Keep Them Close

by David Ellis

From the bestselling author of Look Closer comes a new domestic thriller about betrayal and murder inside one twisted family

Siblings Allison and Luke have been through a lot together. They’ve always stood by each other. They’d do anything for each other.

When Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered, the investigation threatens to expose the siblings’ darkest secrets. An illicit affair. A decades-old accident. A stunning deception. How do these events explain Finley’s death? How far will Allison and Luke go to keep their secrets buried? And can the siblings even trust one another anymore?

As the investigation winds tighter and past and present collide, the most shocking betrayal might lie a little too close to home…

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 30, 2026

About the author

David Ellis is a lawyer and the Edgar Allan Poe Award winner for Best First Novel for Line of Vision. Ellis attended Northwestern Law School and began his legal career in private practice in Chicago in 1993. He served as the House Prosecutor who tried and convicted Illinois Governor Blagojevich in the Impeachment Trial before the Illinois Senate. He was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2014 and took office December 1, 2014. Ellis currently lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Dutchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impossible to put down!

Siblings Allison and Luke have always had each other‘s backs while being each other’s own worst enemies at times. When Allison’s husband Finlay is murdered, what seems like a simple explanation turns into something much more convoluted. To give away anything else would involve spoilers.

Alison and Luke were two characters that were quite despicable and conniving…in a good way! How everything is tied together and resolved requires the reader to suspend quite a bit of disbelief. But it’s tied up rather nicely. While the end game was a bit predictable, the trip there was not. There were so many twists and turns I had to stop a few times and say “wait what?!”. The chapters were short and each one ended in a way that left you wanting more. This was another one of those read-in-one-day books because it’s so addicting.

There wasn’t too much that I didn’t enjoy, but I did feel that maybe the subplot of the congressman’s case and Aaron was unnecessary. Unless I missed it, I didn’t see how it’s tied in much more so than being part of a side story.

As a matter of enjoyment, this one is a close second to Look Closer, so if you enjoyed that one, give this one a try for sure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite thriller author David Ellis is back with another banger! Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

Multiple timelines, multiple POVs, all perfectly layered and plotted out before & after a murder on April Fools Day. A reoccurring concept in the book is prepare, prepare, prepare and then execute. And that is exactly what David Ellis did.

While there are plenty of twists throughout, I felt this was missing one big moment/twist that would give me goosebumps like Look Closer and The Best Lies had. But this book wins in the hundreds of details & events that create each character’s motive and how it’s executed over multi-POV and timeline.

This was my most anticipated book of the year and I’m so upset it’s over. Time to read his older books!

[Nikki Lee (Nikkileethrillseeker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a thriller lover, you already know who David Ellis is! He wrote one of the greatest thrillers of all time! I have read several of his books and will read his to-do list if he let me!!!

What’s one thing you know you’re gonna get in his novels? LIES, and this is no different. However, Keep Them Close takes off with a BANG! Two adult siblings with secrets from the past threaten everything when one of their partners gets murdered.

That’s all you need to know. Ellis is a guaranteed good read and I loved this one as well. Super fast paced and surprising twists! Add it to your TBR. Pre-order your copy.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date 6/30/26

Thank you to Putnam, NetGalley and David Ellis for the gifted copy.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Look Closer, which remains my absolute fave, but very very good! Full review to come.

Thank you Putnam for the advanced copy.

[Liana Gold]

Two siblings, one murder & a bunch of lies.
Really enjoyed the last two books Ellis wrote.


Many thanks to NetGalley, Putnam/G. P. Putnam's Sons and the author, David Ellis for an early copy!

Publication date: June 30, 2026

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75 rounded up)

First things first: Look Closer by David Ellis is one of my favorite thrillers, so ofc I went into this one with very, very, veeery high expectations.

Did it reach the same level for me? Not quite. But it was still a really solid read.

The story centers around siblings Allison and Luke after Allison’s husband is murdered, and as the investigation unfolds we start uncovering a lot of messy secrets. Affairs, past accidents, lies, cover ups aaand even more lies… basically everyone seems to have something to hide.

One thing I noticed pretty quickly is that none of the characters are particularly likable or reliable. Everyone has their own agenda and everyone seems to be scheming in one way or another, which made it hard to fully trust anyone.

