The Murder of Graham Catton by Katie Lowe is an intense thriller which also deals with some important themes in a podcast-obsessed world.

Following the death of Graham Catton, the life of his wife Hannah changes dramatically, though when she becomes the subject of a populist podcast, it seems that things cannot get any worse!

Katie Lowe has written a clever, insightful and multi-layered psychological thriller full of drama and suspense. I loved it!

Really enjoyed this book. Couldn’t pick the twist, kept picking the wrong person. Nicely thought through, and clever titbits woven in to the story. Would definitely recommend. Kept me fully entertained on a long train trip.

The Murder of Graham Catton is a wickedly twisty, atmospheric and compulsive psychological thriller. Ten years ago, psychiatrist Hannah McLelland’s husband was brutally murdered in their home, and she (conveniently) doesn’t remember a thing about that night. But the police charged someone else—a stranger—and put him away for life. And Hannah packed up her six-year-old daughter and left London behind. But now her hard-won countryside peace is threatened. Conviction, a viral true-crime podcast known for getting cases reopened and old verdicts overturned, has turned its attention to Hannah’s husband’s murder for its new season. They say police framed the man who was found guilty, and that Hannah has more suspicious secrets than just her memory loss: a history of volatility; citations at the clinic where she worked as a psychiatrist; dependencies on alcohol and pills; and a familicidal grandmother, locked away in a Gothic insane asylum until her death. As Hannah loses the trust of everyone she loves, the only person she feels she can confide in is a former colleague, Darcy, who’s come back into her life—but who may have ulterior motives of her own.

But Hannah can’t tell even Darcy her deepest secret: that she’s still tormented by the memory of her husband and the crater he carved through her life. This is a riveting and compulsively readable thriller exploring miscarriages of justice, abuse and online mob mentality and the idea of those online becoming the judge, jury and executioner in what has oft been called trial by media. Anonymous do-gooders and keyboard warriors at the behest of their flawed judgement launch hate campaigns and harassment against those who may not have committed any crime at all. It's depicted in a thoroughly believable manner and I love how Lowe’s thrillers invariably feature a deeper, more philosophical and cerebral side to them but that doesn't mean they are lacking in terms of the thrills, intense drama and shocking twists. As the tale unravelled, I found myself devouring pages more and more rapidly to discover exactly what was happening and loved the parts in which the podcast script becomes part of the narrative as it adds to the already palpable tension. Engrossing, chilling and with an unsettling feeling of claustrophobia as the truth emerges, this is a slow-burner of a novel exploring unreliable characters and truth v perception.

An interesting read. On the one hand it’s a physiological thriller and on the other it’s a look at mental health and domestic abuse. The book has various threads which all finally come together in a brilliant twist

A generous three stars


This book never really caught my imagination. It felt slow to start,and from there I failed to get fully invested in it.
I finished it,the twists and turns near the end definitely made me enjoy it more.

But as a whole,it wasnt for me.

Hannah Catton’s husband is murdered in their bed, while she is left with minor injuries and no recollection of that night. Although a local man sits in jail for the murder, many people believe Hannah to be responsible, her memory loss nothing more than an easy excuse. Now, ten years later, Hannah is happily remarried to Dan, and the two are raising Evie, Hannah’s daughter from her previous marriage. The trouble begins when a local crime podcast entitled “Conviction” makes claims that Hannah’s husband’s murderer is still out there and that the wrong man sits in jail for his crime. As the podcast grows in popularity, attentions are soon put back on Hannah, and after years of trying to hide, her secrets will soon be made public.
Overall, the novel was a good read, full of murder, intrigue and haunted family secrets. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The Murder of Graham Catton is Katie Lowe's second novel and it while her first was good this feels like a real step up in terms of her writing.

The novel follows Hannah Catton, the widow of Graham 10 years after his death as a true crime podcast starts a new series looking into the circumstances around his murder. The podcaster believes that the man in prison for the crime was wrongly convicted and is pointing the finger (with some help of former friends and colleagues of Hannah's) at her.

Hannah's world, her relationship with her partner and daughter begin to fall apart as the pressure of such intense scrutiny takes its toll and she begins to question everything she thought she knew about the fateful night Graham was killed.

Hannah is definitely an unreliable narrator and, like everybody else who listens to the podcast, you will believe that she must have committed the murder and somehow fiendishly plotted to get away with it. But nothing is that straightforward in this book, which twists and turns, misdirecting the reader here and there until the final reveal.

