Such a good read. Lots of twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Not an author I have heard of before but would definitely read another.
A few typo's here and there and at one point a name change but other than that a good book.

Sadly really didn’t enjoy this book.
The writing didn’t grab me, it was just uncomfortable.
Found the characters frustrating and a little unrealistic, I just don’t think this one is for me.
The story around the friendship of Saffy and Leona I thought would be interesting, but I couldn’t relate.
I’m sure that there are many out there who love this book!!
Thank you NetGalley for the early read.

Overall 4.5 stars.
While Saffy attends a very important job interview she receives 3 disturbing text messages from her best friend Leona.
Can't speak...Don't text or call....Please just come.
But after recieving these messages it is followed by..
This message was deleted...This message was deleted...This message was deleted.
Saffy leaves her job interview to go to Leona's home, who doesn't know anything about these messages. Only to find hours later the police turn up at Saffys door to inform her that Leona and her family are now missing.
And Saffy was the last one to see her..

I enjoy this authors work. When I got this Advanced readers copy I was so excited to start it.
Written in multiple POV and timeline.
Twist after twist that had my heart racing. A good thriller with some creepy moments and lots of shocking twists that had me on the edge of my seat and jaw to the floor.

I highly recommend this book to others who enjoy psychological thrillers with shocking twists along the way. A good suspense read.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good but frustrating book to read. The characters were well written and the plot was clever. However, the central character Saffy, did some very stupid things that made me either want to shout or stop reading. I did finish the book, but it was touch and go!

Message Deleted by K. L. Slater is a thriller with a compelling premise. While the plot is well-constructed and free of major holes, the predictability of the red herrings diminishes the suspense. The obviousness of who isn’t guilty makes it relatively easy to deduce the actual culprit early on, which detracts from the tension that a thriller should maintain.

The characters in Message Deleted are a mixed bag. Some are insufferably shallow, with limited personality traits and motivations, making it hard to connect with them or find their actions believable.

Despite these flaws, K. L. Slater’s talent as an author shines through in her ability to craft a coherent storyline. While Message Deleted may not be her best work, it still is a decent read for fans of psychological thrillers. If a reader wants something that isn't too mentally taxing this is for you. Fans of Slater might still find it worth a read, even if it doesn't quite match the levels of her other novels.

A slow burner but still a good thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep you gripped.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Saffy is a data manager, late thirties, divorced. Polly (21) is her sister, currently a university student. Their parents are dead and Saffy promised her mother that she would always keep Polly safe. Three years ago Saffy saved Polly when she was being attacked; Polly seems to have got over this but Saffy was traumatised and had a breakdown. A consequence of this is that her ex-husband, Neil, has sole custody of their young son, Fox, and lets her have very limited access. Saffy should have been able to rely on her lifelong friend, Leona, for support but they are not so close anymore (although Saffy is godmother to Leona’s young daughter, Rosie) and we are given to suspect that this is down to Leona’s husband, Ash, who may be coercively controlling his wife. Nevertheless, when Saffy receives three short texts from Leona, which are instantly deleted, she rushes round only to find that Leona knows nothing of the messages. Saffy leaves and goes off to collect her son from school (she has a two-hour window with him on Thursdays) and takes him home for dinner with her and Polly. Two hours later, two police detectives turn up and tell her that Ash, Leona and Rosie have all disappeared, leaving the house unlocked and dinner over-cooking in the oven. As the last person to see them, Saffy is a person of interest, and is whisked off to the police station leaving Polly and Fox abandoned on the pavement as the house is searched. Saffy is soon the chief suspect.
To enjoy any work of fiction requires what Coleridge called “the willing suspension of disbelief”. This applies particularly to murder-mysteries and thrillers. The plot is likely to be intrinsically implausible and some of the characters will behave irrationally, riskily, stupidly, or duplicitously, but the reader must be able to believe that these events are real, that these characters are behaving in ways consistent with what they will eventually be revealed to be. I struggled to believe the story which unfolds here, there are too many anomalous actions which I can’t describe because they would all be spoilers. However, as an example, I have noted above some actions by the police which would not happen. The initial premise of the plot is that messages were sent then deleted so that Saffy could not prove they were the reason she went to the house. This is quite difficult to do and the police would have been able to recover them from Saffy’s phone. Leaving aside these various anomalies, the plot is quite interesting, there are a number of twists which are surprising, the final solution is sensible and there is a good level of tension. The final exposition is, I felt, unnecessarily long. So it’s a not bad plot, undemanding as a casual read, with a lot of anomalous behaviours. I’m giving it 3 stars as a round up from something like 2.75.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Saffy and her younger sister Poppy were victims of something almost 3 years ago that we (the reader) read on to find out, whatever happened then plays a part in what is happening now. After the loss of both their parents Saffy raised Poppy and went on to marry Neil and have a son Fox. Now estranged from her husband and worried about her best friend Leona and her abusive marriage, Saffy feels her mental health spiralling. She receives 3 messages from Leona;
Can’t speak
Don’t text or call
Please come
The messages are quickly deleted and After Saffy races to the house leona denies all knowledge of sending them but a few hours later Leona,, her husband and daughter are all missing without a trace.

