I really loved this book. There were many twists and turns as the murder of Tristan Hart was investigated. It held my interest throughout. I found the culprit to be unexpected and a tragic outcome. The residents of Sterndale seem like many you would expect to find in a wealthy area , with links that are unexpected and two faced. Quick to be friendly when things are good but quick to condem when going badly. I can see this being made into a TV drama.
Erin Kinsley is a great author. I also enjoyed reading her previous novel Found. Highly recommended. I look forward to reading her next book.

This was a fabulous book to read, it was very twisty and exciting and it kept me reading right through to the very last page. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve bought her other book “Found” which I will read in the future.
This book was recommended to me by a family member who is a avid reader like me. I am so glad they told me about this book as I can’t remember when I last enjoyed a book so much as this one.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

When TV presenter Tristan Hunt is attacked at a wedding, the police launch a hunt for the assailant. As his condition deteriorates, his wife Izzy starts to uncover facts about her husband that make her start to question their relationship. Is he the caring man she knew or does he have a darker side?

Innocent is a good story. I must admit that I worked out who had attacked Tristan pretty much straight away, but it was still an enjoyable read as the plot developed. There’s some good twists along the way, with the usual red herrings and sub-plots to confuse and sidetrack the reader, and the final outcome is believable and fits with the rest of the story. Some of the characters changed from ones to sympathise with and support, to having dark secrets and back again.

Like rereading an Agatha Christie, the actual identity of the attacker is less important than the plot.

I really enjoyed this book especially the way you had an inkling of who was responsible for the murder of local celebrity Tristan but it turns out you were totally wrong in the end. A tragic story in the end with lots of betrayal, unrequited love and doubts in between. Well worth a read.

An unputdownable book - thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns!
The lives of Tristan Hart a TV celebrity his wife Izzy and daughter Flora come under intense scrutiny when they attend a wedding and unthinkably Tristan is murdered. Tristan appears to have a secret life away from Izzy and a tangled web is uncovered. Well written and believable characters - a real page turner.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

When local celebrity Tristan is murdered in the pretty town of Sterndale, the police investigation brings forward a whole plethora of suspects and a history that was kept hidden.

The blurb for this really intrigued me but I can't say it lived up to my expectations. It wasn't so much the storyline as I think it had potential, but the writing that just didn't grip me or hold my attention - perhaps because it was written in 3rd person and I prefer 1st.

It jumped quickly from one character to another without warning and at points I had to reread sentences to make sense of where I was and what was happening. I didn't form a real connection with any of the characters - I didn't feel there was a lot of depth there.

It was only towards the end that it held my attention, when we discovered more about Tristan's past and how some of the other characters fit in.

Overall, it was a good mystery but it didn't grab my attention enough.

What a good book! I went from hating to admiring Tristan. I loved the way it went from police work to public and family life, from wedding to funeral a very good read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW

I enjoyed this thriller by Erin Kinsley. Thank you to @headlinebooks and @netgalley for the ARC.

I haven’t previously read anything by this author ( @erinkinsleyauthor ) but the plot of a murder in a small town was enticing.

I enjoyed the multiple characters and the way they were all linked with the victim, which left you constantly wondering if they were the murderer. Unfortunately I just wasn’t as gripped as I had hoped to be. I found the story moved quite slowly and focused too much on setting the scene at times.

I have heard great things about Erin’s first novel “Found” and I will give this a try, as many reviews have said that this book is better than “Innocent”.

If you’re looking for an easy read and enjoy murder mystery novels, then perhaps “Innocent” is for you.
#netgalley #Innocent #headline #erinkinsley #erinkinsleyfound

Great whodunnit read which leaves the reader guessing. Good character development but slightly disappointing ending- not in the twist it just felt like it went off in an odd direction with lots of descriptive narrative but not a lot for the reader to gain. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend

Tris Hart is a TV presenter who is a well-loved personality. He seems to be living the dream - beautiful wife, adorable daughter, dream job, fantastic house.
Until someone kills him.
The tale is well told with multiple red herrings. I had suspicions about the eventual killer. Although the story kept me interested to the end, I got a bit annoyed that the police didn't get a break though until nearly 70% of the book.
Thanks Netgalley for ARC for an honest review.

