Be careful to whom you tell your darkest secrets…Selena Murphy is commuting home from her job in the city when the train stalls out on the tracks. She strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat, and their connection is fast and easy. The woman introduces herself as Martha and confesses that she’s been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again. But days later, Selena’s nanny disappears. Soon Selena finds her once-perfect life upended. As she is pulled into the mystery of the missing nanny, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, Selena begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover.

This is a riveting thriller about a chance encounter that unravels a stunning web of lies and deceit and a story full of suspense. Expertly plotted and reminiscent of the timeless classic Strangers on a Train, Confessions on the 7:45 is a gripping thriller about the delicate facades we create around our lives. It explores themes of perception and selfishness and the wall we build up around ourselves in order to be perceived in a favourable light. But what exactly happens when that facade starts to crack? It's a fast-paced, beautifully written book which had my attention from the first page and it never faltered at any point. Unger is a masterful plotter and at one point, when it was getting a little convoluted, I was wondering where it was heading but I needn't have worried as it's clear it has all been extensively thought through and cleverly written and executed. Highly recommended. Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.

I dont how to explain this book if i am completely honest. It captivated me in a way that I havent quite experienced with a book before. There is so much going on that I was so intrigued on how the author was going to bring it all together.

I found myself strangely routing for Pearl. I really feel like I connected with her and I'm unsure as to why.

Serena was also a character I really liked too who I was also routing for.

I really enjoyed this book and will certainly look into other books by the same author.

My first time reading a book by this author. Just the kind of book I like, one that keeps the mind ticking over!
I got a bit mixed up the different names & characters but as the story goes on, it all starts coming together. Would read other books by this author.
A person isn’t always who you think they are!

Thanks #netgalley for letting me read a prerelease copy of this book.

Publication Date - 6th October 2020

#netgalley #confessionsonthe7.45 #lisaunger

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this story Selena whilst coming home on a train strikes up a conversation with a woman who introduces herself as Martha. Martha confesses to Selena that she is having an affair with her boss. Selena then opens up to Martha and tells her that her husband has been having an affair with the nanny. Later on Selena starts receiving texts from Martha and she soon begins to regret confiding in her and she has no recollection of giving her her number. When Selena’s nanny goes missing she wonders if there is a connection.

The first thing that I would like to say is, there is a lot of names to keep track of so you really need to make sure that you are paying attention. I feel that it would be quite easy to get confused. This is a fast paced psychological thriller with an unexpected ending. There are lots of twists and turns along the way. The alternating points of view just added to the suspense. I thought that the plot was really clever. Although I really enjoyed the story it could have been a little shorter. It seemed to drag for me towards the end which is why I couldn’t give it the full five stars. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

<b>The Masterclass in Unsettling Storytelling</b>

<b>Do you remember your mum telling you not to talk to strangers? There are many good reasons why you shouldn't. You don't know who they are. You don't know what their intentions are, or indeed, what is their perception of a good deed. But most of all, you never know where that conversation is going to take you. </b>

'Confessions on the 7:45' is a profoundly unsettling yet shamelessly entertaining psychological thriller that brings the best out of the genre. Extremely well structured, masterfully told, and exquisitely delivered. The character development is multi-layered and quite complicated but rewarding and satisfying. The family life of Selena, the main protagonist, is described in painful details, and we gasp with her as the story unfolds. We then have a character of Martha... And someone else. Because here, my faithful reader, things start getting interesting.

In our journey through the story, we meet our ensemble of characters through the eyes of others. The narrative brings them all to life through the point of view of someone else, which makes the structure of the story fascinating. We, the readers, are not allowed to make up our own minds without being influenced or swayed by the subjectivity of characters who currently tell the story, which brings out the suffocating atmosphere of the book. Hitchcockian storytelling provides a thrill whilst keeping us invested in the developing mystery, page after page.

