REVIEW: How to Disappear by Gillian McAllister

I'm pleased to review the gripping new psychological thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author Gillian McAllister. What an ending to a really unique storyline....

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Michael Joseph UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 9 July 2020

The blurb 
Lauren's daughter Zara witnessed a terrible crime. But speaking up comes with a price, and when Zara's identity is revealed online, it puts a target on her back. The only choice is to disappear.

To keep Zara safe, Lauren will give up everything and everyone she loves, even her husband. There will be no goodbyes. Their pasts will be rewritten. New names, new home, new lives.

The rules are strict for a reason. They are being hunted. One mistake - a text, an Instagram like - could bring their old lives crashing into the new.

They can never assume someone isn't watching, waiting.

As Lauren will learn, disappearing is easy. Staying hidden is harder . . .

The review
I really enjoyed this unique storyline about having to 'disappear' into witness protection. The author writes in a note that she hopes it was believable as for obvious reasons witness protection is not a very easy subject to research. Well I found it totally believable and was totally fascinated by the thought-provoking. I really felt for Aidan who had to decide whether to disappear with his wife and step-daughter or stay behind with his own daughter and mother - a no-win situation either way.

A rarity but I actually liked all the characters, perhaps because they were so well developed with the author celebrating differences and the hidden strengths of every personality type. For example, the author’s sensitive portrayal of Zara and her insecurities about being serious, shy, bookish, and not fitting in because of those things but also her strength of character and maturity in doing the right thing. I also loved that for once it was a book with a blended family who actually love and care for each other rather than the usual step rivalries so often depicted.

I was particularly drawn to extroverts Lauren and Poppy but especially Poppy a remarkably selfless, mature, caring, positive individual caring for her mother full-time and trying to protect her step family whilst dealing with normal teenage stuff such as college applications. And, of course who wouldn’t love Bill Gates, the dog...

Annoyingly it was implied at times that there was more going on than there actually was – in terms of Jon for example. But, then the ending was a massive unexpected twist that really did deliver!

The author
Gillian McAllister is a former lawyer and the Sunday Times Top 10 bestselling author for her debut psychological thriller. Follow @GillianMAuthor on Twitter or visit gillianmcallister.com to find out more.

REVIEW: The Shelf by Helly Acton

I'm pleased to review the debut novel by Helly Acton - billed as the freshest new voice in women's fiction. I absolutely loved this and I knew I would right from the very first page when Amy describes being "force-subscribed to a daily update of dribble, snot and tears" online from her friends with kids.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Atlantic Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 9 July 2020

The blurb 
Everyone in Amy's life seems to be getting married, having children and settling down (or so Instagram tells her), and she feels like she's falling behind.

So, when her long-term boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday, she thinks he's going to finally pop the Big Question. But the dream turns into a nightmare when, instead, she finds herself on the set of a Big Brother-style reality television show, The Shelf.

Along with five other women, Amy is brutally dumped live on TV and must compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks in the hope of being crowned 'The Keeper'.

While inside the house, will Amy learn that there are worse things than being 'left on the shelf'?

The review
I absolutely loved this and I knew I would right from the very first page when I read: 

“Jane’s posted another close-up of the twins. This morning they’re smeared in a rank blend of banana and carrot...Amy resists the urge to post a vomit emoji with #pleasespareus. She wonders what would happen if she was honest online. She’d be cast aside as a kid-hater, which would be unfair given that she quite likes them....What she doesn’t love is being force-subscribed to a daily update of dribble, snot and tears.”

Having been subjected to the same myself recently I could totally relate. In fact this book could have been written for me – a fellow ‘shelfish’ - as I could totally relate to so many of the refreshingly real, contemporary and feminist view points and life lessons. Providing the source of inspiration, for her debut novel, are author Helly Acton’s own experiences as a single woman in her early thirties torn between settling down and savouring her independence. 

Basically everyone in main character Amy's life seems to be getting married, having children and settling down, and she feels the pressure to keep up without ever questioning whether that’s actually what she wants. That is until her long-term boyfriend brutally dumps her live on TV’s latest reality show ‘The Shelf’ where she must compete in a series of tasks and therapy sessions in the hope of being transformed into a 'Keeper'.