The sibling dynamic was interesting too. At first it seemed like Allison and Luke had a very strong bond, but by the end I still wasn’t entirely sure what to think. It’s one of those relationships where they clearly love each other… but also seem capable of betraying each other if needed/when needed.

The suspense definitely kept me engaged and I finished this in one sitting. As for the twists, I’d say it was about 50/50 for me; I guessed a few things, but some reveals still caught me off guard, especially towards the end.

Overall, while it didn’t quite reach the level of Look Closer for me, it was still an entertaining thriller that kept me hooked for the night.

⭐️ 3.75, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
This book was so good. The twist are turns are incredible. You don’t know who to trust and who to root for. David Ellis never disappoints!!!!
100% worth the read.

[Celeste Velocci (bookrecs_by_celeste) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

We all know how much I love a David Ellis book! I had high hopes for this one since Look Closer is my top thriller everrr and it did not disappoint! Though it was different than Look Closer it was still very twisty and thought provoking.

I absolutely loved the domestic thriller aspect of this book as well as the complicated sibling dynamic between the main characters Allison and Luke. This thriller starts off strong with an intense opening scene that sets the stage for a diabolical cat and mouse game thriller. Family, marriage, revenge , trauma - you name it it’s in this book!

When a sibling bond between Allison and Luke is tested by the murder of Allison’s husband Finley uncovering the darkest of secrets their sibling relationship will be put to the ultimate test.

A diabolical addicting read you’ll need to add to your tbr! Out this June so mark your calendars and tbr!

Thank you G.P Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for my advanced readers copy all opinions are my own.

[Marisha (MarishaReadsALot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Putnam and The Pulse for the gifted digital ARC!

How does David Ellis continue to stun me with every single book he writes? I absolutely could not put this one down, and it was much needed while I'm in a stage of life where sitting down to read a book is challenging.

If you've loved the formula of Ellis's previous books, you will likely love Keep Them Close as well. You'll nearly get whiplash from the back and forth narrators and timelines, but it's the best kind of whiplash. I was never confused about what was happening, I just remained on the edge of my seat for the entire book.

No shocker here, but this is another 5+ star banger from Ellis. HIGHLY recommend to fellow thriller lovers! (And if you still haven't read Look Closer, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?)

Keep Them Close pub date is June 30.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unforgettable, twisty domestic suspense! I must admit, I didn't expect to find myself laughing quite a bit at some familiar references early on.

A domestic thriller revolves around siblings Allison and Luke, who have always supported each other. However, when Allison's husband, Finley, is murdered, their bond is tested as the investigation reveals dark secrets, including an affair and a betrayal. As old tensions re-emerge, their relationship becomes strained, and the truth about Finley’s death threatens to tear the family apart.

This book demands your full attention due to its unique timeline, which jumps back and forth, allowing us to grasp the events leading up to the murder. You'll often find yourself days or even weeks before the pivotal moment, which may sound complicated, but the author did an excellent job of keeping everything clear as I continued reading.

The story is told from several perspectives, including Allison, Detective Louise, and Luke. Allison is a likable character with a keen understanding of the system, and we learn firsthand how she navigates around obstacles to avoid being discovered. I appreciated how some scenes felt almost like real life. Luke brought a lot of humor, and I could relate to his busy thinking and witty observations. I found myself chuckling frequently in the beginning, only for the tone to shift to something more serious later. The emotional depth of Allison's and Luke's relationship became evident as we uncovered more of their past; family can either uplift you or tear you apart. I was rooting for their relationship to mend, but putting myself in their shoes, I questioned how that might even be possible. Louise, the detective, was sharp and detail-oriented, ensuring nothing slipped through the cracks. I enjoyed her character because she wasn't easily swayed.

The writing was suspenseful, clever, and thoughtfully executed. I loved how the author paid attention to detail, weaving the entire story together without leaving me with lingering questions about the events or characters. It was meticulously developed, and I was completely taken aback by the plot twists! Each twist left me on the edge of my seat, but the way everything tied together was truly a masterpiece.

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, revenge-driven read filled with twists and an unpredictable ending, centered around a strong female lead. With plenty of lies, deception, and police procedural elements, there are some heart-stopping moments that add realism to the story. I loved how everything came full circle, and the conclusion wrapped everything up neatly. I didn't see any of the twists coming, nor did I have any idea where the story was headed - bravo! You'll find yourself absorbed in this book, and that's what makes it so binge-worthy. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to take a moment to digest everything because it was a lot to take in all at once! WOW!

