Charlie Donlea returns with another gripping psychological thriller in Guess Again, delivering a complex narrative that skillfully weaves together cold case investigation, psychological manipulation, and deeply buried family secrets. This tenth installment in what has become a compelling series showcases Donlea’s evolution as a storyteller, though it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own ambitious plotting.
A Cold Case Reopened: The Heart of Cherryview’s Mystery
Set against the backdrop of a sweltering Wisconsin summer, Guess Again opens ten years after seventeen-year-old volleyball star Callie Jones vanished from the small lake community of Cherryview. The story immediately establishes its atmospheric tension through Donlea’s vivid descriptions of the oppressive heat wave that mirrors the suffocating secrets harbored by the town’s residents.
Ethan Hall, our reluctant protagonist, represents one of Donlea’s most compelling character creations to date. A former DCI special agent turned emergency room physician, Ethan fled law enforcement after witnessing too much violence against children. His transformation from investigator to healer provides rich psychological depth that Donlea explores throughout the narrative. When his dying former partner Pete Kramer begs him to solve Callie’s disappearance, Ethan’s reluctant return to detective work sets the stage for a investigation that will unearth more than just the truth about one missing girl.
The author’s decision to make Ethan a doctor adds layers of complexity to his character. His medical background becomes crucial during several key scenes, and the contrast between his two professions—one focused on solving crimes after they occur, the other on preventing death—creates internal tension that drives much of the character development.
Narrative Structure: Multiple Timelines and Shifting Perspectives
Donlea employs a sophisticated narrative structure that alternates between present-day investigation and flashbacks to the summer of 2015. The technique works particularly well when revealing Callie’s story, as we slowly understand the pressures she faced from her overbearing mother, absent politician father, and the secret relationship that would ultimately seal her fate.
The author’s use of multiple perspectives—including chapters from Francis Bernard’s prison cell and the mysterious Eugenia Morgan—creates a web of interconnected storylines that converge in explosive fashion. However, this complex structure occasionally works against the pacing, particularly in the middle sections where the narrative momentum slows as Donlea juggles numerous plot threads.
The most effective storytelling occurs when Donlea focuses on the developing relationship between Ethan and Maddie Jacobson, a Milwaukee PD detective who survived an encounter with the Lake Michigan Killer decades earlier. Their shared trauma creates authentic emotional stakes that ground the more fantastical elements of the plot.
Character Development: Strength in Complexity, Weakness in Motivation
Guess Again showcases some of Donlea’s strongest character work, particularly in his portrayal of Francis Bernard, the imprisoned serial killer who becomes central to solving Callie’s case. Francis emerges as a genuinely chilling antagonist—intelligent, manipulative, and terrifyingly patient. His ability to orchestrate events from within maximum security prison strains credibility at times, but Donlea’s psychological insight into the character makes him compellingly sinister.
Callie Jones, despite being the victim at the story’s center, receives careful development through flashbacks that reveal her as more than just another missing teenager. Her struggles with family pressure, academic expectations, and a secret romance create a fully realized character whose fate genuinely matters to readers.
The supporting cast varies in effectiveness. Lindsay Larkin, Callie’s best friend who becomes a successful psychologist, starts as an intriguing figure but her ultimate role in the mystery feels somewhat manufactured. Similarly, Blake Cordis, the volleyball coach with secrets of his own, serves the plot adequately but lacks the psychological depth of the main characters.
Psychological Realism: Where the Thriller Excels and Falters
Donlea demonstrates considerable skill in exploring psychological trauma and its long-term effects. Maddie’s ongoing struggle with PTSD from her teenage encounter with Francis Bernard feels authentic and adds emotional weight to the contemporary investigation. The author’s portrayal of how past trauma influences present behavior creates some of the novel’s most powerful moments.
The exploration of obsessive behavior through various characters—from Eugenia Morgan’s hybristophilia to Lindsay’s unhealthy fixation on her high school coach—shows Donlea’s understanding of psychological complexity. However, some plot revelations require characters to have maintained elaborate deceptions for years, which occasionally pushes believability beyond reasonable limits.
