When I first came across the title of this book I was already anticipating it to be a gripping psychological thriller. I was not disappointed in the way that the author was able to build up tension throughout the novel and at times I found it very difficult to put the book down. The storyline is very dark in places and and the characters are developed well enough that I cared about the outcome.

In retrospect and having read the book I was able to fully enjoy the way that the different plot threads were keeping me engaged and guessing right up to the very end. In an age where mental health has become a very big issue, I was interested to see that the author had incorporated this aspect into her novel with sensitivity and nuance, highlighting the ways in which trauma can impact individuals and communities.

Overall, I found the book to be well-written and thought-provoking which kept my attention to the very last pages.

Rating: 4.0/5

This is my second experience of Lia Middleton's work, having previously read "You Word or Mine". I enjoyed that novel, but I didn't think it did enough to be up with the best in class. However, "The Confession Room" was much more to my liking and provided for a thoroughly entertaining read from start to finish.

For those who are familiar with the "Saw" movie series, there is a clear influence from that franchise (especially the first film) on the central idea behind the plot. There is nothing wrong in that, as the author takes that basic similar premise in a direction very much of her own creation and poses some captivating moral dilemmas along the way. The are ample amounts of tension and suspense, with plenty of twists and turns as the narrative progresses. Some of the developments you may work out in advance, but for the most part Lia Middleton employs sufficient levels of disguise to keep the reader guessing - and perfectly legitimate disguise it is too, without the need to resort to ludicrously contrived plot mechanisms purely for the sake of it.

A very enjoyable thriller that is easy to recommend and Lia Middleton has ensured that I will be back for her next offering too.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Wow! There are page turners and then there's the new Lia Middleton novel! The pace in The Confession Room is incredible - once I started, I couldn't put it down. The concept for this novel was so original. Emilia, an ex-police officer gets caught up in an online forum - The Confession Room - when a murderer starts posting the names of upcoming victims.

The plot and the amazing twists in this novel would be more than enough, but what I really loved was Emilia's character and how the author shows the huge impact tragedy has had on her own life, a tragedy that propels her to get deeper and deeper into The Confession Room, even when she knows she should walk away. There are some really touching scenes throughout the novel, especially with her parents and ex-boyfriend, that made me really root for Emilia and to understand her need for justice.

The Confession Room is original, thought-provoking, so clever and is Lia Middleton's best novel yet. Can't wait to see what's next.

Thank you to the publisher, Lia Middleton and Netgalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review. This novel is about a page called 'The Confession Room' where the names of victims begin to get posted on this online forum. Our main character, Emilia, is an ex-Detective who wants to do everything she can to try and help.

I devoured this book. The action started from the very first chapter and it was full of brilliant plot twists. The ending was so unexpected and I definitely recommend this book. I feel like it is a perfect holiday read - I love reading a good crime/thriller novel while I'm away. This is so fast paced and I was on the edge of my seat, I just sped through it, reading non stop all weekend, because I was desperate to find out what happened. Definitely going to explore some more of Lia Middleton's books after this fabulous read.

The story started on a great note with enough mystery to keep me hooked but then I did find the story dragging. I did not enjoy the story as much as I thought I would as I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters.

#TheConfessionRoom #NetGalley
Good one.
Some people confess to affairs, others to stealing. Some admit deep, dark wishes.
But one day, a confession is posted that nobody expects: murder. And not just one named victim, but two.
As more victims are named, and more bodies found, people begin to fear who could be named next. Because it seems that if you have a secret, they'll find you.
Go and read it. This is a good book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for giving me an advance copy.

I really liked the idea of this book. There is an Internet chat room where people confess things. Some things are probably the sort of things that people would not confess to in public but on the Internet that doesn't matter... Emilia is an ex police officer. It seems likely initially that her leaving the police relates to the fact that her sister was murdered and the killer has not been found. She seems to blame herself for her death. She is also addicted to the Confession Room.

The start of this seemed creative and intriguing to me. When someone confesses to a murder in the chat room Emilia is drawn to being involved and contacts a serving police man who she worked with (and was involved with). She tries to get information from him and then increasingly investigates herself.

In practice the deeper I went into this the more it frustrated me. In the end I found Emilia a less than complete character and not that credible. Other characters were very minor. The pace in this is excellent and I'm sure many will get caught up in it. The combination of "confession" and "justice" (or possibly revenge) should work but this felt rather superficial to me. I have read books that had some similarities that I definitely preferred but I'm guessing this one will do well enough with other readers.

The confession room an online forum where people confess their sins with no backlash, or is there?
The story mainly revolves around Emila an ex police officer now a private investigator, its extremely fast paced with lots of twists you will not see coming!
This book had a brilliant premise and did not fail to entertain me!
Thank you to the publisher and author for my advance copy for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book, didn’t want to put it down.

It doesn’t reinvent the wheel but for me, when it comes to crime thrillers, I don’t want you to. Just give me a fast pace and and interesting, even outlandish plot and I’m in.

The way this story unfolds with the main protagonist on the outside because of previous trauma makes you really care and gives a different perspective than you would get from the story being told from the lead detective point of view.

