Quite a complex book to read with five narrators. A story well told. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Katie is known by many variations of her name and each person sees her in a different way so when she is accused of murdering a group of wealthy businessmen we get to see each of those different faces.

This is a book that keeps you in suspense as you get to know each version of her. Very well written and well worth a read

The youngest child, always different adored and indulgenced by her oldest brother, conflict with the next brother.
An unusual adolescene always wanting attention. Battling parents influence.
Escapes to London and starts obsessive romantic relationships.
Not a character I liked but was enthralled by the twists and turns of the trial and it's outcome that runs throughout the whole book.

Katie as she thinks of herself; Katherine is how her Barrister likes to refer to her; KitKat as her father has always called her; Killer Kate as Max, a journalist who writes about the case; her childhood friend Gabriel calls her K.C. and finally Conrad, a former lover, calls her Wildcat. All these men describe Kate and her life to this point from their perspective and some of them appear for the prosecution during her case.
This is a clever, original format for a legal thriller. I could not put it down. I had read Toxic by this author and thought it quite good but this was another level. I will be looking to read more titles by this author.
Four and a half stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Nicci Cloke/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Katherine Cole is a waitress in an exclusive member's only club in Mayfair. One night, she is waiting on four influential members, when a mysterious incident happens and they are found soon afterwards - dead. Katherine is arrested and charged with the crime. This story is told through five different men - her Dad, her friend, her lover, her barrister and a journalist covering the court case. In a way, I really felt for Katherine when these 5 men describe her and how flawed she was a character. It was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing till the very end. It was well written and very descriptive.

Katie Cole stands accused of murdering four members of a private members club. Social media is rife with conspiracy theories yet Katie maintains her innocence. The case looks bleak, especially as her barrister has lost confidence in himself.

Disturbingly, the book is told through the lens of men who are, or have been associated with Katie, and their perceptions of her (including her father, her friend and her ex-lover. We never hear Katie's voice despite her being on trial. Each of the characters had a distinct personality and voice as they gave their insights into the case. It certainly made me think about what others might say about me and how their perceptions would differ. This was a very clever novel - pacy, addictive and original. The resolution was perfection and totally unexpected. I will certainly be on the lookout for more novels by this author!

Nicci Cloke's Her Many Faces takes a little time to get its murder mystery drama going, but ultimately that's because it has other factors and relevant contemporary issues to raise that are to prove to have a significant impact on the case. Those issues feel just a little 'manufactured' in terms of the plotting, and it all seems a bit too neatly and novelistically constructed. Those are minor reservations however, and once you get past that, the courtroom drama that follows really takes on a momentum this a hard book to put down.

An initial difficulty, for me, is its choice of perspective. What we have are five different viewpoints, all of them men, all of them focussed on their experience with Katherine Cole, a young woman who has been arrested and accused of the murder of four extremely wealthy, important and influential men. Katherine was the only waitress working at their private members club when the men were served a poisoned bottle of brandy. Since Katherine left the club early in a rush but despite making a rash statement that “they deserved it” when she was arrested, she denies the murder charge. You would be interested in her version of why the men were murdered, but evidently we don't get Kate's perspective, as then there wouldn't be any mystery as to what really happened and the extent of her involvement with the four men.

Instead we get Kate's backstory in alternating chapters from the perspective of her father, a young man who is the first boy to really befriend and get close to her, a married man she had a two-time fling with, a journalist digging into her troubled history as a child, and her defence lawyer who has just returned to work after a period of sick leave who has his own personal issues to deal with,l doesn't seem ready for a case like this one just yet, and is unconvinced himself about her innocence.

Kate, to put it in simple terms that are covered in more depth in the book obviously, has had a troubled childhood, much of it stemming from the death of her beloved brother as a British soldier in Iraq. After this Kate seemed to go slowly off the rails and was never offered timely counselling. She becomes hard to like and hard to sympathise with since she becomes the agent of her own destruction, becoming obsessed with conspiracy theories and getting mixed up with dubious figures on websites. That's the challenge for the reader, to understand and try to see if they can put aside prejudice that condemns Kate whether she did it or not.

The novel leaves the question of whether there is any evidence to suggest she did it or why she might have done it aside for a long time while it builds up a picture of her background (and rather more on her lawyer's personal problems than seems necessary). Maybe she did kill the men and was justified, maybe she didn't and is being vilified by the trial of public opinion. Personally I found this choice of angle awkward, too agenda or issue driven, deliberately giving a 'male' view of a 'difficult' young woman. The stories that each tell about their encounters with Kate or course reveals as much about them and their own personal flaws and weaknesses, some more than others. It's not all about Kate, but there is something about her that brings out complicated in each of the men involved.

