Her Many Faces is hands down one of my favourite thrillers I’ve read this year. It was incredibly gripping with a unique slant and a story that you cannot tear yourself away from.

One of the immediate hooks for this book for me was the bold and blistering narrative choice Cloke makes with the structure of the book. Rather than hearing from Katie herself, we see through the perspective of five men from her life as they grapple with their perceptions of her and their roles in her story. It is such an inspired choice to frame the narrative in this manner. Cloke makes the reader complicit in the dehumanisation of Katie as part of the media storm around this scandalous case. She is treated by the roles she may have played with men, which is the focus of much speculation, rather than as the three-dimensional human that she is. It is reductionist and illustrates how people are turned into caricatures or stereotypes to fit boxes for entertainment or easy pigeon-holing, especially women. After all, it is comforting to place blame and ascribe evil to one easy aspect of the world. If you are forced to confront the messiness of reality, then you get bogged down in wider ideas of what may constitute good and evil and what the grey areas in between may look like. Cloke delights in that blurriness and that moral ambiguity, constantly toying with the reader’s expectations. It is social commentary that bristles with anger and feels searingly relevant. In the age of a true crime boom, it feels timely to have a book that explicitly pushes back against the sensationalism of violence and treats the people involved as fractured, complicated people rather than flat characters. It is a genius way to tackle the psychological thriller and add something new.

The gendered aspect of it is very much a core focus too with an interesting take on the male gaze. All of these men see Katie in a different light, biased by their own histories and feelings. As the reader switches between their viewpoints, you are confronting these alongside them. Cloke expertly leads the reader down various avenues of speculation and you may find yourself switching from chapter to chapter. You are working on scarce information, leaving it wide open to biases and wild speculation. Each of these men is also using Katie in one way or another, though they may not recognise it. They are stuck in their view of her rather than seeing the overall picture. Their experiences form a rich tapestry that always feels incomplete because the key part is withheld from the reader. It all culminates in a wonderfully explosive courtroom conclusion that you will be thinking about for weeks after.

The pacing in this book is exquisite with Cloke keeping a constant sense of tension and paranoia. You don’t know who to trust or what the truth is. It feels like one long game of cat and mouse until you reach the final page. I also have to commend the feat of skill that the plotting of this book is. There are so many elements at play that Cloke keeps balanced, nudging you with a tiny detail at times that then rears its head again in a very different context. At times, you may think you have all of the puzzle pieces but you rarely do. Just like the baying public, you want to dig through this woman’s life and uncover the sordid truth of what happened that night. You’ll be pulled down the rabbit hole to find the truth. For me, it is the definitive standard of compulsive reading.

Her Many Faces is a thriller that holds nothing back and sears you with its thought-provoking narrative choices. Do not let yourself miss this masterclass in pacing and tension

I found this book rather disappointing and it just didn’t capture my interest. I was tempted not to continue reading, early on in the story, but persevered in the hope that I would start to enjoy it. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Although, cleverly constructed, I didn’t like the way we unravelled the story of what really happened and I did find the ending predictable.

Started but could not finish.

An interesting writing style. Will be buying to finish reading as my download ahs expired

Her Many Faces is an apt title as the reader is led through the murder trial of a young woman through the voices of men who played a part in her life.
Katie Cole is charged with the poisoning of four powerful men dining at their club where Katie is a waitress. Each chapter is dedicated to a different man, including her father, her oldest friend, her barrister, a journalist and an ex lover, who all paint a different picture of Katie. It is a clever way to tell the story as we never know who is telling the truth. The twist at the end is foreshadowed earlier on and is very clever. If you love a courtroom drama combined with a thriller and unreliable narrators, Her Many Faces will be right up your street. Highly recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Vintage for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A really satisfying thriller, Her Many Faces keeps the reader on their toes as they work to figure out if the right person is being tried for murder. I grew up with Perry Mason and loads of other gripping trial dramas so found this right up my street. Katie/Kit Kat/Wild Kat/Katherine is many things to many people but which person is real and is she capable of murder?

What I enjoyed most was the number of points of view of, seemingly, disparate characters linked in some way to Katie or the media fascination with her trial. There were quite a few but they each play their part well. Red herrings? You bet, loads of them, but it's great fun weeding through them to determine what they know, how they are involved and what the true facts of the case are.

