Wow. What did I just read. I'm almost speechless.
This book was fantastic. It was creepy, dark, and twisted, I absolutely LOVED it.

The Bodies was full of suspense, drama, secrets, lies, and twist after twist. The storyline was clever, unique, tense, and compelling.
I was hooked immediately, I couldn't put it down.

Joseph and Max were interesting main characters. They were both charismatic, determined, and loyal. Tilly and Erin were also interesting and complex characters.

This is the first book I've read from Sam Lloyd, and it most definitely won't be the last. I'll be looking up all his past novels after this, for sure.

Especially for fans of Riley Sager, J.P. Pomare, Robyn Harding, and Sharon Bolton.

I very highly recommend The Bodies.

5 well deserved stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK, and Sam Lloyd for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Parenthood changes everyone, as Joseph discoveries to his cost when his son Max begs for help in covering up a "mistake" - one that involves a body and blood.

Reluctantly, Joseph does what he must to save his son. But if that were not bad enough, it then turns out that this is not the only time that such help will be requested from him...

This is a creepy and inventive tale that will leave its mark on the reader's imagination, and easily gets 3.5 stars.

I’d just got home from a long weekend at work and completely lost myself in this book. I could not put it down. It had such fantastic pacing and tension, working from a great premise that escalated into unexpected territory perfectly.

Having previous read and enjoyed The Memory Wood, I knew that I was going enjoy The Bodies just as much. Lloyd's writing sucks you in so you're fully immersed and the story becomes a part of you.

You feel every frisson and their tensions become yours. I went through every emotion alongside Joseph and Max. I don't have children myself but I still found myself questioning what would I do if I were Joseph...surrender my son or save him...it's a tough one.

It's dark, disconcerting and had me hooked! The twists got twisty and the ending...well, that's for you to find out! It doesn't disappoint!

It's definitely @netflixuk worthy and I'd love to see @stephengraham1973
step into Joseph's shoes!

Brilliant!

What an amazing read! The start was a little slow, but the pace picked up and kept me hooked. And the twist at the end was perfect. I can highly recommend to anyone who likes a good murder mystery to add this to their TBR list.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Bodies' by Sam Lloyd

This may be the first book I have read by this incredible author but it most certainly will not be my last!! Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done Sam!!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading his previous and next books

I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible author's books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by Sam, considering I can guarantee they are all amazing even if they are just half as good as this book they are guaranteed to be epic which means I will fly through them like I did with this book!! You really do need to grab your copy of this absolutely gripping page turner to discover more for yourselves and I promise that you will not regret it!! In fact, if you are anything like me you may even discover a new favourite thriller author! With an addictive storyline ram packed with mystery, murder, crime, guilt, family, lies, twists, secrets, trauma, red herrings, drama, suspense, brilliant characters plus so much more what are you waiting for? This book is genuinely an absolutely addictive, nail biting, page turning, heart racing and compelling storyline and it has so many layers of mysteries and crimes for the reader to be kept guessing throughout and OMG THAT ENDING!!!! I was absolutely gob smacked and would never ever have seen that one coming!! This is an achievement in itself as it is definitely getting harder to surprise me with the amount of crime, thriller and psychological novels I've read so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Sam!! There was so many explosive bombshells and twists in this book that I actually lost count on how many times I was shocked which I didn't think would be possible!!! The plot was unique and realistic and Sam's brilliant descriptions brings absolutely everything to life in front of your eyes. It started straight in the action and kept you going on a roller-coaster ride of suspense and mystery throughout. There were several occasions when my heart was in my throat and I the hair was raising on my arms but I won't mention those as not to spoil it for future readers. It is so hard to not say too much without giving anything away to future readers but I'm sure once people have read it they will know exactly what I mean. Well done Sam you did absolutely amazing and everything was tied up perfectly. The twists and turns in this book left me going from one chapter to another!!! I completely devoured it in one sitting as I just could not put it down. Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride!!! I just could not put this book down and I cannot wait to read more books by Sam!

Before you start this make sure you clear your schedule because once you pick it up you are not going to want to put it down!!!!

