REVIEW: I Took Her First by Samantha Hayes

I Took Her First by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 26th November 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 3rd November 2025

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A child is missing. But I stole her first…

I sit little Mila down at my kitchen table with a glass of milk and a plate of cookies. She smiles shyly at me and I reach out to ruffle her hair.

Leaving her alone for a moment, I dash upstairs, closing my eyes as I take a deep breath. What have I done?

Mila isn’t my child. I should never have taken her home. But what choice did I have?

Painting a smile on my face, I head back down to the kitchen.

But when I reach the table, my blood turns to ice. The back door is open, and Mila is gone.

I need to find her. I need help. But who’s going to believe anything I say when I’m the one who took her first…?

A seriously twisty, addictive psychological thriller that will keep you awake flipping pages all night long. Perfect for anyone who devoured The Housemaid, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train.

MY THOUGHTS:

Someone stole her from me...but I stole her first...

When a mother fails to collect her 5 year old daughter from school one afternoon, school teacher Hannah Marlowe takes it upon herself to take the child home to safety. But within moments of arriving and Hannah leaving the room, little Mila is taken - again. And this time, no one knows where she has gone.

Hannah reports the disappearance to the police who wearily sigh at having to deal with the distraught woman once again. Because this is not the first time Hannah has fronted up to police to report suspicious goings on or the disappearance of her husband Rory. From disturbances to missing items to a suspicious car parked out front of her house to a husband who appears to have walked out on her, the police take what Hannah says with a very fine grain of salt. But Hannah is certain someone has taken Mila. The question is...who?

Then strange things begin happening to Hannah. Her car mysteriously picked up from the mechanics by a stranger claiming to have her permission. A dress collected from the dry cleaners who had the corresponding ticket. Items moved around her house, the scent of cigarette smoke when neither her nor her 15 year old daughter Jodie smoke. And a suspicious van parked out the front of her house and the school where she works that drives off as soon as she tries to approach it. Who is doing these things? And why?

And then her daughter disappears.

Suddenly Hannah is searching for Jodie and little Mila when no one appears to be concerned about their disappearances. Least of all the police. Until they arrive to arrest Hannah for the abduction of little Mila. Yes, she took her first but someone else took her again and that someone is the one the police should be looking for! Added to that, Hannah has a secret or two from her past that she would much prefer to remain buried.

And then Jodie's father turns up - after 15 years of radio silence. But with all that is happening, Hannah isn't sure who to trust anymore.

OK, so the premise was intriguing and the prologue was explosive. But then...what followed for the first half of the book was a confusing mess that was tangled beyond redemption. I was thoroughly confused and found trying to get my head around all the tangled pieces difficult to make any sense of and, while they did make some sort of sense in the end, the execution of it all fell short and was difficult to maintain interest in what was happening. It took me two weeks to read this when it should have taken no more than two days. I kept putting off going back to it because I felt it just too confusing and the twists that came felt forced. As most of the loose ends were tied up by the book's end, there were a few unanswered questions that I felt were inadequately explained. Like Fleur's abduction was a twist that felt way forced and its explanation was slightly tenuous to say the least. Though when things began coming together, it wasn't hard to work out what had happened.

BUT, having said that, I loved the ending. That was just way too good! Nice touch that saved what was unfortunately a long and drawn out confusing read that could have been made shorter. I love Samantha Hayes' thrillers and was excited to dive into this one but having just gone through major surgery myself, I found it difficult to concentrate on complex tales which may have hindered my perception of this one. It took me two weeks to wade through the first 35% of the book and the rest I devoured in a matter or hours. So it could well have been my inability to focus on complex tales that drew this one up short.

This is a hard one to rate and review because I do think my recovery hindered my perception so therefore it wouldn't be a totally accurate one. Especially given the fact I devoured the most half in a matter of hours and totally relished that explosive ending. I'll give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 as I feel I probably would have enjoyed it more had it not been for my recovery.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: The Marriage Rules by Samantha Hayes

The Marriage Rules by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 10th April 2025

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Amazon

Published: 9th April 2025

★★★★ 4 stars 

DESCRIPTION:

The rules are there to keep their family safe. But what happens when they get broken…?

Fiona Fisher lives a quiet and contented existence. A former nurse who married Jason, the doctor of her dreams, she is now a mother to his two daughters and living in the sort of cosy village home she’d always wished for.

