A Face In The Crowd is a quite tense thriller that will have you reading this in no time.
Lucy and Ben are saving for their wedding, Ben has to go away for a couple of days to earn more money but he never gets there as the train he is on crashes and Ben and his brother die.
Five years later and lucy is living in the cheapest block of flats she can find, on her own apart from the delightful Billy ....her dog! Living from hand to mouth as Ben left her in extreme financial ruin and working at a local supermarket. After a journey home from work one evening, Lucy finds an envelope in her bag and the contents baffle her. Strange things seem to happen and she gets the feeling she’s being followed but who could it be and why?
This was a fairly tense thriller that I enjoyed, I liked Lucy and her dog and found it easy to relate to her, the ending I think could have been better but apart from that it was an enjoyable read.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

As always with this author's books, this one too did not disappoint. Brilliant from start to finish. A fast paced, thrilling and exceptional tale, very well written as always. I love this author and he gets better with every book. This book is writing perfection! Very highly recommended!

This has been somewhat of a gripping book from start to finish, I really did enjoy it, there was all these odd & weird things happening throughout the story, all of which I had no idea how they'd all come together or why they were happening. I kept trying to figure it out in my mind but I literally couldn't have been more wrong. There are plenty of twists and turns to this story. It really was a very well written storyline.

I will be honest and say that I didn't warm to the main character Lucy, there was just something not right with her character. I did however love her dog Billy, now he was a character and a half, so adorable and clearly had his unique mannerisms anout him.

As much I as I did enjoy this standalone book, I have to say that it wasn't one of the author's best but then that's just my opinion and despite that I will still be looking forward to reading his future books.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for the opportunity to read and review this book. A very interesting and intriguing read. Lucy is living in poverty after her boyfriend dies in a train crash leaving her with a pile of debt. She lives day to day on the breadline until one day someone leaves an envelope with thousands in her handbag. Who left it there. Some very sinister things begin happening around Lucy. Who is responsible A story that will keep you gripped, clear your diary. A really good read.

I’d give this one a 3/5. Enjoyable, full of suspense and easy to follow. My first read by this author and I’d be happy to read more of their books.

4.5 stars

A Face in the Crowd by Kerry Wilkinson is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It’s been 5 years since Lucy’s fiancé and his brother were killed in a train crash. The loss of Ben turned her world upside down. She went from a good job with a good future, to complete ruin when it was discovered that Ben, in his job as a day trader, not only threw his own money away, but all of hers, leaving Lucy deep in debt.

Lucy has been living in a one-room flat, in a not-so-great area of town, working in a grocery store, and just barely making ends meet. She often goes without meals, and her shoes are falling apart. But for all that, she has some good days, a good friend next door, and a wonderful companion in Billy, a dog she rescued, and who usually eats better than she does.

One Friday on a very crowded bus ride home from work, someone puts an envelope of cash in her purse. She knows she should do the right thing and turn it in to the police, but it’s hard. She really needs this money.

Between wrestling with her conscience over the money, going to another memorial for her dead fiancé, trying the dating scene for the first time in 5 years, and wondering about her new neighbour, now Lucy thinks she has a stalker. Strange things are happening.




My Opinions:
Kerry Wilkinson has become one of my favorite authors. One of those authors who I know will provide me with a fast, entertaining read. His books always send me in a direction I don’t see coming. This one was no different. Although I had some suspicions that turned out to be true, there were enough twists to keep me interested and turning those pages.

I loved the characters, all of whom had enough depth to feel real, and I loved Billy. As an animal lover, I rarely read books or watch television programs containing one. My fear for their well-being is much greater than my fear for the well-being of a human, so I was a little nervous throughout the book…..

Anyway, great plot, great writing, and overall, great entertainment.

Today is my stop for Kerry Wilkinson's A Face In The Crowd. I would like to thank Bookoutre and Net Galley for inviting me on this tour.
Lucy is struggling to make ends meet and works in a grocery store that barely covers her rent on her bedsit and her other bills. On Friday night, she gets off the crowded bus one Friday night and discovers this is no ordinary night. Lucy finds a strange envelope in her purse, and upon opening it finds thousands of pounds. Once she gets home she tells herself she will do the right thing and turn it into the police in the morning. As it turns out the temptation of having so much money after never having enough is too great. She didn't always live check to check, five years earlier, her fiance and she were planning their future. One day Ben left to head off to work and never came home. After a short time after the tragedy, she learns that Ben had been racking up credit card bills in her name. Ever since she's been struggling to pay off the debt he left her in.
After finding the envelope of money strange things start happening. She constantly feels like she is being watched, and her phone rings constantly from an unknown number. Lucy starts to wonder if finding that envelope was a blessing or a curse.
As a single mom, I felt for Lucy. I have been in her shoes where it seems there's too much month and not enough money. I think most of us would love an unexpected windfall, but those things seem to bring more trouble than what it's worth at times. This story drew me in, but I felt the ending was lacking. For me, all the questions I had were not answered. This is the first book by Kerry Wilkinson I've read, and I really like his writing style so I'm sure I'll be picking up another book he's written in the future. Billy, Lucy's dog made the book more enjoyable to read.
Overall, this was a fun read. I think the plot and the twist will keep anyone reading to see where this mysterious envelope came from. The other characters provide insight to Lucy, and at one point, I wondered if one of her neighbors was stalking her. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR list.

