REVIEW: She Made Me Do It by Anna-Lou Weatherley

She Made Me Do It (Detective Dan Riley #9) by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 9th January 2026

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 12th January 2026

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I trusted her. I shouldn’t have…

Samantha Valentine didn’t drift into my life, she collided with it. Soon it was like we had been friends forever. She told me everything about her perfect life, but I always felt there was something she was leaving out.

Then one night, I get a frantic call from Samantha, hysterical and begging me to protect her from her boyfriend. Rushing to her house, instinct takes over and soon my heart is hammering out of my chest as I stand over the body of a man I had never met before this evening.

But by the time the police arrive, Samantha has vanished. The officers tell me that there is no record of her anywhere. The woman I thought was my friend has tricked me into killing a perfect stranger.

As the police slip the handcuffs on my wrists, I know I’ve made a terrible mistake. By protecting a woman I never really knew, I’ve destroyed my life. Who is Samantha really, and why did she make me do this? She’s taken everything from me, but she has no idea how far I will go to get the truth…

A gripping and page-turning psychological thriller absolutely packed with twists. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Frieda McFadden and Daniel Hurst.

MY THOUGHTS:

Another crazy wild ride by Anna-Lou Weatherly in this ninth outing with DCI Dan Riley. And what a ride it is! I do love this author; her style is addictive and engaging with likable main characters, even the questionable ones.

We meet Erin seven years prior having just fatally stabbed Ari Hussein whilst protecting her best friend from his abuse. But what if it was all smoke and mirrors? Soon Erin, who happily told the police everything thinking it would help her case, had sealed her own fate and found herself locked up for manslaughter. And her bestie? Nowhere to be found.

Fast forward to present day London and Tilly Ward has just been found at a similar scene. She has just fatally stabbed Milo Harrison whilst protecting her best friend from his subsequent abuse. The same best friend Erin had protected seven years ago. Samantha Valentine. Coincidence?

DCI Dan Riley surveys the scene and nothing escapes his notice. Not the body on the floor, the knife by his side, the shoes behind the door or the shaking diminutive woman in the next room who had inflicted the fatal wound. Dan is drawn to her story from the start. It's far too complex to be fabricated, surely. 

And then the Erin Santos file falls across his desk. And he begins an investigation down the proverbial rabbit hole, unable to let that nagging feeling at the back of his mind go. Something about this whole scenario just doesn't add up. And it's up to Dan Riley and his team to find out what.

As per usual, we are delved straight into the madness and mayhem from the very first page and throughout the entire tale, the reader is pondering what is real and what isn't. It's the kind of tale that messes with your head but Riley and the team were not to be thwarted like the Yorkshire police who dropped the ball far too early in Erin's case, dismissing her as delusional. The question is, is she really delusional? And even if she is, the police had a duty of care to investigate her claims fully instead of dismissing her as a nutjob. And yet, we are left wondering were they right all along? Or did they drop the ball?

Another cracking read by Anna-Lou that had me race through it in under 24 hours (two sittings), despite my somewhat dry spell with reading just now. I thoroughly enjoyed this twisted tale. And can't wait for Dan Riley's next outing.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anna-Lou Weatherly is well known for her engaging and compelling mystery suspense novels. Instantly grabbing the attention of the reader, she delivers her stories in a straightforward style that really works for her material. Often writing about darker subject matter, too, she doesn’t hold back when it comes to more serious topics, really delivering gripping narratives. Her work is set in a league of its own when it comes to rich and immersive thrillers that allow the reader to escape into them.

Constantly keeping her audience guessing throughout, she’s a writer gifted in the art of compelling narratives with plenty of twists and turns. Pushing the boundaries of what the romance genre can really do, she allows her stories to speak for themselves essentially when it comes to telling them. Her books come alive off of the page, enveloping the reader and holding them there for the complete duration of the novel. Establishing her own style and tone, too, each book of hers is unmistakeably hers, as she really does have her own voice and approach.

When it comes to characters, she really embeds herself in their mindset, providing readers with a clear view of their perspective. This style gives her readers a front-row seat when it comes to the action, really making it engaging on all levels. Winning awards for her work, too, she’s written for many outlets, from Smash Hits to the NME, to Marie Claire, making her one of the most prolific writers within her area. There are plenty more titles planned for the future, too, as her writing career continues building from strength to strength.

Born in Southampton in England, Anna-Lou was raised in London with a passion for reading and writing. Nurturing this interest of her over time, she would hone and refine her skills as an author, discovering her own unique voice in the process. Studying further, she would continue to apply herself to her craft, building a profile for herself within the literary world.

Going on to work as the editor for several different publications, she would get to sharpen her writing skills for a mass audience. Drawing in inspiration from her surrounds, she would proceed to put much of it back into her writing and work. Currently still living in London to this very day, she continues to write regularly, with lots more set for release on the horizon.

Prior to writing fiction full-time, Anna-Lou Weatherly worked as an editor for prestigious publications such as Smash and J-17. Creating a big name for herself as a novelist, she would slowly come to find her own voice before writing her first complete novel. This would be titled ‘Ibiza Summer’ back in 2006, and it would give her an insight into her many writing processes and what she had to offer.

Before long, she would begin writing suspense novels and mystery thrillers, establishing a profile as a writer known for tension. Beginning her ‘Detective Dan Riley’ series with the novel ‘Black Heart’ in 2018, she would soon be on her way to being a hugely successful author. Winning awards for her work, she’s been in the industry for over ten years and counting as her career grows upwards and onwards.

When she's not writing, which isn't often, she likes to hang upside down on a pole - she's a qualified pole fitness instructor, and drink fancy wine (though not necessarily at the same time, that would be dangerous). She adores creating exciting, three dimensional, glamorous and flawed characters against a backdrop of exotic locations. Revenge, sex, sin, glamour, excess, crime and intrigue is her speciality. Her next novel, title to come, promises all the above and more!

