This is a dark, gripping psychological thriller
The pace is fast from the very first page
There are a few surprises along the way.
It is a well written story with an interesting plot line.
The characters are well developed and relatable.

I found it quite hard to get into this one and it took me several attempts to do so. The story jumps around a lot, to the point that it is quite confusing. I have read other books from the author that I have really enjoyed but this one didn't hit the mark for me.

Dark thriller that had you hooked from the off. The book was very well written. Great plot. Very exciting. Fast paced to get your heart racing. Loved this book

Why did I wait so long to read this?!
This was a really good psychological thriller, well paced, good characters and a good plot.
I would definitely recommend.

I must be in the minority here because although I really wanted to enjoy S.J. Butler's debut thriller BETWEEN THE LINES, I didn't. In fact I found it incredibly difficult to follow. The story seemed to jump around with the writing somewhat convoluted that I found myself thoroughly confused at times. In fact there were times I wasn't sure what was happening as the narrative appeared to be outlining something completely different and off the wall...before returning back to the actual present. And I was left with...what the hell just happened?

I admit I was drawn to the book for it's tagline "a darkly gripping psychological thriller...perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll, K.L. Slater and Shalini Boland". Sadly, in my opinion, this book doesn't even touch the even outer echelons of these other more well known and prolific writers.

I can't even say I liked the characters. I couldn't connect with Kev as he seemed to be daydreaming most of the time, stuck in a realm I've no idea where, with bursts of dialogue to reiterate that he was still in the land of the living.

Unfortunately, BETWEEN THE LINES wasn't for me but that isn't to say that it isn't for everyone...as other reviews show that many people loved it. And sadly, one cannot like every book they read just as not everyone will like the same books as everyone else. After all, reading is subjective and tastes differ.

So while I was intrigued by the premise of this book that was to cross his desk at some point and whether the hit and run driver was ever found, I wasn't enough so to continue reading to find out what it was and what it meant. Had I done so, the book may have improved. But for me, if 20 or 30% in and it hasn't garnered my interest by then, I move on. Life's too short for books I don't enjoy.

I would like to thank #SJButler, #Netgalley and #HeadlineAccent for an ARC of #BetweenTheLines in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read some more by this very talented author. The book was well written and had me entertained until the end.

The premise of this story was good, and the book in itself was well constructed and written well too.
However, unfortunately I struggled to connect with this story in any way. I just couldn't immerse myself in this story.

Couldn't connect with this one. I got about 1/4 of the way through, but found I wasn't itching to pick it back up. No slight on the author, the writing is fine, but I just wasn't able to get into it.

Kev and Eve have spent three months togethed, she is free spirited compared to him but tragically Eve is killed in a hit and run, and his brief is all consuming.
As he tries to move on things start to take a dark turn. After reading great reviews i wanted to love this book but for me it didn't peak. For many they will love it.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A dark, gripping psychological thriller that you won't be able to put down. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend.

Absolutely fantastic novel
I just loved when I got the peace and quiet to read it. So well written, and kept my interest right throughout. Written in a manner that made me feel I was observing the character and their ever move. Looking forward to more from this wonderful author

I thought this was a pretty good thriller, with some great chills, thrills, and shocks! I think it was pretty well written, but was quite the 5 star, more of a 3-4 star read for me, I think it was a bit slower paced, than I love, but could also just be I was more moody and not getting the full thrill ride it provided. I do recommend ti those looking for a quick read, which does give the necessary components of a thriller.

A good story but I found most of the characters to b e so unhappy. Still worth a read though . I will look out for other books by this author

Many thanks for the preview copy.

The book is a great thriller, it builds suspense and the characters are interesting so it holds you’re attention.

Unfortunately, S.J. Butler's Between the Lines wasn't the right book for me. But, here's what I loved: the main character Kev is a literary agent. The bits about his job were fascinating, and the words and descriptions he chose were fitting for his character.

However, I did not enjoy the story itself, mainly because it seemed to jump all over the place, but also because the characters were so unhappy and sometimes appalling.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A good and well-written story. I really liked the characters and found them relatable. I would definitely recommend this.

I greatly enjoyed this book, thank you for giving me a preview copy. The plot was interesting and fast paced and I sympathised with the characters. This is the first novel I have read by this author but I hope it will not be the last!

“Between the Lines” is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that delivers suspense and chills, as well as astute observations on loss and a life spiralling out of control.

When Kev Parker meets the beautiful Eve on a Thames party cruise, a relationship soon blossoms. However, when Eve is killed by a hit and run driver on Christmas Eve, Kev’s world comes crashing down. As he begins to put his life back together and drags himself out of the depths of his despair, he returns to his job as a literary agent. He reads a submission mail from a hopeful author called Isabella Morton, which he rejects by response. He immediately receives a reply telling him he will regret it and Kev is bombarded by an onslaught of mails that become increasingly more unsettling. Under the guise of additional chapters, Kev quickly begins to fear he’s being threatened. Are the mails simply more chapters of a book he’ll never represent, or are they something altogether more sinister?

S J Butler has written a solid psychological thriller in “Between the Lines”, which delivers some strong moments of suspense, an overarching unsettling atmosphere of paranoia and stacks of twists that keep readers from guessing the shocking ending that the narrative builds up to. True to it’s name, if you manage to read between the lines you may work out what exactly is going on here, but Butler has masterfully created a plot that kept me questioning and guessing throughout. Butler also writes very lyrically - a style that does not always suit the crime/thriller genre - and his descriptive prose is striking and rather beautiful at times. At other times, it packs a punch in all the right places and I found myself lost in the world Butler has so vividly created. I also found the switch between present and past narratives helped to build the suspense - I really wanted to know where Kev was in the present and exactly what he was doing there.

Kev Parker is a well crafted protagonist and despite his often questionable choices or behaviours, he is ultimately a likeable, relatable guy. “Between the Lines” is just as much a story about loss, grief and retribution as it is a harrowing psychological thriller. Whilst I found the suspense very enjoyable, it is the more human moments in Kev’s story that being the character and the novel to life. I found Kev’s attempts to turn his life around admirable, which helped foster my support for him as the threatening emails continued. “Between the Lines” is also full of many supporting characters, who are sometimes only introduced for a brief moment, but Butler paints a rich picture and breathes life into each and every one of them. I found some of these smaller characters to be equally as interesting - especially Nigel, the eco-beachcomber. This patchwork of characters weaves “Between the Lines” into a vibrant tapestry of life, love, loss, violence, mental health, addiction and retribution, which demonstrates Butler’s astute observations of everyday life and his success at interspersing these into the tension of thrilling plot.

I recommend “Between the Lines” to those who enjoy evenly placed thrillers that build suspense through plausible characters and the darker side of everyday life.

An excellent thriller that is guaranteed to draw you in and never let go. The protagonist’s story is believable and keeps you fascinated until the very end.

This wasn't the typical mystery book, the prose is so lyrical, it's really well written. I liked the twists, it's a book that lingers when you end it.