Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC and Kathleen Carter Communications / Atria Books #partner, for the advanced copy of Please Join Us in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Atria / Simon and Schuster Audio
Published: August 23, 2022
Summary:
A “propulsive thriller about secret organizations, hidden agendas, and the lengths one woman will go to reclaim her life” (Laura Dave, author of Reese’s Book Club Pick The Last Thing He Told Me) from USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine McKenzie.
At thirty-nine, Nicole Mueller’s life is on the rocks. Her once brilliant law career is falling apart. She and her husband, Dan, are soon to be forced out of the apartment they love. After a warning from her firm’s senior partners, she receives an invitation from an exclusive women’s networking group, Panthera Leo. Membership is anonymous, but every member is a successful professional. It sounds like the perfect solution to help Nicole revive her career. So, despite Dan’s concerns that the group might be a cult, Nicole signs up for their retreat in Colorado.
Once there, she meets the other women who will make up her Pride. A CEO, an actress, a finance whiz, a congresswoman: Nicole can’t believe her luck. The founders of Panthera Leo are equally as impressive. They explain the group’s core philosophy: they’re a girl’s club in a boy’s club world.
Nicole is all in. And when she gets home, she soon sees dividends. Her new network quickly provides her with clients that help her relaunch her career, and a great new apartment too. The favors she has to provide in return seem benign. But then she’s called to the congresswoman’s apartment late at night where she’s pressed into helping her cover up a crime. And suddenly, Dan’s concerns that something more sinister is at play seem all too relevant. Can Nicole extricate herself from the group before it’s too late? Or will joining Panthera Leo be the biggest mistake of her life?
My thoughts:
I have read quite a few of Catherine McKenzie’s books and have enjoyed them immensely. She really has a knack for creating such thrilling reads that pull you in right away and keep you captivated all the way through. And this latest one just might be my new favorite!
It’s no secret that I love books about cults, but this one is like no cult book I’ve read before because it’s not an in-your-face cult book. It’s a whole new take on the cult theme and I was totally there for it. This book is all about smart women willing to help each out…for a price. It’s got strong legal and feminist themes throughout and the alternating timelines really keep you on edge because you never know what’s coming next. I was hooked from the get-go and I never found the book to lag at any point. It is fast-paced and with the short chapters, it keeps you engaged and not wanting to put the book down. And just when I thought things were being tied up, there were still twists to be had!
Because this is a thriller, I am hesitant to say too much about the plot for fear of giving anything away but trust me on this…you definitely want to pick this one up! If you like multi-layered stories with strong women and twists that are perfectly executed, this one is for you.
Audio thoughts:
This was such a good story to listen to and the narrator, Joy Osmanski, did a great job bringing the book to life. She was able to give each character a unique voice and infused just the right amount of emotion and tension into her voice as needed. I loved listening to this book!
I’ve never been interested in books about cults, but your review makes me want to pick this one up! @bookshelf_by_britt
Author
This would be a good one, then because it’s not your typical cult book.