What a clever book with so much going on I always had to read just one more chapter… and then another. It was sharp and fascinating with interesting and diverse characters.

This book is so cleverly written. Katie is on trial for the murder of four very rich and influential men and her story is told from the perspective of five men (her barrister, a journalist, her father, her ex and her childhood friend). Interesting to see the different versions of them and decide what to believe. I liked Katie in spite of her being a very flawed character.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This book is such an interesting concept. It follows the story of Katherine Cole. From cute and funny toddler to angry adolescent. Four wealthy men are poisoned to death at an exclusive club on a night when Katherine is working as a waitress and arrested. Her personal life is scrutinised, her obsession with conspiracy theories and the damning words she uttered after her arrest. Following her arrest, five men: her father, a reporter, a former, lover, a friend and her lawyer question how well they really know her. She is someone different to each of them but which is the true Katherine and is she a killer. This is a thriller but like no thriller you’ve read before as you wait for the truth to emerge. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and the author for the chance to review.

London's most exclusive, influential club's members are all of a special calibre; four members hold a meeting there, and all of them die, poisoned. Attentions is quickly focussed on their young waitress who, surely, just have served them the food or drink containing the poison.

This is a really twisted thriller and one which pulled me in very quickly. The young woman in the dock is many things to many people: daughter, sister, friend, romantic partner as well as being focus of both a journalist and the barrister who is defending her. What makes Katie Cole tick? And is she a murderer? I wasn't entirely sure of anything until the very end of this one, and it was a roller coaster read.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

Her Many Faces
By Nicci Cloke

Great plot, intricate but not confusing, fast paced, not as literary as the books the publisher comps it with, but not basic.

I have all but given up on thrillers and court room dramas in recent years. They just blend together and I feel like I have read it all before, and then every now and then something fresh comes along and this summer, this is it.

The structure is simple, but sturdy. One girl, but as the title suggests, she is a different person to each of the five narrators. She is a daughter, a friend, a lover, a victim and a client depending on who you listen to, and I love how Cloke chooses to give her the final word, emphasising how men have always written and recorded women, but their perspectives are rarely reliable.

There's a lot going on here. There are several threads and it's difficult to see how she going to pull it all together. No tense court room scenes or major drama, rather a character study in the round.

I really enjoyed this one. She kept me guessing until the last few pages and I'll admit to a little fist bump in the end.

Published today 3rd July 2025
Thanks to #Netgalley and #RandomHouseUK for providing an ARC for review purposes.

i feel this would of worked better for me as a audio book as i got a bit lost with all the differant characters, it was a bit slow for my liking but the chapters are not overly long and the ending was WOW

This one really surprised me. It’s not fast paced, but not a slow burn either. It finds that perfect middle ground where you’re drawn in without even realizing how hooked you’ve become.

The concept was brilliant. A young woman is on trial for murder, and we see the story unfold through the impressions and memories of different people in her life. Each chapter offers a new perspective. Every person sees her differently, leaving you constantly second guessing her guilt.

It’s a clever reminder of how much our view of someone depends on our own lens.
The way it unraveled was so well done. I really enjoyed piecing it together bit by bit, even if I wasn’t fully satisfied with the ending. Still, this was a genuinely compelling and unique read.

This book was unusual in that it gave the story of Katie from the point of view of several men who surround her. She is charged with murder, and we find out what brought Katie to the dock and whether she is guilty or not.

I enjoyed the premise and the various points of view. The story develops at good pace, and I found myself second guessing all the way through - yeah, she did it. Nope she deffo didn't, right until the end. I did feel that I missed the female voice though and that I never really knew Katie, as it was all based on other people's perceptions. Maybe that was the idea, make her enigmatic!

Anyway, I enjoyed it and believe it will be a great summer read.

