REVIEW: One of the Family by Jess Ryder

One of the Family by Jess Ryder

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller

Read: 12th October 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 30th October 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

My daughter’s boyfriend feels like one of the family. I couldn’t be happier to have him living with us. But now my daughter’s disappeared…

I never wanted to have an empty nest. So when my daughter, Liv, asks if she and her new boyfriend, Jensen, can move in, I’m thrilled.

Jensen is so helpful. He tells me how he loves being part of a close-knit family. He’s felt so alone since his parents died. And for me, his presence goes a little way towards replacing the son I lost.

Still, I can’t help but notice that Liv and Jensen are starting to argue. My daughter seems unhappy. Perhaps they just need some time alone together?

But when my husband and I return from our weekend away, Liv is missing. The relationship with Jensen appears to be over but he doesn’t want to leave. And then I discover exactly what he will do to stay in our family…

An utterly gripping psychological thriller that will have you turning pages late into the night. If you love Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden you will be hooked on One of the Family.

MY THOUGHTS:

Rachel is beginning to feel the stirrings of an empty nester. Her eldest daughter Liv has been away at university in Newcastle for the past three years and her youngest Meg is on the cusp of going away to uni as well. Now she is facing a quiet life with just her and husband Dom. But things haven't quite been rosy there either. Maybe now they'll have the chance to reconnect again.

But first things first. The three of them are making the trip north from London to Newcastle for Liv's graduation. And it is there that they meet their daughter's boyfriend Jensen. Of course the graduation has thrown up a new conundrum - Liv and Jensen are moving back to London and need to find a place to rent. Rachel, who doesn't want either of her children to leave the nest just yet, comes up with the idea of offering them their loft conversion which had previously been Liv's room anyway. All they had to do was shift Dom's desk out of the spare room on that floor and that would give the young couple a sitting room of sorts to themselves. Problem solved! Or so she thought.

Rachel could see no problem with the solution she had offered. But Dom did as did Meg. They didn't know Jensen. Even Liv isn't sure it was the right thing to do, having already lived under the shadow of her mother's helicopter parenting. But it would give them a chance to save up for a deposit on their own place. Unfortunately, to do so meant one had to gain some employment in order to save for said deposit and that's something Jensen is showing no signs of doing. Liv has made some applications but apart from that, the couple seem to treat their time under her parent's roof as some kind of holiday - free rent, free food, free WiFi, utilities. Why would they want to leave? Except Liv does. But Jensen has his feet firmly settled under the table, feeling completely at home and like one of the family.

And then we have Meg. She wants to have her mother's attention for once, who seems to be overly involved in Liv and Jensen, and she doesn't like it. She is the target of some bullying which makes for uncomfortable reading and makes me feel glad that I was a teenager long before the age of social media and the internet. She also doesn't like Jensen so her solution is to remain locked up in her room away from everyone.

Dom? One could almost be forgiven for forgetting that Rachel even has a husband, he features so little. He voices his opinion every so often but he spends more time leaving early and working late before heading off to Dubai for work. And he shares none of Rachel's concerns and shows barely any support. Why is he even there, I had to wonder?

Things come to a head; Rachel and Dom cannot find an even ground and even Liv and Jensen are arguing. So Rachel books a weekend away for her a Dom to "reconnect" (albeit without running it by him first), ships Meg off to her sister's giving Liv and Jensen some time alone together to "sort things out". Unable to go five minutes without checking in with both girls, Dom understandably gets annoyed. After all, they are supposed to be spending time together. They end up having a wonderfully relaxing weekend away and return home refreshed and energised.

But when Rachel and Dom return home, there is no sign of Liv. Jensen said she left after an arguement and hasn't returned since. But what really happened? When Rachel steals a look at the room the couple occupy, she finds a scene of destruction - as if their arguement had become physical. But Jensen assures her it's just a lack of tidiness on his part. Rachel isn't sure what to believe. Dom wants him gone. What's the point of him being there now that Liv has gone? Meg finds him creepy and won't stay in the house if he's there and moves in with her aunt. But Rachel wants answers and won't stop until she gets them.

There is a lot going on here that will leave you irritated and pulling your hair out as well as questioning motives and what's truth and what isn't. Someone is lying, but who? And why? Someone has secrets, but who? And what? And someone is out for revenge, but who? And why?

Rachel annoyed the hell out of me. She was blind to everyone else's needs but her own. It was all about what she wanted and that was she didn't want either of her girls to move out of home which is why she offered the loft to Liv and Jensen. I said you can be forgiven for forgetting that she was married because she seemed to go ahead and make every decision herself without first consulting her husband. Not that she needed his permission but he lived in that house too and he had every right to an opinion as well. But Rachel just stormed ahead like everything was her responsibility. Dom barely featured. Even Liv felt smothered by her helicopter parenting. Only Meg longed for her attention and yet never seemed to get it.

