Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Don’t Believe a Word by Susan Lewis

This is the kind of book that hooks you early and keeps you guessing right to the end. Sasha was found alone on a beach as a toddler, with nothing but a note asking two sisters, Mia and Lottie, to care for her. Years later, her mysterious start in life becomes the subject of a popular true crime podcast, and suddenly Sasha is at the centre of a public search for the truth. Was the story she was raised on really what happened? Can she find her birth family, and does she even want to?

Lottie has passed away, but not before leaving behind a cryptic trail of short stories that might hold the key to what really happened. I’m a sucker for a podcast storyline, and this one absolutely delivered. There are clever twists and emotional turns throughout, and just when you think you know what’s going on, Susan Lewis reminds you that not everything is what it seems.

Beautifully layered, gripping and full of emotional depth, this is a brilliant read for fans of domestic drama with a true crime edge.

Brilliant as always! Susan lewis never disappoints. This book felt a bit different to previous books but had all the hallmarks you would expect of the author: brilliant in depth characters, a twisty plot and plenty of subplots too!

Christie and Connor are making a podcast for their series, they are not sure where the tale of unknown identity will take them but one thing is for sure they will not be bored with Sadie in their lives!

Set in Guernsey the story is one of family, loyalty, betrayal, trafficking and murder!

Brilliantly written, a must read!

This gripping follow-up to Nothing to See Here continues the journey of Christy and Connor’s true-crime podcast, Hindsight. While spending Christmas in Guernsey with her family, Christy is approached by Sophie, a friend of Anna’s, who seeks help uncovering a long-buried mystery. After finding a story written by her late aunt, Sophie learns that she was discovered as a two-year-old, abandoned on a beach. Determined to uncover the truth about her past, she turns to Christy for answers.

Susan Lewis masterfully weaves suspense, emotional depth, and social commentary, particularly on the realities of human trafficking and how first impressions can be deceiving. While the main storyline is compelling, the subplot involving Christy’s digital stalker feels underdeveloped, hinting at a future continuation. Fans of the Hindsight team will enjoy reconnecting with familiar characters in this unputdownable read, and anticipation remains high for the next installment.

Cristy Ward and Connor Church are the hosts of a true crime Podcast called Hindsight and along with Clover and Jackson are investigating Sadie Winters and her mysterious past. Sadie has reached a crossroads - who to believe and how to find out the truth. For the past 2 decades, her Aunts have brought up Sadie but how did she end up living with them. It was told over different time periods. It was well written, full of twists and turns, family secrets and lies. It was a rollercoaster of read, which led to a dramatic ending!

A captivating read that centres around Sadie a little girl who grew up believing she was adopted. But was she? This book is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing to the end. Well written and a good read.

Strap yourself in and don't forget to breathe! This book has everything, and you won't know who to believe, even until the last word.

Sadie Winters is trying to uncover her true past, after finding out that she wasn't bought up by her two aunts, instead they were two strangers who apparently found her on the beach.

Told through a series of conversations, journals and interviews, Cristy and Connor from successful crime podcast Hindsight try to help Sadie. But the more they dig into the past and meet people who knew Sadie and her 'aunts' , the more the plot thickens.

The story is unravelled slowly, and you don't know which way it's going to go. Twists are subtly thrown in to knock you off course, and some red herrings along the way.

Don't Say a Word is utterly thrilling and I will be recommending it to everyone!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. I find Susan Lewis books a bit hit-or-miss but I loved this one! Compelling characters and storyline.

Cristy and Connor of the Hindsight podcast have a new mystery to solve and what a mystery it is! A tiny girl is found by two sisters on a beach - she’s freezing cold, hungry and on her own but with a note in her pocket.asking them to take care of her. And there the mystery begins and continues as the grown up child enlists the help of Cristy and Connor to find her mother. Of course this isn’t easy and the plot becomes more and more complex as events and characters are added - possibly a little too complex at times with an occasional need to reread passages just to clarify who’s doing what. Nonetheless this really is a cracking story with plenty of unexpected twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. This reader gave up sleep on a long haul flight to finish the book!

Susan Lewis has written another complex psychological thriller featuring Cristy Ward's podcast team and many of the characters from the first book in the series; this just about works as a standalone novel but it's obviously best to have already read "Nothing to See Here". These stories rely on us, and the characters, trying to work out who is telling the truth. In this case we are assessing the journals of a dead woman as well as live testimonies, so a bit more challenging. The book is full of personal drama in addition to the investigation for the podcast. This is a very readable page-turner.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An interesting storyline with lots of twists and turns. It was hard to put down and I would recommend it.

The second of a three book series on Cristy Ward's podcasts. The team are back to make this another great story. A different type of story from this author but she proves how versatile her writing is. Well done Susan

Don't Believe A Word is the second book of a 3 part series featuring the podcast host, Christy Ward.

After having read the first book , Nothing To See Here, I was mega excited for this one as I just loved the podcast element. Just like before, the podcast adds that extra bit to the narrative and truly gets the reader thinking about the case being investigated.

