Kristin's Bookshelf

One Killer Night
By Trilina Pucci
Narrated by Samantha Brentmoor & Grayson Owens
Series: To Die For
️️️️ 4.5 Stars

I know I’ve only read one book by Trilina Pucci so far, but I think I officially found a new addition to my “if they write it, I buy it” author list.

She is an absolute dialogue queen. Nearly every conversation in this book (minus the bedroom scenes ) felt like something I could genuinely hear myself or my friends saying. The witty comments, sarcastic banter, and authentic friendships made every relationship feel natural instead of forced.

Noah and Goldie’s relationship especially worked for me. Their love felt very reflective of what love looked like in my late 20s/early 30s. It was passionate, consuming, exciting. Mid-40s love for me is significantly more mellow and probably involves asking someone if they remembered to switch the laundry over. 

I absolutely adored their meet-cute and the slow development of their relationship. The support they received from friends and family made the story feel warm even when things got messy. It really felt like good people being supported by other good people. And Pucci did a fantastic job sprinkling in clues and little details throughout the story that paid off beautifully by the end.

I’ve seen some reviews mention that the build-up felt too slow, but honestly, I appreciated it. Taking the time to develop the relationship made the heartbreak after the proposal hit so much harder. Goldie’s pain felt incredibly real. So did Noah’s.

And that Act 3 plot twist? Chef’s kiss. I expected a showdown, obviously, but not that. As someone who finds a lot of thrillers somewhat predictable (not necessarily in a bad way), this one genuinely surprised me. And I loved that.

Also: I am OBSESSED with the Chase and Evie dynamic already, and I cannot wait to jump into Book 2.