This is a real pageturner that might have you guessing but then again, it may not. It may seem predictable but don't believe everything. I pieced most of it together before the end but there was still a little surprise before the end that wasn't so much a surprise whilst still being one - if that makes any sense.

An enjoyable read that was twisty and compelling that I devoured in a few hours.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jess Ryder is the author of five psychological thrillers - 'The Ex Wife', 'Lie to Me', 'The Good Sister', 'The Dream House', The Girl You Gave Away' and her latest, published November 2 2020 - 'The Night Away'. All titles are published by Bookouture. She also writes as Jan Page. With many years' experience as a scriptwriter, she loves watching television crime drama. Jess is a passionate reader and particularly enjoys thrillers.

Jess lives with her partner in London, UK and has four grown-up children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: My Husband's Lover by Jess Ryder

My Husband's Lover by Jess Ryder

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 9th October 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 14th October 2022

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A wife. A mistress. A week away with no escape…

As my girlfriends and I sip wine and share secrets in the flickering candlelight of our remote Scottish hideaway, we all agree we need this break. Every morning we will swim in icy cold lochs and hike to remote beaches and each night we will sip wine and share stories, cosy beside the log burner. It will be a break none of us will ever forget.

But behind my warm smile, there is ice in my heart. One of my friends is my husband’s lover, and it’s only a matter of time before I discover which one. She thinks she has me fooled, but she’s not the only one with secrets.

I don’t let my smile slip, but as I get closer to the truth, it becomes very clear that in these remote Scottish hills, far from help, someone is going to pay for their lies with their life…

A completely gripping and addictive page turner. Fans of The Guest List, K.L. Slater and Jackie Kabler will be utterly hooked on My Husband’s Lover.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Jess Ryder's atmospheric thriller MY HUSBAND'S LOVER.

A wife. A mistress. A week away with no escape…

What a tense and atmospheric read this was! And what better setting than the remote Scottish Highlands. No electricity, no phone signal, no WiFi, no running water, a compost toilet...they call it ecotourism; I call it roughing it in dangerous territory. I've read too many thrillers to find THAT in any way relaxing. No way would you get me there without some form of civilisation nearby. What if there was an emergency? As these women soon found out...

The story builds slowly as we meet Sophie and Ryan in the midst of marital difficulties. The fact that Sophie has let it smoulder without even a hint  of forgiveness tells me that their marriage is in trouble. Still reeling from a New Year revelation that he'd been having an affair, which he said was more like a fling, Sophie is furious with her husband for his betrayal. But as you get to know the couple and their story, I'm a bit baffled as to why she is even surprised! The fact that she kind of rumbled him into a relationship and even admitted to her friends they lived together for two years before she managed to drag him up the aisle. That speaks to me that Ryan went along reluctantly...and his behaviour kind of confirmed that. So again, I'm wondering, why Sophie was even surprised by his revelation?

Anyway, in light of his betrayal and after months of marriage counselling, there was no real sign of progress but still they soldiered on for the sake of their two sons. But still Sophie felt betrayed. I get it, I do; I would too in her situation. So she decides she needs something for her...to lose herself in, or maybe to find herself. And so she creates Sophie's Swimmers - a group of women who brave the icy waters of wild swimming.

What is wild swimming? It's basically, to all intents and purposes, swimming in natural pools of water - be it a bend in a river, an open lake or even the sea. It is far more dangerous than the confined spaces of a man-made swimming pool. There are no lifeguards, the waters are invigoratingly cold and if in a river or open sea, there are currents and tides to contend with.

For Sophie, wild swimming is an escape. To make her forget. And together with five other regulars - Fern, Keira, Elise, Grace and Ariel - they meet weekly at a local lake to brave the cold waters. One day, the women are tossing about ideas of a wild swimming trip together somewhere and Fern discovers the perfect place in the Scottish Highlands in a remote cottage with no electricity, running water, WiFi or mobile phone signal, surrounded by lochs in which they can swim. The women jump on board the idea and the getaway is booked. But Fern pulls out at the last minute, leaving the other women to go on without her...and leaving Sophie as the only driver of the group.

It's a seven or so hour drive to the layby in which they leave the car for the 90 minute hike through a single file trail to their remote cabin far away from any kind if civilisation. They are barely into the trip when Sophie gets an urgent call from Ryan. The woman he had an affair with is part of Sophie's group and she has been stalking her for the best part of six months. She asks who but he refuses to tell her. He begs her to turn around and come home but she ignores his pleas. She will just have to uncover her husband's mistress for herself.