Thank you, @thrillerbookloversthepulse and G.P. Putman's Sons, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vito · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Ellis is back with another home run (IYKYK) with “Keep Them Close,” his latest domestic thriller, starring a lawyer who will go at any length to make sure herself (or her client) are innocent.

I’ll keep the book’s synopsis short and sweet. Brother and sister, Luke and Allison, have stuck together through it all. When Luke is pulled over and arrested after drugs that are definitely not his are found in his car, Allison knows she will do anything to ensure her brother is proven innocent. If only it were that easy — twists and turns ensue when more details come to light. The case isn’t as simple as she thought (or planned.)

Ellis is writing on all cylinders here — this one is addicting from the very beginning, dropping you into a story that is (seemingly) in process. Loved all of these threads happening here and how things were connected (and how they came to be connected.) It’s smart (but not “you have to be a lawyer to understand it” smart) and smooth. Like, so smooth despite the time shifts. These time jumps here keep things interesting but without muddying things happening.

As I write this review moments after finishing my second Ellis book, I’m struggling to find a detractor here. Maybe, it’s too neatly tied up in the end but this isn’t a case of an author playing it safe — he’s just done a good job laying the ground work of a complex story and finely tuning it without screwing up the landing. It’s something our lead Allison would blush at. Very grateful to Netgalley and publisher Putnam for the ARC.

[Jessa Layne • readwithjessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep Them Close follows siblings Allison and Luke, who have always been loyal to one another. When Allison’s husband Finley is murdered, the investigation begins to uncover a tangled web of secrets including an affair, a decades old accident, and shocking deceptions. As the case tightens and the past collides with the present, the siblings must decide how far they will go to keep their secrets buried and whether they can even trust each other anymore. I absolutely loved the domestic thriller aspect of this book and the complicated sibling dynamic between Allison and Luke. The story starts strong with an intense opening and quickly turns into a suspenseful psychological game filled with lies, revenge, betrayal and so many secrets. With multiple POVs and alternating timelines, it really keeps you engaged and builds the suspense as everything leads up to the murder. This is one of my favorites by this author and the twists and unpredictable ending made it such a great read.

Thank you to Putnam and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for this gifted copy! This book publishes on June 30, 2026.

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

This thriller is an amazing ride. If you figure out all the twists before they are revealed, please check your IQ because you must be a genius. Anytime I thought I knew what was happening, the next chapter blew my theory out of the water. If you do one thing this summer, it better be read this book.

[Full of Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can see why David said that fans of LOOK CLOSER would love this one! If you haven’t read that one, you need to!

KEEP THEM CLOSE definitely surprised me. I really flew through it because the plot was fast-paced with short chapters that left on cliffhangers which made me keep turning the pages. It was a definite “just one more chapter” type of book.

When I started it, I was a little confused because I didn’t know where it was going but it very quickly starts to all weave together. The alternating chapters with different POV’s kept the story interesting and really makes you more invested in the story.

There were some unsavory characters but I loved Allison and would neverrr want to piss her off. The sibling bond was at the heart of this story which I really loved. Ten toes down 😉.

[Cady Vasaturo · Rating 4 out of 5]

