Tuesday Reviews: Start a War by Elle Thorpe

“Do you want some Goldfish crackers, Bliss?”

Those were the last words my brother said to me before he was shot execution style. A childhood code only he and I knew, and one that had a single, clear meaning behind it.

Run.

I’m not going anywhere. Not when his murderer is still out there.

To catch a killer, I put aside my life of money and luxury and take over the running of Psychos, a dive bar in the seedy underbelly of Saint View.

But Psychos delivers more than I ever could have bargained for and three men I never saw coming.

Nash, my brother’s best friend. Older and more experienced, he still remembers me as the neglected child he once saved.

War, heir to a biker gang throne and searching for the man who left his mother in a coma. Bonded over a common goal, he introduces me to a world of after-hours clubs, danger, and violence.

And Vincent, the quiet new guy nobody seems to see except me. He’s sweet and quirky, but there’s a darkness in him just waiting to be unleashed.

With every lie we uncover, every secret we expose, the danger mounts.

Until there’s only one thing we know for sure.

The killer is still out there.

And we’re his next targets.

How to Start a War by Elle Thorpe is an interesting start to a why choose romantic suspense series. The premise pulled me in right away, especially with Bliss being dragged back into her old life after her brother’s death and inheriting his bar. There is a good mix of mystery, danger, and romance, and having multiple points of view helps bring the story to life. Vincent was easily the standout for me and the main reason I am curious to continue the series.

That said, I am still a bit on the fence after this first book. The pacing feels uneven at times, and while the setup is strong, it takes a while for things to really come together. Bliss was also a difficult character for me to fully connect with, especially early on. Her lack of confidence and tendency to let people walk all over her made parts of the story frustrating, even though there is some growth as the book progresses.

The relationships are intriguing, but since this is the first in a trilogy, everything is still developing. There is tension and chemistry, but not a lot of payoff yet. The story ends on a cliffhanger, which is expected, but it does mean this book feels more like a setup than a complete experience.

Overall, this was a solid but not amazing start. I am invested enough to pick up the next book and see where things go, but I am hoping for stronger character development and a bit more balance in the pacing moving forward.