However, if she thought this was to be a relaxing week away, then she was very much mistaken. Sophie's problems are only just beginning...

I loved the remote setting in the Scottish Highlands. It made for an incredibly atmospheric thriller, directing the plot with twists, red herrings and tension that was palpable throughout. Although it began as a slow build, it held my attention enough until it picked up its pace and then I was turning the pages at the rate of knots to uncover the who and the why. I had a couple of suspects but leant towards one predominantly which turned out to be correct. But not before ticking off one or two others. 

The story unfolds through the third person POV of Sophie and that of the interspersed chapters of the person we know only as "The Swimmer". From those chapters, I nit-picked for any clue to narrow down my suspect pool. But then when they were revealed, it felt a little like an anti-climax and the rest of the ending just sort of petered out. Don't get me wrong, it is still a great read. It just lacked the jaw-dropping twist at the end.

Overall, MY HUSBAND'S LOVER is an entertaining psychological thriller with the tension, the sense of claustrophia and the whole atmosphere that will have you gasping for breath.

I would like to thank #Jess Ryder, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandsLover in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jess Ryder is the author of five psychological thrillers - 'The Ex Wife', 'Lie to Me', 'The Good Sister', 'The Dream House', The Girl You Gave Away' and her latest, published November 2 2020 - 'The Night Away'. All titles are published by Bookouture. She also writes as Jan Page. With many years' experience as a scriptwriter, she loves watching television crime drama. Jess is a passionate reader and particularly enjoys thrillers.

Jess lives with her partner in London, UK and has four grown-up children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: The Second Marriage by Jess Ryder

The Second Marriage by Jess Ryder

Genre: Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 1st November 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Apple

Google

Kobo

Audible

UK

US

Soundcloud

Published: 3rd November 2021

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

‘They’re lying,’ my little stepson whispers, his blue eyes shining with tears as I tuck him into bed for the first time. ‘They think I’ve forgotten, but I remember everything. I know my mummy is still alive.’

My best friend warned me that it was too soon to marry Edward, a widower with an adorable but troubled little boy. She said we were moving too fast. But all I could see was a kind, loving man, struggling with grief, who needed my help.

Yet as storm clouds gather above our small wedding ceremony, my hopes and dreams fall apart. None of my husband’s family turn up to support us. Instead of a honeymoon, we have a quiet night in. My wedding bouquet is placed on his first wife’s grave. And then my new stepson tells me he’s sure his mother is still alive.

What does Noah remember and why is his father trying to make him forget? Have I been completely wrong about my husband? What happened to the woman who came before me, and how far will he go to stop me finding out the truth?

An utterly unputdownable, gripping, twisty psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Before I Go To Sleep, The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Jess Ryder's domestic thriller THE SECOND MARRIAGE.

A fast paced read that is as addictive as it is absorbing, THE SECOND MARRIAGE will have you second guessing as you plough your way through the secrets, the lies, the deception and the twists. Just when you think you know what's going on, along comes another sharp turn taking you on yet another bumpy thrill ride. I will say this, it certainly wasn't what I expected...and pleasantly so.

The story begins with Lily, having taken a job as 8 year old Noah's private tutor, ruminating over the interview she was late for and thus being swept off her feet by Noah's charismatic father Edward. What follows is a whirlwind courtship resulting in a proposal and a registry office wedding as she becomes Mrs Edward Morgan. 

But as Lily is soon to discover - marry in haste, repent at leisure. For with Edward comes two adult daughters and a mysterious past which he refuses to discuss. His main stipulation at her interview should have been a red flag - forbidding her from mentioning Noah's deceased mother...EVER. And yet Noah confides in her that the rest of the family is lying; that they think he doesn't remember but he remembers everything; that his mother is alive. Lily is shocked. Maybe he's mistaken. Yet when she broaches the matter with Edward he becomes cool and distant, dismissing the idea as Noah's imagination and wishing it to be true. But Lily isn't so sure.

She confides in her best friend Marsha whom Edward outwardly loathes and does his best to keep her from seeing her. Classic control behaviour. But Lily will not be swayed. Marsha does some digging into his mother Clare's death which proves to be tougher than it should be. But her determination pays off and she has a doozy of a story to share with Lily about her discovery. The problem is, is it true? Is the information Marsha has uncovered her Edward? Or is it someone else? Because if it is in fact Edward then he has some explaining to do...not that Lily would believe him after the lies he has spun over and over again. So what exactly is the truth?