This kicked off well but then was a bit of a slow burn I found but then once the twists start dropping it becomes much more intense and I really couldn’t work out where it was going. This is a whodunnit, psychological thriller that will keep you guessing. The story weaves together in past and present from the pov of Saffy, Poppy and Leona and it’s easy to follow with good character build up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC in exchange for my honest review

This was a great read. I never knew who to trust - it felt like the unreliable narrative was going well, this is the first I’ve read by this author. Thank you for the opportunity

I’ve read a few Kim Slater books and the premise is always good. Unfortunately the writing lets it down. Formulaic, implausible story lines and un likeable characters. This is ok as a beach read to pass the time but if you’re looking for something more substantial then look elsewhere. I’ll pass on any further books by this author

You get a text from a lifelong friend of course you are going to respond.
This book will have you wanting to get to the end the main character Saffy and her story will have you gripped. The interactions between those who are close to her and those who are not will make you have goosebumps at time. The story starts to unravel and you see why she acts like she does near the end a few twists could be tied up quicker but the detective in you and trying to solve problems will not see the twists coming .
I definitely would recommend this thriller it is a good read and will have you hooked even though I have never read this author before.

This was an engaging thriller which had twists and turns all the way to the end. I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable but it was still a good read nonetheless.

An enjoyable and well written twisty thriller. I felt by the end there were maybe a few too many coincidences and tenuous links, but it kept me reading until the end.
Thank you to netgalley and Michael Joseph for an advance copy of this book.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

Great book with lots of twists and turns along the way. Had no idea what to expect, very enjoyable gripping read

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an engaging read from the start. Slater carefully weaved past and present together creating an intriguing narrative which culminated in an unexpected but well thought out conclusion.

First time reading this author and just loved this book, so many twists and turns. The story has good characters that draw you in. And keeps you guessing till the end.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and publisher Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House | Michael Joseph for the early read

Saffron Morris (Saffy to her friends) is about to go into an important interview when she gets three WhatsApp messages in quick succession from her best friend Leona.

Can’t speak…

Don’t text or call…

Please just come …

But just as quickly as they arrived, the messages are deleted.

Saffy is torn, does she go into the interview? Or should she go straight to Leona and check on her welfare?

Despite her need for the job, she does what any friend would do, calls a cab and goes straight to Leona’s. When she gets there, her friend insists everything is fine. Saffy can’t help but feel something is a little off, though she can’t put her finger on exactly what.

Hours later she’s at home with her young son Fox and her sister Poppy when there’s a knock at the door.

It’s the Police..

And they want to speak with Saffy as she was the last person to see Leona. Who is now apparently missing with her husband Ash and young daughter Rosie.

Saffy is now a 'person of interest' in their investigation. She knows she has done nothing wrong, so why does she feel like they don't believe a single word she says? And where on earth are Leona and her family?

I've not read a K.L. Slater novel in a little while, and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this author. This is very clever, with lots of twists to keep you guessing.

K. L. Slater’s Message Deleted is a gripping psychological thriller that expertly delves into the darkest corners of human behavior, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

Slater’s writing is taut and compelling, with a narrative that moves at a brisk pace. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, each one more shocking than the last. Slater masterfully builds suspense, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. The tension is palpable, and the sense of impending doom keeps readers hooked.

The characters are well-drawn and multi-dimensional.

In conclusion, Message Deleted is a thrilling, fast-paced read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and suspense novels. K. L. Slater has crafted a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, with a compelling protagonist and a plot that keeps readers guessing until the very end. It’s a must-read for anyone looking for a book that combines suspense, mystery, and psychological insight.

With twists and turns a plenty, you will not see this ending coming!
The author definitely knows how to draw you in and keep you guessing right up until the end. You won’t want to put this one down as you wonder just what will happen next!
All in all a fast paced read that will have you questioning all the characters, is everyone as they seem, or do they all have secrets to hide??

All the players here are hiding something.
This book is a slow burner that builds to a gripping, tense finale, and the author then treats us to a few more chapters that nicely tie up all the loose ends.
Here, we have classic examples from males of coercive control and narcissism. All the female characters initially seem weak and pre-occupied, but we eventually see their inner strength shine through.
Everyone is hiding something and/or not telling the truth about a variety of incidents, particularly those that occurred in the past.
It took me a while to get into this book, and I seriously wondered where it was going at one stage. I'm glad that I stuck with it. This is a multilayered story that definitely has made a lasting impact on me.