You Started It by Daniel Hurst
Genre: Psychological thriller, Short story, Quick read
Read: 16th November 2025
Published: 4th June 2025
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
Revenge takes time....
Alison thought she lived a quiet, normal life with her husband, Damian. But that all changes when an unexpected visitor reveals a shocking truth about her partner. Things will never be the same after that as a deadly game of deceit begins, full of shocks and surprises, lies and betrayal, and ultimately proving that when it comes to revenge, it's best to take your time.
You started it. But who will finish it?
A fast-paced psychological thriller short story full of twists from the bestselling author of UK #1 The Doctor's Wife, The Couple's Revenge and The Passenger.
MY THOUGHTS:
Daniel Hurst has been one of my favourite thriller writers since I discovered him about four years ago (around the time he became a full time author). His thrillers a fast pacy reads with short snappy chapters that keep you swiping (or turning) the pages right to the very end. I have found in recent times that I've enjoyed his earlier offerings more than his latest ones though they are still quick and easy reads even if more OTT than is per usual for his unique style. Of course, I have my ultimate favourites of his which, to be honest, will be tough to beat no matter how good the next book might be.
I have recently gone through major surgery and am recovering slowly though I do find it hard to concentrate on reading anything too complex. So I thought I would give Daniel's last short story a go which he published a few months back. I figured that it would be an easy enough tale to digest and I wouldn't have to concentrate too much on it. And given that it's a short story, it's a very quick read which I managed to devour in an hour before dinner.
Firstly, I have to say that Daniel hooks us in from the start with a play by play account of Alison's frantic search for her missing husband and subsequent not being taken seriously when first reporting him missing. She and Damian had been happily married for fifteen years sans children so it was just the two of them. But when he didn't arrive home from work by 6pm as is his usual routine one evening, Alison is naturally worried. By 9pm she is understandably frantic. But the police take her concerns with a grain of salt assuring her that he is "probably working late" or "out for drinks with some colleagues and lost track of time" or any number of reasons. However, after a week they finally take her concerns seriously and question her both for information and as a suspect. At any rate, they are no closer to finding him...or whatever's happened to him.
When she receives a knock on her door she runs to open it hoping it will be Damian with some hare-brained reason as to where he's been this past week or the police with some positive update to share. It's neither. It's a stranger. But while he is a stranger to her, he seems to know exactly who she is.
"Hello Alison..."
He greets her with a smile as she opens her front door to him. He goes on to explain who he is and why he's there. She is speechless. He makes her an offer she couldn't refuse. A chance to get answers and maybe even her own piece of revenge. But what she didn't bargain on was the escalation things took when she finds herself framed for murder...and no way of proving her innocence!
I was pleasantly surprised by the journey this short story took me on, despite its OTT nature (that's just Daniel Hurst's way) and thoroughly enjoyed it even after I found myself wanting to bang Alison's head on something hard to knock some sense into her. The woman was gullible not to mention stupid. And while I enjoyed this twisted tale for those most part it was the epilogue ending that let it down. It was off the scale OTT that past the point of any believability or suspension of belief. It was just plain ridiculous. I'm sure Hurst could have construed a better ending than that and it was this that let the entire tale down. I loved that it was different in concept and thoroughly enjoyed it up until that ridiculous epilogue.
However, that being said - it was still a fast pacy read that I enjoyed and I would still recommend it to others for a quick read, which can be easily done so in an hour.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.
Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.
Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.
A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.
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