But at the centre of this story is an innocent little boy who awaits the return of his mother to whisk him away from a life locked inside the fortress his father has built around them. And for what? Is it to protect them? Is to keep others out? Or is it to protect himself? Lily isn't sure anymore. But one thing she is sure of and that is Noah remembers more than what the family thinks he does, despite being only 3 at the time his mother disappeared, and Edward is doing his level best to suppress the boy's only remaining memories of his mother. Surely that can't be healthy...can it?

Lily has no choice but to confront Edward with what she knows...and he breaks down with tears of relief that he no longer has to keep the secret from her. So why keep it in the first place? To protect her? Noah? Or himself? And what about his grown daughters, Tara and Georgia? Every time the three of them are together Lily gets the feeling they are talking about her as the conversation ceases the moment she walks into the room. Tara, the eldest, is constantly aloof and doesn't care who Lily is or what she is doing there. Georgia at least pretends to like her. And Edward? He just continues to appease his entitled daughters while Lily is inwardly fuming. While poor Noah is the pawn in some secretive game they seem to have going on.

Lily has obviously gotten herself into muddy waters and soon finds that she is in too deep to do anything about it without raising suspicion. I began to wonder how it was all going to end for all involved because it wasn't going to be pretty, that's for sure.

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed THE SECOND MARRIAGE as its fast pace kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next. And I was hoodwinked this time. I couldn't foresee the outcome as much as I tried to conjure up possible scenarios. So I gave up trying and just enjoyed the ride. There were enough twists to give you whiplash and enough unlikeable characters to leave you speechless. I didn't like Edward from the first moment. He was too smooth and too perfect that he had to be hiding something. He was creepy and controlling, and I couldn't believe a word that came out of his mouth. His daughters were two faced, bitchy and completely self-entitled. Lily was naive and honestly stupid to be taken in after just coming out of a seven year relationship herself. Noah, despite his obvious anxiety which was at times frustrating, was probably one of the most redeeming characters alongside Marsha who could spot the wolf from the sheep, even if her friend couldn't.

While in some ways it may not be hard to work out where THE SECOND MARRIAGE might be heading, there are still plenty of twists to keep you guessing and second guessing throughout. There is plenty of tension that makes it a solid thriller and like Lily, you're not sure who or what to believe.

Filled with secrets, lies and deception, THE SECOND MARRIAGE is intense and addictive read that is perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jess Ryder is the author of five psychological thrillers - 'The Ex Wife', 'Lie to Me', 'The Good Sister', 'The Dream House', The Girl You Gave Away' and her latest, published November 2 2020 - 'The Night Away'. All titles are published by Bookouture. She also writes as Jan Page. With many years' experience as a scriptwriter, she loves watching television crime drama. Jess is a passionate reader and particularly enjoys thrillers.

Jess lives with her partner in London, UK and has four grown-up children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: The Night Away by Jess Ryder

  

The Night Away by Jess Ryder

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 29th October 2020

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Amazon

Apple

Google

Kobo

Published: 2nd November 2020

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

It was just one night away. I had no idea how devastating it would be…

My sister said I deserved a break. She offered to babysit so that my husband and I could have one night away, remember who we used to be before the sleepless nights.

But the next morning my phone rings. My sister is hysterical. Mabel’s cot is empty. My little girl is gone.

I race home with a horrible sick feeling flooding my stomach. The little sleepsuits still hang on the radiator but there is no gurgling or cooing on the baby monitor – just silence.

Now the police are questioning everyone. My sister, my husband, the girls from my baby group.

I want my little girl back more than anything and I will do whatever it takes. But I have a secret… Could the darkness in my past have put my baby at risk?

A truly gripping psychological thriller of manipulation and betrayal from bestselling author Jess Ryder. The Night Away will have you hooked until the final devastating revelation. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train or The Woman in the Window.  

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Jess Ryder's addictive new domestic thriller THE NIGHT AWAY.

There have been quite a few missing child stories/thrillers in recent years and I admit to being a bit of a sucker for them. But this one is slightly different in that we know from the beginning what happens to baby Mabel...although not who is responsible or why. And that makes this thriller a little more enticing. 

Someone is watching Amber. Someone watches her every move...her routine, her habits, her flat. Someone sees how desperately unhappy she is and curses her for being so ungrateful for her perfect life, her perfect husband and her perfect baby...the baby that should have been someone else's. Not Amber's. And one night when Amber isn't watching, her whole world is going to fall apart.

New mum Amber should be ecstatic. After months of trying to conceive unsuccessfully, she fell pregnant and both her and hubby George were over the moon. Throughout her pregnancy she glowed and couldn't wait to meet her precious longed-for bundle of joy. And then baby Mabel arrived...and since then, Amber has felt nothing but the crushing and overwhelming sense of guilt and unhappiness. She wanted Mabel so much and now she is paying the price by twenty four non-stop hours of trying to deal with her incessant crying and demands of her time. She should be happy...she knows she should be. She wanted Mabel so much...but was it too much?

