An Intriguing thriller from Miranda Rijks that at times, I felt, took preposterous turns. It was enjoyable nevertheless.

3.5 ⭐
I admit I started this book with low expectations but thank god it was better than I thought. I loved how the author described the details of everything, I'm absolutely a huge details admirer. But I didn't feel I'm in a thriller book untill I reached the second part of it.

The story was simple and plain at the beginning but then you realise that everyone has a secret and you suspect everything.

The author has the ability to make you sympathy with both the criminal and the victim and I don't know how!😂

I don't know what I'll do if I were Lionie.
Although she didn't get a direct retribution but what happened in her life is enough and more. She is the naiviest person I have ever read, deceived by almost every character in the book.😂

There's a lot of plot twists in the book and that wasn't even reasonable. You can't just make a huge turn of events that doesn't stand on a logical base just to surprise and astonish the reader.
But all over, it was a good experience and I truly enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for providing me with this ARC.💗

General Thoughts and Feelings

This book was a fun, quick read. I was originally intrigued by the title “Make Her Pay”. I love a good tale of revenge. I also love a complex story with multiple viewpoints with interesting characters with their own agendas that actively conflict with the other. This novel touched on some pretty deep topics of karma, divine retribution, responsibility and accountability. I think a big part of the strength of the story is how each of the characters involved in the accident reacts to it. Also, this author surely has a gift for writing and depicting tension. I raced through this book eager to find out more and to follow all the twists and turns.

That being said, I think the first half of the book is much stronger than the second half. The ending simply didn’t do the rest of the story justice. A good rule of thumb for most types of artistic pursuits is always to leave them wanting more. Leave your reader hungry for more of your work. In this instance I don’t believe there was nearly enough in some of the key ending scenes. It felt rushed and a bit unsatisfactory in some places. But I may be making a mountain out of a molehill. The characters were for the most part well fleshed out, but I did knock half point for a lack of diversity. I don’t think a small cast of characters is much of an excuse for lack of inclusion. All and all a great read if you’re looking for a short fun thriller with a sort of bittersweet ending (depending on which parties you’re rooting for).

Rating
Character: 1/2
Setting: 2/2
Plot: 1/2
Pacing: 1.5/2
Reaction: 2/2
Points: 8/10
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This was your typical, run of the mill thriller. Leone seems to have the perfect life - a career, looks and money. But a terrible accident is haunting her and it seems the past has come back to ruin her. As her life begins to unravel, she must race to find out who is out to kill her.
I enjoyed the plot line of this book but felt that the deception side of the story could have been built up better to make things more interesting and drawn out.

I really liked this book.
It was fast paced and fun to read.
The different perspectives of Carrie and Leonie made you not want to put it down.
Definitely recommend!

An interesting revenge plot that fell flat with a lack of character development. All the characters were one-dimensional and pretty unlikable.
I thought Leonie was a spoiled brat who kept saying how she hated being under her parents rules, but did nothing about it (she sure liked their money, though). Markus was interesting at first, but his character went nowhere. Carrie just had no personality.
I didn't find the story thrilling or very entertaining, but rather boring. I almost DNF, but kept reading because I thought something was bound to happen. But, nope... and that ending was terrible.

This is my first Miranda Rijks book and whilst I didn't love it, I did enjoy reading it. This book had some VERY unexpected twists and some not so unexpected. It's Dual POV also which I enjoyed.

This is one of my favorite authors! While this book moved a little slow I absolutely love it! The main character had an accident ten years before and her dad didn’t allow her to report it. This causes her a lot of anxiety and guilt. The survivor of the incident is out for revenge and does a great job at getting it. do wish her groom had a more fitting death for a scumbag. While a frying pan is great I felt it was a little quick and easy for such a terrible man.

Make Her Pay by Miranda Rijks was another excellent book, every book I have read by Miranda has been a 5 star book and this one was no different. It was an excellent psychological thriller that was fast paced, with lots of twists and turns throughout which made it had to put this book down. A great read for the coming holidays.
Just Brilliant.

I hit a dry spell with books and then suddenly- and thankfully- I read several excellent novels in a row including this one, Make Her Pay by Miranda Rijks. This plot is a case of revenge and the twists and turns within the pages will keep you reading.

Everything is going well in Leonie’s life. She is haunted by a hit-and-run many years prior and carries the guilt with her everywhere. Her powerful father insisted she put it behind her and tell no one, so she has done just that. But the guilt is eating her up and she is reaching a breaking point especially when everything in her life begins to fall apart.

What is happening and more to the point, who is behind it all?

Synopsis:

Leonie is living her best life. Still in her twenties, she’s beautiful, and successful and has just met Markus, the man of her dreams.

But Leonie has a secret. Ten years ago, she was involved in an accident in which another driver died. Leonie shouldn’t have been behind the wheel that night – no license, no insurance – so she fled the scene. And ever since, she’s been struggling to deal with the terrible guilt.

Now, as her wedding to Markus draws near, it seems someone is out to get her. It’s little things at first – botched work appointments, a cancelled bridal dress – but it soon escalates into a terrifying campaign which threatens her business, her family and even her life.