Life is pretty much perfect in every way. As long as they stick to their rules…

Everyone in bed by eight o’clock sharp.

No loud music, no news on the TV, no social media. The house phone for emergency use only.

Locks on every door. No leaving the house.

And absolutely no talking about the past.

But one day, someone starts breaking the rules…

This insanely twisty psychological thriller will have you flipping pages all night long. Anyone who held their breath as they raced through The Housemaid, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train needs to drop everything and start reading!

MY THOUGHTS:

Who is making the rules...and who is breaking them...?

Ok first up, this is one seriously twisted read! Where nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is as it seems. From start to finish you think you know what is happening...but you don't.

The basis of this twisted tale are the all important rules. Rules, rules, rules! You must obey the rules! So so many rules! So what are the rules?

Rule 1: No lying.

Rule 2: Never talk about you know who.

Rule 3: Family confessional every day at 6pm.

Rule 4: No leaving the house without good reason.

Rule 5: Bedtime confessional.

Rule 6: Never talk about the past.

Rule 7: No alcohol, apart from one drink at the weekend.

Rule 8: Grieving hour every Sunday at 5pm.

Rule 9: No phones/tablets/laptops/internet after 6pm.

Rule 10: No watching the news. No social media. No loud music.

Rule 11: Bedtime strictly 8pm.

Rule 12: No flaunting or flirting with the opposite sex.

Rule 13: No breaking of the marriage rules. Punishment severe.

From the outset, the rules seemed a little one-sided and I was left feeling a bit miffed at the attitude and the enforcement of the said rules - to the absolute letter. And the punishment? Well...that was a bit off the scale too.

But to Fiona and Jason it is normal. It keeps them safe. From what or who, isn't clear. At least not right away. Still, Jason has always lived by a set of strict rules which has served him well, even when his father abandoned him after the sudden death of his mother at 13 and shipping him off to boarding school. The rules helped keep him structured and disciplined; helped keep him safe. So when he met Fiona at the Radmoor Psychiatric Hospital where he recently gained the position of psychiatrist, the pair seemed to feel a chemistry almost at once. The only problem was, Jason was already married. To the head psychiatrist, Dr Erika Nordstrom. Despite this, the pair began to plan a future together.

And then, Erika is dead and the couple move away with Jason's two daughters Tilly (15) and Ivy (8) to begin a new life together. The girls miss their mum and Jason insists on them calling Fiona "mum" or "mummy" but neither girl is thrilled at the prospect, nor by their father's strict set of rules. But he only wants to keep them safe...if only they follow the rules.

But when Fiona befriends neighbour Sascha and her daughter Cora becomes friendly with Ivy, Jason begins to see cracks appear in the life he has carefully curated for them. Sascha won't take his nonsense and tries to encourage Fiona not to either but that won't do. So when Sascha disappears, her house resembling a crime scene, Fiona begins to question what really happened to her friend.

Now when I began this read, I was increasingly frustrated with Fiona and totally annoyed with Jason. Those rules bordered on abuse; especially given his punishment for breaking them. But then the story unfolded some more and I realised that nothing is at all what it seems.

This is not an entirely predictable read because I guarantee it will shock you. I doubt you will see some of the twists coming. I definitely didn't see that last one but pretty much worked out the rest. Even so, even a seasoned thriller reader such as myself will be surprised at the turn of events and that one clever final twist.

This is a dark, chilling and claustrophobic read and you will be kept on the edge of your seat as you race to the end to that final reveal. Did you work it out?

This is one of those books that is hard to review because to say too much will give the whole game away. And you don't want that happening, believe me. But bare with Fiona and her submissiveness. It will all be worth it in the end.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: Her Housekeeper by Samantha Hayes

Her Housekeeper by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 14th January 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 11th November 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘I’m Mary,’ she says, looking up at me expectantly as if I should know exactly who she is. She’s wearing a fitted tunic dress with a starched white collar and short sleeves. But it’s her eyes – piercing, with something dangerous lurking behind the cobalt blue – that send a shiver down my spine.

She told me she was the housekeeper, and who was I to question? Our stay in this perfectly renovated Victorian house on the rich side of Hastings was a favour from an old school friend while the fire damage to our own little place was being fixed. This is not my house, and they are not my rules. So I step aside, and I let her in.

Am I paranoid to think that she’s watching my every move?