The characters were very realistic, multi layered and well rounded and again their personalities reflected the storyline and how they would act, etc perfectly. The descriptions gave a really good in depth view of how the characters were feeling and what they were thinking. The characters were complex and each seemed to be hiding their own secrets which leaves you questioning who is telling the truth and who can be trusted. They each had their own unique personalities with individual flaws, quirks, secrets, strengths and weaknesses!! Each of the characters were well developed, unique and thanks to Sam's fantastic evocative writing skills they all came to life before my eyes. That is all I will say as I don't want to run the risk of dropping any hints or spoilers. However, whether you love or hate these characters, they all have their own strong unique personalities and they all bring the story to life playing their roles perfectly. Here's to the next explosive book that I hope you are writing while I am busy getting stuck into your previous ones!!! This is exactly why I would like to welcome you to my favourite authors club!!!


Overall an absolute must read, pulse racing, explosive, addictive page turning crime thriller that will keep you on edge and addicted.

#TheBodies #SamLloyd #Bantam #BantamBooks #ZooLoosBT #ZooloosBookTours

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What a page turner The Bodies turned out to be, so much so that I read it in one sitting until 7am in the morning! Every chapter made me go: okay just one more! I was so intrigued as to why the series of events was occurring, what motives Max could possibly have...and how far Joseph would go to save him.

I found the book was focused, there was no long winded writing or page filling.....just tension, breath holding moments and I even had some laugh out loud chuckle moments.....everything I want in a thriller.

The ending, our characters and plot becomes a bit unhinged, but I didn't mind at all...I enjoyed it until the last word.

This book is everything a thriller should be. I loved the memory wood but this is better. I loved Joe and max, I thought it flowed brilliantly and I def think this is going to be a movie. Off to tell all my book friends about my best book of the year so far and I’m almost at 200!

Sam Lloyd has done it again with another suspenseful thriller with an unusual premise. When Joseph discovers his son has been involved in a hit and run, his first instinct is to protect his child. The straight-A student is destined for medical school. Joseph reasons that the number of people Max will save as a doctor outweigh the one death the boy has caused in an unfortunate accident.
Joseph takes charge of disposing of the body. Despite being wracked with revulsion and guilt, he puts the incident behind him, safe in the knowledge he’s done the right thing for his family.
That’s until a second corpse appears…
Joseph's narration is visceral, claustrophobic and at times darkly comedic. Occasional chapters were from the viewpoints of the first victim’s brother and the first victim’s girlfriend. Despite the horror they presented, these chapters served as a useful palate cleanser after time spent with Joseph’s increasingly desperate thoughts and actions.
The only other viewpoint character that’s made my heart pound like this is Emily in Katharine Johnson’s The Suspects. She too was trying to dispose of a victim she hadn’t killed. It’s years since I’ve read it, but it still has the power to raise my pulse. The Bodies by Sam Lloyd is highly likely to do the same.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

In the early hours one morning, Joseph Carver finds his teenage son, Max, in the kitchen frantically trying to clean his bloodied hands. Max says there's been an accident - he killed someone with his car, tried to help them but when it was obvious they were dead, he panicked & fled the scene with the body. Joseph promised his late wife that he would always protect Max so he decides to cover it up & helps Max bury the body.

It's all sorted until Joseph finds out that Max lied to him about the accident as the car doesn't have any damage & he swore he didn't know who the victim was & yet Joseph found a wallet in Max's room. If Max lied about that what else could he be lying about? A few days later Max calls Joseph saying he needs his help & when he arrives there's another dead body....

Wow, this was a non-stop, fast-paced ride! It's intense, gripping, & almost gives the reader whiplash with the switch-back reveals. With the decisions Joseph makes, you're sitting there thinking "Really?!", but there's no denying it grabs the attention. The reader has a front seat view into Joseph's mind as he starts to crumble from the pressure of it all. If you enjoyed the author's previous books 'The Memory Wood' & 'The Rising Tide' you'll love this one. 4.5 stars (rounded up)

TWs: [major] violence, murder / [minor] animal death

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Random House UK/Transworld Publishers/Bantam, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

What a read! A parents nightmare when Joseph Carver is told by his son Max, that he'd killed someone. From this beginning I was desperate to discover how this story unfolded. . It was a tense, gripping and thrilling read. I had no idea whatsoever how it would end. I certainly didn't expect that ending.! I still can't stop thinking about this book and what I would have done! A 5 star read for me.

