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Shell Games
A dazzling thriller about a young woman whose fabulously wealthy mother might be the victim of an elaborate con or might be losing her mind––and the daughter can’t tell where the truth lies.
Julie’s mother Kate is a force of nature––a glamorous woman of seventy, a self-made real estate developer, a grande dame in Florida society, and a power broker in Florida politics. It wasn’t easy for Julie to grow up in the shadow of such a dynamo, but she loves her mother, and she and her husband Eric are thrilled when Kate marries her long-lost high school sweetheart, a salt-of-the-earth man named Charlie.
But their storybook romance ends abruptly. On their wedding night, Kate calls the police in hysterics to report that Charlie just confessed to a notorious unsolved crime from decades before.
Charlie says she imagined it. Eric says that Kate has dementia. And the FBI says that Charlie couldn’t possibly have committed that crime.
Julie doesn’t know what to believe. Is her brilliant mother losing her mind? Or is sweet, lovable Charlie gaslighting Kate to gain control of her fortune?
As Julie tries to navigate through this maze of paranoia and mind games, cracks start to develop in her own marriage as it seems that Eric is keeping secrets . . .
Set against a backdrop of rampant development and devastating climate change, Shell Games is a psychological thriller that will make your head spin and the pages turn as you wonder exactly who is doing what to whom.
Julie’s mother Kate is a force of nature––a glamorous woman of seventy, a self-made real estate developer, a grande dame in Florida society, and a power broker in Florida politics. It wasn’t easy for Julie to grow up in the shadow of such a dynamo, but she loves her mother, and she and her husband Eric are thrilled when Kate marries her long-lost high school sweetheart, a salt-of-the-earth man named Charlie.
But their storybook romance ends abruptly. On their wedding night, Kate calls the police in hysterics to report that Charlie just confessed to a notorious unsolved crime from decades before.
Charlie says she imagined it. Eric says that Kate has dementia. And the FBI says that Charlie couldn’t possibly have committed that crime.
Julie doesn’t know what to believe. Is her brilliant mother losing her mind? Or is sweet, lovable Charlie gaslighting Kate to gain control of her fortune?
As Julie tries to navigate through this maze of paranoia and mind games, cracks start to develop in her own marriage as it seems that Eric is keeping secrets . . .
Set against a backdrop of rampant development and devastating climate change, Shell Games is a psychological thriller that will make your head spin and the pages turn as you wonder exactly who is doing what to whom.
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2024
159 people are currently reading
11546 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Kistler
8 books392 followersBonnie Kistler is the author of SHELL GAMES (on sale November 19, 2024); HER, TOO; THE CAGE; and HOUSE ON FIRE.
A former trial lawyer, she was born in suburban Philadelphia and educated at Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
After law school, she decided to seek adventure in Alaska––or at least as much adventure as she could manage while toiling away as a junior lawyer in a law firm. Perhaps her greatest adventure there was meeting her husband, coincidentally also a Philadelphian. She soon moved with him to Arkansas, and a few years later, full-circle back to Philadelphia. Having endured three different states' bar exams in four years (!), she decided to stay put.
Bonnie spent the remainder of her law career in private practice with major Philadelphia firms. She specialized in corporate litigation and successfully tried cases across the country.
But her love of writing eclipsed all else, and ultimately she left the law behind to become a full-time author.
She and her husband now live in Southwest Florida and the mountains of western North Carolina.
A former trial lawyer, she was born in suburban Philadelphia and educated at Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
After law school, she decided to seek adventure in Alaska––or at least as much adventure as she could manage while toiling away as a junior lawyer in a law firm. Perhaps her greatest adventure there was meeting her husband, coincidentally also a Philadelphian. She soon moved with him to Arkansas, and a few years later, full-circle back to Philadelphia. Having endured three different states' bar exams in four years (!), she decided to stay put.
Bonnie spent the remainder of her law career in private practice with major Philadelphia firms. She specialized in corporate litigation and successfully tried cases across the country.
But her love of writing eclipsed all else, and ultimately she left the law behind to become a full-time author.
She and her husband now live in Southwest Florida and the mountains of western North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
January 16, 2025
Before I start, I beg you not to read the synopsis for Shell Games if you haven’t already. Best read blind, all you need to know is that an obscenely wealthy woman gets married to her high school sweetheart after finding each other again later in life. On their wedding night, he makes a confession. Or does he? Because it’s soon suggested that she must be suffering from dementia as there was no such confession. Is the new hubby trying to gaslight her into access to her fortune? Or is she actually losing her mind? There ya go. Now on to my glowing review…
What an utterly brilliant mind f*** of a book! Right from the start, Shell Games was fast-paced, entrancing, and darn close to perfect. Between the superlative characters and the well-plotted storyline that ducked and weaved with precision, it was an out-and-out winner from beginning to end. After all, it was addictive, compelling, and filled with edge-of-your-seat suspicion. And by the last page of this stunner, my eyes were actually sore from flying through the pages at such a high speed.
