REVIEW: The Victim by Ruth Harrow

The Victim by Ruth Harrow

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 24th May 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 16th May 2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

He’s watching you … but should he be afraid?

Leah should have been enjoying a night in with her best friend and housemate Claire, binging on chocolate and her favourite Netflix show.

But instead, she is suddenly forced to fight for her life when strong hands grab her. A knife is pressed to Leah’s throat and as tears run down her cheeks, she knows she will have to do as she is told if she wants to survive the night.

2 years on …

The community has forgotten about the woman so violently snatched from their midst. Leah’s best friend, however, can’t forget the person who was closer to her than a sister. Nor does she want to believe the shocking secrets she has unearthed about her friend in her absence.

Claire refuses to let go. She won’t forget the only person she ever really cared about. And she will never go about her life as if Leah never existed. She also knows that the danger that took her best friend still lurks unpunished in their hometown. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise when Claire is snatched too.

But the last thing she intends is to become one more victim. She feels her abductor should be the one who should be afraid.

Can Claire survive longer than one night?

Will she ever discover what really happened to Leah?

The Victim is a gripping psychological thriller that will leave page-turning readers unable to put it down until the final breathtaking twist. Fans of K.L Slater, Shalini Boland and Daniel Hurst will love the addictive twists and turns that will have them racing through the pages long into the night.

MY THOUGHTS:

He’s watching you...but should he be afraid...?

Oh yes...be afraid. Be very afraid. That's what I would be telling Leah and Claire if I had a heads up. But would she listen? Probably not. One usually finds that people very rarely listen to such sound advice until it's too late...or they have genuine cause to. But then, this is the world of fiction isn't it? Where anything goes.

THE VICTIM is the third thriller I have read by Ruth Harrow and something of a unique concept that was original and very different. It is a fast paced and addictive read that kept me entertained (for want of a better word) from start to finish. The alternating between the past and the present simply added to the level of suspense and tension that was palpable throughout.

Leah and Claire met when they were 12 year olds and have grown together as best friends. They are more like sisters, particularly since Leah's mum Helen adopted Claire after several years or care homes and the two women barely remember a world without the other in it. Even after leaving home they moved into a two bedroom flat Leah's uncle Tony lets them rent at below cost. 

And then one evening Leah fails to return home from work.

At first Claire isn't worried. She may have been held up with a customer or got waylaid helping someone. That's just who Leah is. But as the minutes tick into hours, Claire begins to panic. Something has happened. It is unlike her friend not to let her know if she was waylaid. Besides, Leah is so structured in her routine and punctuality. Something is wrong.

And then the police find Leah's phone and bag on the path alongside the nature reserve she loves so much and Claire's fears are confirmed.

Over the ensuing months which then turns into a year and then eighteen months, Claire refuses to give up on her friend. She continues to search for answers as to what happened to Leah on that fateful evening...and where she may be now. 

Then in the midst of all that is going on around her, Claire's birth mother makes contact making her wary. What is she after? Or is it even genuine? The message came via social media from a private account with only a name and no profile photo...it could be anyone. Is someone toying with Claire?

And then just when she thinks she may be closing in, Claire herself is taken. And it is then that her fight for survival really begins...

There isn't much more I can add to this without giving the good bits away...lol There are plenty of twists to be had in this book though, to be honest, I did figure them all out. But that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book because it was one hell of a thrill ride! It reminded me of a "Criminal Minds" episode (yes, another one). Those who have seen it will recall it also when reading this.

THE VICTIM definitely has a sinister vibe about it. It is creepy and chilling in parts that the fear felt by the characters is so palpable it had my heart racing. The setting in this particular instance was perfect. It simply added to that feeling of helplessness and ultimate fear. And the short snappy chapters really ramped up that tension and added to the suspense. I couldn't swipe my kindle fast enough.

I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did but...well, I did! The format in which the author delivered the story to us is executed with perfection. The Then and Now chapters that alternate throughout keeps the pace moving at the speed of light without bogging us down with boring detail. We are given enough information with each chapter to keep us turning the pages until the very end. Simply put, I couldn't put it down.

Overall, THE VICTIM is an intense thriller with a tension that is palpable throughout keeping readers entertained and engaged from beginning to end.

I would like to thank #RuthHarrow, #Netgalley and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheVictim in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Ruth Harrow was born and raised in England and graduated from university before embarking on an unfulfilling career in an office job. She eventually put pen to paper and her debut psychological thriller, In Her Footsteps, was published in 2018. It quickly became a bestseller. Following the success of her first novel, her following five books came afterwards with the same success.

Ruth lives in the UK with her husband, two children and chocolate Labrador, Rolo.