Leonie, caught up in a relentless nightmare, has no idea why anyone would set out to destroy her. Until she realizes there’s a link to the accident that happened all those years ago.

Someone knows what she did. Someone is determined to make her pay.

Out now!

Great story! I was riveted and on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed every minute..... UNTIL that ending!!! I need more!!!! I need to know more about the mom and Leonie's continuing story.

Leonie is haunted by a life-altering mistake she made in her youth- a mistake compounded by her own coldly calculating father’s complicity. Forced to carry her secret in silence, she limps her way into her mid-twenties largely alone. Then she meets Markus, a wealthy and handsome man who very quickly sweeps her off her feet. Has her life taken a sudden turn for the better? It has it gotten much much worse?

Lots of twists and suspense in this one. I read right through it in one day, wondering just where the story would take me (and Leonie!) would take me next. Be careful of the choices you make- and the secrets you keep.

Thank you Miranda Rijks, Inkubator Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another great story my Miranda Rijks.
All of her books have a similar feel to each other but each storyline makes you stop and think.

Here you have love, deceit, murder and family drama. Everything you need to make a good read. Can’t wait to read more by Miranda.

I extend my sincere thanks to Netgalley for granting me an early look into "Make Her Pay" by Miranda Rijks. While the fast-paced thriller offers a rollercoaster of twists, there is a notable weakness in character development, particularly with the central figures, Leonie and Carrie, who appear disappointingly one-dimensional. Markus's character seemed interesting, and I was hoping that Rijks would dig into it a bit more, but his character lacked depth as well.

The book initiated with a promising start, capturing my attention with a gripping narrative. But the initial momentum wavers as the story progresses, and the plot encounters periods of monotony. Just when I hoped for a resurgence, the pace quickened again, leading to a conclusion that, regrettably, falls short of satisfaction. The ending seemed rushed, and left me with a sense of disappointment.

The story oscillates between engaging and dull moments culminating in an ultimately dissatisfying ending. Though enjoyable, the predictability of certain twists holds it back, so I would give it a modest 3-star rating.

Despite its shortcomings, the novel is enjoyable. The swift pace and intermittent thrills make it a worthy contender in the thriller genre.

A thriller told through two different perspectives. This is a story of revenge and coming into your own. There are some twists that I did find predictable, but the journey was still so fun to read.

“If my father hadn’t chased me that day, the trajectory of my life would have been totally different.”

Miranda had me hooked from the beginning with her beautiful flow of words. I love an author that can set your feelings on edge through text.

Leonie has been through a lot in life and because of that she feels indebted to others. She has a sweet demeanor and wants to think the best of everyone, including those she shouldn’t.

I immediately got creepy vibes from Markus Klausen as his and Leonie’s relationship takes off in a whirlwind. Aside from that, learning his connection to her past and his manipulative personality just made it even worse.

When Carrie (Denise) is introduced I immediately felt a kinship towards her, until her disgusting tendencies started to be portrayed. I just wanted Leonie to run. And she should have after all is said and done.
Everything Carrie wanted in life and lost, Leonie seemed to get. But whatever Carrie wanted and lost, she was bound to make Leonie lose it all…and even more.

The ending was a bit of a shock with all that was happening with Leonie’s father, mother and best friend, but it didn’t take away from the story. When it’s all said and done, I am so proud of Leonie for standing on her own two feet and finding her own way of life. Lord knows that takes courage.

I haven’t read a ton of thrillers lately, but this one has me reaching for more.

Ive loved all of miranda Rijks previous book and this was no exception, thanks to net galley and the publishers for this copy.

Leonie killed someone as a teenager and her father covered it up as he didnt want it to affect his successful business.

Fast forward 10 years and leonine meets Markus and they decide to get married, when things strt happening to sabotage the wedding, leonie wonders if her past is catching up with her

4 stars

I discovered Rijks this year, and she has found a fan! I plan on reading all of her books. This was another great book by Rijks. There were a few twists and turns in the book that I didn’t see coming. I have been struggling with thrillers lately, and this one (as well as another one) has brought back my love of thrillers!

I don’t know how Rijks does it, but the way that she writes makes you believe the characters until you find out that maybe they aren’t such great people. I was right along with Leonie. Even knowing as a reader someone wanted to make her pay, I feel like I was blind to who it was as well!

The atmosphere in this book was also really great. Between the description of the scene locations and the suspense within some of those scenes, I was kept on the edge of my seat needing to figure out how it was all going to end.

I was so immersed in this story for a few hours I kind of forgot everything else in my life.
What an easy 5 star rating! What a wonderful ride! Everything was perfect and engaging, everything!
It is told from Carrie and Leonie’s POV, but I particularly enjoyed reading Leonie’s. I was always rooting for her. She was a really likeable character. All her thoughts were genuine, despite what she did. She may have become my favourite character to read in 2023, along with the story.

Oh, and I didn’t fail to notice the Easter egg of The Lodge by the end!

Wow! Psychological thriller with revenge! Can’t ask for much more. The two main characters are likeable despite the crimes they’ve committed. The stories come together and reveal more information about a third of the way through and it’s a doozy! Miranda Rijks is a fantastic author and this book is one of her best!