Q&A: Charlie Donlea, Author of ‘Guess Again’

We chat with author Charlie Donlea about Guess Again, where on the 10th anniversary of a teenage girl’s disappearance, her cold case breaks open in dangerous ways…and threatens to tear apart her small Wisconsin town all over again.

Hi, Charlie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I am the author of nine thrillers. My books have been translated into twenty-five languages across forty countries and have sold millions of copies around the world—something that still amazes me.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I was not an avid reader as a child and had no aspirations to write when I was growing up. To the contrary, I did everything possible to avoid reading as a kid.

But when I was twenty years old, for reasons I still don’t fully understand, I picked up John Grisham’s breakout novel The Firm and it became the first novel I’d ever read. Although I can’t remember what inspired me to read the book, I do remember being captivated by the characters and the story and the suspense. I read that book in six days—no easy feat for a non-reader. Grisham captured me and after I turned the last page of The Firm I knew I wanted to write my own thriller someday.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Firm
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Firm
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Look Closer by Davis Ellis

Your latest novel, Guess Again, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Hannibal Lecter meets Cruel Summer.

What can readers expect?

I wrote GUESS AGAIN so that each chapter holds clues for the reader to discover so they can work along with the protagonist to figure out the final twist before they get to the last page. It’s a wild ride and if readers figure out the twist, they’ll feel proud to have done so. If they don’t, the surprise ending should have them ripping back through the pages to see how they missed it.

Where did the inspiration for Guess Again come from?

I read about a medical condition called hybristophilia, where someone falls in love with and is infatuated by a convicted criminal. I knew there was a story there that could be fleshed out about a character plotting with someone in prison. A Hannibal Lecter-type character came to mind, and the story took off from there…

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

This is my first novel featuring a male protagonist. His name is Ethan Hall, and early readers have loved him and are already asking for a sequel. I would love to write another story with Ethan in the middle of it. I have three more books to write for my current contract, so that’s getting me excited.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I always face challenges when writing and am the most surprised person in my inner circle when I manage to finish a manuscript. I’m even more shocked when it’s coherent and people like it. The only way to overcome the challenges is to write, write, write your way through them.

What’s next for you?

I’m writing a novel for 2026 about a character who has to go into Witness Protection until she testifies. She sneaks away to a small town in the Pacific Northwest while lots of bad people start looking for her. I’m in the thick of things now and will hopefully make it to the end of the manuscript before the summer is over.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

This year I’ve enjoyed Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen. Hiaasen is always my go-to summer vacation read. I also read my first Stephen King novel, urged on by my son who I am sure is Stephen’s biggest fan. That book was 11-22-63 and I absolutely loved it. So much so that I turned around and read another King novel, The Institute. I’m not a fan of supernatural thrillers, which is why I have avoided Stephen King’s work. But those elements were not such a huge part of the stories that they distracted me. I found myself drawn back to the stories every time I put them down to get on with life. That’s always the sign of a good story and a talented storyteller.

Will you be picking up Guess Again? Tell us in the comments below!