I needed a light novel to read over Christmas. At first glance, this didn’t fit the bill. However, it was, in fact, perfect. There was just enough intrigue and suspense to keep me turning the pages, and sneaking a quick read in between the revelry. It was a thought provoking examination of our belief in the criminal justice system and the possibility that it may be flawed. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and, it was, in the end, an apt theme for Christmas. It is a story of the complexity of love, of family bonds and loyalties and, ultimately, about forgiveness. I loved the ending, which was satisfying and moving. A must read.

Izzy English was like any other 19 year old girl, she had parents who she loved! Alex (her mum) was a chef at her own restaurant while Gabriel (her dad) was a odd – jobs kind of guy with an artistic streak. Unexpectantly, on the 31st October 1999, her mother goes missing only to turn up dead and her father convicted of her murder. Fast forward 17 years and Gabe is released from prison on probation. Izzy has moved on with her life, still grieving the loss of both parents (Gabe may have been in prison but she still lost him!) The day of release, Gabe reaches out with a letter proclaiming his innocence, he wants to meet with Izzy to defend himself with his version of events. Will she hear him out? Or has she already made up her mind about his perceived guilt?

Firstly, I want to thank Gillian for another thrilling masterpiece, I love an absorbing and compulsive read and this read definitely delivered! What I find with GM’s work is that she has the ability to describe something that would be so small and mundane in such a poetic way that places you in that situation / place.

The storyline is well written and panned out. You’re transported to life before the disappearance and murder of Alex English. This creates the foundational backbone of the story in which you see how Alex and Gabe interact with one another within the confinements of marriage; this contributes towards the imaginary that Gabe murdered Alex. Also, I enjoyed how the storyline flicked into the past and showed the same events from both Izzy and Gabe’s point of view. It makes you question everything and nothing at all! It shows how someone’s view of an event can be truly different from another’s, but how do you decide what version is the correct one?

I love the way GM writes because the little details she includes helps build the characters in my mind to the point that I am left with the biggest book hangover because these people’s lives mean something to me! These people are real! Bookworms know what I mean! The engagement of characters feel real and not forced, I think this shows the extent to which Gillian carefully plans her characters and storyline. Apparently she uses a self – invented ‘box method’ during the planning stage, which evidently works so well!

Taking you back to a previous point, I didn’t have a clue how the book was going to end, it was unpredictable and twisty, which I love! This is a thriller that you should be watching out for in 2019! GM will never disappoint you, I am super excited for her fifth book!

Story Of Izzy English whose father was jailed for the murder of her mother Alexandra. It is now 17 years on and her father is due to be released from jail. He makes contact and maintains his innocence, Izzy does not know what to believe and decides to investigates. This means going over her memories, family members and her then boyfriend who dumped her. Lots of conflicting evidence, lies and red herrings, Brilliantly writtenand gripping.
#TheEvidenceAgainstYou #NetGalley

A powerfully moving story filled with love, fear and betrayal. The feeling of raw emotions hooked me as soon as I turned the first page. The descriptive writing style transported me with ease to places I have visited myself and to other places where I have never been. The plot was dark and deliciously twisty, leaving me guessing and undecided almost to the end. The end was also unexpected and brought the story to a satisfying conclusion. The characters were well drawn and beautifully described, I could feel their angst and turmoil flowing from the pages. All I can say about this one is don't miss it!

i’ve read and enjoyed all of this author’s previous books so was excited when asked to read and review her latest offering.

young izzy english’s father was convicted of murdering her mother despite his protests of innocence and sentenced to 18 years in prison. eighteen years have passed and upon his release he returns to convince an adult izzy of his innocence. can she find it in herself to hear him out and believe him or is he a master manipulator twisting events in the past to give a better view of himself.

the book is cleverly written and i, as the reader, couldn’t decide if he was guilty or not. the ending is bittersweet and terribly sad. most definitely worth a read.

many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another utterly compelling and brilliantly plotted psychological thriller here from the pen of Gillian McAllister. Ever since her first book I’ve looked forward to the next with glee and The Evidence Against You doesn’t disappoint.

