First published 2026
Sunny Randall receives an unusual request from bestselling novelist Melanie Joan Hart. An anonymous online reviewer called Book Babe has posted a scathing one-star review that threatens to destroy Melanie's career. The review carries weight because Book Babe commands thousands of devoted followers. Melanie's publisher now considers dropping her entire catalog. Sunny agrees to unmask the mysterious critic, but her investigation uncovers a tangled past between the two women. The reviewer may have legitimate grievances against the famous author. When Book Babe dies under suspicious circumstances, Melanie becomes the prime suspect in a murder case. Sunny must navigate competing loyalties and hidden motives to solve the crime. The deeper she digs, the more dangerous her position becomes. Someone wants to silence her before she can expose the truth.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-detective, competing-loyalties
320 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: murder