I thought Erin Kinsley's début novel was utterly fantastic when I read it last year, so I was hoping for more of the same from Innocent, and was not disappointed.

Local TV celebrity, Tristan Hart is seriously assaulted near the swimming pool during wedding celebrations at Sterndale Hall Hotel. When he dies, the investigation by West Mercia police becomes a murder inquiry, with DI Gavin Muir as the lead detective, and a team that includes DS Kirstie Weld and DS Nate Golding.

Set in the market town of Sterndale where everyone knows one another, this novel was a highly engaging police procedural/ suspense thriller. It was another superb piece of writing by Erin Kinsley who portrayed the lives of folk living in a small town perfectly, with their inclination towards gossiping and judgemental behaviour. The reader is thrust into the personal lives of many of the locals, their families and their friends, and the story is told from different perspectives, including DI Muir and the victim's wife, Izzy.

Innocent was an incredibly engrossing, twisted murder mystery where little was as it seemed. Whilst Erin Kinsley slowly built up the tension and suspense levels, it held my attention throughout, clutching onto my curiosity of the small town community as I flipped the pages as quickly as I could. It will be a long wait for me for the next novel by this fabulous author, and I have no hesitation in recommending Innocent. Well worth five gold stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Headline via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Tristan Hart is a popular TV personality, when he Izzy his wife & small daughter Flora set out to a wedding they little realise that their lives are about to change forever. It is a fairly small village & most folk know each other. After handing over Flora to the Nanny, Tristan is attacked by the swimming pool & left with serious head injury. But who would want to do this? The investigation looks at the people around him. Are there things people didn't know about Tristan? Was there a reason why he was attacked?

This was a good solid police procedural that kept me guessing. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I read this for a blog tour.

This had lots of red herrings and potential suspects lined up, easily misleading the reader (in this case me) down paths that went nowhere.

A nice, knotty crime novel that had a pleasing ending implying that people can change and make amends for past misdeeds.

Murder in a small English town with numerous suspects a celebrity angle, and so many secrets drew me to this story, and it fulfils its potential. A senseless crime rocks the small town of Sterndale, but someone isn't surprised. This is atmospheric murder mystery focuses on the characters revealing deep secrets hidden away from the public eye. Multi viewpoints inform the story and give the reader an omnipotent view of events, but not everyone is truthful.

The pacing is slow mirroring reality as the detectives sift through the suspects. The characters are relatable, and the plot hides its secrets well. The small town ethos facilitates the story's immersive quality and makes the characters and events believable.

This is an engaging story for readers who enjoy a murder mystery set in a small town.

I received a copy of this book from Headline Publishing Group via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Local celebrity Tris Hart and his family are attending a wedding. He’s well-liked by everyone who knows him and nobody would imagine that he was anything less than an ideal husband. When he’s found lying on the floor by a swimming pool unconscious with shards of glass around him, everybody is confused. After all, who would want to hurt the small town’s celebrity treasure?

This was a gripping read from start to finish and provides plenty of red herrings, twists and turns to make you suspect just about everyone at some point! The story is told from multiple viewpoints and this really added to the mystery of the book. It also made me empathise with the characters as they all felt so real.

It felt as though I was reading a Midsomer Murder style of book. It’s fairly lighthearted with plenty of good characters who add heart to the story. There are many secrets that are uncovered as the story progresses and seeing how the characters respond added so much to the plot and helped the protagonists, Izzy and Laura, develop and feel that much more believable.

I hate guessing whodunnit before I reach the end of a book and I am very happy to say that I was left completely stumped and had no idea what had happened until the end. I was very satisfied by how Kinsley managed to ensure there were no loose ends left and tied the story up neatly.

My only very minor criticism is that it felt a bit too descriptive at times. That’s the only reason it didn’t quite get five stars from me.

This is a very well written thriller that will keep you guessing. It had everything I love about a good murder mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I will definitely be looking out for Erin Kinsley’s books in the future!

I have been kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my participation in the blog tour but all opinions remain honest and my own.

Innocent is a clever, character led thriller, set in a small town, Sterndale.