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: What Kind of Mother by Anna-Lou Weatherley

What Kind of Mother (Detective Dan Riley #8) by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 3rd January 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 8th January 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

My son and his girlfriend stand there, two terrified teenagers shivering in the doorway, and say the unthinkable. ‘I think we killed someone.’ Now, I have to decide exactly what kind of mother I am…

It was never my dream to clean the Levinsons’ mansion for a living, particularly as Helen Levinson and her daughter Paris are oddly secretive about which rooms I can go into.But none of that matters the night Paris and my son Conor come begging for help, their clothes spattered with blood. They say it was an accident, that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time…

Now, Helen and I have to make a terrible choice. Do we tell the truth and risk losing our children forever? Or do we lie to keep them safe?

We will do anything to protect our children, but one wrong move could cost us everything. Lying to the police was a risk, and now Helen is acting more unpredictable by the day – turning up at my house unannounced, harassing my husband, telling lies about my past…

The only way to save my family is to uncover the truth about that night. I’m convinced the answers lie hidden inside the Levinsons’ house. I’d do anything for Conor, but am I prepared for what I might find behind locked doors? But when your son is in danger, you find out what kind of mother you are…

Anyone who loved Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn and The Housemaid will be absolutely blown away by the rollercoaster ride of emotions in this gripping psychological thriller! A totally twisted page-turner guaranteed to keep you up all night flipping pages.

MY THOUGHTS:

How far would a mother go to protect her only child...?

Ed and Christine Carter are struggling financially, raising their only son Conor and paying for the care of Christine's mother who has dementia. Though Conor is their only child, they had a daughter Cora who they lost to meningitis twenty years before but the pain remains. A parent shouldn't have to bury their child. And so they have poured all their love into their remaining child as he follows his dreams to become a professional footballer.

And then one night, Conor and girlfriend Paris return from a night out and all is well until they see the news the following morning. And both are racked with worry and guilt and panic about what lay in store for them.

Christine is awoken by the young couple's frantic whispers and heads downstairs to investigate. The morning news is blaring from the TV about the murder of a young local man the night before, which only seems to sends Paris into even more wailing. Christine is shocked. She didn't even know Conor knew Paris Levinson, the 17 year old daughter of the affluent couple she cleans for to keep a roof over their heads and her mother in proper care. But that aside, the couple are frantic about something. And when she manages to get some semblence of sense from them, Christine pales. She calls for Ed. And then the doorbell rings. Everyone panics.

Enter Helen and Bryan Levinson. The rich wife and prominent MP who has his fingers in many pies. Why are they calling on them at their house at this hour on a Sunday morning? And how did they even know where they lived? But more than that, how are they going to keep their children from being charged with murder?

As the story unfolds, we see the parents bans together to cover up their childrens' involvement in the murder but it does get a little unhinged at times. Are they even on the same team?

With secrets and lies in abundance, there is a lot going on behind the scenes. Including in DCI Dan Riley's personal life concerning one of his own children. I love Riley and his team though I felt they didn't seem to feature quite as much as they have in previous books. But that's OK as I love Anna-Lou's style of blending the investigation with the lives of other characters involved in the story. However, this one is a little different than the others. I can't say how as that would be a spoiler but suffice to say that it's not tied up as neatly in the end as previous books or stories.

While it was entertaining throughout, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as all her previous ones which I believe were just phenomenal. I'm not sure what it was about this one that made it different but it just was. Well, there are a few key aspects that do make it different (none of which I can reveal) but on the whole, I'm not totally sure why. Even so, it was still relatively entertaining even if I didn't get all the answers at the end. Like...who was Bradley? And why did Cynthia keep insisting Christine had a sister? I know she had dementia, but as she featured as a key witness of sorts I kind of expected some of what she said to be explained at the end.

Overall, a fast paced entertaining thriller with a few unexpected twists along the way.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anna-Lou Weatherly is well known for her engaging and compelling mystery suspense novels. Instantly grabbing the attention of the reader, she delivers her stories in a straightforward style that really works for her material. Often writing about darker subject matter, too, she doesn’t hold back when it comes to more serious topics, really delivering gripping narratives. Her work is set in a league of its own when it comes to rich and immersive thrillers that allow the reader to escape into them.

Constantly keeping her audience guessing throughout, she’s a writer gifted in the art of compelling narratives with plenty of twists and turns. Pushing the boundaries of what the romance genre can really do, she allows her stories to speak for themselves essentially when it comes to telling them. Her books come alive off of the page, enveloping the reader and holding them there for the complete duration of the novel. Establishing her own style and tone, too, each book of hers is unmistakeably hers, as she really does have her own voice and approach.

When it comes to characters, she really embeds herself in their mindset, providing readers with a clear view of their perspective. This style gives her readers a front-row seat when it comes to the action, really making it engaging on all levels. Winning awards for her work, too, she’s written for many outlets, from Smash Hits to the NME, to Marie Claire, making her one of the most prolific writers within her area. There are plenty more titles planned for the future, too, as her writing career continues building from strength to strength.

Born in Southampton in England, Anna-Lou was raised in London with a passion for reading and writing. Nurturing this interest of her over time, she would hone and refine her skills as an author, discovering her own unique voice in the process. Studying further, she would continue to apply herself to her craft, building a profile for herself within the literary world.

Going on to work as the editor for several different publications, she would get to sharpen her writing skills for a mass audience. Drawing in inspiration from her surrounds, she would proceed to put much of it back into her writing and work. Currently still living in London to this very day, she continues to write regularly, with lots more set for release on the horizon.