Lucy takes the same bus to work day after day and it is sometimes so crowded that she stands, pressed against other passengers. Then, one day something extraordinary is put into purse while she is on the bus. It could be a life-changer for Lucy, if she dares use it! Strange things start occurring in Lucy’s life. Is it related to the item she found in her purse? Does someone have nefarious plans for Lucy? This psychological thriller will take you on a ride as you try to figure out what is really going on. This book was almost impossible to put down until the final page!

I thought this was a good mystery, dragged on a bit more than I would have preferred, but I really liked Lucy and the need to find out who and why kept me glued to the pages. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book by one of my favorite authors.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy....

It was a great book to read and really enjoyed it...

Looking forward to read more book from this author soon...

Thank you to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘A Face in the Crowd’ by Kerry Wilkinson in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy takes the same bus every day to work. She is working as a cashier in a grocery store and struggling to make ends meet. Lucy avoids eye contact with fellow passengers and hopes to get her own seat so she can read a little. This particular Friday the bus is crammed full. After she exits Lucy suddenly realises that an envelope stuffed with cash is now in her bag. Is the money the answer to her prayers or the beginning of a nightmare?

As this is a psychological thriller I think it’s fair to assume that it’s the latter. This novel was certainly a page-turner with a relatable narrator in Lucy. Her struggle to budget and keep herself from going under felt very real. As was the dilemma of the mysterious envelope.

I appreciated Wilkinson’s letter to readers about his decision to feature a working class protagonist, who while struggling with money issues isn’t mired in doom and gloom. Plus, it portrayed a very moving relationship between Lucy and her wonderful Staffie, Billy.

Certainly a well written novel with satisfying twists. Kerry Wilkinson is an author that I will add to my watch list.

A Face in the Crowd was written by Kerry Wilkinson, published by Bookouture on 06/06/19.

What would you do if you got home from work to find an envelope full of thousands of pounds (or dollars for the US) stuffed in your bag? This is the dilemma Lucy faces one Friday evening after coming home to her crappy apartment from her even crappier job. Would you keep it, or turn it in? This decision could end up costing Lucy more than she ever thought possible.

Okay, we all know I love Bookouture. I rave about them all the time. This book was no different. I've been Lucy. I've been the poor kid at the dead end job eating rice for the one meal a day I can actually afford. When she found the money, I wished someone would drop thousands of dollars into my bag....I'll even hold it open for you! Wilkinson did a really good job of making you feel every single struggle that Lucy has as a poor college student. In fact, all the characters felt sincere, and they played their own parts in the story.

Overall, the book just feels ominous and creepy. I felt like I was being watched while I was reading it at times. The ending is super demented, but in a good way that I can really appreciate. Overall the story was well told, incredibly detailed, and had an ending that left me with no complaints. I might just need to go find more of Kerry Wilkinson's books now.

If you like creepy stalker-y books, this one's for you!

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars

e Crowd by Kerry Wilkinson

Lucy is struggling to make ends meet. Every day is a struggle to find enough money for travel and food. Then one day she finds an envelope of money in her bag. Where did it come from & should she spend it?

This is basically an okay book but it lacked several things that would have made it good. The main protagonist is Lucy. A young 20 something woman living in a dingy flat and doing a low paid supermarket job. Her ticket out of there is an Open University Course which seems to be very low on her list of priorities – surprisingly. Her main priority is her dog & don’t we hear a lot about Billy. I am not a dog person and found the constant discussion about the dog, walking the dog, cuddling the dog, what the dog eats etc rather uninteresting padding.

There is a “big reveal” which I had seen coming a mile off. I would be surprised if it came as a shock to any reader. It isn’t original and it isn’t done in a particularly interesting or subtle way. I found Lucy a bit weak & watery throughout this section and wanted to shake her. I found the ending quite rushed with the answers to various questions – who is renting the flat opposite, who put the money in her bag – answered very quickly and without much skill.

This wasn’t really the book for me. I didn’t take that well to Lucy, got bored by all the information on the dog and saw the ending coming a mile off. Other readers may take much better to Lucy and find the dog anecdotes amusing but not for me, I am afraid.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

I read this book in two days! The premise had me excited and the book definitely delivered. It was fast-moving, intriguing, and unpredictable. I felt like I never knew what was coming next and I loved how the author ended the book. Would definitely recommend this to a friend!

Lucy is having a hard time making ends meet these past years. She's stuck in a dead-end job at the local supermarket making barely better than minimum wage and has a load of debt from when events 5 years ago basically changed her entire life. One evening on the bus home, someone puts an envelope containing money into her bag without her seeing who it was. She knows she shouldn't keep this new-found jackpot, but starts spending it anyway despite knowing that soon she'll be called to account. NO SPOILERS.