With the show’s resident therapist, Dr Hicks’, help (and the baby challenge) Amy realises that “trying to find someone to do life with” doesn’t necessarily have to mean mortgages, marriage and kids but could be seeing things and having experiences. In fact maybe the love of her life isn’t a man at all – “maybe it’s a secret beach in Asia somewhere. Or maybe it’s me, as self-centred as that sounds.”

I totally agree Amy and share many of Amy’s (new) life goals: 
• Start a blog tick
• Travel the world tick
• Have adventures tick
• Find love tick
• Be free 
• Have a family
• Make a home tick

Although it’s Amy’s best friend Sarah (and not the celebrity life coaches) that best sum up my feelings ‘on doing life’ with the sentiment:

“You don’t need to rush into anything. Hell you wouldn’t need to if you were seventy-two! Live life for yourself....If you meet someone who wants what you want, great. If you don’t, those are the cards you’ve been dealt.”

Anyway enough with the life lessons before you think this is some kind of bra-burning feminist or life-affirming self-help book because as you can tell from the opening it’s really not. It’s light-hearted, deeply satirical and brilliantly hilarious. I was literally crying with laughter at the baby challenge when housemate Hattie reluctantly leaves her baby with Jackie who accidentally dislocates her arm, handing her back with the limb reattached the wrong way round and a near-detached head.    

Such a great cast of diverse characters too, particularly in the form of the housemates – Selfish Jackie, Distant Gemma, Boring Hattie, Bitter Kathy, Easy Lauren and of course Desperate Amy. In fact I was actually more #TeamJackie or #TeamLauren than Amy.

Yes there was a lot of parallels to Love Island, Big Brother and the lesser known Channel 5’s ‘Make or Break’ – and yes I’m a reality TV aficionado. But, that just made it even more relatable and imaginable, so no bad thing especially as it was done in a satirical way.

So, to round-up in case you didn’t get it I absolutely loved this and can not recommend enough!!!

The author
In her mid-twenties, Helly took a career break to travel returning home six years later to find herself the last of her single friends. Helly uses her experience as a single woman in her early thirties, torn between settling down and savouring her independence, as a source of inspiration for her stories. Follow @hellyacton on Twitter or visit www.hellyacton.com to find out more.

REVIEW: The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda

I'm pleased to say I loved this latest psychological thriller from Megan Miranda. Such a fascinating, unique plot with an ending I could never have guessed. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Atlantic Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 2 July 2020

The blurb 
Everyone knows the story of the girl from widow hills...

When Arden Maynor was six years old, she was swept away in a terrifying storm and went missing for days. Against all odds, she was found alive, clinging to a storm drain. Fame followed, and so did fans, creeps and stalkers. As soon as she was old enough, Arden changed her name and left Widow Hills behind.

Twenty years later, Olivia, as she is now known, is plagued by night terrors. She often finds herself out of bed in the middle of the night, sometimes streets away from her home. Then one evening she jolts awake in her yard, with the corpse of a man at her feet.

The girl from Widow Hills is about to become the centre of the story, once again...

The review
I loved this – such a fascinating, unique plot with an ending I could never have guessed. A real page-turner.

Narrated by Olivia in the present, transcripts, newspaper reports and book excerpts help us piece together a fragmented version of the past. It was one of those stories where anyone could’ve been the murder and I truly suspected pretty much everyone at one point or another. Some characters I liked and some I didn’t so there were lots points when I was like ‘oh no please don’t let it have been them’ – you just never knew from one minute to the next. For example, main character Liv didn’t seem the type but as she said herself: “Not unless I felt trapped, cornered. Then, subconsciously and truthfully, I couldn’t say for sure what type of person I’d become.”

And, this book tested that premise over and over again, how we never truly know how we’d react in an extreme situation until we tested. Ordinary people in extraordinary situations and the lengths they’d go to protect themselves and/or those they love. And, not only ourselves but do we ever really know anyone or just the person people want us to see. 

I became totally invested in Liv. Her mum (or mom in this case) calls her a “survivor” and that’s what she is – smart, tough, brave, resilient, and intuitive. I enjoyed the constant sense of unease and worry as Olivia attempts to unravel her past and questions her own innocence. I also really liked her stoic, loyal, sensible neighbour Rick and was glad his story wasn’t what it seemed.

My only negative was that I really wanted an epilogue – I would’ve liked to know how things turned out for Liv and Rick, and most importantly whether Liv and Bennett got together (I hope so). 