Prior to writing fiction full-time, Anna-Lou Weatherly worked as an editor for prestigious publications such as Smash and J-17. Creating a big name for herself as a novelist, she would slowly come to find her own voice before writing her first complete novel. This would be titled ‘Ibiza Summer’ back in 2006, and it would give her an insight into her many writing processes and what she had to offer.

Before long, she would begin writing suspense novels and mystery thrillers, establishing a profile as a writer known for tension. Beginning her ‘Detective Dan Riley’ series with the novel ‘Black Heart’ in 2018, she would soon be on her way to being a hugely successful author. Winning awards for her work, she’s been in the industry for over ten years and counting as her career grows upwards and onwards.

When she's not writing, which isn't often, she likes to hang upside down on a pole - she's a qualified pole fitness instructor, and drink fancy wine (though not necessarily at the same time, that would be dangerous). She adores creating exciting, three dimensional, glamorous and flawed characters against a backdrop of exotic locations. Revenge, sex, sin, glamour, excess, crime and intrigue is her speciality. Her next novel, title to come, promises all the above and more!

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Housewife's Secret by Anna-Lou Weatherley

The Housewife's Secret (Detective Dan Riley #7) by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Genre: Psychological thriller, Police procedural

Read: 7th January 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 12th January 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I cast my eyes over the impressive meal I’ve cooked and the half-empty crystal wine glasses. As our guests smile graciously, I squeeze my husband’s shoulder. It’s vital I get his friends to like me. To believe this version of me. Because I’ll do anything to stop them learning the truth…

Ever since I met my handsome husband Dr Gabe Bonneville, I started playing the role of the perfect housewife. He works hard as a surgeon, so I look after our home, and throw elaborate dinner parties with champagne cocktails for his best friends Hugh and Anita. He’s my safe place and my chance to have the family I’ve always wanted.

I’ve managed to hide the mornings when I wake up and see a face in the shadows. I haven’t told Gabe the truth about the woman who raised me, or told him about the therapy I’ve been getting so my secrets stay hidden in the dark. I haven’t questioned his past so he doesn’t ask about mine. I see the way Anita looks at him sometimes, but I’ll never say a word.

Until the letter arrives at the front door. The beautiful, expensive card shakes in my hand as I read the neat black handwriting.

Someone knows I’m not just a housewife. And the lies I’ve told will be all that’s left when I disappear…

Fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn and The Housemaid will be gripped by this unputdownable thriller and its non-stop twists and turns! A breathtaking ride from the very first chapter to the explosive ending.

MY THOUGHTS:

The perfect woman...the deadliest past...

I just love the Dan Riley series! Although I have yet to read the first couple of books, I've read every other since and have loved them all. I love Anna-Lou's style of incorporating the investigation with the rest of the story so that we're not all bogged down with procedural. She keeps that nice balance of both that keeps you coming back for more. And in doing so, each book can then be read as a standalone.

The reader is drawn in from the very beginning in the prologue leaving us wondering how it factors into the bigger picture...when it fact it is just a small part of the greater tapestry that it is to become. 

Darcie Bonneville has the perfect life married to the perfect man, cardiac consultant Dr Gabe Bonneville, and they live in a beautiful and illustrious apartment in an affluent part of London. One morning she takes her dog for a walk and never returns home. The dog, however, does. And her husband arrives home to find the dog alone on the step but no sign of his wife.

DCI Dan Riley is on leave. Or about to go on leave. His wife Fiona has their bags all packed and the children ready...all they are waiting on is Dan to come home and they can leave for their holiday by the seaside. But then Dan's superior calls him in and alerts him to a missing woman whilst assuring him that they have it all under control. To go, enjoy his holiday and come back refreshed. But something niggles at Dan...and he knows he can't ignore his instinct. That being said, Dan has seven days to solve this case or his wife holds the threat of divorce over him.

Digging deeper into Darcie's life, Dan wonders whether her recent notoriety in saving a toddler's life has something to do with her disappearance now. But the deeper he digs, the more he discovers that no one really knows a lot about Darcie Bonneville...not even her husband. The woman has seemingly no past, no social media presence, no digital footprint. So what secrets does this housewife have that she doesn't want her husband to find out? And what secrets are they to have brought danger to otherwise perfect life? 

This thrilling mystery keeps the reader enthralled from the very first page, immersing you in Darcie's life and what lead to her disappearance. Told in alternating chapters between the past and the present, Darcie's story gradually unfolds and leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew.

I wasn't overly surprised by the direction it took or the outcome because I must have had Dan's instinct telling me something was up from the get-go. But although I had it figured out, even down to the climatic twist that Dan unravelled, it didn't ruin my enjoyment of it at all. Half the fun is figuring it out and spotting the clues. And I kept my eyes peeled throughout.

I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in one sitting. Can't wait to see what's in store next for Riley and his team. Although, I do love that this is a psychological thriller first and police procedural second. My favourite kind.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anna-Lou Weatherly is well known for her engaging and compelling mystery suspense novels. Instantly grabbing the attention of the reader, she delivers her stories in a straightforward style that really works for her material. Often writing about darker subject matter, too, she doesn’t hold back when it comes to more serious topics, really delivering gripping narratives. Her work is set in a league of its own when it comes to rich and immersive thrillers that allow the reader to escape into them.

Constantly keeping her audience guessing throughout, she’s a writer gifted in the art of compelling narratives with plenty of twists and turns. Pushing the boundaries of what the romance genre can really do, she allows her stories to speak for themselves essentially when it comes to telling them. Her books come alive off of the page, enveloping the reader and holding them there for the complete duration of the novel. Establishing her own style and tone, too, each book of hers is unmistakeably hers, as she really does have her own voice and approach.

