You are always guaranteed a good read when you pick up a book by Lauren North and All the Wicked Games is no exception. Rachel receives a panicky phonecall from her latterly best friend's sister who tells her that Cleo is missing. This is a friend she hasn't spoken to for five years. They fell out when Cleo took their games in an internet chat room too far. Despite this Rachel feels compelled to try and find her.

This is a really addictive and clever novel. It takes you off in different directions and you are never sure if you are going the right way. The characters are flawed and some are genuinely disturbing. The plot is dark and compelling and the pace is perfect. A really entertaining psychological thriller.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I participated in a blog tour for one of Lauren North’s other books in September last year. When I saw her name appear while scrolling through NetGalley I did not think twice about requesting a copy of this book.
Reaching for All The Wicked Games, you will find yourself wanting to read non-stop. This tale about friendship and guilt will haunt you as flip from page to page. It is a fast-paced, gripping read that keeps you glued to the pages.
Lauren North tells this story from Cleo and Rachel’s point of view moving between now and five years ago. I love the way she moves between then and now revealing events piece by piece. I found myself completely engrossed and battled to drag myself away. This book will keep you entertained from start to end.
Cleo and Rachel are best friends. Living together they are waiting for the big break into the make-up artist world. They dream big, but in the meantime, life must go on, and everyday life is rather boring when you are broke. To entertain themselves they s[end their evenings online, chatting to strangers and making up elaborate stories. It’s all just for fun. Until they play with the wrong man.
One man and one horrific night and it’s the end of a friendship. But five years later, Cleo receives a message that Rachel is missing. Rachel was her best friend, off course she will put her life on hold and do whatever she needs to, as long as she can save Rachel. Returning to her old life, Cleo discovers the game is starting again.
What a brilliant read. Lauren North had me glued to the pages of this book. I loved the friendship between these two women. The author brought these characters to life allowing the reader to share their bond. The ending was brilliant, I loved it.
These two women, struggling to find their way in the world and trying to realise their dreams while surviving day-to-day life was beautifully realistic. The author did a marvellous job sharing the bond between these women. It’s difficult to pick a favourite, both these characters are stunning creations.
Psychological thrillers fans can expect a treat with this story of friendship, jealousy and dangerous games. You will battle to walk away from this gripping read. Be sure to add this one to your TBR, you will not be left disappointed.

I never repeat the blurb. This was slow and too drawn out. There are times when telling the story in two time periods works. There are times when it's simply aggravating. This was the latter. Unlikeable characters throughout.

Not a book that really grabbed me ,I didn't like either of the two main characters very much, and found it all a bit plodding. Sorry hope others like it more.

Five years ago, best friends Cleo and Rachel are working at a makeup counter at Selfridges. They are bored with their lives and decide to spice up their life by going on a Cam Chat site and pretend to be someone else, a better self than they are. It won’t hurt right? But when Rachel meets Luke, and they chat online for several months every night Cleo thinks it is not healthy and she is worries for Rachel
Five years on, Cleo works on the cruise ship Enchantress when she gets a text saying that Rachel is missing so she goes back to her old place to find her.
Thank you, Random House Transworld, for a copy of “The wicked games”. This is a good suspenseful, twisty thriller, told in several points of views going back and forth five years in time. I kept me turning the pages. There was such a build-up to find out who was responsible for what was going on that I found the ending a bit flat. 4 stars from me.

Woweeee!! What have I just read? Lauren North is an autobuy author for me now. I don’t need to know anything more than release date and I’m itching to read. I am beyond grateful for the personally signed copy of this one from Lauren herself.

I knew from the cover and synopsis that this was going to be a gem. I definitely underestimated how much I would love this book. I have been captive from the first page until the very last word. I have devoured this in just one sitting and I have no regrets. I only wish I could experience reading this for the first time all over again.

This is a book that introduces us to Cleo, a nervous and anxious character that I’ve felt completely able to relate to. Cleo returns to London after receiving a text to say her best friend from years ago is missing. This is where we start to completely unravel the games that the girls have played and the plot completely ramps up.

Our queen of the dark side, throws in so many twists and turns, it becomes impossible to predict this one. The plot is perfectly paced and North is able to fully transport the reader to the settings in the book. I have definitely felt my pulse race at parts of this book. I have been a little lost for words at the ending.

It’s no secret that Lauren North is one of my queens of the genre. I never have any hesitation in recommending a Lauren North book. I have read all of them and this is definitely on my favourites list.

There is literally nothing negative I can say about this book. North has pulled me in, kept me hostage and taken me through a whirlwind of events that I would happily experience all over again. This is a complete gem and an all round must read.

I would absolutely recommend this book. It has been gripping and I haven’t wanted to put it down. North has thrown me off on numerous occasions when I thought I was close to predicting what was going to happen.

Most definitely a five star read for me. Only this is a book I feel is deserving of more than five stars.

All The Wicked Games is the first book by Lauren North that I have read and WOW!! I can't wait to read more from this author, I have a few on my kindle so will definitely be bumping them up my tbr mountain.

Cleo and Rachel are best friends, they work on a beauty counter in a department store while waiting for their big break in TV make-up. It's a pretty rubbish job on bad pay so they soon begin to look for something to bring some excitement to the monotony. This something is Camchat - an online chat site where you are randomly paired with people to talk to. As you can imagine there are a lot more unsavoury things that happen on Camchat...you could end up with an eyeful or as is the case with Cleo and Rachel dragged into a world of lies and dangerous encounters. Rachel takes the lead in these games, getting drawn in and encouraging Cleo to join her in using fake names/scenarios. These alter egos can actually be quite cruel and it's obvious that Cleo is more cautious about what they are doing and begins to question whether they should stop. After the girls suffer a brutal attack they drift apart and lose touch; Cleo takes a job in a spa on a cruise ship and tries to get over the trauma and guilt she feels but must face the music when Rachel goes missing and it seems like their past has caught up with them and someone wants to play a game...

The story is told over dual timelines, Cleo and Rachel in the past and five years later when Rachel has gone missing and Cleo desperately searches for her. I loved the pace of this story; it is one of those books where you tell yourself just one more chapter then realise your coffee has gone cold. I thought I had guessed some parts of the story but the author has an excellent way of leading you down the wrong path!! There were some HUGE shocks and I was left wanting to sit down with the author to discuss certain points. Obviously no spoilers here!!

Highly recommend. 5 stars.

This was a really creepy thriller. It was really well written with lots of red herrings to throw you off and hold your interest. I raced through it. Really great read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy.

All the Wicked Games is a psychological thriller ,a slow burner that builds up to an exciting and unpredictable ending .Full of twists and turns and told in two time lines ,the present and 5 years ago.A very enjoyable read .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this thriller, it was fast paced from the very start. The story starts 5 years after best friends Cleo and Rachel go through an horrific event when Cleo gets a call that Rachel is missing again. It is full of twists and turns all the way through, and that ending!

A cleverly written tense story about two friends, Cleo and Rachel who re-invent themselves into other people to interact with people on "Camchat" a dating website. They are only on there to have fun but when they get drawn into playing with one particular man things start to take a more sinister turn. The girls are lured into a meeting that they will never forget.
Five years on Cleo is reluctantly drawn into returning to play the game when Rachel is reported missing.
The story is tense, scarey and believable. It grips you from the first to last page and takes you into the dark side of the internet. Well done Lauren North for writing another brilliant psychological thriller that kept me gripped.

Fantastic read, dark and addictive. Well written, well rounded characters. The twists and turns and the deception, just wow !! Loved it .

A really interesting premise. I knew something bad had happened and the book slowly revealed it. Kept me interested throughout.

A gripping and modern thriller. I really felt how claustrophobic and scary Cleo felt, and found the atmosphere that North created very effective. I won't spoil anything but I guessed one twist, but the other?! No way would I have guessed that!

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book, I will keep an eye out for more titles by this author!

Lauren North has long been one of my favorite writers, and getting the chance to read and review this book was a gift as far as I’m concerned! This is a tale of a dangerous yet thrilling friendship, that throws one of its members into the throes of danger, with the other one trying their best to rescue their friend. An excellent story!

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read All the wicked games.
An enjoyable thriller told from two pov over a 5 year timeline.
Plenty of tension to keep you guessing, lovely reminder that things don't always stay in the past

Best friends Cleo and Rachel are bored with their lives; working on the makeup counter at Selfridges and dreaming of a different future.. So, they make up names and go online for some fun. Yes, you've guessed it! What starts as fun ends with a dangerous game.
Cleo leaves for a life on the cruise ships and then, years later, learns that Rachel is missing.

The storyline goes back and forth; covering the time, 5 years ago when the game first started and now as Chloe searches for her lost friend.

This is a decent thriller with some frustrations: mainly for me, the various breadcrumbs littered throughout the book that are ignored by the one person who should be paying attention. That and the way it felt drawn out unnecessarily at times. However, it's a well written, tense read. For me a 3* Good Read and I'm grateful to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Penguin for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. I had the pleasure of meeting lauren and hearing about this book at bay tales earlier in the year.

This is a fantastic twisted book on the complexities of female friendships even as adults.

Her past comes knocking and interferes with her present.

Gripping and unpredictable.

Had me hooked right from the start. Cleverly written and thought provoking.

Riveting and packed with suspense as we race to find not only the truth but her friend…

Published 11th August

I’ve read all of Lauren North’s books, so this is the fourth book. A little different for this one, as the others have tended to be family orientated with ‘mum’ being the main protagonist. The two main characters in this book are younger and single. The best of friends, they shared the same ambitions to become make-up artists. Working on the makeup counter in the local department store was just a stop-gap until the right opportunity came along. They shared the same rental accommodation – a 1 room bed-sit each in a multi-occupation house with a shared kitchen. They didn’t have much, they struggled to make ends meet and certainly Rachel at least, was bored in her shop job.

A bored and frustrated mind can make for mischief though, and Rachel got her kicks from spending time in chat rooms winding people up. It was all a game at first to while away the evenings when they had no money to go out, but then things began to go wrong.

The book starts out in the present with Cleo taking some time out from her job on a cruise ship to try to help find out what happened to Rachel, who she hasn’t seen for five years when they fell out over the consequences of their internet games. Cleo is mainly riddled with guilt over what happened back then, but we the reader have no idea why. As Cleo searches for clues as to where Rachel might be, the book goes back and forth in time to what happened leading up to the incident 5 years ago and what is going on now.

Very twisty, very tense, this book keeps you turning the pages. The characters are perhaps not that likeable but it all adds to the mystery and the tension. There was an anxious atmosphere throughout the book with the supporting characters not always that trustworthy, as the reader you could never be sure they were being honest. It all reaches a tense and climactic ending that certainly took me by surprise. Another thrilling read from this author.

*To be posted to my blog on publication day*

A brilliant premise featuring believable characters. Lauren North has a wonderful knack of getting into the heads of her characters, ramping up tension and keeping the reader guessing.