As for the characters, they are ALL looked upon with my trusty side-eye over and over. From the detested son-in-law to the elderly new husband (as well as a long list of others), my suspicion meter was well past eleven. Despite this, however, I didn’t have a shot at guessing what was really transpiring. And let me tell you, they had me feeling all of the feels: skepticism, hatred, adoration, and even a tiny bit of awe. All told, they were well-drawn and 100% realistic, which made the plot feel so as well.
The absolute best piece of the puzzle, however, was most definitely the twists. Shifting the story in first one direction and then another, my ever armchair sleuthing mind struggled to stay one step ahead. No matter what I imagined, though, I was smoothly outgunned. Shocking, unpredictable, and thoroughly unguessable, there was even one final punch on the very last page that had my jaw on the floor as I gleefully chuckled and uttered “No f***ing way!”
All said and done, this novel will most definitely be making my list for best of the year. With short chapters, immersive storytelling, and deliciously complex characters, I just couldn’t get enough from what was a downright unputdownable read. Sure to keep you guessing from beginning to end, I simply can’t stress enough how much I loved this psychological thriller. So run, don’t walk to get a copy of this one yourself ASAP. Now please excuse me while I try to wipe this grin off of my face. Rating of 5+ stars.
Thank you to Bonnie Kistler and Harper Paperbacks for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 19, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: dementia, gaslighting, hurricane, death of a parent, suicide, breaking and entering
What an utterly brilliant mind f*** of a book! Right from the start, Shell Games was fast-paced, entrancing, and darn close to perfect. Between the superlative characters and the well-plotted storyline that ducked and weaved with precision, it was an out-and-out winner from beginning to end. After all, it was addictive, compelling, and filled with edge-of-your-seat suspicion. And by the last page of this stunner, my eyes were actually sore from flying through the pages at such a high speed.
As for the characters, they are ALL looked upon with my trusty side-eye over and over. From the detested son-in-law to the elderly new husband (as well as a long list of others), my suspicion meter was well past eleven. Despite this, however, I didn’t have a shot at guessing what was really transpiring. And let me tell you, they had me feeling all of the feels: skepticism, hatred, adoration, and even a tiny bit of awe. All told, they were well-drawn and 100% realistic, which made the plot feel so as well.
The absolute best piece of the puzzle, however, was most definitely the twists. Shifting the story in first one direction and then another, my ever armchair sleuthing mind struggled to stay one step ahead. No matter what I imagined, though, I was smoothly outgunned. Shocking, unpredictable, and thoroughly unguessable, there was even one final punch on the very last page that had my jaw on the floor as I gleefully chuckled and uttered “No f***ing way!”
All said and done, this novel will most definitely be making my list for best of the year. With short chapters, immersive storytelling, and deliciously complex characters, I just couldn’t get enough from what was a downright unputdownable read. Sure to keep you guessing from beginning to end, I simply can’t stress enough how much I loved this psychological thriller. So run, don’t walk to get a copy of this one yourself ASAP. Now please excuse me while I try to wipe this grin off of my face. Rating of 5+ stars.
Thank you to Bonnie Kistler and Harper Paperbacks for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 19, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: dementia, gaslighting, hurricane, death of a parent, suicide, breaking and entering
February 21, 2025
Hairpin turns throughout left me questioning the hidden agendas and true motivations of each of the characters. Masterfully executed!
October 7, 2024
Well this was insane! I never quite knew who to trust, who to believe or really what was going on. It was great, I love a book that has me questioning things all the time.
On their wedding night, Kate and.Charlie are finally putting their feet up and preparing to head off on their honeymoon. Kate is so happy, she is the CEO of a huge corporation and she has just married her childhood sweetheart after not seeing him for 5o years. That is until he drops a bomb on her, and then denies it to police, claiming his new wife is suffering from dementia and mental health issues. Her daughter Julie doesn’t believe it, her mother is a strong and independent woman, so what is going on.
This was a fast read, I read this over 2 sessions and it messed with my head. I loved the way it made me change my mind about everything and everyone. With a hurricane, a husband with secrets and plenty of characters who aren’t easy to like, this book is one to get lost in.
Thanks so much to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. Publishes on. November 19th.
On their wedding night, Kate and.Charlie are finally putting their feet up and preparing to head off on their honeymoon. Kate is so happy, she is the CEO of a huge corporation and she has just married her childhood sweetheart after not seeing him for 5o years. That is until he drops a bomb on her, and then denies it to police, claiming his new wife is suffering from dementia and mental health issues. Her daughter Julie doesn’t believe it, her mother is a strong and independent woman, so what is going on.
This was a fast read, I read this over 2 sessions and it messed with my head. I loved the way it made me change my mind about everything and everyone. With a hurricane, a husband with secrets and plenty of characters who aren’t easy to like, this book is one to get lost in.
Thanks so much to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. Publishes on. November 19th.
November 11, 2024
Shell Games follows Julie, who’s caught in the chaos when her uber wealth and influential mother, Kate, marries her high school sweetheart, Charlie. Kate’s an influential real estate mogul and political figure in Florida, and Julie’s thrilled her mom seems happy—until their wedding night when Kate accuses Charlie of confessing to an old crime, throwing everyone into confusion. While Kate insists it happened, Charlie claims she’s delusional, and others suggest she might be showing signs of dementia. Julie’s stuck wondering if her mom’s truly losing it or if Charlie’s just pulling off an elaborate scheme.