The author
US author Megan Miranda was a scientist and high school teacher before writing her first novel, which came out of her fascination with scientific mysteries, especially those associated with the brain. Follow @MeganLMiranda or find out more at meganmiranda.com

REVIEW: One White Lie by Leah Konen

I'm pleased to share my review of Leah Konen's debut psychological thriller....and what a debut! It’s brilliantly written with the author building the pace perfectly to a frantic finish with twist after shocking twist.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 23 July 2020

The blurb 
It's only one small lie.....until someone turns up dead.

Imagine you've finally escaped the worst relationship of your life, running away with only a suitcase and a black eye.

Imagine your new next-door neighbours are the friends you so desperately needed - fun, kind, empathetic, very much in love.

If your new best friends needed you to tell one small lie, and all of these problems would disappear, you'd do it . . . wouldn't you?

It's only one small lie, until someone turns up dead...

The review
This is the story of new neighbours Lucy, Vera and John, as Lucy says “linked, the three of us, by our torrid backstories.” And, that kinda sums this up....complex characters with complex backstories embroiled in a complex plot. There really is a lot going from Lucy fleeing a bad relationship and her estrangement from her parents to worrying rumours about her new neighbours, strange goings-on in her new house and the ‘one white lie’.  

But, it’s the complex plot that help keeps you guessing. An almost constant change of perspective means you never really know throughout who’s the perpetrator and who’s the victim, who’s telling the truth and who’s not – feeling empathy for someone one minute and doubting them the next.

It’s brilliantly written with the author building the pace perfectly to a frantic finish. The latter part is twist after twist to the point where in Lucy’s words you “can’t handle any more secrets. It’s like emotional whiplash.” Some of the twists I guessed mostly because at some point you literally suspected everyone so some of them turned out to be true but the main twists were completely unexpected.

My reason for not giving this a five-star rating was Lucy, the threesome thing and murder motive. Lucy annoyed me from the start – she seems unbelievably naive and trusting for someone fleeing a bad relationship – and I really didn’t warm to her, although the reasons for both later became clear. Likewise I get that dynamic, people-person Vera is lonely after being ostracised by the locals but the intense (non-sexual) threesome thing her, John and Lucy quickly develop is plain weird. Finally, the murder motive is difficult to talk about but again two people having the same dark, obsessive personality is slightly unbelievable – I liked the twist but wanted something slightly different.

The author
Leah Konen is a journalist and author of young adult fiction. One White Lie is her debut psychological thriller. Follow @LeahKonen or find out more at www.leahkonen.com

REVIEW: The Wish List by Sophia Money-Coutts

I'm pleased to share my review of this funny feel-good contemporary romance by Sophia Money-Coutts. Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ Stories for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 6 August 2020

The blurb 
Florence Fairfax isn’t lonely. She loves her job at the little bookshop in Chelsea and her beloved cat Marmalade keeps her company at night. She might have been single for quite a while – well, forever actually, if anyone’s asking – but she’s perfectly happy, thank you. And then Florence meets eccentric love coach Gwendolyn, and everything changes.

When Gwendolyn makes Florence write a wish list describing her perfect man, Florence refuses to take it seriously. Finding someone who likes cats, has the sexual athleticism of James Bond and can overlook her ‘counting’ habit? Impossible! Until, later that week, a handsome blond man asks for help in the bookshop…

Rory seems to fit the list perfectly. But is he ‘the one’, or simply too good to be true? Florence is about to find out that her criteria for Mr Right aren’t as important as she thought – and that perhaps she’s been looking for love in all the wrong places…

The review
This is the story of 32-year-old Flo who’s never had a boyfriend, finds one after a love guru gets her to write a ‘wish list’ for her ideal man so that the universe can deliver it to her – in the form of Rory the Tory. And, I loved the essence of this book which is that “having the wrong boyfriend is way more complicated than not having a boyfriend at all.”

It’s pretty predictable in that Flo naturally ends up not with Rory the Tory but the guy who doesn’t meet any of the criteria on her wish list and who she dislikes instantly upon first meeting. But, mostly this genre is pretty predictable and I think that’s the point, it’s a tried and tested formula that we love because it works.

