I was hooked on Guess Again from the start. Set in a sleepy Wisconsin lake town, the story is two-pronged; the ten-year-old disappearance of Callie Jones takes center stage, but in the background is the murder of the main character’s father and his killer’s bid for freedom.

Former detective-turned-ER doctor Ethan Hall is a refreshing lead. Haunted by his past in the crimes against children division, he left police work to become a doctor. He’s pulled back into a cold case by his former partner, who wants Ethan’s help to solve a case he’s been working for a long time before his impending death. As the mystery unfolds, new twists gets added here and there to keep things interesting (and make it hard to figure out ahead of time what exactly is going on). Charlie Donlea masterfully layers in suspense, slowly peeling back truths that are more disturbing than expected.

What I loved most was how layered everything was. Every character had secrets, and just when I thought I had it figured out, something new would pop up and change the direction. And the heatwave backdrop added this constant feeling of pressure, like something was about to snap.

But honestly, it was the twist near the end that really got me. I did not see it coming, and it completely shifted how I viewed everything up to that point. It felt like the perfect setup for a sequel (fingers crossed!), because I definitely want more of Ethan and this creepy little town.

If you’re into smart thrillers with strong characters and a mystery that actually surprises you, this one’s worth picking up.

Thank you to Charlie Donlea, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5/5)

Author: Charlie Donlea

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publication Date: July 29, 2025