As the story ventures into chaos, Julie starts noticing cracks in her own marriage, adding layers of distrust and paranoia. Even her husband, Eric, seems to be hiding something, leaving Julie unsure who to believe or trust. The book heavily relies on gaslighting themes, adding tension but sometimes veering into over-the-top territory. Yet, the final twist hits hard, truly winning me over in the end.
As the story ventures into chaos, Julie starts noticing cracks in her own marriage, adding layers of distrust and paranoia. Even her husband, Eric, seems to be hiding something, leaving Julie unsure who to believe or trust. The book heavily relies on gaslighting themes, adding tension but sometimes veering into over-the-top territory. Yet, the final twist hits hard, truly winning me over in the end.
January 10, 2025
This book is so Florida. Billionaire rich lady gets married at 70. Right from the beginning that is sus. Who gets married at 70? Her husband confesses to being a murderer then says she was just drunk. It’s a whole thing. She changes her mind then. It’s disjointed and cooks but at the end it all wraps up rather abruptly. A fun mystery.
January 13, 2025
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
“Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.”
Midway through reading, I was ready to throw in the towel and call it a day. There's only so much gaslighting and manipulative coercion I can take before I get fed up with trying to understand what exactly is the basis of the story, while also figuring that Eric simply did not possess a redeemable cell in his body, thus earning him worst husband of the month award. 🙅🏻♀️ Yet, somehow, I persisted. And surprisingly enough, what was aiming for a lower rating, somehow managed to work its way up into a much more --- not exactly promising end, but made it seem worth my while to have made it to the end. 💪🏻
“Her mother was making her question things that were perfectly reasonable. Which made her wonder: Who was gaslighting whom?”
The mother-daughter relationship is truly the heart of the story. What Kate, a woman of too many contradictions, thinks of Julie, how Julie values Kate, how she feels that whatever decision she makes is meant to be the right one, but somehow turns out to be a calculated one on her mother's terms. It was an interesting cat-mouse game of ’prioritizing the details of her life and business’ that inadvertently was taking place, despite how much Julie was unaware of. I would not go so far as to say that Julie was gullible; she was trusting - unless that is the same thing. 🤔
For when things went from worse to worst, things actually became clearer for her, instead. She's being blindsided, okay, gaslighted, from so many different corners, that when she's finally left alone, things actually start to make sense to her - the air clears and she finally can make decisions on her own. ’No one needed a flow chart to understand why that made sense.’ 😥 But, I liked that she started to grow a backbone for herself; learned to put herself first and get out of a marriage that was seriously crippling her, mentally and emotionally. 😔
I did not know about the Tylenol murders; it is learning new things that makes me feel so grateful to be a reader. It is shocking enough of a tragedy, itself, but to incorporate into Julie's life and the basis of which her mother's desire for a lucrative marriage drastically and rapidly falls asunder is a shocking and sad one. 😢 For it is also a story that showcases how being so obsessed with vanity can lead to heartbreaking loss; there was a hidden meaning in each action, which explains why certain characters behaved the way they did.
“Every accusation roared inside her mind, and she felt the weight of every single one crushing her.
But another voice was able to penetrate all that din. Her own.”
None of the characters were likeable; intentionally so, which is fair, since everyone was having their own agenda, and Julie, herself, was beginning to doubt their misconstrued good intentions. Eric, especially, gosh, what a tool of a husband. 😒 But, I liked how they became intertwined, how Kate even in death was pulling the strings, how Julie was unwittingly a fool despite her steadfast resolve. To go from seeing herself as ’the dupe, the sucker, the easy target’ to finally using her head - common sense - was groundbreaking - for her! A couple of twists were unfortunate for her, but executed nicely by the author that I did like. 👍🏻
For it was beyond the halfway mark that the momentum picked up a notch, as the pieces started to fall into place, and I was immersed in the story. I needed to know for myself what really took place – even if the truth may not be one I necessarily agree with. 🙂↔️ And that is a credit to the writing again to keep my intrigue enough to reach the end. I started to see the connection between calling it Shell Games more so than just the name of the island on which Kate's luxurious estate was situated upon. It brought the story full-circle in a way that explained that the games were more than just on paper, but one where even a hint of a doubt can lay the seed of distrust to eventually lead to even more speculation that won’t be put at ease till the truth finally comes to light. 💡
“Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.”
Midway through reading, I was ready to throw in the towel and call it a day. There's only so much gaslighting and manipulative coercion I can take before I get fed up with trying to understand what exactly is the basis of the story, while also figuring that Eric simply did not possess a redeemable cell in his body, thus earning him worst husband of the month award. 🙅🏻♀️ Yet, somehow, I persisted. And surprisingly enough, what was aiming for a lower rating, somehow managed to work its way up into a much more --- not exactly promising end, but made it seem worth my while to have made it to the end. 💪🏻
“Her mother was making her question things that were perfectly reasonable. Which made her wonder: Who was gaslighting whom?”