This is also slightly quirky in that it’s a bit yin and yang. In some respects it’s quite twee with brace-wearing toffs, Cinderella style stepmothers, Dickensian bookshops and vocabulary like “calamitous”. But, it’s also weirdly contemporary with laugh-out-loud situational humour, descriptive sex scenes, bloggers and hashtags. I particularly enjoyed the bit where a teenage Instagram poet’s dog humps Flo’s leg live on stage at the bookshop’s first author event.

This is an easy read, despite long chapters, providing much-needed funny feel-good escapism. 

The author
Sophia Money-Coutts is a journalist, author and real-life person despite her name, which suggests she's a made-up character from a Jilly Cooper novel. Follow @sophiamcoutts or find out more at sophiamoneycoutts.com

REVIEW: Knife Edge by Simon Mayo

I'm pleased to share my review of Knife Edge from author Simon Mayo. I really enjoyed this gripping, chilling, intelligent and frighteningly believable story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 20 August 2020

The blurb 
6.45am. A sweltering London rush hour. And in the last 27 minutes, seven people have been murdered.

In a series of coordinated attacks, seven men and women across London have been targeted. For journalist Famie Madden, the horror unfolds as she arrives for the morning shift.

The victims have one thing in common: they make up the investigations team at the news agency where Famie works. The question everyone’s asking: what were they working on that could prompt such brutal devastation?

As Famie starts to receive mysterious messages, she must find out whether she is being warned of the next attack, or being told that she will be the next victim...

The review
I'm really not sure if I loved this or not. To explain, it's a compelling story but a frighteningly too plausible or realistic one as well. When I first started reading this, and the terrifying opening description of seven knife attacks in 27 minutes, I slept badly my mind imagining the scene over and over again.  I read for escapism and this was just like a real-life news story (in more ways than one).

And, I tend to avoid the news for that reason - the truly upsetting crimes and atrocities that happen day in day out around the world. As such I'm not particularly up on political affairs so I did find this slightly confusing at times. Even by the end I don't think I got it entirely. As well as political references, there was also a lot of characters (some just known as Tattoo Man or Sweating Man), and a lot going on to keep track of. As main character, Famie, said a couple of times: "This is messy."

But, that was undoubtedly what made it so compelling though as well. The whole thing was expertly done - well-researched and well-written with the changing voices adding extra depth and pace. Overall, it's a gripping, chilling, intelligent and deeply shocking read based around a really current and frighteningly believable storyline.

The author
Simon Mayo is one of Britain’s best-loved radio presenters and author now too. Follow @simonmayo on Twitter.

REVIEW: Katie's Cornish Kitchen by Rosie Chambers

I'm pleased to share my review of author Rosie Chambers second novel. This promised kindness, community and cake - and that's what it delivered. 

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ Digital for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 6 July 2020

The blurb 
After the heartbreak of being jilted by her fiancé, Katie Campbell has been mending her broken heart in Bali. She has local restaurant owner and new friend Agatha to thank for providing a listening ear in her moment of need. When Katie confides she’s worried about going back to what’s left of her life in London, Agatha has just the opportunity for Katie – to manage her old café in the beautiful, picturesque village of Perrinby in Cornwall.

Although reopening the café and making it profitable won’t be easy, Katie is determined to make the most of her fresh start. She quickly makes new friends in florist Jay, waitress Talia and handsome neighbour Oscar, and focuses on making the café a welcoming place for the community – from hosting floristry workshops to pizza-making nights and even the local knit-and-natter group. But, with the café under threat from the local property developers circulating just as she’s starting to grow closer to Oscar and finally feeling at home, can Katie find the recipe to make her Cornish Kitchen a success?

The review
Predictable from start to finish – yes - but that’s kind of the point with feel-good women’s fiction. Personally I love a story about a down-on-her-luck female throwing herself into a new business venture and village community, whilst making quirky friends and trying to avoid falling in love along the way. And, that’s exactly what I got.

The new business venture was a cafe, the village a picturesque Cornish seaside one, the community spirit provided by village fetes and other events, the friends eclectic Talia and flamboyant Jay, and the love interest local artist Oscar.

This book also delivered some good life lessons. My favourite, which really resounded with me as it echoed advice I was given by a life coach, was Katie’s realisation that you can’t control how other people acted, only your reactions to them. Sadly, though some of the ethical themes such as zero waste, veganism and good karma did feel a bit preachy at times.