Izzy has lived with the fact that her Father killed her Mother, it has affected the way she lives her life on many levels. Then he’s out – and insisting still that he is innocent. But innocence itself has many levels…

I loved this because the characters are so very engaging, you root for Izzy all the way, it is beautifully written and genuinely unpredictable, I had no idea if her Dad was indeed guilty or not guilty until the ultimate resolution- this makes for a highly satisfying and fascinating read.

Psychological thrillers are far from dead and gone but they are best off in the hands of writers like Gillian McAllister and a few others who are writing at the top of their game and still managing to keep things surprising.

As ever Highly Recommended. One to watch in an already fantastic looking April 2019.

Another enthralling thriller from one of my favourite authors. The Evidence Against You tells the story of Izzy English, and how her father was convicted of killing her mother, one October in 1998. 18 years later, Gabe is out, and he wants to prove his innocence to his daughter.

As usual, McAllister manages to put just the right amount of doubt into the reader's mind. Reasonable doubt. Did he do it? Or is he innocent? Set on the Isle of Wight during the heatwave of 2018, I could visualise the story so easily. McAllister has that rare talent where she paints a picture in your mind - the characters are real, the setting easily stepped into. The ending was so bittersweet, so cutting, and yet just right. This book gripped me from the very first page, and didn't let me come up for air.

Another great book by Gillian McAllister. This time exploring the relationship between a father and daughter. None of the characters were particularly likable but Kept me guessing until the very end. Four stars.

"It's the day her father will be released from jail. Izzy English has every reason to feel conflicted - he's the man who gave her a childhood filled with happy memories. But he has also just served seventeen years for the murder of her mother."

I was so so excited when Penguin emailed me with an advanced copy of this book - I have really enjoyed discovering Gillian McAllister's writing this year. I just about read this in three days - which is only because it's Christmas and I have other commitments otherwise it would totally have been a day or less! I loved this book for so many reasons...

Firstly, it's set on the Isle of Wight. Finally. Someone has recognised the Isle of Wight for being book worthy! I know, there have been lots of books where the Isle of Wight has featured however it's so often seen in a slightly negative light when really it should be celebrated. I love reading books about Nantucket and small Islands in the USA so I was ecstatic to find that McAllister had done her research and picked my favourite south coast haven. Secondly, it's completely unpredictable. From the start. I expected to read about a difficult childhood, strained relationships, negative parenting... culminating in a murder... But that wasn't it at all. It was refreshing to read something so open to taking whatever turn the author felt like taking next.

" It's hard to be frightened when faced with a benign relic from her past, as familiar as a duvet cover not seen since the 1980s. "

From beginning to end as a reader, I was catapulted into the story within the book, my mind desperately working with the Izzy's to figure out the truth. Usually in books such as this you get there or you have an idea or an inkling. However McAllister kept it low key - giving various options and suspicions but nothing concrete. I really liked that... surprises at the end which tied everything together neatly, no loose ends.

Above all of that though, was the underlying message. A book about the catastrophic effect of being accused of a crime for which you are not guilty of. A book about the institutionalised nature of imprisonment and how, at the end of your sentence, guilty or not, you are a changed person. That and the loss of a family unit, a childhood scarred, was what touched me the most about this book.

When l was offered this book to review (thanks netgalley) l was at work and literally could not wait to get home and download a copy. I have absolutely loved all Gillian McAllister’s previous books so l started this in no doubt of the same result. It was different, l began to feel disappointment still a great storyline though so worth a read I thought. Oh how wrong was l within two chapters l was enthralled with Izzy and Nick who fitted so well together, Gabe and Alex whose bohemian styled life came to a dark end, the minor players whose silence all added together to create a huge shout of guilty and the distraught Father whose own demons contributed so much.
Such a clever book with a proven base of facts all in all a 5* winner