half i liked and the other half ventured a little too much on the far fetched side for me. like i was expecting an unhinged revenge thriller with humour woven in and it didn’t quite lean into it enough, and for a majority of the book it was all very tame stuff. so when it got to parts towards the end where it kicked up a gear, it just felt out of place. I think if you’re gonna go unhinged you need to really go 100% all in from the beginning 🥲
if you want a thriller that’s a little bit different, has some darkness to it & also touches on societal issues I’d say give this a try! It’s not a bad book at all, just a bit meh based on my own expectations. I’d still say it was an enjoyable read though
February 24, 2026
Ashley Winstead’s newest book, and her first with publisher Minotaur, was at the top of my most anticipated of 2026 list, so I was beyond thrilled to have had the chance to read it early. Although I did enjoy it overall, I do also have mixed feelings on this juicy, vigilante drama/thriller.
Let’s begin with the good. AW writes really badass characters, and HGMC is no different. In fact, it features an absolute slew of them. And beneath the thriller plot line lies deep and meaningful themes of feminist empowerment, sisterhood, and fighting the patriarchy that still undergirds most of society en masse.
As for what didn’t work as well— I struggled a bit more with this story than I had expected to, and I think that centers around the cast being very, very large. With every chapter a new perspective (even though they connect), my brain felt pulled in too many directions, and I felt as though I was losing the primary thread more than once. This then led to that feeling of being pulled out of the story every time I was back in it.
The ending also felt a little bit more contrived than Winstead’s previous novels, and although I like the way things were resolved, they really did feel over the top. All that said, there is a popcorn quality to it that makes it easy to binge and that I think there will be a large crowd for. I can also see it making for a fantastically fun movie adaptation down the road.
Read if you like:
▪️ensemble casts
▪️secret societies
▪️vigilante justice
▪️celebrity drama
Thank you Minotaur Books for the advanced copy and Ali and Ali for the buddy read!
Let’s begin with the good. AW writes really badass characters, and HGMC is no different. In fact, it features an absolute slew of them. And beneath the thriller plot line lies deep and meaningful themes of feminist empowerment, sisterhood, and fighting the patriarchy that still undergirds most of society en masse.
As for what didn’t work as well— I struggled a bit more with this story than I had expected to, and I think that centers around the cast being very, very large. With every chapter a new perspective (even though they connect), my brain felt pulled in too many directions, and I felt as though I was losing the primary thread more than once. This then led to that feeling of being pulled out of the story every time I was back in it.
The ending also felt a little bit more contrived than Winstead’s previous novels, and although I like the way things were resolved, they really did feel over the top. All that said, there is a popcorn quality to it that makes it easy to binge and that I think there will be a large crowd for. I can also see it making for a fantastically fun movie adaptation down the road.
Read if you like:
▪️ensemble casts
▪️secret societies
▪️vigilante justice
▪️celebrity drama
Thank you Minotaur Books for the advanced copy and Ali and Ali for the buddy read!
February 8, 2026
I finished this book at least two hours ago and I’m still stunned into silence by it. Actually, silence is the wrong word. I’m outraged by the fact that this book of fiction is actually what our world is right now. I don’t want to spoil anything, but Ashley Winstead wrote an incredible ripped-from-the-headlines book. Literally headlines from this week. I admire women like Ashley who let their voices be heard to help other women. This book was horrible in the best way - you’ll understand when you read it.
Dare I say Hot Girl Murder Club is exactly what we’re missing at this point in time? I could feel Ashley’s seething rage. Then on the other side, it’s a story about sisterhood and how important that is. A beautiful nod to her own sister.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this explosive arc!
Dare I say Hot Girl Murder Club is exactly what we’re missing at this point in time? I could feel Ashley’s seething rage. Then on the other side, it’s a story about sisterhood and how important that is. A beautiful nod to her own sister.
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this explosive arc!
August 2, 2026
3.5 I liked this but didn't love it. I think the concept was more intriguing than anything else as we're focusing on the darker side of Hollywood in a definition feminist rage thriller (which I love). However there was SO much going on, I really struggled to keep up. Loved the parallels throughout this but not enough to keep me itching to pick it back up
September 4, 2026
Following vigilantes in Hollywood, Hot Girl Murder Club is a thriller centered on revenge. Our central celebrity is Scout Sage, who clawed her way to the outskirts of popstar fame, gathering a network of women. Through flashbacks, we see that she lost her sister, Georgia, at a party. For ten years, it has torn her apart. Now, a slew of targeted murders makes headlines, all pointing to Scout as the killer.
The narrative unfolds between that fateful night ten years ago and the present, alternating narrators. We get the voice of Isabel Cruz, Scout's long time friend and assistant, procedural chapters from Detective Grey Holloway, and then some peripheral chapters from adjacent figures in Hollywood. It also incorporates interstitial chapters from a fictional academic dissertation titled "Our Ladies of the Dark: a History". As powerful men turn up dead, whispers of a secret sisterhood known as the "Hot Girl Murder Club" run rampant around Hollywood. Meanwhile, Scout and Detective Grey come to discover old patterns, connecting Georgia's death to a hushed over crime.
This book tried to incorporate quite a bit. It had many figures to memorize, including various fictional politicians and "evil men" to recognize. The time jumps were interesting, but took awhile to frame into a way I could follow. It did come across as a bit chaotic, with too many strands to follow to stay engaged with. Another fault I found was in the clunky commentary on feminism. It harped pretty heavily on making out men as evil and women as needing to be vengeful.