Katie Cole is many things to many people.
To her father John she is the apple of his eye, daddy's girl, KitKat
To her barrister Tarun she is the unknown quantity, Katherine
To reporter Max, she is Killer Kate, someone to be investigated and exploited for "clicks"
To childhood friend Gabriel who is obsessed with her, she is KC
To her former, substantially older lover Conrad, she is Wildcat
But who is the real Katherine Cole? Is she the cold-hearted murderer of four prestigious men in a private club? Is she misunderstood, disbelieved? Is is she just a victim of her own unfortunate making? Or is she just the sum of the perceptions of the five men we hear from...?
One thing is definitely for certain, she is a very complex character indeed. One that I really enjoyed meeting, getting to know, with the above caveats, and then watching as slowly some of her layers were peeled back and we got a tiny glimpse of the real person hiding inside.
Obviously we start with her family. Mother father and two brothers. It's hard to say too much about this but she always favoured her oldest brother and father, but there was also tragedy there. Can't say more but it's another layer to the Katie who was being formed.
There's a lot to be thought of Katie and how she got to where she found herself that fateful night. The events which shaped her, her behaviour, the behaviour of others around her. Honestly, I would absolutely love to dissect her character and really get to the bones here but, spoilers. And I think maybe, no definitely, it will be an excellent book club book as I think that a lot of different people will have a lot of differing thoughts and opinions about her and how she was portrayed/perceived. How much she was the architect, how much responsibility she should/could have had? How innocent was she really...?
And that ending... oh my days, never saw that coming. And I do have to sit back and applaud the author for a job incredibly well done. Don't worry, I'm saying nothing. I'm just sat here, still impressed several days later, and wondering to myself how on earth is the author going to follow THAT up!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

'Sharp, the feeling of it, like walking over broken glass. Each prick a shock'.

Katherine, Katie, Kit Kat, Killer Kate- just who is the woman accused of murdering four rich listers with poison? Everyone: her dad, best friend, lawyer, brother, and her ex, know their version but which one is truly her? Do we ever fully know someone? Or do we simply know the truth we choose to believe?

Her Many Faces is told from all these POVs, in short, alternating chapters, and leaves the reader convinced, in turn, that she’s sweet, misunderstood, troubled, innocent, or guilty. In the end, it’s hard to know what version of the truth to believe, as we trawl through her past and slowly get a sense, often conflicting, of who Katherine grew up to be. Indeed, Katherine's story can often be compared to the conspiracy theories that she, at one stage, was caught up with; how quickly people can believe a truth that suits them and find a posse to validate it.

This story will keep you turning pages as you become determined to find out not only who Katherine truly is but also what happened on that fateful night, and why. Although the short chapters and alternating POVs keep things pacy, it can also make it hard to reconnect with each character's storyline as you need to cast your mind back constantly. Ultimately though, you'll be kept guessing as to how it all ends.

'I don't think you realised how much it mattered to me that you believed me'.

Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke is a very interesting read. Told from the perspectives of the men in the life of Katherine Cole, this very intriguing thriller kept me entertained until the very end.

From the perspectives of her father who reminisces about his Kitkat's childhood, her barrister who knows her as Katherine, her lover who calls her Wildcat, her friend who called her KC and the reporter for her case who refers to her as Killer Kate, we build a picture of who she is.

It was so interesting to see how one person can be seen so differently by the people around them. It's a very clever book that makes you want to read on. I found the ending slightly underwhelming, but overall I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Her Many Faces was a surprising read for me and kept me intrigued until the end.
Four wealthy influential men are found dead in an exclusive private club, Katie Cole the waitress for the night is instantly blamed for the poisoning and is appearing in court for the trial. The book is split into different characters POV. Her father reminisces about her childhood and can’t think of anything but good about her. The journalist who has her down as guilty from the start. The ex boyfriend who wants to detach himself from her as much as he can. Her barrister thinks she’s hiding something and is on the fence. Is Katie guilty or not?
This is a very cleverly written book, the fact that you don’t hear from Katie at all is genius and makes it a very different read. The chapters with the different characters intertwine well leading you from a guilty verdict to a not guilty verdict. I had no clue where this was going but enjoyed the ride. The ending tied everything up perfectly for me.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine. Kit-Kat. Killer Kate. KC. Wildcat.

But who is the real Katie?

This was a really intelligently written novel telling the story of Katie, a young woman accused of murdering four high profile, successful men at a high-end, members only club.

However, this story is not told from Katie's perspective - instead we are told the story through five men in her life. Her solicitor (who knows her as Katherine), her father (Kit Kat), a journalist (Killer Kate), a childhood friend (KC) and a lover (Wildcat) - all showing us different parts of Katie.

This was a really interesting way of delivering this story and allowed a really in-depth understanding of the complexity of her character viewed through the prism of the different men in her life.