so excited to have more david ellis this year!! keep them close was quick & engaging the whole way through. it didn’t quite live up to look closer for me & i felt a little underwhelmed by the end, but it was still a crazy ride!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look Closer and The Best Lies were incredible. I still think Leo is my all time favorite male character. It pains me to say Keep Them Close doesn’t measure up. The non linear timeline, the malicious intent of every character, and the multiple storylines made this hard to follow.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Cordelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS
-Siblings Allison and Luke have always had each other’s backs. No matter what. Or at least that’s what they tell themselves.
-When Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered, the investigation starts digging into their past. And that past is messy. Think illicit affairs, a decades-old accident, and secrets that never should have stayed buried this long.
-As the case unfolds, the truth becomes harder to separate from the lies. And the biggest question becomes this: how far will these siblings go to protect each other… and themselves?
-Because the deeper the investigation goes, the clearer it becomes that the most dangerous betrayal might be sitting right inside the family.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS
-David Ellis does it again. This man knows how to write a smart, layered thriller. I’ve now read three of his books: Look Closer (5 stars), The Best Lies (5 stars), and Keep Them Close (5 stars). Safe to say I’m a huge fan.
-I loveeeee David Ellis. His writing is sharp, clever, and tightly plotted. And the legal pieces actually make sense. That’s rare in thrillers.
-Want to know why the legal stuff works so well? Ellis graduated from Northwestern Law and now serves as an Illinois Appellate Court judge. He also prosecuted the impeachment trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. So yeah. The man knows the system.
-So when he writes about legal stuff, it feels real because… it is real. You can tell he knows exactly how the system works.
-As an appellate judge, I’m sure he has seen everything. You can feel that experience all over this book.
-One thing I really love about David Ellis’s writing is how real the legal details feel. Even the smallest references are spot on. When I was in law school, I worked as a law clerk in the Felony Trial Division at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. So when Ellis mentions things like “26th and California” and the Felony Trial Division, I smiled. Those little details made the story feel incredibly real.
-That’s what makes his thrillers stand out. The legal elements never feel like background filler or something pulled from a quick Google search. The language, the settings, and the way people talk about the system all feel authentic. It reads like someone who actually understands how this world works. And that level of accuracy makes the entire story feel more believable.
-The plotting here is meticulous. Truly. Every piece fits somewhere. Nothing is wasted.
-We get multiple POVs, which I loved.
-Lots of twists.
-Not a single Chekhov’s gun goes unfired in this book. You know the rule. If a gun appears in Act One, it better go off by the end. Ellis clearly understood the assignment.
-The ending here is extremely satisfying.
-Lots of flawed characters, but I loved Allison. Sue me.
-I also enjoyed the peek into the male-dominated legal world. I genuinely laughed at the scene where they assume Allison is the assistant. Unfortunately… very true to life.
⸻
TL;DR: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5 stars. A layered, twist-filled thriller with real legal depth, great pacing, and an ending that delivers. David Ellis stays undefeated on my reading list.
⸻
THANKS: Thanks to Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on June 30, 2026.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒔. 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒈𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒎𝒔 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏.

If revenge thrillers are your thing, I need you to clear your schedule immediately and beg for an early copy of this book because it had me pacing my house like 𝑰 personally had secrets to hide. Siblings Allison and Luke have always had each other’s backs, no matter what life threw at them. But when Allison’s husband Finley is murdered, the investigation starts digging up things the two of them absolutely never wanted anyone to see, such as an affair, a long-buried accident, and a deception that’s been quietly rotting under the surface for years. As past and present begin crashing together, the question isn’t just who killed Finley. It’s how far Allison and Luke are willing to go to keep their history from detonating.

This book commanded the room like the first punch in a bar fight. You know things are about to get messy, and you're there for every wild moment. The author's shining moment, in my opinion, was how he skillfully weaponized family loyalty, something that’s supposed to feel safe, and twisted it until it became dangerous and volatile. The shifting perspectives kept my brain spinning in the best way because just when I thought I understood who was holding the knife (metaphorically speaking, mostly), the story would pivot, and suddenly, I was suspicious of everyone again. The tension was NOT subtle and quiet. It simmered in every conversation, every memory, and in every decision, especially the fateful ones that were made decades earlier.

By the final stretch, I was absolutely feral turning pages, half horrified and half delighted by how far these characters were willing to go. The pacing was relentless, and and the emotional fallout was hitting harder than I expected. When the dust finally settled, one thing became very clear: resentment doesn’t just linger; it waits for the perfect moment to strike. So many thanks to Putnam and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for this early copy that will publish June 30, 2026.

[Julie Maleski (juliereads_alot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Massive thanks to @thrillerbookloversthepulse for inviting me to be a part of this book tour and to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for the gifted e-ARC...this is my honest review.

📱Keep Them Close📱
Author: David Ellis
Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Publisher: Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons

MY RATING: 4.75/5⭐
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

When I heard David Ellis had a new book coming out, Keep Them Close, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! So when Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse gave me an opportunity to be a part of the upcoming book tour for it, I immediately signed up -- and then read it as soon as it hit my Netgalley shelf.