I will say it read quickly; even with random subplots it was paced fast. As the mystery unfolded, more and more plot holes arose. I simply think it was not executed as well as it could of been. I did enjoy the sense of Hollywood, but this seemed to fade to the background as the story took a different route than expected. I think it could have been a funner read if certain elements were kept more simple. The character cast, timelines, and motives were overwhelming. The novel was okay, but the hot mess distracted from any true sense of plot.
The narrative unfolds between that fateful night ten years ago and the present, alternating narrators. We get the voice of Isabel Cruz, Scout's long time friend and assistant, procedural chapters from Detective Grey Holloway, and then some peripheral chapters from adjacent figures in Hollywood. It also incorporates interstitial chapters from a fictional academic dissertation titled "Our Ladies of the Dark: a History". As powerful men turn up dead, whispers of a secret sisterhood known as the "Hot Girl Murder Club" run rampant around Hollywood. Meanwhile, Scout and Detective Grey come to discover old patterns, connecting Georgia's death to a hushed over crime.
This book tried to incorporate quite a bit. It had many figures to memorize, including various fictional politicians and "evil men" to recognize. The time jumps were interesting, but took awhile to frame into a way I could follow. It did come across as a bit chaotic, with too many strands to follow to stay engaged with. Another fault I found was in the clunky commentary on feminism. It harped pretty heavily on making out men as evil and women as needing to be vengeful.
I will say it read quickly; even with random subplots it was paced fast. As the mystery unfolded, more and more plot holes arose. I simply think it was not executed as well as it could of been. I did enjoy the sense of Hollywood, but this seemed to fade to the background as the story took a different route than expected. I think it could have been a funner read if certain elements were kept more simple. The character cast, timelines, and motives were overwhelming. The novel was okay, but the hot mess distracted from any true sense of plot.
October 1, 2025
Ashley Winstead is one of my favorite authors of all time. Every time I pick up one of her books, I know I'm going to get three things: a morally grey bad boy who's obsessed with the heroine, a sad girl protagonist who's allowed to be flawed and awful while she's dealing with her trauma, and some of the most scathing feminist commentary and feminine rage you could ever hope to read about to self-soothe in a world that makes it ever-obviously clear that they despise women.
HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB was all of that and more.
I'm a little surprised that the ratings for this book are so lackluster, but after seeing the same thing happen to MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR, I have to figure that it's because people just don't have the nuance or the stomach for an "unlikable female protagonist" even if the unlikability is, in fact, the point. To give a little grace, I will say that the summary for HOT GIRL is a tiny bit misleading in the fact that it makes it sound like Scout herself, the pop star, is one of the narrators-- she isn't-- and it completely breezes over the detective, Grey, not even bothering to name her despite her being one of the primary narrators of the story. The other primary narrator is Isabel, Scout's best friend and personal assistant, who knows her friend's villain origin story and helps her nuture it for revenge.
It's difficult to say too much about this book without spoiling anything crucial because the experience of reading it is about peeling back layers, like an onion. The author uses multiple timelines and POVs to withhold important information until she's ready to divulge, and a lot of the fun is trying to figure out how everything pieces together. There were several moments where I thought I finally had everything figured out, only for Winstead to pull the rug out from under me. This is a vicious, dark story about men who mistreat women, and women who seek out their own form of justice when the traditional channels fail them. THE LAST HOUSEWIFE is probably her most similar book to this one, and while I think I liked that one just a teensy bit more, I also breezed through this one in just a single day.
HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB is definitely a book to add to your feminine rage reading lists. And once again, Ashley Winstead has reminded me why she is, and always will be, a fave.
4.5 stars
HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB was all of that and more.
I'm a little surprised that the ratings for this book are so lackluster, but after seeing the same thing happen to MIDNIGHT IS THE DARKEST HOUR, I have to figure that it's because people just don't have the nuance or the stomach for an "unlikable female protagonist" even if the unlikability is, in fact, the point. To give a little grace, I will say that the summary for HOT GIRL is a tiny bit misleading in the fact that it makes it sound like Scout herself, the pop star, is one of the narrators-- she isn't-- and it completely breezes over the detective, Grey, not even bothering to name her despite her being one of the primary narrators of the story. The other primary narrator is Isabel, Scout's best friend and personal assistant, who knows her friend's villain origin story and helps her nuture it for revenge.
It's difficult to say too much about this book without spoiling anything crucial because the experience of reading it is about peeling back layers, like an onion. The author uses multiple timelines and POVs to withhold important information until she's ready to divulge, and a lot of the fun is trying to figure out how everything pieces together. There were several moments where I thought I finally had everything figured out, only for Winstead to pull the rug out from under me. This is a vicious, dark story about men who mistreat women, and women who seek out their own form of justice when the traditional channels fail them. THE LAST HOUSEWIFE is probably her most similar book to this one, and while I think I liked that one just a teensy bit more, I also breezed through this one in just a single day.
HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB is definitely a book to add to your feminine rage reading lists. And once again, Ashley Winstead has reminded me why she is, and always will be, a fave.
4.5 stars
July 22, 2026
I got lost somewhere along the way and I couldn’t find my way back, the ingredients were there but the temperature was not.. This book had a lot going on and sometimes the less is better.🫤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Murder, ambition, justice, mystery, and fame are some of the themes of Hot Girl Murder Club. I was hoping to enjoy this book much more than I did. I thought this book was timely as many power players in Hollywood have been exposed for their toxic, horrific, vile, predatory casting couch behaviors. This book has a lot of characters, and I mean a lot of them.
