You Can Tell Me

Olivia Cruz, Book 1

By: Melinda Leigh

Narrated by: Mandy Figueroa

Crime writer Olivia Cruz is drawn into the dark secrets of a missing friend in a terrifying novel of suspense by #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.

On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.

Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling word: Run.

It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?

©2026 by Melinda Leigh. (P)2026 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Leigh keeps the pot boiling with constant attacks, revelations, and other mayhem.”—Kirkus Reviews

Character

Like transitions and introduction of new characters like Nikki. Also like the growth of her relationships.

Scarlet Falls, so glad to be back!

Another great book by Melinda Leigh! Well written and we get to see how Sharp and Olivia are doing;)
The story kept me engaged and the narrator was excellent!

Good spinoff

Love Melinda Leigh’s series and the occasional crossover mention of other series’ characters. And HEA for most of the good characters you root for.

Melinda Leigh - Great Read

One of my faviritiest Artists. Starts out fast and continues to the end.
I am one that usually figures out who "dun" it early, I was correct on all but one.

An unusual, original, suspense story of a credible yet exciting story.

The voice and reading style suited the story telling perfectly. Unusual, good writing style of short sentences, yet good eloquence and vocabulary.