This book was well written and definitely drew me in! I stayed up much later than I should have last night to finish it because I just HAD to know who was really behind the set up. It's clear that the author really knows her stuff, and she knows how to keep you guessing... was Zachary into something bad, or no? You could feel Stephanie's angst as she tries to figure out what's really going on with the son she thinks she knows better than anyone.
I also loved the tie in to her previous novel. This novel is good as a stand alone and not knowing anything about the previous novel - but if you read that one, it adds a whole new layer of intrigue once you figure out who these characters are and that one of them is not who you may initially believe it is.

Thank you to the editors and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel!

This novel being the first of a new author to me, you never know what your going to get. It’s always a risk when diverting to someone you haven’t read before. I started this one with reservations, a read now book and an author I’d never read before.

I started and was instantly pulled into Steph’s world. The injustice she went through as an intern. The plot is then thrown into the present which is centred around her job as an FBI agent and conspiracies.
I really don’t want to say too much more in case it spoils it for you but Steph’s fight to protect her son is on!

The pace of this book was extreme! The twists were throughout and my mind couldn’t keep up with who was who and doing what! So many turns and the storyline flipped a couple of times. You really have no clue until those last few chapters!

This was so so good! Read it!
Don’t put it off!

What an absolute Corker of a book. I have been eyeing this up for a long time and so glad I finally caved and got it to read. This book constantly has you guessing and thinking you have it all figured out until you turn the page. All your theories get destroyed and you make new ones for another turn of the page to ruin them too. If life didnt get it the way and I didnt need sleep I could have easily read this in once sitting. Very very gripping storyline and I will be looking out for a lot more by this author. Would love to see it as a series and watch Steph find them!

Unfortunately this was not 'my cup of tea' I am not a lover of FBI etc. and found it a bit too gritty for me. Overall it was a well written book with good characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK (Transworld Publishers) for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

3 STARS

I'm not typically a big reader of FBI/government suspense novels, but the synopsis of this one pulled me in!

Stephanie Maddox is used to dealing with difficult situations as an investigator of Internal Affairs with the FBI. She is also a single mom who is struggling with the realization that she may not know her son as well as she used to. After finding a gun in Zachary's closet, her world is turned upside-down when he is accused of being involved with an unsavoury organization. Is it all a misunderstanding? Or is there more to her son than meets the eye?

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! Just when I thought I’d figured it out, another twist appeared! I couldn’t stop reading and love how thrilling the author makes her books! Highly recommend!

#KeepYouClose #NetGalley
Addictive.
It's my second book by this author and the writing is becoming better and better everyday. Steph makes tough decisions every day, committed to her job as an internal investigator for the FBI. But, as a single mother, the most important thing in her life is her teenage son, Zack.So when she comes across something shocking whilst tidying Zack’s room, she’s forced to consider her son in a different light
Who is her son really? What secrets is he keeping? Read this book.
Narration of the story is buttery smooth. And it's ending left me gasping.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK Transworld Publishers Corgi for giving me an advance copy.

Stephanie is an FBI Agent - Internal Affairs. She holds a lot of responsibility and can upset a lot of well-trained professionals in her position. Scott, a former lover of hers, shows up at her place just after she had found a gun hidden in a paper bag in her son's room. She knows that Zach is innocent of knowing about the gun (?)- that the gun had to have been placed there. But.....Scott tells Steph that Zach has ties to a subversive group and that he may see jail time. Now the Russians become involved in a counterintelligence plan. Then we bring in Zach's father, Senator Halliday, who Zach had recently found out was his father. Instead of focusing on one thing at a time, Steph comes off as not so bright and just plain incompetent at times

Steph's mother and her arguments with her were repeatedly the same thing repeated over and over.
There were too many characters brought into the story who either had no to slight relevance; some similar enough to be just confusing.

I did complete the book but I am still thinking about how it could have been reworked.

Many Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a chance to review!

I don't want to ruin this book for everyone who still has to read it, but believe me when I say that you are in for a thrilling read!
The story is really well written and I could not put it away. Can highly recommend!