This wasn’t a page-turner but it was an uplifting, feel-good story filled with fun, friendship, love and foodie treats – perfect for these current times.

The author
Rosie Chambers writes uplifting, feel-good stories set in sun-filled locations around the world. Her stories are filled with fun, friendship and foodie treats. Follow @RosieCbooks on Twitter.

REVIEW: The Catch by TM Logan

Having wanted to read best-selling author TM Logan for ages, I'm pleased to share my review of his latest thriller. A fairly slow-paced read but still strangely compelling and enjoyable nonetheless.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bonnier Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 11 June 2020

The blurb 
She says he's perfect. I know he's lying . . .

Ed finally meets his daughter's boyfriend for the first time. Smart, successful and handsome, Ryan appears to be a real catch. Then Abbie announces their plan to get married.

All of Ed's instincts tell him his daughter is in terrible danger - but no-one else can see it. With the wedding date approaching fast, Ed sets out to uncover Ryan's secrets, before it's too late . .

The review
This was split into five parts – the boyfriend, the son-in-law, the husband, the catch and the epilogue – mainly narrated by Ed but with some chapters from his wife, adult daughter and her boyfriend. Basically Ed has a bad feeling about Abbie’s new boyfriend, soon-to-be husband, and spends the book trying to prove he’s right? But, Ed has history of disliking and warning off Abbie’s previous boyfriends....

Refreshingly this wasn’t one of those books where the bad things don’t happen to good people or where someone can be hit, kicked, punched, stabbed, break a leg, etc and yet still manage to escape the baddie cartoon-stylee. 

Yet in another way it was quite unbelievable. Yes Ed has suffered immense loss in the past but he’s basically a normal guy, doting father, loyal husband, stable job, hobbies, friends, etc. And, I know it’s a book so things have to be sped up but his rapid downward spiral from there to being fired, estranged from his daughter and wife, cautioned by the police, and stone-broke in the space of a just a few weeks based on solely on a ‘look’ from his daughter’s new husband seemed a bit insane.

Hypocritically though the first parts of book were quite slow as apart from Ed’s downward spiral and increasing obsession with Ryan nothing much happens. There are real no hints or clues, no twists and turns, nothing to try and work out or second-guess. 

Whilst it was fairly slow-paced it’s still strangely compelling, perhaps because TM Logan takes ordinary characters and throws them into extraordinary situations. The characters make crazy decisions but for the best of reasons and maybe we’d do the same in their situation. With short chapters it’s also a really easy read. So, not edge-of-your-seat reading but surprisingly enjoyable nonetheless.

The author
Bestselling author TM Logan was a national newspaper journalist before turning to novel-writing full time. His debut thriller LIES was one of Amazon UK's biggest ebooks of 2017 - winning a Silver Award at the Nielsen Bestseller Awards. Follow @TMLoganAuthor or find out more at www.tmlogan.com

REVIEW: To Tell You The Truth by Gilly Macmillan

Here's my review of the latest thriller from best-selling author Gilly Macmillan, which I found unusual but enjoyable all the same. Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 25 June 2020

The blurb 
Lucy Harper has a talent for invention…

She was nine years old when her brother vanished in the woods near home. As the only witness, Lucy’s story of that night became crucial to the police investigation. Thirty years on, her brother’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Now Lucy is a bestselling thriller writer. Her talent for invention has given her fame, fortune, and an army of adoring fans. But her husband, Dan, has started keeping secrets of his own, and a sudden change of scene forces Lucy to confront some dark, unwelcome memories. Then Dan goes missing and Lucy’s past and present begin to collide. Did she kill her husband? Would she remember if she did?

Finally, Lucy Harper is going to tell us the truth.

The review
I found this a somewhat unusual read. Chapters alternate between the current day, narrated by main character Lucy, and past events narrated by a mysterious third person. Initially these past chapters don’t quite make sense but as the book progresses it later becomes clear that these pages are not exactly what they seem.

Lucy is a natural born storyteller with a tendency to live in a dream world - traits which have secured her a career as a best-selling author of crime fiction but also makes her the ultimate unreliable narrator. I really couldn’t decide throughout whether Lucy was a blatant liar or just an inventive storyteller. Was she a murderer or a victim?