When it comes to characters, she really embeds herself in their mindset, providing readers with a clear view of their perspective. This style gives her readers a front-row seat when it comes to the action, really making it engaging on all levels. Winning awards for her work, too, she’s written for many outlets, from Smash Hits to the NME, to Marie Claire, making her one of the most prolific writers within her area. There are plenty more titles planned for the future, too, as her writing career continues building from strength to strength.

Born in Southampton in England, Anna-Lou was raised in London with a passion for reading and writing. Nurturing this interest of her over time, she would hone and refine her skills as an author, discovering her own unique voice in the process. Studying further, she would continue to apply herself to her craft, building a profile for herself within the literary world.

Going on to work as the editor for several different publications, she would get to sharpen her writing skills for a mass audience. Drawing in inspiration from her surrounds, she would proceed to put much of it back into her writing and work. Currently still living in London to this very day, she continues to write regularly, with lots more set for release on the horizon.

Prior to writing fiction full-time, Anna-Lou Weatherly worked as an editor for prestigious publications such as Smash and J-17. Creating a big name for herself as a novelist, she would slowly come to find her own voice before writing her first complete novel. This would be titled ‘Ibiza Summer’ back in 2006, and it would give her an insight into her many writing processes and what she had to offer.

Before long, she would begin writing suspense novels and mystery thrillers, establishing a profile as a writer known for tension. Beginning her ‘Detective Dan Riley’ series with the novel ‘Black Heart’ in 2018, she would soon be on her way to being a hugely successful author. Winning awards for her work, she’s been in the industry for over ten years and counting as her career grows upwards and onwards.

When she's not writing, which isn't often, she likes to hang upside down on a pole - she's a qualified pole fitness instructor, and drink fancy wine (though not necessarily at the same time, that would be dangerous). She adores creating exciting, three dimensional, glamorous and flawed characters against a backdrop of exotic locations. Revenge, sex, sin, glamour, excess, crime and intrigue is her speciality. Her next novel, title to come, promises all the above and more!

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Lie in our Marriage by Anna-Lou Weatherley

The Lie in our Marriage (Detective Dan Riley #6) by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Genre: Domestic thriller, Crime thriller, Police procedural

Read: 14th January 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 18th January 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

On a warm spring evening, guests gather in a perfectly manicured garden to celebrate Maggie and Len’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Maggie leans against the apple tree, watching her fun-loving husband and darling children as her heart swells with pride. As the joyful party atmosphere disappears into the night, close by, the lifeless body of a young woman is pulled from a river.

Slipping upstairs to find the special gift for her adoring husband, Maggie stumbles across something else hidden amongst the dusty boxes of family keepsakes…

A printed pink silky scarf that doesn’t belong to her. She holds it up to her face, breaths in the sweet sickly perfume, it’s scent familiar, and tendrils of fear snake through her body. The scarf is stained with blood.

As Maggie rejoins the party and tries to ignore her churning stomach, she pours herself a glass of champagne to toast the man she’s enjoyed decades of happy marriage with. Then she catches a news flash of the local girl’s murder. She stares at the girl with the beautiful face, long ice-blonde hair and, draped loosely around her neck, Maggie recognises it instantly. She’s wearing the scarf.

An utterly addictive and twisty read about the complex web of secrets within a family that will have you racing through to the mind-blowing end. If you love Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn and Behind Closed Doors, you won’t be able to put this down!

MY THOUGHTS:

Oh wow...this may be a crime thriller, a murder mystery filled with secrets, lies and all the usual stuff, but boy did I find it so incredibly sad by the end! I had tears as I read the final words that I could hardly see the page. They say hindsight is a wonderful thing...but it's also horribly unfortunate at times. And with it comes the haunting memories that fill you with "what ifs". That final chapter right down to the final words just made the entire story so incredibly sad.

It's a warm spring evening as guests gather in the beautifully manicured gardens to celebrate Maggie and Len's 25th wedding anniversay. There are speeches, memories recounted and fun times shared by all. Maggie watches her husband and remembers all the reasons she fell in love with him...how lucky she is to have been married to this wonderful man for twenty five years. And then she sees her children, Remy, busy taking selfies and her son Lewis with his pregnant girlfriend Casey she she counts her blessings at just how lucky she truly is. To have Len and her wonderful family gathered with their friends to celebrate this momentous occasion. And Maggie has something special planned for Len towards the end of the night. 

With the party in full swing, Maggie quietly slips upstairs and into the loft for that special gift she kept tucked away under the eaves when she stumbles across something else hidden there. A silky scarf that doesn't belong to her. She holds it to her face and is enveloped in a sickly sweet perfume she's sure she recognises. But that's not all...amidst the silky pink material adorned with black skulls is a brownish abstract print...or is it blood? What does this mean? And who put it there? 

Returning to the party, Maggie puts it from her mind...until she sees that same scarf just days later being worn by the woman whose body police had retrieved from the river the same day as the anniversary party. Surely not?  But being linked to a murder victim and its very presence in her house leads Maggie to do some digging of her own...and she isn't sure she likes what she discovers. Paranoia sets in as Maggie begins to wonder about this Pandora's box she's opened. What is she to do with what she's discovered? How can she live with herself?

DCI Dan Riley is heading up the investigation into the body they pulled from the river and she is soon identified as Amelie Fox, a local instagrammer and influencer, with a vast social media following. He is joined by his "number two" DS Lucy Davis as together, with the help of their-behind-the-scenes team, investigate the young woman's death. We are not bogged down with procedure and red tape bureaucracy that adorns many other crime thriller series on the market but just enough to keep the pace moving and the story interesting.

Riley, as we know from past books, is married to Fiona with a daughter Juno who they affectionately call "Pip". But now Fiona is pregnant with their second child, another surprise by all accounts, which is hilariously alluded to by their forensic pathologist (recounted below).

"The sperm was still alive for some time after her death, and of course this gives us definitive DNA."