This was a quick read, but there were no surprises here. I didn't really connect with the main character of Lucy and way too much of the narrative focused on her dog, Billy. The story will require some extreme suspension of disbelief. I was a big disappointed by the payoff with the "big reveal" and the explanations without ever having felt much tension or suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Intriguing but not thrilling; there is a mystery, but very little suspense. It's just strange stuff happening while we are waiting for some answers, and to top it off the plot isn't even very original. This was a waste of my time.

I really liked how focused this was on one character, and that this meant we got to know her really well. I’m a big fan of character-based books, so I loved this style of writing.

Lucy herself was really fascinating, she was both anxious and scared, but also stronger than she seemed, and this strength and determination showed itself more and more throughout the book. She was the sort of character that the reader was really able to connect with because her thoughts and decisions were written in such depth.

The actual premise of the book was really different to anything else I’ve read in a while. When Lucy finds the mysterious envelope of money in her bag, her reaction is very believable. The shock, the good intentions, the disbelief – it’s all there, written in such detail. But for someone like Lucy, who’s struggling to claw back debts, it seems like a miracle, and it’s easy to understand why she struggles to hand it in.

I liked how Wilkinson gave enough detail of Lucy’s backstory to demonstrate that it’s relevant to the money, but kept enough back to keep the reader intrigued. It was absolutely brilliantly written at times, creating a real sense of mystery and suspense, keeping me on my toes. There were a lot of secondary characters, but as they all had fairly simple backstories it was easy to follow them all and understand the relevance they had to the story. I really liked Lucy’s friendship with her neighbour Karen, and even the other people in the building were so varied that it kept it all really interesting. I loved Lucy’s care for her dog, it showed a much more vulnerable side to her among all the other threatening and mysterious events. Harry, the guy Lucy was dating, was a great addition – although I suspected he was innocent there were more than enough dodgy signs to make me doubt myself.

The ending to this was really good. It was a great twist, and seriously creepy at times. It was clever, as it built up to make the reader suspect one thing, and then provided a really surprising twist. It was a slow build which made the ending seem really fast paced and satisfying. I would definitely recommend this, as it’s something a bit different and has a brilliant plot throughout.

I so enjoyed this book! It's one of those that carries you along and had me hooked. I even woke in the night wanting to read on. It's a multi-layered read about a young woman who, through no fault of her own, is struggling financially and then.... someone puts a large sum of money in her handbag.

It deals with the moral dilemma of finding yourself with an unexplained amount of cash, as well as an underlying storyline of murder, lies and betrayal.

A really good read. Perfect for the beach!

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookoutre and Kerry Wilkinson for the opportunity to preview this really good read. Wishing you all every success.

If you found £3,640 in an envelope in your handbag after getting off a bus you travelled to and from work on everyday what would you do? Would you take the money to the Police. This is the decision Lucy finds herself faced with. She has spent the last 5 years trying to just live after her husband to be was killed in a train crash leaving her with debts she didn’t know about he had spent all their savings and had run up massive debts in her name which meant she had to pay them. She has a job she hates in a supermarket on minimum wage her life revolves around her job and her dog Billy. Initially she decides she will take the money to the police, she keeps counting it and putting it back in its envelope taking it everywhere with her. Frequently checking google to see if anyone has reported it missing. But then strange phone calls start coming through, she goes on a date with someone from a dating website, so many things start happening that she doesn’t understand who is the strange guy watching her block of flats, why does music keep being played from the flat opposite hers when she has never seen anyone in there.

This was one of those books that you were trying to guess what was going on throughout. I have to say I did guess most of it before the book finished but it is well written and flows well with several red herrings thrown in to keep you guessing. I you like a psychological thriller this is a book for you.

This is an unbiased and honest review with thanks to Netgalley for giving me an ARC to read and review

A Face in the Crowd follows Lucy, an ordinary character struggling to make ends meet as she attempts to pay off debts that her dead ex-boyfriend imposed on her by taking out loans under her name. The first person narrative contributes to an engaging story line and a sympathy for Lucy and her simple life. Unfortunately, as much as I tried, I couldn’t grow to like her because her character was missing the courage and ambition that a main character involved in such a situation is expected to show. After constant complaints and little desire to improve her living situation, there was little else left to her personality. The other minor characters are unnecessary as they weave in and out of the main story line.

In terms of plot, there was much left to be desired as soon as the main reasons for her financial circumstances were revealed. It would be as simple as checking her bank statements each month to avoid getting stuck in her situation but it seemed that she hadn’t learnt this lesson as she continued to make similar mistakes after she found the large sum of money in her purse. Attempts to look for the responsible person in odd ways such as bribing the security man weakened the plot and created a sense of surrealism difficult to relate to, as is the case in almost all psychological thrillers. The sudden change of events, although supported by a strong and unexpected plot twist, did not add up to the previous facts already revealed and instead of answering the main question of who left the money and why, raised more questions that were not addressed in the ending.

Although the plot and characters were missing depth for me, the steady pace and suspense kept me interested. Lucy may not be the most exciting character nor does the original idea behind the plot seem unique but the plot twists were well delivered and mostly unexpected. An unusual choice for the Mystery/Thriller genre, A Face in the Crowd was not what I expected but a good reminder to beware of the people closest to us as they are usually the ones hiding the deepest secrets that could hurt us.