Really fast paced, thrilling read. I was absorbed by the story from chapter one, and was really impressed by the ending. Enjoyable read!

A thriller that strays to the darker side. I liked this one, it has a brilliant premise and it's well written. It fully engaged my attention and the story flowed smoothly.

This was a really interesting premise and I couldn’t not request to read it. I was not disappointed and was hooked from the first chapter. The characters were well written and it was paced really well. I didn’t expect the ending at all and I think it was brilliant.

*3.5 stars*

The Confession Room is an online forum where people are invited to confess their deepest thoughts, desires and deeds.

It’s amazing the amount of wrongdoing that people fess up to on the site, but then one day someone confesses to murder, and it’s only the beginning of their story! The victims are named, but it doesn’t stop there, as more victims names are put forward, and the police have no idea who the perpetrator is, or indeed how to find them.

Who’s going to be next on their list? Will it be you? The public are starting to panic because if you are one of the online confessors, then you should be very afraid! The perpetrators know everything about you and they want you to pay. Ex cop Emilia Haines becomes obsessed with The Confession Room, and quite frankly, she’s getting a little too involved, but where will it all lead?

A unique premise that veers into the deepest darkest depths of the internet. The book started off really well and has some heart pounding moments, though I did feel it slowed a little midway. However, it really plays with the minds of those who confessed, (and with the reader) not knowing who’s the next potential victim, and demonstrates the fear that ensues when an unknown entity is out for revenge.

4.25-4.5⭐️

Must say I’m not keen on the cover, it lacks impact for me.

Having read and loved the previous book (Do No Harm) I was really keen to read this one.

Wade Datling is accused of killing his wife and their teenage children, at the 11th hour Neve Harper takes over the defence. She thinks it’s the case to take her career to the next level. Only she is approached by a man making threats that she must lose the case or else he will firstly reveal what happened to her husband, then kill everyone who she cares about until she follows orders.
The premise is intriguing a moral / professional/legal dilemma for Neve. It sounds very similar to the premise of the previous book, so I wonder if there’s going to be a trilogy of professional and moral dilemmas for different professionals. Although the same theme, this is a very different offering. It’s quite dark.

It’s well written, and the prose is emotive when Wade describes the night in question.
Neve is emotionally as hard as rock, although she has a soft spot for her step daughter.

I thought it was highly unprofessional for lawyers having meetings and displaying evidence in public locations.

The writing style makes for easy engaging reading. The screw keeps being turned piling on the pressure on Neve. It had me chuckling in several places, although that’s probably just my sick sense of humour.

There was some repetition during the court section. It’s hard for authors to avoid between discovery and court, but it doesn’t make for the most entertaining reading.
Overall it’s got a good pace with plenty of twists and turns and a bit of action thrown in.

I really enjoyed it. It doesn’t quite match Do No Harm for me, but it’s still a very engaging read. It’s one I’d recommend.

The Confession Room has a brilliant premise and I really wanted to love it but there was just something that didn’t quite work for me. Apart from the fact I hated the ending, I found it didn’t have the same addictive effect on me that the authors other books have had. I couldn’t relate to Emilia and found her not a sympathetic as I should have done considering her situation. Her relationship with her ex was probably the most positive aspect of the storyline for me but it couldn’t carry the plot completely on its own. This is not a bad book but it just didn’t grip me like I’d expected.

After anonymous confessions are posted online, two people with seemingly nothing in common are kidnapped and taken to a room. There is a countdown timer and they have 60 seconds to make a confession. Only one of them leaves the room alive, but which one? This is a really interesting concept for a thriller which does descend into unbelievable at points but is a quick and interesting read.

I was instantly drawn to this book by the cover and the title, I have never read anything by this author before and was glad to have requested this book. I read the book in a matter of days and could not put it down and found it to be an interwesting and different plot. I would highly recommend this book to any thriller reader as it is a bit different. Looking forward to reading more of the authors work. Thanks to Netgalley & Penguin random house for sending me a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Emilia Haines was a police detective who has now turned PI. Emilia spent most of her time following suspected unfaithful spouses. Emilia’s sister was murdered by someone who was stalking her - the murderer was still at large. When her sister died Emilia’s life fell to pieces - she quit her police job and spilt up with her long term boyfriend who was a police detective sergeant.

Emilia spent lots of her time trawling chat rooms and one in particular - the confession room. This room was somewhere that people could confess to anything with no consequences!

Emilia saw a post on there that two people had been murdered and their names were published - she contacted her ex Ciaran. He told her to keep out of the investigation and to not get involved - but Emilia just couldn’t help herself!!

This book is a real page turner and had me on the edge of my seat. I would definitely recommend this book.

I love the hook for this book and having read Middleton's previous novels I was keen on diving into this one. It felt very fresh and contemporary which I really liked and I was intrigued by the mysterious circumstances and what may happen.
I also really liked that Emilia is a well rounded character and the novel is not just about the plot but also about the people with their struggles and the traumas of their past and how that affects their life and relationships.
A truly enjoyable 5 stars read that I highly recommend.

I was hooked from the first chapter. Intriguing book with twists and turns on every page. The ending was a bit disturbing but it definitely wasn’t what I was expecting.
Fantastic read, would definitely recommend.