"Still alive?"

"Oh come on Dan - didn't you pay attention in biology class at school?"

My expression causes her to sigh. "No wonder both your wife's pregnancies were such a shock to you!"

But it doesn't end there. Weatherley's humour is peppered throughout, most of which by Maggie in relation to their neighbour Brenda who seemingly was always scantily clad with a cleavage even a blind man could see!

"Is she imagining it or is he staring at Brenda's cleavage? Hard not to really, she supposes, it was just so...there, in your face. It's a job not stare herself."

And Maggie's suspicious and overactive imagination have lead her to see things that may or may not be there...not least Brenda's cleavage. lol

"Maggie glances at Len but his expression hasn't changed. She's sure he's still slyly copping a look at Brenda's tits."

I just love Weatherley's humour that had me laughing in places. There's a strange sense of irony that that which had me laughing also brought me to tears by the story's end. And throughout the unfolding of discoveries Maggie made which left us desperate for the same answers, by the same token I thought it far too obvious. But who knows? The blindingly obvious could well be a red herring. And yet the twists kept coming.

I did find the pace slow off a little towards the middle with a bit of repetitiveness but it was still intriguing and I was still turning the pages wanting to know how it all panned out. I began to piece it all together just before Dan did. There is one character that you will just love to hate purely because he is a self-obsessed entitled misogynist who can't see beyond his own reflection. The chapters with him had me laughing out loud he was so obnoxious, which was good because other authors would write such a character in a way that would have me wanting to tear the pages to climb into the book and throttle him myself. Instead, Weatherley's depiction of him and the scenes he was in has me chuckling.

I love Anna-Lou Weatherley's style and this intriguing addition to the series is no different. I love how it's more than just another police procedural, that while it is an important part of the story, it goes hand in hand with the story that it is unravelling. I love how her stories are domestic thrillers enmeshed with Detective Dan Riley's investigative side. Procedurals alone can tend to be samey and a little stale, but Weatherley's style ramps it up a few notches to keep readers turning the pages as we watch everything unfold through both key players' perspectives.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE LIE IN OUR MARRIAGE as with this entire series. Having said that, I will add that despite being part of a series, each book can be read as standalones with Detective Dan Riley being the common link throughout. While some of his backstory recurs in each book, it isn't a main theme so readers won't be missing out if not every book is read. I still haven't read the first two, coming in only on the third book and I don't feel I have missed anything at all...except maybe only Weatherley's brilliant writing.

I would like to thank #AnnaLouWeatherley, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLieInOurMarriage in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anna-Lou Weatherly is well known for her engaging and compelling mystery suspense novels. Instantly grabbing the attention of the reader, she delivers her stories in a straightforward style that really works for her material. Often writing about darker subject matter, too, she doesn’t hold back when it comes to more serious topics, really delivering gripping narratives. Her work is set in a league of its own when it comes to rich and immersive thrillers that allow the reader to escape into them.

Constantly keeping her audience guessing throughout, she’s a writer gifted in the art of compelling narratives with plenty of twists and turns. Pushing the boundaries of what the romance genre can really do, she allows her stories to speak for themselves essentially when it comes to telling them. Her books come alive off of the page, enveloping the reader and holding them there for the complete duration of the novel. Establishing her own style and tone, too, each book of hers is unmistakeably hers, as she really does have her own voice and approach.

When it comes to characters, she really embeds herself in their mindset, providing readers with a clear view of their perspective. This style gives her readers a front-row seat when it comes to the action, really making it engaging on all levels. Winning awards for her work, too, she’s written for many outlets, from Smash Hits to the NME, to Marie Claire, making her one of the most prolific writers within her area. There are plenty more titles planned for the future, too, as her writing career continues building from strength to strength.

Born in Southampton in England, Anna-Lou was raised in London with a passion for reading and writing. Nurturing this interest of her over time, she would hone and refine her skills as an author, discovering her own unique voice in the process. Studying further, she would continue to apply herself to her craft, building a profile for herself within the literary world.

Going on to work as the editor for several different publications, she would get to sharpen her writing skills for a mass audience. Drawing in inspiration from her surrounds, she would proceed to put much of it back into her writing and work. Currently still living in London to this very day, she continues to write regularly, with lots more set for release on the horizon.

Prior to writing fiction full-time, Anna-Lou Weatherly worked as an editor for prestigious publications such as Smash and J-17. Creating a big name for herself as a novelist, she would slowly come to find her own voice before writing her first complete novel. This would be titled ‘Ibiza Summer’ back in 2006, and it would give her an insight into her many writing processes and what she had to offer.

Before long, she would begin writing suspense novels and mystery thrillers, establishing a profile as a writer known for tension. Beginning her ‘Detective Dan Riley’ series with the novel ‘Black Heart’ in 2018, she would soon be on her way to being a hugely successful author. Winning awards for her work, she’s been in the industry for over ten years and counting as her career grows upwards and onwards.

When she's not writing, which isn't often, she likes to hang upside down on a pole - she's a qualified pole fitness instructor, and drink fancy wine (though not necessarily at the same time, that would be dangerous). She adores creating exciting, three dimensional, glamorous and flawed characters against a backdrop of exotic locations. Revenge, sex, sin, glamour, excess, crime and intrigue is her speciality. Her next novel, title to come, promises all the above and more!

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Woman Inside by Anna-Lou Weatherley

The Woman Inside (Detective Dan Riley #4) by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Genre: Psychological thriller, Crime thriller

Read: 6th April 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 13th January 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Daisey Garrett wakes up in a hospital bed. She remembers her boyfriend has left her for another woman, but she doesn’t remember what happened to her the night she was attacked in her own home.

Daisey shouldn’t be alive but against all odds, she’s survived an ordeal most would never recover from.