Years ago, Scout Sage's sister, Georgia, died mysterious at a Hollywood party. She has tried to keep her sister's memory alive and over the years has collected an assortment of ambitious women along the way. When bodies begin to pile up in Hollywood, all signs point to Scout as being the killer. A female investigator is on the case and what she uncovers some dark secrets in Hollywood.
Welp, while I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it. As I mentioned, there are a lot of characters, and I found myself turning to other books while reading this one. One thing, I did enjoy was the strong female characters, the tension and the bonds of sisterhood which were on display. But the various POV's and timelines brought down the book for me. This book is only 336 pages, but it felt much longer to me. It became a bit of a slog, and I wish the pacing was a little faster, and there was slightly less POV's and timelines.
Others are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
*I had the book and the audiobook versions of Hot Girl Murder Club. I thought the audiobook was well done.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Years ago, Scout Sage's sister, Georgia, died mysterious at a Hollywood party. She has tried to keep her sister's memory alive and over the years has collected an assortment of ambitious women along the way. When bodies begin to pile up in Hollywood, all signs point to Scout as being the killer. A female investigator is on the case and what she uncovers some dark secrets in Hollywood.
Welp, while I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it. As I mentioned, there are a lot of characters, and I found myself turning to other books while reading this one. One thing, I did enjoy was the strong female characters, the tension and the bonds of sisterhood which were on display. But the various POV's and timelines brought down the book for me. This book is only 336 pages, but it felt much longer to me. It became a bit of a slog, and I wish the pacing was a little faster, and there was slightly less POV's and timelines.
Others are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
*I had the book and the audiobook versions of Hot Girl Murder Club. I thought the audiobook was well done.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 3, 2026
so convoluted 😭 one day ashley will write a banger again
July 16, 2026
the setup…
Scout Sage and Isabel Cruz are best friends and have been since they were eight years old. They left New Jersey for Hollywood eleven years ago with stars in their eyes and both landed roles in a television show. Scout’s sister Georgia joined them the next year and now she’s helped orchestrate invites to TV network president Easton Bank’s annual Christmas party. What started out as exciting ended in tragedy when they found Georgia dead later that evening. Fast forward to present day and Scout has gained fame as a singer and emerged as a leader of a network of stiletto wearing women who have taken on the male power structure. But it all goes sideways when a series of murders become connected to her and Scout is now viewed as the leader of female vigilantes.
the heart of the story…
Scout made it her mission to honor Georgia by empowering other women in the business (and others) who have been wronged by powerful men. It was never her intention to gain notoriety as a so called vigilante. I was on the fence about whether she and Isabel were connected and was fascinated as the story transitioned between the night of that party ten years ago and present day. Detective Grey Holloway certainly believes she’s guilty and brings her own linkage.
the narration…
Brittany Pressley, one of my top favorites, had her work cut out for her with a gazillion cast members. Her storytelling was outstanding and gave critical distinctions for the major characters.
the bottom line…
I loved the story of this collective of women feeling more like a Karma Club rather than a murder group. There are a ton of characters with side plots you know will later connect and it was tough keeping track. It might have helped to have multiple narrators to help make it easier to keep things straight (no shade on Pressley) but I was able to manage them. It’s a compelling story that illuminates the injustices perpetrated on women by powerful men who are enabled by the system. Loved the message and the wonderful female empowerment.
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Scout Sage and Isabel Cruz are best friends and have been since they were eight years old. They left New Jersey for Hollywood eleven years ago with stars in their eyes and both landed roles in a television show. Scout’s sister Georgia joined them the next year and now she’s helped orchestrate invites to TV network president Easton Bank’s annual Christmas party. What started out as exciting ended in tragedy when they found Georgia dead later that evening. Fast forward to present day and Scout has gained fame as a singer and emerged as a leader of a network of stiletto wearing women who have taken on the male power structure. But it all goes sideways when a series of murders become connected to her and Scout is now viewed as the leader of female vigilantes.
the heart of the story…
Scout made it her mission to honor Georgia by empowering other women in the business (and others) who have been wronged by powerful men. It was never her intention to gain notoriety as a so called vigilante. I was on the fence about whether she and Isabel were connected and was fascinated as the story transitioned between the night of that party ten years ago and present day. Detective Grey Holloway certainly believes she’s guilty and brings her own linkage.
the narration…
Brittany Pressley, one of my top favorites, had her work cut out for her with a gazillion cast members. Her storytelling was outstanding and gave critical distinctions for the major characters.
the bottom line…
I loved the story of this collective of women feeling more like a Karma Club rather than a murder group. There are a ton of characters with side plots you know will later connect and it was tough keeping track. It might have helped to have multiple narrators to help make it easier to keep things straight (no shade on Pressley) but I was able to manage them. It’s a compelling story that illuminates the injustices perpetrated on women by powerful men who are enabled by the system. Loved the message and the wonderful female empowerment.
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
July 14, 2026
But this story, a group of women haunting the powerbrokers of Hollywood with the threat of vigilante justice. Now that was fresh. And unsettling, if she was being completely honest. It suggested there was a new generation of women who refused victimhood so profoundly they’d rather take the only other route available to them and become villains.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC of Hot Girl Murder Club in exchange for an honest review.
The Goodreads description of this book tells you everything you need to know about the plot, so I’ll jump directly to my thoughts.