Amber's younger sister Ruby can see her sister is struggling so suggests a week away from it all. A week? Too long. Five days then? Mabel would miss her. OK, so a weekend then. In the end, they decided on a night away. Just one night away. And Ruby would babysit. George took the opportunity to book a gorgeous and romantic getaway for them so they could spend some precious time reconnecting with each other.

But then one night while Ruby babysits Mabel, someone walks into the flat in the dead of night, creeps into the nursery where Mabel is sleeping...and takes her from her cot. And then the real drama begins. George instantly blames Ruby, for being inattentive and for letting Mabel disappear on her watch. Amber blames herself, for wanting Mabel too much and this is her punishment. Ruby blames herself...after all, she was supposed to be looking after Ruby...how could she not notice her disappear in the middle of the night?

But who was to blame really for Mabel's disappearance? Who took her? And why?

Told in three perspectives - Amber, Ruby and the stalker - THE NIGHT AWAY, which was actually two nights away on separate weekends, is a well written tale that will have you hooked from the very first page. There are so many secrets within the story keeping it a page-turner from beginning to end. I was encapsulated by the stalker and who they may have been, as well as Amber and Ruby's tangled lives. There were several twists, some of which I didn't see coming. But I picked up on a little tidbit dropped to the reader in passing and I snagged on that little morsel till an idea began to evolve.

I didn't much like Amber or George, nor Amber and Ruby's mother, but they were perfect for this role. I loved Ruby probably because I most identified with her. Not being a mother myself and thrust into the role of babysitter and finding the task a little more daunting than at first thought...lol  I think I would have been left exhausted myself. The other minor characters were also a perfect addition to the story and worked well.

I especially loved this excerpt from the second chapter when Amber woke at 5am declaring she was not a morning person...

"She can hear him (daddy) singing to Mabel as he baths her...It's not Mabel's usual bath time, but she woke up with a full nappy, the contents of which had mysteriously spread up her back, and it was the easiest way to clean her up. Judging by the protests coming from the bathroom, her daughter isn't a morning person either."

I can so relate! There were a few laugh out loud moments in the book though mostly it was an edge of your seat thrill ride.

The ending was a bit anti-climatic as you anticipate the police bursting in ready to rescue Mabel and whisk her away back to her frantic parents. But overall, THE NIGHT AWAY is a well plotted addictive thriller that will keep you guessing until the big reveal. 

Definitely recommended for lovers of domestic thrillers.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jess Ryder is the author of five psychological thrillers - 'The Ex Wife', 'Lie to Me', 'The Good Sister', 'The Dream House', The Girl You Gave Away' and her latest, published November 2 2020 - 'The Night Away'. All titles are published by Bookouture. She also writes as Jan Page. With many years' experience as a scriptwriter, she loves watching television crime drama. Jess is a passionate reader and particularly enjoys thrillers.

Jess lives with her partner in London, UK and has four grown-up children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Girl You Gave Away by Jess Ryder (ARC)

The Girl You Gave Away by Jess Ryder

Genre: Domestic thriller, psychological thriller, domestic drama

Read: 9th July 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 20th March 2020)

★★★★ 4 stars

Having read a couple of Jess Ryder's novels before, with my first one being a bit hit and miss and the second being marginally better, I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. But THE GIRL YOU GAVE AWAY happily did not disappoint. While the concept of the direction the story is going to take is fairly obvious, there are plenty of twists and secrets along the way to keep you guessing. It's about secrets, lies and revenge on a whole new scale that you won't be able to put it down!

Erin Whitesteed is celebrating her 40th birthday and as she mingles with her guests she feels like the luckiest woman alive. She owns her own business, has a loving husband and two wonderful children who thrive at school. After being an unwanted surprise for her parents late in life and then falling in with a rough crowd, she now feels as if this is where she is finally meant to be. Her life couldn't be more perfect. Does that mean it could only get worse?

When her best friend Asha hands her a red envelope she found on the doormat, little does Erin know that the fickle finger of fate is about to drop a bombshell she will not see coming. Puzzled, she opens the envelope to reveal a birthday card with a champagne glass overflowing with bubbles adorned with the number 40 inside...and her heart jumped into her throat.

"Happy birthday, Mum!
With love from the girl you gave away xxx"

With that single message, Erin's past comes back to haunt her with a secret so deep she has kept hidden and now threatens to smash her perfect life and that of her family to pieces. And the card? It's from the daughter she conceived at the age of 14 and gave up for adoption. Twenty five years ago.

