My Word Against His by Lauren North
Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Read: 22nd May 2023
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 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:
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