Hot Girl Murder Club, first and foremost, is an engrossing mystery. It constantly shifts between time periods and character perspectives—some in the past, some in the present, and one a future historical perspective from a PhD thesis about the Hot Girl Murder Club. Interestingly, the narrators are always people in Scout’s orbit, but never Scout herself, making her just one more mysterious element in the story. There are multiple twists throughout the story, and several were unexpected. It builds to both great reveals and a satisfying ending. And if you begin to think as you’re reading that the actions of the Hot Girl Murder Club sound like Taylor Swift’s song Vigilante Shit, you’re right; Ms. Winstead confirmed that song was one of the inspirations for the story.
But more than that, Hot Girl Murder Club incorporates some really timely and interesting ideas into that mystery. This book is all about violence against women, often perpetrated by man, of course, but also often committed directly by—or enabled by—other women. The story explores the intersection between that violence and politics, entertainment, women’s rights, and social change. Never by name, but Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein lurk in the shadows of the book. The story asks who decides whether we consider someone who breaks the law to be a criminal or an outlaw, an unsympathetic killer or a Robin Hood. And, more importantly, it begs the question of what happens in our current post-#metoo moment.
I loved Hot Girl Murder Club. Ms. Winstead is a gifted writer, capable of hitting it out of the park in multiple genres (have you read The Future Saints?) And the narrator for the audiobook was great. Highly recommended.
August 4, 2026
🎭 𝗔 𝗳𝘂𝗻, 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆.
I had a good time with this one. It's the kind of book you pick up when you're looking for an entertaining, twisty mystery rather than something especially deep or complex.
The pacing kept me turning the pages, and although there were a lot of characters and quite a bit going on, the mystery still managed to surprise me. The ending wrapped everything up in a satisfying way.
This had been sitting on my TBR for a while, so I'm glad the Goodreads Bookmark Challenge finally gave me the push to read it.
If you're looking for a quick, fun thriller with plenty of twists and a story about women looking out for each other, this is well worth picking up.
I had a good time with this one. It's the kind of book you pick up when you're looking for an entertaining, twisty mystery rather than something especially deep or complex.
The pacing kept me turning the pages, and although there were a lot of characters and quite a bit going on, the mystery still managed to surprise me. The ending wrapped everything up in a satisfying way.
This had been sitting on my TBR for a while, so I'm glad the Goodreads Bookmark Challenge finally gave me the push to read it.
If you're looking for a quick, fun thriller with plenty of twists and a story about women looking out for each other, this is well worth picking up.
July 22, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
ashley winstead's premises feel so unique and interesting to me every time, and i feel like this is no exception. exploring the potential of a celebrity who is NOT a huge star is interesting, and the idea that there's a secret society of celebrity women wreaking havoc and getting revenge instead of secret societies of hollywood men being terrible is a cool twist.
however, towards the middle-end of the book, the narrative seemed like it shifted a lot, and the latter was therefore a bit less satisfying than the first. overall though, i had fun with it!
**thank you to Minotaur Books for the gifted copy**
ashley winstead's premises feel so unique and interesting to me every time, and i feel like this is no exception. exploring the potential of a celebrity who is NOT a huge star is interesting, and the idea that there's a secret society of celebrity women wreaking havoc and getting revenge instead of secret societies of hollywood men being terrible is a cool twist.
however, towards the middle-end of the book, the narrative seemed like it shifted a lot, and the latter was therefore a bit less satisfying than the first. overall though, i had fun with it!
**thank you to Minotaur Books for the gifted copy**
July 14, 2026
"There was no path to justice through the system. Men like him are the system."
Definitely not my favorite from her, but a solid read for sure!!
Actual rating - 3.5⭐
What to expect -
🍿 Character-based mystery
🍿 The dark side of Hollywood
🍿 Dual timelines
🍿 Murder mystery and missing persons case
🍿 Multiple POVs
🍿 Sisterhood
🍿 Female vigilantes
🍿 Revenge vs. justice
Ten years ago, Scout Sage and her friend Isabel, two young and aspiring actresses, attend the biggest Christmas party in Hollywood along with Scout's sister, Georgia. But only two of them walk out alive. Fast forward to the present, and there's a string of murders happening across LA. All of the victims have dirtied their hands in the entertainment industry, and the evidence points to pop star Scout Sage as the killer. It's up to Detective Grey Holloway to uncover whether there's a connection between the current murders and what happened ten years ago, and whether Scout is truly the killer.
This was such an engaging read, and I was immediately fascinated by the dual timelines and the investigations unfolding in both. As Grey pieces together the present-day murders, we're introduced to the idea of a secret network of women celebrity vigilantes working behind the scenes to deliver justice where the system has failed. The concept of women standing up for other women, advocating for one another, and refusing to tolerate the injustices inflicted on them by the Hollywood industry was incredibly empowering to read about.
The book definitely focuses more on female empowerment and the darker side of Hollywood that's often hidden behind all the glamour and glitz. Women are constantly treated differently, and the industry often pits them against one another. They're encouraged to compete to the point of hurting each other emotionally and sometimes even physically, for roles they believe they deserve. And that's only the beginning. Young actors are exploited through unfair, restrictive contracts. Women are harassed, manipulated, and abused both physically and emotionally. And even when they finally make it in the industry, they're still forced to navigate severe power imbalances. Even though I was already aware of some of these issues, it still made me sick to my stomach to see how deeply systemic they are and how rarely the people responsible are ever brought to justice.
Because of that, the book raises an interesting question: Is it okay to take justice into your own hands if the system continues to protect the people doing harm? Or does that simply make you as guilty as the people you're trying to punish? I'm always a supporter of women's rights...and women's wrongs 🤭, so I found myself cheering for many of the decisions these women made, and I thought the ending delivered that message really well.
