Please Tell Me

Wow! What a shocking and suspenseful thriller! Mike Omer knows how to build suspense, develop characters, add action and atmosphere, and keep readers on the edge of their seats. Please Tell Me is the third book I’ve read by him and they have all been outstanding.

After fifteen months in captivity, young Kathy Stone turns up on the side of the road barefoot. Traumatized by events, she won’t speak to anyone. Her parents take her to child therapist Robin Hart, who uses play therapy to connect with her. However, as the therapy continues, Kathy’s playtime takes a dark turn as figurines in the doll house die one by one and session after session. On top of this they resemble real unsolved murders. Can Robin help Kathy and help the police stop a serial killer?

Robin is sleep deprived, perceptive, loves her job, and is a great child psychologist. However, she can be emotional at times and feels a need to placate people who have authority or power. This made her relatable and realistic. Rather than being a perfect protagonist, she has faults just like everyone else. Kathy is traumatized by the events of her captivity, but she’s also intelligent, and will answer yes or no questions with a nod or a shake of her head.

The start of the novel is heart-wrenching and immediately pulled me into the story. While I don’t usually like flashback scenes, there were several in this novel that went back to the day of Kathy’s disappearance. The author handled the transitions well and they’re well identified. He also did a lot of research talking with family members who are psychologists. The therapy sessions between Kathy and Robin felt real and authentic. I also felt the interactions between Kathy’s parents, and their emotions felt realistic.

This novel is a creative, complex, and well-paced tale with layers and twists that will keep a reader guessing. High stakes and an all-too-real situation kept me engaged throughout the story. There are some shocking and disturbing scenes as it unfolds. Additionally, the ending contains a surprise that caught me off-guard. Will you see it coming? Can Robin unlock Kathy’s secrets and help the police catch a serial killer? Themes include family, family relationships, murder, kidnapping, and much more.

Overall, this is an amazing but disturbing thriller, mystery, and police procedural with multiple points of view that has intense moments, therapy sessions, family drama, and some action that kept me turning the pages. I could see this becoming an excellent series featuring Robin Hart and Detective Nathaniel King. Mike Omer is a great storyteller and I can’t wait to read my next book by him.

I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was December 1, 2023.