Series: Standalone
Format: Kindle, 446 pages
Release Date: November 1, 2024
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Source: Amazon First
Genre: Thrillers / Suspense
From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a taut thriller about one author at the pinnacle of her career, whose past threatens to destroy everything she has—and everyone she knows.
A great writer knows when to deliver a juicy plot twist. But for one author, the biggest twist of all is her own murder.
With a number of hit titles and a highly anticipated movie tie-in, celebrated novelist Columbia Jones is at the top of her game. Fans around the world adore her. But on the final night of her latest book tour, one face in the crowd makes the author collapse. And by the next morning, she’s lying dead in a pool of blood.
Columbia’s death shocks the world and leaves Darian, her daughter and publicist, reeling. The police have nothing to go on—at first. But then details emerge, pointing to the author’s illicit past. Turns out many people had motive to kill Columbia. And with a hungry reporter and frustrated cop on the trail, her secrets won’t stay buried long. But how many lives will they shatter as the truth comes out?
J.T. Ellison's A Very Bad Thing is a novel that rewards readers who tend to pay attention to clues and details because you are going to want to keep track of key players and events. This is a thriller that will keep you guessing until the final pages. Famous author Columbia Jones, who has written over 20 books, is winding up an intense month of book readings and signings across the country. She's already got a contract in place to make one of her books into a big deal movie.
All she has left to do is let Riley, the journalist she picked, do an in-depth story on her and their month together, and she’ll be able to rest. Her daughter Darian works as her publicist and de facto 'wing-woman' of sorts, helping to keep the crowds at bay and her events running smoothly, despite lingering concerns of an overzealous 'stalker' fan on their heels. Except when an unknown participant stands up. Except when Columbia faints and ends up in the hospital.
Except when Columbia and Darian have a minor fight. Except when Riley goes to their interview with Columbia the next morning and finds her dead. Instead of getting an interview, she's now the main suspect in Columbia's death thanks to Darian and Detective Sutcliffe. If that wasn't enough to wake you up, Riley finds out she's being called to the reading of Columbia's will. Columbia’s death shocks the world and leaves Darian reeling. But then details emerge, pointing to the author’s illicit past.
Turns out many people had motives to kill Columbia. And with a hungry reporter and frustrated cop on the trail, her secrets won’t stay buried long. But how many lives will they shatter as the truth comes out? It seems like Columbia had a bigger reason for choosing her to write this particular 'no holds barred' account of her life...and that Columbia may have been hiding something from her daughter Darian, too. Oh, and there's a third character in the play. Her name is Kira Hutchinson, and she has no idea that her entire world is going to be changed fundamentally forever with the revelation that she, too, was named in Columbia's will.
We hear from the perspective of Darian, Sutcliffe, Columbia (in the past), Riley, and others. The book is long and could have been narrowed down. One of the cleverest parts of this book was the ending. Columbia's letter was the most revealing part that you have been waiting for. It is literally the name of the book. There is also a shocking revelation on the very last page, which I refuse to spoil. This piece of the puzzle would have been nice to have appeared a few hundred pages before!!
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