As a long time Dorothy Koomson mega fan, I could not wait to get my hands on Give Him to Me - and she’s done it again. All the stars from me, as always.

This book is gripping from the very first page. Robyn ‘Avril’ Managa is such a powerful, heartbreaking character. Her traumatic childhood, shaped by witnessing her mother’s murder, made me feel so deeply for her, and her actions later in life, while shocking, made a tragic kind of sense. I often found myself rooting for her even when I knew I shouldn’t.

And then there’s Dr Kez Lanyon, a character I was so excited to see again. She’s layered, complex, and compelling and I loved following her as she tried to unpick Robyn’s motives while also grappling with her own secrets. The way their stories are balanced works so seamlessly, it’s perfect.

The social commentary here is razor sharp too. The scenes exploring how domestic violence was handled - particularly where prejudice and bias came into play - were shocking and they added an extra punch to the already tense narrative.

I thought I had the ending figured out (I don’t know why I even try), but the twists completely blindsided me and I loved that. Dorothy has such a talent for delivering unexpected turns without ever losing the emotional core of the story.

This is Dorothy Koomson at her best - big, bold, high-stakes storytelling with characters you can’t look away from. Tense, emotional and utterly compelling, another absolutely killer novel.

A gripping read that takes you on a high adrenaline journey and you can’t put the book down! A usual koomson delight! Excellently written characters and twists and turns. Loved it

This one missed the mark for me. I’ve always been a huge fan of Dorothy Koomson’s books but this one felt really two dimensional and unbelievable in many places. None of the characters felt real and the twists didn’t feel shocking or impactful.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kez is a psychologist who works for an intelligence agency and is tasked with tracking down a woman who is in a desperate search to find her estranged father, who killed her mother years ago and got away with it. Lots of men who were involved with the whole process of her mother's death are turning up dead.

This book was ok at best. It was too long. I wasn't all that interested in the character Kez and her backstory. There were constant references to her being forced to take the job, relating to things that had happened in the past that were never actually described. Now I find out that she was in a book prior to this one (which I actually read but don't remember!) and that must be where all of this backstory happened. Beyond that, there were some reveals that were surprising but it all seemed so far fetched that I couldn't buy into any of it. I normally like this author but this was definitely not her best.

Give Him to Me by Dorothy Koomson was an excellent book and an interesting read from start to finish especially as this was one of her best works. You will need lots of tissues whilst reading this book, as it is very sad and heartbreaking but excellent. It was so good I ended up reading it all night, until I had finished.

Now, I need to get in an audiobook to listen to it again. I highly recommend this book 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Dorothy Koomson has done it again with another gripping, emotional read that kept me hooked from the very first page. Kez is such a compelling character, and her case had me completely intrigued as the story unfolded.

I also found myself really drawn to Robyn. Her difficult upbringing made me feel so sorry for her, and it set such a powerful and heartbreaking tone for the novel. Koomson writes her with so much depth that you can’t help but feel invested in her struggles.

As much as I thought I had the ending figured out, I was completely wrong and I loved that. The twists and turns were unexpected and kept me on edge right up until the final pages.

A great twister of a book where I was never quite sure what was going to happen next
Covering interesting themes in a dual timeline with great writing
Felt invested from the beginning and right up until the last page
A really exciting to read author

Dorothy Koomson’s Give Him to Me is a chilling, emotionally charged thriller that follows Robyn ‘Avril’ Managa, who witnessed her mother’s murder at the hands of her abusive father when she was just twelve. Now in her twenties, Robyn is seeking justice, or perhaps vengeance, by targeting those connected to her father’s case, leaving behind a haunting message: Give him to me. Enter Dr Kez Lanyon, a profiler and therapist tasked with getting inside Robyn’s mind before more lives are lost.

While I found the storyline gripping and impressively plotted, I personally gravitate toward the author's less dramatic novels. Her quieter stories often feel more relatable and emotionally resonant, whereas Kez’s secretive work and high-stakes investigations, though compelling, create a layer of detachment for me. That said, Dorothy Koomson's storytelling prowess shines through regardless. She has a remarkable ability to build tension and empathy, even when the subject matter isn’t one of my favourites.

This is a powerful exploration of trauma, justice, and identity, with strong characterisation and a narrative that keeps you hooked. It’s not the Koomson I connect with most deeply, but it’s a testament to her range and skill that I still found it thoroughly engaging.

When I say I couldn't put this book down, I mean that completely literally. I was dyying my hair whilst reading this book, eating whilst reading this book. I was utterly hooked. This story just captivates you from the beginning. I was obsessed with the flashback chapters for Robyn, absolutely despised her father and was so drawn to her as a character. Whilst this isn't so much a "mystery" in the typical sense, it does keep you guessing and brings all the tension and suspense. Not a bad word to say about this one! Perfect!

Well this was a fabulous on-the-edge-of-your-seat ride. I didnt realise it was actually a sequel but that did not spoil my enjoyment of the book and i am going to look out for the first book in the series.

