Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Great premise and what an opening! My heart was in my mouth from the start. "Witness X" is an at times brutal, gory, creepy, genre bending psychological thriller. Protagonist Kyra has invented technology that she hopes can be used to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system. SE Moorhead's imagination and attention to detail are exemplary, with lots of interesting observations on what life might be like in the not-too-distant future. She has spawned a range of plausible technology including virtual holidays, newspops, computer auto-logging of police briefings and injectable bio-trackers. Personally I hope that the expensive Thames Estuary wine was a dig at Brexit! The story unfolds from the point of view of Kyra, with interjections from the killer's perspective. I thought it was an exciting, fast-paced read and would love to see it optioned for film or television.

I loved this thriller, a cross between The Silence of the Lambs and Minority report. It made me think really carefully about our own biases in our memories and also how developing technology won't neccessarily make it easier to find a villain and hold them to justice.

I''d definitely read more by SE Moorhead

creates a pacy and thrilling read where relationships are the key and memory needs to urgently be unlocked.

Review appears on goodreads, Instagram, Amazon and my blog.

I’m hoping there will be more adventures with Kyra and the gang.

Witness X is a fast paced thriller set in the future, the story follows a neuropsychologist named Kyra Sullivan as she races to uncover who is behind a recent murder. Using technology that allows Kyra to access the memory of those who were witnesses, she must work to uncover the truth – but at what cost?

This was such an addictive read! It’s tagged ‘Silence of the Lambs meets Blade Runner’ and I think that’s a really apt description. It’s the perfect blend of technology filled future and fast paced crime mystery. It will appeal to fans of both genres, and it certainly had me turning pages faster and faster to know what was going to happen next.

The world is built incredibly well and I really enjoyed Moorhead’s writing style – it was so easy to sink into this world and I really liked the unique and engaging premise. Moorhead does a great job ramping up the tension in this atmospheric read and it will definitely have you on the edge of your seat for the ending.

Kyra is a really interesting protagonist and the characters are well fleshed out and realistic. She’s a really intelligent, determined character and it was fascinating to see her become more and more obsessed as she sought the truth behind the murders fourteen years ago.

If you’re looking for something that is fast paced, compulsively readable and will leave your heart pounding, Witness X is exactly the book you’re looking for.

Silence of the lambs meet blade runner might over sell this just a little but is a sound analogy – this was a darkly addictive serial killer thriller with a strong psychological core and a well drawn set of characters.

The intriguing premise at the heart of it – the ability to link to another person’s memories – is well imagined and within the context of the story extremely believable. Kyra’s determination to see her Sister’s killer brought to justice adds a layer of involvement that keeps you turning the pages and I read this in two sittings. 

The writing is excellent, the plotting taut and often very disturbing, the descriptive sense of it is atmospheric and cleverly layered. Overall a most excellent read and one I have no problem highly recommending. 

For fans of the dark side.

Set in 2035, Kyra Sullivan is neuropsychologist who has developed a machine that allows her to get into peoples minds and reanact their memories.

Using the technology Kyra sets about finding a serial killer who started is killings some 14 years prior.

Kyra is resolute and hell bent on finding the killler and SE Moorhead has created a strong determined character.

An interesting and intriguing premise, it’s a serial killer thriller with a futuristic difference and is a very well thought out, excellently written thriller that tanks along At apace.

An enjoyable, inventive compulsive thriller.

Recommended

4 Stars

#WitnessX #NetGalley
Welcome to the future and solve the mystery. the police caged a notorious serial killer who abducted and butchered two victims every February. He was safe behind bars, fourteen years ago. Neuropsychologist Kyra Sullivan fights to use a new technology that accesses the minds of the witnesses, working with the police to uncover the truth. Will he be successful? This thriller put me on the edge of my seat.
Premise was so promising that i instantly fall for this book. Narration of the story is simple.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me an advanced copy of this book.

Just from reading the blurb of this book I was intrigued, I needed an 'on the edge of your seat' book and this sounded perfect for it. I didn't really know what to expect as I do not think this author has any other books, so I was going into this with a fresh mind and nothing to compare to. It definately met my need for being on the edge of my seat, at one point I was biting my nail (which I never do) because the chapter I was reading was so thrilling and I had completely shut out the outside world. I was hooked on this book from start to finish.

I liked how the story was obvious in the fact you knew it couldn't be the person they had caught and thrown in jail fourteen years earlier, but at the same time the mystery behind who the killer actually was, was so intense. At a couple of points I had an idea on who it could be, which was clevely done to make me think I knew, then something would happen that would clear that person off my list. I liked Kyra as a character and I liked how it showed her obsession with finding out who killed her sister fourteen years ago, led her to discovering clues, all while everyone else just thought she was going crazy and trying to find things that weren't there. This could have also been because she's a woman and people do tend to automatically assume the 'crazy, obsessed' route, instead of listening and making a proper judgement, but this wasn't touched on in the book (that's just my personal ramblings).

I would definately recommend this to other people, especially if you're someone who loves crime, thrillers, or even better - both. I noticed that a friend of mine has already added this to her 'Want to Read' on Goodreads so I'm very happy with that.

Interesting premier, and I like a book that crosses between genres. Despite the technology that's the protagonist's obsession and the quirk of the book, overall this fits easily into.the crime category.
It may be set in the future, and there are technological nods to creating that feeling, but it's not an alien world, mostly.
I enjoyed Witness X, its futuristic world won't deter any readers searching for a crime thriller if they delve into it.

Set in the near future this is a serial killer thriller with a difference and it’s an excellent read. Kyra Sullivan a neuropsychologist has invented a new technology that can tap in on people’s minds and memories so can this be used to find a particularly gruesome serial killer, well here we start on an thrilling race against the clock to find out just the killer is because it’s looking very much like the the person behind bars may not be the actual killer.
This is a brilliant story from a new writer and is exceptionally well written, the characters are well crafted and the book moves at fair old pace as Kyra is determined to find the truth. I do hope in the future to read more from this author and would love to see more from Kyra it’s an addictive and intelligent read that I can highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.