This is a rather different Rachel Abbott book in that the second half is effectively a courtroom drama. All the major characters in this book made me uneasy for various reasons. Nobody was being honest. Everyone was, in some way, damaged. The thing about damaged people is that they are all damaged in a different way. This has given an excellent author a great deal of material to work with. Guilty or not guilty? Murder or manslaughter? I had my mind changed for me so many times during this book. It’s a tour de force from the author and a totally entrancing read.

This book kept me guessing all the way through. I kept going back and forth into believing and not believing the story Evie had given. It sounded very plausible, but something was awry - no it had to be true.

It kept me page turning all the way through. I both wanted to know the end and didn't want to finish it.

Rachel Abbott always writes winning books and this was no exception, but it wasn't one of my favourites. Our heroine is obviously hiding something and it takes a long time before we find out what that is. In fact you have to read all the way through to the very end to discover this and then suddenly a seemingly unrelated incident with a new character appears to bring it all together, which I felt was a bit of a let down. I felt sorry for Cleo later in the book and had hoped for a different ending. Evie was not at all a likable character and this feeling increased as the story unfolded. The opening murder scene with Stephanie and then the introduction of Evie and Mark and Cleo was very original but somehow by the end I was left with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. However I am still a huge fan of Rachel's books.

And so it begins by Rachel Abbott:

Rachel Abbot is one of my favourite authors and this latest book doesn't disappoint!

We meet a new detective in this book Stephanie King, who is a likeable character. The story starts with Stephanie attending a murder scene and then the book really starts from a few months previous leading up to that night and the consequences. I don't want to give anything away but this is full of intrigue with a fair few twists and turns along the way. Its a 5* read in my opinion!

I can't believe I saw and read this in one day. It was so fantastically written and expertly portrayed that I felt I was watching a TV show. The courtroom scenes were fabulous and were completely spot on.

The characters were fantastic, well described and had complex personalities; especially Evie and Cleo. Both woman racked with demons and a past that's quite horrifying. Evie more so.
I loved how Evie was made out to be and then how her character morphed into a completely new person; a terrifyingly chilling one. She was so believable and likeable and the ending was so chilling that it gave me goosebumps.

I hated Cleo from the get go and her character just got more infuriating as the story went on... especially with the situation with baby Lulu. She was controlling and vindictive, she didn't like ANYONE and she was annoying. But she made for such a good character to read!

The ending... I was SO shocked!! I honestly thought it was the person but then.. BOOM! The end of this book has my mouth open with shock; my jaw practically touching the floor. INCREDIBLE!

But, saying all that and how much I truly loved this story, there was some areas in the book that I had trouble with. Some places seems quite jumbled, in the middle(ish), and I couldn't decipher who was telling the story. You'll also find it'll jump into first person then back to the other and it made those parts a little difficult to understand. I also found there was some contradictory bits that included Cleo and wish now that I had made not of them so I can remember exactly what part. But then a few bits later the whole story changed again and it was quite confusing.

Great read, hard to put down, suspenseful, incredibly well written... this book is one of the best psychological thrillers I've ever read, definitely in my top 10. I can't wait to pick up this author's other work. She's a phenomenal writer and an awesome story teller.

Wow! What a page turner!! I really didn’t know what to believe. Beautifully told and plotted. Love the police characters and would like to see them in future books. Cleverly narrated by the female characters. A good read.

And so it begins by Rachel Abbott.
Evie met Markand they started seeing each other. Now they have a little girl and are living together.  But one night sergeant Stephanie King and detective Jason are called to the home. A woman has phoned the police scared that someone will hurt her. But when they get there they find a room. A bed full of blood with 2 bodies on it. Are they both dead? What happened? Stephanie will find outwhat happened? Won't She?
An absolutely fantastic read. I loved the story and the characters.  Especially Evie. I had my theory about who did it.  I didn't like Cleo at all.  Not how she treated Evie.  Omg. Didn't see that coming.  What a twist.  5*.

I must admit I've read all Rachel's books and was looking forward to this book with trepidation as I've loved all the others and this was different but omg it was so good I read it in a day!! I couldn't put it down I needed to know what was going on and couldn't predict where it was going!!
The characters were believable I'm hopeful that we will hear more from some of them!! Warning though don't read when you need to get up for work!!! x

Complex plot which twists and turns and makes you want to keep reading to find out what really happened. Kept me guessing right to the end. Will definitely check out other books by Rachel Abbott.

Loved this book!! Was so addictive, I couldn’t put it down, read it in one sitting. Chilling and twisty, ending was completely unexpected.

Another great thriller by Rachel Abbott. Plenty of twists which we have come to expect from her books. Just as you think you have sorted out what has happened a spanner is thrown into the works and you have to think again. A brilliant psychological thriller which I couldn’t put down. I can’t wait for the next book. I highly recommend all of Rachel’s books.

I am in two minds about this book, I enjoyed it but not hugely so. Others say it's pace is fast but I didn't think so, luckily we are all different.

It is certainly a chilling psychological thriller unlike anything I have read before. It is pretty dark and has so many twists and turns that I can understand why others found it unputdownable but for me I found it less so.

Don't get me wrong though, I didn't dislike it and I can see how much research has gone into the story and I will certainly look out for other work by Rachel Abbott.

Thanks to Netgalley for this opportunity.

Thank you for providing me with a copy of the book. I loved this. Read it in a day as couldn't put it down.

Rachel Abbott never disappoints and her latest novel is right up there with her best. An enthralling psychological thriller with a new police protagonist in the form of Sergeant Stephanie King.

Set in Cornwall and opening with the murder of a well know local photographer Mark/Marcus found dead in bed with his partner, Evie. Most of the narrative takes place as she is put on trial for killing him.
This is a seriously addictive read which is full of twists and turns. There are plenty of dark secrets revealed as the novel progresses. It has some emotional themes including revenge, abuse and obsession.

All the characters are well drawn and narrative races along. I'm looking forward to reading more about Stephanie King. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

What a great read! It’s in three parts and it kept me guessing right to the end, and even then there’s a twist, you can’t be sure of what is true and what isn’t. Layers of past and present are built up in such a gripping fashion that the book is hard to put down! I will definitely recommend this one!

Read it in one sitting late into the night! Couldn’t put it down, well I tried, but I kept picking it back up again!

Read this in a day a definite can't put it down book. Murder,lies, intrigue this book has it all. The book starts with a murder scene, but then goes back to build up a picture of what happened leading up to that night. Is Evie lying, will she literally get away with murder. So much going on it keeps you guessing right until the end. The back story of the two detectives builds up a picture of them so that we hope we see more of them.
Rachel yet again doesn't disappoint can't wait until her next one she's in my top 5 favourite authors