Dr Kez Lanyon is asked to profile a case where a young woman is attempting to trace her father (who she last saw murder her mother when she was a child. He was put into police protection afterwards due to his high profile job, whilst she was put into care), Robyn, is systematically torturing and murdering the people who may know the answers to his whereabouts - can Kez track her down to help save her?

It was truly gripping and I couldn't put it down. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I dived eagerly into this, my first Dorothy Koomson read, and I was certainly not disappointed! It is a fast-paced read, full of tense action.

The two main protagonists, Robyn and Kez are gorgeously rich characters, who leapt off the page and who I very quickly cared about. Both strong female characters (who you would t want to mess with!) and to add to that, the level of sarcasm, quick wit, humour from Kez is totally joyful.

Set in a variety of locations, all clearly portrayed, helps bring the story to reality.

The plot is really dark, (domestic abuse) but necessary to get out in the open to provoke discussion! It offered a unique view of a terrible situation, looking from the perspective of the child, as they were dealt such tough life blows. Watching Robyn process this, as she learnt to face a life in care, couldn’t be demonstrated more clearly. The book pulsated danger through every page with a race to get to Robyn before she can get to her father.

It is twisty and clever, gripping and dark, and oh so addictive!!! (Heading off to look for the previous book featuring Dr Kez Lanyon now!)

This is a wonderfully well written book that starts with a note from the author that there may be subjects dealt with that may be upsetting for some readers. She is not wrong, the reader is immediately thrown into the world of profiler Kez Lanyon, who is tasked with finding April, a young woman who grew up in an abusive family home where her father killed her mother.

Told in equal parts by both strong female protagonists, we see the characters of the women and why they behave as they do. The way that the author has written the story the reader is very carefully and skilfully led to believe one thing and then finds another to be true. Although there is the domestic abuse storyline, there is also hope portrayed in the character of Holly, who runs the foster home April lived in, who becomes a huge positive role model and source of comfort. When April starts her story and the search for the father who killed her beloved mother she leaves notes on each victim, “Give him to me”. These are left on the body of those she has tortured to gain information about his whereabouts, sadly many of these people are or were in roles of responsibility that should have helped her and her mother.

Good suspense and a great unexpected ending which was well worth waiting for. Although the story of April is the main plot, the history of Kez and the struggles she has faced are an intriguing backdrop to the book. I enjoyed her character and would like to read more about her.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well... we were ticking along quite nicely until... but if I told you what, I'd be spoiling things for you. BUt don't worry, it's nothing bad, not at all!
We start with Profiler Kez Lanyon - who has a bit of a back story but again, yours to find out - who lives with her husband and two kids. She is part of a behavioural sciences unit who are tasked with vetting, and profiling people. They also work closely with the Government. She pretty much hates her job but kinda has no choice but to suck it up and get on with it - again leaving you to find out why.
All is ticking along mostly okish though, until she is called in to consult on a rather nasty case.
April was 12 when she watched her father kill her mother. But, cos of who he is, he wasn't arrested. Didn't go to jail. Even though everyone knew it was him who did it. He even confessed. No, instead, he got spirited away and given a shiny new, witness protection, life. Leaving April languishing in care...
Now she is an adult and she has a list of people who can lead her to her father. She has a score to settle and, well, there's nothing that is going to stop her...
And that's all I can say as to get the best from all the twists and turns that will slam into you during your time with this book, you really need to go in as cold as you can. Suffice to say it held my attention nicely all the way through, delivering shock after shock, many secrets were revealed along the way and quite a few huh! what! curve ball moments. But when I sat back and thought about wherein the heck did that come from, it wasn't right out of left field. She just played me like a violin. And for that, she has my applause! And when the book finally ended, to my complete satisfaction, I just sat back in awe...
I discovered this author quite late but, she's been on my watch list ever since I read The Brighton Mermaid (also recommended) and, as well as jumping on all her new releases, I am also working my way through her back catalogue. I guess I am a bit of a fan now!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I’d like to thank Headline and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Give Him To Me’ written by Dorothy Koomson in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

During her childhood Avril Managa watched as her father physically attacked her mother until the day that he killed her. He was put on the Protected Persons Programme, previously known as Witness Protection, and following her placement in a children’s home Avril changed her name to Robyn. Twelve years later Robyn is seeking revenge for her mother’s death and as she finds the people who she hopes can lead her to her father, they’re later found dead with a note attached to them saying ‘Give Him To Me’. Dr Kez Lanyon is employed by the Government organisation Insight and asked to profile Robyn, locate her and get inside her mind before she can kill anyone else.

‘Give Him To Me’ is an utterly gripping psychological thriller that’s had me on the edge of my seat from the start as I’ve followed Robyn’s past history and her later actions and Dr Kez Lanyon’s reasons for wanting to find her before the police do. I was shocked by the police officer’s attitude to domestic violence when he favoured a white man over a black woman regardless of who the abuser was and could fully understand what Robyn was doing, and although wrong I really wanted her to succeed. Not all the characters act in a way that I’d consider to be realistic but they gave the story many unpredictable and shocking twists and kept me engrossed as the tension mounted on each and every page. Having just learnt that this is the second novel with Dr Kez Lanyon, I’m now going to be looking for the first one as I loved her character and her family dynamics.