But Daisey’s mind is broken. She’s on edge, drinking too much and, despite the painful breakup, finds herself in bed with her ex, Luke. And while she desperately tries to keep herself together, she can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched.

Yet the missing pieces of that fateful summer night are beginning to surface…

The lies she told the police.

The lies Luke told her.

Daisey’s memory is flickering like a faulty light bulb, flashing with images just out of reach.

She can’t remember. She mustn’t.

An absolutely gripping, addictive page-turner, The Woman Inside takes you within the tangled mess of people’s lives and the dark secrets they hold close. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Before I Go to Sleep and The Wife Between Us.

MY REVIEW:

Although I have only read two others in this series - "The Stranger's Wife" and "The Night of the Party" - both of which I loved, it is fast becoming one of my favourite series. I love the fact that you don't need to read each book or in any particular order - as you can see, I read Book 3 and 5 before backtracking to this one, book 4 and I wasn't lost in any way. I think because Anna-Lou Weatherley focuses on the story itself rather than the team of detectives and their personal lives, we are able to follow each book no matter what order we read them. Although we do get a little of Dan's personal life, it's just an inkling and it never overshadows the main focus of the story.

The title, THE WOMAN INSIDE is a little ambiguous in which that it can have a double meaning. I won't say much more as to do so would reveal a major spoiler. But rest assured, this is an addictive tale that will that will have you promising yourself "just one more chapter"...

The story begins with Daisey Garrett at an after-work party thing that she really isn't enjoying and would much rather be curled up on the couch at home binge watching something more appealing on Netflix. She gets a little inebriated in the wake of her ex-fiance having run off with a younger woman, a former student of his no less. But that of course didn't stop Luke from coming around earlier for a little stroll down memory lane across the kitchen table. A couple of her colleagues are talking about the Rose Petal Ripper's latest victim, a former employee of the department store in which they all work, Fern Lever who was found dead, naked and with her throat slashed.

Having heard enough, Daisey heads outside for a cigarette to calm her anxious mind when a Good Samaritan offers her a light. She's not sure who this person is but she gets a strange vibe from him and finishes her cigarette quickly to escape him. It didn't occur to her till later that he addressed her by name. Does she know him? Does he work at Warwick's too?

A little more than tipsy, Daisey decides to head home early when the flirtatious Tommy White, with quite a reputation, insists on escorting her home...especially with a killer out there. Daisey thinks Tommy only wants one thing and she doesn't intend on relinquishing that for him. After ensuring she is safe home, Tommy leaves but when the doorbell rings soon after, Daisey thinks he has returned, thinking he's going to get lucky.

It isn't him.

All at once, Daisey sees the figure in front of her before she sees the hammer he's wielding...and then everything goes black.

Detective Dan Riley was called out from leave to head up the investigation into the Rose Petal Ripper and after two killings he gets the call that there has now been a third. As soon as he sees the scene, he knows it's the same killer. Daisey lays naked on her bed, arms folded across her chest with her throat cut. And with her is his calling card - a single pink rose with a scattering of petals around her. But there is something different about this scene, Dan assesses, and is shocked to discover that Daisey is still alive...though how or why is anyone's guess.

The next thing Daisey knows is waking in a hospital bed with a raspy sore throat from the breathing tube that had kept her in a medically induced coma until she was well enough to wake. Dan is at her side almost immediately. But any hopes he has of a description of her attacker and details of what happened are dashed when he is informed that she has traumatic amnesia. Daisey remembers nothing of the day or night of the attack. She may recover her memories...but then again she may not. But it's up to Dan to solve this case with or without those memories. Not just for Daisey, but for the other women he's killed also.

I really love Dan. He is a good hardworking decent copper, even if doesn't always go by the book, relying on his intuition which has never failed him yet. His boss, Superintendent Gwen Archer, isn't one for cutting corners so is not at all impressed by his incessant need to act on this "infamous intuition" of his when what they need are cold hard facts. Although I don't know his team all that well they each have their parts to play and they do it well, without question or angst.

The story unfolds primarily through Daisey and Dan's eyes, though the chapters are not titled as such but you do end up realising whose narrative it is soon enough. Daisey's is in the third person whilst Dan remains in the first person. There are a few flashback chapters beginning in 1987 with an excited couple preparing for the birth of their twin girls and the progression of the family and their troubles throughout the years until September 1997. Coupled with these flashbacks and the clues I picked up along the way, I managed to work out the killer and a major plot twist very early on - about 20 to 25% in. But that never spoils my enjoyment of a good book.

The plot twist is so seemingly far fetched almost that to pick it is pure guesswork, genius or the workings of a detective's mind. It's that far off course. But when you see it, you realise how much sense it makes. I did feel the ending dragged out a little bit once the reveal came, but maybe that's because I had already figured it out...I'm not sure.

THE WOMAN INSIDE is indeed an engaging thriller that moves along at a steady pace. It's not my favourite out of the three I've read, but it is still as thrilling and addictive that keeps you turning the pages until the end. It is also a very different tale in the way it sympathises with both sides of the coin and provides plenty of food for thought.

Although it is the fourth book in the series, THE WOMAN INSIDE can be read as a standalone easily enough without getting lost. I love how each of the author's books explore the villain and their victims as well a little of the investigation without bogging readers down in the procedural aspect. Perfect for fans of crime thrillers that don't focus solely on the investigation.

I would like to thank #AnnaLouWeatherley, #Netgalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheWomanInside in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anna-Lou began her award-winning career in women’s journalism, becoming the editor of two national titles and contributing to a host of magazines and newspapers before writing novels full-time.

Obsessed with all things crime related, her adult fiction titles include Chelsea Wives and Wicked Wives, both published by Avon in the UK and Bookouture in the US and Canada, Pleasure Islandpublished by Bookouture, and Black Heart, The Couple on Cedar Close and The Stranger’s Wife(featuring DI Dan Riley) published by Bookouture.

