Smash Hit

By: Sarah Richards

Narrated by: Sarah Gadon

From Sarah Richards, the best-selling author of The Worst of You, China White and Born Winners, comes a riveting psychological thriller performed by award-winning actress Sarah Gadon.

Rhonda’s dream of becoming a best-selling author has turned into a nightmare of shattered hopes and writer’s block. But when a free-spirited young teacher candidate named Emi offers her a chance to ghostwrite her shocking memoir, Rhonda sees an opportunity for redemption.

Little does she know, this project will plunge her into a dark web of secrets, lies, and deadly consequences. When Emi’s body is discovered and Rhonda’s husband is accused of having an affair with the victim, Rhonda finds herself unearthing a trail of dark secrets that someone is willing to kill to keep buried. As the shadowy figures responsible for Emi’s murder set their sights on Rhonda, she must race against time to prove her innocence and prevent her own story from ending in a tragedy.

©2025 Sarah Richards (P)2025 Audible Originals LLC

suspence

I enjoyed the storyline. I was very interested in finding the truth to the murder. Listened to story from start to end in parts of two days.

Decently entertaining Whodunnit

Twists and turns, dynamic protagonist you both like and want to thump on the head occasionally. satisfying ending.

I enjoyed the storyline

I was in right from the start. It was a really good storyline and I enjoyed it a lot

Interesting Twists

Great narration and interesting twists that aren’t obvious. Kept me guessing the whole time. Definitely worth a listen!!

I couldn’t keep listening

I listened to her talk about the church and realized how this story would go

Not worth my (or your) time

I was sufficiently- if tepidly- intrigued by the premise to give it a go: teacher gets caught up in shady shenanigans when she agrees to ghost write the memoir of a young woman.

There is a bizarre anti-education, anti-teaching subtext from the first chapter. I gave up when the protagonist — again, a teacher (AP Lit no less) — explains, “Teaching is what you fall back on when you can’t make it in the real world.”

Cool. Cool cool cool.

Oh the Irony

It’s ironic that the protagonist who is often explicitly described as unlikable only becomes more so throughout the book. She is a selfish, spoiled, immature middle-aged woman who criticizes her husband for surviving cancer and finding religion, exploits a deceased victim for personal gains, criticizes anyone who has chosen education as a career, and preys on a grieving teenager- even bribing him with alcohol to get what she wants. Add “desperate”, “alcoholic”, and “gold-digger” to her list of unredeemable characteristics and save yourself from the eye rolls and frustrations this story induces.