I loved this book, it is a fast-paced, twisty suspenseful domestic thriller about a young couple who meet in a supermarket and cautiously begin a relationship. Two weeks later lockdown is announced so he asks her to move in together for the duration. The story is told from the viewpoint of the couple, both of whom are hiding secrets from the other. A few weeks later a body is found and an investigation begins. This is the first novel I have read by this author, but it certainly will not be the last.

Oh my goodness this book was brilliant. It is centred around covid but it is still a brilliant read. I was completely taken in by this book and I didn’t want to put it down. Brilliant,

Wow, wow, wow... now this is what you call a page turner. I could not put this down for a second.

This was the first book I have read that actually uses Covid as the main topic and all I can say is wow Haha.

A completely engrossing and riveting thriller that left me holding my breath without realising at times.

Unfolding over 56 days we see the first encounter of Oliver and Ciara in a supermarket in Dublin, their relationship starts just as Covid strikes and the country goes into lockdown. Deciding to lockdown together we watch the relationship unfold whilst at the same time reading the secrets they both keep.

The book is written in chapter form of 56 days, leading up the present day of a police investigation of a rotting corpse in Oliver's apartment.

Each chapter leaves you desperately wanting more as the truth is slowly revealed.

Fantastic characters that were all at times likeable and unlikeable, the mix in emotions just added to the overall storyline. Yes at times it could be slightly unrealistic but remember this was written in a time that the whole world didn't feel real!

A fast paced plot full to the brim with real twisty turns, shocking revelations and suspense.

Huge thanks to netgalley and Atlantic Books for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atlantic Books and Catherine Ryan Howard for an ARC in return for an honest review.

One word - WOW! I am already a huge fan of Catherine Ryan Howard and did not need any further evidence. However, this book tops all the others. I was hooked from the start. I really enjoyed that it was focused around the national lockdown during the Coronavirus pandemic. I thoroughly enjoyed that the story was told from multiple characters and gave you different insights into the same story but how it can be perceived by others.

This book is great for fans of Shari Lapena and Clare Macintosh. It is a psychological/crime thriller which has you gripped from the first page until the last. I would give this book 10 stars if I could.

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC copy.

Ciara and Oliver met in a supermarket 56 days ago. Each with a secret to hide but who is lying to who and why? When COVID strikes and lockdown is announced could they really move in together after such a short time? Suiting both Ciara and Oliver they move into Oliver's apartment and a cat and mouse game begins until a dead body is discovered.

The story counts back and forth between the 56 days of meeting and the death. Murder or accident? I thought I knew where this was going till one little shocker when I had to re read as I thought I had missed something!

A little bit of an abrupt ending but I still enjoyed it. Fab 4 stars.

An interesting concept executed pretty well for the most part.

Oliver and Ciara meet randomly in a queue. They get talking. They begin dating. Then lockdown is announced. They decide to live together so they can continue to see one another.

But 56 days later there's a dead body in the bathroom.

Both are hiding secrets.

Devastating secrets.

That threaten both their futures.

A gripping story that was twisty and less predictable than many psychological thrillers I've read.

So, you either enjoy books that address COVID-19 in them or you don’t. But whichever camp you’re in, who cares because this book not only includes mention of COVID, but a lot of the plot centres around it – and it’s brilliant!

The story follows Ciara, who has recently moved to Dublin, as she meets the incredibly handsome Oliver and though she can’t believe it, starts a relationship with him, with lockdown looming around the corner… However, we soon discover that either Ciara or Oliver – or both! – have some secrets of their own…

The timing of this book is really interesting. It took me back to those days right before we went into the first lockdown, and really reflects and picks up on the way so many of us were feeling at that time. We move between Ciara and Oliver’s perspectives, but the story mainly focuses on Ciara as she gets to know Oliver – and then we also jump to the perspective of the police, as we find out someone in Oliver’s apartment has been murdered!

The plot also jumps between different timeframes, from present-day narratives focusing on the police investigation to the lead up, as we find out that not everything is as we thought!

One of the many things I love about this book is the way you don’t see certain parts coming – at all. I really like the twistiness of the plot and the way we slowly uncover more and more. It’s so tantalising!

I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll just say, this is gripping, atmospheric and very very readable. I absolutely raced through it and would have happily read much more!

I really enjoyed this nuanced and pacy lockdown thriller. I know there's been a lot of debate about writing novels set in a period we're still living through but I felt this was very well handled by the author. The lockdown wasn't the key focus but more the situation that two people find themselves in - but they both have secrets.

I found this a very moving thriller and will read more by this author.

Fantastic, thrilling and unique. I loved every gasp inducing, page turning and twisted clue thrown at me. This is so prevalent or was during lockdown that I would probably have been unable to read more due to how panicked I would have felt. Absolutely brilliant.