One of the other characters, and what made this an unusual read, is Eliza the fictional star of Lucy’s novels and childhood imaginary friend. The idea that a writer may live with their characters, talk to them, see them is a lovely romantic notion and something that I can relate to as a reader - the feeling that a much-loved character is actually someone you know in real life. But, this ‘notion’ was taken a bit far with adult Lucy still seeing and speaking to Eliza continuously and even on occasions seemingly taking over Lucy’s actions. At one point there was even the suggestion that Eliza may be ‘the murderer’. 

I wondered if the author was questioning Lucy’s mental health but that wasn’t the case so perhaps it was more about challenging perceptions of reality. As Lucy herself says: “I had sometimes studied my own reflection, to see if I could detect madness there. It wasn’t something I did all the time, only when I’d become worried that my storytelling and my imagination were not assets, but a danger to me. Now, looking at James, I understood that it wasn’t easy to see madness, to know whether someone was afflicted by it or not. It wasn’t written on people’s faces permanently. Instead, madness was something that sometimes swam to the surface.” So, I’m still not sure what was intended but I just didn’t really get the Eliza angle if I’m honest.

Anyway told through the current and past narratives there are two strands to this story; the disappearance of Lucy’s brother when she was nine years old and also the disappearance of her husband Dan some thirty years later. As such I was totally expecting these two strands to be related in some way and so whilst Dan’s disappearance was pleasingly unexpected it was also oddly disappointing. What’s more, whilst some people like to draw their own conclusions, I’m someone who likes things neatly tied up and that didn’t happen with Lucy’s brother's story which was left largely unresolved.  

On the plus side this was still a really enjoyable and easy read with short snappy chapters which also helped build the tension and urgency. I also particularly loved the very real insight into life as an author from the demanding yearly schedules to the challenge of balancing creativity and marketability for a successful franchise.

The author
A former art historian and photographer, Gilly Macmillan is the internationally bestselling author of five novels. Follow @GillyMacmillan or find out more at www.gillymacmillan.com

PREVIEW: The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish

Having wanted to read best-selling author, Louise Candlish for ages, I'm delighted to share my review of her latest thriller. My head was literally spinning by the end of this clever, well-thought out plot following lie upon lie and twist after twist.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Simon and Schuster for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 25 June 2020

The blurb 
One day you're living the dream, commuting to work by riverbus with your charismatic neighbour Kit in the seat beside you. The next, Kit hasn't turned up for the boat and his wife Melia has reported him missing.

When you get off at your stop, the police are waiting. Another passenger saw you and Kit arguing on the boat home the night before and the police say that you had a reason to want him dead. You protest. You and Kit are friends - ask Melia, she'll vouch for you. And who exactly is this other passenger pointing the finger? What do they know about your lives?

No, whatever danger followed you home last night, you are innocent, totally innocent.

Aren't you?

The review
This covers the investigation of Kit's disappearance between Christmas and New Year, interspersed with snippets of the past year detailing Kit and Jamie's relationship from first meeting to the fall out prior to his disappearance.

Such a clever, well-thought out plot with lie upon lie and twist after twist. By the end my head was literally spinning – and what an ending. This is one of those books that’s so hard to talk about without giving anything away but I was blindsided by big reveal. I guess in hindsight I perhaps shouldn’t have been because throughout the entire book you never knew who or what to believe, who the innocent party is, feeling sorry for someone one minute and then hating them next.

Again without wanting to spoil it, the ending was hugely satisfying in that to a certain extent everybody got played and no one was really ‘innocent’. However, this was also a slight problem for me and my reason for a four rather than five star rating in that none of the characters were very likeable. Whilst well constructed, they were all completely ruthless, self-obsessed, untrustworthy characters and narrators. I also like to see justice, particularly for a character I don’t like, and whilst the ending was unexpected and largely satisfying it wasn’t necessarily fair.

The beautifully described South London setting was a real bonus – although I must say as someone who hates commuting Jamie’s fear of the tube and the description of events that caused it were frighteningly realistic.

I will definitely be seeking out some of Louise Candlish’s other books in future.

The author
Louise Candlish is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Our House, a number one bestseller in paperback, ebook and audiobook won the Crime & Thriller Book of the Year at the 2018 British Book Awards. Follow @louise_candlish or find out more at www.louisecandlish.com