She lives in London with her partner, her two sons and her beloved dachshund, Iggy.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Night of the Party by Anna-Lou Weatherley

The Night of the Party (DI Dan Riley #5) by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Genre: Crime thriller, Domestic thriller, Mystery, Suspense

Read: 11th February 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 12th January 2022

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Two Couples. Three Secrets. One Murder.

In a beautiful house surrounded by woodland, the Drayton family and their dearest friends are enjoying dinner together. The wine is flowing, the meal has been lovingly prepared, and it’s going to be an evening none of them will ever forget…

A doting mother

with a manipulative daughter.

A loving husband

lying to his family.

A close friend

keeping a shocking secret.

A beautiful girl

who will be dead by the end of the night.

A totally unputdownable and nail-bitingly tense psychological thriller with an explosive double twist that will leave you reeling. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian McAllister and Lucy Foley will be hooked on The Night of the Party.

MY REVIEW:

Two couples. Three secrets. One murder.

Anna-Lou Weatherley never fails to deliver a superb thriller, complete with questionable characters - some pristine, some not so. And this addition to the DI Dan Riley series is no different...and yet it is. It certainly does not disappoint. It is a fast paced thrill ride filled with secrets, lies and a ton of deception. And a whole lot of fun getting there.

The Draytons, Evie and Tom, are hosting a dinner party for their friends Una and Jim, whom they have known since their university days. Before the starters, the couples are enjoying plenty of free flowing wine and relaxing on an unseasonably chilly November night. Jim is a GP, a quiet reserved middle-aged man, while his wife Una is the seemingly life of the party, opening her mouth before her brain is in gear. Tonight, as they enjoy each other's company, Evie's 17 year old daughter Libby makes her way to the door for a night out with best friend Katie to watch a band play when her mother stops and begs her to regale them with her talent on the piano. Then bidding them goodnight with promises to text when she gets there and to be home by 10.30pm, Libby is gone.

Throughout the evening as the dinner is well underway, Evie can't ignore the nagging sense of doom she feels...particularly when Libby fails to text her as promised. And Libby always texts to let her know she has arrived safely. Always. But tonight she hasn't and Evie is even more worried when Libby fails to respond to any of her texts. And when 10.30pm comes and goes, Evie instinctively knows something is wrong.

DI Dan Riley is called in on his day off to investigate the disappearance of Libby who her parents assure him that this is out of character for their usually responsible daughter. And Dan believes they have every right to be worried. As the chill of the evening is well set in, Dan knows that Libby will not survive the night if she is somewhere out there and so he and his team begin a search of the pathway leading from the Drayton's house towards town. When Libby's body is discovered, a murder investigation begins and as Dan digs deeper into Libby's life, he discovers that the 17 year old was not as perfect or as innocent as her mother believed. Thus exposing a very different side of Libby.

Evie refuses to believe that her beautiful sweet and perfect daughter could be so calculating and manipulative. But as more of the pieces begin to fall into place, she has no choice but to confront the horrible truth that not only was Libby not who she thought she was but that everyone has been lying to her. 

Libby was the apple of Evie's eye, beautiful, talented and perfect but she wasn't the sweet angel she thought she was but rather was cold, calculating and manipulative without an ounce of remorse. And thus, she was murdered as a result.

Tom is Evie's husband, with a 19 year old son Brandon from a previous liaison, but he isn't the devoted husband he appears to be. He is hiding a secret or three that he won't want seeing the light of day.

Una is Evie's best friend from university and is little a bit jealous that she was never able to conceive as Evie had. Added to that she is plagued by guilt over the secrets she's keeping.

Jim, the quiet and reserved GP, once had a thing for Evie at uni but, sadly for him, Tom got the girl. But despite his prominent place in society, he too harbours a secret that could destroy him.

Brandon is Tom's son and Evie's step-son. The two have never really gotten along as Libby has always been Evie's world with no room for him, it seems. Brandon and Libby loathe each other and make no secret of the fact, despite onlookers believing it to be just banter. But is he hiding something far more serious?

Evie's world has collapsed with the murder of her daughter and now it is being ripped apart as secrets are uncovered and no one is who they appear to be. Two couples, a dead daughter and, not one (but), more secrets than you can poke a stick at.

There are some despicable characters in this tangled tale and none more so that Libby. She is hateful with a capital H. She is cold, callous, manipulative and narcissistic. She really does not care who she hurts or how but like all sociopaths, she knows exactly how to blend in as the perfect daughter. It really is easy to see why someone would want her dead. The question is, which one of them hated her enough to kill her? And not just kill her, but annihilate her?

THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY is such a fun read with a fast moving plot that keeps the reader engaged throughout and flipping pages till the end. I love the multiple narratives of Evie, Dan and Libby (leading up the the night in question) as we watch everything unfold and play out like a screenplay.

It's definitely an intense read filled with twists, secrets, lies and deception. There are surprises, maybe not so much for seasoned readers of this genre but there are still some twists that should keep you guessing. I did work out who killed Libby but there was one final twist near the very end that I didn't see coming, which gave it that satisfactory ending. And despite being part of a series, it suffices perfectly as a standalone.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY...but, and it is a big but, what ensued when Dan discovered who the killer actually was just doesn't seem feasible. And definitely not reasonable. I can't say much more than that but it was the only part of the story that I found disappointing, hence the half star knock down.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Clare Mackintosh, Gilly Macmillan and Teresa Driscoll.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anna-Lou began her award-winning career in women’s journalism, becoming the editor of two national titles and contributing to a host of magazines and newspapers before writing novels full-time.