The mother-daughter relationship is truly the heart of the story. What Kate, a woman of too many contradictions, thinks of Julie, how Julie values Kate, how she feels that whatever decision she makes is meant to be the right one, but somehow turns out to be a calculated one on her mother's terms. It was an interesting cat-mouse game of ’prioritizing the details of her life and business’ that inadvertently was taking place, despite how much Julie was unaware of. I would not go so far as to say that Julie was gullible; she was trusting - unless that is the same thing. 🤔
For when things went from worse to worst, things actually became clearer for her, instead. She's being blindsided, okay, gaslighted, from so many different corners, that when she's finally left alone, things actually start to make sense to her - the air clears and she finally can make decisions on her own. ’No one needed a flow chart to understand why that made sense.’ 😥 But, I liked that she started to grow a backbone for herself; learned to put herself first and get out of a marriage that was seriously crippling her, mentally and emotionally. 😔
I did not know about the Tylenol murders; it is learning new things that makes me feel so grateful to be a reader. It is shocking enough of a tragedy, itself, but to incorporate into Julie's life and the basis of which her mother's desire for a lucrative marriage drastically and rapidly falls asunder is a shocking and sad one. 😢 For it is also a story that showcases how being so obsessed with vanity can lead to heartbreaking loss; there was a hidden meaning in each action, which explains why certain characters behaved the way they did.
“Every accusation roared inside her mind, and she felt the weight of every single one crushing her.
But another voice was able to penetrate all that din. Her own.”
None of the characters were likeable; intentionally so, which is fair, since everyone was having their own agenda, and Julie, herself, was beginning to doubt their misconstrued good intentions. Eric, especially, gosh, what a tool of a husband. 😒 But, I liked how they became intertwined, how Kate even in death was pulling the strings, how Julie was unwittingly a fool despite her steadfast resolve. To go from seeing herself as ’the dupe, the sucker, the easy target’ to finally using her head - common sense - was groundbreaking - for her! A couple of twists were unfortunate for her, but executed nicely by the author that I did like. 👍🏻
For it was beyond the halfway mark that the momentum picked up a notch, as the pieces started to fall into place, and I was immersed in the story. I needed to know for myself what really took place – even if the truth may not be one I necessarily agree with. 🙂↔️ And that is a credit to the writing again to keep my intrigue enough to reach the end. I started to see the connection between calling it Shell Games more so than just the name of the island on which Kate's luxurious estate was situated upon. It brought the story full-circle in a way that explained that the games were more than just on paper, but one where even a hint of a doubt can lay the seed of distrust to eventually lead to even more speculation that won’t be put at ease till the truth finally comes to light. 💡
January 12, 2025
Julie, the daughter of real estate development mogul Kate Sawyer, narrates this story. Julie has always lived in Kate's shadow, but she loves her powerful, witty mother fiercely and is thrilled when Kate reunites with her high school sweetheart, Charlie, and marries again at age 70.
(To the reviewer who said the premise is flawed because no one gets married at 70: You're an ageist twat. How dare you gatekeep romance? Love transcends race, gender, and, YES, age. I command the author for writing about an age group that is often ignored in media.)
So anyway, Kate and Charlie get married and the first night of their honeymoon, Charlie confesses something. Or Kate thinks he does. She has a terrible headache at the time and is drunk, so maybe Charlie didn't confess at all. Maybe Kate misheard. Maybe she's lying. Maybe Charlie is.
I didn't think I'd like Julie, because she was a pushover who allowed herself to be bullied and controlled by her egotistical surgeon husband, Eric, but I actually ended up rooting for her. She stood up for herself finally, so bravo.
The stuff with Eric was a lot, but I understood why it was included. It added another element to the mystery.
This book kept my interest, especially in the second half. There are plenty of secrets, reveals, and twists.
The story touches on gaslighting and how easy to is to manipulate people into believing what we want them to believe. But who was gaslighting whom?
The last chapter is a doozy, and honestly, I am so here for that clever, slightly ambiguous, ending.
(To the reviewer who said the premise is flawed because no one gets married at 70: You're an ageist twat. How dare you gatekeep romance? Love transcends race, gender, and, YES, age. I command the author for writing about an age group that is often ignored in media.)
So anyway, Kate and Charlie get married and the first night of their honeymoon, Charlie confesses something. Or Kate thinks he does. She has a terrible headache at the time and is drunk, so maybe Charlie didn't confess at all. Maybe Kate misheard. Maybe she's lying. Maybe Charlie is.
I didn't think I'd like Julie, because she was a pushover who allowed herself to be bullied and controlled by her egotistical surgeon husband, Eric, but I actually ended up rooting for her. She stood up for herself finally, so bravo.
The stuff with Eric was a lot, but I understood why it was included. It added another element to the mystery.
This book kept my interest, especially in the second half. There are plenty of secrets, reveals, and twists.
The story touches on gaslighting and how easy to is to manipulate people into believing what we want them to believe. But who was gaslighting whom?
The last chapter is a doozy, and honestly, I am so here for that clever, slightly ambiguous, ending.