Fortunately, the novel and its thriller mystery side does gradually gain momentum as Max the journalist starts to look into the conspiracy site that either seemed to direct Kate to the murder or potentially framed her. There is always the possibility, despite the convention of such fiction to lead the reader assume the innocence of the accused, that Kate might well have done it. She says she didn't, but her past suggests that she is capable of making bad choices. If that suggestion is dangled out, it's only briefly and quickly snatched back. There is no way that Her Many Faces is going to seriously let there be any inking that Kate is anything other than an innocent victim herself here.

That takes away a little of the edge of the book, as does the way it gradually reveals information. The choices of who presents the information, of past coinciding with present as we approach the murder trial, all takes the book on a forced direction, like a curve intentionally leading you a whole other way. Whether it's misdirection or not I'm not going to say, but either way it's clever in its novelistic structuring, particularly as the characterisation and plotting is convincing. The characters - whether you like them or not - all feel genuine, their actions don't ever seem forced or out of place, even if they have been chosen as novelistic constructs to put across certain views. They are undoubtedly good choices, well drawn, but personally, I never felt like I could relate to them. Others might think differently of course.

None of this however prevents Her Many Faces from being a totally compelling read, but more than that, it does touch on a number of contemporary social issues and behaviours - even in its construction - relating to the feeding of information. The harm created in social media witch hunts and conspiracy theories, the drive of mainstream media to provide sensational news to generate hits and possibly drive agendas, the use and abuse of power, particularly in those with great riches to exert undue influence, and specifically in how this ends up in the vilification of young women. Putting aside reservations about how this is served up, all of these subjects have a significant bearing on the drama, giving it considerably more depth and leaving you with much more to think about by the time we get past the murder trial.

This book grabbed me from the very start and held me tight. It tells the story of Katherine, on trial for the murder of 4 wealthy businessmen in a private club. Poisoned by a bottle of brandy, she was the only waitress to serve them and then left the building smiling. What marks the story as different is that we never hear from Katherine herself.

The story is told through the eyes of the men around her and their perceptions are all very different. Her father is loving and unwilling to accept she could have done it, her lawyer is defending her but can’t quite convince himself, a journalist sees her as a great story, her friend sees her through the prism of his own beliefs, etc. The chapters alternate between their viewpoints but the characters are all well defined and have their own name for her so it’s never a problem to remember which is which.

The story is fast paced and twists and turns all over the place so you’re never quite sure of who she actually is or what happened right until the end. It’s an unusual format but perceptive and intriguing and it all works very well. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

This book had me from the first page, I couldn’t put it down!! The way it is written is genius, each persons perspective of the young waitress who has been arrested and on trial for murder. This adds to the suspense, you think you know which way it’s going, one chapter you think she’s guilty, the next you really don’t know……

It unfolded at such a good pace… I would highly recommend this book!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

This is a very good and engrossing read. It reminds of the film "The Woman in Question" and it is very interesting to see Kate through the eyes of different people who are involved in her life and court case.

It is an easy read. I had no difficulty distinguishing the various men or remembering their role in her life. I liked all the different perspectives although I must say I did not warm to Kate in any of the versions.

There is enough variation in the different parts of Kate's life to keep the reader interested and eagerly turning the pages but I was disappointed by the ending.

A very good read but a disappointing ending.

I really enjoyed this clever thriller, the story of Katherine Cole is told by her friend, her father, her lover, her barrister and a journalist .
They each describe a very different Katherine.
On trial for poisoning 4 powerful men, her story unfolds in short chapters that make you want to keep reading great page turner. Definitely recommended.

This was my first novel by Nicci Cloke and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you to Net Galley, Nicci Cloke and Random house for an advance copy. Publish date 3rd July 2025

4 murders 1 accused

Kate's story is told by 5 males each having a different relationship but which is the true Kate.

A unique telling which I found slow paced each called Kate buy a different nickname which made is easy to work out who was who but at time difficult to remember who was who and what there role was with Kate and there own history.

Fast paced story about a woman who is on trial for the murder of 4 high achieving men. Told from the various male figures in her life it is a great story, I really liked it from the different perspectives. Quite edgy and makes you think how the other half live!

