LA lifestyle influencer Cara Campbell is living the rags-to-riches dream with her plastic surgeon husband, Karl, and posting all about it on social media. But her happily ever after evaporates when she’s given a life sentence for murdering Karl during a romantic getaway. All evidence points to her, and her platform—as an unabashed gold digger—makes her look guilty as hell. Karl’s struggling business and million-dollar life insurance policy add plenty of motive. But the one thing Cara knows for sure is she didn’t do it.
En route to the maximum-security prison where she’ll begin serving her sentence, the armored transport vehicle is torn apart in a horrific collision that sparks a wildfire at the scene. Desperately seizing this unexpected chance at freedom, Cara flees into the Sierra Nevada Mountains armed only with a cracked phone she found on the highway.
Local sheriff Jordan Burke is first to respond and follows in hot pursuit. His desire to apprehend Cara is personal: he’s vulnerable in the next election, and a quick capture will help his chances. But as the sensational case explodes in the headlines, he finds himself second-guessed at every turn by a noisy chorus of murderinos, internet sleuths, and podcasters—as well as his blowhard political opponent.
In the woods, Cara’s flight for survival becomes a journey of discovery. Who killed Karl, and why? Was her marriage built on lies? And who is she, really, without her millions of followers?
As Jordan draws relentlessly closer, he, too, begins to question the truth. But to find the answers, he has to catch a fugitive…
If you haven’t read Linda Keir before, like me, or you enjoy twisty, cat-and-mouse thrillers, you definitely need to put this one on your list. I haven’t seen much buzz for this book, but it deserves it. It’s relentlessly paced & will keep you engaged, on edge, and cheering for the protagonist the entire wild ride. And we’ve got great tropes—wrongfully accused MC, fugitive on the run, survival in the wilderness, media circus, true crime podcast, marriage secrets, and more, all seamlessly woven in.
This is a multi-POV thriller, mostly told via Cara‘s POV as she tries to evade capture and stay alive. It’s so fun to follow her as she’s quick-witted, bold, and constantly takes dangerous risks to stay one step ahead of her pursuers while trying to piece together the truth behind her husband Karl’s murder. The other main POV is Sheriff Jordan Burke, the county sheriff in the area where Cara first flees. He’s determined to bring Cara in, not only for (what he believes is) justice but also to protect his own reputation as he fights off political pressure from rival Troy Silverman. As the story unfolds, Cara and Jordan have brief, tense encounters that make Cara’s capture feel almost imminent while also giving Jordan breadcrumbs about what she’s trying to accomplish. Eventually, this pushes him to question whether she’s guilty, leading him deeper into his own investigation into Karl’s death. Add in a widespread media frenzy and a popular true crime podcaster, Dylan Danvers, with a devoted following—many of whom are convinced Cara is innocent—and you’ve got a story that never has a dull moment. Cara also meets some eccentric and memorable characters along the way who help her in ways you won’t be expecting.
The pacing is seriously relentless, with short, punchy chapters—some only a couple of pages long—that make the book binge-worthy. And by the end, you’ll literally feel like you’ve been on a full-blown survival marathon with Cara in the best possible way. You’ll need to suspend your disbelief throughout, with last-minute escapes and characters putting themselves on the line, and just going with it will increase your enjoyment. The mystery surrounding Cara’s husband’s death ramps up in the last 30 percent, full of detours and red herrings, so don’t expect to predict all the twists. And the final twist pulls the rug out from under you and feels a bit out of left field. The ending is a bit abrupt and slightly underwhelming after such an intense story and build-up, and the final scene could have been written more effectively to match the rest of the story. That said, it doesn’t take away from the incredibly wild ride that you’ll be recommending afterwards!
Narrator Performance
I Did Not Kill My Husband is read by award-winning narrators Abigail Reno, Will Damron, and André Santana.
Abigail Reno portrays Cara with a sophisticated, intelligent voice that initially feels a bit defeated and fearful—but once Cara is on the run, there’s an immediate shift to determination and hopefulness. In Cara’s inner dialogue, as she calculates her next moves and makes risky decisions, Reno does a brilliant job giving the character a fierce energy that makes you root for her. Reno brings every character that Cara encounters while she’s on the run to life—each with a distinct voice and personality. A standout is her portrayal of Fisk, the burly, defiant off-grid army veteran—the delivery of the dialogue between Cara and Fisk and their evolving dynamic are major highlights. And what really stands out is how Reno conveys Cara’s emotional arc from an exhausted and defeated convicted killer to someone slowly reclaiming control. By the end, she gives Cara a more self-assured, accepting tone that makes you believe she might actually be able to clear her name—even if no one else will!