That said, there were a couple of things that didn't quite work for me - the main reveal and some of the POVs😫 The reveal itself was surprising, but I felt like we barely spent enough time with that particular character throughout the story. So when the "bam... here's your killer" moment arrived, it didn't feel as satisfying as I'd hoped. I understood why they did what they did, but I still found it difficult to fully accept their justification. The other reveals, however, were really well done, and I especially enjoyed the story once the two timelines finally converged.
As for the multiple POVs, I thought most of them were necessary because I generally love seeing events from different perspectives. That said, there were a lot of them. A few felt unnecessary and slowed the pacing down a bit. Personally, I think sticking to the main POVs and the ones that directly expanded on the incidents in both timelines would've been enough.
These are only minor complaints, but I still wanted to mention them because if you're someone who doesn't enjoy juggling a large cast of characters and multiple perspectives, it's something worth keeping in mind before picking this one up.
Other than that, this was an intriguing read that had me rooting for our FMCs while also hoping every man who exploited them got exactly what they deserved. I'd definitely recommend this if you enjoy stories about sisterhood, women standing up for one another, and character-driven mysteries that slowly unravel over time.
✨Pre-read -
Omggg, it's finally here!!! Ever since I read and loved This Book Will Bury Me by the author, I've been waiting for this one.
Celebrity vigilantes and revenge?! Sounds like a wonderful time, right?😌
Definitely not my favorite from her, but a solid read for sure!!
Actual rating - 3.5⭐
What to expect -
🍿 Character-based mystery
🍿 The dark side of Hollywood
🍿 Dual timelines
🍿 Murder mystery and missing persons case
🍿 Multiple POVs
🍿 Sisterhood
🍿 Female vigilantes
🍿 Revenge vs. justice
Ten years ago, Scout Sage and her friend Isabel, two young and aspiring actresses, attend the biggest Christmas party in Hollywood along with Scout's sister, Georgia. But only two of them walk out alive. Fast forward to the present, and there's a string of murders happening across LA. All of the victims have dirtied their hands in the entertainment industry, and the evidence points to pop star Scout Sage as the killer. It's up to Detective Grey Holloway to uncover whether there's a connection between the current murders and what happened ten years ago, and whether Scout is truly the killer.
This was such an engaging read, and I was immediately fascinated by the dual timelines and the investigations unfolding in both. As Grey pieces together the present-day murders, we're introduced to the idea of a secret network of women celebrity vigilantes working behind the scenes to deliver justice where the system has failed. The concept of women standing up for other women, advocating for one another, and refusing to tolerate the injustices inflicted on them by the Hollywood industry was incredibly empowering to read about.
The book definitely focuses more on female empowerment and the darker side of Hollywood that's often hidden behind all the glamour and glitz. Women are constantly treated differently, and the industry often pits them against one another. They're encouraged to compete to the point of hurting each other emotionally and sometimes even physically, for roles they believe they deserve. And that's only the beginning. Young actors are exploited through unfair, restrictive contracts. Women are harassed, manipulated, and abused both physically and emotionally. And even when they finally make it in the industry, they're still forced to navigate severe power imbalances. Even though I was already aware of some of these issues, it still made me sick to my stomach to see how deeply systemic they are and how rarely the people responsible are ever brought to justice.
Because of that, the book raises an interesting question: Is it okay to take justice into your own hands if the system continues to protect the people doing harm? Or does that simply make you as guilty as the people you're trying to punish? I'm always a supporter of women's rights...and women's wrongs 🤭, so I found myself cheering for many of the decisions these women made, and I thought the ending delivered that message really well.
That said, there were a couple of things that didn't quite work for me - the main reveal and some of the POVs😫 The reveal itself was surprising, but I felt like we barely spent enough time with that particular character throughout the story. So when the "bam... here's your killer" moment arrived, it didn't feel as satisfying as I'd hoped. I understood why they did what they did, but I still found it difficult to fully accept their justification. The other reveals, however, were really well done, and I especially enjoyed the story once the two timelines finally converged.
As for the multiple POVs, I thought most of them were necessary because I generally love seeing events from different perspectives. That said, there were a lot of them. A few felt unnecessary and slowed the pacing down a bit. Personally, I think sticking to the main POVs and the ones that directly expanded on the incidents in both timelines would've been enough.
These are only minor complaints, but I still wanted to mention them because if you're someone who doesn't enjoy juggling a large cast of characters and multiple perspectives, it's something worth keeping in mind before picking this one up.
Other than that, this was an intriguing read that had me rooting for our FMCs while also hoping every man who exploited them got exactly what they deserved. I'd definitely recommend this if you enjoy stories about sisterhood, women standing up for one another, and character-driven mysteries that slowly unravel over time.
✨Pre-read -
Omggg, it's finally here!!! Ever since I read and loved This Book Will Bury Me by the author, I've been waiting for this one.
Celebrity vigilantes and revenge?! Sounds like a wonderful time, right?😌
August 16, 2026
My Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Format: Audiobook (Hoopla)
Narrator: Britney Pressley
I really wanted to love this one, but I completely agree with the flood of under-3-star reviews. The premise of this book sounded fresh and fun as far as thrillers go, but the execution was just a total mess. Far too many characters introduced on top of a dizzying web of shifting timelines (present day, 10 years ago, 1 year ago, a few months back... I truly could not keep it all straight).The plot completely veers off course halfway through. It started in one clear direction and then abruptly pivoted into what felt like a totally different, separate book. It just dragged on way longer than necessary. Unless you love keeping a literal spreadsheet of characters and timelines to follow a plot, I'd skip this club.