.4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/06/19/review-the-bodies-by-sam-lloyd/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Very Chaotic but Seriously Gripping

The Bodies is a book that actually grips you from the get go and from that point is totally relentless. It’s a book that is insane, it makes you question yourself, I mean, what would you do. It’s a book that makes you hold your head in your hands saying ‘no, no, no’. But you won’t want to put it down. It’s fast paced and each chapter goes from bad to worse. You think you have a grip of what’s going on – but you really don’t.

I don’t want to give away a lot about the plot, but, at the same time, and given the blurb, I don’t think I’m giving anything away when I say Joseph Carver makes some shocking decisions to help his son. He wakes up in the dead of night, noises are coming from downstairs, this is basically Joseph’s nightmare scenario given his past – which will soon become crystal clear – but he creeps downstairs, dreading what he will find – only to find his son in the kitchen covered in blood.

Now, what did I love about this book.

Well, this is an author I’ve read before and enjoyed very much. The writing was really good. It’s one of those books that you can simply fall into. I mean, this is a contemporary setting so it’s easy to imagine but the prose is really good and Lloyd is excellent at building tension.

The characters. Goddamn I wanted to bang some heads together and I’m not a violent person. Joseph isn’t some kick ass dude. He’s about as scared of everything as I would be but at the same time he’s really ‘real’. We’re not all heros but Joseph loves his son, he feels like he’s failed him and he’s simply desperate. Then we have the rest of the family. Max, Joseph’s son from his previous marriage, is the one in trouble. He’s studied for years, he wants to become a doctor and now, his future is on the line. Joseph has a new wife and step daughter. Erin and Tilly.

This story almost has a breakneck pace and is one of those stories with short sharp chapters and plenty of tension. I was literally on the edge of my seat and the beauty of the pacing and tension is that you have little time, not only to take a breath but also to try and second guess what’s really going on.

Then there’s the twists. The twists are real. I was like ‘what just happened?’.

Anyway, I had a nail biting blast with this book. I expected to love this, I did go in with high expectations and this book delivered. An absolutely compelling read.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars

Sorry, I can not do a review on this book. It will not download correctly - the book is all over the place and I have downloaded it twice now. Totally gutted as I wanted to read this book. I love this authors book. But Thank you for letting me read and review it. As this book was the next read for me.

But what I could read was a 4 ⭐️ I loved it....but then I could not read anymore - the book was everywhere 😭 the pages did not flow.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. First of all let me start by saying WOW!! What an amazing non stop thriller that literally had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The story was so intense and deeply disturbing and it never gave me a second to catch my breath. The twists were so good that I actually cried out in shock at one point. The characters were so well written and the story was so intense that I felt as though I was in the room with them. One of the best thrillers I have read this year so far. Amazing book! 5 stars.

This definitely makes you wonder how much you would do as a parent and where the line stops! Overall a dark and intense read.

I have to be honest, I do enjoy reading a scenario where an ordinary character struggles with extraordinary circumstances. ‘The Bodies‘ is most definitely that, as well as posing a very thought-provoking “what would you do?” dilemma.

Some time during the night Joseph wakes up, thinking there might be an intruder in the kitchen. Joseph is no hero, though past events really make him want to be. But armed with a tomahawk of all things, he bravely enters the kitchen, only to discover his son, Max. Max, who is frantically scrubbing the kitchen, who has blood on his hands, and is quite obviously as out of his depth as his father is.

Now, I’m not a parent but I’d like to think I’d do the right thing if I found my son in the way Joseph discovers his. And by the right thing, I mean call the police and face the consequences. Part of me feels Joseph’s way is the wrong way, but again, not a parent so what would I know. Finding excuses for Max’s behaviour is all fine and dandy and maybe somewhat acceptable the first time around. But the second time? Because yes, there will be a second murder and that’s not a spoiler since it’s right there in the book description.