October 22, 2024
Kate Sawyer is a widowed mother, a real estate developer, a billionaire and a political socialite. She is also quite a formidable woman! She’s now seventy years old, and is marrying her high school sweetheart, Charlie. The book begins with their wedding, where many people gather, including her daughter, Julia and her son-in-law, Eric. It’s a normal (billionaire) wedding, but the first night of their marriage didn’t turn out exactly as planned…
Before leaving for their planned Tahitian honeymoon, Charlie tells Kate he has a secret he needs to get off his chest. He’s a murderer…specifically of the people who took that tainted Tylenol in the 1980s. Kate immediately calls the police, but Charlie tells them that she must have been too tipsy, and hallucinated the conversation. Eric steps in and says she has dementia; Charlie was stationed overseas in the military when those deaths took place in Chicago. The FBI clears him based on his records, and talk begins of what to do about Kate’s failing mind.
The only problem? Julie knows her mother, and knows she’s just as sharp now as she’s always been. She’s a shrewd businesswoman who doesn’t let anything get past her. Julie even starts watching her mother, but she sees no difference. She’s still running a huge company, she’s still sternly refusing to see Charlie, and she’s still the powerhouse everyone knows (but not necessarily loves). Then she remembers the prenup - Charlie will only get their main house in the event of death or divorce. But if she’s deemed incompetent, Charlie could easily take control of Kate’s company and her money. Is that the end game?
This is all a lot to unpack, but this is just the beginning of a twisty, suspenseful crime thriller. Plenty of things are to come, and reading about it all was a lot of fun! I loved that it had the Tylenol murders in it, a case that has never and probably will never be solved. I figured out the ending, but if had ended differently, I probably would have been disappointed. I love finishing thrillers with a laugh or grin, and this one definitely got the grin! A sequel would be okay, but if I could manifest it, I’d love a prequel to this book; I’d love to know more about Kate and Charlie when they were teenagers, their marriages in between, and how Kate built her empire. This was a fantastic and very entertaining read. 4.5 stars!
(Thank you to Harper Paperbacks, Bonnie Kistler and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on November 19, 2024.)
Before leaving for their planned Tahitian honeymoon, Charlie tells Kate he has a secret he needs to get off his chest. He’s a murderer…specifically of the people who took that tainted Tylenol in the 1980s. Kate immediately calls the police, but Charlie tells them that she must have been too tipsy, and hallucinated the conversation. Eric steps in and says she has dementia; Charlie was stationed overseas in the military when those deaths took place in Chicago. The FBI clears him based on his records, and talk begins of what to do about Kate’s failing mind.
The only problem? Julie knows her mother, and knows she’s just as sharp now as she’s always been. She’s a shrewd businesswoman who doesn’t let anything get past her. Julie even starts watching her mother, but she sees no difference. She’s still running a huge company, she’s still sternly refusing to see Charlie, and she’s still the powerhouse everyone knows (but not necessarily loves). Then she remembers the prenup - Charlie will only get their main house in the event of death or divorce. But if she’s deemed incompetent, Charlie could easily take control of Kate’s company and her money. Is that the end game?
This is all a lot to unpack, but this is just the beginning of a twisty, suspenseful crime thriller. Plenty of things are to come, and reading about it all was a lot of fun! I loved that it had the Tylenol murders in it, a case that has never and probably will never be solved. I figured out the ending, but if had ended differently, I probably would have been disappointed. I love finishing thrillers with a laugh or grin, and this one definitely got the grin! A sequel would be okay, but if I could manifest it, I’d love a prequel to this book; I’d love to know more about Kate and Charlie when they were teenagers, their marriages in between, and how Kate built her empire. This was a fantastic and very entertaining read. 4.5 stars!
(Thank you to Harper Paperbacks, Bonnie Kistler and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on November 19, 2024.)
November 13, 2024
3.75/5
This one was wild! It’s gaslighting galore and as the reader you have no idea who to believe or what to think and I always enjoy that feeling when I’m reading a psychological thriller. The pacing was pretty fast and I read it in just a couple of sittings because I really wanted to know what would happen next. It’s definitely a huge guessing game with twists and turns, sometimes verging on outlandish but I had a lot of fun with it and some of the twists were really great. Julie is a bit of a frustrating character and hard to sympathize with at times but overall this was engaging and entertaining.
This one was wild! It’s gaslighting galore and as the reader you have no idea who to believe or what to think and I always enjoy that feeling when I’m reading a psychological thriller. The pacing was pretty fast and I read it in just a couple of sittings because I really wanted to know what would happen next. It’s definitely a huge guessing game with twists and turns, sometimes verging on outlandish but I had a lot of fun with it and some of the twists were really great. Julie is a bit of a frustrating character and hard to sympathize with at times but overall this was engaging and entertaining.
April 14, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Julie’s mother, Kate, is fierce and determined. As a woman of seventy, Kate runs one of the biggest real estate development corporations in Florida and shows no signs of slowing down. Julie is thrilled when Kate finally decides to marry her long-lost love, Charlie, and both Julie and Julie’s husband, Eric, are quick to be by Kate’s side for her big day. But on the wedding night, Charlie makes a confession to Kate that turns Kate, and Julie’s, world upside down. Charlie’s confession is soon proven to be false by the police, and even Charlie blames Kate’s actions on overindulgence in wedding champagne. But soon, everyone else around Julie is asking her questions that make her doubt herself, and have her look twice at her mother’s behaviours. Did Kate actually believe that Charlie could have committed murder? Or is she really losing her grip on reality, like everyone wants Julie to believe?