Her seventh psychological thriller is coming soon.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: My Word Against His by Lauren North

My Word Against His by Lauren North

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 22nd May 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 26th May 2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

My future hangs in the balance. They’re questioning both of us and every word I say matters. I need to be careful – it’s my word against his, and I can’t afford to lose…

Thirteen years ago. Teenager Lucie babysits our little son Henry. She’s like the daughter I never had. And she believes we’re the perfect family – just me, my husband and Henry.

But Lucie doesn’t really know what’s happening behind closed doors. Until one night, she sees something so awful she leaves. And my family is never the same again…

Now, Lucie has reached out, desperate for my help. It’s been thirteen years of silence, but I would recognise her voice anywhere. She’s back: and so are the secrets she took with her.

What did she see that night? And does she know my side of the story, or only his?

I hope she knows what she’s doing. Because there is no line I won’t cross to protect the ones I love – or the secrets I’ve worked so hard to hide…

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller where no one is who they seem, that will make your heart pound and your jaw drop! Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Family Upstairs.

MY THOUGHTS:

Both of us are lying...one of us is a killer...

Wow! This book was one messed up tale that kept you second guessing all the way through. Just when you thought you knew what was happening, another little tidbit is thrown in to make you question what you thought you knew. And by the end of it, I found it all just a little bit creepy and whole lot chilling.

Celia hasn't heard from Lucie in thirteen years so when she calls her up one afternoon just as she's about to leave work, Celia's perfectly ordered world is thrown into chaos. What does Lucie want? And why has she contacted her after all these years? Why now?

But then things take a dramatic turn when Celia is suddenly carjacked and her abductor demands that she drive him three hours to Leeds whilst holding her at knife-point. For the entire journey, Celia tries to hatch a plan of escape but her abductor is younger and quicker than her. The next thing she knows, a screech of tyres and the point of impact releases the airbags as the knife glides into her side. She fumbles for the door handle and stumbles out, clutching her side before collapsing in a heap on the street.

The police arrive in a kaleidoscope of blue and in the distance a siren wails. The police will come to her rescue. They will save her from the madman who held her at knife-point and arrest him. They will see him for the dangerous criminal that he is and she's just an innocent victim. Before she loses consciousness, her last thought was of her son Henry waiting for her back home in Essex. How worried he must be that she hasn't come home from work...and the pasta that was to be tonight's meal.

The following morning, Celia is discharged from hospital and makes her way back home by train. It's long and arduous but necessary. The police have the man is custody, along with her statement; they'll know what happened now. They have to...because they can't know the truth. Not what happened last night or what happened thirteen years ago. Her life and Henry's were nearly destroyed and Celia won't let that happen again. Everything she has done has been for Henry.

MY WORD AGAINST HIS begins with Celia. It's her story against another's. It's the truth against the lies. It's secrets buried so deep when they threaten to resurface, it's one mother's love for her son above all else. It's about self preservation and protection. It's about everything but the truth. And just when you thought you knew the direction the story was taking along comes a plot twist to throw it right out of the water. 

The story is told from multiple perspectives and is in three parts. Each part is very telling and brings with it new reveals. And twists that will leave you going "I never saw that coming". Admittedly, I wasn't a whole lot surprised by the reveals...all but one that I certainly DID NOT see coming. Not in a million years. But all the others made a lot of sense and I kind of figured them out for myself anyway. But then there is that ending when everything comes full circle...and you just get that spine-tingling chill as if someone has walked over your grave. Just wow. I loved that ending.

Overall, MY WORD AGAINST HIS is not at all what I expected but it is a solid thriller that kept me entertained and thoroughly engaged throughout. I can't wait for her next one "She Says She's My Daughter".

I would like to thank #LaurenNorth, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyWordAgainstHis in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.

Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Silent Wife by Ruth Harrow

The Silent Wife by Ruth Harrow

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 20th May 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 14th May 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A vanished wife. A crumbling marriage. And a web of explosive secrets.

Pregnant and living an Insta-perfect lifestyle, Sarah seems to have it all. But one evening halfway through making dinner, she vanishes into thin air leaving behind her keys, her handbag and James, her bewildered husband.

The pans are boiling over and the smoke alarm is screaming, but he is alone in the house.

Keen to get their picture-perfect life back on track before their followers start wondering where his wife is, James desperately tries to find her.

But her sister Kate is the only one who knows Sarah has run like this before. And she's terrified for her sibling and for the unborn child she is carrying.

The more Kate digs for answers, the more questions she has about her sister’s life – it seems Sarah may have been hiding a terrible secret. Even more worrying, Kate is now having her every move watched.