Another brilliant book by the author. A great story set in the past and the current time. I liked how the timeline of Robyn's back story progressed along side the present time. Some great unexpected twists.

This kept me gripped from the first page until the last.

Robyn was twelve when her world was blown apart, her father was abusive and ended up murdering her mother. Her father managed to go into a witness protection programme while she was put into care, not having the best life.

Now Robyn wants to find her father and sets out to do whatever it takes to find him. She tortures people for information and leaves notes on them that say “GIVE HIM TO ME”. Kez Lanyon is brought in as a profiler to find Robyn, but is she up for the task?

This was another great read by this author, it had a good storyline with some well developed characters. I highly recommend this if you enjoy reading suspense thrillers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

What an amazing thriller. Told from the point of view of two very strong females, this will really make you question things. Is it possible to feel sorry for a torturer? Can wrong ever be right? Such an amazing narrative, you just don't know where it is going to go next. Stunning.

oh Dorothy Koomson you are a wizard, a magician, a book writing genius. aren't we all lucky and blessed to have authors such as these giving her their talents to is via the world of books.
Dorothy is gifted in writing thats all you need to know. oh and to pick up this book and read it and any more of her you've missed.
this book is full of new and complex characters. the plot is enticing and exciting and all together unputdownable. i had to know what was next. i had to know what was happening with who, how it would play out, how it would possibly end. i was involved. hooked. stuck in my seat until the end and i didn't mind one bit of that time spent there.
the themes in this book might need to be explored by some. and that IS PERFECTLY OK to do so. there is no bravery in making yourself ill from triggers. thee is bravery in knowing exactly where you are and protecting that.
this book follows Dr Kez. and for this book we also have Robyn. she was just a young girl when she watched her father murder her mother. but her father got to go into witness protection programme to be hidden from the world. Robyn was put into care and lived with what happened inside of her bubbling and punishing away at her insides. now in her adult years she is on a mission of her own. that mission is to kill anyone involved in her fathers case via a reunion.
and this is where Dr Kez is bought in. she must profile and figure out this case before Robyn has her way. she believes a cover up happened with her father. and she is telling everyone to "give him to me" and killing off anyone involved in said cover up. she wont stop until they are all destroyed and of course so is her father.
you once again get taken on an emotional journey for all of our characters and the plot we are given weaves through and around them perfectly. you are given the horrific tales of Robyn's experiences on one hand. and then we get to know Kez a bit more too all the while the good Doctor has to try and be in work mode and home mode and that balance is NOT easy in the job she does.
i was so on edge in my emotions for this book. and i say that in the best way a brilliant thriller can do that to you.
it was so much and never too much.
it was just perfection.
once again Dorothy has delivered. and delivered in the best way ever!

The return of Dr Kez Lanyon is explosive, compelling and edge of the seat compulsive reading. 'Give Him To Me' can be read as a stand-alone, however to fully understand the complex character that Kez is, I recommend reading 'Every Smile You Fake' first.

Twelve year old Avril had witnessed her controlling father's continued and brutal abuse of her mother from an early age, until the day he went too far and murdered her. Initially telling the authorities she had been killed by intruders, Avril's father admitted his involvement however was not charged with the murder. Instead he was given a new identity and effectively disappeared. Avril was forced into care and whilst she had no idea where her father was, or his new identity, it soon became clear he continued to control her life. Changing her name to Robyn, she survived the care system and vowed to find her father to make him pay for what he had done to her and her mother. Now in her twenties she begins her mission to wreak revenge on those who wronged her and her mother, and most importantly, find her father. One by one people connected to those wrongs are killed with a note saying only 'Give Him To Me' left with the bodies.

Profiler and therapist Kez is now working for an organisation, apparently independent of the government, headed by long time nemesis Dennis, and is tasked to find Robyn and prevent further killings.

This is Dorothy Koomson at her absolute best, you think you have it worked out and bam off goes the plot in a totally unforeseen direction again and again. The meaning behind the title so unexpected and is everything I have come to expect from the author. The plot includes some painful subjects including coercive control, physical, emotional and sexual abuse and abuse against a child which may not appeal to everyone, The abuse endured by Robin and her mother is so shocking but written in such a way to be more emotional than graphic, and as such, a less uncomfortable read than it could have been.

A solid five stars from me!

So many thanks to NetGalley and Headline Books for my advance reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

A really enjoyable read from Dorothy Koomson. I read this is a standalone and enjoyed in very much. Certain references make me this it is part of a series however. The plot is gripping. Kez is a psychologist / secret agent (something of that ilk!). She is drafted in to the case of a serial killer who leaves the mysterious note 'give him to me' on each of the victims. This is no ordinary serial killer however (if there is such a thing). The back story of the assumed murderer is fascinating and SO well told. I loved this! 100 5 stars!

My thanks to netGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this novel in exchange for an advance copy.