Why is her daughter suddenly getting in contact now? Is she wanting a relationship with her birth mum or is there an ulterior motive? How did find her - where she lived, her phone number, email address? And most importantly, how is Erin going to explain this to her husband and children who have no idea of her other daughter's existence?

Then there is Jade, Erin's now 25 year old daughter. She volunteers at a charity shop, lives in a hostel and claims her adoption fell through when she was just 7 and has since grown up in care. Erin, of course, is mortified that the baby she gave up to give her a better life had in fact an even worse one than she could have imagined for her. Jade is annoyed that her existence has been kept a "dirty little secret" from Erin's family. Is she ashamed of her? Embarrassed? Humiliated, even?

But little does Erin know that Jade has secrets of her own. Secrets that are about to shatter her perfect little world into a million pieces.

The narrative alternates from both Erin and Jade's perspectives throughout weaving the past with the present as Erin's story is slowly revealed and the reader is given an understanding into her past. But it's what happens in the present, influenced by the past, that paves the way as Erin's perfect life begins to unravel.

Erin is not a sinister or vindictive woman. Just a woman who was shamed for her past and worried about what those secrets might do to her family. However, I do think her choices were a little stupid. While I sympathised with 14 year old Erin, I had little sympathy for adult Erin in part when all she had to do was be honest with Tom in the first place. Especially considering she knew how black and white his perspective on things were and how blinkered he could be. She knew this and yet she failed to be honest with him from the beginning. Of course she had done nothing wrong - she just made a mistake and was given no option but to do as she had been instructed to do. But as an adult, she had the option to tell him...and she didn't. So I wasn't surprised by Tom's reaction to her secret, although I was disgusted by his behaviour afterwards. A supposedly good caring husband prior to it all coming to light is suddenly cruel, unfeeling and unsympathetic after discovering he's been deceived. As if it is all about him and without a care towards his wife as to why she had kept this secret for all of their married life. He even gave her an ultimatum prior to their wedding "Promise me you will never deceive me, Erin. I won't be able to deal with it. Betray me once and our marriage will be over." Charming. However, knowing that about him Erin should have come clean from the beginning.

On the whole, pretty much everyone behaves diabolically. Erin deals with everything in the worst way possible. Tom is suddenly unfeeling, uncaring and unsympathetic towards his wife of almost 20 years. Oli and Chloe show next to no loyalty to their mother. Oli decides to chuck in his studies to spite him mum whilst Chloe becomes an even more rebellious 14 year old. And Jade? Well, let's just say she is an enigma with a lot of issues. I didn't trust her from the beginning. Basically everyone makes a series of lousy decisions throughout the entire story that makes you want to just smack their heads together.

And just when you think THE GIRL YOU GAVE AWAY is going to be a predictable read, all hell breaks loose.

THE GIRL YOU GAVE AWAY is a taut, tense psychological thriller that had me turning the pages with such speed and kept me on the edge of my seat. The story was absolutely gripping from beginning to end filled with suspense, secrets, lies and deception that made the tension palpable throughout.

My only complaint was the ending seemed a little rushed and I was left a little confused as how everything actually ended up. The final twist that should have been a segue into another revealing part of the story really just flopped into nothing, leaving it all in an unsatisfactory conclusion. It was this that dropped a star off my rating and apart from that, it was an enthralling and compelling read.

A thrilling suspense-filled tale, THE GIRL YOU GAVE AWAY is a mixture of psychological thriller, domestic thriller and family drama all rolled into one. Perfect for fans of Sheryl Browne.

Recommended for thriller fans who love a domestic tale gone wrong.

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

REVIEW: The Dream House by Jess Ryder (ARC)

The Dream House (aka The Guest) by Jess Ryder

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 13th June 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 21st June 2019)

★★★ 3.5 stars

THE DREAM HOUSE (also titled as THE GUEST) is the second book by Jess Ryder I've read. The first one I was a little disappointed in and though this one rated better, I still found it somewhat lacklustre. I'm not sure how or why, but something is missing to pack it with that punch. It was still enjoyable...just not fantabulous.

Told from two perspectives in dual timelines, THE DREAM HOUSE begins with Stella in the present day, with Kay's story from 1978 interwoven throughout.

Having bought a completely run down fixer-upper in the seaside town of Nevansey away from the hustle and bustle of London, Stella is looking forward to putting down roots and building a life together with her boyfriend Jack. The sprawling house is massive and the task of renovating it is even bigger, but with the inheritance money from her parents' estate Stella feels that she could do something to make them proud of her. That, and the fact that it may help assuage her guilt for a terrible secret from her past.