I don't want to give too much away, but revenge is a dish best served cold in this case, but who is the person taking revenge and who will be its victim? Well worth a read and highly recommend for those fans of psychological crime thrillers.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for approving me for an ARC of this book.

The story is told from the POV of Hannah, who’s husband was murdered. Ten years on from her husband’s murder Hannah is in a new relationship and her daughter, now a teenager, is a straight A student with great prospects. Then along comes Anna Byers with her podcast CONVICTION and throws everything out of sorts.

Anna Byers is convinced that Mike Philips, the convicted murderer is innocent of killing Hannah’s husband and decides to investigate the case fully. Whilst she is doing this she shines a light on the only other person who could be the murderer, Hannah. It was very interesting to see the publics reaction to the podcast, it showed the full power of social media and how one person’s opinion can have a huge effect.

Hannah’s story flicks from current events, where she is trying to keep her life together despite being labelled a murderer, and past events leading up to Graham’s death. Hannah’s memories of that night are very foggy and as the case is revisited her memories return in patches.

There was a lot going on in this story and whilst I enjoyed it I did feel that it could of been a little shorter. Part way through I felt myself tiring of Hannah, I actually didn’t like her a lot. Don’t get me wrong I completely understood her actions and why she behaved in certain ways. Her marriage to Graham was awful and must of been horrendous to go through but there was something about her that I couldn’t gel with.

Nevertheless the final revelations were fantastic! It felt like one reveal after the other and I was gob smacked with the final conclusion. I had convinced myself that an entirely different conclusion was going to take place so it was nice to be surprised. Full of manipulation, sinister twists and atmosphere this story will have you doubting everyone, including yourself.

I wasn’t sure of this book at first. As I carried on reading I started to enjoy it more and then before I knew it I couldn’t put it down.
A really twisty book that keeps you thinking all the time and just when you think you know something else is thrown in.
Great plot twist and cleverly written.

I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Murder of Graham Catton’ by Katie Lowe in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Ten years after Mike Philips is jailed for the murder of Hannah’s husband Graham Catton, ‘Conviction’ a series presented by Anna Byers is serialising the investigation hoping to find evidence that he wasn’t guilty and overturn his conviction. There wasn’t much evidence linking him to the crime but he was found guilty and Hannah free to continue her life with daughter Evie. Now Hannah’s living with a new partner Dan and ‘Conviction’ is about to turn their lives upside down.

‘The Murder of Graham Catton’ is a dark and sinister psychological thriller with supernatural elements to the story. As the timeline moves from 2008 to 2018 many parts of the story are implausible and to me the characters come over as unrealistic and difficult to like. It starts off well and from the start I was involved in the sequence of events but then it slows down and despite the twists and turns and surprise ending I haven’t found it enjoyable. It’s not the best thriller I’ve read and certainly not the worst but this is my own opinion. I’m sure many readers will think differently and thoroughly enjoy it.

A real page turner. You will not want to put this one down. Dark, suspenseful, gothic, creepy. A real proper thriller.

I enjoyed this read however I wish the speed of the story told was quicker. The ending wasn’t predictable and liked the use of the jumping timelines throughout.

Great read, exciting from start to finish. Enjoyed the different time periods and all the twists and turns #GrahamCatton #NetGalley

I thought this was heading for a three star review for me until the last third. Just wow. This book had me genuinely all over the place. I thought I knew who killed Graham, and I even thought I’d worked out the twist, felt all smug about it then BOOM. What?!!!!! What?!!!

I have had so many emotions over this book. Just absolutely fantastic! I’m emotionally exhausted...it’s to complicated to explain!

My thanks to Netgalley and HarperFiction for this fantastic book. I’m off for a lie down....

I am not exaggerating when I say I loved everything about The Murder of Graham Catton! This book is a masterclass in murder mystery writing, with a very contemporary twist on the genre that made it even more enjoyable. It balances just the right amount of back story with a fast pace, duplicitous characters and highly satisfying ending.

Do you like true crime podcasts? Well, you’re in luck. Conviction is the fictional true crime podcast, hosted by Anna Byers, that features in this book. Anna explores old cases she thinks might have miscarriages of justice and speaks to people involved. Season four opens a case from 10 years ago all about, yes… The Murder of Graham Catton.