Someone out there wants their deadly secrets to remain hidden. How far will they go to make sure those secrets stay buried?

The Silent Wife - a gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, K.L Slater and Daniel Hurst.

MY THOUGHTS:

A vanished wife...a crumbling marriage...and a web of explosive secrets...

This is the second thriller by Ruth Harrow I've read and she certainly knows how to pull you in. Although slow to start at first, it soon picks up pace as the reveals come and twists are thrown our way.

Sarah has a seemingly perfect life with her adoring husband James, her stunning house and in Insta-perfect life. But behind the facade is an unstable wife living a lie she no longer can. So in the middle of making dinner one afternoon, after a quick phone call to her sister Kate, Sarah silently slips out the door and disappears.

Kate is busy making deliveries for her monster-in-law's business where she is but a humble employee alongside her husband Chris, when her phone continues its ringing. Unable to answer as she is driving, she lets it go to voicemail. When she picks it up she is shocked to hear her sister's whispered voice full of apologies and regret. Leaving nothing to chance, Kate ditches her deliveries and drives over to her sister's illustrious Victorian home to find her husband in his home office out the back and the smoke alarm screeching its dire warning. Dinner, it seems, is burnt. And Sarah is nowhere to be seen.

Worried for her sister and her safety, Kate searches the house for clues to whatever Sarah may have taken with her. But it seems she has left everything behind - keys, phone, purse and all her clothing - taking nothing but the clothes on her back. Her husband James is distraught that she appears to have vanished without a trace, even more so that she has walked away willingly. Why would she have left a perfectly good life and husband who adored her? Unless she has fallen into old habits once again...habits that only Kate knows about. Kate is the only one who knows that Sarah has run away like this before, whenever she has felt crowded or doesn't want to face up to responsibility. And she believes that this is what has caused Sarah to run now. The looming possibility of motherhood has probably shaken her to the core, having just revealed her pregnancy to the world on Instagram shortly before her disappearance.

Kate's own life takes a battering as she focuses on trying to find her sister and there is no compassion or understanding coming from her husband Chris, and even less from her mother-in-law Anne. He shows little care for his wife during a time when you would think he would stand by her and even help her. No, he spends most of his time running errands for his mother and is at her beck and call rather than worrying about his wife and marriage.

So Kate's search for Sarah is primarily done alone with James lending a hand where needed. But Kate knows Sarah best and so it is a search she must undertake alone. But whatever answers she uncovers, should she share her findings with James? Or keep them to herself? Because the more she digs the more secrets she seems to find and she isn't sure what to believe. Exactly what is it that Sarah has been hiding?

But someone wants their secrets to remain hidden...how far will they go to make sure those secrets stay buried?

THE SILENT WIFE is a chilling read in parts. While it does start of slow with seemingly no real direction, it soon picks up as it becomes clear what's happened to Sarah. While there are only a handful of characters, none of them are particularly likeable but some even less so. This story is a perfect example of a narcissistic personality disorder, gaslighting and the secrets and lies told to maintain the facade. It does make for uncomfortable reading in parts.

I really have to question Kate's decisions throughout much of the book. And I want to slap her husband too. Honestly, what was wrong with the man? But Kate...why could she not believe her sister? She should know her sister better than anyone and yes, given her past, know how unreliable she could be. But really, she seemed perfectly lucid to me and yet Kate still refuted her claims. But her bad decisions didn't end there...but I will. You will need to read the book to shake you head at the stupid decisions she makes and circumstances she lets herself fall into.

Overall, a chilling read that was compelling with a steady pace throughout.

I would like to thank #RuthHarrow, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheSilentWife in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Ruth Harrow was born and raised in England and graduated from university before embarking on an unfulfilling career in an office job. She eventually put pen to paper and her debut psychological thriller, In Her Footsteps, was published in 2018. It quickly became a bestseller. Following the success of her first novel, her following five books came afterwards with the same success.

Ruth lives in the UK with her husband, two children and chocolate Labrador, Rolo.

Her seventh psychological thriller is coming soon.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: The Babysitter's Secret by Casey Kelleher

The Babysitter's Secret by Casey Kelleher

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 18th May 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 24th May 2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Everything I thought I knew about my life is a lie. My mother revealed a terrible, dangerous secret in her last letter to me. But, with her death, any chance of knowing the truth has disappeared. I’ll have to do whatever it takes to find out for myself.

Going back to the house where I was born, I find a family living the life I’d always dreamed of. And when Cecelia, the mother, mistakes me for the new nanny, I seize the chance to move in. Maybe, being in the house every day and night, I will remember more, uncover more, about the secret that haunts me…

But this family is not the happy one it appears from the outside. Cecelia is angry, unpredictable, unstable. She is not the mother these children deserve. They are scared of her, and rightly so.

