Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of this book to read and review.

I’m so grateful to have been able to experience this story and I enjoyed every second of it. The first in the series and I can’t wait for the other books to come out! This was a fast paced mystery that didn’t take me long to get through at all. I highly recommend!

“Xavier Bradshaw: Ghostwriter” by W.M. Leesman is a fast-paced, intense read packed with secrets and suspense. The story pulled me in right away and kept me turning pages. With plenty of twists and hidden motives, this was an engaging thriller that never slowed down. It’s a quick, unputdownable read that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

First and foremost, I have to give a massive shoutout to the author’s dedication to his wife. They say behind every great man stands a woman, and I’m so glad he listened to her advice to write this thriller! If he hadn’t, this incredible story might have never seen the light of day.
Right from the very first chapter, the book dives straight into the action without wasting any time. It grips you instantly, delivering raw, intense thrills that actually made me wince and feel like I was standing right there in the room. The pacing is excellent, especially with the short chapters, which kept me telling myself, "Just one more chapter," late into the night.

What I Loved
-One of my favorite aspects of the book is how the author handles the little details. The descriptions of the surroundings are never overemphasized; they are just right. For instance, watching Xavier write his reports, grab a burger, and switch up fonts for his editor brought a wonderful, grounded balance to the story. Also, the food descriptions are incredibly vivid,fair warning, if you are fasting or reading on an empty stomach, this book will make you hungry!😄 On the flip side, the gruesome details of the crimes are delivered perfectly. They aren’t overly exaggerated, but they are realistic enough to make you grimace.
-The character work is fantastic and deeply immersive. The workplace banter and the way best friends talk to each other felt incredibly relatable. I also loved how realistic the side characters felt. Joe’s complex psychological portrayal, alternating between a paranoid persona and an articulate voice of reason, was brilliant. Similarly, the character of Scott was deeply moving and handled with a touch of sensitivity that reminded me of classic, emotional cinematic performances. The dialogue is snappy, making you laugh one minute and go "aww" the next.
-There are tiny, realistic gestures, like a character taking off his shoes before going into someone's house that felt incredibly respectful and relatable (where are my Asian readers at)☺️. It’s a small detail, but one that many readers will deeply appreciate and smile at


To keep this review fair, there were a couple of minor things that didn't totally resonate with me:
-The Nickname: I love the name Xavier, but whenever characters called him "X," it felt a little jarring for a gritty thriller and gave off more of a rom-com vibe.
-The Sports Scene: There is a baseball sequence that dragged a bit for me. If you aren't a sports fan, you might find your attention wandering during this part.
-The Name "Rosario": Coming from my cultural background where Rosario is typically a female name, it took me a brief second to adjust to it being used for a male character, though it’s just a minor personal observation!
-The Police Interrogation: When the police first turned their suspicions toward Xavier, the evidence initially felt a little forced to me. However, by the time I reached the very end of the book, the author's narrative choices completely clicked. As a big thriller reader, I ended up really appreciating how the author structured everything it makes perfect sense for the story he is trying to tell!

Mind-Blowing Twists!
This book is a wonderfully crafted slow-burn, but what makes it unique is that it steers away from the typical police procedurals we see all the time. Instead, it leans heavily into Xavier’s perspective as a journalist. (Also, can we appreciate a thriller protagonist who isn't a heavy drinker for once?😆 He's just a guy who loves good food!)

Now, let's talk about the ending. Wow. The author is an absolute master of mind games. Just when you think you have predicted the mystery and figured out the connections from the past, the author pulls the rug out from under you. The ultimate revelation is incredibly wild, intense, and absolutely mind-boggling. I was reading late into the night, promising myself I’d sleep at chapter 47, but a massive bombshell dropped and my eyes went wide. I ended up staying up until nearly 4:00 AM just to finish it!
If I could rate this higher than 5 stars, I would. The twists are absolute fire. If this turns into a long-running thriller series, I will definitely be first in line to read the next book. Hands down, the author completely got me!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All opinions are entirely my own.