Graham’s wife, Hannah, is our narrator and was a suspect at the time of the murder. Graham was found in his own bed, stabbed through the neck while his wife and young daughter were in the house. A man was arrested and charged but Conviction is on a mission to prove his innocence and Hannah isn’t happy about it…

Hannah has rebuilt her life since the trauma of her husband’s murder. She has a new partner, Dan, a now teenage daughter, Evie and a career as a psychologist at an eating disorder clinic. But, for several reasons, she is terrified of her past and of certain things about it becoming public knowledge.

Thanks to the popularity of the podcast, Hannah, Dan and Evie’s lives are turned upside down – not in a good way.

By the time you add in Hannah’s somewhat unhealthy obsession with Hawkwood House, a now derelict asylum where her grandmother was once a patient, the trauma of a former patient’s accidental death and the fact her decreasing mental stability means Hannah is not only hiding and repressing things from us, but from herself to – until the vital moment of revelation – means the suspense levels are high.

To sum up – The Murder of Graham Catton is SUCH a enjoyable read: the twists, the layers and the way it wasn’t overly complex but still so clever. Importantly, all loose ends were tied up and it left me totally surprised with the final outcome of the story. Definitely one to add to your TBR!

The Murder of Graham Catton in my opinion has a very interesting description and had great promise but I found it got a little confusing in places, I found myself rereading parts of the story to get a better understanding of it. It was also a little too dark for my taste but I am sure it will appeal to lots of people who like their reads to be a little edgier than I do.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my ARC.

Ten years ago, Hannah Catton’s husband was brutally murdered in their home. The murderer was convicted. The case was closed. But now a podcast called Conviction is investigating this horrific crime – and they have Hannah in their sights. Someone knows more than they’re letting on, and listeners are about to become judge, jury and executioner as they undercover the truth about the murder of Graham Catton.
This is a new author to me & I was intrigued by the blurb. It was well written but I found parts of it confusing as there are many threads. I did like Hannah & she was well portrayed. There were times when I nearly didn't finish it but kept being drawn back to find out what had actually happened ten years ago. I usually finish a book in under a day but it took over a week to finish this
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Wow oh wow!! What an absolutely fantastic read!!! I am a converted fan of this author. I have loved this book, I have devoured this in just hours. Lowe has pulled me in and kept me completely hooked by the storyline was unique and completely enthralling. I have loved Hannah from the very beginning and I have definitely felt for her throughout this and had an instinct that something more was going to happen in this one.

I absolutely love true crime so I loved the link with the podcast in this novel and also the behaviour of online trolls and the impact it can have on individuals. Evie is a character I’ve really empathised with. As a young person she has a lot to deal with in this one. We go on a rollercoaster ride with Evie and Hannah as we try to find out who killed Graham Catton.
I love the author’s writing style, this is engaging and addictive. I have found it easy to lose myself in the pages of this novel. Lowe has literally stolen my attention and kept me held captive from cover to cover.
This is a must read and one that should be added to the TBR

A definite five star read that I definitely recommend.

It’s mind games all the way in this psychological thriller, where mental illness and manipulative, cruel, cold, calculating behaviour turns the truth surrounding a horrific crime into something slippery and intangible.
Hannah Catton’s husband Graham was brutally murdered ten years ago whilst asleep in bed, his wife and only child Evie present in the house at the time. A man was convicted of the crime and Hannah has since rebuilt her life, moving out of London to the village of Hawkswood where she lives with her partner Dan, a journalist and her now sixteen year old daughter. Unfortunately Hannah’s carefully curated life is about to come crashing down with the airing of crime podcast Conviction focusing on the murder of her husband and a presumed case of a miscarriage of justice. In weekly episodes, Anna Byers,journalist and podcast presenter reveals to her avid listeners details of the flawed police investigation, pointing the finger of accusation firmly in Hannah’s direction, whipping the nation up into a frenzy of vitriolic hatred and abuse towards this woman who claims to have not a single memory of the night in question.

I love that the podcast plays such an important role in this thriller in disseminating the truth; something that is fast becoming a favourite tool in the crime writers arsenal. Although it’s unoriginal, I hung onto every word, fascinated by the power and impact it has on Hannah and those around her; it’s like a rolling stone gathering moss and once set in motion there’s no stopping it as it steamrollers it’s way through to the bitter end.