As my memories start to crystalize, I am ever more determined to shelter them from harm. Because history has a horrible way of repeating itself, and I’ll do everything I can to protect these children. But how long can I stay here, undetected, pretending to be someone I’m not? And if the children end up in danger, what will I have to do to save them…?

With twists no reader will EVER see coming, this incredibly gripping psychological thriller is perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Widow and The Housewarming.

MY THOUGHTS:

This family is hiding much more than the truth...

This is the second Casey Kelleher thriller I've read and I have to say I am impressed. THE BABYSITTER'S SECRET was as thrilling and as addictive as "Only Child" was and I devoured it in one sitting! A dark and twisted tale, it is a chilling one that will have you questioning who and what to believe as both narrators are unreliable and incredibly complex.

The story starts out with a chilling prologue before moving on to a seemingly random scene and narrative by one of our main characters - Emily. She is unquestionably unreliable from the start with her demeanour, her flashbacks and auditory hallucinations of a crying girl that just only seems to get louder and louder. At first, it appears the girl is left to cry unattended in the flat next door but as the story unfolds it becomes clear the girl is just a delusion that Emily torments herself with. Why? And why is her support worker trying to trick her? Stealing her journal and make her seem crazy? Emily knows she just wants to see her back in the secure unit again.

The next chapter we are introduced to Sasha who turns up to a house she has been given the address to and rings the bell hoping for a glimpse inside the property. The woman who opens the door does so in the midst of a mid-morning panicked rush and assumes that she is the replacement nanny, ushering her in without a second thought or checking her references. Sasha tries to correct her but Cecilia doesn't give her the opportunity and is out the door before the record is set straight. It's OK...she can do this. She can be a nanny. How hard can it be? She wanted the opportunity to glimpse inside this house which holds great significance to her and now she has the perfect opportunity.

Sasha has had a difficult past. Her mother has recently passed away and only then did she discover, via letter her mother left with her solicitor, that she was adopted. Meaning her whole life as she knew it was a lie. But it's hardly surprising as she never really fit in anyway. So now she has in her hand the address for the house in which she had spent her early years...before she was adopted...and she is granted to perfect opportunity to find some connection with the now renovated house. At first, she sees nothing but clean lines and new furnishings. But little by little, memories begin to resurface...and Sasha starts to wonder if these are just dreams or memories?

This is indeed a dark and even disturbing tale. Chilling even. But it is also tinged with sadness. It can also be said that there is a child abuse trigger as well as mental illness. Both narrators are unreliable and complex and the reader can be excused for thinking how the two storylines intersect. But be patient...all will be revealed in due course.

THE BABYSITTER'S SECRET is a twisted tale of secrets and revenge. I was hooked from the very first page and didn't stop until I flipped the very last at the end, devouring the book in just five hours. I was invested from the beginning wanting to know who was gaslighting who and why and how the stories were connected. And my little grey cells were firing all their synapses as I slowly pieced the puzzle together. I saw the twists coming before they were revealed but I didn't care...I'm here for the ride and the entertainment value! The final twist was a surprise but I thought it kind of spoilt it in the end and should have been left as it was. But it was still a thrilling read and that I enjoyed every minute of!

I would like to thank #CaseyKelleher, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBabysittersSecret in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Casey Kelleher was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, and she grew up as an avid reader.

Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up their three children together with my husband, she penned her debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that Casey could give up her day job and concentrate on writing full time. 

If you click the yellow 'follow' button, Amazon will send you an email when she has a new release, or if there's a special deal you might be interested in. It's the best way to make sure you never miss a book! Casey loves connecting with her readers, and there are plenty of ways you can get in touch: 

Social Media links:

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COVER REVEAL: The Lost Heir by Jane Cable

**COVER REVEAL**

A Cornish Echoes Dual Timeline Mystery

Published 11th August 2023

Available to pre-order:
https://getbook.at/LostHeir

DESCRIPTION:

Cornwall, 2020

At the beginning of lockdown, teacher Carla Burgess needs to make some changes to her life. She no longer loves her job, and it’s certainly time to kick her on-off boyfriend into touch. But then, while walking on the cliffs she meets Mani Dolcoath, a gorgeous American with a dark aura.

Mani is researching his family history, and slowly their lives and their heritage begin to entwine. The discovery of a locked Georgian tea caddy in the barn on her parents’ farm intrigues Carla, but then she starts to see orbs, something that hasn’t happened since her grandmother died. They terrify her and she’ll do anything to outrun them, but will she lose Mani’s friendship in the process?