Format: Audiobook (Hoopla)
Narrator: Britney Pressley
I really wanted to love this one, but I completely agree with the flood of under-3-star reviews. The premise of this book sounded fresh and fun as far as thrillers go, but the execution was just a total mess. Far too many characters introduced on top of a dizzying web of shifting timelines (present day, 10 years ago, 1 year ago, a few months back... I truly could not keep it all straight).The plot completely veers off course halfway through. It started in one clear direction and then abruptly pivoted into what felt like a totally different, separate book. It just dragged on way longer than necessary. Unless you love keeping a literal spreadsheet of characters and timelines to follow a plot, I'd skip this club.
July 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the #gifted ALC 💕
3 ⭐️
I usually LOVE a multi-POV situation in the book (especially if it’s in audiobook format 🎧), but DAMN GIRL, did EVERYONE IN L.A. need a POV in this story?! I think there were AT LEAST 10 different POV’s- each with their own meandering backstory that VAGUELY connected to the main plot (which I’m stilling trying to figure out) 🫠.
The GOOD: the overall message of women empowerment, sisterhood and standing up to the patriarchy. Hell, I like a little vigilante justice from time to time, so that was good. The narration 🎧- Brittany Pressley earned her COINS on this one since she had to voice half of LA county in this story. She had a heavy lift and did a good job.
The BAD: the 97 different storylines that could have been standalone books all by themselves! I had no idea where to focus my attention- in a bad way. I’m always tickled when I don’t guess “whodunnit” by the end of the book (it’s rare, I usually figure it out), but there was no way in hell I was gonna figure it out with 88 different suspects 👥👥👥!
The UGLY: HOLY POV OVERLOAD, BATMAN! Yikes! I literally had a whole page of notes in my ARC review journal dedicated to keeping track of the characters! I gave up about halfway through and just relied on “vibes” to help me figure out what was going on. Again, the characters were interesting, there were just TOO MANY, and couple that with all the different storylines it just bogged down the story and made it a chore to get through by the end 😫
I WANTED to love it. I really did. The premise is actually pretty dope - a whole network of “hot girls” going rogue and getting justice against misbehaved men (and the women who protect them)- YES! 38 storylines & POV’s? HARD PASS. The overall message was good, so I gave this 3 stars, but this COULD have been a 5 star read with a little more editing.
3 ⭐️
I usually LOVE a multi-POV situation in the book (especially if it’s in audiobook format 🎧), but DAMN GIRL, did EVERYONE IN L.A. need a POV in this story?! I think there were AT LEAST 10 different POV’s- each with their own meandering backstory that VAGUELY connected to the main plot (which I’m stilling trying to figure out) 🫠.
The GOOD: the overall message of women empowerment, sisterhood and standing up to the patriarchy. Hell, I like a little vigilante justice from time to time, so that was good. The narration 🎧- Brittany Pressley earned her COINS on this one since she had to voice half of LA county in this story. She had a heavy lift and did a good job.
The BAD: the 97 different storylines that could have been standalone books all by themselves! I had no idea where to focus my attention- in a bad way. I’m always tickled when I don’t guess “whodunnit” by the end of the book (it’s rare, I usually figure it out), but there was no way in hell I was gonna figure it out with 88 different suspects 👥👥👥!
The UGLY: HOLY POV OVERLOAD, BATMAN! Yikes! I literally had a whole page of notes in my ARC review journal dedicated to keeping track of the characters! I gave up about halfway through and just relied on “vibes” to help me figure out what was going on. Again, the characters were interesting, there were just TOO MANY, and couple that with all the different storylines it just bogged down the story and made it a chore to get through by the end 😫
I WANTED to love it. I really did. The premise is actually pretty dope - a whole network of “hot girls” going rogue and getting justice against misbehaved men (and the women who protect them)- YES! 38 storylines & POV’s? HARD PASS. The overall message was good, so I gave this 3 stars, but this COULD have been a 5 star read with a little more editing.
July 23, 2026
3.5 stars( rounded down to 3)
A journalist investigates a group of powerful Hollywood influencers who dispense their own brand of justice. A detective refuses to give up on her sister's cold case. A fiercely loyal assistant will do anything to protect her pop star employer's darkest secrets—even kill. And an activist is quietly pursuing a far more sinister agenda. Hopefully, I didn't give too much away there!
Compelling premise. A lot of characters to sort through and various perspectives that eventually all intersect, but future readers will want to make sure they're fully alert to keep it all organized. I loved the premise, but it was a little bit chaotic. I don't regret my reading selection because the last few chapters were well written and I do like how certain storylines end on high notes.
Publication Date 14/07/26
Goodreads Review 22/07/26
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
A journalist investigates a group of powerful Hollywood influencers who dispense their own brand of justice. A detective refuses to give up on her sister's cold case. A fiercely loyal assistant will do anything to protect her pop star employer's darkest secrets—even kill. And an activist is quietly pursuing a far more sinister agenda. Hopefully, I didn't give too much away there!
Compelling premise. A lot of characters to sort through and various perspectives that eventually all intersect, but future readers will want to make sure they're fully alert to keep it all organized. I loved the premise, but it was a little bit chaotic. I don't regret my reading selection because the last few chapters were well written and I do like how certain storylines end on high notes.