Obsessed with all things crime related, her adult fiction titles include Chelsea Wives and Wicked Wives, both published by Avon in the UK and Bookouture in the US and Canada, Pleasure Islandpublished by Bookouture, and Black Heart, The Couple on Cedar Close and The Stranger’s Wife(featuring DI Dan Riley) published by Bookouture.

She lives in London with her partner, her two sons and her beloved dachshund, Iggy.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Stranger's Wife by Anna-Lou Weatherley (ARC)

The Stranger's Wife (Detective Dan Riley #3) by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Genre: Domestic thriller, psychological thriller, crime fiction

Read: 16th March 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 16th January 2020)

★★★★★ 5 stars

When I requested THE STRANGER'S WIFE on Netgalley I didn't realise it was the third book in a series. But that's OK as it reads great as a standalone. I enjoyed it so much that I am looking forward to reading the first two featuring Detective Dan Riley.

As psychological or domestic thrillers go, THE STRANGER'S WIFE is perfect in just about every way. The layers of suspense that builds throughout just pulls you in from the very first page and never lets up till the end. It was so psychological, so twisted but oh so brilliant!

June 2018: Beth Lawler arrives home to discover her four year old daughter Lily is alone in the house, asleep, and her nanny is nowhere to be found. Her car is still on the driveway, handbag draped on the chair, but her mobile phone is missing...as is her passport and some of her clothes. Beth immediately calls Marta's phone but it is switched off. She begins to worry and frantically searches the house again. Then she notices something strange...the back doors to the yard are open and Marta's silk scarf is on the lawn. She calls the police and her husband Evan, but cannot shake the feeling that something untoward has happened. Marta has always been incredibly reliable, she would never leave of her own volition...would she? Or is it something more sinister?

April 2019: Cath Patterson has arrived at A&E covered in bruises with a black eyes, a split lip, three shattered fingers, a cracked rib...and in labour. The beating she had received from her partner Saul Bennett was the worst he had given her and although she claimed her injuries were a result of a car accident, she knew they saw right through it. She arrived broken and smashed clutching her swollen belly with her baby of 38 weeks. She remembered feeling the baby wriggle throughout the beating but afterwards...nothing. She knew then that her little baby was gone. And so through the excruciating pain she delivers her stillborn child into the world, a little boy she named Cody. When the nurses return with him swaddled in blankets, Cath held him and whispered to him "I'm sorry Cody, my beautiful angel. Mummy loves you and I'm sorry."

October 2019: Detective Dan Riley is called to the scene of a particularly gruesome murder in a penthouse apartment. The victim has been shot in the head as he lay half dressed and he has been there for some days. The ID in his wallet lists him as Evan Lawler, owner of a prestigious construction business responsible for designing the very building they now find themselves in. But that's not all...Evan Lawler owns the penthouse apartment himself, despite living in a prestigious area of London in a grand house with his wife and child. So what was he doing here? And where had he heard the name Lawler before? The investigation will lead Dan to question all that he knows and all that he believes with one of the most difficult decisions of his career.

THE STRANGER'S WIFE is a story about two very different women - Beth and Cath. Beth is wealthy and in a loveless marriage but has found love with a man who gives her the kindness and love that her cold detached husband does not. Cath is poor with a violently abusive partner who spends most of their money on drugs. Both are suffering at the hands of their partners. Both are in toxic relationships. And neither can see any way out of their situations. These two women who have completely different lives in two different cities with nothing in common and under ordinary circumstances they might never have met. Until they do. Then one afternoon on the 3.15pm train from London to Bristol, fate intervenes and their lives are changed forever.

From the perspectives of Beth, Cath and Dan, we are given a clear insight into each person's lives and as the story unfolds we see the secrets, the lies, the duplicity, the betrayal woven into a dark and twisted tale of revenge. There are aspects which are brutal as we are given a glimpse into the reality that is domestic abuse and the helplessness of each woman living in their abusive relationship. The psychological, emotional, manipulative and coercive control that is just as damaging as physical abuse is distressing in parts to read but also crucial to the cleverly written plot, which was extremely evocative. You will be enraged as the blood rises from a simmer to boiling point.

THE STRANGER'S WIFE delivers a tale that cautions us that those closest to us may not be all we think they are. It warns us how well do we really know another person. And then it throws us a moral dilemma that leaves us questioning everything we thought we believed to be right.

Although this is the third installment in the series, this is my introduction to DI Dan and I really like him. He is no nonsense but fair, loves his work and takes it seriously without being heavy handed or arrogant. One of the real "good guys" you'd want to have on your side. Like all police protagonists, he has a personal life that is woven into the narrative but doesn't overshadow the main story.

As for Beth and Cath - I liked both of them. Their strengths and their weaknesses were integral to the story and I love how each were manipulated to cross a line that neither of them thought they ever would. It raises questions about the law, justice and morality leaving us wondering what would we do if we ever found ourselves in such a situation? And as the conclusion nears, the reader ponders exactly how it would all end. As much as I wanted Dan to solve the case, I also didn't want him to.

A fast-paced read, THE STRANGER'S WIFE is a fantastic 5-star read that had me swiping the pages on my kindle to discover the fate of the characters I had since grown attached to.

While, yes, the plot reaches a point that we know the direction it is headed, it still gives us a unique twist on an already familiar concept reminiscent of the well-known Hitchcock movie "Strangers on a Train".

I cannot believe I have not come across Anna-Lou Weatherley before. Where has she been hiding, I must ask? I have yet to read the other two in this series and genre, but THE STRANGER'S WIFE (for me) is a compelling and addictive read that had me absorbed from beginning to end...and up till way past my bedtime!

A must read for fans of psychological and domestic thrillers.

I would like to thank #AnnaLouWeatherley, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheStrangersWife in exchange for an honest review.