The story begins with two sisters looking out their window at 2 year old Sadie sat alone on a deserted beach they take her in only to find a note in her coat pocket asking them to look after her until the person can come back for her... what an opening, and it only got more twisty and intriguing from there.

Secrets to uncover, battle through lies to seek the truth, this story truly had it all. I can't wait to see what the 3rd instalment has to offer us later in the year.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

Dont believe a word is a powerful exploration of truth, trust, and the quiet devastation of betrayal—Susan Lewis delivers a deeply affecting thriller that lingers long after the final page.

Sadie’s discovery—that she wasn’t adopted but stolen—upends her world with terrifying precision. What unfolds is far more than a mystery; it’s a poignant unravelling of identity, love, and the fear that comes with questioning everything you’ve ever known. Lewis writes with empathy and restraint, allowing tension to build organically as the psychological layers deepen.

Cristy Ward, true crime podcaster and returning investigator, adds a grounded energy to the narrative. Her presence anchors the story, offering clarity amid chaos, and heightens the emotional stakes with quiet strength.

The pacing is confident, the characters rich with moral ambiguity, and each twist lands with graceful impact. Lewis doesn’t just tell a story—she invites us to sit inside the discomfort, to wrestle with the fragility of trust and the resilience of those who dare to seek truth, no matter the cost.

Grateful thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this unforgettable novel. A must-read for fans of intelligent thrillers that speak to the heart as well as the mind.

A well-written story with lots of twists. The problem I had was I found myself not really caring about Sadie's character, but perhaps that's explained by the ending! I was more interested in Cristie's character. I found my attention drifting also due to the script-like format at times - the records of dialogue that came from the podcast. And there was so much information, it was a lot to take in. Good to read something different, but I don't think I'd want to read any more in this format. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Don't Believe a Word by Susan Lewis . Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC; I can’t wait for everyone else to enjoy it come August 14, 2025!

As someone who loves podcasts, I was immediately drawn in by the unique structure of the book. The format cleverly mimics a true crime podcast, with entire sections reading like transcribed episodes, complete with interviews, speculation, and chilling cliffhangers. It gave the story an addictive, binge-worthy quality that kept me turning pages late into the night.

This is the second book featuring investigative journalist and podcaster Sadie, and although I haven’t read the first, I Know It's True, I never felt lost. If anything, Don't Believe a Word has made me eager to go back and read it. Susan Lewis crafts a world rich with suspense and psychological tension, and Sadie is a protagonist worth following.

What stood out to me most was the exploration of memory; especially how unreliable it can be. We often think of childhood memories as hazy and half-formed, but this book reminds us that the memories of the elderly can be just as murky, tangled with time, trauma, and even imagination. Lewis blurs the lines between truth and fiction so effectively that I found myself constantly questioning what I thought I knew.

Susan Lewis has delivered a gripping, emotionally layered thriller that podcast fans, amateur sleuths, and lovers of psychological suspense will devour.

Conner, Christy and the team back again. Loved this new book following the pod cast team and their interviews and investigations into a new story with lots of twists and turns.

Review of ‘Don’t Believe a Word’ by Susan Lewis, due to be published on 14 August 2025 by HarperCollins UK.

Second instalment of the Christy Ward series - this can however be read as a standalone, as the characters are so well written, you quickly get to grips with who everyone is.

Christy and her team start their new podcast series of Hindsight, with the story of Sadie who is trying to find out her true identity after finding evidence that the aunts who brought her up, may not be who they say they are.

With many plot twists, dead ends that take on new directions and many threads linking this all together, it has you suspecting everyone, a real edge of your seat thriller that was hard to put down!

A fast paced, gripping read full of mystery and suspense, highly recommended read.

Don't Believe a Word- Susan Lewis

I am an absolutely MASSIVE fan for @susanlewisbooks so when @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk approved me for this book I nearly died. Such excitement.

I have yet to read a book by Lewis that I didn't love and this one was no different.
Cristy Ward is back with her true crime podcast in a follow on book from "Nothing to See Here" ( which I also loved)

This time Cristy is approached by a young woman called Sadie who is questioning who she is. It's believed that she was abandoned on a beach with a note in her pocket. She is discovered by 2 wealthy sisters who take her in and raise her as their own.
But is this the benevolent that it appears at first glance or is their more to Sadie's story than meets the eye? The death of her Aunt Lottie is the stimulus for her delving deeper into her roots. Will she like what she uncovers?

I love everything about this book. I was kept guessing until the final pages. I live the idea of the true crime podcast and really enjoyed the previous installment of Cristy Ward's podcast adventures.
I like that outside of the main crime plot, that there's also a whole lot going on in the background in Cristy's own life and this makes for a compelling story too.
The characters and their relationships are well developed. I really enjoy tlfollowing the journey of the love story started in the previous books ( won't say too much to avoid spoilers)
5 stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Safe to say I'm a hard-core @susanlewisbooks fan
Thanks as always to @netgalley
And @harpercollinsuk for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Started off well but as the story progressed i'm sure i have ready something similar.
I usually love this author but this one confused me.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.