What am I supposed to do when she rests her head on my husband’s broad shoulder, a glint in her eye that only I can see?

Should I have packed my bags and left the moment I found her rooting through my belongings?

And when I return one day to find she’s moved into the spare room with her son, do I believe her when she says she has nowhere else to go? Do I trust her here, alone with my two little children?

Each night I lie awake wondering who this strange woman is, and what she wants. I hold my babies close as the lights flicker and songs from the childhood I spent a lifetime trying to forget blast through the speakers.

But when I finally uncover the secrets hidden in this house, my past crashes into my present. I realise I’m in more danger than I could possibly have imagined…

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller from an Amazon No1. bestselling author. Strap yourself in for a totally twisty page-turner that will leave you gasping for breath. Fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will be flipping pages all night long!

MY THOUGHTS:

You let her in...she wants you out...

WOW! Just wow! I love a good psychological thriller and this one hits all the marks and that ending just blew me away. While there was nothing overtly standout about it, it packed a powerful punch at the end. One that leaves you thinking about it long after you've closed the book. I admit, the climax was a tad OTT and requires some suspension of belief but overall it was still a fantastic read and worth every one of its stars.

The opening prologue leaves you wondering where this tale is going to take you while you flip the page and it's an about face as you look at the scrambled pieces of a twenty five year jigsaw and ponder just what is going on. Especially when the housekeeper comes knocking.

Gina and Matt, along with their two children - 3 year old tearaway toddler Tommy and newborn Gracie - find themselves temporarily homeless after Matt's inexpensive installation of a light fixture shorts and burns their house down. Thankfully, they were away with friend Laura for the evening. Not so good for their house or the problem with where they're going to live in the meantime. Their insurance covered a short hotel stay and would also cover a short term rental but they have been unable to find one.

And then they receive a lifeline. In the form of Gina's childhood friend Annie, now a successful singer and actress, who kindly offers them the use of her luxurious renovated home in Hastings while she is out of the country. Annie's kindness and generosity is a dream come true...until it became a nightmare.

No sooner have they arrived and have barely unpacked their bags when they receive an unexpected arrival. Enter Mary, Annie's housekeeper - "just pretend I'm not here". Gina is uncomfortable with having someone unfamiliar in the house with her and her two young children so she texts Annie to verify Mary is indeed who she says she is. She's relieved when Annie confirms this and that she is a godsend, having been with her for over a year. Gina is still a little unsettled, especially as Mary is there almost every day. Until one day Mary turns up with a suitcase and a teenager in tow, having escaped her abusive husband and had nowhere else to go. Knowing Annie wouldn't turn her away, Gina assures her that she's welcome to stay as there is plenty of room. Besides, she's in constant contact with Annie via text for confirmation on anything she is unsure of. Still, she can't escape the unsettling feeling she has around Mary. And her son Tyler just gives her the creeps.

If that wasn't all, Gina is having difficulty being back in Hastings and can't imagine why Annie would return to the place they grew up and escaped some twenty five years before when everything changed. When they were just fifteen and there were four of them. Gina, Annie, Laura and Sara - the GALS, as they called themselves. They all knew Matt from a distance; he was older by a year and was devilishly good-looking. Gina, Annie and even Sara all secretly were crushing for him. But being back here was playing on Gina's mind and she was reminded of what happened twenty five years ago and the missing member of their friendship circle.

But as the days turn into weeks, suspicions around Annie's seemingly competent housekeeper grow and Gina soon discovers some unsettling secrets about the woman, the house and the past...leading to the unsettling realisation of the danger she has unwittingly put herself and her family in.

Unfolding through Gina's, Mary's and "the past" narratives providing a deeper understanding of the characters and the layers of complexity to their stories. The author has peppered a lot of red herrings throughout and it is up to the reader to sift through them all as you begin to piece together the remaining jigsaw pieces for the bigger, clearer picture...leaving you shocked at the final twist, which is truly unexpected.

A fast paced read from start to finish, this is one of the author's best tales to date, despite the OTT climax leading up to the big reveal at the end. I was able to piece together pretty much all of it, even the unexpected twist we are given, but it was the epilogue that will leave you shocked and breathless. For me, that was a genius touch, leaving the reader with so many emotions about it all. It was the twist in THAT that I didn't see coming. The rest I had already figured out. Well done, Ms Hayes. 