Why 4 stars? Despite being edgy, twisty and well-plotted, the tempo was inconsistent, and the story proved predictable at times. We hit a bit of a lull in act 2 from which Lisa Unger nicely recovers, but, unfortunately, it still lingers after. Not sure why. I am sure it's entirely subjective and many won't even notice it, but I felt that a massive buildup of the brilliant storytelling momentum was somehow wasted in the middle part.

Nevertheless, Confessions on 7:45 is an enjoyable read, absolutely perfect for an autumn weekend afternoon, fuelled by endless cups of tea and packets of biscuits. The comforting nature of this book is its most significant selling point. Indeed, it's a brilliant mystery that lends itself to be read in front of an open fire and a bit of cinematic music playing in the background.

Many thanks to HQ/HarperCollins UK, NetGalley and, of course, the author, for the advanced copy of this riveting read. Just brilliant.

I’d like to thank HQ and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Confessions on the 7:45’ by Lisa Unger in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Selena is late leaving work and when she gets on a train to take her home the only seat available is next to a woman who immediately strikes up a conversation with her. The woman says her name is Martha and that she’s having an affair with her boss, to which Selena replies that her husband Graham is sleeping with Geneva, their boys’ nanny. When they arrive at the station the two women part and Selena doesn’t expect to hear from her again so she’s surprised to receive a text message from Martha saying that she’d like it if they could meet up again. How did Martha have her phone number as she can’t remember giving it to her. Shortly after, their nanny disappears and the police suspect Selena of knowing more than she’s telling them.

‘Confessions on the 7:45’ is a tense and disturbing psychological thriller with a dark and complex plot, drama and twists and turns. Throughout the novel we discover how the lives of the three main characters, Selena, Martha and Pearl, are connected and the web of secrets and lies they’re involved in. The story is a puzzle that slowly starts to be resolved the further we get into the plot, until we reach the conclusion and things becomes transparent and logical. It’s not an easy book to read as there are intertwining threads from each of the different characters but it’s such an involving novel that I really enjoyed spending time reading it. This is the first novel I’ve read by Lisa Unger and I hope it won’t be the last.

EXCITING AND EXHILARATING. This was an excellent novel that followed a very creepy premise: a woman meets another woman on the train and each confess a dark secret. The events that follow are certain to keep anyone looking over their shoulder. Excellent!

A skilfully constructed, compelling and unique read!

Selena and Martha don’t know each other, but after being stuck on a delayed train and sharing a drink or two, they tell each other their biggest secrets! Selena’s husband is having an affair with the nanny and Martha is sleeping with her boss! Feeling uneasy about sharing such personal information with a complete stranger, Selena tries to reassure herself that it won’t matter as she is never likely to see Martha again.

So, when Selena receives a text from Martha asking if they can continue their conversation from the train, she is more than a little freaked out. How did Martha get her number? Maybe she’s just lonely and needs a friend or maybe there is more to this than meets the eye! Something that Martha said before they parted ways and not just what she said, but the way she said it has been playing on repeat in Selena’s mind and has left her feeling quite perturbed.

After confronting her husband about the affair, the nanny soon goes missing, a coincidence some might say, or maybe not?!

This book is as cleverly crafted as a spider-web, with its plethora of characters, whom most get a turn at narrating, it is a complex but brilliant read. The first half is like opening a puzzle, where all the pieces are scattered around but as you reach the second half you start to see the picture and by the end, it all fits together perfectly.

I’m in awe of how the author wrote from so many perspectives, some may find this confusing, but I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and found it a refreshing change from books I normally read. This is my first book by Lisa Unger and it most definitely won’t be my last.

A compulsive read, full of secrets, lies and some great twists.

Thank you to Lisa Unger, HQ & NetGalley for my ARC of this book.