And let me tell you, Keep Them Close did not disappoint! It had everything I love about a David Ellis book: multiple POVs, dual timelines, and storylines crafted with such brilliant intelligence that you won't even see the twists coming. I flew through this fast-paced and unputdownable domestic thriller in one sitting.

Two siblings. One murder. So many lies. Siblings Allison and Luke have been through a lot together and they've always had each other's backs. Or so it seems. But when Allison's husband is murdered, the investigation threatens to expose the siblings’ darkest secrets. How far will Allison and Luke go to keep their secrets buried -- and can they still trust each other?

How does Ellis DO this?! Every twist is just dropped into this story, in such an almost-casual way that I don't see any of them coming. He's fantastic at directing the reader's assumptions until he's ready to reveal the twisty truths, which is one of the things that make his books so great. Keep Them Close had me questioning everything and side-eyeing everyone until the book's conclusion.

If you haven't yet read David Ellis, and you're a fan of twisty thrillers that will shock you and keep you guessing to the very end, do yourself a favor and grab this book when it comes out in June. (And do yourself a bigger favor and read Look Closer immediately!)

#KeepThemClose #DavidEllis #GPPutnamsSons #netgalley #thrillerbookloversthepulse #gifted #thrillerlovers #thrillerreads #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

[Collyn Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

read if you like:
👩‍❤️‍👨 affairs
🙋🏻‍♀️ strong female protagonists
⏰ multiple timelines

summary:
David Ellis is an automatic must-buy author for me, and this one is no exception. I absolutely flew through this book — finished it in a day — and honestly could read it again in a heartbeat. The story follows Allison, a high-powered attorney whose life is turned upside down when her husband, Finley, is found murdered. The situation is already complicated by the fact that Allison recently discovered Finley had been having an affair. Determined to figure out what really happened, Allison and her brother Luke immediately start digging for answers.

But Luke is dealing with serious problems of his own. Not long before the murder, he was pulled over while driving a friend’s car that turned out to be full of opioid pills, leaving him entangled in legal trouble. As Allison searches for the truth about Finley’s death, the pressure mounting around Luke raises an unsettling question: how much trouble is her brother really in — and how far will she go to protect him?

The story centers around April Fools Day, which is a fun nod to the irony that weaves its way through the book. The timeline cuts back and forth before and after Finley’s death, but it’s surprisingly easy to follow, even while tracking all of Allison’s cases — Luke’s, a senators, and her own. The chapters are short and fast-moving, and the shifting perspectives keeps the tension high throughout. Each new revelation adds another piece to the puzzle, and just when you think the truth is within reach, the story pivots again. The pacing makes it bingeable, and the final twists land with the kind of shock that you won’t expect.

Thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for the advanced copy, and make sure you preorder this before it releases on June 29!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to David Ellis, Putnam Books, NetGalley and Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse for allowing me an early look at this upcoming thriller.

Everyone over at The Pulse is buzzing about this one, and after finishing it, I completely understand why.

Keep Them Close by David Ellis is an absolute wild ride of a thriller. I devoured this in a single day because once it got going, there was no putting it down. The pacing is relentless, the tension keeps building, and just when you think you’ve figured something out, another twist knocks you sideways.

And let’s be honest, that’s exactly what I want from a thriller.

Siblings Allison and Luke have always been fiercely loyal to one another. They’ve been through everything together and have always had each other’s backs.

But loyalty gets complicated when secrets start coming to light.

When Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered, the investigation begins unraveling a tangled web of lies between the siblings. As detectives dig deeper, long buried secrets start surfacing like an illicit affair, a decades old accident, and a deception that could destroy everything.

The deeper the story goes, the more the past and present collide, and the more you start to question who each of them is protecting and why.

David Ellis does such a fantastic job layering the story so that every reveal raises even more questions.

Family loyalty, betrayal, secrets, and just how far someone will go to protect the people they love. Keep Them Close delivers on all of that and more.

If you love fast paced thrillers packed with twists and messy family secrets, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your summer TBR.

[Kathleen Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the ARC of “Keep Them Close” in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this one just as much as I did when I picked up my first novel by Ellis at the end of last year. The thing about his thrillers, is they’re so smart, so well thought out and clever.