Most intriguing is that we never get to know Katie, herself, until the very end. It's mainly other character's thoughts/views/impressions of her and her actions. Deliciously twisty, it was masterfully delivered keeping me guessing to the very end. This was my first Nicci Cloke novel but it won't be the last. I found the tone, pace and action to be catnip and am keen to read more from her.

Very impressive and a great read!

Such a strong start, taking the reader is right into the meat of the story. There are several narrators in the tale; some of whom have been directly involved with Katie from her youngest days, while others only from the point of her being charged with multiple murder. The approach is deftly handled. We quickly see so many sides of the accused and of the many people around her, plus the narrators themselves.

Her Many Faces is a fluent blend of court-room drama, thriller and whodunnit with perfect pacing. The 'is she, isn't she guilty' is effortlessly sustained right up to the final paragraphs.

I read the novel in two sittings, but probably would have done it in a single sitting if the dog hadn't needed feeding and walking. I'm now off to track down another Nicci Cloke book...

This book was a strange one for me. The writing style was interesting but the story even more curious. There were times that I wasn’t sure I even wanted to continue, but there was something about this story that had me wanting to know the answers.

The title is apt as each chapter is delivered from a set of character’s POV and how they knew the main FMC who had been arrested for killing someone important at a social club. (Not a spoiler)

It was a good book —> interesting characters, twisty, unreliable and dark at times.

I really enjoyed this book. Katie Cole has been charged with poisoning 4 men at the private club where she worked as a waitress. She denies the charges. The story is told from the viewpoints of a number of people involved in her story. Her father, her oldest friend, her barrister, a journalist and a previous lover help to paint a picture of Katie. I liked this style of story telling and it kept me on the edge of my seat to the end. There's also a good twist at the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC.

This story is told from five different male perspectives about a young woman named Katherine who has been accused of murder.

They all thought they knew her but the question is did they?

From all the narration that is told by men, it really is up to you to decide whether or not Katherine is guilty or not guilty.

I really thought the way Nicci Cloke wrote this story was absolutely brilliant and you could easily devour this book in a day. I really did not see the ending coming of this book. However when the ending came and was told it really did make sense.

I really thought this book was fast paced, clever and very original. So many twists and reveals.

The perfect thriller!

This is not the usual type of thriller that I read, but wow, it was so enjoyable. The premise hooked me straightaway. When four very wealthy, very powerful men are poisoned at an exclusive members only club, a young waitress is arrested for their murder. The evidence? Her fingerprints on the poisoned brandy bottle and her words when she was arrested. ‘They deserved it’. As the media frenzy starts we have alternating POV from 5 men who know Katie: Tarun, her barrister; John, her father; Max, the reporter hoping that her story will catapult him to the big time; Gabrie;, a childhood friend and Conrad, a former lover. We also hear, through these POVs about Katie’s obsession with conspiracy theories. Five version so which is the true one? And, is she guilty or innocent? With some of the POVs being in the past and some in the present we have bias, we have unreliable narratives, we have those who have their own agenda in portraying Katie as they do. Add onto this a second half that is court-room drama and this book has everything. I found it impossible to tie Katie down as there were twists and revelations and the ending was excellent. A super read and as I hadn’t come across this author before, I’ll make a point of looking out for her in the future.

A fascinating read! When 22 year old Katherine Cole is tried for murdering four men, we get to follow the trial through the eyes of five men who see her in very different ways. Her father, her lawyer, her school friend, her lover and a journalist. I've never given this any thought before, but it's a genius concept as any person will be perceived very differently by the people who know them in different contexts. A father is always going to see his little girl in a very different way to a journalist trying for a career-defining scoop, for example.

Which version is the real Katherine? And is she a killer? A twisty slow-burn read that dissects every single element of Katherine's personality, every moment of her life and everything that has ever influenced her.

Guilty? Or Innocent?

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Nicci Cloke and Random House Vintage for an ARC of this book.

This was a really gripping read. Fast paced and told from 5 men’s perspectives of Katie who is accused of the murder of 4. The short chapters and changing perspectives kept the story moving with a number of twists and turns as these 5 narrators told 5 very different version of a young woman. I was kept guessing the whole way through and really enjoyed the ending.