Overall, a fast paced suspenseful read that can easily be devoured in a day. But be prepared for the powerful mix of tragedy and happiness...and that jaw-dropping end.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

REVIEW: Mother of the Bride by Samantha Hayes

Mother of the Bride by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller

Read: 20th March 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 26th March 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

My mother is obsessed with every detail of my wedding – controlling my dress, my ring, my happiness. But when the day finally comes, will she really let me go? Last year, my sister’s fiancé was murdered on his wedding day. And I found my mother’s corsage next to his body…

I’m beaming as I walk down the aisle, but my smile masks a prickling fear, even though this is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.

My husband-to-be, Owen, is everything to me, with his sandy hair and sparkling blue eyes. He keeps telling me it will all be fine. I pray he’s right as I slip a gold band onto his finger with trembling hands.

Please let me be wrong about what my mother did. Please let Owen be safe.

But when the priest asks if anyone objects, I turn to look at my mother. Her eyes are icy beneath the brim of her hat, and she’s staring right at me.

Is my husband’s life in danger? Or is it mine…?

A page-turning, addictive psychological thriller from an Amazon no. 1 bestseller with twists that will have your head spinning until the very end. Fans of The Housemaid, The Family Upstairs and The Perfect Marriage will be absolutely gripped!

MY THOUGHTS:

Here comes the bride...and here comes the mother of the bride!

Lizzie has returned from a six month working hiatus in Dubai with a fiancé in tow. She met Owen at her employer's pool party when she had inadvertently stepped back into the pool. Owen jumped right in to save her citing she already had his attention, she didn't need to nearly drown to get it.

Now they are back in London having stopped at her friend Peter's place for the duration until they got the money together for a place of their own. But they were nearing outstaying their welcome when Lizzie took a phone call from her mother who then invited them to come and stay with her. Having grown up in the same house and then escaping when she was 18 to university, Lizzie couldn't think of anything worse. She simply did not want to risk her mother getting her claws into Owen and ruin this chance of happiness.

Arriving at the Cotswold house, adorned in roses and blooms galore, Lizzie grit her teeth and bared the two days they were to stay. But then the fates aligned, or maybe conspired, to keep them there when Peter told them not to return and subsequently blocked her. Lizzie was stunned. But she had more pressing concerns. Her mother had discovered their engagement and thus took control of everything, organising their entire wedding for two weeks' time.

But at the back of her mind, Lizzie remembered the outcome of her elder sister Shelley's wedding the year before when her groom Rafe was found dead in their kitchen before the ceremony. Lizzie never told anyone but she found her mother's corsage beside his body. She had hidden it and intended to confront her mother about it later but never did.

Did Owen have a similar fate ahead of him?

With thoughts of poisoned berries, accidents on the stairs, of being locked in the cellar to the mournful strains of Mozart's death requiem, Lizzie can't be sure that they are safe staying with her mother.

This tale of a complex and rather dysfunctional family is an addictive read from start to ‌finish. Sylvia, the mother of the bride, is someone you really love to hate but then there are added complexities to her character also.  And I just loved the setting of this one...the beautiful picturesque Cotswolds. It almost felt like an episode of Midsomer Murders!

I went into this book knowing that not all is as it seems...I mean why would it be? The title, the description...it was all a little too convenient. So it's not surprising I had the big twist figured out before the reveal. But it didn't ruin my enjoyment of this stunner of a thriller. The thrill is in the ride and Samantha Hayes has given us just that. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: The Inheritance by Samantha Hayes

The Inheritance by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Suspense

Read: 6th August 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 8th August 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

I thought he took my secret to the grave. But the truth can’t stay buried forever…

In the wake of my darling husband’s death, I am so lucky to have my three beautiful, grown-up daughters by my side at our holiday home in Scotland. We need some time together, to recover from the shock. But I also need to set some things straight about their beloved father…

I’ve always known this house was the perfect place to bury secrets – remote, isolated, surrounded by nothing but miles of dense forest.

But this time I’m not here to hide more of my lies. I’m here to expose one.

I promise everything I’ve ever done has been to protect my daughters. I just hope they understand that too…

By the end of the trip, nothing will ever be the same again. I knew revealing the truth about the inheritance would have consequences, but I could never have imagined we wouldn’t all survive it.

And now the truth is out, am I in danger too…?

A totally gripping psychological thriller from an Amazon No1. bestseller that will have your head spinning and your jaw on the floor with every twist. Fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and The Family Upstairs won’t be able to put this down!

