I loved this novel. The plotting is superb and the characters convincing. The story is told from the POVs of Natalie and Detective Stratton. Both women have suffered traumatic events in their past. Natalie is still suffering from blackouts and receives hate mail. I was gripped by the twists, turns and red herrings. The knockout ending was the icing on the cake. This author is one to watch.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Believe Me Now is a thriller about a woman, Natalie, who’s dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic experience from 10 years ago. Now, her husband is being accused of the same crime, and even though they’ve been together for 14 years, she’s struggling to believe or trust him. As more evidence piles up against him, her doubts only grow.

The story is told from two points of view—Natalie’s and Stratton’s. Stratton’s got her own issues going on, which adds an interesting layer to the plot. I really liked the dynamic between her and her new partner, ‘Fast track’ DC Bradley. They’re total opposites, which makes their interactions fun to read.

The story starts off a bit slow, but it’s mostly setting up the characters and their backstories, so you can feel the tension building. Once it picks up, it’s fast-paced with a few twists and turns that kept me guessing about who really did it. There are definitely some surprises along the way.

All in all, Believe Me Now is an engaging read with great characters and a solid mix of suspense and mystery. If you’re into thrillers that keep you on your toes, this one’s worth checking out.

Brilliant. I couldn't work out how this one was going to be resolved.

Compelling, well-written, and with a great (and wonderfully opinionated) central character, this novel will grip you to the end.

A triumph!

Wow. After quite a slow start the storyline exploded. Who to believe, who not to believe. So many suspects, so many motives. It was quite a whirlwind, and the last 10% when everything became abundantly clear was brilliant. Well written, excellent plot, well told. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Another author to add to the list to look out for.

I was really impressed with this debut novel. The writing style felt very accomplished and the world building was brilliant. The book had me hooked - when I wasn't reading it, I wanted to be, and what more can you ask for from a book than that.

The only thing that bothered me slightly is that I did guess the perpetrator very early on, but I think this is just because of the sheer amount of thrillers I read, I can see from other reviews that many readers found the twist surprising. Regardless, I did think the clues throughout the book were very good and I enjoyed following them.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book.

Believe is a gripping psychological thriller that explores trauma, trust and the haunting nature of the past. The story follows Natalie, a woman whose life has been shattered by being assaulted by her boss and the jury's decision to declare him innocent, branding her a liar. Ten years later, the past still looms over her, leaving her in a constant state of fear, uncertainty and fractured memories.

The author expertly delves into the psychological toll of being gaslighted and disbelieved, capturing Natalie’s internal struggle as she tries to piece together the truth from the fog of her mind. The complexity of her character is captivating, as she tries to move forward while the shadows of the past threaten to consume her. The sense of isolation is palpable, and you can feel the weight of her emotional scars as she attempts to block out memories that continue to intrude.

However, just when Natalie seems to be finding some semblance of normalcy with her husband, Ryan, the story takes a chilling turn. Ryan is accused of the same crime, and the discovery of a murdered woman near their home sends Natalie into a spiral of distrust and doubt. The tension builds as she faces the terrifying realization that her own perception of reality may no longer be reliable. The question of who can be trusted—her husband, herself, or even the truth—becomes central to the story’s unnerving atmosphere.

The pacing of the novel is relentless, with each chapter pulling you deeper into the complex mystery. Just when you think you have everything figured out, there is another twist that keeps you on edge until the very last page.

Believe is a compelling exploration of memory, perception, and the painful search for truth. The storytelling is dark and immersive, with vivid characters and a plot that keeps you questioning who the real villain is. It’s a thought-provoking and emotional journey that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a captivating thriller written from the points of view of two strong women.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and enjoyed the twists and turns that were woven throughout the book. It gripped me throughout, and I changed my mind about the culprit several times. Recommended.

Thoroughly enjoyable read. I couldn’t work out who’d done it and changed my mind several times. I agree with other reviewers that the reveal was a bit rushed but actually it was a good twist and I enjoyed it. Recommended.

A twisty, dark thriller. Told from the POV of two women.

