It leans more thriller than romance, and while a few pacing and logic moments had me side-eyeing, I was fully engaged the entire time.

---

My Review

🔪 Cause of Death by Isobel Bishop

⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ARC Review

(Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

I went into Cause of Death fully expecting a gritty, Dexter-style dark romance. Moody. Twisted. Morally grey forensic pathologist with secrets. And yes, it absolutely delivered on atmosphere.

But what I got?
Wasn’t what I expected.
And somehow… that made it better.

---

🖤 The Vibe: Dark, Cinematic, Addictive

This book pulls you in fast and does not let go.

The tension kicks in early and builds steadily, reading almost like a crime show you’d binge in one weekend. Sharp pacing. Strong investigative focus. Twists that actually land.

It leans much more crime thriller than romance—which honestly worked in its favor. There’s romantic tension simmering under the surface, but the real star here is the psychological cat-and-mouse energy.

“You want to fucking roofie me?” “I just don’t want you getting any ideas. Please don’t make me hurt you any more than I already have.”

Detective Shay and Medical Examiner Tom (our morally complicated forensic pathologist) make a compelling team. Their dynamic adds texture without completely overtaking the mystery.

And that ending?

Absolutely threw me for a loop.

I was convinced we were headed in one direction… and then BAM. Wrong. Totally wrong. I did not see it coming.

---

⚖️ What Worked — and What Didn’t

Let’s talk honestly.

The opening has this heavy noir, almost cinematic feel—very moody, very dramatic. At times it felt like watching a dark indie crime film. But occasionally that vibe drifted into overly descriptive territory. Some of the scenery and inner monologue felt more like filler than forward motion.

The procedural logic also had moments where I had to suspend disbelief a bit more than I wanted to.

And Shay and Tom? Their relationship gave me emotional whiplash. Years of tension and animosity shifted very quickly into intimacy. I needed just a little more buildup to fully buy it.

“What did you say?” “That you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. That I think about you constantly, even when I should be concentrating on other things.”

Then in the third act, the pacing slows down significantly. The “big discovery” felt slightly convenient, and a drawn-out basement sequence stalled some of the strong momentum from the first half.

But here’s the thing…

I was still hooked.

---

🩸 The Ending & That Cliffhanger

I found myself oddly rooting for the “bad guy,” which is usually exactly what I want in darker romance-leaning thrillers. But the way the story wrapped left me both intrigued and slightly confused. The prologue and cliffhanger ending feel like a setup for something much bigger.

And now?

I need book two.

Because I have questions. And theories. And I am not okay being left like that.

---

💭 Final Thoughts

Was it perfect? No.

Was I fully engaged, pleasantly surprised, and thrown off by the ending? Absolutely.

This reads like a binge-worthy crime series pilot with strong leads, psychological tension, and a cliffhanger designed to make you impatient for the sequel.

If you love twisty crime thrillers with morally complicated characters and don’t mind a few procedural stretches, this one is worth the ride.

And I will absolutely be back for book two. Because now I need answers.

🌟🌟🌟 3/5 Stars from this “Good Girl”

---