I thought this was a great concept - I think I am one of the few readers who is actively keen to read more books set in lockdown. I didn't think the writing quite lived up to that concept, but it was still an enjoyable read.

I was not looking forward to the influx or 'COVID books' but when I saw 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard I had to read it!

Catherine never shies away from tricky topics in her books and 56 Days is no exception. The book looks at a couple who meet at the beginning of the pandemic and explores how they navigate their newly found unexpected relationship through the equally unexpected circumstances.

From the very beginning I felt a growing unease creeping up as we get to see the story unfold from both of their perspectives. There are lots of twists and turns, some which you can see coming and some which definitely give you a sneaky slap in the face.

The atmosphere bubbles from the pages with this one and I was left guessing until the very end who exactly was the hero and who was the villain!

TW for some graphic descriptions of child murder and violent death.

I'd read The Nothing Man and enjoyed that so when I saw the author had a new book I wanted to read it!

In this book nothing is what it seems, and we hear Olivers point of view and also Ciaras. I'd quickly decided I knew what was going on, but I was wrong! A very good suspense story that I'd highly recommend.

56 Days Catherine Ryan Howard
Loved it! I really enjoyed the storyline and loved the timeline of events.
Set in Ireland during the covid pandemic, was a stroke of genius. I particularly enjoyed the chapters from Olivers point of view.
I work in an Irish covid test centre, and had a funny moment one day in work when a patient drove in for a test, and she had the book on her passenger seat, we had a giggle about the fact we were both reading a book about covid.
I enjoyed every minute of this book.

Utterly absorbing, completely gripping – you will genuinely have no idea where you are being taken till you arrive. Lockdown and the pandemic will no doubt trigger some extraordinary storytelling, and this novel, with its constant tension, sets a high bar. We see the story unwind from two viewpoints, as Dublin singles, both new to town, rush into sharing a flat when lockdown hits. What we don’t know is whether they are what they seem, and who lies dead on the floor of a bathroom 56 days later.

Ciara and Oliver meet after noticing each other shopping around the same supermarket...as their romance starts Covid-19 reaches Ireland. Lockdown looms and they decide to spend it together. Ciara thinks its a unique chance for their relationship, Oliver thinks it's a convenient way to keep his secrets. 56 days after they meet a body is discovered....

I honestly thought the last thing I'd want to read about was Covid but this sounded intriguing. In lockdown did we really have any idea what was going on around us? What could have it been used to hide other than our expanding waist lines? And it didn't disappoint. It flashes between the detectives trying to work out what happened and the couples burgeoning relationship, flitting seamlessly between each characters perspective, keeping the tension taut throughout and leading me at least to a fantastic "ohhhhh now it makes sense" moment. I love to be surprised, and it rarely happens. Great stuff.

I really enjoyed The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard and the plot for 56 Days definitely intrigued me. This is a crime mystery novel that's set in Ireland during the start of the pandemic.

In the first chapter, you learn that a decomposing body has been found in an apartment and the police are investigating to find out what happened. The story then flicks back in time to 56 days earlier where you follow a couple who have just met and decide to move in together so they don't have to be separated during lockdown.

I liked the writing and the way the story came together and certain details were woven into the plot. I also thought the characters felt well developed. My only criticism was I felt there were certain moments where I had to suspend disbelief a little.

This isn't the type of thriller that has a lot of action, so if you enjoy a slow burn and the plot interests you then I would recommend it!

The lives of two people affected by the same crime are brought together, is it love or just infatuations on the road to find answers? Who did what to who and who is involved how? All these questions swim around as you read this book. In the last few chapters the author brings everything together and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by the outcome. Many twists and turns, but at the heart of the whole story is the world coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s very strange to read about it now, but fascinating how things changed so quickly and in such an unprecedented way.

I think this is the second book I have read that is set during the COVID lockdown.
It is a fast paced read, the kind of book that you kid yourself you will read just one more chapter before moving on to more responsible adult tasks like working or cooking dinner.
Ciara met in a supermarket right before the whole world was locked down. They decide to live together through lockdown to develop a budding relationship without external pressures, only one of them hasn’t been completely honest about who they really are.
It’s a slick, gripping read and when you think you have it figured out something happens to throw you off the scent.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another excellent book from a very talented author. It doesn’t so much confuse as intrigue with each chapter revealing a snippet more to add interest. I thought I knew where the story was going on more than a few occasions only to be proved wrong but delightfully so.

Wow I loved this, a brilliant read. Absolutely mesmerising, I did not want to put it down. A clever, well written plot making this book one of my favourites this year.