I thought it was an enjoyable thriller with an intriguing story and lots of subplots vaguely mentioned to keep you guessing where they fit into the plot. None of the characters are particularly likeable but their flaws I think are the point of the story.

I’ve never ready a K L Slater book but I will definitely read more in the future after reading this!

An intriguing plot line but a bit too unbelievable as regards the characters and police handling of the main event. None of the characters are particularly likeable but it's a serviceable thriller.

This is such a tense and exciting read, I instantly felt for Saffy a character who puts others before her own needs. The plot builds slowly as Saffy tries to help her best friend whilst dealing with a controlling (IMO) ex. I was dubious of most of the characters and felt they was all out to get her, even thinking Leona was a tad attention seeking.

I loved the different timelines and character development, especially the blast from the past! This is an exciting read and worth adding to your TBR!

"Your best friend begged for your help.
Then the message vanished.
And so did she..."

This is the story of Saffy who is trying to get her life back on track after numerous traumas and set backs, when she gets a message off her best friend, Can’t speak . . . don’t text or call . . . please just come , but then the message is deleted. Confused and worried for her friend Saffy rushes around, to find everything is fine with the household, to later discover she is the last person to visit the family before they go missing, and she is the police's number one suspect...

What a story line and how it unfolds is very clever and keeps you reading and gripped to the end, switching between the characters pasts and present day in a really clear way, the story weaving is great.

There weren't too many characters and they're introduced in away that I was able to keep track of the story without distraction and of course given it is a suspenseful thriller, there are some unsavoury characters, but all feel very real and fleshed out.

I did want to shout at some of the decisions that Saffy was making, but all were relevant and moved the story on and helped other parts of the story unfold.

A gripping read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up

This is my first K L Slater book but I doubt it will be my last.
This one was a bit of a slow burn with all of the action happening near the end although you do get to know the characters very well throughout the book. There were plenty of twists and turns some which I did see coming others which I didn’t.
This one is told from several points of view but is very easy to follow.
If you’re looking for a slow burn this one is for you.

'Message Deleted' follows Saffy, who gets three messages from her friend Leona which are quickly deleted. Later that day her friend goes missing. The police think Saffy is involved, and she's thrown directly into the mystery. The book starts off slow and I found it hard to get into, but it picks up later on.

Saffy’s actions sometimes feel unrealistic, and the way the police handle things doesn’t always make sense. These parts can pull you out of the story. Still, there are a few twists, even if you can see them coming, that keep things interesting.

Overall, 'Message Deleted' is a decent read but not a page-turner. The slow beginning and some unbelievable parts are balanced out by a more exciting second half and a good ending. If you stick with it, you might find it an enjoyable mystery.

Really really enjoyed this story line. Easy to understand then it jumps from timelines to what happened previously. Great twist.

A tense but enjoyable read - I raced through it and enjoyed the build up to the unexpected conclusion. Some not altogether likeable characters but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. Recommended.

A suspenseful thriller about disjointed relationships and revenge. Told across multiple POVs and timelines which adds to the intrigue. Keeps you guessing how the pieces fit together and drip feeds reveals throughout. A great cast of characters and a fitting ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and KL Slater for allowing me to read this ARC.

I was so excited for this book as i love the author! this book did not disappoint at all! It was Erie throughout and plenty of twists of who was the bad guy!! Great thriller! really recommend!

You get a message from your best friend. Come now. Don’t talk. I’m in danger. Of course, you go. You have your suspicions and you’re worried. But when you get there, everything’s fine - and what’s more, the messages have been deleted and there’s no trace of them on her phone.

But the messages meant something, because only hours later the police are at the door. The whole family is gone, there’s blood on the floor and a knife from your kitchen block is missing.

I enjoyed the book, it was gripping with plenty of enticing storylines twisting in and out. I have to admit I was suspicious of the main character, Saffy right until the end. Perhaps there was a little too much about their past that needed to be revealed for the story to make sense, but on the other hand that’s the style of this genre and it’s exactly this which leaves you guessing.