“Shell Games”, by Bonnie Kistler, is a stellar domestic suspense where everyone is gaslighting everyone else and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. A gripping, addictive page turner, “Games” had me racing through the pages, and the ending left me gasping.
“Her, Too” by Kistler was a five-star read for me, so I was intrigued on what she could deliver with her newest novel and was beyond excited to give it a chance. Kistler’s thrilling plot, relatable characters and stellar twists and turns earned every single one of my five flaming stars.
Julie is the protagonist and, at the beginning, she seems like a quiet, meek wallflower, easily browbeaten by her misogynistic husband, Eric. But it isn’t long before Julie is the lone wolf, standing up against her entire family to defend her mother, and I was eager to cheer for her.
At every turn, someone is being gaslit, but it’s all a matter of – who is actually lighting the match? Is Charlie the “great guy” that everyone claims? What are Eric’s true intentions? “Games” is a feminist revolution with non-stop suspense that left me guessing until the end.
Every single plotline was resolved by Kistler and I anticipated absolutely none of it. Each and every twist ended surprisingly, and yet believably, which, to me, is indicative of a writer’s immense talent. “Shell Games” is Kistler’s fifth published novel and, even though I’ve only read one of her previous works, I will definitely be looking for her future novels, and I can feel confident going into them with high expectations, as Kistler will not disappoint.
Julie’s mother, Kate, is fierce and determined. As a woman of seventy, Kate runs one of the biggest real estate development corporations in Florida and shows no signs of slowing down. Julie is thrilled when Kate finally decides to marry her long-lost love, Charlie, and both Julie and Julie’s husband, Eric, are quick to be by Kate’s side for her big day. But on the wedding night, Charlie makes a confession to Kate that turns Kate, and Julie’s, world upside down. Charlie’s confession is soon proven to be false by the police, and even Charlie blames Kate’s actions on overindulgence in wedding champagne. But soon, everyone else around Julie is asking her questions that make her doubt herself, and have her look twice at her mother’s behaviours. Did Kate actually believe that Charlie could have committed murder? Or is she really losing her grip on reality, like everyone wants Julie to believe?
“Shell Games”, by Bonnie Kistler, is a stellar domestic suspense where everyone is gaslighting everyone else and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. A gripping, addictive page turner, “Games” had me racing through the pages, and the ending left me gasping.
“Her, Too” by Kistler was a five-star read for me, so I was intrigued on what she could deliver with her newest novel and was beyond excited to give it a chance. Kistler’s thrilling plot, relatable characters and stellar twists and turns earned every single one of my five flaming stars.
Julie is the protagonist and, at the beginning, she seems like a quiet, meek wallflower, easily browbeaten by her misogynistic husband, Eric. But it isn’t long before Julie is the lone wolf, standing up against her entire family to defend her mother, and I was eager to cheer for her.
At every turn, someone is being gaslit, but it’s all a matter of – who is actually lighting the match? Is Charlie the “great guy” that everyone claims? What are Eric’s true intentions? “Games” is a feminist revolution with non-stop suspense that left me guessing until the end.
Every single plotline was resolved by Kistler and I anticipated absolutely none of it. Each and every twist ended surprisingly, and yet believably, which, to me, is indicative of a writer’s immense talent. “Shell Games” is Kistler’s fifth published novel and, even though I’ve only read one of her previous works, I will definitely be looking for her future novels, and I can feel confident going into them with high expectations, as Kistler will not disappoint.
August 3, 2024
Shell Games by Bonnie Kistler. Thanks to the author for the signed Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Julie’s mother, Kate, is a powerful and independent septuagenarian. Julie is happy for her when Katie married a long lost romantic partner, Charlie. Until their wedding night when Kate claims Charlie confessed to a decades old murder spree. He declines it. Julie doesn’t know who to believe.
I love any book with gaslighting so I knew I’d love this one. There’s so much more to this though because you never really know who is being gaslite vs who is gaslighting. There are so many twists that I was not expecting in this story, even up to the very last page. Typically I don’t like inheritance type stories, but this one was complex yet easy to read. I sped through it in just a few hours. I highly recommend this one
The Shell Games comes out 11/19.
Julie’s mother, Kate, is a powerful and independent septuagenarian. Julie is happy for her when Katie married a long lost romantic partner, Charlie. Until their wedding night when Kate claims Charlie confessed to a decades old murder spree. He declines it. Julie doesn’t know who to believe.
I love any book with gaslighting so I knew I’d love this one. There’s so much more to this though because you never really know who is being gaslite vs who is gaslighting. There are so many twists that I was not expecting in this story, even up to the very last page. Typically I don’t like inheritance type stories, but this one was complex yet easy to read. I sped through it in just a few hours. I highly recommend this one
The Shell Games comes out 11/19.
October 27, 2024
NetGalley review: The relationship between a mother and her daughter can be a tricky thing. I loved reading about Julie and Kate. This book had some great twists and turns that took me by surprise. I found the ending very satisfying, however the very ending left me a tiny bit confused and I feel like the reader is left to make up their own mind about what happened.