During a wedding a celebrity, Tristan, is assaulted and later dies. DI Gavin Muir, DS Weld and DS Golding begin their investigation.

We then find out about the lives and secrets of the residents of Sterndale, as they search for the killer it appears not everyone is who they seem to be….

The excellent writing by Erin Kinsley really captures the almost claustrophobic atmosphere of a small town. The twisty plot builds a slow tension and is gripping from start to finish.

Thank you to The publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of Innocent. This is my honest and unbiased review.

A country house wedding, with a local TV celebrity Tristan Hart and his beautiful second wife and daughter as guests. Then follows a violent assault.... who did it and why?

A character-driven mystery thriller, a good story, well told. I enjoyed this book and read it quickly.

Perfect man, perfect family or is it?
Tristan is a successful television celebrity with a beautiful wife and daughter, everyone loves him, but when he is seriously injured, his hidden life is slowly revealed.
We follow the case through, and suspect a number of people, all with motives and secrets. Izzy, Tristan's wife is devastated when she finds a hidden phone with lots of female contacts. Should she go with her gut instinct or will her suspicions of him destroy her.
Well written and involving.

Innocent by Erin Kinsley is a very character driven crime mystery that is a compelling story. Set in the small town of Sterndale where there is a hot bed of gossip and everyone judges everyone else. The one thing the people of this town don't expect is to be right in the centre of media attraction. The local celebrity of the area is found assaulted during a lavish summer wedding. When he dies its immediately upgraded to murder for the West Mercia Police.D.I Muir, D.S Kirstie Weld and D.S Nate Golding are all part of the investigating team into Tristan Harte's death, it seems that Tristan was the golden boy, beautiful second wife , Izzy and a gorgeous daughter. A Well liked and generous man with a good career, why would anyone have a reason to hurt him?
Erin Kinsley then, rather cleverly immediately embroils us in the lives of some of the other families in the town. Aiden Ridley, an ex-police officer Laura, his wife and their two children Gemma and Josh. Aiden and Laura being close friends of Izzy and Tristan means that Laura is attempting to help Izzy through this terrible time.Izzy is spending her time at Tristans bedside, with him in Intensive Care and still in a coma.His parents are there too and Izzy becomes too overwhelmed with her bedside vigil and struggles with Flora, their daughter, quite luckily they have a nanny to take the pressure off.
Izzy has always been confident in her husband, but a discovery of a second phone she was not aware of rocks her very foundations.What follows is an unravelling of her life and needless to say the investigations of Muir and the team uncover the dirty dregs of the town secrets as they go on.
What we think of as a terrible assault twists into a murder mystery in a little inassumong town, where we get to know the locals and we see the facades crumble as the tension and suspense slowly build and we begin to see the truth come through.I loved to small town feel of the book and revelled in opening chapters with the wedding party. A page turner for me, from the start. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and found that I kept thinking just one more chapter! A great big thank you to Random Things Tours, Netgalley the publisher for the book to take part today

A book with so many shades of grey it really was hard to know where this was going to end.
Our story begins at a lavish summer wedding celebration. Our focus is on the guests, one of whom is a well-known celebrity. Tristan Hart is the presenter of some familiar shows, and something of a local hero in Sterndale, the quiet town he lives in with his second wife, Izzy, and their young daughter. We see Tristan playing his role well during the evening celebrations, and there is a little concern when he is accosted by someone he knows who wants to discuss their past. Next thing we know Tristan is found injured near the hotel pool and is rushed to hospital where he’s taken to intensive care.
From the outset we know we’re dealing with a story that is about finding out who tried to kill Tristan. During the course of the investigation we learn some of the secrets that the people of Sterndale have been hiding. It seems there are many with something they would rather people didn’t find out, and as the police dig deeper we start to build our own picture.
We do get our answers, but there’s a lot of misdirection and extra detail to burrow through in order to learn our truth. The sheer size of the cast, and the number of strands involved, did lessen the impact slightly for me but I enjoyed the fact that we built up a fuller picture of our flawed main character and came to understand them better as details were revealed.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this prior to publication in exchange for my honest opinion.