Will Damron portrays police sheriff Jordan Burke with a steady, determined voice layered with vulnerability and frustration, making him immediately interesting. When Jordan is focused on gaining advantage over his political opponent, Damron gives him a controlled, snarky tone, but he also shows a more human side of Jordan when he’s concerned about his daughter’s friend. As Jordan digs deeper into Cara and the murder of her husband, Damron adds more uncertainty and moral conflict into the character’s inner dialogue. In the final confrontation scenes, he shifts the performance of Jordan again with a voice that’s sharper and more authoritative, giving the ending a lot of intensity that keeps listeners on edge.
André Santana brings a completely different but equally entertaining energy as true crime podcaster Dylan Danvers, and it feels like you’re listening to a real podcast giving updates on Cara’s whereabouts. As the cat-and-mouse chase heats up and Dylan reaches out to Cara, he intensifies his delivery to sound more obsessed and excited to help her. Even though Santana’s chapters are short and spaced, they add entertainment value and leave a lasting impression. If you’re thinking about reading this book, the audiobook is absolutely the way to go!
Narrator Performance
I Did Not Kill My Husband is read by award-winning narrators Abigail Reno, Will Damron, and André Santana.
Abigail Reno portrays Cara with a sophisticated, intelligent voice that initially feels a bit defeated and fearful—but once Cara is on the run, there’s an immediate shift to determination and hopefulness. In Cara’s inner dialogue, as she calculates her next moves and makes risky decisions, Reno does a brilliant job giving the character a fierce energy that makes you root for her. Reno brings every character that Cara encounters while she’s on the run to life—each with a distinct voice and personality. A standout is her portrayal of Fisk, the burly, defiant off-grid army veteran—the delivery of the dialogue between Cara and Fisk and their evolving dynamic are major highlights. And what really stands out is how Reno conveys Cara’s emotional arc from an exhausted and defeated convicted killer to someone slowly reclaiming control. By the end, she gives Cara a more self-assured, accepting tone that makes you believe she might actually be able to clear her name—even if no one else will!
Will Damron portrays police sheriff Jordan Burke with a steady, determined voice layered with vulnerability and frustration, making him immediately interesting. When Jordan is focused on gaining advantage over his political opponent, Damron gives him a controlled, snarky tone, but he also shows a more human side of Jordan when he’s concerned about his daughter’s friend. As Jordan digs deeper into Cara and the murder of her husband, Damron adds more uncertainty and moral conflict into the character’s inner dialogue. In the final confrontation scenes, he shifts the performance of Jordan again with a voice that’s sharper and more authoritative, giving the ending a lot of intensity that keeps listeners on edge.
André Santana brings a completely different but equally entertaining energy as true crime podcaster Dylan Danvers, and it feels like you’re listening to a real podcast giving updates on Cara’s whereabouts. As the cat-and-mouse chase heats up and Dylan reaches out to Cara, he intensifies his delivery to sound more obsessed and excited to help her. Even though Santana’s chapters are short and spaced, they add entertainment value and leave a lasting impression. If you’re thinking about reading this book, the audiobook is absolutely the way to go!
I Did Not Kill My Husband is read by award-winning narrators Abigail Reno, Will Damron, and André Santana.
Abigail Reno portrays Cara with a sophisticated, intelligent voice that initially feels a bit defeated and fearful—but once Cara is on the run, there’s an immediate shift to determination and hopefulness. In Cara’s inner dialogue, as she calculates her next moves and makes risky decisions, Reno does a brilliant job giving the character a fierce energy that makes you root for her. Reno brings every character that Cara encounters while she’s on the run to life—each with a distinct voice and personality. A standout is her portrayal of Fisk, the burly, defiant off-grid army veteran—the delivery of the dialogue between Cara and Fisk and their evolving dynamic are major highlights. And what really stands out is how Reno conveys Cara’s emotional arc from an exhausted and defeated convicted killer to someone slowly reclaiming control. By the end, she gives Cara a more self-assured, accepting tone that makes you believe she might actually be able to clear her name—even if no one else will!
Will Damron portrays police sheriff Jordan Burke with a steady, determined voice layered with vulnerability and frustration, making him immediately interesting. When Jordan is focused on gaining advantage over his political opponent, Damron gives him a controlled, snarky tone, but he also shows a more human side of Jordan when he’s concerned about his daughter’s friend. As Jordan digs deeper into Cara and the murder of her husband, Damron adds more uncertainty and moral conflict into the character’s inner dialogue. In the final confrontation scenes, he shifts the performance of Jordan again with a voice that’s sharper and more authoritative, giving the ending a lot of intensity that keeps listeners on edge.
André Santana brings a completely different but equally entertaining energy as true crime podcaster Dylan Danvers, and it feels like you’re listening to a real podcast giving updates on Cara’s whereabouts. As the cat-and-mouse chase heats up and Dylan reaches out to Cara, he intensifies his delivery to sound more obsessed and excited to help her. Even though Santana’s chapters are short and spaced, they add entertainment value and leave a lasting impression. If you’re thinking about reading this book, the audiobook is absolutely the way to go!