Late one night they hear the frantic knocking on their front door and wondered who would be doing so this late? Their builder, Alan, has his own key to come and go as needed, but he wouldn't turn up this late, surely! When they open the door, a beaten and battered woman is standing there looking scared and begging for help. Is this Westhill House, she asks, insisting the helpline told her they'd take her in, no questions asked. Wanting to help protect Lori from her abusive husband Stella doesn't hesitate to offer her refuge and ushers her in quickly, but Jack isn't so sure. Something about Lori doesn't add up and he believes she isn't being truthful, citing Stella as being too naive for her own good. But Stella is adamant. Her parents were foster carers to numerous children when she was growing up, and this act of kindness is something she believes would make them proud of her...something for which she craves. When it is revealed that Westhill House was a refuge for battered women for forty years, Stella finds a new purpose in fulfilling the house's past objective in helping Lori with determination.

But the longer Lori occupies the attic bedroom, the more suspicious Jack becomes. He believes Lori is hiding something...more than an abusive husband. And one night, after Stella has gone to sleep, he follows her and sees her climbing into a car. Who was she meeting, Jack wonders. But when he poses the question to Stella, she refuses to believe him. Lori needs their help, not their suspicions.

Dismayed that Jack doesn't share her concerns, Stella feels torn between wanting to help Lori and her love for Jack. She wants to respect his wishes but doesn't know how to do so and help Lori at the same time. Then she comes up with an idea to please both...but the plan backfires and she is left wondering who she can trust.

Then when a second woman appears at the door, Stella wonders just what is going on and what has she let herself in for? Was Jack right? Is Lori hiding something and not all that she appears?

In the alternating narrative, we meet Kay who became pregnant at 15 much to her parents' disgust. To them she was soiled goods, useless to anyone. But then she meets the handsome and charming Alan Foxton - "Foxy" to his friends - and her parents think the world of him, telling her to make sure she hangs on to him because not everyone would take on another man's child. Despite the fact Foxy never acknowledged little Abigail's existence or even spoke to her, Kay was forced to push that aside and think of this as a new beginning for her and her daughter. But all dreams must come to an end, and Kay's certainly did as soon as the wedding was over. First came the accusations and the taunts quickly followed by the fists. Kay knew it was her fault. She provoked him by talking back or not having the house clean or his shirts ironed or speaking to other men. Her latest transgression was to fall pregnant.

One night, Abigail was at the other end of his tirade as Kay locked herself in the bathroom. From behind the locked door, she heard her daughter screams as Foxy yelled at her to do as she was told. Then she heard her husband cry out and she opened the door to find Abigail tearing down the stairs and out the door. Foxy didn't care that she could be run over. All he was concerned about was that "the little bitch bit me"! Then all at once there were blue lights strobing in through their windows. The police? Kay was suddenly scared her daughter had been in an accident, but Foxy gripped her tightly whispering "Say anything against me and your daughter's dead!" The police informed them a 999 call had come in from their daughter claiming "Foxy's killing my mummy!" But whilst he was all sweetness and light to the police, declaring they had been having trouble with Abigail who had taken to answering back and not doing as she was told, he continued to hold a tight grip on Kay almost daring her to contradict him. Foxy's story appeased the police and they left them with Abigail who had sought refuge with a neighbour. That night, as Kay lay in bed, she knew it would never get any better. She and Abigail had to leave.

The next morning after Foxy had left for work, Kay hurriedly packed a suitcase for her and Abigail and fled to the refuge Abigail's teacher had told her about in Nevansey. Westhill House. She had told her they will take you in, no questions asked, and keep you safe. Westhill House was more like a squat with many women and children to each room, but it didn't matter. At Westhill House Kay knew she was safe and after just a few weeks of being there, she had never felt happier.

All the way through, we know both stories will collide but the how or why, or even when, eludes us. And as the tension builds we just know it will be with a deadly force. Then comes the twist, the revelations and as Stella finds herself hanging on by a thread, she wonders where she is and how she got here.

While the both stories are well told, complete with tension and intrigue, the book as a whole still didn't fill me with excitement. I don't know what it was, or wasn't, I just felt it was lacking somewhere...though Ryder has told both stories well and woven them together with such ease. I want to like it more, but I really don't know why I can't. I guess maybe it wasn't as gritty or as shocking. While THE DREAM HOUSE did have me puzzling and pondering, it didn't surprise me...or shock me, for that matter.

