‘Guess Again’: Matching Wits With a Killer

Rather than being thrilling and edgy, this novel begins in a plodding and seedy way with thrills coming fast and furious, but garishly so.

Author Charlie Donlea pens a thriller, “Guess Again,” with many twists and turns. Carrianne Photography/Kensington Press

Charlie Donlea is an accomplished American thriller and mystery novelist whose books often feature missing persons, cold cases, and the emotional impact of violence. His latest novel, “Guess Again,” follows in the same vein; the novel aims for a gritty and taut psychological thriller about a teenage volleyball player who vanished without a trace 10 years ago.

The story weaves together multiple timelines and interconnected characters in a web of mystery, obsession, and long-buried secrets. Does Donlea deliver? Yes, but the ride isn’t smooth. The story’s neighborhoods are on the tacky side, and the destination is questionable.

A Cold Wisconsin Silence

Set primarily in Wisconsin, an infamous cold case has haunted a fictional lakeside community called Cherryview for the last decade. In 2015, 17-year-old Callie Jones had a lot going for her: She was pretty, a star athlete, accepted into college, and had a bright future ahead. Then poof—nothing. A thorough and dedicated investigation comes up empty.