There is Natalie, who ten years previously had been raped by her boss, though he was found not guilty at trial. The subsequent trauma caused her to suffer blackouts and the inability to trust anyone, along with with feelings of paranoia. All these years later, Natalie is still a troubled soul, and although the symptoms of her PTSD had eased, they are now back with a vengeance.

Then there is Helen, a hard working DI, who takes no flak from anyone. With a troubled past she feels constantly under pressure and doesn’t always make the best personal life choices. When her older sister Karen went missing thirty years ago, the police investigation was basic at best. On joining the police Helen has made it her life’s work to find out what happened to her sister and is determined to leave no stone unturned despite the affect it has on her mental and work status.

This story had great potential. A twisty plot line, troubled characters and more than a few red herrings. What let the story down was the character Helen. Whilst we were meant to get that she was a hard nosed, unflinching police officer, what actually came across was that she was arrogant and rude, disregarding anyone who is not working class. For Helen, if you didn’t come off the “estate” you were posh, pretentious and pompous with a ridiculous accent. Talk about reverse snobbery!! A terribly cynical character with a bit fat greasy chip on her shoulder. Her constant foul mouth, even when thinking to herself, was unnecessary and added nothing to the story.

Good plot, well told with an interesting though not entirely unexpected ending. Such a shame about the characterisation.

2.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House.

This is a captivating thriller written from the points of view of two strong, female characters, Natalie and Helen Stratton. Through their narratives we learn a lot about their backstories. One a hardened detective who has been searching for her sister that went missing when she was a child, the other a traumatised rape victim who has been let down by the judicial system.

These two women’s worlds collide when Stratton is assigned a new case in which Natalie’s husband is a suspect.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and enjoyed the twists and turns that were so cleverly woven. I found myself constantly changing my mind as to who the guilty party was. This book was well written with great character development and a plot that made me keep turning pages.

The only let down of this book for me was the big ‘reveal’ at the end. I felt it was rushed and not quite believable. The ending is what has held me back from giving this book 5 stars.

Having said that I would definitely be happy to read another book from this author.

I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

‘Believe’ by SM Govett is a multi-layered psychological thriller which introduces us to Natalie and her husband, Ryan. Their relationship is under enough pressure as they deal with the fallout from the sexual assault carried out on Natalie a decade ago but things take a turn for the worse when Natalie is sent threatening anonymous notes linked to the crime. And then, on top of this, Ryan betrays her trust.

Soon it’s clear that the police are interested in Ryan. His assistant has disappeared after telling HR that Ryan has raped her. DS Stratton and DC Bradley – a chalk and cheese pairing – arrive to arrest Ryan and Natalie is left bereft.

The novel is told from the perspectives of Natalie and DS Helen Stratton and we learn plenty about their back stories as they try to understand what is going on. It’s a well told tale but I found the ‘big reveal’ entirely unbelievable and, at the same time, disappointingly predictable. Reviews suggest that ‘Believe’ will be avidly read but I just can’t concur with all the 5* ratings.

My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

A tense, twisty and enjoyable debut written from two female POV, both with their own trauma which informs every decision they make.

DS Stratton became a detective after her sister's disappearance was dismissed by the local police. Now, decades on, she still hopes that one day she will find out what happened to her sister and achieve closure. Meanwhile Natalie takes life one day at a time. Ten years earlier she was raped by her boss, who was then found Not Guilty in court. Branded a liar, Natalie suffers from PTSD, her husband Ryan and best friend Rachel her only confidants. So when Ryan is accused of rape Natalie has no idea what to think. On the one hand he is her husband and she trusts him, on the other she knows what it is like to be disbelieved and discounted. It doesn't help that the poison pen letters she received straight after the trial have restarted and she is once again experiencing blackouts.

I worked out what was going on pretty much from the start and wondered if we were supposed to, because even with that suspicion throughout, the book still felt extremely tense with a very uncertain outlook, but reading other reviews it seems as if the final twist was a complete surprise to many, one saying they felt it came out of nowhere. I still raced to the end of this page turner, but losing that element of surprise (it really did feel quite obvious) took away some of the enjoyment. Still worth a read for anyone who enjoys crime.