I applaud Ryder's note at the end with reference to the domestic abuse, giving numbers in the UK for those that seek help and are unsure how. Having explained she tried not to go into graphic detail as far as the abuse was concerned, although it was necessary for parts of the story, anyone who has suffered at the hands of such abuse would find even the remotest reference to it triggering. I know I did. But I applaud her for being sensitive and respectful, despite this.

As well as domestic abuse, the story also touches on mental illness and, although not highlighted, is completely understandable.

Stella, Jack, Lori and Kay are the main characters across both stories. I found the former three in the present day to be unlikable in many ways and it was Kay I connected with the most, probably due to my own experience in the past. Stella made some really stupid choices and to be honest, I would have listened to Jack. After all, she knew him and not Lori - so why trust her and not him? And Lori? Well, like Jack I knew she was hiding something. She couldn't be in a story like this without having secrets, could she? I just wasn't sure what her story really was or how she was being untruthful.

With everything handled expertly and tied up at the end, THE DREAM HOUSE is an enthralling read that will keep you guessing and turning the pages. I give it 3 stars because while I did like, I didn't LOVE it. But it is still a great read.

I would like to thank #JessRyder, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheDreamHouse also known as #TheGuest in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Lie to Me by Jess Ryder

Lie to Me by Jess Ryder

Genre: Psychological Mystery

Read: 6th September 2018

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

★★★ 2.5 to 3 stars

The premise to LIE TO ME sounded intriguing but in the end I'm not sure it totally delivered. Don't get me wrong, it was a good read and quite compelling but it didn't help that I didn't like some of the characters and I don't know...something just fell short of it being mind blowing.

So it begins with Meredith Banks, who hasn't seen her mother Becca since she was 4 years old. She has snippets of memories surrounding her but nothing more - and mostly what her father told her. Becca was schizophrenic and hospitalised in a psychiatric care home from which she escaped...and has not been seen in 25 years.

Brought up solely by her father, with whom she enjoyed a happy upbringing, Meredith returns to her family home to help her father pack the house up to move to a smaller place in the country. Whilst doing so she comes across a box marked "baby clothes" at the bottom of which is an old VCR tape with Meredith's name on and dated "1990" in Becca's handwriting. Against her father's wishes, she takes it home to watch - eager to catch a glimpse of her mother - but at the end of those three minutes Meredith's finds herself questioning what she knows and believes, and sets her on a course that will change her life forever.

Meredith begins a quest to discover if there was any truth to the strange tale her mother forced her four year old self to tell on camera 25 years ago. The search leads her to Darkwater Pool and the scene of the 30 year old murder of Cara Travers, the very name her mother uttered over and over on that tape. Is there a link between her mother and Cara? To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that isn't her own and calls on the help of her former boyfriend and police detective Eliot Myles...but she is not the only one looking...

The story unfolds between Meredith in the present and Cara in 1984. There are also several present day chapters told from the POV of Christopher Jay - the other name her mother mentioned on the tape - who was Cara's boyfriend. Although being told from a few POVs, the chapters are named with each perspective and whether it was past or present, making it easy to follow. I always enjoy stories told from various perspectives and over different times and while I did still enjoy watching the story unfold, something just felt disconnected though I can't put my finger on just exactly what that was.

I liked Meredith and as she was the main character throughout we got to know her story the most. I also rather liked Cara but she always seemed a little like an apparition and not quite real. Maybe because we always knew of her outcome from the beginning it was difficult ot connect with her. The Christopher Jay of the past and the "Jay" (as he was now known) of the present almost felt like two different people - the quiet, brooding and misunderstood young man of the past and the almost sad yet secretive and even angry teacher of the present. I didn't like Isobel from the beginning - bossy and overbearing, always having to be her way. Even when she took Meredith under her wing, I just felt it was all about "her" and what she wanted out of it.

The introduction of past lives and the possibility of Cara reincarnated as a present day character just lost it for me. I can see what it was meant to be but for me, it just spoilt it. I would just rather focus on solving the 30 year old murder and finding Meredith's mother...if she was anywhere to be found.

I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of who killed Cara, and I had a few suspects lined up, but towards the end it became clear to me who it really was. There was another twist thrown in that I predicted before it happened, which throws even more turmoil into Meredith's life. I kind of felt sad for her in a way.

An intriguing story of secrets and lies, LIE TO ME ran hot and cold for me throughout reading it as I really enjoyed Meredith's quest for the truth and the mystery of the past, but parts of it were just lacking where I felt disconnected and slightly uninterested. I struggled to rate this as I really enjoyed parts of the story where others I found weak and uninteresting.

The biggest letdown of this book I found to be the Epilogue. It was a real disappointment, as there was no real sense of closure - for Meredith or for readers. I thought it would tie up some of the loose ends and provide that closure but it failed in my opinion.