This book was awful. I hated the main character so much. It was full of filler which was unnecessary. Not for me

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It was an ok read though I did find it extremely far fetched in places.

This is a dark and twisted thriller. However, the premise of a jury fore woman in a rape trial choosing a relationship with the defendant was silly especially as she appeared to be in the surface intelligent and cultured. I disliked the main character and the ending predictable and disappointing.

A good book
Quite a few twists and turns
When you think you know what’s happening the plot changes
Thanks NetGalley

This is a dark twisty but addictive tale of revenge. C. J. Cooper is a genius. I was pulled into this one from the beginning and devoured this book in one sitting.

The opening scene is enough to grip anyone’s attention and this is a book which delivered on every factor. Cooper writes in a way you feel as though you are watching the events play out.

Natalie is a fantastic protagonist, likeable and realistic. I found myself questioning her decisions on occasions. We definitely go on the journey with her.

I have been completely shocked by then ending of this one. This has left me a little speechless. I have adored this book. It moves at the perfect pace and keeps you guessing. This is definitely a book I will be recommending.

The first quarter of this book seems to be a full explanation of why a not guilty verdict was decided by a jury. Then you have to ignore all that and go along with a silly idea that someone from that jury would even consider getting into a relationship with the accused. Not only is the premise preposterous but the main character is so unlikable in all her other relationships she would be the last person to be bothered if they had got the verdict right in the first place.

This is a book that kept me hooked even if I hated the MC, Nathalie.
There's plenty of surprises, there's questions, and some suspension of belief is required.
I found it entertaining and well written.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book was absolutely fantastic. I absolutely loved it
We are first introduced to Natalie, when she is a member of the jury for the rape trial. First impressions are that she has her life together and is a member of the community to be admired.
Struck with guilt after finding the defendant not guilty of rape; Natalie begins her own investigations
I love the way that the story unravelled around Natalie and we learn more and more just exactly what kind of person she is in each chapter
The short chapters had me thinking “just one more chapter”
The book was very gripping and I really liked the way the author brought everything to an end.
I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author
Thank you to the publishers for a gifted copy of this book

Read in May 2022
This is a good read but one where you need to suspend belief in some places.
Natalie is called up for jury service and it’s a case where a man is being accused of rape.
As there’s not enough evidence to find him guilty he is not charged.
The next bit is the bizarre part where Natalie goes out of her way to find Ian and starts a relationship with him.
At times when she’s asking him what really happened, Ian questions why she’d be with a man she thought was a rapist, and I tend to agree.
It’s a bit of a strange one but I think in her own way Natalie knows what she’s doing.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The concept of this book is unique and definitely held my attention.

The protagonist, Natalie, presents herself as an upstanding, intelligent member of the community. However the reality is far from this. Natalie is a very unlikeable character and from the start there is something off about her.

The character is well written and the plot makes you question what is reality and what is Natalie’s fabrications. You wonder at times whether it will all become clear!

A good read, holds your attention but you never warm to the characters.

4.25⭐️

This author is new to me with this psychological thriller. The concept is unique and clever, and is what attracted me to read it.

Natalie Wright is the foreperson on a rape trial. There isn’t sufficient evidence to convict, so the accused Ian Nash is found not guilty.
However Natalie becomes totally obsessed about the case, having to delve deeper into it on her own determined to find the truth.

I didn’t like Natalie at all, she comes across as superior and conceited. More accurately she is is a nasty piece of work. She may be intellectual and in the top % but mentally she is unbalanced. The characterisation is perfect for the role she has.
I found some of her behaviour pushed my limits of believability, but then the author cleverly got me onside with the characters frame of mind and her view points rather than my own logic. In some ways it feels like a character study as it all evolves around Natalie and her perceptions and actions. It does come with a twisty plot which you expect with psych thrillers.

There were parts where the pace was slow but it was very compelling reading. It certainly left me thinking and questioning. It one of those books that took me awhile to really get into, then it crept up on me, by the end it’s one of those that stayed in my head.

I definitely didn't like the main character, sometimes I can live with not liking the characters but it did spoil my enjoyment. It made me lose interest as I didn't really care what happened to her. I just didn't connect with this book. Sorry ,hope other readers enjoy it more.

A great physiological thriller, pacey, twisty, turny, a really great storyline with great characters and really gripping. Do not miss it.

Wow!!! Wow!!!! Wow!!! This book is a total page turner and will keep you guessing with every page. Halfway through I thought I had it figured out and then BAM! The ending floored me... I just loved this book.

This book keeps you reading to see how it ends. However, the story-teller and main character, Natalie, is a decidedly odd and quite unlikable character and none of the others are any more likeable. The man she starts dating and sleeping with, with the sole intention of finding out whether he was guilty of rape, her sister who is after even more of her inheritance from her mother, her cheating ex-fiance, her drippy work colleagues - they are all written about with disdain, and condescension, making it very difficult to root for or care about Natalie.. it is worth reading til the end to find out what conclusions she reaches and what she does about them, but it's not a book I shall remember fondly, more one I was glad to get to the end of and forget about!

Lie To Me - CJ Cooper

Natalie Wright is on jury service, the foreperson in a rape trial. The evidence is inconclusive and they find the defendant, Ian Nash, not guilty.

Natalie becomes obsessed with the case and the verdict, triggering an obsessive need to try to uncover the truth.

I've never read a plot along these lines before and CJ Cooper delivers it beautifully. Natalie's narration is confessional and self aware and it makes for addictive and compelling reading. As the story unfolds we learn about Natalie's grudges and devious streak, a wonderfully flawed character driven by her own moral code.

I raced through this book, loved reading about Natalie and getting to know her, the plot perhaps tailed off (or grew more conventional) towards the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it overall, feeling totally immersed with Natalie's character and her distinctive voice and mindset.

Definitely recommended if you love a more introspective, thought provoking psychological thriller.


Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group

A legal thriller telling the story of a female juror getting entangled with the person who was previously on trial and facing loosing everything, including potentially her life. Wicked and surprising!

l would describe this novel as Marmite you will either love it or hate I am in the middle with this not certain where I stand .A story of love gone wrong and extreme jealousy, and revenge,not certain about the ending follow up novel on the cards maybe.

Sinister Suspense,,,
With an underlying tone of menace, this sinister suspense is sure to get under your skin. Natalie, having previously been a Jury member in a case of horrific crime, sees the man she thinks walked away free from the courtroom following that case. The trouble is that Natalie is now convinced that he is guilty. What should she do? The case soon overwhelms her and obsession takes its’ place. With a gripping storyline, a possible unreliable narrator and a ton of tension this soon becomes impossible to part with until that very last page. (Previously published as ‘The Verdict’).

This was a real slow starter. I really didn’t get into it much until almost the end. The plot line was good but I don’t think it was executed as well as it could have been.