4-5 stars rounded up

Another letter arrives for Natalie. Two unpleasant words. She struggles greatly with anxiety following a trauma 10 years ago and Natalie knows they’ll be another letter because she’s still out there. When her husband Ryan is accused of the same crime that causes all Natalie‘s issues, she wants to believe he’s innocent, but can she?

Ooh la la, this is a cracking debut and most definitely a novel that’s right up my street. First of all, it’s very well written with the dual points of view flowing well. Natalie‘s perspective is sensitively approached although you feel her trauma and its after effects and obviously sympathise with her. There’s a lot of pain in Stratton‘s point of view too, and she has a lot going on in her life as well as a taxing job. I like the partnership of Stratton and ‘Fastrack’ a.k.a. DC Bradley as they’re chalk and cheese which certainly makes for interesting reading which positively crackles at times. All the characters are well portrayed, feeling authentic and believable.

The novel is very absorbing as it has a fast paced, multi layered plot which makes for never a dull moment. There are shocks are aplenty, multiple secrets and lies, red herrings and investigative blind alleys. It’s suspenseful and tense which builds and builds with many twists and turns to more than satisfy readers of this genre. There’s one that is especially good and comes right out of the blue, it’s so unexpected. Well played!

I sincerely hope that this is the start of a new series and if so, I’m all in. I can highly recommend this psychological thriller which has a great cover, highlighting the tantalising contents.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

Publishes in the UK on 19/6.

A really curious, edge of your seat thriller with an intriguing plot that grips you very early on.
I didn't see the twist coming - every time I thought I had it I was proven wrong. The plot is really clever making you doubt several characters which helps to keep up the pace and keep you on your toes.
5 stars.

This book was absolutely brilliant from start to finish!

I have always been a fan of a psychological thriller, and my goodness this one did not disappoint. The storyline itself kept me guessing to the very end, and was full of twists and turns I never anticipated.

Told from the perspectives of two FMC's who have both lived through some awful events in their own lives, this book was an absolute page turner that I simply couldn't put down!.

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.*

I love a good psychological thriller, especially if it's a twisty psychological thriller, one that keeps me guessing right to the end. Believe ticked those boxes perfectly.
This is a fast paced thriller, with an intricate plot and complex characters. Cleverly placed red herrings deceive the reader time after time. The big reveal, when it came, took me by surprise. 😯
The story is told from the POV of the two female protagonists. Both have suffered trauma in their pasts, both are flawed, and both are stronger than they realise.

With its themes of rape, false allegations of rape, and murder this is a dark but compelling read.
Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and S.M. Govett for the early access to read Believe for my honest opinion.

One of the best books I’ve read in a while!
I absolutely loved this book. The chapters were at an ideal length (I’m not a huge fan of long chapters), the characters were likeable and also I enjoyed the style of writing from the author.
The plot was fantastic, it kept me guessing who was the killer, and I was not expecting that twist at all.

Thank you so much for giving me the chance to read this book, I loved it and I wish every success to the author and I hope to read more of their books in the future

Ten years ago, Natalie accused her boss of rape but he was found innocent. Her life fell apart and she received hate mail afterwards.

The hate mail has started again and her husband Ryan has been accused of rape of his assistant. Does she believe him or is it part of a revenge campaign?

Natalie has to examine all of her relationships and her own sanity.

A stunning debut by S M Govett reminiscent of Gillian McAllister

I would like to thank Netgalley and Michael Joseph Publishing for the chance to read and review this book.

An intriguing read from start to finish, this thriller was told in alternate chapters by the female DI leading the investigation and Natalie the wife of a man accused of rape then murder.

Well written with plenty of drama, tension and a twist I never saw coming this is an impressive debut crime thriller from S.M Govett, definitely an author to watch out for in the future.

Due for publication Jun 25 - My thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the advance read, I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

Loved the twist and turns from this one. Will definitely be looking more into the author and reading some more of their work.