MY THOUGHTS:

I thought he took my secret to the grave...But he left it in his will...

What a tangled web the Hunters weave - with the ingenious help of Samantha Hayes at the helm! Once again she delivers a thriller filled with nuance and innuendo that by the end will have us tied up in knots. And while I know is renowned for delivering slow burns, sometimes I wish they didn't take so long to get to the point. I was itching with frustration that the big secrets was on the cusp of being revealed when something else came along and the story took another tangent... But like all of Hayes' thrillers, I know that if I stick around, it's completely worth it in the end. Anyone else that took 40% until it got really interesting, would be ditched, but with Hayes I know I'm not going to be disappointed. That she has something up her sleeve bound to shock, surprise and wow by the book's end.

There are so many subplots within the main story that it is easy to lose track of what we're all here for - the main event. But each thread is then cleverly woven back to the main story and its characters therein. I wasn't confused in any way, but some might find the subplots distracting. But they each play a part in the bigger picture.

The Hunters are all gathering together at the family lodge in Scotland, which had been left to their late father Ray by his parents upon their deaths long before they were born. Kirk View Lodge was renovated by Ray and Connie early in their marriage and had long been a haven to the family over the years. Now Ray has gone and Connie is bringing her girls back together with their families for a reunion at Kirk View Lodge for ten glorious days.

But Connie has an ulterior motive for bringing them together now. Ray's will has been executed and its contents revealed...and Connie knows that she must now reveal the secret she never thought she would have to. But as her girls - Kate, Darby and Bea - settle into the lodge, Connie doesn't know where to begin. But it's Theo, Darby's teenage stepson, who notices the most with his all-seeing eyes as he watches everyone from the sidelines. He seems to be an angry kid intent on messing with everyone, not knowing quite where he belongs. I got my measure of him fairly quickly with the few subtle glances he stole along the way but he also picked up on things within the family that no one else seemed to.

It's not until an invite extended to a nearby neighbour for dinner that things begin to get heated amongst the family. Theo notices right off the cuff, whilst the others are either indifferent or just puzzled. Connie is flustered as a face from her past returns, though not as friendly as it once was. Meanwhile, Kate suspects her husband Adrian is having an affair with her sister Darby and even Connie suspects much the same. Admittedly, so does the reader. But what is really going on between them?

After the somewhat dramatic prologue, so it begins with Part One in which the story unfolds through the alternating narratives of Connie, Kate, Darby, Bea and Theo. We get each of their perspectives and how each of them feel after the passing of their patriarch, Ray, some months prior. Throughout the entire section of this story, it is alluded to a secret that Connie has and that it will all come to light in Ray's will if she does not reveal its contents first. We are privy to the various subplots and nuances of each of the characters as Hayes deftly builds up a picture of the family's dynamics.

Things start to get interesting in Part two as the story rewinds back forty years to when Connie and Ray are younger and newly married. Although the couple have a home on a farm in Lancashire, the setting is entirely at Kirk View Lodge in Scotland, which they were currently renovating. And then Connie falls pregnant. Afterwhich we see what nobody else sees behind the closed doors of a marriage. We see the Ray that no one else see. Through his narrative, which alternates with the younger Connie's, we see a side to him that had not previously been painted and we get a little insight into the secrets in their marriage. And it is not a pretty picture.

But it's Part three when things really pick up and the layers of secrets that Hayes has deftly put in place slowly start to peel away as secret after secret is revealed. The events that follow are both mad and a little twisted. While I had a niggling as to what the secret may be, there was still a piece of it that remained elusive. And when it was revealed, the picture became clear and I'm like "of course!" whilst figuratively slapping myself on the head. The action is really ramped up in the final pages as the truth is finally revealed and all its secrets are uncovered...even if some are blind to its truth. And then there is that ending which comes with a sting in the tail for a couple of characters. Just brilliant.

Overall, another deftly woven plot of intricate family secrets and the complexities of family dynamics by Hayes. Always worth the slow build to get there in the end.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

REVIEW: The Engagement by Samantha Hayes

The Engagement by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 5th January 2023

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Amazon

Audio Links:

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US

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Published: 10th January 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

You thought you had escaped him. Until he proposed to your daughter.

‘There’s someone I want you to meet,’ Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He’s tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He’s not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth curls upwards as he slides his hand around my daughter’s waist.

