Killer Potential

A Novel

De: Hannah Deitch

Narrado por: Kristen Sieh, Daru Oda

“Fierce, fun, wild, and enraging.” —Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark

“A real joy to read . . . Killer Potential earns Deitch a spot on the ‘new novelists to watch’ list.” — Associated Press

An electric debut novel following two young women after they flee a bloody murder scene in the Hollywood Hills and quickly become a runaway media sensation

Destined for greatness, wanted for murder. . .

A scholarship kid with straight As and big dreams, Evie Gordon always thought she was special, that she’d be someone. But after graduating from an elite university, she finds herself drowning in debt and working as an SAT tutor for the super-rich of Los Angeles.

Everything changes one Sunday, when she arrives for her weekly lesson at the Victors’ Beverly Hills estate and, in lieu of a bored teenager, finds the bloody remains of the parents strewn through their beautiful back garden, and a woman crying for help within a closet. As Evie works to free her, the two are spotted—and within moments, they go from bystanders to suspects to fugitives.

Suddenly at the heart of a manhunt and accompanied by a mysterious woman who refuses to speak, Evie knows the only way to clear her name is to find the real killer. But first she’ll have to break down the barriers of her companion, who is quickly becoming the most important person in Evie’s upside-down life. Their breathless spree takes them across the U.S. as developments in the case shock the nation and the press runs wild with Evie’s story: a gifted kid turned killer. She's now on the cover of every magazine and newspaper—anointed the new Charles Manson, a bloodthirsty ninety-nine percenter looking to start a class war. Evie is finally someone.

By turns cuttingly hilarious and deeply insightful, Killer Potential is a strikingly original debut. A literary novel with the intensity of a thriller that asks timely questions about our belief in the romance of social mobility, and how the stories we’re sold about our potential can shape the course of our lives.

©2025 Hannah Deitch (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

I didn't want this book to end!

I found this book on Libby and ultimately purchased a copy of my own so I could take more time with it. I'm glad I did it that way, honestly. I mostly listened to the audiobook and highlighted some from the Kindle version of the book.

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This book follows SAT tutor Evie Gordon as she works to escape from the murders of the Victor family. She walked into the murder scene and was thought to be the killer along with a woman she found in the closet. She now runs across the country to escape from a murder she didn't commit.

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I don't know why I didn't see the plot twist coming. I really don't. I'm laughing at myself at this point but I didn't think it was funny when I was listening to the book. lol I definitely should have seen the plot twist coming, that's for sure. lol

I don't want to give any spoilers so I won't have to hit the button that hides this review. Lazy, I know, but I like to maintain my reviews with as few spoilers as I can make it. I'll just leave my above statement the way it is to avoid giving away too much of the plot.

I do wish the plot twist could have come at an earlier point, though, to avoid a lot of the trauma and a few of the deaths. The plot twist, meaning the identity of the true killer, I mean. Hannah, the author, really did wait until the last minute to reveal who killed the Victors. lmao

Like I said, I should have seen the identity of the killer at an earlier point, though I was wondering if the person who did commit the killings had anything to do with it. It was an easy jump to make with the information we have at earlier points in the novel.

I did enjoy the book, though, in all honesty. I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would. I've moved away from thrillers for the most part over the past few years but I sometimes come back and read a thriller novel or two. This one was something I didn't even realize I needed.

I, of course, also enjoyed the LGBTQ+ representation in this novel since most of the books I read don't have the rep these days, which is a damned shame. We need more of it but that's just me. I'll shout it from the rooftops if I have to. lmao

Yes, I'd recommend this book. Do I even need to say it? lol I had a lot of things to say this time, which I don't see a problem with. Oh, and I'd recommend the audiobook just for the narrator. She was very good. One of the highlights, in my opinion.

it was definitely different

it wasn't crazy about the characters but the story kept me. it was definitely worth the read.

Outstanding story, totally captivating

Wonderful character development and an intriguing storyline. There is never a dull moment in this novel. Would love to read more by the author.

Great story very well written…

The characters are intriguing and the story moves along quickly. The twists and turns are believable in the framework of the story regardless of how unlikely. You will cheer for the women in the book and not put it down. Great beach read!

The unraveling…

Such a fluid artful experience inside the mind of a sociopath and her accomplice. It took until the end for me to fully fall in love but I’m still sitting with it.

Love the relationships

Great story - had me flipping pages 2 nights in a row! Love all of the characters! Looking for more books by this author now!

Excellent!

Fun twists and original ideas. Highly recommend. 2 smart females. Well written and great narration.

Potential not realized

Interesting set up. Not really a mystery as killer obvious from beginning. Characters developed and evolved. Just as you are primed for story to conclude- it stops. Book over with no insight or resolution. Left feeling like I wasted time listening as author went home early.

Now that’s a road trip…!!!

This book and all its locations, especially, felt familiar to me. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did - but it was definitely a view into a world that I know little about, though I’ve been in many similar geographies.

What a wild ride.

Just a note for those who like to know before reading a book; This book has two sapphic MCs in it and there is physical relations between the two MCs.

With that said this book was a roller coaster of a ride. I couldn’t stop listening to it until the end. I did not see the twists and turns that the book took. It really made me think about how media judges people and runs with what they think or want the truth to be no matter the cost to those involved.

I recommend this book but be warned this is not a warm and fuzzy story with a HEA. It’s well written and I enjoyed the narration.