Cornwall, 1810

Harriet Lemon’s position as companion to Lady Frances Basset (Franny) perfectly conceals the fact they are lovers. But when Franny is raped and falls pregnant their lives are destined to change forever.

The one person who may be able to help them is Franny’s childhood friend, William Burgess, a notorious smuggler. But he has secrets of his own he needs to protect. Will his loyalties be divided, or will he come through?

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jane Cable writes romance with a twist for Sapere Books, and The Forgotten Maid her first novel set in her adopted county of Cornwall. She is lucky enough to have been married to the love of her life for more than twenty-five years, and loves spending time outdoors, preferably close to the sea on the wild and rugged north Cornwall coast.

She also writes emotional women’s fiction as Eva Glyn, published by One More Chapter.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Woman in Carriage 3 by Alison James

The Woman in Carriage 3 by Alison James

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 17th May 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 22nd May 2023

★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

An ordinary journey. A shocking secret. And the perfect murder…

Breathlessly, I rush into carriage 3 just as the train doors slam behind me. It’s the same train I get home every night – the 18.53 – and I always sit in the same seat, with the same people. Each journey is fairly uneventful. Except this one…

A passenger drops dead and shockwaves ripple through the train. The lights go out and we’re left waiting in darkness, trapped until further notice. Is it an accident, or something more sinister?

The unwritten rule is you don’t talk to your fellow commuters, but the group of people huddled around me all seem like nice, normal people. I just hope they don’t notice my dishevelled hair or smell the alcohol on my breath. Because my life is far from perfect and there are things I’ve done I’m not proud of.

But as we all get to know each other, I wonder if I can really trust them? Or are they all hiding dangerous secrets…

Was someone in carriage 3 involved in the passenger’s death? And if so, how far will they go to stop the rest of us finding the truth?

An absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will keep you up late into the night. If you love Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl and The Perfect Couple, you’ll be gripped.

MY THOUGHTS:

An ordinary journey will end in murder...

I wasn't quite sure what I expected from this book but it wasn't ...well...this! I guess from the title, the cover and the brief description I assumed it would be something along the lines of "The Girl on the Train" or thereabouts. Boy, was I wrong! About the only thing that book and Hattie had in common was their drama began on their commute and their love of wine or anything alcoholic. Any other similarities ended. THE WOMAN IN CARRIAGE 3 was NOT "the girl on the train".

I really don't know where to start with this one as there was so much packed into the story I almost got whiplash despite the slow pace. Hattie pretty much destroyed her relationship and her well-paid job because of penchant for alcohol. Turning up drunk at work and having sex in a cupboard with a colleague at a drunken party will do that. So her boyfriend moved out and she gave up their flat and moved back home with her parents. 

Now she is temping at a dead-end job and doing the regular commute on the 18.53 train out of Waterloo every evening. She sits in the same carriage, she sees the same people, the same faces, but she doesn't engage with them. She saves those moments for hook-ups in bars and faceless sex with strangers with barely any memory the morning after. But one day, the train is halted when a passenger is taken ill and the commuters in carriage 3 begin to chat with one another to pass the time. They exchange names and pleasantries and before long have formed a WhatsApp group for "The 18.53 Crew" as they now refer to themselves as.

Hattie didn't intend on making friends with any of them. But they were so friendly that over time she thought what harm could it do? Besides which, she found herself increasingly attracted to one of them - Casper Merriweather - with his Jude Law looks and his boyish charm. Every evening she found herself unwittingly looking for him and was disappointed when he wasn't amongst the commuters. She befriended Bridget, a dowdy public servant who didn't share her penchant for alcohol so meeting up for a drink was out of the question. And yet, still she found herself confiding in her. Particularly about her attraction for Casper. And it seemed the attraction was mutual.

It isn't long before the two hook-up and a relationship (of sorts) begins. Hattie falls head over heels for him and stupidly went along with anything he suggested. Hook-up at her place? Sure, no problem. Drop everything to meet him the day before a big interview? Not a problem. Fly off to Mexico to begin a new life with him? But of course! Hattie, I soon discovered, was so easily manipulated with a drink or two and a roll in the hay. But when she wanted to got back to his? A bit awkward. Casper confesses to being married and on the cusp of divorcing his wife to be with Hattie. Does anyone still believe that line?

Then one evening on the commute home, one of their "crew" dies suddenly right before Hattie's eyes. Everyone in their group was on the train except Casper who often worked late. The death was thought to be cardiac arrest...but a post mortem revealed doubts. Was it a heart attack or was it murder? The investigation that follows takes Hattie on a journey that would totally change her life and that of her outlook also.

