Description:

You never know who’s listening.

To Stella Dixon, sneaking her teenage brother out of their parents’ house for a beach party was harmless fun—until Max disappeared without a trace.

Six years later, Stella’s family is still broken, and she can’t let go of her guilt. The only thing that keeps her going is helping other families find closure through A Killer Motive, her true crime podcast.

In a bid to find new sponsors and keep making episodes, Stella goes on a local radio show. But when she says on air that if she had just one clue, she’d find Max and bring whoever hurt him to justice, someone takes it as a challenge.

A mysterious invitation to play a game arrives, with the promise that if Stella wins, she’ll get information about what happened to Max. Stella thinks it’s a sick joke…until Max’s best friend vanishes. And she’s given new instructions: tell nobody or people will die.

Desperate and unable to trust anyone, Stella agrees. But beating a twisted, invisible enemy seems impossible when they make all the rules.

Adele’s Review:

Stella Dixon, the protagonist of A Killer Motive, has suffered from relentless guilt since her brother disappeared six years earlier. She has reason to berate herself for his unsolved disappearance, though she’s pursued every available lead to find him. When pivotal details emerge years later, Stella follows each clue no matter where they take her. The path to the truth is dark, difficult, and dangerous.

Fans of Hannah Mary McKinnon will likely enjoy this story of sibling loyalty and redemption. The novel is well-written and the plot moves forward at a good pace. Most surprising for this reviewer is the story conclusion that caught me completely off guard. I didn’t guess the ending.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7653928810

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DR5YGPGQ