Wow, what a ride! This novel is a fast-paced journey that dives deep into the complexities of identity and emotion. Cloke's masterful storytelling keeps you on the edge of your seat with every gripping twist and turn. It's not just thrilling; it’s emotionally insightful, pulling at your heartstrings while leaving you breathless with anticipation. I found myself completely addicted to the characters and their journeys. It's an ingenious read that will challenge your perceptions and keep you guessing until the very end. Recommend it.

Thanks to net galley and the publishers for an advanced ecopy in exchange for a review.
The book opens with a bang and I was immediately interested . I liked the different chapters being from different characters POV.
We begin by Katie being suspected of murdering 4
men at a private members club where she worked as a waitress. I liked the insight into conspiracy theories and the impact they can have. I enjoyed the writing and will be recommending

Would you be able to rely on five men from your life to give you a good character reference for you when you are on trial for murder? This is what happens to Kate and although we hear briefly from her at the start and end of the book, the story is told by the five men. Certainly a different way to tell a story and as the scenes are all set, it begins slowly, building and building up to climax. First time that I've read this author and enjoyed this alternative approach.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

Her Many Faces completely pulled me in with its unique structure and haunting ambiguity. Told through the eyes of five men who knew Katherine Cole—the young waitress accused of poisoning four powerful men—it’s less a whodunit and more a chilling exploration of identity and perception. I loved how each narrator painted a wildly different version of Katherine: a sweet daughter, a manipulative lover, a conspiracy-obsessed loner, even a cold-blooded killer. It made me question not just her guilt, but how much we ever truly know someone.
Nicci Cloke’s writing is razor-sharp, and the courtroom scenes had me on edge. The way she weaves in themes of gender, power, and media bias felt timely and unsettling. I found myself flipping back to earlier chapters, trying to piece together the truth—and still doubting everything. It’s a smart, layered thriller that lingers long after the final page!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read!

Kate is a,ways perceived as a bit of an enigma in her family especially after the death of her brother. She finds herself working at an exclusive men’s club in Mayfair. Four men in a private dining room are found dead and Kate is arrested. The story is told by her dad, her barrister, her friend, and a journalist. Really clever writing.

This was a study of people, especially from 5 male viewpoints and then Katie herself. Katie had been arrested for the murder of 4 famous men who all had money galore and she was there waitress. From the start the POVs from the 5 men were so different that it made it difficult to work out whether she was guilty or not, just who do you believe? At the end the real Katie came alive and the end twist was excellent..
Once the people were established this was a great psychological suspense read.

A sharp, layered psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the final page.

When four powerful men are poisoned at an elite London club, waitress Katherine Cole becomes the prime suspect. But who is Katherine, really? A devoted daughter? A manipulative lover? A radicalised loner? Or something else entirely?

Told through the eyes of five men who each knew her differently, Her Many Faces is a masterclass in perspective, bias, and the stories we tell about women. It’s part courtroom drama, part character study, and all-consuming suspense

Her Many Faces is a gripping and inventive psychological thriller told through five sharply drawn male perspectives: John (her father), Tarum (lawyer), Conrad (lover), Gabriel (childhood friend), and Max (a journalist), each offering a distorted yet revealing lens on Katie Cole’s identity and alleged crime.
When Katie is arrested for poisoning four influential men at London's elite Marsh House club, the novel unspools her story in non-linear, first-person accounts. Each chapter peels back another layer of her life, allowing readers to piece together thuths and falsehoods. The structure is both compelling and intellectually engaging.
By fragmenting the narrative, Cloke forces readers to confront how perception shapes truth and how easily a woman’s story can be reduced or silenced when told by the men around her. Katie emerges as a multi-faceted and enigmatic protagonist. She is sweet, obsessive, troubled and possibly dangerous. Yet we only hear her voice directly at the very end.
Her Many Faces is a sophisticated thriller, emotionally riveting, structurally daring and socially provocative. Nicci Cloke expertly unpicks how memory, gender, power and digital paranoia converge to distort one woman’s image until she has almost no control over her own narrative. It’s a novel that lingers and compels you to ask who you believe and why?
This book deserves to be widely read. Five stars, highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.