Narrated by Natalie and Stratton, when Natalie’s husband is accused of rape and murder, Stratton leads the investigation. Whilst Natalie is determined to process the trauma of her own rape, Stratton’s work ethic as a police officer is driven by the disappearance of her sister thirty years ago.
Events have personal impacts on both women, resulting in them questioning who they believe.

Believe is a compelling story with plenty of twists, begging the reader to read between the lines. I enjoyed the split narrative and thought it worked well to give insight to both characters. However, I feel like the author overworked facets of the characters’ personalities, which I found made them a bit unrealistic. I found Natalie quite naive in places whereas I think Stratton seemed a bit too sceptical. Alice was an interesting contrast of traits but I wasn’t quite convinced by her character. I enjoyed the pace along with the twists and turns, and whilst I was convinced towards the end, I was thoroughly got. Overall, I think Believe is a solid thriller for crime fans.

Believe is a stunning debut that I raced through over the course of 24 hours. It’s both a police procedural and a psychological thriller told from the point of view of Natalie and DI Helen Stratton. Natalie is experiencing PTSD after being assaulted 10 years ago by her boss who was found innocent by a jury. When her husband Ryan is accused of a similar crime by a work colleague, Natalie does not know who to believe when the work colleague is later found murdered,
This is a gripping and well paced novel that kept me guessing throughout with the many twists and turns. The characters of Natalie and Helen are both believable and I was completely drawn into their personal stories.
A compelling read and I can’t wait to read more from the author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC,

There were so many twists and turns in this thriller that I was kept guessing almost to the end.
It was pacy, written well and with an interesting array of characters.
I liked the way it was written from the perspective of two characters.
An exciting debut novel from this author and I will look forward to reading their next book.

An excellent well written debut thriller from AN Govett. A real page turner with a great twist at the end. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Michael joesph,Penguin Random House foran advanced copy to enjoy. This story was so well written it was gripping from the start and unputdownable! I devoured it in three sittings. The boll was written in two main characters Natalie and Stratton points of view. The twists kept coming and the ending was astounding!

A real page turner of a book. it would makexa great tv mystery miniseries. Ideal vacation read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy

A woman who has been assaulted by her boss 10 years earlier and has blackouts, Her husband now accused of the same crime. A twisty and turny journey following the police conduct their investigation, whatever you think is going on turns out to be someone or something different. A fast paced thriller that I would recommend.

S.M. Govett’s Believe hooked me from the very first page with its smooth prose and compelling narrative voice. The premise alone is gripping—Natalie, still grappling with PTSD and trauma-induced blackouts after a past assault, finds her world upended when her husband is accused of the same crime. The emotional stakes are high from the outset, and the tension only tightens from there.

Told in dual first-person POV—Natalie and DI Helen Stratton—this structure works so well. Their voices are distinct and deeply authentic, pulling you emotionally into the story. Natalie’s vulnerability and uncertainty are raw and relatable, while Stratton’s fierce determination and complex personal history add grit and depth. Together, they create a perfectly balanced and emotionally driven narrative.

The pacing is excellent. This is one of those rare thrillers that’s consistently engaging from start to finish. The suspense builds steadily before shifting into a full-blown “what is going on?” and “who did it?” kind of story that kept me guessing. Each chapter ends with just enough tension to make you want to keep going, and I did. There are secrets, red herrings, and just the right amount of twists to keep you fully invested without ever feeling gimmicky.

What sets Believe apart is how cleverly it’s constructed—not just in plot, but in character. Natalie’s psychological struggle felt so genuine, and her desperate need to trust the man she loves was heartbreaking. Stratton, on the other hand, is tough, flawed, sometimes unlikable, and completely fascinating. Her rigid perceptions make her both a liability and an asset to the investigation, and the author does a brilliant job of showing exactly why she is the way she is.

This is more than just a good thriller—it’s a smart, emotionally rich, character-driven novel that left a real impression on me. I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a series, because I’d follow Stratton through any investigation.

Highly recommend for fans of twisty, thought-provoking psychological thrillers that still manage to feel human.

Following the sexual assault by her boss, Natalie Campbell suffers from PTSD, this causes blackouts where she loses time, from minutes to hours. Natalie had struggled since her boss was found not guilty. By splitting her days into segments, she copes as best she can, with the support of her husband, Ryan.

When Ryan tells Natalie that he has been accused of rape by one of his work colleagues, Natalie struggles. Why would any woman say she’s been raped if it isn’t true? How could her husband possibly be accused of rape by one of his colleagues , when he has been so supportive to her following her rape?

DI Helen Stratton is investigating the accusation against Ryan. She is carrying the weight of her own problems, the loss of her sister, who disappeared one day and hasn’t been seen since.

The story is told with dual narration between Natalie and DI Stratton.

This is a dark and intense story. My heart went out to Natalie, and also to DI Stratton. Both flawed but likeable characters.

A gritty and twisting tale that kept me changing my mind on a frequent basis! The story was not what I was expecting at all.

My thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

A superb debut thriller. I was engrossed in this book from start to finish. The tension increased throughout the story. Several times I changed my mind as to who to believe. I did not see that ending coming at all! Look forward to reading more by this author

This book was really good. I believe it is the author's first book so I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was well written with plenty of surprises! The characterisation was great, they all had their flaws which made for an interesting story. Better than some of the average thrillers out there just now, I hope the author does well. Just when you think it is obvious what is going on, the perspective completely changes. Great read.

The market for psychological thrillers is, to say the least, crowded and it’s difficult now to write one that feels a little different to everything else and that can still surprise you. Believe, by S. M. Govett, manages to do that with bells on.