Publication Date 14/07/26
Goodreads Review 22/07/26
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Want to Read
January 19, 2026
In my dreams I hold a knife
is still one of my ultimate fave reads!
The blurb sounds soo juicy
Hurry up release day!!!!!!!
The blurb sounds soo juicy
Hurry up release day!!!!!!!
July 23, 2026
2.5 rounded to a 3
This book hooked me pretty quickly, and I thought I was in for a really good story. Unfortunately, it started to lose me as it went on. There were several storylines introduced, but some of them just seemed to fizzle out and were never really addressed again. On top of that, the characters became more and more frustrating, and parts of the plot started to feel kind of nonsensical. It's disappointing because the beginning showed a lot of promise, but in the end it just didn't come together for me.
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book hooked me pretty quickly, and I thought I was in for a really good story. Unfortunately, it started to lose me as it went on. There were several storylines introduced, but some of them just seemed to fizzle out and were never really addressed again. On top of that, the characters became more and more frustrating, and parts of the plot started to feel kind of nonsensical. It's disappointing because the beginning showed a lot of promise, but in the end it just didn't come together for me.
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 8, 2026
The Bling Ring but make it . . . .
I’m sure you’re all sick of my broken record repetition of how I suck at posting reviews. But this time I suck double because I received advance copies of this in both Kindle AND audio formats, read it back in March, never listened to it until last week because I completely forgot I had it and am only now positing. And I really dug this one too so WTF is wrong with me?!?!?!?! Clearly I need some sort of muscle to stand over me and threaten bodily harm to force me to write a little bit of nothing up about the things I read.
Anywho, all that being said, the title here says it all. This is the story of the infamous “hot girl murder club” – a bunch of (you guessed it) hot young Hollywood up-and-comers who are rumored to be murdering the badly behaving Weinsteins and Epsteins in Tinseltown and the detective who is trying to actually prove they are behind said murders.
Like I said above I really enjoyed this one with the exception that rather than wrapping things up it seemed to just kept going and going and going for chapters and chapters. I thought this was like the 400+ page range, but turns out was even less than 350 so this is where the half star would really be beneficial.
3.5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
I’m sure you’re all sick of my broken record repetition of how I suck at posting reviews. But this time I suck double because I received advance copies of this in both Kindle AND audio formats, read it back in March, never listened to it until last week because I completely forgot I had it and am only now positing. And I really dug this one too so WTF is wrong with me?!?!?!?! Clearly I need some sort of muscle to stand over me and threaten bodily harm to force me to write a little bit of nothing up about the things I read.
Anywho, all that being said, the title here says it all. This is the story of the infamous “hot girl murder club” – a bunch of (you guessed it) hot young Hollywood up-and-comers who are rumored to be murdering the badly behaving Weinsteins and Epsteins in Tinseltown and the detective who is trying to actually prove they are behind said murders.
Like I said above I really enjoyed this one with the exception that rather than wrapping things up it seemed to just kept going and going and going for chapters and chapters. I thought this was like the 400+ page range, but turns out was even less than 350 so this is where the half star would really be beneficial.
3.5 Stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
February 7, 2026
Hot Girl Murder Club
By: Ashley Winstead
Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Publisher: Minotaur Books
I always win the book lottery when I get accepted for books by Ashley. Her books in any genre she writes are ones I can’t wait to devour. Isn’t this cover TO DIE for!
For ten years, Scott Sage has been mourning her sister’s death. Georgia death at a party in Hollywood has put the light on the “not so hot part of an industry”.
Scout is now working her way in Hollywood trying to honor her memory. It’s a “cutthroat” business and lots of people will step over others to get to the top.
When murders start happening again, it is looking like Scout might be involved. How can she clear her name? She quickly learns who believes her and who turns on her.
Another FABULOUS book by Winstead. Get ready to add HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB to your shelf and devour once the book arrives.
By: Ashley Winstead
Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Publisher: Minotaur Books
I always win the book lottery when I get accepted for books by Ashley. Her books in any genre she writes are ones I can’t wait to devour. Isn’t this cover TO DIE for!
For ten years, Scott Sage has been mourning her sister’s death. Georgia death at a party in Hollywood has put the light on the “not so hot part of an industry”.
Scout is now working her way in Hollywood trying to honor her memory. It’s a “cutthroat” business and lots of people will step over others to get to the top.
When murders start happening again, it is looking like Scout might be involved. How can she clear her name? She quickly learns who believes her and who turns on her.
Another FABULOUS book by Winstead. Get ready to add HOT GIRL MURDER CLUB to your shelf and devour once the book arrives.