I’m not going to go into a synopsis as there’s so much going on, I would find it quite difficult to get the best parts across to convince someone to read the book. I’ll leave that to the professionals who have already provided an interesting narrative. What I do hope convinces a reader to pick this up, is to know that this book will take you down a million roads but they will all connect at the end in the best way. Isn’t that what you want from a thriller? To me, nothing is worse than being able to put all the pieces together almost immediately.

So why 4 stars versus 5? Well, it goes back to putting the pieces together. While I was never bored in this book and truly, couldn’t put it down, I was able to draw correct conclusions to some of the aspects up front, (some, not all). At no point did this draw away from the experience of this book or make me feel it was any less smart. It left me feeling like a bit of an amateur sleuth lol…. (I won’t be leaving my day job).

Overall, it was fun, exciting, and again, so clever. I highly recommend this book for a quick thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. 4 stars!

[Rodney Booe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twist-filled thriller that proves David Ellis shines on his own
---
Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with a free preview copy of Keep Them Close in exchange for my honest review.

I’m familiar with David Ellis primarily through his collaborations with James Patterson, so this was my first opportunity to read one of his standalone novels. It definitely did not disappoint.

The story follows Allison Brice, a private practice attorney whose life is turned upside down when her husband is murdered. What follows is a suspenseful thriller packed with twists and turns that I genuinely did not see coming. Ellis does an excellent job keeping the reader off balance while the story unfolds.

One aspect of the novel I particularly enjoyed was the use of first-person narration, primarily through Allison and her brother Luke. I’ve always found first-person storytelling to be especially engaging because it limits the reader’s perspective to what the characters themselves know and experience. That constraint creates a natural tension and keeps the mystery alive as the story progresses.

The result is a fast-moving thriller that continually pulls you forward as new layers of the story are revealed. If this book is any indication of Ellis’s solo work, I’ll definitely be picking up more of his novels in the future.

[When Books Speak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep Them Close by David Ellis is an absolute MASTERPIECE of a thriller, and I could not put it down!

Allison and Luke's sibling dynamic is at the heart of this story, and it is utterly captivating. They love each other fiercely, but secrets and lies run so deep between them that you constantly question where their loyalties truly lie. The morally complex characters kept me on my toes throughout. Nobody is who they seem, and I loved every second of it.

The multiple POVs and dual timelines could have been overwhelming, but Ellis handles them so effortlessly. Every piece of the puzzle is laid out with such precision, and the way everything connects is genuinely brilliant. The pacing is relentless in the best possible way. Short chapters, constant tension, and a "just one more chapter" pull that made finishing this in one sitting feel inevitable.

And the twists? I did NOT see them coming. The ending had my jaw on the floor, and everything tied together so satisfyingly.

David Ellis has absolutely cemented himself as a must-read author for me. If you love thrillers with messy family dynamics, buried secrets, and twists that actually surprise you, this is a non-negotiable summer read!

Pub Day: Jun 30, 2026
Categories: Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction (Adult)

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah yes, another book that completely ruined my plans to be a productive human.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of “Keep Them Close” by David Ellis—because clearly I didn’t need sleep anyway.

This is one of those super inconvenient reads where you think, “I’ll just do one more chapter,” and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. and you’re emotionally invested in fictional people making questionable decisions.

The short chapters? Rude. Absolutely rude. They make it far too easy to keep going. The constant back-and-forth between Allison and Luke? Also rude, because every time you start to feel like you understand what’s happening, nope, here comes another perspective to mess with your head.

And the secrets… oh, the secrets. Just sitting there, threatening to explode at any moment like they don’t care about your blood pressure at all.

And Fin? Oh, Fin. Because every thriller needs that one character who makes you go, “Should I trust you?” immediately followed by, “Absolutely not.” His whole shady vibe just adds that extra layer of tension that keeps you side-eyeing every interaction.

If you enjoy being unable to stop reading, questioning everyone’s motives, and generally spiraling in the best way possible, then sure,go ahead and pick this up.

Five stars. Would absolutely let it destroy my sleep schedule again.

[Mugs & Manuscripts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep Them Close is another knockout thriller from David Ellis. He's known for writing crime fiction filled with twists, secrets, lies, and deception and this is no exception. I'm always excited to pick up a novel from Ellis because I know I'll be thoroughly entertained. Somehow he always seems to surprise me. Keep Them Close is clever and unpredictable and so much fun to read!