THE WOMAN IN CARRIAGE 3 was quite a slow burn. In fact nothing much happens for the first half of the book, except for Hattie hooking up with various males before falling into bed with Casper and her drinking herself into oblivion regularly. The woman drove me mad! She was a complete train wreck (pun intended). As for the other characters, none of them were particularly stand out except for Julian and Lewis. I would have liked to learn more about Julian and he sounded far more interesting than Hattie. And I quite liked Lewis who pretty much remained in the background until the second half of the story.

The story didn't pick up until Part Two where things were ramped up a notch and the tables were turned and a couple new characters were added. But they were fairly transparent and the story was a tad predictable I found and I easily figured out the twists.

Told in multiple perspectives, the story itself I found was rather long-winded but did end up redeeming itself with a somewhat satisfying conclusion. This wasn't one of Alison James' best thrillers but it wasn't too bad.

I would like to thank #AlisonJames, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheWomanInCarriage3 in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Born in the Cotswolds, Alison spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, Alison worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.

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REVIEW: The Bedroom Window by K.L. Slater

The Bedroom Window by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 15th May 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 19th May 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

They say they have no children. So who did I see at the window?

My darling little boy Albie adores playing at our new neighbours’ house. And after the terrible year we’ve had, I feel so lucky that we can start over in this perfect place, with new friends who treat Albie like the son they never had. He can’t stop talking about the tree house they’re building him, and the cookies they bake together.

But as time passes, something starts to feel wrong. Why don’t they ever open the front door more than a crack? They told me they had no children, so who does the small pink tricycle I saw in their hall belong to? And why can I hear a lullaby drifting across the garden when I’m tucking my own boy into bed?

Then, one night, I see a small shadowy figure in their bedroom window…

I thought I’d learned my lesson about trusting the wrong people, but now I’m forced to wonder what this perfect couple are hiding.

And if I try to save that little helpless figure in the window, will I do what I’ve always feared most, and put my beautiful boy’s life in danger…?

An utterly gripping psychological thriller from the number one bestselling author of The Marriage and The Girlfriend. If you like Gone Girl, The Housemaid and Lisa Jewell then you will be hooked by The Bedroom Window.

MY THOUGHTS:

They said they have no children...so who did I see last night...?

This is about the fifteenth book by Kim I've read and I've yet to be disappointed! THE BEDROOM WINDOW is a departure from her usual domestic thriller style allowing the house and the setting centre stage to create an atmospheric and somewhat creepy tale. I love stories set where the sea is ever present that I can almost hear the crashing waves and smell the salt in the air.

THE BEDROOM WINDOW offers readers a different take on the classic "Rear Window" made famous by Alfred Hitchcock in which a paralysed man spends his time people watching his neighbours and unwittingly uncovering a crime. In this tale, there's no sprawling rear window overlooking the neighbours all encompassing secrets...just a small poky spare room window which serves pretty much the same sort of purpose. But on a whole different scale of secrets.

Lottie and Neil move from Nottingham to the North Yorkshire coast with their nine year old son Albie after Neil receives a job offer of head gardener at Seaspray House. This move is a fresh start for all of them. Two years ago, Neil suffered an accident at work which saw him paralysed and told he may never walk again. Lottie left her job to become his full time carer and over time it took its toll on both of them. But after a miraculous recovery, he began looking for work and when this opportunity came along it was too good to pass up. Albie had been the victim of bullying at school so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to put the past behind them and make a fresh start.

Arriving at Seaspray Cottage, which is just a short walk from Seaspray House itself, Lottie and Neil begin unpacking and settling in whilst Albie runs around open-eyed in awe at the space they have and the size of his room. They enjoy walks to the beach and Albie even takes up surf lessons that are on offer for youngsters. It seems they have made the right choice in moving here.

Seaspray House itself is a large pallatial house with glass frontage overlooking the vast expanse of coastline offering million dollar views of the sea. Lottie can't wait for an invitation into the house to see it all for herself. But as the days and weeks go by, no invitation comes. Maybe the Williamses are a private couple. But Ted and Neeta welcomed Lottie, Neil and Albie with open arms when they first arrived and they fuss over Albie whenever he visits after school. But even they have never set foot inside the house, despite promises of the cinema room with Ted and baking with Neeta.

Lottie begins to think the couple are hiding something. A thought which is only confirmed when she sees a small shadowy figure from their spare room window. But what? Neeta told her that they were not blessed with children and yet Lottie has seen children's toys and a tricycle in their sunroom! She's even seen Neeta holding clothing that could only belong to a child and the strains of a lullabye being sung in the dead of night.

"Hush little baby, don't say a word..."