A story about Kate but not told by Kate. This is such a thrilling way for a book to be written and this book never once drops the pace.

Five men tell us about Kate- razor sharp.

The aim of their narration is to help us work out whether Kate is guilty for the four deaths at a “Gentlemen’s” club.

There is so much in this novel that is right on the pulse and I found myself completely unable to get in to another book after this. It’s sumptuous, while being an awful topic and I will read this book again before the year is out.

An absolute triumph and a must read for probably absolutely everyone.

Personally I found this a hard read. Looking at the reviews I am in the minority so I think it's just a matter of personal taste and it just wasn't for me. I struggled with the different perspectives from different people that knew the character.

5 out of 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this crime thriller and read it very quickly as it was so gripping and I was keen to know how the story would unfold.

Katie Cole, a young waitress is accused of killing four men whom she was serving dinner to at an exclusive private members club.

The story is narrated not by Katie, but by the various men who played a part in her life and during her trial- her dad, her lawyer, her ex boyfriend, a friend and a journalist covering the trial.

Each chapter was pretty short so it made the book really easy to read. There were a couple of good twists towards the end and it all nicely rounded off. A very good read that I would recommend and I’ll look out for Nicci Cloke’s other titles.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an advance copy in return for my honest opinion. I have also published this review on Goodreads and will publish a shortened version on Amazon.

Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke is a medium paced thriller following the story of Kate and her arrest and subsequent trial for the murder of 4 rich and powerful men at an exclusive London members club.

What makes this book unique is the fact that the story isn't told by Kate or even a narrator. Instead, we hear the story through the first person POV of 5 men closely linked to her. We have her Dad, John, who calls her KitKat and believes his daughter can do no wrong; her childhood best friend, Gabriel, who knows her as KC and who steals away to London to live with her in a squat and share conspiratory theories; Tarun, her barrister, who calls her Katherine and is unsure as to whether he believes her or not; Max, a local journalist hoping his coverage of Killer Kate will be his big break; and Conrad, who has an illicit affair with his Wildcat, as he calls her, and soon regrets it. We only hear from Kate herself at the very beginning and very end of the story.

Cloke's innovative structure takes us on a journey through the eyes of these men, each of whom experiences a different version of Kate…but which one is the real one, and is she innocent or guilty? The way this story is told allows Cloke to cleverly demonstrate that the truth is not aways clear cut and whilst our core personality may be stable, it doesn't mean we aren't different things to different people. I also think it was really clever to have this story told by men only. It highlights the way in which women are defined and perceived through the male gaze, and by not including Kate's voice, we see how often women are silenced or overlooked.

The short chapters help the pace of the story, although the multiple timelines and POV can get a bit confusing at times. My only other criticism is that by not hearing from Kate or her perspective, I don't feel that we ever really get to know her. Maybe that's the point, though; can we ever really know anyone without having an insight into their own thoughts and feelings?

Overall, this is a brilliant thriller, told in a unique way that I really enjoyed and would definitely recommend it. Thank you to Nicci Cloke and Random House for allowing me a copy. Publishing date: 3rd July 2025.

I was so looking forward to reading this and it did not disappoint. The very first paragraph had me hooked. As we delve into the life of Katie Cole from the perspectives of the various men in her life; father, lover, brother, secret admirer, and barrister we question how well anyone knows us really.

The plot opens with the murder of four prominent members of a high-end Gentleman's club, March House. The waitress who had been requested to oversee their party, is found within hours disheveled and trying to escape from Paddington station. Katie Cole is immediately charged with their murder through poison. “They deserved it”

As she enters a plea of not guilty, we are given her back story as others saw her. There are plenty of those wishing to cast scathing reports about her character as a liar, Lolita etc. However, there is still that nagging doubt as we cling to her father’s belief in her.

Nicci Cloke’s writing is sheer brilliance and the various sub story lines are to be commended; Very sharp and painfully realistic.

This really was a page turner, and I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

Loved this story of the rather unlikeable Katie who stands in the dock accused of murdering four men. It’s told through the perspective of five other men: her barrister, father, lover, a journalist and her best friend. Which of her many faces is the real woman? Themes of radicalisation, trauma and loss underpin the narrative. I thought I’d worked out the end, I was wrong!

A well written, easy to read and enjoyable murder mystery with a twist. The story unfolds from the viewpoints of various characters connected to the main character, who is not particularly likeable but well portrayed. Hard to say more about the story without spoiling it. This book will keep you gripped, I thoroughly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review and to the author for her excellent work.