One of the things I enjoy most about Ellis’s books is the way he structures his storylines. He skillfully weaves together multiple points of view across different timelines, something that doesn’t always come together as seamlessly in contemporary crime fiction. Ellis also has a knack for creating quirky, likable characters, and in Keep Them Close, we meet siblings Alison and Luke. Lies and deceit - let's just say they excel! If you can suspend disbelief, you'll find Keep Them Close a highly entertaining novel that's hard to put down.

I've read several novels by Ellis and while Look Closer remains my favorite, all of his novels are highly engaging, perfectly paced, and filled with enough surprise to keep me hooked. Ellis is an author I'll always seek to read anytime he publishes a new novel and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

Many thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and David Ellis for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Christina Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC Review*

Keep Them Close by @david_ellis_author was a wild ride! Multiple POVs, time line jumps, twists, and surprises in every chapter! This was a great read and truly had me saying “WTF” out loud a couple times!

Allison is having marriage problems with her husband, Finley. He is cheating and she is trying to figure out how to handle it or if she should wait until their son, Grayson, goes off to college. Luke, Allison’s brother and one of Finleys best friends while growing up, is working on a documentary about his rise into stardom as a baseball player and the accident that ruined it all. Luke and Allison have been through so much together and unfortunately it’s about to get a lot more complicated for them. One day, Finley turns up mur-de-red and a whirlwind of events put Luke and Allison’s relationship to the test. A secret from their childhood, an affair, blackmail, private investigators, lies, deception, and betrayal!

This book has it all! I am so thankful for the opportunity to read this before it releases later this year! Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR and preorder this book! Seriously, you won’t regret it! @thrillerbookloversthepulse @putnambooks @penguinrandomhouse

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for an amazing, fast-paced, knock your socks off thriller that will keep you turning the pages long into the night, this book is a MUST read! My mind is still reeling from all the twists and turns, and I have yet to pick my jaw up off the floor. The secrets and lies were endless. So much so, that I had a hard time deciding who to root for. I liked that the author chose to let the story unfold in two different timelines. Switching back and forth between POVs from before Finley's death and the investigation that takes place after created lots of tension and suspense and allowed for maximum shock value when secrets were revealed. I would classify this book as part legal thriller and part domestic thriller, all of which were executed with the cleverness of a well-played chess match. I absolutely loved it! I know that I'll probably be waiting for months, but I cannot wait to get my hands on the next David Ellis book. I can't rave enough about this one! Add it to your TBRs and/or preorder now. You won't be disappointed, I promise.

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Dana Trevino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep Them Close was my first novel by David Ellis and it definitely will not be my last. I was excited to get an ARC and I couldn't wait to dive in. This book was not only a thriller, but what I really loved was the emotional depth woven into Allison's story. Ellis doesn't just give us a mystery - he gives us a woman shaped by years of feeling unseen, unheard, and never quite good enough.
Allison's childhood pain is one of the most powerful undercuts in this book. Growing up, she was constantly overshadowed by her brother, watching him receive the attention and praise from his parents. The emotional abuse Allison endures growing up really was painful to read, but what makes her unforgettable is how it transforms her into a fierce lawyer, which comes in handy throughout the novel. I loved this book due to the emotional complexity, fast pacing, clever twists, and a plot that keeps you guessing. This was an easy five stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC.

[Afsha (caffeineandcrime) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keep Them Close - David Ellis
Pub Date - 6/30/26; Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons
Rating - ☕️☕️☕️.5/5 rounded up to 4
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley, David Ellis, and Putnam Books for this gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This new domestic thriller is a fast paced page turner making you as the reader want to keep going until you reach the end.

Siblings Allison and Luke have been through so much together including Luke's tragic bike accident leading to him never being able to play baseball again. Suddenly Allison's husband Finlay is found dead and everything spirals. Ellis creates a complex, suspenseful plot that creates so much tension and lots of drama.

While the twists weren't groundbreaking, the way the story came together was very enjoyable! I found myself flipping pages and staying up way past my bedtime to finish this book.

Overall, great book and fast read that will bust a reading slump!

Read if you like:
- police procedurals
- complex sibling relationships
- family drama
- domestic suspense