After reading Unger's fantastic short stories for Amazon (the dark and twisted 'Hush' and the incredibly clever 'Sleep Tight Motel') I was really excited to see how her writing translated to a novel. True to Unger's previous form, the story is initially pacey with a unique premise. We have the promise of various intriguing perspectives, introducing a twisted web of secrets and lies. Our characters include Selena, who has just caught her husband having an affair with their nanny via a hidden camera, Anne, who is having an affair with her boss, and Pearl, a disaffected teenager who lives with her single mother Stella. (Following this huge cast of characters does get easier if you bear with it!)

When Selena meets a woman called Martha on the 7.45 train, and confesses all about her husband's infidelity, it is a disturbing coincidence when the nanny goes missing... and Martha is suddenly texting her about it despite never being given Selena's number. The reader is left wondering who Martha really is, how these different stories connect and whether Selena's husband is truly capable of murder.

Whilst this book is obviously well-written, I was left unsurprised by any of the revelations along the way. I was disappointed that my guesses as to the true identities and motives of certain characters were spot on - this lack of a shocking reveal left the story and characters a little flat for me. The conclusion is certainly satisfying for the reader but not reflective of the psychological thrills I was hoping for from the novel's intriguing opening chapters. The writing is strong enough to tempt me to try Unger's novels in future. Unfortunately, ultimately the obviousness of the plotting in this one missed the mark. A solid, middle of the road three stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well... this didn't quite turn out how I was expecting it to... not that that's a bad thing - not at all - I just really didn't quite think we'd go there and it was a pleasure to have had the wool pulled over my thriller devouring eyes.
So, a chance meeting on a train sets Selena's world off in a whole new direction. She already knows that her husband is unfaithful with the Nanny and is so incensed by it all she spills all her woes to a stranger who also shares her own secrets.
And then the nanny goes missing and Selena's life starts to spiral out of control... and that's pretty much all I am going to say about the plot as it is all a bit interconnected and convoluted and I am scared of spoilers.
I say convoluted, well, initially it is all a bit confusing too. But, please stick with it as it all does come together very well after it has all been set up. We flit about in time and there are quite a few characters to get to grips with and I did have to make notes along the way (my failing with concentration rather that the author's fault) but it wasn't long before I was able to discard my notepad and go with the flow... My tip, dedicate a chunk of time to devote to this one - it's not really a one for dipping in and out of.
Characters are tricky - and yes you will get that statement when you have finished the book. And I am still not sure whether I liked some of them, even days after finishing the book. They definitely did evoke a response - positive and negative - though so we connected on some level at least.
The story is told from multiple POVs but these are clearly identified and all work together well leading up to a final reveal that, although I did guess a couple things early, I was not completely ready for. Oh My! But so very well plotted and indeed executed.
All in all a cracking thriller that, after a slightly bumpy start for me, did settle down well and finished on a high. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is a good twisty thriller. It is well thought out and well written. Some of it was predictable but that did not spoil my enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This was by no means bad, but also didn't knock my socks off. Unfortunately, it was just a run of the mill thriller for me! The alternate POVs were confusing at times (I counted 7 of them off the top of my head!!) and it felt like the story could've been streamlined. At times the author repeated herself, using the same phrases or stories in a characters past, and info that at times felt unnecessary.

Did I did read Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger due to its closeness in title to my blog title: Books on the 7:47. Why, yes. Yes I did. Not ashamed to say that was the very reason. But I consider this a very serendipitous event as Confessions on the 7:45 was just the sort of clever, tense psychological thriller I needed to read right now. A perfect few hours of escapism.

So what’s it all about?

Well, Selena Murphy works in PR, has a nice house in the New York suburbs, a husband and two adorable sons. At first glance, she has the perfect life. When her husband loses his job though, she gives up being a full-time mum and returns to her career. This means she needs to hire a nanny. Luckily, she has met a nice nanny, Geneva, in the local playground who happens to be looking for a new job. Geneva starts to work for her and things take a sinister turn…

Simultaneously, one night on the commute home, a stranger on the train (yes, the 7:45 train) strikes up a conversation with Selena and she finds herself becoming instantly confessional with her. In almost a way she can’t control.

