Description

Kirkus calls this novel “a high-octane thriller” that blends the warmth of Katrina’s Norwegian heritage, the cozy charm of North Haven, and a tender romance between two endearing, vulnerable characters. It’s romantic suspense at its most comforting—like waffles with cloudberry cream.

This timely and thought-provoking story explores the impact of artificial intelligence on a grieving widow. When Katrina Berg uses a chatbot to hold conversations with a digital replica of her late husband, she never anticipates the chilling response after she types a simple request: *Tell me something I don’t know.* The shocking reply: *I think I was murdered.*

Bestselling authors Colleen Coble and Rick Acker craft a novel that feels like watching a BBC mystery—immersive, intelligent, and expertly plotted, with intricate character development and a deeply satisfying conclusion.

Just a year ago, Katrina had everything. She was a rising star at a cutting-edge AI start-up, happily married to her adoring husband, Jason, and financially secure beyond her wildest dreams. Then, in an instant, it all fell apart. Jason was killed in a fiery car crash. Her company’s CEO was indicted, and as the firm’s legal counsel, Katrina found herself under intense scrutiny as federal investigators took over and locked her out of the office. And just when she thought she had reached her limit, she lost her beloved grandmother.

Her one comfort is the beta prototype of an advanced chatbot, stored on her phone. Using every email, social media archive, photograph, and digital trace she could collect, she created a program that mimics Jason’s voice and personality with eerie accuracy. For the past six months, she has “spoken” to him daily, marveling at how real he seems. The chatbot knows his turns of phrase, his speech patterns—sometimes, it feels as if Jason is truly answering her. She knows relying on the bot is keeping her from moving forward, but she can’t seem to let go.

Then, on one particularly difficult day, she asks: *Tell me something I don’t know.* The bot hesitates for a long moment before finally responding: *I think I was murdered.*

Shaken to her core, Katrina returns to her quiet, Norwegian-influenced hometown nestled in the Northern California redwoods. Seeking the truth about Jason’s accident, she enlists the help of Seb Wallace, a local restaurateur and longtime acquaintance. As they dig deeper, they find themselves entangled in a web of grief, family conflict, and dangerous secrets. Their search forces them to confront difficult questions about the power and risks of artificial intelligence—while also fighting to survive long enough to uncover the truth.

Coble and Acker expertly weave a gripping plot with high-stakes suspense and a clean but heartfelt romance in *I Think I Was Murdered*. Don’t miss this unforgettable thriller.

Library Journal praises this pulse-pounding novel, noting that it combines today’s most pressing technological concerns with compelling family drama, proving the powerhouse writing duo of Coble and Acker will continue to captivate readers. Fans of psychological thrillers like *Lies We Believe* by Lisa Harris and *Criss Cross* by C.C. Warrens won’t be able to put this one down.

Looking for more from these authors? Their previous novel, *What We Hide* (Tupelo Grove, #1), is also available!