Surely though the most compelling aspect of this novel is Hannah herself. In my opinion unreliable narrators can often make the best narrators. Katie Lowe has crafted the character of Hannah superbly, presenting her as someone whose words you immediately distrust from the chilling prologue all the way through to the high octane ending. Did I at any time feel sorry for this woman whose downward spiral is executed so brilliantly? Perhaps very briefly when the first episode of the Conviction podcast is aired; after all Hannah is powerless to prevent this intrusion into her private life, the reopening of old wounds can only spell disaster for herself,Dan and Evie. All she can do is helplessly and nervously watch from the sidelines, as her life slowly dissolves into a living nightmare. To have those closest to her, her partner, her daughter and best friend Sarah gradually show signs of doubting her innocence must feel like the final nail in the coffin. In truth she’s always known this time will come, the past ten years of her life precariously built on shifting sands but it’s still shocking to find herself the centre of attention once again. She’s a woman who appears to attract disaster, as you’ll discover, so it’s hard not to succumb to the overwhelming pressure to jump on the bandwagon with millions of Conviction listeners all pointing the finger of blame in her direction, desperate to find her guilty. Doubt infiltrates your every thought, bringing into question the validity surrounding her supposed memory loss the night Graham is murdered. Unfortunately Hannah provides the reader with countless other reasons to view her as a potential perpetrator rather than a victim. Her obsession with nearby Hawkwood House, a former psychiatric hospital for women and the role it plays in her family history only adds fuel to the fire, the intimation being that mental illness runs in the family. Is this the truth or merely a convenient smokescreen for others to hide behind, projecting blame onto the wrong person? You also need to consider Hannah’s profession as a psychiatrist working at an eating disorder clinic which is fraught with complications; details of past and present cases supply further ammunition for believing she is a delusional woman on the verge of insanity. Establishing a connection with a former colleague, Darcy Burke who shares an interest in the currently dilapidated Hawkwood House is yet more proof of a woman whose mind is unraveling at an alarming rate. Finally, flashbacks to Hannah and Graham’s marriage cloud the already murky waters threatening to drag Hannah under, so you wind up not knowing who or what to believe, unable to separate fact from fiction.

This is the kind of narrative to drive you crazy!! The author leads you down a slow meandering path towards the truth, confusing and obscuring the facts until with the airing of the final sixth podcast episode this thriller turns from a slow burner into one hurtling towards the conclusion at full throttle! Creepy and ghostly in places, the voice of this unreliable narrator burrows its way into your brain, constantly challenging your perceptions of a woman in the midst of a genuine (or fabricated ?) meltdown. It’s your choice as to whether Hannah is a dangerous, deranged unhinged woman capable of murder, seeing and hearing voices of ghosts from the past or someone who is the victim of insidious behaviour and masterful manipulation. Only you can decide as you find yourself acting as judge and juror. Will you want to believe Hannah has no part to play in her husband’s death or will you be happy to find her guilty, lock her up and throw away the key?

It’s imperative to keep your eye on the ball if you don’t want to miss the all important clues as to WHO murdered Graham Catton, no easy task when you’re confronted with so much conflicting evidence. So how did I fare? Part way through I thought there was one BIG OBVIOUS hint to guide me to the truth but this is the type of narrative where the fun is in concocting elaborate, fanciful theories rather than polishing up your prowess in the detective stakes. On the whole I really enjoyed Katie Lowe’s writing, an author I’ve not read before. She builds suspense and tension albeit slowly and the lead up to the climax is rather prolonged but Hannah’s voice and that of Graham’s are chilling to the point of menacing and unsettling. Hannah really is the author’s tour de force. On the downside I’ll admit to finding the storyline mildly confusing in places, however the ending is absolute knockout! This is a psychological thriller that for once truly earns its title.

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Years ago, Hannah Catton's Husband, Graham was brutally murdered and Hannah woke to discover him dead beside her in bed. Hannah testifies to help convict the murderer. BUT... a true crime podcast reviews the murder of Hannah's Husband and seemingly creates suspicion and doubt over the conviction which then helps to point to Hannah as the guilty party.
Katie Lowe, illustrates how the power of public discourse and the current cultural obsession with true crime can create perception and theory, sometimes helping to balance the scales of justice but sometimes, creating a domino effect of incorrect assumptions resulting in tragedy. I really enjoyed this book, the main protagonist was incredibly engaging, the story with its hints of ghostly intervention, the clever nod to the struggle of Women to be believed and the twists and turns in the story direction, kept me reading on and I finished the book within a day! I would recommend to anyone as this is generally a read that the majority would enjoy!!!!