The more Lottie sees of these shadows and strange goings-on, the more she suspects the Williamses are up to something. But what, exactly? She tries to voice her concerns to Neil but he just shoots down every criticism or negative opinion she has of his new employers who have been nothing but good to them. He refuses to listen to reason even when Albie comes home sporting expensive new sportswear despite Lottie just buying him some with her staff discount from her new job. It seems Albie is just as taken in by Ted and Neeta as her husband. And then there is the question of what really happened to the previous occupants of their cottage...

Added to that, Lottie's nightmares about her childhood have returned leaving her spent and confused. She hasn't been completely honest about her childhood with Neil...but then he's not being completely honest about what's going on up at Seaspray House. Does one lie cross out another? Or are they about to pile up and bury the couple, ensnaring them within the tangled wed of secrets and lies that has been woven around them?

And as Lottie finds herself drawn into a dangerous game, the question she keeps asking herself is...what is this couple hiding?

Beginning the slow build with a palpable tension throughout, THE BEDROOM WINDOW is as intense as it is atmospheric. I love the setting and could feel the seaspray with every swipe of the page. Told through the alternating perspectives of Lottie and Neil, peppered with flashbacks to twenty years previous, the story unfolds with a small cast of flawed and untrustworthy characters. Despite the red herrings tossed our way, I was still able to hook the truth myself which, although a little far fetched readers will have to suspend belief, wasn't too difficult to figure out. That's not to say that the story is predictable because Slater still manages to throw in a few uncertainties along the way and despite figuring out the big reveal, the twists are still nail-biting and tension-fuelled.

The biggest mystery I think that went unanswered was what was Neil really doing with Neeta all those times? And the untoward attention they displayed towards Albie? What was that in aid of? And why was it not followed up? Lottie was ready to tear strips off Neeta. For this, I've dropped half a star.

The only other thing is I think maybe an editting issue. In the first of the flashback chapters, a slip is made and the identity of Charlie is revealed...which, when you think about it, is not too hard to work out when you think about it. But it left no room for doubt when I saw a name that didn't belong in there.

Overall, THE BEDROOM WINDOW is an addictive atmospheric psychological thriller that I could not put down. Despite the unlikeable characters and the few loose ends, this is an outstanding mystery filled with suspense and intrigue and is undoubtedly creepy. Another winner for Slater!

I would like to thank #KLSlater, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBedroomWindow in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, Kim went back to university at the age of 40 where she gained  a first-class honours degree in English & Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing with distinction.

Kim's first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’,  actually started life as a dissertation on her English & Creative Writing degree in 2010. She says "the creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!"

Kim first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. Her award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for her MA in Creative Writing in 2012.

Kim is now a full-time writer. She has a daughter and two stepsons and live with her husband Mac in Nottingham and Yorkshire.

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REVIEW: The Wedding Day by Sue Watson

The Wedding Day by Sue Watson

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 13th May 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 17th May 2023

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

The blushing bride. The handsome groom. A secret one of them will kill for…

It’s the day I’ve been dreaming about my whole life. As I glide down the flower-strewn aisle overlooking the Greek orange groves, in my pearl-encrusted ivory gown, I finally see my fiancé Nik. We look like the perfect couple, but not all fairy tales have happy endings…

Today is supposed to be the day of my dreams.

But I don’t see a single friend or family member. I’m surrounded by strangers.

I have been so excited to finally meet my fiancé’s family.

Then why do they turn their heads away as I walk down the aisle?

Now, as I say my vows, I gaze longingly into Nik’s eyes.

But instead of love, he looks through me, as if he can’t wait for this day to end…

And I suddenly have an awful feeling that I don’t know my fiancé at all.

But then again, he doesn’t truly know me either.

And by the time he finds out who I really am, it will be far too late. There’s only room for one happily-ever-after on this wedding day, and I’m determined to make it mine…

MY THOUGHTS:

The blushing bride...The handsome groom...A secret one of them will kill for...

First of all, forget the description premise - that doesn't even take place till about halfway through the book and there is so much more to come before the illustrious wedding. Secondly, this is one messed up train wreck of a story! Our narrator is so unreliable readers can't even trust her let alone anyone else. And then there's all the other pieces of the puzzle that are literally littered all over the place with no rhyme or reason. I say again, train wreck!

I'm a big fan of Sue Watson and am always eager to read what she has next in store for us. THE WEDDING DAY, again, is something a little different. OK, so it's a lot different and I'm still getting my head around how someone can be so naive to make such stupid ill-conceived decisions. But one thing that didn't slip by was the big reveals. I knew exactly what was going on (or thereabouts) and was neither wowed or shocked when the reveals came. Maybe I am just too seasoned to be shocked and know exactly where to look...but hey, it was still an entertaining read watching Alice make some stupid decisions. 