All in all, a good read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Saffy and Leona are lifelong friends. Saffy receives 3 messages from Leona... can't speak...don't text or call...please just come. Suddenly The messages are deleted. Saffy runs desperately to help her friend. Leona claims to be fine, yet 6 hours later Leona, her daughter and husband are missing. Saffy is the last to see them. A tense story unfolds. Highlighting the power of love, family and friendships. With plenty of twists to keep you guessing this is a gripping read. Thank you Netgalley for my ARC.

Saffy and Leona have been friends since school. While waiting for a job interview one day, Saffy receives messages from Leona saying she needs help. Before Saffy can reply, the messages are deleted. Worried and confused, Saffy heads straight to Leona's house, but Leona claims to have no knowledge of the messages. Then Leona, her husband, and her young daughter, all disappear, and Saffy is the last known person to have seen them. With the police seemingly convinced that Saffy knows more than she's letting on, time is running out for her to discover the truth.

This is one of those books that captures your attention right from the start. I finished it in less than a day, because I just could not put it down. There's plenty of twists and turns, not too many characters to keep track of, and the story is woven together masterfully. I haven't read a K. L. Slater book in a few years, and I had forgotten how much I really enjoy her writing style. This one is a must read for all thriller lovers. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️ from me!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author so far but this one has to be one of my favourites by her!!

The book was full of juicy drama and twists, so many jaw dropping moments!

If you’re after a fast-paced and gripping thriller, I’d highly recommend this one!!

Thank you K. L. Slater, NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Saffy is trying to get her life on track. She has an interview and is waiting to be called in when she receives a text from her best friend.
Its a text that leaves her worried and she walks out of the interview but the message is then deleted.
She turns up at her friends house who denies any knowledge of texting her.
But later that night Her friend, husband and daughter go missing and Saffy is the last person known to have seen them.
However, everyone has a secret to keep and Saffy is determined to find them.

A middle of the road thriller for me. A lot of interwoven subplots that finished in the big plot reveal.
None of the characters are likeable and while they all have redemption arcs, I still didn't feel like any of them were good people.

It was twisty and did keep you guessing though.

I really enjoyed this book, didn’t expect the twists! I read it quite quick and it was easy to get into. This was my first book from this Author and it won’t be the last! This got me out my book slump.

Not the best book from this author. Slow burner. Police procedure far fetched. It did have some twists and turns to keep me reading. Just ok. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This was my first KL Slater book that I have read and it won't my last. The story begins with Saffy Morris going to a job interview, whilst she's there she receives 3 messages and after she has read them, they disappear. She decides to take action and go round to where her best friend Lorna lives with her husband Ash and her daughter Rosie. She arrives to find them celebrating Ash's promotion. A few hours later, all is not what seems at Lorna's home and this is when Saffy is seen as a prime suspect in the family going missing. Saffy is determined to find out why. The story is told over multiple time lines and through different character's points of view. All the secrets, lies and with a handful of surprises lead to a satisfying conclusion,

I’m afraid I have my harsh hat on…

This book didn’t fill me with an urgency to read on, I didn’t get that feeling of ‘oh just one more chapter before I put it down!’.

The first half lacked the spirit to carry it through to the end.
I found it entirely unrealistic - why would the police think one woman had anything to do with the disappearance of a whole family in the space of a short amount of time without anyone seeing?

There was also an element of trying too hard to make us feel like we were in the recollections of previous events. I don’t think mentions of Barcardi Breezers and Snake was wholly necessary?

You couldn’t back any of the characters. It felt like there was a sinister element to everyone.

The drama feels misplaced. The emphasis was placed on wrong things. For example there was a quick action ending within 1 short chapter but then there was a drawn out ending after this, with explanations I’m sure we had all inferred ourselves at the point.
But also, why wasn’t the whole ‘Bobby’ thing explained?!

I’m afraid this book was just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.