February 28, 2026
3.75 - 4.25 ⭐
I am LOVING the ambition of this Hollywood thriller! 🎤🔪
I was so excited to get my hands on an eARC of Hot Girl Murder Club ! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the early access in exchange for my honest review. 💖✨
Ashley Winstead is easily one of my favorite authors and her writing is always TOP-TIER. She is extremely intelligent and it really shows in the way she constructs a story! 🧠✍️
This book follows Scout Sage, a pop star whose world is turned upside down when she’s framed for a string of murders that might actually link back to her sister’s death years ago. It’s a cutthroat look at Hollywood, fame, and a sister’s quest for justice. 🎬💄
What I Loved:
The multiple POV was handled so well! I loved how the chapters weren't just names but focused on their careers and how the story affected each one differently. It kept me on my toes! And even though there was A LOT going on, Ashley tied it all up in a PERFECT, NEAT BOW by the end. 🎀👏
My Thoughts:
I really liked it, but there was definitely a lot to keep track of! It was a bit more political than I usually want for a thriller. 🏛️📈 Thrillers are usually my "brain break" from heavy fantasy world-building, and this one had almost TOO MUCH substance for a quick palette cleanser. It’s deep and complex, which is great, but it required some heavy lifting to follow all the threads! 🤯🔍
Final Verdict:
I enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to my audience! 📣✨ I think it will hit especially hard for readers who focus SOLELY on the thriller genre as their main choice. It’s a smart, ambitious story about what it takes to get justice in a world of stilettos and secrets. 👠💄🚨
I am LOVING the ambition of this Hollywood thriller! 🎤🔪
I was so excited to get my hands on an eARC of Hot Girl Murder Club ! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the early access in exchange for my honest review. 💖✨
Ashley Winstead is easily one of my favorite authors and her writing is always TOP-TIER. She is extremely intelligent and it really shows in the way she constructs a story! 🧠✍️
This book follows Scout Sage, a pop star whose world is turned upside down when she’s framed for a string of murders that might actually link back to her sister’s death years ago. It’s a cutthroat look at Hollywood, fame, and a sister’s quest for justice. 🎬💄
What I Loved:
The multiple POV was handled so well! I loved how the chapters weren't just names but focused on their careers and how the story affected each one differently. It kept me on my toes! And even though there was A LOT going on, Ashley tied it all up in a PERFECT, NEAT BOW by the end. 🎀👏
My Thoughts:
I really liked it, but there was definitely a lot to keep track of! It was a bit more political than I usually want for a thriller. 🏛️📈 Thrillers are usually my "brain break" from heavy fantasy world-building, and this one had almost TOO MUCH substance for a quick palette cleanser. It’s deep and complex, which is great, but it required some heavy lifting to follow all the threads! 🤯🔍
Final Verdict:
I enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to my audience! 📣✨ I think it will hit especially hard for readers who focus SOLELY on the thriller genre as their main choice. It’s a smart, ambitious story about what it takes to get justice in a world of stilettos and secrets. 👠💄🚨
December 26, 2025
A women's death at a Christmas party haunts her family. Her sister is tired of bad men getting away with doing bad things to women.
This was an interesting mystery with a simmering rage. I liked the feel of the menace, wondering who would be targeted next. But somewhere in the multiple timelines, I started to get the stories jumbled. There are similar names in both past and present and I kept losing which timeframe I was in. I liked the idea of the group of women taking down powerful men but I felt like the message got lost a bit with the different journalist POV.
It was still a good story, one that kept me wondering until the end how it would all work out. I did this as an audio and, although the narrator was great, I think it made it a little harder for me to keep the timelines sorted.
This was an interesting mystery with a simmering rage. I liked the feel of the menace, wondering who would be targeted next. But somewhere in the multiple timelines, I started to get the stories jumbled. There are similar names in both past and present and I kept losing which timeframe I was in. I liked the idea of the group of women taking down powerful men but I felt like the message got lost a bit with the different journalist POV.
It was still a good story, one that kept me wondering until the end how it would all work out. I did this as an audio and, although the narrator was great, I think it made it a little harder for me to keep the timelines sorted.
August 17, 2026
Hot Girl Murder Club follows Scout Sage, a rising Hollywood singer and actress who has spent the past decade trying to build a life and career in the shadow of her sister Georgia’s mysterious death. But when a series of murders begins targeting people connected to Hollywood’s dark underbelly—and evidence starts pointing directly at Scout—she suddenly finds herself at the center of a very public murder investigation. As Detective Grey Holloway digs deeper, she discovers that Georgia’s death may be connected to a much larger pattern of buried secrets, exploitation, and women seeking justice on their own terms.
Unfortunately, this one just didn't really work for me and is probably my least favorite of Ashley Winstead's thrillers. 😞 The premise and that cover really intrigued me, and I was dying to get my hands on this one ASAP, but sadly, the execution just didn't click with me.
For me, this ended up reading much more like a police procedural than the fast-paced, twisty thriller I was expecting. I also really struggled with the constant back-and-forth in time and the numerous perspectives. There were just so many characters and moving pieces to keep track of that somewhere around the second half, I realized I had pretty much stopped caring about where the story was going.
I split this one between print and audio, and by the time I finally reached the end, I was honestly just ready for it to be over. 😬 And that's always a bummer, especially when it's an author whose previous thrillers I've enjoyed.
That said, this could absolutely just be a me problem because I've seen plenty of glowing reviews for this one, so definitely take my opinion with a grain of salt! There are clearly readers who connected with what Winstead was doing here, but unfortunately, I just wasn't one of them this time around. 🫠
Unfortunately, this one just didn't really work for me and is probably my least favorite of Ashley Winstead's thrillers. 😞 The premise and that cover really intrigued me, and I was dying to get my hands on this one ASAP, but sadly, the execution just didn't click with me.
For me, this ended up reading much more like a police procedural than the fast-paced, twisty thriller I was expecting. I also really struggled with the constant back-and-forth in time and the numerous perspectives. There were just so many characters and moving pieces to keep track of that somewhere around the second half, I realized I had pretty much stopped caring about where the story was going.
I split this one between print and audio, and by the time I finally reached the end, I was honestly just ready for it to be over. 😬 And that's always a bummer, especially when it's an author whose previous thrillers I've enjoyed.
That said, this could absolutely just be a me problem because I've seen plenty of glowing reviews for this one, so definitely take my opinion with a grain of salt! There are clearly readers who connected with what Winstead was doing here, but unfortunately, I just wasn't one of them this time around. 🫠
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