Plotting: Ambitious but Occasionally Overreaching
The central mystery of Callie’s disappearance unfolds with genuine skill, as Donlea plants clues throughout the narrative that reward careful readers while still delivering surprising revelations. The connection between the cold case and Francis Bernard’s manipulation creates an engaging cat-and-mouse game that drives the investigation forward.
However, the plot’s ambition sometimes exceeds its execution. The elaborate scheme that connects multiple characters across decades requires several coincidences and convenient timing that strain credibility. The climax, while emotionally satisfying, relies on a series of revelations that feel slightly overwrought compared to the more grounded mystery-solving that dominates the first two-thirds of the book.
Key strengths in the plotting include:
- Gradual revelation of Callie’s story through well-placed flashbacks
- Francis Bernard’s psychological manipulation creates genuine tension
- Multiple suspects keep readers guessing about the true perpetrator
- Integration of past and present crimes adds complexity without confusion
Writing Style: Atmospheric Excellence with Technical Precision
Donlea’s prose has matured considerably since his earlier works like Summit Lake and The Girl Who Was Taken. His descriptions of the Wisconsin lake country create vivid atmospheric backdrops that enhance the story’s mood. The oppressive summer heat becomes almost a character itself, adding to the claustrophobic feeling as secrets begin to surface.
The author demonstrates particular skill in writing procedural elements. Ethan’s investigation feels authentic, from forensic details to interview techniques. Donlea’s research into police procedures and medical knowledge shows clearly, adding credibility to the narrative without overwhelming it with technical jargon.
Dialog generally serves the story well, though some conversations feel slightly expository, particularly when characters need to reveal crucial background information. The most natural exchanges occur between Ethan and Maddie, whose relationship develops organically throughout the investigation.
Thematic Depth: Beyond the Surface Mystery
Beneath its thriller exterior, Guess Again explores themes of identity, redemption, and the ways past trauma shapes present choices. Ethan’s journey from detective to doctor to reluctant investigator again examines how we can never fully escape our true nature. His relationship with Maddie, both bound by shared encounters with evil, suggests that healing often requires confronting rather than avoiding our darkest experiences.
The novel also examines the destructive power of obsession and unrequited love. Multiple characters become trapped by their inability to let go of the past, creating a cycle of violence that spans decades. This thematic consistency elevates the work beyond simple mystery into more thoughtful psychological territory.
Comparison to Previous Works and Contemporary Thrillers
Guess Again represents a significant evolution from Donlea’s earlier novels. While Don’t Believe It and Some Choose Darkness focused more heavily on media manipulation and historical mysteries, this latest work returns to the more intimate, character-driven approach that made Twenty Years Later so effective.
The novel invites comparison to the works of authors like Tana French and Gillian Flynn, though Donlea’s approach remains distinctly his own. Like French, he excels at atmospheric detail and psychological complexity. Like Flynn, he isn’t afraid to make his characters genuinely flawed and morally ambiguous.
Final Verdict: A Satisfying Addition to the Psychological Thriller Canon
Guess Again succeeds as both a standalone thriller and a continuation of Donlea’s exploration of how the past refuses to stay buried. While the plot occasionally becomes overly complex and some revelations strain credibility, the strong character development and atmospheric writing create an engaging reading experience.
The novel works best when focusing on the human elements—Ethan’s reluctant return to investigation, Maddie’s courage in facing her past, and the slow revelation of what really happened to Callie Jones. These emotional truths anchor the more elaborate plot machinations and provide the story’s real power.
Readers who enjoyed Donlea’s previous works will find much to appreciate here, while newcomers will discover a capable storyteller with a gift for psychological insight and atmospheric detail.
Recommended Similar Reads
If you enjoyed Guess Again, consider these similar psychological thrillers:
- In the Woods by Tana French
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
- Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
- The Woods by Harlan Coben
Guess Again confirms Charlie Donlea’s position among contemporary thriller writers who understand that the most compelling mysteries aren’t just about solving crimes, but about understanding the human capacity for both evil and redemption.