My FIRST Read of 2025 (and it was a 5 star!)
Title - Ask for Andrea
Author - Nicole Ihli
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spice 🌶 - 0
scare 😱 - 4
plot 📖 - 5
characters 🧍- 3.5
stars ⭐ - 5
“On a date that isn’t going well? Do you feel unsafe or just a little uneasy? Ask for Andrea at the bar. We’ll make sure you get home safe.”
The pacing, believable scenarios, and dynamic characters made Ask for Andrea a slam dunk for me.
The Pacing
Unfortunately, I was busy the week I was reading this. I could've read it in a few days if I hadn't been. The plot hits you from page one and after the first few chapters packed with introducing characters and gruesome scenes, I was worried it would slow to a snail's pace like many thrillers do. I was pleasantly surprised that the pacing was nearly perfect throughout. From the murders to the investigation, Ihli found ways to keep you immersed.
Believable Scenarios
Ask for Andrea is very believable... almost too believable at times. RIP to my sleep schedule the few times it got a little too real right before I attempted to go to sleep. Especially when he is "dating" his victims. Toward the end, you have to suspend your disbelief a little bit, but I found myself doing it less than in plenty of books without ghosts involved. The spotlight on how the investigation and media attention is for a white victim versus a victim with South American origins brought an unfortunate realness to the story.
Dynamic Characters
The characters are near perfection. Ask for Andrea has all of those stereotypical characters every good thriller needs. An honestly terrifying antagonist. A trio of victims who have their traits that propel the plot forward. Lastly, the investigative teams in each state showed one detective who did damn near everything she could for the victim and another who did maybe the bare minimum.
Ask for Andrea is one of the best thrillers I've read, and I'm excited to read more of Noelle Ihli's work.
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