We meet Alice on her way home from work one evening stopping by the Tesco Express for another bottle or two to drown her sorrows on this Valentines Day where her Decree Absolute has become final. She spends as much of the time choosing the wines as she does ruminating over past failures as a wife/ mother/person when she spots a familiar figure in the aisle. Her ex-husband Dan...and he's not alone. And she's pregnant. Very pregnant. Devastated, Alice flees covered with the spattered drops of wine, only stopping when she stumbles onto the train home. In her ragged state, commuters believe her to be homeless as does the ticket inspector who demands to see her ticket or payment for one but without her bag - which she left back in Tesco - she is bundled off the train at the next stop.

Poor Alice. She hasn't had much luck in recent years. After failed attempts at IVF, to now discover her ex has soon impregnated a fast replacement only adds salt to the wound. But now Dan is in hospital with a fractured skull after taking a smack to the head with a wine bottle and the police are looking to her for answers. Instead of using common sense, Alice packs her bags and boards a plane to the beautiful Greek island of Corfu. I don't blame her, I'd probably prefer the sun drenched shores of the island myself.

There she meets Sylvie who quickly becomes her new best friend. The two women share so much in common and neither have been lucky in love so what better way than to drown the past in Cosmopolitans?! No thank you, but each to their own. Alice has taken a long term rental there with no return date for the UK booked and the more she hears from her sister Heather back home, the less likely she is to return. Can things get any worse?

And then she meets Nik. Beautiful Greek god adonis Nik. Owner and manager of Kouris Wineries in the rural Greek mountainside. He's handsome, he's rich and he's interested in Alice. Can her luck finally be changing? After a whirlwind romance, the couple marry at his vineyard destined to spend their lives happily ever after. Until Nik is arrested on their wedding day.

When I started reading THE WEDDING DAY, like most readers, I was thinking "where's the wedding?" Ok, so that comes later. Much later, as it happens. But before that is a whole lot of other stuff that I found quite confusing. Alice's blackouts...even her reasoning behind them were somewhat vague that I doubt anyone would have believed her had she told them. It seemed a little wishy-washy just out of reach that it was hard to connect anything that she was saying to what was happening. Even her references to the disappearances in Corfu were vague. She claimed her and her sister were true crime fans and followed the case online but that didn't wash with me. Both Alice and Heather seemed a little too personally involved. They knew something but they weren't sharing. I just didn't get why these women were so important to Alice when she didn't know any of them...or did she? She didn't seem to and she certainly never admitted to doing so. It was just so confusing that I didn't know what her role in it that mystery was...because she was sooooo stuck on it. She's like a dog with a bone and wasn't giving up.

BUT...everything starts to make sense towards the end, trust me. But it is a long time getting there. The pace is a little slow to begin with, slower than Watson's previous thrillers, but it does pick up at the wedding and following that. Alice still, however, continues to make stupid decisions throughout. I was shouting at her at every major decision to STOP! NO! DON'T DO IT! Because I knew it was only going to end in tears. No good was going to come of it, I felt sure. My skin was crawling, my nerves were tingling...something most definitely was not right. But like all stupid lovesick idiots, she failed to heed my warnings...or that of her sister, with whom she was in direct contact (as opposed to me, a humble reader to her happenings). Really, Alice ignored just about every red flag waved in her direction. Either that or she was just blind to them completely, I'm not quite sure. 

The question is, do you know what is happening or will you be as shocked as Alice when all is revealed? Or are you a seasoned reader of this genre like me and can pick a predictable path to the end? Either way, there is one twist that had my jaw dropping because it was most certainly something I wasn't expecting. And what a twist it was.

Overall, THE WEDDING DAY was an entertaining thriller that did drag a little but picked up as the threads were woven into place to a satisfying end.

I would like to thank #SueWatson, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheWeddingDay in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has written sixteen novels (many involving cake), and many have been translated into several languages. Sue is now exploring the darker side of life with her latest thrillers OUR LITTLE LIES, THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR, THE EMPTY NEST, THE SISTER-IN-LAW, FIRST DATE, THE FOREVER HOME, THE NEW WIFE, THE RESORT and THE NURSERY.

Sue explored the darker side of life for her latest book 'Our Little Lies,' a dark, psychological thriller completely devoid of cake. She's hoping this change in direction will be reflected on the weighing scales.

Originally from Manchester, she now lives with her family in leafy Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – and procrastinating. Her hobby is eating cake while watching diet and exercise programmes from the sofa, a skill she’s perfected after many years of practice.

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