Those Empty Eyes: A Chilling Novel of Suspense with a Shocking Twist

This was an amazing book! It kept me on edge and the ending.. I never saw it coming! If you love suspense, mystery and a story plot that gives twist and turns you’ll love this book!

This is another standout thriller from Charlie Donlea. From the very first page, I was pulled into the harrowing story of a young woman whose life is upended by tragedy—and the relentless spotlight of public suspicion. Donlea builds suspense with expert pacing and sharp twists, weaving together a narrative that's both emotionally charged and hard to put down. The characters are complex, and most of the mystery kept me guessing until the final reveal, but I did figure out some of it ahead of time. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with strong female leads and plenty of surprises, this one’s well worth your time.

OMG!!! This book deserves 10 stars!! Absolutely incredible. From the first page to the last page I was hooked and could not put it down. I love psychological thrillers and murder mysteries so I have been reading different books from various authors trying to find the style I enjoy and then I found this one and was blown away. This is also my first book by Charlie and he has hands down shot to the top as my new favorite author. This book gives “Final Girl, Jeffrey Epstein, Call her Daddy podcast, and the series The Killing” vibes 100%. This book was well organized and the storyline was easy to follow even while bringing in the past to the present. This author knows exactly what he is doing and he does it extremely well! Highly recommend this book to anyone!! Can’t wait to get a hold of my next book by Charlie!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gripping, Smart, and Impossible to Put Down! Charlie Donlea does it again with Those Empty Eyes, delivering a riveting thriller packed with suspense, twists, and emotional depth. From the opening chapter, I was hooked — the pacing is flawless, and the tension never lets up. Alex is complex and compelling, and her determination to uncover the truth kept me rooting for her every step of the way. Donlea masterfully weaves a story of mystery and injustice, with shocking revelations that had me questioning everyone and everything. What I loved most was how the plot balanced courtroom drama, investigative suspense, and personal stakes so seamlessly. The writing is sharp, the characters are nuanced, and the ending is both satisfying and haunting — true to Donlea’s signature style. If you love thrillers that keep you guessing and make you feel every twist in your gut, Those Empty Eyes is an absolute must-read. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and was left thinking about it long after I finished. Well done!

Just finished the book, it took only a few days. It was an easy read but the ending did cause some questions. There’s a twist at the end that I could only understand by reading into it online. It was a good book but only 4/5 because some parts were slow and harder to get through. At a certain point of the book I just wanted a resolution rather than more information thrown at me. I kind of saw the twist coming from the beginning of the book but it takes you on a ride to steer you away from it. Overall not bad!

The best thing about this is the way it puts everything out in these short, article like pieces. Those pieces are quick and easy to read through, so it really feels like you're tearing through the story. Except you aren't. That's the worst thing about this. It's longer than it needs to be. Twists and reveals are interesting, but too slow in occurring. Information gets repeated a few times like we've likely forgotten it and some of it was easily overlooked, but I tried to read this as quickly as I could so those details hadn't escaped me. Staying more focused on the central story rather than building up all the sidestories would have eliminated the need to repeat and retread elements of the story. The mid aspects of the story are its intent. It does well as commentary for and against the true crime community and obsessive nature of media for stories like this. The glorification, villainization and tokenization of victims based on the seeming whims of certain opinions or trends is fascinating to study, but not really the focus of this story. I think, for that reason, it's actually a pretty neutral story and wants to just show both sides without firmly aligning with or against true crime enthusiasts. Rather it wants all attention on the idea of justice with or without the courts. The clearer commentary is on how some are able to skirt justice through wealth, power and/or influence. I liked how the book handled that. A little vigilante action is always somewhat cathartic, but the buildup was longer and more involved than necessary. Arguments can be made for and against all the elements that were woven in. All the pieces did have a place and it all fit into the picture that the author wanted to present, but the puzzle would have been just as effective with 500 pieces as 1000.

Those Empty Eyes cemented it: Charlie Donlea is officially my new favorite mystery author, and I am fully committed to buying every book he’s ever written. This story is sharp, unsettling, and ridiculously well-paced. The kind of mystery that makes you sit a little closer to the book and quietly accuse every character of something terrible. The twists land hard, the tension never drags, and the reveals feel smart instead of gimmicky. Donlea has a way of layering suspense that keeps you guessing without feeling manipulated. Every chapter adds just enough information to keep you hooked while still leaving you slightly uneasy—and that’s the best kind of thriller energy. Five stars. I trusted no one. I slept less. My reading list is now entirely Charlie Donlea’s problem.

Charlie Donlea is back at it again with "Those Empty Eyes," a thriller that'll keep you guessing until the final page. The story revolves around a forensic reconstructionist who gets pulled into a cold case involving a missing woman. What starts as a simple job quickly spirals into a web of secrets, lies, and a chilling race against time. Donlea's strength lies in his ability to craft complex, multi-layered plots. Just when you think you've figured things out, he throws in a twist that'll make you question everything. The characters are well-developed, each with their own hidden agendas and motivations, adding to the overall sense of unease. The pacing is spot-on, with enough suspense to keep you hooked without feeling rushed. "Those Empty Eyes" is a must-read for fans of the genre. It's a dark, atmospheric thriller that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.