December 20, 2024
I hated everyone in this book. Julie is stupid and gullible. There’s no way she’s an attorney. Her husband was an absolute a$$hole emotionally abusive creep. The scenes after their arguments were absolutely cringe. I wouldn’t recommend this one. It made me feel pissed off the entire time. The ending could’ve been more exciting.
August 25, 2024
Thank you Harper Collins for an EARC of this book in exchange for my honest review
3.5 stars
This book was such a whirlwind. The entire book was about gaslighting and you had no idea who was the bad guy. Some parts were kind of confusing and I feel like the book would of benefitted from being a little longer with more detail. However I loved the twist and turns and liked how unpredictable this book was. Definitely recommend!
3.5 stars
This book was such a whirlwind. The entire book was about gaslighting and you had no idea who was the bad guy. Some parts were kind of confusing and I feel like the book would of benefitted from being a little longer with more detail. However I loved the twist and turns and liked how unpredictable this book was. Definitely recommend!
March 7, 2025
This started off well but I started getting impatient and losing interest half way through. The writing couldn’t hold my attention. A good book keeps me in suspense without making me impatient!
January 2, 2025
SHELL GAMES was an engaging story that was hard to put down. It's fast paced and filled with many unlikeable characters. I felt bad for Julie. She seemed to be clueless at times. Overall, I'd say this is a winner. I definitely recommend reading the author's note at the end!
Many thanks to Harper Perennial Paperbacks for my gifted copy.
Many thanks to Harper Perennial Paperbacks for my gifted copy.
January 5, 2025
I’m honestly mad that I wasted my time reading this 🫠
December 9, 2024
How many red flags does one person need?!
I enjoyed the unraveling of the scheme. However, Julie's naivety was so grating. I just wanted to shake her so many times! It became especially frustrating to read towards the end when all the pieces were falling into place, but Julie still refused to see/acknowledge them.
I enjoyed the unraveling of the scheme. However, Julie's naivety was so grating. I just wanted to shake her so many times! It became especially frustrating to read towards the end when all the pieces were falling into place, but Julie still refused to see/acknowledge them.
March 18, 2025
4.00 Page turner. Lots of speculation and changes around what might actually be happening. Some obnoxious characters but good story overall.
December 16, 2024
Very entertaining
October 20, 2024
I was completely captivated by this book from the very first chapter. The tension was immediate, and I felt like I was stepping into a world where nothing could be taken at face value. Each turn of the page kept me guessing, as the author expertly layered secrets and lies into the narrative.
As I dove deeper into the story, I found myself questioning every character's motives. Just when I thought I had a handle on who to trust, a new twist would emerge, leaving me reeling. The characters were so intricately developed that I couldn't help but get emotionally invested in their fates.
The pacing was relentless, driving me to read late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth. I loved how the plot twisted and turned, forcing me to rethink my assumptions at every turn. This book is a thrilling ride that kept me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who loves a good mystery.
As I dove deeper into the story, I found myself questioning every character's motives. Just when I thought I had a handle on who to trust, a new twist would emerge, leaving me reeling. The characters were so intricately developed that I couldn't help but get emotionally invested in their fates.
The pacing was relentless, driving me to read late into the night, desperate to uncover the truth. I loved how the plot twisted and turned, forcing me to rethink my assumptions at every turn. This book is a thrilling ride that kept me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who loves a good mystery.
July 30, 2025
Shell Games was full of suspense, mystery, secrets, lies, and betrayal. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was hooked from the first chapter, I just couldn't put it down.
Julie was a great main character. She was interesting, relatable, and complex. I loved seeing her really coming into her own throughout the book. Kate was charismatic, clever, and strong. I also liked Charlie, but I really disliked Eric and Greta.
The storyline was clever, unique, and compelling. There were some great twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
This is the first book I've read from Bonnie, but it definitely won't be the last. I'll be looking up all her previous books after this.
I highly recommend.
4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley, Bedford Square Publishers, and Bonnie Kistler for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was hooked from the first chapter, I just couldn't put it down.
Julie was a great main character. She was interesting, relatable, and complex. I loved seeing her really coming into her own throughout the book. Kate was charismatic, clever, and strong. I also liked Charlie, but I really disliked Eric and Greta.
The storyline was clever, unique, and compelling. There were some great twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
This is the first book I've read from Bonnie, but it definitely won't be the last. I'll be looking up all her previous books after this.
I highly recommend.
4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley, Bedford Square Publishers, and Bonnie Kistler for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2025
This was wild. I didn’t trust anyone and that really kept me reading. Not really a spoiler: it is deeply unrealistic that Julie becomes a genius detective in the last few pages of the book having missed huge clues in the entire story prior. But overall this was a good one.
April 27, 2025
Five stars because I was glued to the pages and had no idea what to believe. As crazy as this plot was, the author made it make sense.
April 18, 2025
This thriller was hard to put down.
August 9, 2025
Audiobook. It was fine
December 1, 2024
Kistler’s last novel ended up being one of my favorite thrillers of 2023, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her next one!