The story was also well told and led to a brilliant conclusion which I can say very little about for fear of spoilers however I would definitely recommend this to all.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage | Harvill Secker for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I couldn't put this book down. Told from 5 different male perspectives each giving their own view on Katie who is on trial for poisoning 4 men at a private gentleman's club. As each narrator sees her differently (her father, childhood friend, lover, barrister, and a journalist investigating her story) we build up a picture of Katie....or do we? Written in short chapters it's a gripping and suspenseful book that will have you questioning her innocence or guilt and also perhaps changing your mind as you do. Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for an early read of this intriguing and highly enjoyable book.

I'm trying not to request ARCs of books I know nothing about, but when I saw the synopsis of this one, I knew it was one I wanted to read!

If you're looking for an original thriller this summer, then this is definitely one you need to pick up, too.

The book is described as Girl A meets Notes On An Execution, which immediately had me intrigued. I didn't even enjoy Notes On An Execution, but I love the idea of a thriller combined with a character study.

We are told Katie's story through five men in her life, and it was so interesting to have these different points of view. The start of this book, especially, had me deeply engaged because of this concept.

We have her family, who are becoming increasingly disappointed in her life choices, boys who look up to her, the focus of Katie's attention, who feels she is becoming too obsessive, her barrister, who wants to believe that she didn't do it, and a journalist who knows her darkest secrets.

It was so fascinating to see how someone can be seen so differently by different people. This is what hooked me the most, as I love the way Cloke explores Katie through the years and how her experiences shape her character.

I did find the ending slightly underwhelming, but at the same time, it was very plausible and genuine, so I think I may just need some more time to dwell on it to be able to appreciate it more.

But this is still a book I highly recommend picking up! Readers are likely to resonate with it personally, and its originality is sure to impress.

I really enjoyed reading this as it dissects identity and perception as we hear stories from different perspectives. Which shows how an identity can be fractured or weaponised to create a version of someone in different or unreliable lights.

Five men. Five stories. You can’t wait to find out her story.

Nicci Cloke delivers a masterfully plotted and utterly absorbing suspense novel in Her Many Faces — a stylish, unpredictable exploration of truth, memory, and identity. From the opening pages, the tension builds as five very different men recount their experiences with a woman who may not be who she seems. Each account adds a new layer to the mystery, keeping you second-guessing everything you thought you knew.

The central question – did she do it? – lingers with every chapter, and just when you think you’ve got it figured out, Cloke hits you with amazing twists that feel both surprising and completely earned.

It’s gripping from start to finish, with a structure that feels clever, experimental, and completely fresh. This is not just another thriller – it’s unique, thrilling, and utterly addictive.

Her Many Faces is beautifully written, pacey without ever sacrificing depth, and a bold, genre-bending take on suspense that you won’t forget.

A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers who crave originality and emotional complexity.

Her Many Faces offers a clever narrative conceit, layering five distinct male perspectives to explore the enigmatic figure of Katherine Cole. Nicci Cloke navigates this fragmented storytelling with finesse, drawing intriguing contrasts between how Katherine is seen, and possibly misunderstood, by those around her.

While the shifting viewpoints are ultimately satisfying in how they converge, I found the pacing uneven in places. Some sections felt slow, making it harder to stay engaged as the narrative switched gears. That said, the gradual unravelling of Katherine’s identity is well executed and builds to a compelling finale.

Overall, this is a thoughtful take on perspective and perception, even if it requires a bit of patience to fully appreciate.

This was such an interesting read I’ve not read one like this in a long time!
It was a little challenging as it’s was told from multiple Povs but bare with it as it does get easier
I would say this was a slow burn mystery thriller but once it gets going you’ll start to really enjoy the story!
I liked the alternating chapters with the backstory that definitely added to the read
Thanks so much for allowing me to read this

This book was somewhat of a rollercoaster. The premise of this book was really appealing. Early on I struggled to get into the story, with it being written from the point of view of 5 men and discussing the deaths of 4 male victims, it was difficult at first to keep track of who was who.

However, once I got that all straight in my head, I began to enjoy the story. You are kept guessing as to what kind of person Katie is and whose perception of her is closest. This does raise the question that in real life, we are seen differently by different people and can anyone ever know us completely?

About two thirds of the way through I thought I had the plot sussed but was happily surprised to find I was completely wrong. I loved the big reveal at the end.