Joseph is doing what he can but really he’s just digging a hole for himself, which is only getting deeper the more he tries to protect his son. He’s not made for situations like these. It’s quite frankly a miracle nobody sees right through him. A criminal mastermind, he is not. On top of that, it’s obvious Joseph is being lied to, and in turn he himself is lying to his wife. Considering their marriage already seems to be hanging by a thread, that’s probably also not the right way to go about things.

As an aside, Sam Lloyd does a great job in highlighting the difficulties in a second marriage. Joseph’s instinct will always make him take his son’s side, even if it means angering his wife or, in this case, shutting her out entirely. But he promised his first wife that he would always protect their son, and he will go to the ends of the earth to do exactly that. Where does one draw the line though?

There is a heck of a lot of deceit, secrets and manipulation going on in ‘The Bodies‘. Nothing is what it seems. There are twists galore and while I did feel things went slightly off the rails, the story remained extremely compelling and tense, and I couldn’t wait to see how it would all play out. As a bonus, I failed to see the bigger picture and that is always a good thing.

Although the ending felt absolutely satisfying, it is also extremely chilling. It’ll make you want to sleep with one eye open for the rest of your life. Or possibly just never again. Stuff of nightmares, that. Really enjoyed this one and I look forward to more from Sam Lloyd.

I am a bit of a fan of this author and, once again, he has not let me down!
We start with a father - Joseph/Joe - protecting his son - Max - when he finds him scrubbing blood from his hands in the wee hours. The blood isn't his, and Max assures him that it was an accident and he didn't mean it. Joseph, fearing for his son and his soon to be medical school future agrees to help him cover it up.
And so begins what initially is rather extreme story which doesn't always make complete sense and which escalates rapidly, occasionally making me roll my eyes until that part when it all became clear and boy was it a complete shock!
And then I sat back and applauded the author for another job very well done. I would love to explain further and illustrate why I was so impressed but, you know, spoilers.
Joe is a complex character, his life having been rocked by the death of his first wife, Max's mother, so it was easy to believe that he would go above and beyond to protect the son he is convinced he let down... Max is also complex but you'll have to find out why for yourself!
Other characters are also well created and all play their parts well.
And that ending, left me reeling and shocked, but most of all wholly satisfied.
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

What would you do for your children? Would you protect them at all costs, no matter what they have done?

This is the crux of this story. A father, riddled with guilt for failing his first wife, now faces a moral dilemma when it seems his son has lost his way and done the unthinkable. It is also a question about how well you know your children and ultimately, about the fact that actions have consequences.

It's another absolutely brilliant book by an amazing storyteller. A story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with twists you don't see coming. Sam Lloyd's books are always very visual, and you can see the scenes play out in front of your eyes.

A must-read!

4.5 Stars

This was a tense, atmospheric thriller, pulling you in immediately, with rich detail, emotional depth and twists that genuinely surprise.
While the suspense starts pretty high, there is still a gradual build up and, just when you think it is settling a little, it will hit you with another swerve!
The main characters are complex and believable to a point, if only for the lengths they will go to to protect their family.
Ultimately, this was a chilling, very well written thriller that I highly recommend if you are in the mood for a suspense-filled rollercoaster of a read!

This is my first read from Sam Lloyd and what a brilliant introduction I had to this author’s work!

I couldn’t help but really like the main character Joe as much as I wanted to smack some sense in to him at times! His decisions were very questionable but I enjoyed the journey he went on. I loved the cliffhanger endings to the chapters, they made it difficult to put the book down! I was so obsessed with this story I told my boyfriend (a non-reader!) the whole plot as I read, to which his reactions were the same as mine, shocked and excited for what was coming next! 😂

It’s not often a thriller holds my attention from the beginning right until the very end but this one did, I found it unpredictable I really couldn’t guess what was coming which I absolutely loved! The story is pretty dark and the descriptive writing did make me pause at times but this made everything feel all the more real.

I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a gripping, fast-paced thriller. I am off to buy more Sam Lloyd books!!