Then, out of the blue and despite not giving her her contact details, Selena gets a text from the woman on the train, Martha, and the plot thickens. Now, it’s always tricky to review this kind of thriller without giving away any spoilers, so I won’t, but trust me, the plot threads all weave together in wonderfully satisfying way and we do discover why the stranger on the train has taken such an interest in Selena…

I really enjoyed Confessions on the 745‘s theme of realism vs. facade; how much of anyone’s life is just a construct to hide their true feelings and how much is based on appealing to the masses. The novel also has a scathing voice for the essentially selfish nature of humanity – people are all out for themselves and people that understand that simply utilise this for their own gain.

Confessions on the 7:45 explores the darker side of human nature, but is not in itself a particularly dark read. It’s quick, pacy and I was totally engrossed in from page one. This is an especially good sign as I didn’t really know anything about it – in regards to the plot – having started it on a title-based whim! I think the lesson here is: sometimes it’s a good move to judge a book by its title. Or cover. I’ve been known to do that a few times too…

I have never read this author before but i certainly will be!

There is no end of twists and turns and surprises. This book is incredible and a real challenger in this genre.

Loved it!

Oh my goodness, I loved this book. Nothing was as it seemed, I thought it was very cleverly written, and I hadn't got a clue what was going on. I love books like this that totally hoodwink me .I couldn't read it fast enough, and did my usual trick of staying up way too late to read it. I'm not giving anything away, but I will recommend this book, and I really enjoyed reading it. The characters were great, and the pace of the book was perfect for me.

This book requires a lot of focus with the multiply characters and personalities having said that you won't be disappointed by the effort.

This story has multiply layers that need unravelling, a puzzle to piece together full of suspicion, secrets and lies a real twisted tale.

“It’s Martha by the way. From the train” and so it all starts !!
Wow…so many twists so many surprises this is a book that just never lets up just spinning you in circles and it’s an amazingly good read. I had never read a book by this author but I was intrigued as soon as I read the the overview and knew it was a book I really had to read I am so glad that I was given the chance because I loved it.
The plot is complex with loads going on on many different narrators, differing timelines and as I started to read I must admit I had to keep my wits about me as the twists just kept coming and most of them I just didn’t see. I loved these flawed characters they all took over my life a short time and I ended up really caring for some of them and I was sad in a way to finish the book as I shall miss them.
This is a story that’s so well written that from now on I shall be on the lookout for more reads from Lisa Unger as she sure knows how a spin a great yarn.
So totally recommended to all lovers of twisty and shocking murder mysteries and one to keep you on your toes it a thrilling novel
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Selena meets Martha on her way home from work on the train and they swap details about their lives but when leaves she is left wandering why she told a stranger about her husband and the nanny and when Martha texts her she is left thinking how did she my number ? When Geneva the nanny goes missing Selena is left thinking if all the things happening in her life are connected in some way.It is a complicated story with numerous characters changing names while they are on the run but overall i enjoyed the book even though i just thought it lacked that suspense that you get with other psychological thrillers.But a decent enough book and a good 4 star read.

This was my first read by this author and I wasn’t disappointed. At first I was a little confused as there are lots of characters and it goes back and forwards in time quite often but I soon got used to the way it was written and really enjoyed it. I recommend that you read it in large chunks, otherwise you may not remember who is who!

The story starts off with two people who meet on a train, the story is told from both of their points of view. As the story unfolds we learn what links these ladies together and how both their lives and people around them have been affected. I found this to be a real page turner, keeps you wondering where it’s all going, then boom! suddenly everything clicks into place!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a thrill ride I was hooked from the first to last page. This is what happens when you tell your deepest and darkest secrets to a complete stranger. You just know that it is not going to end well. This is writing at its best. A real page turner which I read in one sitting. This book is so good. Tension and suspense packed to the rafters. In my opinion this is her best book so far. Brilliant writing, really clever plot and A MUST READ.
Thanks to HQ and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.