An interesting read that could have been much more for me but unfortunately i just couldn't connect with the heroine.
Like a mother, yes i would do anything for my family but this story is so much more than just what one would sacrifice for her family.
The added suspense between her former nana and the heroine, the secrets that are unveiled and all the cold heart and hard-headed woman, didn't make me think that these women are strong as it should be or as i think is the outcome for their story.
Overall i found the story interesting and i will read other books by the author as the writing was quite good and the plot is entrailing.

Excellent Debut Novel

Although I thought this a little slow to start with, the tension builds into a taut thriller where you are never quite sure who is telling the truth.

With two strong female characters and a 3 dimensional supporting cast, once the book picks up pace you are faced with a page turner that kept me up late through to the powerful finish.

I wouldn't classify this as espionage, and anyone expecting trade craft secrets passed down by Philby's grandfather will be disappointed, however this is a richly drawn portrait of of deceit and secrets.

Recommended.

This book had me hooked from beginning to end. It had many twists and turns with a very good pace. The end was shocking and I really enjoyed it as a summer read.
Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

As the book title says, this book is about the most difficult thing(s). Filled with suspense, twists and turns, the momentum doesn't let up even on the last page... which is why I felt like I had hit a brick wall as I read the last sentence (consider yourself warned). I'm off for a lie down in a quiet room until I recover from reading this book.

This is the debut novel from Charlotte Philby and I found it a compelling read. This story is full of intriguing characters and nobody is who they appear to be, and I loved the way the scenery moved around the world particularly appreciating the Greek input from Skiathos.

The novel is told from two viewpoints, that of Anna (who we know has secrets) and Maria, a Greek born woman who we learn is spying on others. Although initially the main plot evolved from Anna, I felt the movement between the two women and the storyline from different timeframes kept the plot alive and interesting. I’m still not sure that I have worked out exactly who was who, what was happening and who was working for which organisation, but it certainly kept me engrossed from beginning to end.

Anna, David and Meg meet a university and Anna is keen to pursue a career as a journalist. These three meet Harry, in a bar, just after he has been fired from an investigative journalist position even though he is not honest about this up front. The relationships between these four main characters is complex and unfolds gradually with the plot intermingled with the other characters who are all strong. Anna is attracted to Harry, David is attracted to Anna and Meg seems to be friends with all of them.

The relationship between Anna and Harry is one of obsession on Anna’s side and this keeps coming in and out of the storyline even after Anna marries David, has twin girls and enjoys the opulent lifestyle David’s family belongs to. Maria arrives in the storyline on a visit to, David’s father’s beautiful house in Skiathos which is looked after by Maria’s mother.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction, The Borough Press and Charlotte Philby for my ARC in return for my honest review.

Really good read and highly recommended.

Charlotte Philby found the inspiration behind her debut novel in a question that arose from her grandfather’s notorious defection to Russia in 1963: what kind of person walks out on their family?

Charlotte Philby recruits a young woman as her spy in The Most Difficult Thing, exploring the relationships she has, how the lines blur between what is real and what might be role-play, or even manipulative behaviour, on someone else’s part. When that woman becomes a mother, she examines whether maternal instincts automatically kick in, especially where childbirth and the postpartum period aren’t easy. She also considers the decision to break ties and whether it’s any more difficult for a mother to leave her children than it is for a father to walk out on his family.

The actual business interests that form the subject of the espionage were a little sketchy and confusing at times but this didn’t bother me too much because I found them to be of secondary interest to the web of relationships around Anna, who is at the heart of the novel.

This is where The Most Difficult Thing works particularly well and comes into its own. I thoroughly enjoyed trying to untangle all the relationships and work out who was playing it straight, who was not to be trusted or potentially spying on someone else or possibly even playing a double game, who might be paranoid or controlling, or who might simply be concerned for the children of the house and/or someone else’s welfare.

It’s difficult to work out if or how far Anna goes native, to what extent she makes conscious decisions affecting her life, and how much she remembers she has been recruited for a specific purpose. It’s also hard to gauge how much others suspect or know what she’s doing, who for and why. It was satisfying to see how it all unravels by the end. The Most Difficult Thing is an edgy family drama with its tangle of relationships unspooling in a clammy climate of deception and mistrust.

Anna is now a vulnerable, insecure magazine editor, whose life has been blighted by a traumatic event in her youth.
When she went to university and then to London, she had the chance to reinvent herself, and became close friend with Meg, another journalist, and David, the son of a rich businessman. While it was clear David loved Anna, she became infatuated with Harry, a freelance journalist working on an investigation into David’s father’s business.
Harry appears very manipulative, and persuades Anna to spy on David’s business by becoming very close to him.
As Anna is dragged deeper into the deception by Harry, she starts to question the motives of everybody and feels constantly guilty.

Maria is a close friend of David’s family, who is employed to help his family in London, and has her own doubts about David’s father.

The narrators are Maria and Anna, which gives the author a chance to show different views of the same events.

This isn’t in the Le Carre league, despite the publicity for this book, and is over-long in places (especially the description of the African businesses), but is a fast-paced read with some clever twists, although the ending seemed rushed.

Notwithstanding, I’d recommend the book, and look out for further tiles by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Borough Press, HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this book.

