This was quite dark and twisty. I really enjoyed it and was gripped until the very end. It gave Mindhunter vibes in a way but the procedural parts were much more far fetched. Theres no way a psychologist would be allowed to do any of what Emu did, but that’s ok, I was still on the edge of my seats through the end item book.

really entertaining and gripping to read

Don't let the cover fool you, this is a great thriller! I enjoyed the plot a lot and felt like it was well written

Tam Barnett's book, "How to Read a Killer's Mind," is a gripping psychological read. That delves deep into the the intricacies of a killer's mind.

A criminal psychologist Emy talks to serial killers in order to find out where missing bodies are located. She has had some success in the past and has her own personal reasons for doing the job she does.

Barnett's storytelling hooks you from the first page and the suspense never lets up. It is dark and twisty in all the right ways.

The narrative is both engaging and thought-provoking, offering a chilling yet fascinating glimpse into the minds of those who commit the most heinous of crimes.

The characters are well-drawn, and their complexities add depth to the story, making it all the more compelling. The relationship between Emy and her mother is especially touching and relatable. Emy is a force of nature, Will we see more of her in future novels I wonder?

As well as the tricky subject matter, there is also humour scattered throughout the book, which stops the book being too dark.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and just when you think you have figured it out, another twist leaves you reeling. The pacing is perfect, maintaining a balance between tension and revelation, ensuring that you are constantly engaged.

"How to Read a Killer's Mind" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, captivating from start to finish.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

Tam Barnett’s How To Read a Killer’s Mind is a psychological thriller that doesn’t just pull you into the depths of the criminal psyche, it drags you in, kicking and questioning everything you thought you knew about morality, justice, and obsession. It’s dark, sharp-witted, and utterly absorbing, making it a must-read for fans of The Silent Patient and Mindhunter.

I think what makes How To Read a Killer’s Mind stand out isn’t just its premise but its execution. Barnett’s writing is razor-sharp, balancing tension with humor in a way that feels effortless. The pacing is relentless, but never rushed. Every revelation lands with impact, every interaction crackles with psychological intensity. And yet, amidst the mind games and power struggles, there’s an emotional depth that lingers. Dr. Emy Rose isn’t just a profiler, she’s a person haunted by her own past, and that vulnerability makes her all the more compelling.

Emotionally, this book is a rollercoaster. It taps into the uneasy fascination we have with true crime, making us complicit in the hunt for answers. But it also asks deeper questions: How far would you go to unearth the truth? Can you ever truly outthink a killer? And at what cost? The psychological cat-and-mouse game is gripping, but the novel’s true power lies in its exploration of control, trauma, and the fine line between justice and obsession.

The blurb:

I’m psychologist Dr Emy Rose, but that’s not my real name.
I work with serial killers who've hidden their victims. My job is to find the bodies - and I'm kind of awesome at it.
The trick is to get inside these murderers' minds. And there's one in particular I'm hellbent on breaking.
Why? None of your business! Just know, I'll stop at nothing to read that killer's mind...


What I thought?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. The pacing was great all the way through and had me hooked from the beginning.

Although the subject matter is slightly dark, the book still manages to be humorous and enjoyable.

Will definitely be checking out Tam Barnett’s other work.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. It wasn't the greatest in terms of writing but the plot felt unique to me and I thoroughly enjoyed Emy's character. If you're a fan of true crime, you'll like this one!

I really enjoyed this it was deliciously dark and cram packed full of wit and sarcasm, I laughed out loud several times. It was so well paced, really fast and I couldn't put it down nor did I want to. I can't wait to read more by the author

The book is much darker than I expected based on the cover—a psychological thriller, yet written with a lot of dark humor and banter in the dialogue (I may or may not have already used at least one line in real life). Psychologist Emy Rose interviews imprisoned serial killers to extract answers, obtain confessions, and locate victims. Strong Clarice and Hannibal vibes—deeply unsettling, and I wouldn’t mind staying a little longer in the killers’ twisted, sociopathic world.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book!

Very dark and very funny. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride this took me on and I'll absolutely be purchasing this to add to my female serial killer shelf 😂

mind-bending psychological thriller that keeps you questioning everything. The story follows [protagonist’s name], whose life spirals out of control after [inciting incident]. As paranoia sets in, reality blurs, and the line between truth and deception vanishes.

This is a fabulous read! It felt somehow darker than " How to Get Away With Murder", but still with the hilarious quips I recognised and loved in Tam’s first book.

Dr Emy Rose works with convicted serial killers in an effort to convince them to disclose where they hid the bodies of their victims and provide closure to their families. Emy may be a clever and highly skilled psychologist, but these twisted psychopaths have plenty of their own mind games ready to play. What they don't know though, is that Emy has a personal connection to one of the victims and she won't rest until she has the truth.

