It Takes Monsters by Mandy McHugh #bookreview #audiobook

I borrowed this audiobook from the library.

Publisher: HighBridge

Published: October 17, 2023

Summary:

Victoria Tate has had enough of her controlling, incompetent husband Warren. But planning the perfect murder is more difficult than she expected. When the social event of the year, an over-the-top costume ball, is rescheduled for the date she has selected for her crime, Victoria has to scramble to make sure she will still be able to follow through. But even hours of listening to crime podcasts cannot prepare her for the next wrench that is thrown into her plans: Warren turns up dead by someone else’s hand.

Now Victoria finds herself at the center of a murder investigation in which she is actually innocent. The real killer taunts her, making it clear that they knew what she was planning all along. With the police closing in and her neighbors turning on her, Victoria stands to lose everything she had hoped to gain from Warren’s death, unless she can figure out who wanted her husband dead—and why. It turns out that Warren was better at keeping secrets than she ever could have guessed. But which secret is the one that led to his death? And even if she can find the answers, does Victoria have what it takes to confront a real murderer?

In this twisty thriller from the author of Chloe Cates Is Missing, danger comes from both the monsters among us and the monsters that lurk inside us.

My thoughts:

After enjoying Mandy McHugh’s debut novel Chloe Cates Is Missing, I knew I couldn’t miss her next book and let me just say…it definitely doesn’t disappoint!

This is another dark, twisted read that grabbed me from the get-go. I loved that while I didn’t particularly love any of the characters, I just couldn’t put this one down. I totally binged this one, finishing it in a matter of hours. The suspense is palpable, and I really had no idea where it was heading! I love a good revenge plot but this one takes it to another level…I mean, really – you have every intention of killing your husband, but someone does it first and then frames you?

This was one deliciously twisted, story that I couldn’t have enjoyed more. I totally got some Jane Doe vibes–I mean, that twist at the end, right?!? It’s an addictive, fast-paced read that you won’t be able to put down once you start. I am now a Mandy McHugh super-fan, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!!!

Audio thoughts:

I grabbed the audibook from the library as soon as it was available, and I listened to this one in one sitting – I could not stop! The narrator, Alex Picard, does a fantastic job bringing this story to life. Her pacing and intonation are spot on, and she infuses just the right amount of emotion and tension into her voice as needed! I loved it!