I was very disappointed with the ending of this book. It started off well and had me hooked with the easy to read characters, short chapters and intriging story line but as the ending neared, it started to get confusing and it ended quite quickly. Left me guessing how things went or what happened next. Other than that it was a good read

After reading the synopsis and reviews published I so badly wanted to enjoy this book and was excited to recieve and ARC.

Unfortunately I just found it lacking, in what I cant quite put my finger on but I feel that because the book doesn't quite fit into a certain genre and covers spy, physiological, thriller.. it just didnt fit with me.

Hats off to Charlotte for the descriptions of characters though, they were extremely well written and intriguing.

Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC.

When Anna meets Harry when at university she was immediately attracted to him.
What secrets does he hold?
Harry keeps coming and going through Anna's life with her friend Meg and David, after landing a job in a magazine Anna's life starts to settle down and starts dating David.
Harry returns back in Anna's life and asks for her help to uncover the truth about David's dad Clive a multi billionaire and according to Harry not a very nice person.
Anna agrees but before long she becomes pregnant and her and David marry giving her more access to Clive and his business dealings.
Does Anna really know what she is getting into and how much danger has she put herself in.

More fevered domestic drama than spy tale, this is one of those books that might work well while lazing in the sun or on the commute - but it doesn't bear up under too much critical scrutiny.

There are certainly The Night Manager vibes along with lots of tropes from commercial 'how well do you know those closest to you' psychological thrillers. I'm afraid I giggled more than I was thrilled as revelations pile up on revelations... and top secret paperwork is thrown out in the recycling!

One to read fast and discard - flight or pool would be the perfect setting.

The Most Difficult Thing by Charlotte Philby focuses mainly on the character of Anna who finds herself immersed in the world of espionage whilst dealing with the difficulties of being a new mother to twin girls. She finds herself having to lead a double life never truly knowing who to trust.
The Most Difficult Thing is a fast-paced psychological spy thriller that has the reader on the edge of their seat from the very beginning. With a dizzying amount of twists and turns that I never saw coming.
This book is beautifully written and I found myself totally immersed from beginning to end.
Recommended!!

Mixed feeling on this one. It's a fast-paced thriller and has lots of unputdownable moments but certain elements were lacking for me. I found the characters hard to empathise with because their motivations were not fully clear. The main character has a past, but this never really seems to explain how cold, nor how naive she is. I found the time jumps slightly too jarring and confusingly done. Am also not a fan of the 'if only I had known what was to come' trope, which is used frequently. Was very confused by the ending.

A smart and sophisticated thriller debut. I found myself hooked from the first few pages. I adore sharply written female characters and this doesn't disappoint. Am also a sucker for overseas locations and this does justifiably have them. An impressive debut from the author and I look forward to reading more by her. A compelling read.

I read this book in a day, I loved Anna's and Maria's characters, so many lies, deception, intrigue, murder that it's one of those books you can't put down, even when I did I was thinking about it. I was left at the end saying no it can't end like this!! I need another one to see what happens to them all

What can I say...I could not stop reading The Most Difficult Thing once I'd started. The plot played out like a movie in my head, and my heart raced with every thrilling moment. Often plots in thrillers can become predictable, but having finished this I'm still in the dark. I raced to the end hoping all would become clear only to find... aaarrrgghhhh...I'm going to have to wait to find out. This author left me wanting more and I cannot wait to read the next book. A sophisticated and smart read for anyone who likes being kept on the edge of their seat. Thoroughly enjoyed this and now I'm off to make a chamomile tea to calm my nerves :)

I felt that this was trying to mold too many dissimilar genres into one tome...spy drama, psychological thriller. It was, however, very well described and atmospheric.

This is a spy thriller with English characters. Initially hard to get into but then a great gripping read as the book goes on. A great debut novel by Charlotte Philby.

I wanted to enjoy this book, as I felt that the story - of Anna, recruited by an unknown spy network, to investigate her father-in-law’s shady business dealings - could have been riveting. Unfortunately, I found myself getting very confused as to what time frame we were in, as the story shifted, seemingly at random, from Anna’s childhood, early adulthood, three years earlier and now. The chapters alternated between two characters, Anna and the Greek nanny, Maria, neither of whom are completely open and honest with each other, or with Anna’s husband David.

I felt that the story was missing some components - maybe an indication of David’s motives and actions - was he deliberately making Anna think she was going crazy or not? It was difficult to know who’s side the reader should be on, as I actually felt quite pleased about Anna’ Visit to the solicitors at the end of the story. Her character was quite selfish and at times uncaring.

Sorry, but not a book I particularly enjoyed and not one I would reread.

I found this book to be a most difficult thing. It's billed as a compulsive domestic drama/spy story and I really wanted to like it more. The blurb likens it to 'The Night Manager' which I enjoyed, but unfortunately, unlike TNM, I couldn't relate to/like any of the leading characters. It's a book that required a lot of concentration. The story jumps around a lot and is told by both Anna and Maria and sometimes because they are very much alike I forgot which was which. Anna was portrayed as an intelligent woman but oh my, was she really so naïve? Harry, David and his father Clive all came across as manipulative, angry and quite unlikeable.
I did read to the end as I was intrigued as to where the story was going...… but sadly it left me confused.
That said I do think that it might make a good screenplay for a tv drama,
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in return for an honest review.