I grab my husband’s arm to steady myself, as the room spins around me.

I stare into the man’s eyes – jet black. Nothing and everything hidden behind them.

Fear prickles my skin as I remember what he did.

How I only just escaped.

All the lies I’ve had to tell since.

‘I want you to meet Jack,’ Belle says, brimming with excitement. ‘He’s my fiancé.’ She rests her head on his shoulder. ‘Isn’t it exciting? We’re engaged!’

Fear hammers in my chest. I have to stop this.

My daughter’s life is in danger, and it’s all because of me…

A totally gripping psychological thriller from an Amazon No1. bestseller that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and have you gasping at the twists. Fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will be flipping pages all night long!

MY THOUGHTS:

Wow! I have to say that this has to be one of Samantha Hayes best thrillers I've read. Unlike any other of her books, which I've always found to be slow burns to begin with, THE ENGAGEMENT had me hooked from the very first page. And I could NOT put it down. I ended up devouring it in one day, staying up into the wee hours just to see how it all panned out and if my suspicions were correct.

Hannah hasn't always had the life she now has with partner Rob and the lights of her life, her two daughters Belle and Amber. She has never revealed her past or its secrets to anyone and would be quite happy if she never had to think of those dark days ever again. However, she carries the reminders with her daily from which she can never really escape whilst at the same time, they also went some way to give her life she has today.

It's her daughter Belle's upcoming 18th birthday and Hannah and Rob have planned a surprise party for her, inviting friends and family, some of whom have travelled far and wide to be there. But Belle throws a spanner in the works when she's not on the flight she's meant to be on returning from France the day before the party, instead she has rescheduled her flight for the following day...unaware of the surprise party her parents have planned for her for the same day. When she arrives home barely in the nick of time, she has a surprise of her own...arriving at the party and introducing the much older man by her side as her fiance Jack. Hannah and Rob are speechless.

But for different reasons...

As she looks at the older man by her daughter's side, Hannah is sure she recognises him. And his name isn't Jack. His is a face from her past that she thought she had escaped and he is a very dangerous man. And that is how she knows that their whirlwind courtship was no chance meeting. And it's not Belle he wants...but Hannah. But how can she tell her husband and her daughter the truth about him without revealing her past and all its secrets? 

That's about all I can say without revealing spoilers because really there is so much to this story that will have your head on a swivel. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and past and present timelines. I had worked out how the past factored into the present as it was fairly obvious to me but there was a final twist that I never saw coming until the final pages. And then it all fell into place seamlessly.

I'm always prepared for Samantha Hayes' thrillers as being slow burns because they generally are but I didn't find that with THE ENGAGEMENT. It was a wild ride from start to finish with a pace I could barely keep up with. I didn't start this book till fairly late in the day and didn't foresee finishing it till the following day, but it was so engrossing and absorbing that I couldn't put it down until I had pulled back every layer and uncovered every aspect to know how it all ended.

The story shines a light on a part of reality that many do not want to see or acknowledge. It is a dark place deep in the heart, yet on the edge, of society that most simply ignore and pretend its existence. But Hayes takes us to this very real part of society and its depths that is shocking and despicable filled with unsavoury characters with vile motives. She handles it perceptively with sensitivity and awareness, and with an ultimate sense of justice.

From the opening prologue to the final epilogue, THE ENGAGEMENT had me entirely "engaged" from beginning to end and has to be one of my favourites, if not my favourite, of Samantha Hayes' thrillers I've read to date. It was different but a thrilling nightmare from which I couldn't escape...in a good way!

A well deserved 5 stars!

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

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

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REVIEW: The Ex-Husband by Samantha Hayes

The Ex-Husband by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 26th June 2022

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Published: 28th June 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

You thought you were safe. Until he moved in next door…

I haven’t lived here long. The house is small and a little rundown, but each piece of faded floral wallpaper I peel away feels like unwrapping the second chance I never thought I’d get. I’m finally free to wear what I want, and I don’t flinch when I accidentally burn dinner. My new home is warm, and the kids are safe inside. Anywhere would feel idyllic after the nightmare marriage I’ve just escaped.

But then I see my ex-husband Craig stroll past my window and let himself into the house next door. Fear chokes me. How did he find me? Does he want me back, or to destroy me for good?