It tells the story of an accusation of rape from the viewpoint of the wife of the accused and the female detective inspector who is investigating. The premise can there be described in one sentence but that’s only because I don’t want to give any spoilers. There are so many layers to the story, so many twists and turns, everyone seems suspicious and the pace is relentless from the first page to the last. The chapters alternate between the characters and are short and gripping so it’s impossible to put down.

The story easily works as a standalone novel but I would be interested to see more of DI Stratton in the future. The story is the absolute focus of the book but her situation and character are very well written and could make an excellent series.
Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review. I have posted the review to Waterstones and Goodreads and will add it to Amazon on publication day.

My thanks to Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Believe’ written by S M Govett in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Ten years ago Natalie Campbell was raped by her boss Gavin Scott who was later acquitted in court but died the following day. Since then she’s received threatening notes that she believes to have been sent by his wife Fiona Scott. Meanwhile, DI Helen Stratton is investigating the discovery of the body of Alice Lytton who earlier made accusations against Natalie’s husband Ryan and although he swears his innocence Natalie doesn’t know whether to believe him.

‘Believe’ is a gripping psychological thriller that although slow to get going soon speeds up until it’s been impossible to put my Kindle down even for a moment. The narrative is told by DI Helen Stratton and Natalie Campbell who alternately tell the story from their own perspectives and the further I got into the story the greater the number of possible suspects appear until it’s incredibly difficult to tell who can be trusted and who can’t. This thriller, the first I’ve read by this author, is action-packed with drama and suspense while crammed full of twists and turns, with a conclusion that was totally unexpected. I can definitely recommend it for readers who want to lose themselves in an excellent thriller.

Wow! This book surpassed my expectations; just when I thought I had it all figured out, I found out I really hadn’t. This had me wide eyed with surprise and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a twisty psychological thriller.

Absolutely brilliant!! Fast paced and gripping psychological thriller! Told from two povs! Thank you for the opportunity to read this prior to release

I found this book impossible to second guess. I had no idea who the murderer was until it was revealed at the end. If there were clues throughout the story, I certainly didn’t pick up on them and the red herrings threw me off the scent completely.
It’s fair to say that I loved this story!

The first crime novel by this author had my interest from the very beginning . The story is told by two narrators one of whose is the lead detective , Stratton,and the other , Natalie, the wife a man accused of rape.
As the investigation into the accusation continues the couples life gradually disintegrates and we learn more about the detectives life
The characters are well described and believable and we are drawn into their lives wanting to know more
It is extremely well written and plotted and led me to some false conclusions before the final surprising reveal..
I hope this is the start of a new series and if so will definitely want to read more

Wow!! That was such a gripping read. The story had so many layers. I genuinely had no clue who was behind everything until it was revealed, then my mouth dropped to the floor.
I felt a lot of sympathy for Natalie and really liked Stratton too. They were both very likeable characters, in my opinion.
Govett is definitely an author I'll read more of.

Absolutely brilliant!

S.M. Govett’s Believe engaged me from the very first page, with smooth prose and an engaging narrative voice. The clever setup—where Natalie, still haunted by a traumatic assault and struggling with PTSD-induced blackouts, faces the unimaginable when her husband is accused of the same crime—was immediately intense and emotionally compelling. And then the author layers in super use of dual first-person POV first Natalie and then DI Helen Stratton; their voices felt authentic and added not only real depth to the story but are also responsible for bringing the reader emotionally into the story so well. Natalie’s vulnerability and doubt paired with Stratton’s determination and personal history made for a powerful narrative balance.

The pace was ex-cell-ent! Not all thrillers are like this, at least not uniformly from start to finish.as this book is. The story started with a well-pace suspenseful build before shifting gear into a super “what-the-frack-is going-on” and “who-the-frack-dunnit” thriller that I could only put down when my eyes tired out and I switched to an audiobook. Every chapter ended with enough tension to keep me eagerly turning the pages. The plot was multi-layered with secrets, red herrings, and possible twists (or not!) that kept me guessing until the very end.

I’m not going to tell you where in the book this stuck me, if only because you might find more than one, but there is an absolutely brilliant “FXXK ME!” moment. Let’s just say I’m glad I wasn’t on a train when that moment arrived!

What raises this thriller way above what I would call the normal, effective and enjoyable thriller is not only is it very clever and the pages turn so easily but also the characters are super—brilliantly constructed, in particular the two MCs. Natalie’s struggle with trauma and her desperate need to believe in the man she loves felt raw and real. DI Stratton’s backstory and fierce commitment to justice gave the story an emotional weight that elevated it beyond a typical thriller. Their alternating viewpoints created a dynamic that made the story feel alive and urgent.

I loved how Stratton has very definite perceptions, which make her both a liability and a key player in the investigation and also make her at times prejudiced and unlikable. The author is clever enough to organically seed precisely why she is so; though you may not always like her, you will certainly be engaged by her.

Believe is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller with a gripping plot, engaging characters, and a pace that never lets up. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys twisty, character-driven thrillers with emotional depth. I’m really looking forward to more from this author and hoping this is the start of a possible series. Oh, and that cover (not the one on Goodreads but the one being used for publication), how brilliant is that?!

Thank you to the author and the publisher, and to NetGalley the opportunity to devour this ARC with glee from the first page to the last.

Believe is a fast paced psychological thriller that had me hooked from the start.
The story is told from two perspectives, Natalie, a rape survivor struggling with blackouts, and DI Helen Stratton, a tough detective with her own troubled past. I enjoyed the dual narration, which added depth and kept the tension high throughout the book.
When Natalie’s husband is accused of the same crime that once tore her life apart, the story becomes even more intense. As a murder investigation unfolds, secrets are revealed, and nothing is as it seems. I kept guessing who the real culprit was, and the final twist genuinely surprised me and the overall plot and pacing were really strong. I’m excited to read more from this author in the future
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own