Tam Barnett's writing style pulled me in straight away and I was totally absorbed. The plot is superb, the characters are well developed and feel totally real and the fast pace kept me gripped. I loved it!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Tam Barnett and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Although this was a darker read than I expected based on the cover art, it was very enjoyable. There are comic elements throughout, albeit a bit on the dark side. The comedy mostly works although seems forced at certain points.

The premise is that Dr Emy Rose is a psychologist in charge of an experimental program designed to get confessed serial killers to reveal where the bodies of their victims are. But Dr Rose has a bit of a secret which ultimately puts her at odds with the stated purpose of getting closure for victims' families in general.

Initially she is a harsh and somewhat unlikeable character but as we see her struggle with the conflict between doing what is right for the program and what is right for her personally, we see her character develop.

There are plot twists as well, some I saw coming and some I did not, and overall this is well plotted and tightly constructed without plot gaps or leaps. It is also pretty fast paced and easy to read. Overall a very enjoyable book and I would read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance. This book hits the shelves April 7 and is a definite recommended read!

This book will make you feel! Spine-tingling, goosebump-inducing, and gut-wrenching, it made my heart ache and my pulse race, and all in just the simplest and most unexpected moments, or changes of direction. Simply sublime.

How do you solve bone chilling murder mystery’s that serial killers stay silent on where they left the remains of their victims? In comes Emy Rose who has a talent for getting into serial killers minds and extracting the information she needs to get justice and closure for these victims families. What happens when Emy has to keep a secret not only from her colleagues but from the 3 notorious serial killers she has to interview to get the answers she needs before time runs out? This story felt like episodes of Mindhunter meets True Detective. This novel is an intense and WILD ride from start to finish! I could not put this book down and didn’t want this crazy rollercoaster of a story to end!

This book completely wrecked my sleep schedule—in the best way. The first 20% was a bit slow, but once it picked up, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Don’t let the cute cover fool you—this book gets dark, and honestly, it should come with some serious trigger warnings.

The main character, a psychologist trying to track down missing victims, is easy to root for, but she’s deeply flawed. You can imagine how tough it would be to work with her, especially when a gross, corrupt, sleazy politician constantly interferes with her research and threatening to shut down her trials. The tension in this book is unreal. Her best friend and coworker also kinda sucks.

One of the most unsettling parts is how the killers are written. At times, they almost seem to have redeeming qualities—but then you remember they’re complete sociopaths, and it messes with your head. Some scenes were so disturbing they will give me nightmares for weeks to come, which honestly just proves how effective the writing is.

If you love dark psychological thrillers that push boundaries, How to Read a Killer’s Mind is 100% worth reading. Five stars.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! I hope there’s a sequel!

This book is about Dr Emy Rose and how she is able to use psychology to get serial killers to reveal where they’ve hidden their victims bodies. There’s a particular reason Emy is so hell bent on success…

This book has a unique premise and lots of twists and turns. I really enjoyed reading this and trying to guess the ending (I was not successful!). I couldn’t put this book down and read it so quickly because I needed to know what was going to happen next.

I highly recommend picking this one up if you’re a psychological thriller fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my copy!

Publication Date: April 7th, 2025
This was a unique concept for me. A psychologist interviewing serial killers to get them to reveal where they've hidden their victims bodies so their families may have closure. Things aren't exactly as they seem though and there's plenty of unexpected secrets, twists and turns. It was a slower start but it's worth it to get to the end. I'm hoping for another book as this ended on a huge cliffhanger!

If your a fan of psychological thrillers, unexpected twists, and a FMC unwilling to quit until she gets ALL her answers than this is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC

3.5⭐️. This book reminded me of the series Mindhunter. I enjoyed the plot but did find the start of the book quite slow and found Emy annoying at times. Overall a good read. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for ARC.

Loved loved loved this one! Kinda like “House” with all the bad habits, really entertaining and story is brilliant! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for arc of this book! I would definitely recommend this book

That title had me instantly intrigued, and the story inside did not disappoint. Darker and more sinister than I expected, this psychological thriller had me gripped from start to finish.

Dr Emy Rose is an expert at getting inside the minds of serial killers—her job is to find the victims they’ve hidden. But there’s one killer she’s fixated on breaking, and her relentless pursuit of the truth takes her (and us) on a twisted, tension-filled ride.

I loved the concept and execution. Emy’s hyperfixation on getting results, her methods, and the way everything unravels kept me completely hooked. The storytelling is sharp, unsettling, and even darkly comic at times. A diabolical, enthralling thriller that lingers in your mind long after the final page.

📌 Perfect for fans of Bella Mackie, Katy Brent, and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.

💌 Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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