As the removals van pulls away, Craig tells me it’s just a coincidence, that we can all get along and be good neighbours. But at night I lie awake listening to the sound of laughter and lovemaking through the thin wall that separates us, wondering if his new girlfriend is safe. And in the morning, I rifle through his trash, trying to guess his next move. I know how crazy I look, but I’d do anything to protect my children.

Weeks later, when the night air fills with smoke, and this quiet street dances with blue and red flashing police lights, all the secrets behind our two closed doors will be revealed. But after everything that’s happened, will anyone believe I’m innocent?

An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller from an Amazon No1. bestseller that will keep you turning pages long into the night. Fans of The Wife Between Us, The Family Upstairs and The Girl on the Train will be totally hooked!

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Samantha Hayes' chilling thriller THE EX-HUSBAND.

OMG!! This book literally made my blood boil! If ever there was ever a character to get under your skin it's Craig. I hated him with every fibre of my being that I could have murdered him myself.  And as a domestic abuse survivor THE EX-HUSBAND hit very close to home in many ways that I found it uncomfortable at times - closer to home than many other thrillers featuring domestic abuse.

Leah Ward is finally free and has found the house of her dreams. Well, it will be once she has given it a good coat of paint and established her vegetable garden and hen house. It's the perfect place for her and the children - Zoey (14) and Henry (7) - to make a fresh start after her somewhat drawn out and acrimonious divorce.

But their joy is to be short-lived.

Leah notices moving vans pulling up next door and a well-dressed woman directing furniture and boxes into place. They have new neighbours in the Old Vicarage next door, a much larger grander house that shares a wall with her own, once known as the Wash House. She meets Gillian who is effervescent and friendly and can't wait until her partner "Rexie" returns from his business trip so they could enjoy neighbourly get-togethers.

But nothing prepares Leah for who she sees walking into the house, Gillian having invited her and boyfriend Gabe over for cocktails. No...it can't be. But it is. Craig, her ex-husband, is Gillian's partner and Leah's new neighbour. Could things get any worse? It appears they can.

But Leah knows Craig. She knows he is up to something. This cannot be a coincidence. Craig leaves nothing to chance. He plans everything.

And so the battle lines are drawn in a messy case of he said/she said; he's controlling, manipulative and abusive, no she's crazy and psychotic. Who do you believe? And Craig is loving the havoc he is creating, the distress he is causing Leah, isolating her from her friends with carefully planned lies and even her children, to petty misdemeanours that really do make her sound crazy. He takes every opportunity he can to annoy her, belittle her, scare her and gaslight her as well as all the other little manipulative tricks he employs. Such was the manipulation, the abuse, the accusations...it was actually quite distressing to read and at times I found it incredibly uncomfortable.

But never fear, for Samantha Hayes has some surprises in store with a few twists that will leave you wondering what the hell just happened. To be honest, I predicted most of the twists to come (including the one towards the end) but that doesn't spoil the story for me if it is well-written and intriguing as THE EX-HUSBAND is. Just about all the main players have secrets which will undoubtedly come out in the wash (pun intended), but none more than Craig Forbes. The man is a vile character but an excellent villain.

And then things come to a head when a body is found in a bonfire and all the secrets begin to unravel. But I was dying to know who the body was. I wanted it to be Craig so much...but that would be too easy, wouldn't it?

And Leah. Oh goodness, she made some stupid choices under pressure but it was understandable under the circumstances. Still...she did herself no favours and played right into creepy Craig's hands. And there was no way at all that he was ever going to be likeable. Not. A. Chance. IN. HELL.

I have read several thrillers by Samantha Hayes and most of them are intricately slow burns but I stick with them because I know they are worth it in the end. THE EX-HUSBAND, however, began with a steady pace that only increased as the story unfolded and, as uncomfortable as I found the "closer to home abuse", this has to be her best thriller yet. I literally read it in one sitting and I am sitting here at 3.30am writing my review while it is all still fresh in my mind, having started the book when I climbed into bed around 9pm and finishing it just under six hours later.

THE EX-HUSBAND is a well-written domestic and psychological thriller that was gripping from very first page right up until the last. It is absolutely brilliant - every manipulative moment of it. It really is a book that gets under your skin by way of the most abhorrent villain in Craig.

WOW! Just wow...is all I have right now. As I closed my kindle I was speechless. THE EX-HUSBAND is dark, disturbing and chilling and so damn twisted. And Samantha Hayes' best yet.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram