Cover Image: The Blame Game

The Blame Game

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Member Reviews

Thank you Panmacmillan and NetGalley and sorry I took so long to read this.
This was a difficult book to read, if you have issues or have had experiences of domestic abuse, so it might not be the book for you.
This was interesting as the book was from the male perspective.
The book was very well written, and I would like to read more by this author in the future.

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If you have personal issues or experiences with domestic abuse, this might not be the book for you, but it was an eye opening read to experience domestic abuse from the non traditional male perspective. Book was well written, will read more in future.

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After loving an earlier book by Jones I was excited to read this. Sadly this just didn't work for me.
I found the writing to be a little messy and all over the place. Making it hard for me to stay connected to the story.
The characters felt a little bland and I just couldn't care.

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This was a good read with plenty of twists and turns throughout with plenty of surprises. The characters were great, the story was exciting and the style of writing was perfect. All the books that I have read by this author I have enjoyed, so I’m looking forward to the next one. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading psychological thrillers.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

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I really enjoyed this book. It was creepy, thrilling, atmospheric and slightly chilling and jumpy too. Would definitely recommend.

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A mediocre thriller that had me re-reading a few chapters due to the complexity of this storyline. This is a good book if you don't have any distractions; however, trying to read this whilst the family is about it isn't wise. Although this was average for me, I have not been put off reading more by this author. It would make an ideal book club read, as it provoked a lot of emotions and questions that would be great to discuss with others who have read it. Character-wise I wasn't overly invested, but this could have been different if I could have focused on this more.

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I read this book so quickly and enjoyed how the story unravelled and the links between everything, however, there were a lot of characters and a lot of things happening that it was a struggle at times keeping track. I enjoyed the ending, there were some twists I wasn’t expecting throughout the book but an overall enjoyable, and quick thriller.

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I love Sandie Jones, I always know I’m guaranteed a great read and one which will be completely unputdownable.

The Blame Game has been no different. This is a book I have devoured in just one sitting. There have been so many layers to this one that it’s been a complete rollercoaster.

Reading this, you really do question who you can trust. Naomi is a therapist, supporting those in violent and abusive relationships. Only, she becomes tangled in a dangerous and sinister web.

The plot of this unravels quickly and you can’t predict who is guilty. I have loved Naomi and definitely suspected her estranged sister. After all, the common saying is “you can’t choose your family”. I have loved the twists and turns thrown in to this one, they have kept me guessing from the start.

This is well-paced, the book moves at the perfect pace to keep the reader interested and engaged in what is taking place. I have devoured page after page in just one sitting.

Jones has transported me to the pages of this one. I have felt as though I have been watching the events play out in front of me. This is definitely screenworthy. It is filled with drama, suspense and a mystery that will leave you speechless.

This is quite possibly my favourite book by this jauthor to date. It’s a great read and one I will be recommending.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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This author definitely knows how to use a twist! Just when I thought I knew what was going on I was hit with another one I didn’t see coming. The plot for this one was very clever and it definitely makes you question who you can trust and makes your mind bring up a number of theories. The suspense built throughout to the shock of an ending, and I found myself becoming engrossed from the start. The main character frustrated me with some of her choices but I suppose that is what made the plot so entertaining! I will definitely be checking out some of this author’s back catalogue after this.

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This was a fast paced read with an interesting plot. Enjoyed the story & characters although not my favourite by this author.

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This was an interesting story. It had all the elements of a good mystery. Unfortunately, I did not care for any of the characters.

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Wow!
Want a book.
Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy and secondly to the tour organiser for inviting me to be part of the tour!
I recommended this to a few of you, who have added this to your wishlist which is so great to hear!
In the book, we are first introduced to Naomi. Naomi is a specialist domestic violence counsellor, who is holding a few secrets of her own!
Jacob, one of her clients, is having the worst of times and Naomi starts forming an unhealthy relationship with him, behind her husbands back
Jacob is not the first client who she has become too close too and suddenly Naomi finds herself a suspect in a police investigation
Wow. Seriously. Wow. I cannot recommend this book enough. I have to admit that I had a theory what was happening. It seemed to far fetched. Then the author throws another red herring in.
The book was easy to read and lose myself in
I really enjoyed learning about Naomi and her past and wish we had learned a little more about her sister and that relationship!
The epilogue! Wow!
what a great domestic thriller novel! If you are a fan of this genre, add it to your wishlist!

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If you think you may need to see a psychologist don’t read this book or you will have no faith in the profession. From the first chapter I couldn’t take Naomi seriously.
Not for me I’m sorry to say.

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This book completely gripped me from the first page. It had a fast paced, interesting plot with so many twists! I really didn’t know who to believe by the end!

The main character in the story is domestic violence therapist Naomi. She is helping Jacob deal with his abusive marriage and help Anna repair a broken and increasingly violent marriage after the loss of their son. Unfortunately in trying to help them both she crosses professional boundaries and becomes entangled in events which spiral out of her control.

I felt sorry for Naomi but she also really frustrated me! It did feel like a lot of the problems she inflicted on herself with all her secrets and little white lies.

There were so many twists in the very last part of the book that I had to reread it to make sure I hadn't missed anything! I also had a few unanswered questions at the end and would have liked a few more chapters to resolve them!

If you enjoy psychological thrillers I would highly recommend this one though! I'm planning to buy the other books by Sadie Jones now too.

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If you are looking for a wild ride, one of those books that has your head in a spin the whole time trying to figure out what is going on, then I wholeheartedly recommend The Blame Game. I raced through it, trying - and failing - to know who to trust and who to believe as the twists kept coming.

Naomi is a therapist, born in the US but now living in the UK, who specializes in domestic abuse. We meet two of her clients - Jacob, a schoolteacher who is being abused by his wife, and Anna, a fellow American whose marriage is falling apart as she and her husband are struggling to come to terms with the loss of one of their children. With a complex past of her own, Naomi seems to struggle to maintain professional boundaries and becomes overly invested in their lives. She helps Jacob escape his abusive wife - but in doing so, she sets up a web of deceit that threatens to have cataclysmic effects on her life.

Naomi is one of those characters you will love to hate, incredibly frustrating at times as she makes such poor decisions. But with a plot that kept me guessing and kept me turning the pages, I was prepared to suspend disbelief a little and buckle in for a wildly entertaining read.

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The Blame Game is an absolutely exhilarating read which will have your head spinning alongside Naomi as you try to keep pace and puzzle out the strange events which are happening. It’s a difficult book to describe without giving hints that may impact on the experience for future readers. Naomi is a psychologist who specialises in helping those who have suffered or are suffering domestic abuse. She is kind hearted and goes way way above and beyond what would be expected of a professional. Indeed at times I found her frustrating as she really doesn’t maintain boundaries and, well meaning as she is, sets herself up for trouble from the off. Whilst there are so many awful people in the world and it is refreshing to see someone with a heart, it did put me off her a little.

Naomi has been helping a man named Jacob who is trying to gain the courage to escape from his wife. She makes his life a misery and he has had enough. After offering him a place to stay, causing conflict with her supportive but at the end of his tether husband, things suddenly take a shift. Events spiral and suddenly Naomi finds herself caught in a sequence of events she can’t get out of. Adding to this, another patient desperately needs her and so her kindness gets further pulled upon. With rising tension, I read with a lump in my throat. One of those stories where you must know what happens next but it’s so tense it feels palpable!

I read The Blame Game over a few sittings and feel like I’m still reeling! A great read if you want something to keep you guessing, keep you engaged and give you a wonderful few hours! Fantastic!!

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I enjoyed this book but honestly, who the hell would have Naomi as their therpaist, you'd have to be seriously messed up to think that someone who's that messed up herself could help you. Plus, she REALLY needs to set some boundaries. Given her background I can see why she is like she is, and why she chose her profession but she wound me up so much. She really was an easy target.
There are lots of twists and although I managed to figure out some of the ending before we got there, I didn't reach quite the dramatic conclusion that the book did. I'll definitely look for more books by this author

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The whole way through this book I just kept thinking, "what is going on?" Not in a bad way, but I just couldn't work out who was behind it all - just what I want from a thriller.

Psychotherapist Naomi Chandler moved from Long Island to England after meeting and falling in love with husband Leon. After her father's murder of her mother and her sister Jennifer being taken away, she had nothing to stay for. She now helps other victims of domestic violence.

Two of her main clients, Jacob and Anna are seeing Naomi for different reasons. Jacob is being abused by his wife and Anna and her husband Nick are having troubles following their toddler's death a year previously. Naomi always goes above and beyond for her clients but this time it costs her. Someone is out to ruin her life but who and why?

My head was spinning reading this book. There are so many twists and turns and it kept me on my toes the whole way through. An enjoyable thriller!

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Oh Naomi for a counsellor I think you yourself could do with a few sessions. Professional boundaries meant nothing to her and she crossed several lines. Although this did make it slightly unbelievable at times it also made it a lot more fun to read.

Specialising in domestic violence you get to know her two clients, both of which are claiming spousal abuse. There is Jacob who she persuaded to leave his wife and Anna who after losing her child her husband turned violent. Offering them places to live behind her husband Leon’s back was bewildering enough but now doors Naomi swears she locked are wide open and Jacobs file is missing. He said his wife was out to kill him and now just like his file he is also missing.

Then the author shows you Naomi also has a past that involves a murder. Is the past finally catching up with her?

There is unreliable narration and then there is down right lies. Lying to your partner, to the police, lie after lie after lie and they just seem to pile on top of each other until it’s hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Who is really in danger here and who from?

If you want a book that keeps you in the dark to the very end and you don’t mind if it turns a bit wackadoodle then The Blame Game is one for you. Just don’t blame me for the crazy!

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Naomi is very good at helping people and as a psychologist specialising in domestic abuse, it’s sort of apt. However, wanting to help can often mean she gets too invested in her clients’ lives, wanting the best for them but ignoring any boundaries that should be present. For instance, she has encouraged client Jacob to leave his abusive wife – which should be one thing, but when she realises is client file is missing the morning after the big reveal, she’s at a loss to understand how it happened. When another client asks Naomi for more help than you’d expect from a psychologist, she feels unable to say no. But why are doors that should be locked, well, unlocked? And are all these creepy things to do with her clients’ pasts or her own? Perhaps Naomi should be focusing more on the possible danger to her own life rather than anyone else’s… Ooh er. The characters are nicely drawn and you’ll be gripped by the plot.

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