SHELL GAMES is a dazzling thriller about a young woman whose fabulously wealthy mother might be the victim of an elaborate con or might be losing her mind––and the daughter can’t tell where the truth lies.
This book messed with my head in the best way. Kate is a force of nature in the real-estate world and believes she’s found her happy ending when she marries her long-lost high school sweetheart. But things take a turn when her new husband confesses to her that he committed a notorious crime.
When Kate calls the police to turn him in, Charlie says she imagined it. Kate’s daughter Julie is left questioning everything and trying to piece together the puzzle.
Read if you like —
🔍 being on the edge-of-your-seat
🔍 an ending you’ll never see coming
🔍 short chapters
SHELL GAMES is a fast-paced psychological thriller that had me questioning every character and their agendas. The ending got me for sure 🫣
SHELL GAMES is a dazzling thriller about a young woman whose fabulously wealthy mother might be the victim of an elaborate con or might be losing her mind––and the daughter can’t tell where the truth lies.
This book messed with my head in the best way. Kate is a force of nature in the real-estate world and believes she’s found her happy ending when she marries her long-lost high school sweetheart. But things take a turn when her new husband confesses to her that he committed a notorious crime.
When Kate calls the police to turn him in, Charlie says she imagined it. Kate’s daughter Julie is left questioning everything and trying to piece together the puzzle.
Read if you like —
🔍 being on the edge-of-your-seat
🔍 an ending you’ll never see coming
🔍 short chapters
SHELL GAMES is a fast-paced psychological thriller that had me questioning every character and their agendas. The ending got me for sure 🫣
December 8, 2024
I found this book to be slow even though it had many good twists. The final ending was unexpected.
Please read other reviews for more information & other opinions.
Please read other reviews for more information & other opinions.
January 3, 2025
3.5 rounding down. A friend of mine told me to go in blind and just enjoy the ride and I took her suggestion. She was right in that I didn’t see a lot of the twists coming but I wish I had read some of the reviews because this was entirely about gaslighting and I hate that in a story. It always makes the person being gaslit seem weak and incompetent. If I’d know I would have stayed away.
Julie’s very wealthy mother Kate is marrying her high school sweetheart after decades apart. On her wedding night she calls Julie panicked because she believes her new husband has just confessed to being the Tylenol killer but when Julie arrives she finds herself confused. Both her husband and her mother’s new husband are convinced she has early stage dementia but she has never known her mom to be anything less than brilliant. As she figures out everyone’s motivations, she has to decide who to trust and who might simply be after the money.
I found Julie to be weak and a terrible protagonist. I was so irritated by her naivety and her willingness to believed her husband because the sex is brilliant. There are some good twists I didn’t see coming, especially the last one but it didn’t save the book.
Julie’s very wealthy mother Kate is marrying her high school sweetheart after decades apart. On her wedding night she calls Julie panicked because she believes her new husband has just confessed to being the Tylenol killer but when Julie arrives she finds herself confused. Both her husband and her mother’s new husband are convinced she has early stage dementia but she has never known her mom to be anything less than brilliant. As she figures out everyone’s motivations, she has to decide who to trust and who might simply be after the money.
I found Julie to be weak and a terrible protagonist. I was so irritated by her naivety and her willingness to believed her husband because the sex is brilliant. There are some good twists I didn’t see coming, especially the last one but it didn’t save the book.
October 21, 2024
Shell Games is a thrilling story about Julie, a young woman whose wealthy mother, Kate, may be the victim of a con or suffering from dementia. When Kate's new husband, Charlie, is accused of a crime, Julie is torn between believing her mother or her stepfather. As she tries to unravel the truth, she also uncovers secrets in her own marriage. Set against a backdrop of environmental and societal issues, the novel keeps readers guessing as to who is deceiving whom.
This book was unexpectedly twisted, leaving me questioning what was true and what was deception. The writing was captivating and kept me engrossed as I delved deeper into the secrets slowly revealed throughout the story.
Approaching the book without reading the blurb was a perfect decision, as I enjoyed the element of surprise and not knowing what to expect. The characters were complex, each dealing with their own issues, and the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
The unexpected ending took me by surprise, leaving me impressed by the overall outcome. I highly recommend adding this book to your "to be read" list. I can imagine it being even more engaging as an audiobook, given its upbeat writing style.
If you appreciate a story that keeps you guessing from start to finish, then this book is definitely for you. Congratulations to the author for creating such a compelling and unpredictable read!
Thank you, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Paperbacks for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was unexpectedly twisted, leaving me questioning what was true and what was deception. The writing was captivating and kept me engrossed as I delved deeper into the secrets slowly revealed throughout the story.
Approaching the book without reading the blurb was a perfect decision, as I enjoyed the element of surprise and not knowing what to expect. The characters were complex, each dealing with their own issues, and the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
The unexpected ending took me by surprise, leaving me impressed by the overall outcome. I highly recommend adding this book to your "to be read" list. I can imagine it being even more engaging as an audiobook, given its upbeat writing style.
If you appreciate a story that keeps you guessing from start to finish, then this book is definitely for you. Congratulations to the author for creating such a compelling and unpredictable read!
Thank you, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Paperbacks for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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